cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The experimental study group: A new undergraduate program at MIT

This paper is an account of the first two years in the life of the Experimental Study Group (ESG), a full-time program of supervised independent study for some 60 self-selected undergraduates of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, together with some suggestions for those who are working in or planning similar programs in otherwise traditional schools.
Incorporation and Assessment of Portable Tablet Technology During a Patient Counseling Exercise

Background: The marriage of cutting-edge technology to the practice of pharmacy for the purpose of promoting patient safety and enhancing pharmacy workflow is an exciting and continuous evolution. Objective: To assess whether the incorporation of portable tablet technology into a mock patient counseling exercise enhances or detracts from the overall counseling experience. Methods: Second professional year Doctor of Pharmacy students enrolled in a pharmacy practice laboratory were randomly assigned to either a portable tablet or a desktop computer group. During patient counseling, students using the portable tablet were required to incorporate the device into the counseling session in addition to written notations; the desktop computer group was allowed to utilize only written notations. Surveys were developed and distributed to students and instructors following each counseling session. Survey data and numerical grades earned for each counseling session were collected and analyzed. Results: One hundred se...
A functional role for REM sleep in brain maturation

The biological function of REM sleep is defined in terms of the functions of neural processes that selectively operate during the REM sleep state. The high amounts of REM sleep expressed by the young during a period of central nervous system plasticity suggest that one function of REM sleep is in development. The phenomenon of activity-dependent development has been clearly shown to be one mechanism by which early sensory experience can affect the course of neural development. Activity-dependent development may be a ubiquitous process in brain maturation by which activity in one brain region can influence the developmental course of other regions. We hypothesize an ontogenetic function of REM sleep; namely, the widespread control of neuronal activity exerted by specific REM sleep processes help to direct brain maturation through activity-dependent developmental mechanisms. Preliminary tests of the hypothesis have been conducted in the developing feline visual system, which has long been known to incorporate information derived from visual experience in establishing neuronal connectivity. We find that suppression of REM sleep processes by an instrumental REM deprivation procedure results in a significant enhancement of the effects of altered visual experience by monocular occlusion. Bilateral brainstem lesions that selectively block the occurrence of ponto-geniculo-occipital (PGO) waves are sufficient to produce similar results. These data indicate that the propagation of phasic influences during REM sleep interacts with other processes subserving neural development. This source of influence appears not to derive from the environment but rather stems from an intrinsic source of genetic origin. Examination of the neural activity associated with PGO waves in the lateral geniculate nucleus reveals a distribution of facilitatory influence markedly different from that induced by visual experience. We conclude that REM sleep directs the course of brain maturation in early life through the control of neural activity.
Predictive thermal management for hard real-time tasks

Dynamic thermal management (DTM) techniques help a system to operate within a safe range of temperature by reducing the performance of the CPU dynamically when the system is too hot. Dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) and localized toggling are both DTM techniques. DVS is easier to use for real-time systems since the performance degradation can be controlled accurately so that tasks are still meeting their deadlines. Localized toggling changes architectural configurations of a CPU to a less optimized setting. Its performance degradation is harder to measure and to control accurately. In this paper, we propose a method which applies various localized toggling techniques to real-time systems while still able to meet task deadlines. Our method activates DTM when the temperature over the execution of a job is predicted to be too high at the start time. When DTM is activated, our method measures the performance degradation of different toggling techniques during the slack time to select the most effective technique and still be able to meet deadline. We use instructions per cycle (IPC) as the performance measure. Our method is evaluated on the SimpleScalar CPU simulator with Wattch, the energy simulator, and HotSpot, the thermal model.
Is Sprawl Associated with a Widening Urban–Suburban Mortality Gap?

This paper examines whether sprawl, featured by low development density, segregated land uses, lack of significant centers, and poor street connectivity, contributes to a widening mortality gap between urban and suburban residents. We employ two mortality datasets, including a national cross-sectional dataset examining the impact of metropolitan-level sprawl on urban–suburban mortality gaps and a longitudinal dataset from Portland examining changes in urban–suburban mortality gaps over time. The national and Portland studies provide the only evidence to date that (1) across metropolitan areas, the size of urban–suburban mortality gaps varies by the extent of sprawl: in sprawling metropolitan areas, urban residents have significant excess mortality risks than suburban residents, while in compact metropolitan areas, urbanicity-related excess mortality becomes insignificant; (2) the Portland metropolitan area not only experienced net decreases in mortality rates but also a narrowing urban–suburban mortality gap since its adoption of smart growth regime in the past decade; and (3) the existence of excess mortality among urban residents in US sprawling metropolitan areas, as well as the net mortality decreases and narrowing urban–suburban mortality gap in the Portland metropolitan area, is not attributable to sociodemographic variations. These findings suggest that health threats imposed by sprawl affect urban residents disproportionately compared to suburban residents and that efforts curbing sprawl may mitigate urban–suburban health disparities.
An Automated Image-Based Method of 3D Subject Specific Body Segment Parameter Estimation

Recent studies have suggested that limb kinetics during swing or float phase movements are important for ACL injury analysis and injury prevention [1]. Kinetic (moment and force) calculations during swing phase can be sensitive to the accuracy of subject-specific body segment parameters (BSP) including mass and inertial properties. While numerous methods for estimating BSP have been implemented including regression equations [2,3], geometric body shape estimations, medical imaging and optimization approaches, they all have application specific limitations. Almost all of these BSP estimation approaches are limited by assumptions that: the mass center (CM) lies on the axis connecting the segment’s proximal and distal joint center, the body principle moments of inertia are aligned with the segment axes [4], and the right and left limbs are symmetric. These assumptions could introduce errors in 3D kinematic analysis. Non-invasive methods of measuring the exact geometry and volume of body segments have the potential to reduce most sources of error.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Multiple Primary Melanoma Two-Year Results From a Population-Based Study

Objective To assess the frequency of occurrence and risk factors for multiple primary melanoma. Design Population-based, case-control study. Setting New Hampshire. Participants Three-hundred fifty-four New Hampshire residents with a confirmed first diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma. Main Outcome Measure Diagnosis of a subsequent primary cutaneous melanoma. Results An additional melanoma occurred in 27 individuals (8%) within 2 years of their initial diagnosis, including 20 (6%) within the first postdiagnosis year. In 9 (33%) of these 27 cases, at least 1 subsequent melanoma was deeper than the first tumor. The 27 individuals with a subsequent melanoma diagnosis were classified as “cases” and were compared on the basis of risk factors to the 327 “controls” with a single melanoma diagnosis. The data indicate an inverse relation of risk of multiple primary melanomas with multiple blistering sunburns (P = .01 for the trend); the odds ratio (OR) was 0.32 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11-0.93) for 2 or more sunburns compared with none. The number of atypical moles was significantly related to increased risk (P = .004 for the trend). The presence of 3 or more atypical moles compared with none was associated with more than a 4-fold risk of multiple primary melanomas (OR, 4.29; 95% CI, 1.51-12.16). Conclusions Additional melanomas occur more frequently than previously shown. Our study confirms that atypical moles are strongly associated with risk of multiple primary melanomas but provides little evidence that risk is influenced by pigmentary characteristics, hours of sun exposure, or benign moles. The inverse association with blistering sunburn may reflect the influence of an unmeasured covariate.
An implicit finite difference method simulation of spectro-electrochemical working curves

Summary The problem of digitally simulating concentration profiles of electrogenerated species is examined by an implicit finite difference method. The treatment is developed in a general manner so that a variety of electrochemical problems can be solved with a minimum alteration in existing explicit approaches. The advantage of this method arises from the unrestricted stability criterion on the diffusion coefficient resulting in a dramatic decrease in the required number of calculations necessary to generate a working curve. Improvements of one to two orders of magnitude in efficiency are noted for several examples. The analysis for the internal reflection spectro-electrochemical case is emphasized.
Verbal Strategies for Seeking Help in Organizations1

The verbal strategies used to frame requests for help are integral to the help-seeking process. Drawing on politeness theory, it was predicted that gender, power, and norms affect usage of verbal strategies in seeking help, and verbal strategies predict interpersonal outcomes. Two studies showed that: (a) individuals used more strategies under collectivistic than individualistic norms; (b) under individualistic norms, men used more strategies when seeking help upward, and women used more strategies when seeking help laterally; and (c) those who used more strategies provided higher quality information, and were perceived more favorably by others. These results suggest that verbal strategies not only reflect important relational and contextual factors, but also serve multiple social functions.
Egocentrism, Event Frequency, and Comparative Optimism: When what Happens Frequently is “More Likely to Happen to Me”

Three studies investigated the role of nonmotivated egocentric processes in comparative optimism (and pessimism). According to an egocentric-processes account, when people judge their com-parative likelihood of experiencing an event (e.g., “Compared to the average person, how likely are you to become wealthy?”), they consider their own chances of experiencing the event more so than the referent's chances. This should produce higher comparative estimates when an event's absolute frequency is high rather than low—a prediction supported in Study 1, which manipulated event frequency through a novel, time frame manipulation. Study 2 empirically distinguished egocentrism from a related focalism account. In Study 3, comparative estimates were related to the perceived frequency of events, independent of the events' perceived desirability and controllability. Path analyses provided additional support for egocentrism, and systematic cases of comparative pessimism were observed as predicted by the egocentric-process...
Application of the nonrigid shape matching algorithm to volumetric cardiac images

This paper presents a new method for tracking points on the left ventricle (LV) surface from volumetric cardiac images. If an object undergoes nonrigid motion, the standard motion parameters of translation and rotation are not sufficient to describe the object transformation. The authors define the local surface stretching as an additional motion parameter of nonrigid transformation. In homothetic motion, this parameter is constant at all points on the surface. In this work a new algorithm for tracking LV surface through the heart cycle is presented. The authors utilize small motion assumption, hypothesize all possible correspondences, and compute curvature changes for each hypothesis. Then, calculation is made of the error between computed curvature changes and the one predicted by homothetic motion assumption. The hypothesis with the smallest error gives point correspondences between consecutive time frames. The algorithm is demonstrated on simulated data, then applied to real data of LV. The data set was provided by Dr. Eric Hoffman at University of Pennsylvania Medical school and consists of 16 volumetric (128 by 128 by 118) images taken through the heart cycle.
Human biology in Tlaxcala, Mexico: Demography

A demographic survey was conducted as part of an ongoing population study of large Mestizo and Indian communities in Tlaxcala, Mexico. Comparative data on population structure and movement, mate selection, age at marriage, differential fertility, and mortality were collected through the administration of a standardized demographic proforma, and then cross-tabulated by computer analysis. The resulting differences between the Indian and Mestizo populations are interpreted in terms of the relative importance of hybridization, natural selection, and genetic drift. Sizeable variance in achieved reproduction and the high neonatal mortality suggest the operation of natural selection in these two populations. Observed patterns of population movement and mate selection indicate that the Mestizo population of the city of Tlaxcala is highly hybridized, in contrast to the endogamous Indian community of San Pablo del Monte.
Comments on Analyses of p ¯ n → 3 π

The analysis of the reaction $\overline{p}n\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ using the rising-shift model is compared with attempts to explain the data with the Veneziano model. The fact that daughter trajectories are not parallel to the leading trajectory is emphasized.
Patient safety Stateside

Major Tim Fildes shares his experience of the patient safety initiatives used with great success among US dental teams.
A Secondary Flow Model for the Planetary Boundary Layer

Abstract The equations of motion for a neutrally buoyant fluid are solved to produce an equilibrium flow consisting of a modified Ekman spiral mean flow plus a helical secondary flow. By considering the secondary flow to be a finite perturbation on a mean large-scale flow, approximate equations are obtained for the secondary flow and the modified mean flow an functions of the large-scale parameters. When the energetics of this system are considered, an equilibrium magnitude for the secondary flow can be obtained. The finite perturbations are assumed to preserve the structure of the infinitesimal perturbation solutions for the dynamic instability of the Ekman boundary layer. In particular, helical rolls occur as finite perturbation solutions. These finite disturbances are found to alter the mean Ekman velocity profile such that it becomes stable. The rolls, with characteristic depths of 5–7 times the Ekman characteristic length and corresponding wavelengths of 4π times this parameter, may be frequent occur...
Primary radiotherapy for locally advanced skin cancer near the eye.

Non-melanoma skin cancers are the most common cutaneous malignancies, with over 1 million cases in the year 2010.1,2 Approximately 80% of non-melanoma skin cancers are basal-cell carcinomas, and 20% are squamouscell carcinomas.3 Although the mortality rate is low with less than 1000 patients estimated to have died in 2010, non-melanoma skin cancers may be disfiguring when occurring in the facial skin. A variety of treatments exist. Appropriate use of electrodesiccation and curettage, excision, or cryosurgery can eliminate up to 90% of small (≤1 cm in diameter), well-defined primary lesions.3 Surgical excision and Mohs' surgery have often been used for patients with larger tumors at high risk for recurrence. However, there are cases where surgical resection may result in severe cosmetic and functional deficits due to large tumor size or close proximity to critical structures, such as the eyes. In this article, we report a case of locally advanced skin cancer that extended to the lateral canthus in which surgical management was contraindicated due to expected high morbidity-proximity to the right eye, and in which primary radiation therapy (RT) allowed excellent local control while achieving favorable functional and cosmetic results. We further review the literature regarding treatment of locally advanced periorbital skin cancers with primary RT.
Effect of Nuclear Collective Motions on S - and P -Wave Strength Functions

The S- and P-wave strength functions are calculated for a large number of even-even nuclei with A from 34 to 242, using the optical model. The axially- symmetric-rotator model is used for permanently deformed nuclei, and the pure- quadrupole-vibration model for the dynamically deformable nuclei. The inclusion of the collective part of the optical-model potential yields better agreement with the experimental data than the spherical part of the optical potential alone. The model reproduces the experimentally observed structure in the S-wave strength function peaks near A = 55 and 160, and in the P-wave strength function peak near A = 100, but not in the S-wave strength function dip near A = 100. (T.F.H.)
A Genomic Approach to Human Autoimmune Diseases

The past decade has seen an explosion in the use of DNA-based microarrays. These techniques permit assessment of RNA abundance on a genome-wide scale. Medical applications emerged in the field of cancer, with studies of both solid tumors and hematological malignancies leading to the development of tests that are now used to personalize therapeutic options. Microarrays have also been used to analyze the blood transcriptome in a wide range of diseases. In human autoimmune diseases, these studies are showing potential for identifying therapeutic targets as well as biomarkers for diagnosis, assessment of disease activity, and response to treatment. More quantitative and sensitive high-throughput RNA profiling methods are starting to be available and will be necessary for transcriptome analyses to become routine tests in the clinical setting. We expect this to crystallize within the coming decade, as these methods become part of the personalized medicine armamentarium.
Guest Editors' Introduction: Internet Data Centers

Several ongoing developments necessitate a study of architectural and operational concerns in modern data centers, including data center fabric research, scale-up versus scale-out, resource consolidation, infrastructure management, and operational cost reduction.
Positive contrast in instrumental learning from qualitative shift in incentive

Rats shifted from food pellets to preferred 32%-sucrose pellets as reinforcers in instrumental (bar-press) learning showed a reliable positive contrast effect when compared to nonshifted control rats given 32%-sucrose pellets throughout training. Rats shifted from 8%-sucrose pellets to 32%-sucrose pellets did not differ from the controls. Positive contrast effects, very rare in the literature but of substantial theoretical importance, should be more readily obtained if sufficiently marked incentive differences are used.
Becoming white: reinterpreting a family story by putting race back into the picture

Many teacher educators attempt to prompt teacher candidates, who are usually majority white, to examine themselves as culturally and historically located beings in order to prepare for multicultural and anti‐racist teaching. But with white teacher candidates in colonialist societies, this work is difficult. Family history stories that white teacher candidates tell tend to disassociate individuals from the context of race and class relations in which they lived. Using insights from Critical Race Theory, critical whiteness studies, and post‐positivist realist identity theory, I probe below the surface of a ‘heroic individual’ story I grew up hearing about one of my immigrant great‐great‐grandmothers. This paper reports detailed historical research that situates her life in a social and cultural context, thereby making racism visible. Using a research methodology I am calling ‘critical family history,’ I uncover the story’s silences related to her claiming of a white identity in the context of racism and com...
An Empirical Study of Breaking Wave Contribution to Radar Backscatter from the Ocean Surface at Low Grazing Angle

The anomaly of radar sea spikes, defined here as the non-Bragg scattering events with backscattering cross section of horizontal polarization exceeding that of vertical polarization, has been associated with steep wave features possibly going through wave breaking process. This property is employed for remote detection of breaking waves. The results are used to quantify the effect of wave breaking on radar returns. Large increase due to breaking is found in the Doppler velocities of both polarizations (about 50% faster with breaking). The effect of breaking on the backscattering cross section is much stronger for the horizontal polarization (with 15 to 20 dB enhancement) and relatively small in the vertical polarization (on the order of 0.5 dB fluctuations). The presence of swell reduces the impact of breaking waves on radar return in comparison to the scattering from wind seas.
A behavioural analysis of figurative language in psychotherapy: one session in a single case-study.

In an attempt to examine the frequency of occurrence and significance of figurative language in spoken discourse, a line-by-line analysis of such language in a single session of psychotherapy was performed. Results of such an analysis showed that for this particular case, figurative language occurred at a rate of between 3 and 6 figures per 100 words of text, and that novel, as opposed to frozen, figures tended to occur in extended bursts. These bursts were shown to relate to other aspects of the therapeutic process, particularly those involving patient problem-setting and problem-solving. In general, novel figurative language was seen to be a method whereby intimate personal qualities and problems could be talked about in a non-intrusive and therapeutically helpful manner.
If You Promise to Build It, Will They Come? The Interaction between Local Economic Development Policy and the Real Estate Market: Evidence from Tax Increment Finance Districts

∗The analysis in this article examines the impacts of one of the more prominent economic development tools, tax increment financing (TIF) districts, on the local commercial real estate market. The study area is the city of Chicago, a community with a long history of reliance on TIF districts as a means to foster local development initiatives. A treatment effects model is used to address the selection bias often attributed to studies of public policy impacts on real estate markets. The results indicate that commercial properties located within designated TIF districts exhibit higher rates of appreciation after the area is designated a qualifying TIF district.
Stability of Reconstituted Fluconazole Oral Suspension in Plastic Bottles and Oral Syringes

Background:Fluconazole for oral suspension is a dry powder with a beyond-use date of 14 days after being reconstituted. Dispensing fluconazole liquid in the inpatient setting would be much more efficient if prefilled oral syringes containing standard doses were readily available. In addition, if the beyond-use date could be extended, the resulting decreased waste would be economically beneficial.Objective:To determine the stability of reconstituted fluconazole oral suspension using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Methods:Diflucan lyophilized powder was reconstituted to fluconazole 40 mg/mL using Sterile Water for Irrigation, USP. Samples were stored at room temperature in both the original Diflucan plastic bottles and in amber polyethylene oral syringes with silicon elastomer plunger tips that were sealed with high-density polyethylene caps. Samples were analyzed immediately and at 14, 28, 42, 56, and 70 days. Fluconazole concentrations were measured using a modified stability-indicating HPL...
Teaching patients how to talk with biomedical providers about their complementary and alternative medicine use

Abstract Objective The goal was to examine the feasibility and impact of a face-to-face communication skills training intervention based on a current public health campaign to encourage patients to talk about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) with their biomedical health providers. Methods Current CAM users were invited to complete a survey about current/past CAM use and communication with biomedical providers before beginning a communication skills training workshop. In the 6-month period following the training, participants were asked to record information on any CAM conversations with those providers. Results Of the 38 participants who received training, 32 finished the entire study. Over half of those participants reported discussing CAM in post-training visits with biomedical providers. Participants initiated the conversation in most cases, and were more likely to disclose CAM use than they were to ask questions about CAM. Participants who talked about CAM were significantly more likely to perceive CAM as relevant to their visit, compared with individuals who did not talk about CAM. Conclusions Participants positively evaluated this patient communication workshop. Consistent with previous research, most CAM conversations were patient-initiated. Practice implications These findings reinforce the importance of patient education interventions for improving patient–provider communication in general, and CAM communication specifically.
A comparison of recovery after sevoflurane or desflurane in ambulatory anesthesia

Abstract Study Objective: To determine if there is a difference between sevoflurane and desflurane when used as part of a balanced anesthetic technique in terms of time to discharge from an ambulatory surgery unit. Design: Randomized, double blind study. Setting: Ambulatory surgery unit of a large, metropolitan teaching hospital. Patients: 60 ASA physical status I and II adult women undergoing laparoscopic tubal ligation on an outpatient basis. Interventions: Patients were randomized to receive either sevoflurane or desflurane as a component of a balanced anesthetic technique. Visual analog scores (VAS) for discomfort, nausea, and wakefulness, and digit-symbol substitution tests (DSST) were completed preoperatively and at specified intervals after extubation. Measurements and Main Results: Time to eye opening, command response, orientation, sitting in bed, sitting with legs dangling, standing, walking, discharge, and departure were measured for all patients. VAS and DSST scores were compared with preoperative baseline scores. Conclusions: Recovery indices and psychomotor function are marginally but not significantly better with sevoflurane than desflurane.
Influence of dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate on the absorption of tetracycline.

A pilot bioavailability study was carried out to evaluate the drug interaction and influence of dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DS) on the absorption/bioavailability of tetracycline. Three tetracycline products—a fast dissolving capsule, a slow dissolving capsule and a suspension, were used in the study. DS was administered (a) 30 minutes before tetracycline administration; and (b) on −3, −2 and −1 day in the evening before tetracyline administration. Frequent urine samples were collected up to 48 hours and analyzed by a microbiological method. Although not statistically significant in this small study, the results suggest that there is a reduction in tetracycline bioavailability due to DS. The indiscriminate use of surface active agents to increase the dissolution rate of solid oral dosage forms in the belief that the resulting increased dissolution improves product bioavailability must be questioned.
Atmospheric aerosol measurement problems.

The present knowledge of the atmospheric aerosols is summarized briefly with respect to geographical distribution, time variations, optical properties, chemical nature, and natural and artificial sources. The measurement techniques for determining aerosol properties are summarized with the limitations and results from each. The problems resulting from variations in refractive index, shape, composition, volatile constituents, relative humidity and time from collection until measurement are described. Needed measurements on atmospheric aerosols are outlined with some of the latest methods for obtaining them, including the needs and goals of some world-wide programs.
Genuine But Marginal: Exploring and Reworking Social Contradictions Through Ritual Dance Performance

The article analyzes how ritual dance drama performances have become privileged sites for people in Cusco to explore and rework the ambiguities and paradoxes of their history and everyday lives. While focusing on the analysis of the Qollas dance drama and dance association in the town of San Jeronimo, the article studies the meanings of this dance in terms of both the regional and national contexts. The Qollas dance, one of the most popular and widespread in Cusco, embodies indigenous identity. It thus brings to light one of the main contradictions of this identity: it appeals to cultural belonging and legitimacy, but it also implies low status and social marginality
An adaptive synchronization protocol for parallel discrete event simulation

Simulation, especially discrete event simulation (DES), is used in a variety of disciplines where numerical methods are difficult or impossible to apply. One problem with this method is that a sufficiently detailed simulation may take hours or days to execute, and multiple runs may be needed in order to generate the desired results. Parallel discrete event simulation (PDES) has been explored for many years as a method to decrease the time taken to execute a simulation. Many protocols have been developed which work well for particular types of simulations, but perform poorly when used for other types of simulations. Often it is difficult to know a priori whether a particular protocol is appropriate for a given problem. In this work, an adaptive synchronization method (ASM) is developed which works well on an entire spectrum of problems. The ASM determines, using artificial neural network (ANN), the likelihood that a particular event is safe to process.
MoT: A collaborative network troubleshooting platform for the Internet of Things

Troubleshooting network problems on networked home devices is not easy, because most devices have insufficient computing power to run sophisticated diagnostic tools and have no user interfaces to debug the problem directly. We propose MoT, a network problem diagnosis platform that leverages the collaboration of smart objects, smartphones, and computers. We take advantage that recent devices have multiple communication interfaces. Therefore, when a device has a problem with an interface, it can send a probe request to other devices using an alternative interface. We use collaborative mechanisms to diagnose the root cause of a network problem. It can use cooperation from internal nodes or send requests to external nodes. We demonstrate the feasibility of this approach by implementing an Android application and an algorithm that diagnoses a push notification failure.
Constructability Practices to Manage Sustainable Building Knowledge

Construction professionals have knowledge and competencies that can help improve the design and delivery of sustainable buildings. The introduction of construction knowledge during design using constructability practices has been shown to improve design and project performance. From a process perspective, this paper examines specific constructability techniques that can help manage sustainable building knowledge throughout the design process. Through scientific research, four constructability practices employed at the Pentagon renovation are assessed for their capability at managing sustainability input from contractors. The four practices are: (1) the use of an integrated organizational team to champion the effort; (2) physical and computer building models (mock-ups); (3) on-board reviews; and (4) lessons learned workshops. Twenty-one specific principles are then identified to provide further guidance to industry practitioners. These practices and principles pinpoint methods to help manage sustainable building knowledge, especially that made available by construction professionals during design and construction.
Business Students’ Perceptions, Attitudes, and Satisfaction With Interactive Technology: An Exploratory Study

The authors modeled the relationships between students’ perceptions of interactive technology in terms of whether it helps them pay more attention and be better prepared in a Consumer Behavior course and their attitude toward and satisfaction with it. The results suggest that students who feel they pay more attention due to the use of Interactive Technology have a more positive attitude toward it. Additionally, those students who have a more positive attitude toward Interactive Technology are more satisfied with its use. There is not, however, a significant relationship between students feeling more prepared for the course due to the use of Interactive Technology and their attitude toward it.
Corrosion inhibition by aerobic biofilms on SAE 1018 steel

Carbon steel (SAE 1018) samples were exposed to complex liquid media containing either the aerobic bacterium Pseudomonas fragi or the facultative anaerobe Escherichia coli DH5α. Compared to sterile controls, mass loss was consistently 2- to 10-fold lower in the presence of these bacteria which produce a protective biofilm. Increasing the temperature from 23 °C to 30 °C resulted in a 2- to 5-fold decrease in corrosion inhibition with P. fragi whereas the same shift in temperature resulted in a 2-fold increase in corrosion inhibition with E. coli DH5α. Corrosion observed with non-biofilm-forming Streptomyces lividans TK24 was similar to that observed in sterile media. A dead biofilm, generated in situ by adding kanamycin to an established biofilm, did not protect the metal (corrosion rates were comparable to those in the sterile control), and mass loss in cell-free, spent Luria-Bertani (LB) medium was similar to that in sterile medium. Confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis confirmed the presence of a biofilm consisting of live and dead cells embedded in a sparse glycocalyx matrix. Mass-loss measurements were consistent with microscopic observations of the metal surface after 2 weeks of exposure, indicating that uniform corrosion occurred. The biofilm was also able to withstand mild agitation (60 rpm), provided that sufficient time was given for its development.
Historic, Clinical, and Prognostic Features of Epileptic Encephalopathies Caused by CDKL5 Mutations

Mutations within the X-linked cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) gene are important causes of early-onset epileptic encephalopathies. We sought to determine the historic, clinical, and prognostic features of epilepsy secondary to CDKL5 mutations. We performed retrospective chart reviews of children at our institution with epilepsy and CDKL5 mutations. Six children were identified. One manifested a deletion in exons 10-15 of the CDKL5 gene, another manifested a single base-pair duplication in exon 3, and the rest manifested base-pair exchanges. The mean age of seizure onset was 1.8 months (range, 1-3 months). Although the majority (4/6, 67%) presented with partial-onset seizures, all children developed infantile spasms. All children demonstrated developmental delay and visual impairment. Although such mutations are X-linked, two children were boys. They did not present with more severe phenotypes than their female counterparts. Despite trials of antiepileptic drugs (mean, 5; range, 3-7), steroids/adrenocorticotropic hormone (4/6; 67%), and the ketogenic diet (6/6; 100%), all children manifested refractory seizures at last follow-up. Although no treatment eliminated seizures, topiramate, vigabatrin, and the ketogenic diet were most helpful at reducing seizure frequency.
Interactions between Epiphytic Bacteria and Conidia of Gremmeniella abietina

Washings from red pine needles treated with a strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens and a nutrient source remained inhibitory to conidial germination of Gremmeniella abietina for 72 hr. after application of bacteria. In field studies, strains of P. fluorescens were applied to red pine seedlings that were subsequently inoculated with conidia of G. abietina. Disease incidence was lowest when bacteria were applied in a nutrient solution immediately prior to inoculation with conidia. Results suggest that temperature, availability of free water and nutrients affect survival of applied antagonists and subsequent control of G. abietina. Environmental effects on antagonist and pathogen survival and interaction are being modeled.
The evolution of genomic imprinting

We explore three possible pathways for the evolution of genomic imprinting. (1) Imprinting may be advantageous in itself when imprinted and unimprinted alleles of a locus confer different phenotypes. If a segment of DNA is imprinted in the gametes of one sex but not in those of the other, it might lead to effects correlated with sexual dimorphism. More fundamentally, in certain organisms, sex determination might have evolved because of imprinting. When imprinting leads to chromosome elimination or inactivation and occurs in some embryos but not in others, two classes of embryos, differing in the number of functional gene copies, would result. A model for sex determination based on inequality in the actual or effective copy-number of particular noncoding, regulatory sequences of DNA has been proposed (Chandra, Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82. 1165–1169 and 6947–6949, 1985). Maternal control of offspring sex is another possible consequence of imprinting; this would indicate a potential role for imprinting in sex ratio evolution. (2) Genes responsible for imprinting may have pleiotropic effects and they may have been selected for reasons other than their imprinting ability. Lack of evidence precludes further consideration of this possibility. (3) Imprinting could have co-evolved with other traits. For instance, gamete-specific imprinting could lead to a lowered fitness of androgenetic or gynogenetic diploids relative to the fitness of ‘normal’ diploids. This in turn would reinforce the evolution of anisogamy. The reversibility of imprinting raises the possibility of occasional incomplete or improper erasure. If the site of imprinting is the egg – as appears to be the case with the human X (Chandra and Brown, Nature 253. 165–168, 1975) – either improper imprinting or improper erasure could lead to unusual patterns of inheritance (as in the fragile-X syndrome) or fitness effects skipping generations.
Instantaneous components of power and actual physical phenomena in sinusoidal circuits

The paper deals with analysis of instantaneous components of instantaneous power in sinusoidal circuits. It shows that these components do not project adequately actual physical phenomena they are believed to project. Particularly it shows that actual amount of energy oscillating between load and source is different from that which can be determined applying the concept of instantaneous reactive power. Formulae are given.
Comparison of major biocontrol strains of non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus for the reduction of aflatoxins and cyclopiazonic acid in maize

Biological control of toxigenic Aspergillus flavus in maize through competitive displacement by non-aflatoxigenic strains was evaluated in a series of field studies. Four sets of experiments were conducted between 2007 and 2009 to assess the competitiveness of non-aflatoxigenic strains when challenged against toxigenic strains using a pin-bar inoculation technique. In three sets of experiments the non-aflatoxigenic strain K49 effectively displaced toxigenic strains at various concentrations or combinations. The fourth study compared the relative competitiveness of three non-aflatoxigenic strains (K49, NRRL 21882 from Afla-Guard®, and AF36) when challenged on maize against two aflatoxin- and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA)-producing strains (K54 and F3W4). These studies indicate that K49 and NRRL 21882 are superior to AF36 in reducing total aflatoxin contamination. Neither K49 nor NRRL 21882 produce CPA and when challenged with K54 and F3W4, CPA and aflatoxins were reduced by 84-97% and 83-98%, respectively. In contrast, AF36 reduced aflatoxins by 20% with F3W4 and 93% with K54 and showed no reduction in CPA with F3W4 and only a 62% reduction in CPA with K54. Because AF36 produces CPA, high levels of CPA accumulate when maize is inoculated with AF36 alone or in combination with F3W4 or K54. These results indicate that K49 may be equally effective as NRRL 21882 in reducing both aflatoxins and CPA in maize.
Why is there such a poor prognosis associated with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare malignancy accounting for approximately 2% of all thyroid cancers and has a median survival of less than 6 months [1]. The management options for patien...
Telecommunications reform in Malawi

In 1998 the Government of Malawi decided to reform its telecommunications sector. Although the reform was ambitious in some ways, it was modest when compared with the most ambitious reforms adopted elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa. The two main accomplishments were splitting the incumbent fixed line monopoly, the Malawi Post and Telecommunications Corporation, into two companies-Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL) and Malawi Post Corporation (MPC)-and issuing two new cellular licenses to two new private entrants. In addition, the Government also established a new regulator which was separate from, but heavily dependent on, the Ministry of Information and liberalized entry in value-added and Internet services. However, the Government had neither privatized the fixed-line telecommunications operator nor introduced competition in fixed-line services by the end of 2002. Clarke, Gebreab, and Mgombelo discuss sector performance before reform, details of the reform, the political motivation for reform, and events in the five years following the reform. The reform yielded mixed results. Although cellular penetration and Internet use expanded dramatically following reform, prices increased, especially for cellular calls, and fixed-line penetration remains low by regional standards.
Structure and stabilization of the Hendra virus F glycoprotein in its prefusion form

Hendra virus (HeV) is one of the two prototypical members of the Henipavirus genus of paramyxoviruses, which are designated biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) organisms due to the high mortality rate of Nipah virus (NiV) and HeV in humans. Paramyxovirus cell entry is mediated by the fusion protein, F, in response to binding of a host receptor by the attachment protein. During posttranslational processing, the fusion peptide of F is released and, upon receptor-induced triggering, inserts into the host cell membrane. As F undergoes a dramatic refolding from its prefusion to postfusion conformation, the fusion peptide brings the host and viral membranes together, allowing entry of the viral RNA. Here, we present the crystal structure of the prefusion form of the HeV F ectodomain. The structure shows very high similarity to the structure of prefusion parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5) F, with the main structural differences in the membrane distal apical loops and the fusion peptide cleavage loop. Functional assays of mutants show that the apical loop can tolerate perturbation in length and surface residues without loss of function, except for residues involved in the stability and conservation of the F protein fold. Structure-based disulfide mutants were designed to anchor the fusion peptide to conformationally invariant residues of the F head. Two mutants were identified that inhibit F-mediated fusion by stabilizing F in its prefusion conformation.
Arterial chemoreceptor input to nucleus tractus solitarius

The arterial chemoreceptors play an important role in the reflex regulation of blood pressure and respiration. To investigate the initial integration of chemoreceptor inputs within the central nervous system, intracellular recordings were obtained in pentobarbital-anesthetized, paralyzed, and mechanically ventilated cats, from 58 cells within the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS) that were depolarized by activation of the ipsilateral carotid body chemoreceptors. Close arterial injection of less than 100 microliters CO2-saturated bicarbonate evoked depolarizations of membrane potential with amplitudes of 2.2-4.6 mV and durations of 1.8-6.7 s in 46 cells. In 12 cells, activation of the carotid body chemoreceptors evoked a depolarization-hyperpolarization sequence. Electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus nerve (500 microA, 0.2 ms) evoked EPSPs [mean latency 6.4 +/- 0.5 (SE) ms; range 2.1-18.4 ms] in 46 cells and EPSP-IPSPs (7.3 +/- 0.8 ms; range 4.2-12.4 ms) in 12 cells. The distribution of EPSP latencies exhibited two peaks, one in the 2- to 4-ms range and another in the 7- to 8-ms range. Twenty-nine chemoreceptive cells were tested for the presence of convergent inputs from the ipsilateral carotid sinus baroreceptors. No evidence was found of a convergent postsynaptic inhibitory input from the baroreceptors within the NTS; however, seven cells were found that received an excitatory input from the baroreceptors. The observation that NTS neurons do not integrate chemoreceptor afferent inputs in a homogeneous manner suggests that the multiplicity of NTS unit responses might be related to the specific reflex function of an individual cell (e.g., vagal or sympathetic outflow, respiration).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Grief, depression, and the DSM-5: a review and reflections upon the debate

Every side in the debate about eliminating or retaining the bereavement exclusion for diagnosing major depressive disorder agreed that the DSM-IV was inconsistent. It exempted symptoms of depression from a depressive disorder diagnosis if they were a response to the loss of a loved one, but diagnosed depression symptoms in response to any other kind of loss or stress as a disorder. The participants in the debate did not agree how to resolve the inconsistency — eliminate the exemption for bereavement, leave it in place, or extend it to all cases with loss & stress-triggered depression symptoms. The difference between how the debate was presented to the general public and the issues debated in the scientific literature is described, as are the facts upon which the various sides readily agreed. Scientific research that casts doubt upon some common assumptions about the psychology of grieving is also reviewed. The article concludes by taking note of both the scientific-empirical and metaphysical facets of the debate, and suggests a pragmatic, verbal solution for one of the metaphysical facets.