cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Religion, Rhetoric, and Social Change after Hurricane Katrina

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and in its aftermath, Americans were left asking why it had happened. This paper explores the discussions that occurred in newspaper articles, editorials, websites, and blogs in an attempt to distill the multiple interpretations people had of such a major natural disaster. Three major meanings emerge: that the hurricane was a type of divine retribution, that the hurricane was caused or its consequences exacerbated by human failings, and that the hurricane could serve as a catalyst for social change.
Circadian rhythm phase shifts and endogenous free-running circadian period differ between African-Americans and European-Americans.

Successful adaptation to modern civilization requires the internal circadian clock to make large phase shifts in response to circumstances (e.g., jet travel and shift work) that were not encountered during most of our evolution. We found that the magnitude and direction of the circadian clock's phase shift after the light/dark and sleep/wake/meal schedule was phase-advanced (made earlier) by 9 hours differed in European-Americans compared to African-Americans. European-Americans had larger phase shifts, but were more likely to phase-delay after the 9-hour advance (to phase shift in the wrong direction). The magnitude and direction of the phase shift was related to the free-running circadian period, and European-Americans had a longer circadian period than African-Americans. Circadian period was related to the percent Sub-Saharan African and European ancestry from DNA samples. We speculate that a short circadian period was advantageous during our evolution in Africa and lengthened with northern migrations out of Africa. The differences in circadian rhythms remaining today are relevant for understanding and treating the modern circadian-rhythm-based disorders which are due to a misalignment between the internal circadian rhythms and the times for sleep, work, school and meals.
Electro-Mechanical Coupling of Piezoelectric Nanocomposites

Energy harvesting technology that can increase the operation time and decrease the device size is urgently needed in wireless electronics, portable devices, and implantable biosensors. This paper reports the experimental study of electromechanical coupling of PZT (piezoelectric) nanofiber composites which have the potential to be used for energy harvesting. The recorded voltage output was about 6 mV in the experiments. In this paper, we will describe the fabrication of the piezoelectric nanocomposites and demonstrate the characteristics of electro-mechanical coupling using a dynamic mechanical test. The piezoelectric nanocomposite assembly could produce high voltage and power output to be used as a power source, which might be used for wireless sensors, personal electronics, implantable bio-sensors, and bio-actuators.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Constructing Topical Hierarchies in Heterogeneous Information Networks

A digital data collection (e.g., scientific publications, enterprise reports, news, and social media) can often be modeled as a heterogeneous information network, linking text with multiple types of entities. Constructing high-quality concept hierarchies that can represent topics at multiple granularities benefits tasks such as search, information browsing, and pattern mining. In this work we present an algorithm for recursively constructing multi-typed topical hierarchies. Contrary to traditional text-based topic modeling, our approach handles both textual phrases and multiple types of entities by a newly designed clustering and ranking algorithm for heterogeneous network data, as well as mining and ranking topical patterns of different types. Our experiments on datasets from two different domains demonstrate that our algorithm yields high quality, multi-typed topical hierarchies.
Eric A. Stanley and Nat Smith (eds). Captive Genders: Trans Embodiment and the Prison Industrial Complex

As I flipped through my precious, fresh-off-the-press copy of Captive Genders: Trans Embodiment and the Prison Industrial Complex after its 2011 book launch in San Francisco, I did not expect that ...
The Effect of Age on Pharmacokinetics of Antiepileptic Drugs

Management of epilepsy in the elderly requires understanding of the unique biochemical and pharmacologic characteristics of this patient population. Accurate assessment of seizures and identification of epilepsy syndromes, thorough neurologic assessment to define etiology, and comprehensive evaluation of the patient's health and living situation are necessary for informed management decisions. Challenges to treatment include concomitant diseases, polypharmacy with accompanying drug interactions, and changes in physiology, such as changes in renal clearance and hepatic function than alter drug absorption, protein binding, metabolism, and elimination. Elderly patients with declining intellectual function, motor impairment, or altered sensory function may be especially susceptible to dose-related CNS side effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Drugs prescribed for concomitant illnesses such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, infections, behavioral problems, and gastrointestinal disturbances may alter absorption, distribution, and metabolism of AEDs, with an adverse impact on efficacy and increased occurrence of adverse effects. The AEDs may induce metabolism of other drugs, resulting in decline in target response. Addition of an AED to an elderly patient's medical regimen requires careful review of all prescribed drugs. Optimal care of elderly patients with epilepsy includes use of free drug levels to monitor AED concentrations, careful dose selection, and sensitivity to the social problems that may occur in this population.
βCaMKII Regulates Actin Assembly and Structure

Ca(2+)-Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is an abundant synaptic protein that was recently shown to regulate the organization of actin filaments leading to structural modifications of synapses. CaMKII is a dodecameric complex with a special architecture that provides it with unique potential for organizing the actin cytoskeleton. We report using biochemical assays that the beta isoform of CaMKII binds to and bundles actin filaments, and the disposition of betaCaMKII within the actin bundles was revealed by cryoelectron tomography. In addition, betaCaMKII was found to inhibit actin polymerization, suggesting that it either serves as a capping protein or binds monomeric actin, reducing the amount of freely available monomers to nucleate polymer assembly. By means of fluorescent cross-correlation spectroscopy, we determined that betaCaMKII does indeed bind to monomeric actin, reaching saturation at a stoichiometry of 12:1 actin monomers per betaCaMKII holoenzyme with a binding constant of 2.4 x 10(5) m(-1). In cells, betaCaMKII has a dual functional role; it can sequester monomeric actin to reduce actin polymerization and can also bundle actin filaments. Together, these effects would impact both the dynamics of actin filament assembly and enhance the rigidity of the filaments once formed, significantly impacting the structure of synapses.
Influence of optical fiber coating damage in the light transmissivity characteristics of microbend sensors

A laboratory testing and engineering modeling study was completed to determine the influence of fiber optic coating damage caused by microbend contact on the performance of microbend sensors developed based on relatively low cost single-sided microbending technique using a multimode optical fiber. A testing method was designed, developed and implemented to determine the loads that caused optical fiber glass-coating debonding and coating fracture. Finite Element models of the fiber-deformer system were developed to study the failure modes and predict the stresses that caused this failure. Loads and displacements predicted by Finite Element models were found to be in good agreement with load and displacement values observed during the experimental analyses. It was found that optical fiber coating fracture changes the transmissivity output response but does not affect the recovery of the light transmissivity properties of the optical fiber. Viscoelastic effects were found to influence the behavior of the fiber-deformer system. It was also found that glass-coating debonding and coating fracture during a load-unload cycle are major causes of variability and error during microbend sensor calibration.
Quantification of water flow and net drag in midwater trawls

Abstract The flow velocity and hydrodynamic drag of 18 quarter-scale midwater box trawl nets were quantified in a circulating water channel using electromagnetic current meters and strain gauges, with the mouth of each net attached to a rigid pipe frame to maintain geometric similarity. The experimental matrix involved three mesh sizes (25, 50, and 100 mm), three twine diameters (0.5, 1, and 2 mm), two webbing tapers (all bar and three points to one bar), and three test speeds (30, 60, and 90 cm s−1. Under this design, the significant factors affecting the velocity gradient within or ahead of the nets were found to be the solidity ratio of the webbing and the towing speed. The significant factors affecting the drag coefficient of the nets were the solidity ratio and the average webbing angle of incidence. The towing speed was not found to significantly affect the drag coefficient under the experimental conditions.
Academic Freedom and Academic Tenure: Can They Survive in the Market Place of Ideas?

Recently academic freedom and academic tenure have been in the media spotlight because of concerns that academic freedom is being misused and that academic tenure provides job security to a select few. First, this paper provides a brief history of these two institutions and follow with an analysis using Stone’s (2002) policy analysis format. Second, this paper examines the university through two lenses: (a) an economic market lens; and (b) a community lens. These two lenses offer contrasting views of the university and help explain the different views of academic freedom and tenure. The authors suggest that faculty make use of the economic model to increase their chances of maintaining tenure in a university atmosphere frequently characterized by a business approach rather than a collegial one. Recommendations for future research are also provided.
The discriminative stimulus effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists in phencyclidine-trained rats.

The discriminative stimulus effects of two competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists, 2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoate (APH) and 3-[(+-)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl]propyl-1-phosphonate (CPP), were assessed in rats trained to discriminate phencyclidine from saline. Systemically administered APH (10-60 mg/kg i.p.) failed to elicit phencyclidine-lever responding; however, partial generalization from phencyclidine occurred following intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of APH (1.5-30 micrograms). Systemic and central administration of CPP (3-30 mg/kg i.p.; 0.1-10 micrograms i.c.v.) also resulted in partial generalization from phencyclidine. Partial generalization was also obtained with methohexital (5-30 mg/kg i.p.). However, generalization to APH, CPP and methohexital was usually accompanied by decreased response rates, and response rate decreases frequently occurred without appreciable phencyclidine-lever selection, indicating that these drugs also had no phencyclidine-like behavioral effects. The drug di-ortho-tolyl guanidine (DTG) which binds with high-affinity to sigma receptors failed to elicit phencyclidine-lever responding, even at doses which reduced response rates. These findings suggest that although competitive NMDA antagonists share some discriminative stimulus properties with phencyclidine, there is not a complete overlap in the discriminative stimulus properties of competitive and non-competitive NMDA antagonists. Furthermore, the discriminative stimulus effects of APH and CPP were no more similar to phencyclidine than those of methohexital.
A record and file partitioning model

One of the main objectives in the design of a file system is the reduction of storage and data transfer costs. This paper presents a model in which several requests access the file system, and each request requires information from one or more variable length data-items. The probabilities of access and the distribution of each data-item's length are assumed to be known, and to be mutually independent. The file system uses one or more storage devices, and each record may be partitioned into subrecords that are stored on different devices. One of the subrecords is designated as the primary record; when a request for a record is made, the primary record is first accessed, and other sub-records are accessed only if the pertinent information is not stored in the primary record. The model that is presented in this paper, both as a nonlinear programming model and a mixed integer programming model, is a very general one; several types of file systems may be derived from it by an appropriate selection of its parameters. This model has already been used in the optimization of library routines' storage at a large scale operating system.
Implementing a social norms approach to reduce alcohol abuse on campus: Lessons learned in the shadow of ‘The World's Largest Six-Pack’

Abstract Many institutions of higher education are struggling with the problem of excessive alcohol consumption by students. Colleges and universities want to be ‘good neighbors’ in their communities and must limit legal and social risks that result from excessive alcohol consumption by students. At the same time, colleges and universities operate in an increasingly challenging marketplace where many prospective students seek out institutions with a ‘party school’ reputation. Thus, higher education institutions are finding it difficult to define and carry out alcohol reduction measures that satisfy all constituents. This article discusses the approach taken at the University of Wisconsin—La Crosse. UW-L is an institution that identified a serious alcohol consumption problem and had to address the problem in a community where high levels of alcohol consumption are socially and culturally condoned. The article profiles the UW-L community and discusses the campaign model and strategy chosen. Quantitative and qualitative measures of success are discussed, along with lingering issues of resistance. The article ends with a summary of current issues and future directions being taken by the campaign.
Alfven waves in a thermally stratified fluid

The properties of Alfven waves propagating along a uniform horizontal field in a highly conducting incompressible medium in the presence of strong convective instability are examined in the Boussinesq approximation. In particular, it is sought to determine whether there are exact solutions to the dynamical equations in the presence of convective forces. It is shown that a class of exact solutions of arbitrary amplitude, but of limited form, which may be of some physical interest, does exist. For large amplitudes, any mixtures of polarization states are shown to cause scattering into new modes.
Modeling protein-small molecule interactions: structure and thermodynamics of noble gases binding in a cavity in mutant phage T4 lysozyme L99A.

The complexes of phage T4 lysozyme L99A with noble gases have been studied by molecular dynamics simulation. In a long simulation of the complex with one Xe atom, the structure was found to undergo global conformation change involving a reversible opening and closing of the entrance to the substrate-binding site, during which the conformations of the N and C-terminal domains varied little. The distributions of Xe positions sampled in dynamics simulations were refined in terms of anisotropic Gaussian distributions via least-squares minimization of the difference between Fourier transforms. In addition, molecular transformation simulations have been applied in order to calculate the binding free energies of Xe, Kr and Ar relative to a standard state at a pressure of 1 bar. A single bound Xe is found to assume an equilibrium distribution over three adjacent preferred sites, while in a two-Xe complex, the two Xe atoms preferentially occupy two of these. The positions of the three sites agree closely with the positions of bound Xe determined in the refined crystal structure of a complex formed at a pressure of 8 bar Xe, and the calculated affinities agree well with the observed partial occupancies. At a pressure of 8 bar, a mixture of one-Xe and two-Xe complexes is present, and similarly for complexes with Kr and Ar, with single occupancy relatively more prevalent with Kr and Ar. (Binding of a third Xe atom is found to be quite unfavorable.) A comparison with simulation results for the binding of benzene to the same site leads to the conclusion that binding of Xe within cavities in proteins is common because of several favorable factors: (1) Xe has a large atomic polarizability; (2) Xe can be applied at a relatively high pressure, i.e. high chemical potential; (3) an unfavorable entropic term related to the need to orient the ligand in the binding site is absent. Finally, it is found that the model's binding energy of a water molecule in the cavity is insufficient to overcome the unfavorable binding entropy.
Activism Gone Shopping: An Empirical Exploration of Individual-Level Determinants of Political Consumerism and Donating

Using data collected from the European Social Survey (made available by the Norwegian Social Science Data Services), we compare the political acts of buycotting, boycotting, and direct monetary donation and examine the different individual-level attributes that determine people to engage in these political acts. Specifically, we examine the individual attributes that best indicate an individual’s propensity to engage in these activities. Our main findings are that women and young people participate in political consumerism more than men and older people. We also find that donors differ substantially from buycotters and boycotters, which leads us to conclude that donating is a different, more traditional type of participation than is political consumerism. This sets the stage for studying nontraditional realms of political expression and in particular indicates a need for future studies on political actors most likely to engage in political consumerism.
Effects of Expectation Level on Achievement in High School Physical Science Courses (ISIS) Employing a Quasi Mastery Teaching Method

AbstractThis study determined the effects of a modified mastery learning system on achievement in an individualized high school physical science course (ISIS). The manipulated variable was mastery level (Low, Medium, or High). Also included were student aptitude variables of academic ability, study orientation, and locus of control. Three separate analyses were conducted using total score and two subscales, core items and advanced-excursion items, as dependent variables. In each analysis, the ANCOVA model explained a significant amount of variance. The results indicated that medium mastery standards were most strongly associated with higher achievement for each dependent variable. Comparing high and low standards, high was better for easy content while low was better for hard content. It is hypothesized that students attempted to meet the mastery standards given the task difficulty, quality of instruction, and time available. Standards set too high, given these constraints, resulted in discouragement and ...
Predictors and outcomes of extended intensive care unit length of stay in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Abstract Objective: To assess risk predictors of increased intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) and assess outcomes associated with increased ICU length of stay. Methods: We conducted a nested case-control study from a 9-year hospitalization cohort with prospective data collection (N = 9869). Cases were CABG patients with ICU greater than or equal to 168 hours (N = 236) and controls were CABG patients with an ICU stay of less than 168 hours (N = 708). We examined 15 risk factors and 11 outcomes. Results: Nine risk factors proved significant in predicting an increased ICU length of stay. Cases were more likely to be older, with an increased pump time, and a lower body surface area. Cases tended to be female, with COPD, hypertension, and undergoing an urgent surgical procedure. Controls tended to have hypercholesterolemia and abnormal left ventricular hypertrophy. There was no significant difference between the cases and controls for the remaining six risk factors. Five of the nine significant predictors correlated with four predictors: age, urgent surgical procedure, pump time, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). Using logistic regression analysis, we found that patients undergoing CABG had an increased ICU length of stay if they were older than 70 years (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.86 to 3.62), with longer pump time (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.75 to 3.44), had COPD (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.36 to 3.05), and had an urgent surgical procedure (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.26). Patients with an extended ICU length of stay were also found to experience 11 additional negative outcomes. Conclusion: In patients undergoing CABG surgery an increased age, increased pump time, COPD, and urgent surgical procedure significantly increased the risk of an increased ICU length of stay. Patients with an increased ICU length of stay also experienced more negative outcomes.
Muscle-flap salvage of prosthetic dural repair

Summary Objective A critical element in the prevention of wound and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) infections after craniotomies is the prevention of postprocedural CSF leaks. The salvage of infected prosthetic dural material in this milieu is not adequately addressed in the literature and is the subject of this study. Methods We performed a 7-year retrospective review of the Yale-New Haven Hospital patient records to identify successful salvage strategies in patients with relentless CSF leaks. Twenty data points were collected, including original diagnosis, nature of the procedure, presence of dural graft, definitive treatment of the leak, culture results and pre- and postoperative antibiotics. Results Thirteen patients experienced post-craniotomy CSF leaks that required surgical intervention. The most common cause of the original craniotomy (54% of patients) was an oncological aetiology, followed by ruptured aneurysms or haemorrhage in 31% of the patients. Of the 13 patients experiencing CSF leaks, 76% involved the posterior skull base, and therefore a trapezius muscle flap was used in 38% of the cases. The Bovine pericardial graft (10 our of 13), a nonautologous graft, was left intact, and CSF drainage procedures were employed in most patients Growth of Gram-positive organisms on cultures was found in 76% of the cases. The most frequent offenders were Staphylococcus aureus (five of the 13), coagulase-negative staphyloccocal species (two out of 13), and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (two out of 13). Vancomycin was administered in all cases preoperatively. All 13 patients who underwent open surgery for CSF leak had complete resolution of the leak without need for additional reconstructive surgical intervention. Conclusion Comprehensive method of treating CSF leaks in conjunction with the salvage of bovine pericardial dural grafts may be a viable clinical option.
Inhibition of NAD+-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) by cyclooxygenase inhibitors and chemopreventive agents.

Abstract 15-Hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) catalyzes NAD + -dependent oxidation of 15(S)-hydroxyl group of prostaglandins and has been considered a key enzyme involved in biological inactivation of prostaglandins. This enzyme is markedly induced by androgens in hormone-sensitive human prostate cancer cells (Tong M., Tai H. H. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2000; 276 : 77–81) and may be involved in tumorigenesis. Inhibition of this enzyme may be of value in anticancer therapy. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which inhibit cyclooxygenases (COXs) have been shown to be chemopreventive in epidemiological and animal-model studies. However, chemoprevention by these drugs may not be directly related to their inhibition of COXs. Other targets may be also involved in their chemopreventive activity. We have examined a variety of NSAIDs including COX-2 selective inhibitors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ agonists and phytophenolic compounds which have been shown to be chemopreventive for their effect on 15-PGDH. It was found that most of these compounds were potent inhibitors of 15-PGDH. Among these compounds, ciglitazone appeared to be the most powerful inhibitor (IC 50 =2.7 μM). Inhibition by ciglitazone was non-competitive with respect to NAD + and uncompetitive with respect to PGE 2 .
Development of resistance to coccidiosis in the absence of merogonic development using X-lrradiated Eimeria acervulina oocysts

Sporulated oocysts of the protozoan Eimeria acervulina were subjected to 0, 10, 15, 20, or 30 krad of X-irradiation and inoculated into susceptible outbred chickens to determine if radioattenuated coccidia could induce protection against parasite challenge. Irradiation treatment had an appreciable dose-dependent effect on parasite development. Insignificant numbers of oocysts were produced by chickens inoculated with parasites that had been exposed to greater than 10 krad X-irradiation. Sporozoites exposed to 15 or 20 krad irradiation conferred significant protection against the appearance of intestinal lesions after parasite challenge. Sporozoites subjected to the highest dose level (30 krad) did not produce any significant level of protection. To investigate this phenomenon further and assess intracellular parasite development, susceptible outbred strains of chickens were administered either nonirradiated (0 krad) oocysts or oocysts that were exposed to an optimal dose (15 krad) or a high dose (30 krad) of X-irradiation. Immunofluorescence staining of tissue sections from each treatment group at various intervals after the initial administration of irradiated parasites indicated that sporozoites exposed to 15 krad irradiation were as capable of invading the host intestinal epithelium as nonirradiated sporozoites. However, at 48, 60, 72, and 96 hr, there was a marked reduction in merogonic developmentmore » in groups receiving irradiated sporozoites compared to those inoculated with nonirradiated parasites. The latter parasites underwent profuse merogonic development; in contrast, irradiated parasites demonstrated little (15 krad) or no (30 krad) merogonic development. These results suggest that induction of a protective immune response occurs during a critical period early in intracellular development of E. acervulina.« less
List, Bibliography, and Index of Fossil Vertebrates of Louisiana and Mississippi: ABSTRACT

Species of fossil vertebrates reported from Louisiana and Mississippi are listed. The bibliography consists of 167 titles and contains detailed annotations on vertebrates from those states. Both systematic and chronologic-geographic indexes are provided. End_of_Article - Last_Page 2035------------
Oscillating dynamo in the presence of a fossil magnetic field - The solar cycle

Hydromagnetic dynamo generation of oscillating magnetic fields in the presence of an external, ambient magnetic field introduces a marked polarity asymmetry between the two halves of the magnetic cycle. The principle of oscillating dynamo interaction with external fields is developed, and a tentative application to the sun is described. In the sun a dipole moment associated with the stable fluid beneath the convection zone would produce an asymmetrical solar cycle.
Time for wine? Identifying differences in wine-drinking occasions for male and female wine consumers

This study examines the two important wine marketing variables of occasion and gender. The methodology includes in-depth qualitative interviews with 30 California wine consumers (15 men and 15 women) and an online quantitative survey with a representative sample of 305 California wine consumers (155 men and 150 women). Results confirm that of the 22 occasions analyzed, there are 16 in which California men and women drink wine at similar frequency. Common gender motivations include drinking wine to enhance food, because they like the taste, and for relaxation. Differences in motivation indicate that men are more interested in discussing the technical aspects of wine and exhibiting knowledge, whereas women want to relax and socialize with friends over wine. The results both support and provide new findings for the research literature, and point to future research opportunities. In addition, implications for wine marketing are provided.
The effects of signaled response-independent shocks on behavior under avoidance and extinction schedules

Response rates of rats were recorded during a 30-sec signal (CS) which preceded a response-independent electric shock when: (1) baseline avoidance shocks were withheld during the signal; (2) baseline avoidance shocks were available during the stimulus; and (3) baseline avoidance shocks were withheld but a response-independent shock was intruded on each trial at the midpoint of the signal. Two different adjusting avoidance baselines were used. The data suggest that the signal suppresses responding, but also that this effect can be overcome by shocks supplied either from the baseline schedule or intruded on a response-independent schedule.
Using a modified Seldinger technique is an effective way of placing femoral venous catheters in critically ill infants.

Aim Femoral venous catheters (FVCs) provide multilumen access in critically ill infants with difficult venous access. This study reports our experiences of using a modified Seldinger technique to insert FVCs in our neonatal unit. Methods This was a retrospective case series of 34 infants who had FVCs inserted using the modified Seldinger technique during a 4-year period. Results The median (range) post-natal age and weight at the time of insertion were 66 days (1–314) and 3080 g (865–8000). The FVC remained in situ for a median duration of 21 days (1–63). There were nine infants who died while the FVC remained in situ. The FVCs were removed from four infants due to complications. In three cases, they became dislodged, and in one case, the line became blocked. In 16 infants, the FVC was removed when it was no longer required and one infant was transferred out of the unit with the FVC in situ. Transient venous congestion of the distal limb occurred in four infants. In one infant, the FVC was accidently placed in the femoral artery and removed without complications. Conclusions Femoral venous catheter insertion using a modified Seldinger technique appeared to provide alternate and immediate central venous access in critically ill infants.
An Evaluation of Services Provided by the Market Research Industry

The stature of the market research industry appears threatened by uccusations including invasion of respondent privacy, excessive interviewing and disguised sales appeals. The much publicised lawsuit involving Beecham vs. Yankelovich questions the very foundation of the industry; the validity and reliability of the information generated by marketing researchers. Just how well is the industry performing? This article reports the results of an assessment of the quality of services provided by the research industry by measuring both suppliers' and buyers' perceptions of a number of service performance dimensions. Reactions to industry threats and attitudes toward certification are also examined.
Regulation of Hemangioblast Development

The in vitro differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells provides a powerful approach for studying the earliest events involved in the commitment of the hematopoietic and endothelial lineages. Using this model system, we have identified a precursor with the potential to generate both primitive and definitive hematopoietic cells as well as cells with endothelial characteristics. The developmental potential of this precursor suggests that it represents the in vitro equivalent of the hemangioblast, a common stem cell for both lineages. ES cells deficient for the transcription factor scl/tal-1 are unable to generate hemangioblasts, while those deficient for Runx1 generate reduced numbers of these precursors. These findings indicate that both genes play pivotal roles at the earliest stages of hematopoietic and endothelial development. In addition, they highlight the strength of this model system in studying the function of genes in embryonic development.
Gait change after local anesthetic of chronically arthritic knee.

Gait alterations of chronic knee arthritis before and after injection of local anesthe- sia was measured in the orthopedist's office area. A portable gait analyzer was used to evaluate gait characteristics before and after injection of local anesthesia in the chronically arthritic knee. Gait was analyzed during a 400-meter walk. Overall velocity and cadence increased 3.3% (p = 0.016) and 2.8% (p = 0.005). In-stance phase single and double support time (SLS and DLS) reduced 1.3% (p = 0.003) and 3.8% (p = 0.028). The ratio of SLS/DLS increased confirming a relatively increased duration in SLS as a percentage of the overall gait cycle. In swing phase the pulling power (initial swing), swing power (terminal swing) and ground impact increased 10.3% (p < 0.001), 6.8% (p = 0.003), and 4.2% (p = 0.003). Patients demonstrated fatigability at the end of walking measured as diminished velocity. Fatigability decreased after injection of the arthritic knee. The study demon- strates the specific gait phase changes afforded by injection of local anesthesia into the chronically arthritic knee. This study may serve as a benchmark for the measure of possible improvements afforded by different therapy for the patient suffering from chronic knee arthritis.
Immunization of Turkeys with a DNA Vaccine Expressing Either the F or N Gene of Avian Metapneumovirus

SUMMARY. In this study we compared protection by DNA vaccination with the F (pCMVF) or N (pCMV-N) gene from avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) in turkeys. One-week-old turkey poults received two intramuscular injections 2 wk apart. Birds were challenged with a turkey-embryo-adapted aMPV at 5 wk of age. Birds vaccinated with pCMV-F had decreased clinical signs of disease as well as significantly reduced virus load in tracheal swabs compared with birds vaccinated with pCMV-N or unvaccinated control birds. Serum neutralizing antibodies were significantly higher in birds receiving pCMV-F compared with all other groups. These results indicate that DNA vaccination with the F, but not N, gene of aMPV can induce significant protection against aMPV infection.
Those Mean Girls and Their Friends Bullying and Mob Rule in the Academy

This article highlights the stories and experiences of three White women who were victims of bullying and mobbing in academic settings. Related literature grounds their experiences and offers insig...
Computer-Assisted Navigation for the Treatment of Brain Aneurysms

Endovascular therapy provides a minimally invasive solution for the treatment of brain aneurysms. Interventional neuroradiologists navigate microcathers, platinum coils and stents from the femoral artery to treat the pathological target vessel under fluoroscopic guidance. The procedure involves a clinically significant radiation dose to the patient and the clinical team. We have developed a multi-modality navigation platform providing real-time visualization of the position of endovascular tools without radiation exposure. The system integrates magnetic tracking of surgical devices, and 3D visualization of their position inside a reconstructed model of the vasculature. Preliminary phantom tests have demonstrated an accuracy of 3.8 mm. By merging imaging and localization data, this prototype can provide 3D real-time navigation in brain arteries.
Do Children's Advocacy Centers improve families' experiences of child sexual abuse investigations?

Abstract Objective The Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) model of child abuse investigation is designed to be more child and family-friendly than traditional methods, but there have been no rigorous studies of their effect on children's and caregivers’ experience. Data collected as part of the Multi-Site Evaluation of Children's Advocacy Centers were used to examine whether CACs improve caregivers’ and children's satisfaction with investigations. Methods Nonoffending caregiver and child satisfaction were assessed during research interviews, including the administration of a 14-item Investigation Satisfaction Scale (ISS) for caregivers. Two hundred and twenty-nine sexual abuse cases investigated through a CAC were compared to 55 cases investigated in communities with no CAC. Results Hierarchical linear regression results indicated that caregivers in CAC cases were more satisfied with the investigation than those from comparison sites, even after controlling for a number of relevant variables. There were few differences between CAC and comparison samples on children's satisfaction. Children described moderate to high satisfaction with the investigation, while a minority expressed concerns about their experience. Conclusions The CAC model shows promise for improving families’ experiences, but to build upon this promise, agencies will need to systematize procedures for refining and adapting the model as new research becomes available.
Iron enhances generation of free radicals by Artemisinin causing a caspase-independent, apoptotic death in Leishmania donovani promastigotes

An increasing incidence of unresponsiveness to antimonials in Leishmaniasis has led to identifi cation of plant-derived anti-leishmanial compounds like Artemisinin. Since iron-mediated generation of free radicals sustains the anti-malarial activity of Artemisinin, this study investigated whether similar mechanisms accounted for its activity in Leishmania promastigotes. Artemisinin effectively disrupted the redox potential via an increased generation of free radicals along with a decrease in levels of non-protein thiols. Attenuation of its IC 50 by a free radical scavenger N-acetyl l-cysteine and an iron chelator desferoxamine established the pivotal role of free radicals and of the potentiating effect of iron. An enhanced Fluo-4 fl uorescence refl ected Artemisinin-induced mobilization of intracellular calcium, which triggered apoptosis. However, the absence of any detectable caspase activity indicated that the leishmanicidal activity of Artemisinin is mediated by an iron-dependent generation of reactive intermediates, terminating in a caspase-independent, apoptotic mode of cell death.
American colonial scientists who published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society

Our knowledge of the subsequent course of science clouds analysis of historical scientific activity. We know which lines of investigation stimulated further research and which sank into oblivion. Hindsight allows us to marvel at the brilliance of one scientist and chuckle at the naivety of another with an assurance that was not available to contemporaries. The present study of American colonial science just prior to the American Revolution attempts to avoid this type of bias with a two step method. The first step analyses all communications written by Americans and published in the leading scientific periodical, the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. These publications are classified and compared to the contributions of scientists who were not Americans. The second step collects the American authors of these papers, defines them as publishing scientists, and examines some characteristics of their personal and professional lives.
Using Games to Teach Statics Calculation Procedures: Application and Assessment

Computers afford opportunities for creative instructional activities that are not possible in the traditional lecture-and-textbook class format. Two computer-based interactive games for engineering statics are described in this study. These games are designed to foster proficiency and confidence in narrowly defined but essential topics through the use of repetition and carefully constructed levels of difficulty. The game format provides students with a learning structure and an incentive to develop skills at their own pace in a non-judgmental but competitive and often fun environment. Quantitative and qualitative assessments of both games revealed that: (a) students' quantitative ratings and comments were consistently positive; (b) students who used the games scored significantly higher on quizzes over the subject material than those who learned via traditional lecture; and (c) students rated the games as significantly more effective than the textbook as an aid for learning the material. Materials presented in this article are available at http://web.umr.edu/∼mecmovie/index.html. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 13: 222–232, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20043
Combining Deterministic and Genetic Approaches for Sequential Circuit Test Generation

A hybrid sequential circuit test generator is described which combines deterministic algorithms for fault excitation and propagation with genetic algorithms for state justification. Deterministic procedures for state justification are used if the genetic approach is unsuccessful, to allow for identification of untestable faults and to improve the fault coverage. High fault coverages were obtained for the ISCAS89 benchmark circuits and several additional circuits, and in many cases the results are better than those for purely deterministic approaches.
Color enhances orthonasal olfactory intensity and reduces retronasal olfactory intensity

The effect of color on orthonasal and retronasal odor intensities was investigated. When odorants were smelled orthonasally (i.e., through the nostrils), color enhanced odor intensity ratings, consistent with previous reports. However, when odorants were smelled retronasally (i.e., the odorous solution was put in the mouth), color reduced odor intensity ratings. These different effects of color on odor intensity (i.e., enhancement orthonasally and suppression retronasally) appear to be the result of route of olfactory stimulation rather than of any procedural artifact. This supports previous reports that retronasal and orthonasal odors are perceived differently.
Performance analysis of blind adaptive phase offset correction based on dispersion minimization

This paper presents an analysis of the performance and behavior of a blind adaptive carrier phase offset recovery scheme based on dispersion minimization (DM). The algorithm, called the DM-derotator, is a kind of simple equalizer that attempts to correct the carrier phase offset by minimizing the dispersion of the projection of the real part of the (complex) data signal. The recent application of this algorithm to digital broadcasting signals motivates our analysis. This paper classifies the stationary points of the DM-derotator for a variety of source signals including digital vestigial side band (VSB) and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) and discusses initialization strategies. The analysis is extended to a variety of situations including i) its behavior in the presence of intersymbol interference, ii) its behavior when there is statistical dependence between the in-phase and quadrature components, and iii) its tracking ability.
Probability Discounting of Legal and Non-Legal Outcomes

Probability discounting describes how the subjective value of an outcome changes because its delivery is uncertain. Although many legal decisions involve probability discounting, it has not been systematically studied. Participants were recruited to complete a probability-discounting task that assessed two legal (i.e., murder & embezzlement) and two non-legal (winning a sweepstakes & receiving medical treatment) hypothetical scenarios. They also completed several measures to assess attitudes related to legal issues. Different rates of discounting were observed across the four scenarios. Factor analysis indicated that discounting of the legal scenarios loaded onto a different factor than one of the non-legal scenarios (with the other cross loading on both). Only the participants’ estimation of what constituted reasonable doubt was a reliable predictor of their rates of discounting of the legal outcomes. The present results have a number of potential social implications, both for the study of probability discounting and the understanding of legal decision-making. They also highlight the need for more experimental research on overt behavior.
Transcriptional and post-transcriptional targeting for enhanced transient gene expression in CHO cells.

To develop a simple approach to increase titers of transient gene expression in CHO cells without relying on host cell line engineering as recent reports suggest that for PEI-mediated transfections, under optimized conditions, DNA delivery into cells and nuclei is not the limiting factor. N, N-Dimethyl acetamide (DMA) was utilized to enhance transcription. To target post-transcriptional events, we evaluated the co-expression of various genes involved in the unfolded protein response, namely XBP1S, ATF4, CHOP and HSPA5. XBP1S overexpression led to a 15–85 % increase in titer for multiple therapeutic proteins. Mechanistic studies confirmed that addition of 0.125 % DMA increased transgene mRNA levels as expected. However, overexpression of XBP1S had no effect on transgene mRNA levels, indicating that it influenced post-transcriptional events. Since DMA and XBP1S targeted different pathways, the combination of the two approaches led to an additive improvement in protein titer (150–250 % titer increase). Transcriptional and post-transcriptional pathways of transient gene expression can be targeted to increase titers without resorting to host cell line engineering in a simple, short, 7 day production process.
Design Processes in Pictogram Design: Form and Harmony through Modularity

Abstract This research project aims to study and systematize design methods and procedures included in each method in order to achieve formal coherence within and between figure pictographic systems. The study focuses on two contexts included in the area of information design: Airport facilities and Olympic Games facilities. One of the intended outcomes was the possibility to propose and systematize one, or more, design methods and design procedures that aim to achieve a formal coherence in pictographic systems for use in cross-cultural facilities. Not only was it possible to obtain four different design methods and procedures, but also the opportunity to test and validate these results with a group of university students majoring in design. Of all of these, the one that ensures the attainment of formal coherence within and between figures is the Modular Standardized Grid Method. It was also considered that, when we follow a series of design procedures, which uses modular elements (formal syntactic attributes) articulated on a generating principle (grid or skeleton), the better we solve the problem of obtaining within and between formal coherence. In this paper I will mostly focus the design process through modularity. This idea came from the active research process initiated by me through the ideas originated by Otl Aicher's and Gui Bonsiepe design procedures and the way that they applied the idea of grid/pattern to the exercise of design. The results were tested in a group of 93 students. Besides the possibility to test and support the idea that a modular methods is better to obtain formal coherence, and it was also possible to get results about two different ways to use modular grids in pictogram design: Generating Grids and Regulation Grids.