cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing the impact of airspace security measures during the 2008 united nations general assembly meeting

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plays a pivotal role in maintaining security within the National Airspace System (NAS). This paper discusses employment of temporary flight restrictions and other air domain security measures during the September 2008 United Nations General Assembly meeting. Also discussed are some of the airspace security incidents that occurred during the event, identified as Tracks of Interest, and some of the impacts that the airspace security measures had on the NAS and its users. A comparison is made with impacts measured during the 2007 United Nations General Assembly meeting.
Non-mesenchymal Mimics of Sarcoma

A variety of different non-mesenchymal neoplasms may mimic sarcoma, in particular sarcomatoid carcinoma and melanoma, but also mesothelioma and rarely some lymphomas. This article reviews the key clinical and histologic features of such neoplasms in different settings, along with the use of ancillary studies to help identify the tumor types most frequently misdiagnosed as sarcoma.
Gossip at Work: Unsanctioned Evaluative Talk in Formal School Meetings

This article uses a form of linguistic ethnography (LE) to analyze videotaped recordings of gossip that took place during formal school meetings. By comparing these gossip data against existing models of gossip based on data collected in informal settings, the authors identify eleven new response classes, including four forms of indirectness that operate to cloak gossip under ambiguity and seven forms of avoidance that change the trajectory of gossip. In doing so, this article makes three larger contributions. First, it opens a new front in research on organizational politics by providing an empirically grounded, conceptually rich vocabulary for analyzing gossip in formal contexts. Second, it contributes to knowledge about social interactions in organizations. By examining gossip talk embedded within a work context, this project highlights the nexus among structure, agency, and interaction. Third, it contributes to understandings of gossip in general. By examining gossip in a context previously unexamined, this project provides analytical leverage for theorizing conditions under which gossip is likely and when it will take various forms.
Topological Data Processing for Distributed Sensor Networks with Morse-Smale Decomposition

We are interested in topological analysis and pro- cessing of the large-scale distributed data generated by sensor networks. Naturally, a large-scale sensor network is deployed in a geometric region with possibly holes and complex shape, and is used to sample some smooth physical signal field. We are interested in both the topology of the discrete sensor field in terms of the sensing holes (voids without sufficient sensors deployed), as well as the topology of the signal field in terms of its critical points (local maxima, minima and saddles). Towards this end, we develop distributed algorithms to construct the Morse-Smale decomposition, and study the performance benefits obtained by this approach. The sensor field is decomposed into simply-connected pieces, inside each of which the sensor signal is homogeneous, i.e., the data flows uniformly from a local maximum to a local minimum. The Morse-Smale decomposition can be efficiently constructed in the network locally, after which applications such as iso-contour queries, data-guided navigation and routing, data aggregation, and topologically faithful signal reconstructions benefit tremendously from it.
The First Example of a Bis(trifluoromethyl)carbene Transition-Metal Complex and Its Reduction to a Perfluoroallene Complex

Na/Pb alloy reduction of the (perfluoroisopropyl)iridium complex Cp*(CO)IrI[CF(CF3)2] afforded the first example of a bis(trifluoromethyl)carbene complex, Cp*(CO)Ir=C(CF3)2, which has been crystallographically characterized. Further reduction of this carbene complex with KC8 yielded the perfluoroallene iridium complex Cp*Ir(CO)(η2-CF2CCF2). (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)
Cerebral blood flow velocity and cardiac output in infants of insulin-dependent diabetic mothers.

. Cardiac output and cerebral blood flow velocity in the anterior cerebral and internal carotid arteries were investigated in eight large-for-date infants of insulin-dependent diabetic mothers and 12 healthy term infants during the first four days of life using two-dimensional/pulsed Doppler ultrasound. Temporal mean flow velocity was used as an indicator of changes in cerebral blood flow. Six of the eight infants of diabetic mothers had ventricular septal hypertrophy with reduced cardiac outputs and stroke volumes. Mean flow velocity in both cerebral vessels showed a comparable pattern in both groups throughout the study period and was independent of mean arterial pressure, suggesting unaltered cerebral hemodynamics in the infants of diabetic mothers.
A Novel dCMP Methylase by Engineering Thymidylate Synthase

X-ray crystal structures of binary complexes of dUMP or dCMP with the Lactobacillus casei TS mutant N229D, a dCMP methylase, revealed that there is a steric clash between the 4-NH2 of dCMP and His 199, a residue which normally H-bonds to the 4-O of dUMP but is not essential for activity. As a result, the cytosine moiety of dCMP is displaced from the active site and the catalytic thiol is moved from the C6 of the substrate about 0.5 A further than in the wild-type TS-dUMP complex. We reasoned that combining the N229D mutation with mutations at residue 199 which did not impinge on the 4-NH2 of dCMP should correct the displacements and further favor methylation of dCMP. We therefore prepared several TS N229D mutants and characterized their steady state kinetic parameters. TS H199A/N229D showed a 10 11 change in specificity for methylation of dCMP Versus dUMP. The structures of TS H199A/ N229D in complex with dCMP and dUMP confirmed that the position and orientation of bound dCMP closely approaches that of dUMP in wild-type TS, whereas dUMP was displaced from the optimal catalytic binding site.
Analysis of texture patterns in medical images with an application to breast imaging

We propose a methodological framework for texture analysis in medical images that is based on Vector Quantization (VQ), a method traditionally used for image compression. In this framework, the codeword usage histogram is used as a texture descriptor of the image. This descriptor can be used effectively for similarity searches, clustering, classification and other retrieval operations. We present an application of this approach to the analysis of x-ray galactograms; we analyze the texture in retroareolar regions of interests (ROIs) in order to distinguish between patients with reported galactographic findings and normal subjects. We decompose these ROIs into equi-size blocks and use VQ to represent each block with the closest codeword from a codebook. Each image is represented as a vector of frequencies of codeword appearance. We perform k-nearest neighbor classification of the texture patterns employing the histogram model as a similarity measure. The classification accuracy reached up to 96% for certain experimental settings; these results demonstrate that the proposed approach can be effective in performing similarity analysis of texture patterns in breast imaging. The proposed texture analysis framework has a potential to assist the interpretation of clinical images in general and facilitate the investigation of relationships among structure, texture and function or pathology.
Probing photoconductivity in discotic liquid crystals by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy

Optical pump/terahertz probe spectroscopy was employed to investigate electronic charge transport in discotic liquid crystals. Frequency dependent complex conductivity was observed in phthalocyanines for a few hundred of picoseconds following a femtosecond photoexcitation.
Indirect mappings of multi-touch input using one and two hands

Touchpad and touchscreen interaction using multiple fingers is emerging as a valuable form of high-degree-of-freedom input. While bimanual interaction has been extensively studied, touchpad interaction using multiple fingers of the same hand is not yet well understood. We describe two experiments on user perception and control of multi-touch interaction using one and two hands. The first experiment addresses how to maintain perceptual-motor compatibility in multi-touch interaction, while the second measures the separability of control of degrees-of-freedom in the hands and fingers. Results indicate that two-touch interaction using two hands is compatible with control of two points, while twotouch interaction using one hand is compatible with control of a position, orientation, and hand-span. A slight advantage is found for two hands in separating the control of two positions.
Gain fixed pattern noise correction via optical flow

The paper describes a method that uses a video sequence to correct gain fixed pattern noise (FPN) in an image sensor. The captured sequence and its optical flow are used to estimate gain FPN. Assuming brightness constancy along the motion trajectories, the pixels are grouped in blocks and the gains of the pixels in each block are estimated by iteratively minimizing the sum of the squared brightness variations along the motion trajectories. Significant reductions in gain FPN are demonstrated using both real and synthetically generated video sequences with modest computations.
Open Wireless Sensor Network Telemetry Platform for Mobile Phones

Mobile phones are an underutilized resource for connecting low-power wireless sensor networks (WSNs) to the internet. WSNs typically expend most of their battery power on data transmission. Mobile phones carried by the public could enable a hybrid approach where data makes a low-power short distance hop to phones in the vicinity using Bluetooth or a similar short range protocol, then uses the phones' long distance connectivity to upload to the Internet. Because a large fraction of mobile phones have Bluetooth short-distance radio, this paper describes low-cost hardware for a generic WSN-to-Bluetooth gateway and open-source software that allows a wide subset of mobile phones to download and save WSN data.
From faculty to administrator: Like going to a new planet

The transition from faculty to administration is a cultural as well as organizational shift.
The paranucleolar structure, accessory body of Cajal, sex chromatin, and related structures in nuclei of rat trigeminal neurons: a cytochemical and ultrastructural study.

Comparative light and electron microscopic study of nuclei in rat trigeminal neurons identified two structures which are the ultrastructural equivalent of the paranucloelar structure and the accessory body of Cajal, two nucleoplasmic structures previously demonstrated in other neurons by light microscope silver staining methods. Ultrastructural evidence indicates that the dense component of the nucleolus is converted into the paranucleolar structure, which then detaches from the nucleolar surface to lie free in the nucleoplasm as the accessory body of Cajal. The cytochemistry, ultrastructure, and antimonate reactivity of the paranucleolar structure and accessory body were identical. Both structures lacked cytochemically demonstrable DNA, RNA, or basic protein. The neuronal nuclei also contained Feulgen-positive sex chromatin bodies that adhered to the nucleolus, the nuclear membrane, or to both of these structures in specimens of female but not male rats. The ultrastructure and antimonate reactivity of these bodies closely resembled that of heterochromatin clumps but differed markedly from that of the paranucleolar structures and accessory bodies. Additional structures characterized ultrastructurally included patches, granular bodies, and flakes. These structures, like the paranucleolar structure and the accessory body of Cajal, are apparently unique to nuclei of neurons. Cytochemical methods showed that the patches contained basic protein but no nucleic acid.
Factors associated with perceived effectiveness of local long-term care ombudsman programs in New York and California.

Objectives: Long-term care (LTC) ombudsmen advocate for the health, safety, welfare, and rights of residents in LTC facilities. This article examines factors associated with self-rated effectivenes...
MIKE: the menu interaction kontrol environment

A User Interface Management System (UIMS) called MIKE that does not use the syntactic specifications found in most UIMSs is described. Instead, MIKE provides a default syntax that is automatically generated from the definition of the semantic commands that the interaction is to support. The default syntax is refined using an interface editor that allows modification of the presentation of the interface. It is shown how active pictures can be created by adding action expressions to the viewports of MIKE's windowing system. The implications of MIKE's command-based dialogue description are discussed in terms of extensible interfaces, device and dialogue-style independence, and system support functions.
A Lower Bound to the Probability of Choosing the Optimal Passing Score for a Mastery Test When There Is an External Criterion.

Recently there has been interest in the problem of determining an optimal passing score for a mastery test when the purpose of the test is to predict success or failure on an external criterion. For the case of constant losses for the two error types, a method of determining an optimal passing score is readily derived using standard techniques. The purpose of this note is to describe a lower bound to the probability of identifying an optimal passing score based on a random sample ofN examinees.
A motion control scheme for a biped robot to climb sloping surfaces

A scheme to enable a biped robot to climb sloping surfaces is proposed. By means of sensing devices, namely, position sensors on the joints and force sensors underneath the heel and toe, a biped robot called SD-2 is able to detect the transition of the supporting terrain from a flat floor to a sloping surface and to walk on the slope. Since in the frontal plane almost no difference exists for biped locomotion on level or on slope, the study concentrates on the sagittal plane. >
Improving the Health of the Discipline through Mentoring A Celebration of Everett M. Rogers’ Legacy

Professor Everett M. Rogers, the person, the teacher, the researcher and the mentor is presented in this personal narrative through stories of the author's personal encounters. Over the course of a career that lasted four decades, he influenced the discipline in myriad ways. As a scholar of communication, one can learn about his academic contributions through his research articles and books, so in this article the author tries to acquaint us with him as a person who improved the health of the discipline in every little way.
Risk of salmonellosis from consumption of almonds in the North American market

article i nfo Article history: Received 15 February 2011 Accepted 31 May 2011 Salmonellosis outbreaks from consumption of raw almonds in 2001 and 2004 led to regulations that require mandatory treatment of almonds sold in North America to give a minimum 4-log reduction of Salmonella .T his study aims to: 1) assess the risk of salmonellosis associated with almond consumption in North America, with currenttreatmentsineffect;2)determinetheresilienceofthecurrentproductionsystemtoincreasesinprevalence or concentration of Salmonella on almonds; 3) assess the impact of treating less than 100% of the crop; and 4) investigate conditions that could explain the number of cases associated with the 2001 outbreak. Risk was assessed using a Monte Carlo simulation, based on an established dose-response relationship. Data for almond amounts sold, Salmonella prevalence and concentration on almonds, storage time and temperature at different handling steps, population reductions during storage at various temperatures and with different treatments, and consumer handling were based on data from published sources and almond industry or academic expert opinion. What-if scenarios were evaluated for Salmonella prevalence varying from 1 to 65%, concentrations of Salmonella varyingfrom 1to 120 MPN/100 g,and portionsofuntreated cropvaryingfrom 0to 10%.Theestimated incidenceof salmonellosis in North America from almonds as currently treated is on average 0.008 cases per billion servings (with an estimated 6.6 billion servings consumed annually). Increases in Salmonella prevalence to 25%, mean concentrations above 25 MPN/100 g, or leaving 0.05% of the crop untreated all resulted in an arithmetic mean risk greater than 1 case/year (with geometric means remaining below 1 case/year for all variables). Assuming 4000 kg at a prevalence of 65% (observed in recalled lots) and an average concentration of 120 MPN/100 g in raw almonds (back calculated from levels in recalled almonds) predicted over the 2800 cases estimated for the 2001 outbreak. Applying a 4-log reduction to these almonds reduced the average number of predicted cases to less than a single case. The current regulation is effective in maintaining the risk of salmonellosis from consumption of almonds below an arithmetic mean of 1 case/year, although significant increases in either prevalence or concentration, or small increases in proportion of untreated almonds would frequently lead to exceeding this threshold.
A naturally constrained stress profile through the middle crust in an extensional terrane

Abstract We present a method in which paleopiezometry, Ti-in-quartz thermobarometry (TitaniQ), and 2-D thermal modeling are used to construct a naturally constrained stress profile through the middle crust in an area of exhumed mid-crustal rocks. As an example, we examine the footwall of the Whipple Mountains metamorphic core complex (WMCC). Rocks in the WMCC were initially deformed at ~ 20 km depth by distributed ductile shear, and were then progressively overprinted by localized ductile shear zones and eventually by discrete brittle fracture as the footwall was cooled and exhumed toward the brittle–ductile transition (BDT). Increasing strain localization and cooling during exhumation allowed earlier microstructures to be preserved, and rocks in the WMCC therefore represent several points in temperature–stress space (and by inference depth–stress space). We identify enough of these stress–depth points to construct a complete profile of the flow stress through the middle crust to a depth of ~ 20 km, from which we derive regional estimates of the ambient stresses in the brittle upper crust, and the peak strength at the brittle–ductile transition in this region during Miocene extension. Maximum differential stress reached ~ 136 MPa just below the brittle–ductile transition at a depth of ~ 9 km. Stress levels are consistent with Byerlee's law in the upper crust assuming a vertical maximum principal stress and near-hydrostatic pore fluid pressures, and suggest a coefficient of friction on the 25°-dipping Whipple fault of ~ 0.4. Differential stress decreases to 10–20 MPa at 20 km depths and ~ 500 °C. For strain rates typical of actively deforming regions (10 − 12 to 10 − 15 /s), our stress profile is bracketed by the Hirth et al. (2001) flow law for wet quartzite, whereas the flow law of Rutter and Brodie (2004) overestimates the strength of this particular region.
Peptide fragments as models to study the structure of a G‐protein coupled receptor: The α‐factor receptor of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The α-factor tridecapeptide initiates mating in Saccharomyces cerevisiae upon interaction with Ste2p, its cognate G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR). This interaction is being used as a paradigm for understanding the structure and mechanism of activation of GPCRs by medium-sized peptides. In this article, the use of fragments of Ste2p to study its structure is reviewed. Methods of synthesis of peptides corresponding to both extramembranous and transmembrane domains of Ste2p are evaluated and problems that are encountered during synthesis and purification are described. The results from conformational analyses of the peptide fragments using fluorescence spectroscopy, CD, infrared spectroscopy, and NMR spectroscopy in organic-aqueous mixtures and in the presence of detergent micelles and lipid bilayers are critically reviewed. The data obtained to date provide biophysical evidence for the structure of different domains of Ste2p and indicate that peptides corresponding to these domains have unique biophysical tendencies. The studies carried out on Ste2p fragments indicate that valuable information concerning the structure of the intact receptor can be obtained by studying peptide fragments corresponding to domains of these polytopic integral membrane proteins. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 60: 334–350, 2001
Measuring hospital efficiency in China using grey relational analysis and data envelopment analysis

In this paper, the relative efficiencies of 24 general hospitals in China's Shaanxi province are measured using data envelopment analysis (DEA). Grey relational analysis (GRA) is applied to group the initial measuring indicators and to select the representative ones. Three output variables including the number of discharges, utilization times of beds, and average stay days, and two input variables including the number of beds and average medical expenses per day are considered in the analysis. The results of the overall technical efficiency scores, the pure technical efficiency scores, and the scale efficiency scores of sample hospitals provide some useful managerial insights into measurement and improvement of hospital performance in China.
AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY AND INTRAVENTRICULAR HEMORRHAGE IN VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS

An association between cicatricial retinopathy of prematurity and intraventricular hemorrhage in very low birth weight infants was investigated retrospectively. Newborns were studied who weighed less than or equal to 1500 g at birth, who were less than or equal to 32 weeks gestational age and appropriate by weight, and admitted in the first 24 hours of life to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Diagnosis of retinopathy of prematurity was made by retinal examination at approximately 4 weeks of age. Diagnosis of intraventricular hemorrhage was made by computerized tomography and clinical findings. A total of 138 infants were studied and divided into two groups: (A) birth weight less than or equal to 1000 g (31); (B) birth weight 1001--1500 g (107). There was a statistically significant association between cicatricial retinopathy of prematurity and intraventricular hemorrhage in both groups. There were no statistical differences between birth weight, gestational age, duration of oxygen therapy, highest oxygen concentration received, Apgar scores, incidence of hyaline membrane disease and patent ductus arteriosus between cicatricial retinopathy of prematurity and no retinopathy of prematurity patients in either group. This association may be an important consideration in the pathogenesis of both vascular diseases.
Analysis of Allosteric Effector Binding Sites of Potato ADP-glucose Pyrophosphorylase through Reverse Genetics*

ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) is a key regulatory enzyme of bacterial glycogen and plant starch synthesis as it controls carbon flux via its allosteric regulatory behavior. Unlike the bacterial enzyme that is composed of a single subunit type, the plant AGPase is a heterotetrameric enzyme (α2β2) with distinct roles for each subunit type. The large subunit (LS) is involved mainly in allosteric regulation through its interaction with the catalytic small subunit (SS). The LS modulates the catalytic activity of the SS by increasing the allosteric regulatory response of the hetero-oligomeric enzyme. To identify regions of the LS involved in binding of effector molecules, a reverse genetics approach was employed. A potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) AGPase LS down-regulatory mutant (E38A) was subjected to random mutagenesis using error-prone polymerase chain reaction and screened for the capacity to form an enzyme capable of restoring glycogen production in glgC−Escherichia coli. Dominant mutations were identified by their capacity to restore glycogen production when the LS containing only the second site mutations was co-expressed with the wild-type SS. Sequence analysis showed that most of the mutations were decidedly nonrandom and were clustered at conserved N- and C-terminal regions. Kinetic analysis of the dominant mutant enzymes indicated that theKm values for cofactor and substrates were comparable with the wild-type AGPase, whereas the affinities for activator and inhibitor were altered appreciably. These AGPase variants displayed increased resistance to Pi inhibition and/or greater sensitivity toward 3-phosphoglyceric acid activation. Further studies of Lys-197, Pro-261, and Lys-420, residues conserved in AGPase sequences, by site-directed mutagenesis suggested that the effectors 3-phosphoglyceric acid and Pi interact at two closely located binding sites.
A New Monitor of Pressure Autoregulation: What Does It Add?

Cerebrovascular pressure autoregulation is a vital, protective mechanism that constrains cerebral blood flow during changes in arterial blood pressure. Pressure autoregulation is known to fail during profound hypotension, and the so-called lower limit of autoregulation (LLA) is diverse for different subjects. 1 The measurement and monitoring of pressure autoregulation is specifically useful to discriminate safe from harmful blood pressure: when arterial blood pressure is within range to render normal pressure autoregulation measurements, the brain is protected; when arterial blood pressure is too low and pressure autoregulation measurements show impairment, the brain is vulnerable. 2,3 In the present study, Hori et al. 4 present a novel method to measure pressure autoregulation using the Ornim UT-light technology (Ornim, Inc., Kfar Saba, Israel), rendered as a cerebral flow velocity index (CFVx). The UT-light method is proprietary and quantifies relative tissue blood movement from the Doppler shift of near-infrared light caused by red cells in motion. It is an uncalibrated, surrogate measure of cerebral blood flow. How does this measure autoregulation? How is this to be evaluated and validated? Not fewer than 15 metrics purported to measure autoregulation have infused the medical literature within hundreds of manuscripts in the past 2 decades. 5 It would be instructive to know how these metrics are related and to consider the evidentiary burden required to deploy them clinically. Pressure autoregulation is distinct from, but often confused with, other servomechanisms that contribute to the homeostasis of cerebral blood flow. Examples include neurovascular coupling (or metabolic autoregulation), which rapidly matches cerebral blood flow to local metabolic demands 6 ; the systemic vasoconstrictive response to shock, which diverts cardiac output from sympathetic, angiotensin, and vasopressin-reactive vascular beds to the brain and heart, which respond differently to these neurohormonal cues 7–9 ; and cerebral vasodilatory and constrictive responses caused by changes in arterial carbon dioxide. 10 Each of these operates at the same point of action, that is to affect a change or to prevent a change in cerebral blood flow. The pressure autoregulation mechanism can be measured even when cerebral blood flow is influenced by the other mechanisms listed if the metric used is attuned to the proper frequency. Three components are needed to construct a metric of autoregulation:
The Distribution of Combined Sulfur in Vulcanized Rubber and Its Bearing on the Sulfide Linkage Theory of Vulcanization

Abstract No direct evidence exists to support the sulfide linkage theory of vulcanization, which assumes that cross-linking of the molecules with sulfur would retain the elasticity and decrease the plasticity of the rubber. The following facts do not favor the sulfide linkage theory of vulcanization : (1) Vulcanized rubber can be peptized under conditions which do not appear to rupture a sulfide linkage. (2) No direct relation exists between the physical properties of vulcanized rubber and the amount of combined sulfur. (3) No direct relation exists between the ease of peptization and the physical properties of the vulcanizate. (4) Combined sulfur appears to assist the solvation of rubber. Rubber vulcanized with thiuram disulfides in the absence of free sulfur has poor physical properties but peptizes with difficulty. An increase in combined sulfur without a corresponding improvement in physical properties assists solvation. (5) Rubber having the best physical properties is also the most heterogeneous wit...
Volume Characteristics by Type of Trader Using the Liquidity Databank

This paper examines the volume-volatility-type of trader relationship by employing daily volume of five futures contracts segregated into four types of traders. This breakdown of total volume into its components allows us to test whether one or more groups can be associated with the level of volatility. In addition, we examine whether using volume by type of trader improves the association of volume to volatility. The results show that the general public is the most important category affecting the volatility-volume relationship. We associate the general public with uninformed traders and their more disperse set of beliefs. Using volume by type of trader provides superior R squared values to what currently appears in the literature. We also find that the strongest volume-volatility associations occur in the highest and lowest quintiles of volatility. Further examination of the individual volume series shows substantial skewness and kurtosis for most series and large cross correlations between series for adjacent days.
Beliefs in Chemotherapy and Knowledge of Cancer and Treatment Among African American Women With Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer

Purpose/objectives To examine beliefs regarding the necessity of chemotherapy and knowledge of breast cancer and its treatment in African American women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, and to explore factors associated with women's beliefs and knowledge. . Design Descriptive, cross-sectional study. . Setting Six urban cancer centers in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. . Sample 101 African American women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. . Methods Secondary analysis using baseline data collected from participants in a randomized, controlled trial at their first medical oncology visit before the first cycle of chemotherapy. . Main research variables Belief in chemotherapy, knowledge of cancer and recommended treatment, self-efficacy, healthcare system distrust, interpersonal processes of care, symptom distress, and quality of life. . Findings African American women endorsed the necessity of chemotherapy. Most women did not know their tumor size, hormone receptors, specific therapy, or why chemotherapy was recommended to them. Women who perceived better interpersonal communication with physicians, less self-efficacy, or were less involved in their own treatment decision making held stronger beliefs about the necessity of chemotherapy. Women without financial difficulty or having stronger social functioning had more knowledge of their cancer and recommended chemotherapy. . Conclusions African American women with newly diagnosed breast cancer generally agreed with the necessity of chemotherapy. Knowledge of breast cancer, treatment, and risk reduction through adjuvant therapy was limited. . Implications for nursing Oncology nurses could help advocate for tailored educational programs to support informed decision making regarding chemotherapy acceptance for African American women.
AN APPROACH TO MODELING INLET AND BEACH EVOLUTION

Improved understanding of the physical processes controlling inlet and adjacent beach morphology is required to manage sand resources in the vicinity of tidal inlets and to reduce costs associated with structural rehabilitation, maintenance dredging of navigation channels, and mitigation of adverse impacts on adjacent shores. A quantitative modeling capability for estimating sediment fluxes, morphology evolution, and the interaction between the inlet and adjacent beaches is a goal of engineering research. This paper presents the initial phase of work aimed at developing empirical relationships between the physical processes and resulting inlet morphologic response, which are needed to formulate a modeling capability. First, the technical and computational requirements of the model are outlined. Then, a conceptual model of inlet sediment bypassing and a brief overview of a recently developed model (De Vriend et al. 1994) which appears to satisfy most of the model requirements is given. Finally, preliminary results of an empirical analysis of inlet ebb shoal geometric characteristics are presented.
Targeting proteasome ubiquitin receptor Rpn13 in multiple myeloma

Proteasome inhibitor bortezomib is an effective therapy for relapsed and newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM); however, dose-limiting toxicities and the development of resistance can limit its long-term utility. Recent research has focused on targeting ubiquitin receptors upstream of 20S proteasome, with the aim of generating less toxic therapies. Here we show that 19S proteasome-associated ubiquitin receptor Rpn13 is more highly expressed in MM cells than in normal plasma cells. Rpn13-siRNA (small interfering RNA) decreases MM cell viability. A novel agent RA190 targets Rpn13 and inhibits proteasome function, without blocking the proteasome activity or the 19S deubiquitylating activity. CRISPR/Cas9 Rpn13-knockout demonstrates that RA190-induced activity is dependent on Rpn13. RA190 decreases viability in MM cell lines and patient MM cells, inhibits proliferation of MM cells even in the presence of bone marrow stroma and overcomes bortezomib resistance. Anti-MM activity of RA190 is associated with induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis and unfolded protein response-related apoptosis. MM xenograft model studies show that RA190 is well tolerated, inhibits tumor growth and prolongs survival. Combining RA190 with bortezomib, lenalidomide or pomalidomide induces synergistic anti-MM activity. Our preclinical data validates targeting Rpn13 to overcome bortezomib resistance, and provides the framework for clinical evaluation of Rpn13 inhibitors, alone or in combination, to improve patient outcome in MM.
Lead Exposure of Blood Source in Blood Change Treatment on Newborns

Objective To explore the danger of lead exposure in newborns who accepted the blood stored in blood bank for blood change treatment.Methods The lead level of blood was examined before and after blood change treatment for 37 neonates with hyperbilirubinemia who accepted 53 cases blood stored in blood bank during Jun.to Dec.2006.The level of blood lead was measured by graphite stove atom absorb spectrum method.Results The average lead level of 53 cases blood stored in blood bank was 101.02 μg/L,which had attained the level of lead poisoning.There were 15 cases(28.5%) whose blood lead levels was very high(≥100 μg/L),3 cases whose blood lead level ≥200 μg/L.After blood change treatment,the percentage of the blood lead level ≥100 μg/L rose from 2.9% to 19.0%.The average level of blood lead after blood change treatment was higher than before(P0.01).The average blood lead level of newborns increased 26.62 μg/L,and 1 newborn whose blood lead level increased 81.0 μg/L.Conclusions The lead pollution of blood stored in blood bank is very clear.It exists that the danger of lead exposure in neonatal blood change treatment.It is very important to have a lead screen before letting blood and avoid lead poisoning of blood source in newborns.
Two New Red Edge Indices as Indicators for Stripe Rust Disease Severity of Winter Wheat

Winter wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important crops in China.Severe epidemic of yellow rust is the main reason of winter wheat yield loss and quality degradation.Hyperspectral remote sensing,acquiring images in narrow and continuous spectral bands,has been recognized as a reliable method for crop health monitoring.In researches related to hyperspectral data analysis,the region of the red-near infrared(NIR) transition has been shown to have high information content for vegetation status.This region is generally referred to as the "red edge".It represents the region of abrupt change in leaf reflectance between 680 and 780nm caused by the combined effects of strong chlorophyll absorption in the red wavelengths and high reflectance in the NIR wavelengths due to leaf internal scattering.In this article,the first derivative of red edge spectra(Dred) was analyzed for winter wheat with different stripe rust disease severity.Results indicated Dred had characteristic of multi-peak;for diseased wheat,the front peak(700nm) was more dominant and the back peak(725—735nm) was more flat;red edge position(REP) shifted towards shorter wavelength;both maximum value of Dred(Dr) and sum of Dred(Sr) decreased.Two new red-edge indices(DSr,Ar) were proposed based on the difference in the shape of Dred between healthy and diseased wheat.DSr,an index describing thinness of Dred,was defined by the ratio of Dr and Sr.When winter wheat is healthy(diseased),Dred is very steep(flat) and hence DSr is very large(small).Ar,an index describing asymmetry of Dred,was defined as(S2-S1)/(S2+S1),where S1 and S2 was the sum of Dred in 680—700 nm and 701—775 nm respectively,which corresponded to the spectral region adjacent to front peak and back peak.When winter wheat is healthy(diseased),the difference between S2 and S1 is very significant(non-significant) and hence Ar is very large(small).Compared to other conventional red edge indices,DSr and Ar can predict stripe rust disease severity more accurately.
Influence of Moisture on SF_6 Decomposition Characteristics Induced by Partial Discharge

In order to establish the theory and method for on-line electrical monitoring and fault diagnosis of electric equipment based on SF6 decomposition characteristics, we conducted SF6 decomposition experiments with SF6 mixed with different H2O trace, in which a model of needle-plate electrodes was used to simulate metal protraction insulation fault and generates partial discharge(PD). We measured the concentration of four main characteristic components, i.e. CF4, CO2, SO2F2 as well as SOF2, and analyzed the influence of H2O volume fraction φ(H2O) on the proportions and relative production rates of these components, as well as the influence on a feature concentration ratio φ(SOF)2/φ(SO2F2). Besides, we preliminarily studied the mechanism of φ(H2O) influencing the characteristic components' formation. The results show that increasing φ(H2O) reduces CF4 generation, but has no obvious effect on the absolute yield or the relative production rate of CO2. There is an almost linear positive relationship between φ(H2O) and the cumulative volumes of SO2F2 and SOF2; plus the relative production rates of SO2F2 and SOF2 roughly reduce with increasing φ(H2O) at the beginning of a discharge, but independent of φ(H2O)when the discharge is stable. It is also found that φ(H2O) influences φ(SOF)2/φ(SO2F2) significantly. The conclusions could be basis for providing accurate on-monitoring and fault diagnosis methods based on SF6 decomposition characteristics.
Significance of Detection of Anti-sperm Antibodies in Prepubertal Boys with Cryptorchidism before and after Surgery

Objective To investigate the prevalence of serum Anti-sperm antibodies(AsAb) in group of prepubertal boys with cryptor-chidism before and after surgery,and explore whether it may be influenced by testicular location,orchiopexy,unilateral or bilateral cryptorchi-dism and deferens and(or) epididymis abnormality.Methods Serum AsAb was examined in 50 prepubertal boys with cryptorchidism and 50 boys with oblique inguinal hernia before and 6 months after surgery.Fifty boys who were normal were served as controls.IgG and IgM AsAb were determined by the immunodotting method.Results The preoperative and post-orchiopexy serum AsAb positive rates in cryptorchid boys were significantly higher than the preoperative and post-high ligation of hernial sac ones respectively in boys with oblique inguinal hernia(Pa0.01).In analyzing the serum AsAb positive rates for unilateral and bilateral cryptorchidism,testicular location,and deferens and(or) epididymis abnormality,there were no significant statistical difference(Pa0.05).Conclusion Cryptorchidism may induce an autoimmune response against sperm antigen in prepuberty independent of testicular location,orchiopexy,unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism and deferens and(or) epididymis abnormality.
STUDY ON MECHANISM OF WAXY CRUDE OIL STRUCTURE FORMATION

Based on the infrared spectra of paraffin and asphaltene, the microstructure of simulated waxy oils and crystallographic theories, mechanism of structure formation for waxy crude oils has been discussed. Results show that the mechanism is that of the formation of crystalline nucleuses, the growth of paraffin crystals and the interconnection of paraffin crystalline particles. The basic conditions include that macromolecules such as paraffin or asphaltene or resin form crystalline nucleuses, paraffin crystalline particles continuously form and grow as increase of the interactions between the paraffin molecules and crystalline nucleuses. The increase of the interactions among paraffin crystalline particles leads the particles to contact each other and bridge to form the structure. To understand fully the mechanism of structure formation of waxy crude oils is very helpful to investigate that of their pour point depression and viscosity reduction, and the improving technology of their flowability at lower temperature.
Teen-age food habits. A multidimensional analysis.

Food habits are an integral part of a personas life-style and are related to other behavioral patterns. The authors investigated the thesis that, as dietary patterns increase in complexity, so do other sociologic parameters.
Should Physicians Accept Gifts from Patients

Social norms ingrained from early child-hood usually prescribe a polite “thank you” when a gift is received. However, the social norms that govern the relationship between the physician and patient, called professional boundaries, may require a different and more reasoned response.
Micafungin treatment and eradication of candiduria among hospitalized patients.

Purpose In high-risk patients, candiduria may be associated with the development of urinary tract infections (UTI) and invasive candidiasis. The triazole antifungals achieve good urine concentrations, but their use is limited by the emergence of non-albicans Candida spp. with low-triazole susceptibility. The echinocandins remain fungicidal against many azole-resistant Candida spp., but low urine concentrations limit their use. We examined the rates of candiduria elimination in micafungin-treated patients.
Demonstration of acoustic waveguiding and tight bending in phononic crystals

The systematic design, fabrication, and characterization of an isolated, single-mode, 90° bend phononic crystal (PnC) waveguide are presented. A PnC consisting of a 2D square array of circular air holes in an aluminum substrate is used, and waveguides are created by introducing a line defect in the PnC lattice. A high transmission coefficient is observed (−1 dB) for the straight sections of the waveguide, and an overall 2.3 dB transmission loss is observed (a transmission coefficient of 76%) for the 90° bend. Further optimization of the structure may yield higher transmission efficiencies. This manuscript shows the complete design process for an engineered 90° bend PnC waveguide from inception to experimental demonstration.
Mechanistic Study of the Validity of Using Hydroxyl Radical Probes To Characterize Electrochemical Advanced Oxidation Processes

The detection of hydroxyl radicals (OH•) is typically accomplished by using reactive probe molecules, but prior studies have not thoroughly investigated the suitability of these probes for use in electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs), due to the neglect of alternative reaction mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the suitability of four OH• probes (coumarin, p-chlorobenzoic acid, terephthalic acid, and p-benzoquinone) for use in EAOPs. Experimental results indicated that both coumarin and p-chlorobenzoic acid are oxidized via direct electron transfer reactions, while p-benzoquinone and terephthalic acid are not. Coumarin oxidation to form the OH• adduct product 7-hydroxycoumarin was found at anodic potentials lower than that necessary for OH• formation. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations found a thermodynamically favorable and non-OH• mediated pathway for 7-hydroxycoumarin formation, which is activationless at anodic potentials > 2.10 V/SHE. DFT simulations also provided esti...
Low Cost Temperature & Humidity Chamber

A low-cost 56 ft 3 temperature/humidity chamber was built from 2-inch thick extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam. Commercially available instruments were used, including space heater, humidifier, and temperature/humidity data logger. Due to the inaccurate control of home-use heater and humidifier, environmental condition in the chamber was different from the setting condition. Thus, thirty different combinations of temperature ranging from 70-90 and relative humidity ranging from 50-75% were used with actual conditions recorded by the data logger. A calibration spreadsheet was then developed using an artificial neural network to instruct the user to set environmental conditions for desired conditions. The neural network spreadsheet predicted temperature and relative humidity within 3% and 2% errors, respectively.
Directed Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells to Dendritic Cells

Embryonic stem cells represent a pluripotent population of cells capable of self-renewal, large-scale expansion, and differentiation in various cell lineages including cells of hematopoietic lineage. In this chapter, we describe a three-step cell culture method for directed differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to dendritic cells (DCs) that includes (1) hESC differentiation into hematopoietic progenitors by coculture with OP9 stromal cells, (2) expansion of myeloid DC precursors in suspension bulk cultures with granulocyte monocyte-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and (3) differentiation of myeloid precursors to DCs in the serum-free medium with GM-CSF and interleukin-4 (IL-4). The method employs cell culture conditions selecting an almost pure population of myeloid DC precursors and does not require isolation of hematopoietic progenitors. With this method, hESCs can be differentiated to functional DCs within 30 days at an efficiency of at least four DCs per single undifferentiated hESC. Directed differentiation of DCs from hESCs could be useful for studying cellular and molecular mechanisms of DC development and potentially for the generation of antigen-presenting cells for cellular immunotherapy.