cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adult education and instrumental rationality: A critique

Abstract This article analyzes the role and purposes of adult education policy by discussing six key rationales for policy making. These rationales-in-use include constitutional prescriptions, investment in human capital, political socialization, compensatory legitimation, international pressures, and social movements. Drawing from Critical Theory and research in adult education policy in Canada and developing countries, this article concludes that despite the rhetoric underlying a particular rationale or policy narrative, the dominant logic-in-use in adult education is instrumental rationality. As a conclusion, the article advances a systematic criticism of instrumental rationality and technocratic thinking taking into account State policies and policy-makers experiences.
Identifying Key Drivers of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Biomass Feedstocks for Energy Production

Many policies in the United States, at both the federal and state levels, encourage the adoption of renewable energy from biomass. Though largely motivated by a desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, these policies do not explicitly identify scenarios in which the use of biomass will produce the greatest benefits. We have modeled “farm-to-hopper” emissions associated with seven biomass feedstocks, under a wide variety of scenarios and production choices, to characterize the uncertainty in emissions. We demonstrate that only a handful of factors have a significant impact on life cycle emissions: choice of feedstock, geographic location, prior land use, and time dynamics. Within a given production scenario, the remaining variability in emissions is driven by uncertainty in feedstock yields and the release rate of N2O into the atmosphere from nitrogen fertilizers. With few exceptions, transport and processing choices have relatively little impact on total emissions. These results illustrate the key decisions that will determine the success of biomass programs in reducing the emissions profile of energy production, and our publicly available model provides a useful tool for identifying the most beneficial production scenarios. While model data and results are restricted to biomass production in the contiguous United States, we provide qualitative guidance for identifying favorable production scenarios that should be applicable in other regions.
Devlopment of a Cell Coculture Microfluidic Shear Device for Mechano-Transmission Study

We have developed a microfluidic shear device that allows for the study of cell communication in a dynamically controlled biochemical and biomechanical environments simulating cells’ living environments in vivo. Such study may help to improve our understanding in the effects of hypertension-relevant and vascular development-relevant flow shear stress on cell behaviors. Endothelial cells may be a key factor for transmitting the blood flow conditions from the endothelial lining to interstitial layers and smooth muscle cells. The interstitial flow stress and the shear stress induced signaling factors may greatly alter vascular biology of these deep layers. Endothelial cells act as a mechano-transducer by converting shear stress into biochemical signaling factors. The biochemical factors diffuse to smooth muscle cells and further alter the biological structure of vascular tissues. Also, the flow shear stress will be transmitted to the interstitial tissue layer through the pores resulted from the pores in the fenestrated endothelial lining. Studies in both the mechano-transduction process and the mechano-transmission process will benefit from a biomimetic flow shear device with co-cultured cells. Our device will allow the co-culture of endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells to study these biomechanical processes. The pulmonary arterial cells are used as a model in the study. The microfluidic device developed here will be used to enhance the understanding of pulmonary vascular disease pathogenesis due to the variations in the flow shear stress.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Using Social Network Sites for Selection Purposes: An Investigation of Hospitality Recruiters

Many U.S. employers are using social network sites to screen or investigate job candidates. Although this phenomenon has become increasingly popular for employers to use for marketing purposes, there is a dearth of studies examining how hospitality employers use social network sites as a human resource management practice. Thus, the purpose of the authors in this study was to examine organizational factors that predict the use of social network sites for screening applicants and how these sites are used by recruiters. Participants were industry recruiters attending a career fair. The results showed that 50% of the recruiters reported using social network sites to screen applicants. Negative information from the Internet was rated as more important than positive information of the applicants. Recruiters use social network sites more for management-level and front-of-the-house employees than entry-level and back-of-the-house applicants.
Radiofrequency ablation treatment of refractory carcinoid hepatic metastases.

Abstract Background. Our institution has experienced excellent success using hepatic artery embolization for treating symptoms and slowing tumor progression for patients with unresectable hepatic metastases for carcinoid tumors. Our previous treatment strategies used hepatic artery embolization alone, examining control of symptoms and dependence on octreotide therapy. However, some patients exhibit hepatic metastases that are unresponsive to embolization. This report describes the use of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as salvage treatment for these refractory metastases. Methods. Thirteen patients with unresectable bilobar hepatic metastases from biochemically confirmed carcinoid tumors were treated with selective hepatic artery embolization using Lipiodol/Gelfoam between 1994 and 2000. Three patients developed symptoms resistant to embolization treatment resulting from progression of existing metastases or development of new metastases. These patients underwent surgical exploration and intraoperative ultrasound of their refractory lesions, followed by treatment with RFA. Tumor size, symptoms of carcinoid syndrome, and octreotide requirements were monitored postoperatively. Results. Median follow-up for the three patients treated with RFA was 6 months. During the first 3-month interval following RFA, all three patients demonstrated decrease in the size of treated lesions. Using our previously developed symptom scoring system, all three patients demonstrated decreased symptoms following treatment. One patient was able to discontinue octreotide treatment, and the other two patients required decrease octreotide dosages. Conclusions. This study demonstrates that utilization of RFA treatment for carcinoid metastases refractory to hepatic artery embolization may represent a useful adjunct for symptomatic control, decreased octreotide dependence, and slowing of disease progression.
Antioxidant enzymes, presbycusis, and ethnic variability.

Abstract Objective A proposed mechanism for presbycusis is a significant increase in oxidative stress in the cochlea. The enzymes glutathione S-transferase (GST) and N-acetyltransferase (NAT) are two classes of antioxidant enzymes active in the cochlea. In this work, we sought to investigate the association of different polymorphisms of GSTM1 , GSTT1 , and NAT2 and presbycusis and analyze whether ethnicity has an effect in the genotype-phenotype associations. Study Design Case-control study of 134 DNA samples. Setting University-based tertiary care center. Subjects and Methods Clinical, audiometric, and DNA testing of 55 adults with presbycusis and 79 control patients with normal hearing. Results The GSTM1 null genotype was present in 77 percent of white Hispanics and 51 percent of white non-Hispanics (Fisher's exact test, 2-tail, P = 0.0262). The GSTT1 null genotype was present in 34 percent of control patients and in 60 percent of white presbycusis subjects ( P = 0.0067, odds ratio [OR] = 2.843, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.379-5.860). The GSTM1 null genotype was more frequent in presbycusis subjects, i.e., 48 percent of control patients and 69 percent of white subjects carried this deletion ( P = 0.0198, OR = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.163-5.067). The NAT2*6A mutant genotype was more frequent among subjects with presbycusis (60%) than in control patients (34%; P = 0.0086, OR = 2.88, 95% CI = 1.355-6.141). Conclusion We showed an increased risk of presbycusis among white subjects carrying the GSTM1 and the GSTT1 null genotype and the NAT*6A mutant allele. Subjects with the GSTT1 null genotypes are almost three times more likely to develop presbycusis than those with the wild type. The GSTM1 null genotype was more prevalent in white Hispanics than in white non-Hispanics, but the GSTT1 and NAT2 polymorphisms were equally represented in the two groups.
Oleosins in the gametophytes of Pinus and Brassica and their phylogenetic relationship with those in the sporophytes of various species.

Oleosins, which are structural proteins on the surface of intracellular oil bodies, have been found in the sporophytic seeds of angiosperms. Here, we report an oleosin from the female gametophyte of gymnosperm Pinus ponderosa Laws, seed and another oleosin from the male gametophyte of Brassica napus L. With the pine seed gametophyte, we identified two putative oleosins of 15 and 10 kDa, which are similar to the oleosins in angiosperm seeds in terms of their presence in the oil bodies in massive quantity. The complete sequence of the cDNA encoding the gametophytic 15-kDa oleosin was obtained, and it has a predicted amino-acid sequence similar to those of oleosins in angiosperm sporophytic seeds. A Brassica napus pollen cDNA sequence, which was reported earlier, would encode an amino-acid sequence somewhat similar to those of seed oleosins. We tested if the dissimilarity signifies a substantially different oleosin in the Brassica male gametophyte or an analytic error. By direct sequencing of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified fragment of genomic DNA, we obtained evidence showing that this reported dissimilarity is likely to have arisen from a sequencing error. Our predicted sequence of the Brassica pollen oleosin has all the structural characteristics of seed oleosins. A phylogenic tree of 20 oleosins, including those from sporophytic and gametophytic tissues of angiosperm and gymnosperm, was constructed based on their amino-acid sequences. We discuss the evolution of oleosins, and conclude that oleosins are ancient proteins with multiple lineages whose root cannot be determined at this time.
Got Data? New Roles For Libraries in Shaping 21st Century Research. A Report on the 2010 ALCTS President's Program, American Library Association Annual Conference, Washington, DC, June 2010

Brian Schottlaender, University Librarian, University of California, San Diego, moderated this timely program on the library's role in curating and preserving the research data created by our scien...
Childhood sexuality: a decade of study. Part II--dissemination and future directions.

Abstract Objective: One goal in perpetration prevention has been to increase the awareness and competence of professionals and parents in understanding and responding to the sexual behavior of children in order to reduce the risk of children developing sexually abusive behavior. A decade of experience in disseminating information about children’s sexual development and behavior is reviewed in this paper. Method: Curricula developed at the Kempe Children’s Center, University of Colorado Health Science Center, were used to provide training to professionals and paraprofessional caregivers. The information has evolved into a variety of models for different purposes in different settings. Results: Children engage in a wide range of sexual behaviors, some of which adults observe or are told about by other children. Adults can be trained to evaluate what is developmentally expected or problematic, and to respond consistently on the basis of objective definitions and universal goals, rather than relying on the personal beliefs and values of individuals. Conclusion: Because children’s sexual behaviors may pose a risk to themselves or others, there is a legitimate need for adults to respond to what they see and hear in order to validate or correct sexual learning in childhood. Adults are often not well informed about childhood sexuality and are eager to access objective information to inform their decision making in the care of children.
Estimating evaporation in seasonally snow-covered catchments in the Sierra Nevada, California

Abstract We used Morton's CRAE model, a simple model based on the complementary or advection–aridity relationship, to estimate annual evaporation for six alpine and sub-alpine catchments in the central and southern Sierra Nevada for periods of four to six years. Ten-day averages of air temperature, dew-point and sunshine duration were used as input. Modeled winter evaporation compared well with mean-profile calculations at the meteorological stations, and average annual totals were similar to those calculated from water balances and the evaporative concentration of conservative ions, i.e. chloride and sulfate. Regression relationships between weather stations were used successfully to extend limited meteorological data. Using standard lapse rates to provide data for catchments without weather stations was less successful, but still useful. The average annual catchment evaporation estimated by the model was ∼36% of annual precipitation (the average water balance and evaporative concentration estimates were 31 and 38%, respectively), showing that annual evaporative loss in the Sierra Nevada is appreciable.
A test for a metastable epigenetic component of heterosis using haploid induction in maize

We conducted a test to detect if there is a heritable epigenetic component to hybrid vigor and/or inbreeding depression. The impetus for this work was a classical study of the effect of homozygosis on the expression of the maize red color (r1) locus. It had been shown that maintaining R1 mottling alleles in the homozygous state over several generations produces a progressive decrease of their paternally imprinted expression. This effect is reversed by R1/r1 allele heterozygosity. If this behavior were characteristic of many regulatory genes, then such a phenomenon could contribute to inbreeding depression and heterosis. To examine this question, inbreds of Mo17 and B73 and the two reciprocally produced hybrids were crossed by Stock 6 to generate four classes of maternal haploids. The mature haploid plants were measured for several quantitative traits. If inbreeding depression results from an accumulating heritable effect that is reversed by the hybrid state, one would expect the haploids derived from the hybrids to perform better than those derived from the inbred lines. The hybrid-derived haploids did not exhibit greater average performance than the inbred-derived haploids. These data fail to support the hypothesis that inbreeding depression and heterosis have a metastable epigenetic component.
Exploring the Role of Expectancies in the Mental and Physical Health Outcomes of Written Self-Disclosure

Emotional self-disclosure yields mental and physical health benefits. Methods for enhancing this intervention have largely been ignored in the literature. Building from research that indicates that expectations play a role in self-disclosure's outcomes, the current research examined expectations and self-disclosure. Health outcomes were assessed in 40 female college students who participated in a written self-disclosure exercise for 15 minutes for 3 consecutive days. In order to determine the interactive influence of self-disclosure and expectancy on mental and physical health outcomes, participants self-disclosed a traumatic or trivial topic and the researchers attempted to manipulate participants' expectancies concerning the benefits produced by self-disclosure. Women who disclosed traumas and were given the expectancy that disclosure would yield benefits had decreased interpersonal sensitivity and interpersonal alienation 1 month after disclosure. Limitations and recommendations are discussed. Creating...
Selective astrocytic gap junctional trafficking of molecules involved in the glycolytic pathway: impact on cellular brain imaging.

To assess the specificity of metabolite trafficking among gap junction-coupled astrocytes, we developed novel, real-time, single-cell enzymatic fluorescence assays to assay cell-to-cell transfer of unlabeled glycolytic intermediates and report (i) highly restricted transfer of glucose-6-phosphate (P) and two analogs, deoxyglucose (DG)-6-P, and 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-2-DG-6-P, compared with DG and 2- and 6-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-2-DG, (ii) extensive junctional diffusion of glyceraldehyde-3-P, NADH, and NADPH plus three anionic fluorescent dyes used as internal standards for transfer assays, and (iii) stimulation of gap junctional communication by increased intracellular Na+ that also evokes metabolic responses in nearby coupled astrocytes. Thus, dye transfer does not predict gap junctional permeability of endogenous metabolites. Intracellular retention of flux-regulating compounds (e.g. glucose-6-P) may be necessary for local metabolic control, whereas ‘syncytial sharing’ may dissipate the work load on peri-synaptic astrocytes. Imaging of brain functional activity depends on local accumulation of exogenous or endogenous signals, and DG-6-P is trapped in the cell where it is phosphorylated, whereas rapid dispersal of cytoplasmic NAD(P)H and labeled glucose metabolites throughout the astrocytic syncytium can interfere with cellular assessment of neuron–astrocyte relationships in autoradiographic, fluorescence microscopic, and magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies.
Optimizing Geriatric Social Work Education: Program and Individual Characteristics That Promote Competencies

Since 1998, the Hartford Partnership Program in Aging Education (HPPAE) has been implemented in over 70 graduate social work programs. This study examined whether program and individual student characteristics are associated with students' knowledge, skills, and values in aging. We conducted a secondary analysis of national program evaluation data. Results from hierarchical linear models indicated greater gains in knowledge of aging among full-time students, as well as students in programs that had defined field rotation models and/or that made greater use of geriatric social work competencies. Implications for efforts to enhance graduate social work education in aging are discussed.
Sequencing Voyager II for the Uranus encounter

The process of developing the programmed sequence of events necessary for the Voyager 2 spacecraft to return desired data from its Uranus encounter is discussed. The major steps in the sequence process are reviewed, and the elements of the Mission Sequence Software are described. The design phase and the implementation phase of the sequence process are discussed, and the Computer Command Subsystem architecture is examined in detail. The software's role in constructing the sequences and converting them into onboard programs is elucidated, and the problems unique to the Uranus encounter sequences are considered.
Global Stability of Large Solutions to the 3D Navier-Stokes Equations

We prove the stability of mildly decaying global strong solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations in three space dimensions. Combined with previous results on the global existence of large solutions with various symmetries, this gives the first global existence theorem for large solutions with approximately symmetric initial data. The stability of unforced 2D flow under 3D perturbations is also obtained.
Diameter dependence of the cutoff molecular weights of drag-reducing polymers

Drag reduction data of poly(ethylene oxide) obtained in turbulent pipe flows were analyzed. A cutoff molecular weight for drag reduction was determined by correlating the drag reduction effectiveness with polymer molecular weight. Based on a time-correlation onset concept, this critical molecular weight was found to depend on the pipe diameter and Reynolds number. This effect is examined using available experimental data.
Effect of Tracheal Gas Insufflation on Demand Valve Triggering and Total Work During Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Ventilation

Tracheal gas insufflation (TGI) improves CO 2 clearance and may reduce work of breathing by lowering the required minute ventilation (Ve). However, TGI might also impair the ability to trigger the ventilator, because to lower external circuit pressures, inspiratory effort must outstrip catheter flow rate (Vc) and overcome the dynamic hyperinflation caused by TGI. We studied these effects using a two-chamber lung model of the respiratory muscles (RM) and lungs (L). The RM-chamber was ventilated using a sinusoidal flow pattern with a tidal volume (Vt) of 0.5 L at various peak inspiratory flow rates ( V ˙ pk) to simulate differences in effort intensity. The L-chamber was connected to a 60-L/min continuous flow circuit with a 10 cm H 2 O positive end-expiratory pressure valve and to 3 different ventilator demand valve circuits, each set at continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) of 10 cm H 2 O. We used continuous TGI at 0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 L/min. The work of triggering (W-trig) increased with increasing Vc and decreased with increasing V ˙ pk. The L-ventilator failed to trigger when Vc was 15 L/min and V ˙ pk was 20 L/min. At a fixed Ve, the effect of TGI on total mechanical inspiratory work (W-tot) was relatively small and varied among the different CPAP systems used. We conclude that weak patients may fail to open the demand valve of the CPAP system during TGI at high catheter flow rates. The net effect of TGI on the effort made by ventilated patients would depend not only on the interactions between TGI and the ventilator, but also on the efficiency of TGI in decreasing dead-space and lowering the Ve requirement.
Galveston: Ellis Island of Texas

The isolated windswept port of Galveston, located on the Texas Gulf Coast, served as the entry point for tens of thousands of immigrants from many parts of the world between 1850 and 1920. This paper maps, analyzes, and compares the ethnic/racial geography of this "Ellis Island of Texas" using a triangulation of ethnographic methods to understand more about (1) the settlement of particular groups on the island between 1850 and 1920; (2) the relationships between diverse foreign–born and native–born residents of the island and their impacts on local landscapes; and (3) the nuances of economic, political, and social power on the island and the ways complex ethnic and racial dimensions of the city's population influenced this power structure and the shifting identities of both foreign-born and native–born residents through time. Key to the analysis is the application of recent theoretical thinking in ethnic and population geography to understand and explain historical patterns and processes. Here in Galvesto...
ac response of weakly superconducting structures

Measurements have been made of the ac response of the Notarys-Mercereau thin-film, weakly superconducting structure. Data on the maximum constant-voltage step size and the absolute amplitude of the applied signal necessary to achieve the maximum in step size are found to be consistent with an analytical model developed for this structure.
An operational consignment stock policy under normally distributed demand with controllable lead time and buyer’s space limitation

This paper studies a vendor–buyer integrated inventory system with buyers’ variable demand and warehouse space limitation where the consignment stock (CS) replenishment operates under a controllable lead time. Within any cycle, the production rate, the number of shipments and the shipping size are all fixed. Based upon the CS policy, the vendor agrees to maintain the buyer’s inventory to be above a safety level and less than the buyer’s space limitation. Due to the uncertainty in the demand, shortages/over stocks are sometimes inevitable. In such cases, penalties are incurred to discourage such occurrence. The holding cost consists of a storage component and a financial component, and the lead time is controlled with an extra investment which is a function of both the shipment size and the reduced time. Two-constraint, five-variable mix-integer optimisation models are established to describe the CS system. Two doubly-hybrid meta-heuristic algorithms are employed to solve the models that are complex and di...
The fine morphology of mouse primordial germ cells in extragonadal locations.

The localization and morphologic characteristics of mouse primordial germ cells at stages of embryonal development preceding formation of the undifferentiated gonads have been studied by means of high resolution light microscopy and electron microscopy. At day 9 of intrauterine life, the germ cells are found in the wall of the hind-gut, at days 10 and 11 in the dorsal mesentery, and at day 12 they are mostly in the genital ridges or adjacent areas. Our observations confirm the hypothesis that germ cells attain their definitive location by ameboid movements. On the basis of morphologic characteristics displayed during migration, germ cells appear to be highly undifferentiated elements; for their energy requirements, they may depend on close association with somatic cells and on availability of exogenous substances of metabolic importance. Upon arrival at the genital ridges, the cells lose their ameboid features and assume a structural organization which is much simpler than that of precedinng stages. This indicates that migration is followed by a period of relative quiescence; mitosis is now the only evident activity. Interphase cells may occasionally be connected by intercellular bridges; it would seem that the first mitotic divisions with incomplete cytokinesis, a feature known to characterize oogonia and spermatogonia in sexually differentiated gonads, occur shortly after arrival of the germ cells in the genital ridges.
Biphotonic origin of photodissociative processes in all-trans retinol

Abstract The photolytic transformation of all-trans retinol into retinyl carbonium ion and a transient species (in certain solvents) that is best characterized as retinyl ketyl radical (λ max = 380–395 nm) is shown to be biphotonic in origin. The results are discussed in terms of mechanism(s) involving photoejection of an electron as the primary step.
The securities industry and the law

Abstract We examine the interplay of markets, ethics and law, and rising demand for ethical behavior in a market driven society coping with the promise and peril of rapid technological innovation. We analyze the market affecting role of our Common Law/Rule of Law System, its adaptability to social need, and resultant legal and regulatory action promoting adherence to the spirit as well as the letter of the law. We provide examples of manager and firm harm from sanctions imposed despite adherence to “the rules.” Finally, we discuss competitive market-common law interplay in the coming era of the genome.
Seasonal and Altitudial Variation in Fatty Acid Composition of Native Bees

Fatty acids (Fas), the most important energy resources in insects, may change in structure and thus function with changing temperature, a hypothesis termed âhomeoviscous adaptationâ. We investigated whether the proportional composition of the most common fatty acids changes with seasonal (June to August) and altitudinal (2060 â 3290 m) variation in environmental temperature among four species of native bees. We identified the composition and proportion of each fatty acid using gas chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Based on preliminary data, the most common fatty acids found in bees were palmitic acid (C 16:0), stearic acid (C 18:0), oleic acid (C 18:1), linoleic acid (C 18:2) and linolenic acid (C 18:3), with other fatty acids including myristic acid (C 14:0) and palmitoleic acid (C 16:1) also present in small amounts. We are currently 23eticulat GC data for larger bees and establishing protocols for fatty acid composition analysis of small tissue samples. Based on the seasonal and altitudinal variation in ambient temperature, we expect to see variation in fatty acid proportions in bees from different months at both sites.
FGFR-3 and FGFR-4 function cooperatively to direct alveogenesis in the murine lung

Mammalian lungs begin as an outpocket of the foregut, and depend on multiple stages of branching morphogenesis and alveogenesis to reach their final form. An examination of fgf receptor gene expression indicated that all four receptors (fgfr-1 to fgfr-4) are expressed in postnatal lungs at varying levels. We show that mice homozygous for a targeted mutation of fgfr-4 exhibited no overt abnormalities in the lungs or any other organ. However, mice doubly homozygous for disruptions of the fgfr-3 and fgfr-4 genes display novel phenotypes not present in either single mutant, which include pronounced dwarfism and lung abnormalities. Lungs of fgfr-3(−/−)fgfr-4(−/−)animals, which are normal at birth, are completely blocked in alveogenesis and do not form secondary septae to delimit alveoli. Consequently, air spaces in the lung are expanded and no alveoli can be seen. The mutant lungs failed to downregulate postnatal elastin deposition despite their normal levels of surfactant expression and cell proliferation. These data revealed a cooperative function of FGFR-3 and FGFR-4 to promote the formation of alveoli during postnatal lung development.
USEPA's Risk Assessment Practice: Extrapolation Between Species

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recently completed an examination of their risk assessment principles and practices (USEPA 2004). The document is a staff paper that presents the pe...
How International Are Undergraduate Political Science Programs at Liberal Arts and Sciences Colleges and Universities in the Midwest

Internationalization is a hot topic on college and university campuses today. It is also one of the hot button topics facing the APSA (see Varshney 2004; Breuning 2005). Although relatively recent to APSA, internationalizing the higher education curriculum has long been a concern of educational scholars. Arum (1987) identifies three areas in which campuses can pursue internationalization: promoting the international content of curricula, tracking the international movement of scholars and students, and providing technical assistance and educational cooperation programs that engage American education in efforts abroad. Rivers (1994) adds a fourth dimension: promoting awareness of other cultures and ways of thinking through extracurricular cross-cultural experiences, which would ideally include outreach to the surrounding community.
The Escherichia coli modE gene: effect of modE mutations on molybdate dependent modA expression

The Escherichia coli modABCD operon, which encodes a high-affinity molybdate uptake system, is transcriptionally regulated in response to molybdate availability by ModE. Here we describe a highly effective enrichment protocol, applicable to any gene with a repressor role, and establish its application in the isolation of transposon mutations in modE. In addition we show that disruption of the ModE C-terminus abolishes derepression in the absence of molybdate, implying this region of ModE controls the repressor activity. Finally, a mutational analysis of a proposed molybdate binding motif indicates that this motif does not function in regulating the repressor activity of ModE.
Quasipotential equation corresponding to the relativistic Eikonal approximation

A three-dimensional Lippmann-Schwinger-type equation for the elastic scattering amplitude and the corresponding homogeneous Schr\"odinger equation for the two-particle bound states are studied. The potential is defined as an infinite power series in the coupling constant which fits the perturbative expansion of the on-energy-shell scattering amplitude. The approximate equation obtained by keeping only the lowest-order term in the potential is local and has the following properties: (i) The scattering amplitude yields the relativistic eikonal approximation for large energies or small exchanged mass and momentum transfer; (ii) for the Coulomb problem the approximate equation is exactly soluble and leads to a relativistic Balmer formula including the fine-structure splitting.
A Probabilistic Intensity Similarity Measure based on Noise Distributions

We derive a probabilistic similarity measure between two observed image intensities that is based on the noise properties of the camera. In many vision algorithms, the effect of camera noise is either neglected or reduced in a preprocessing stage. However, noise reduction cannot be performed with high accuracy due to lack of knowledge about the true intensity signal. Our similarity metric specifically represents the likelihood that two intensity observations correspond to the same unknown noise-free scene radiance. By directly accounting for noise in the evaluation of similarity, the proposed measure makes noise reduction unnecessary and enhances many vision algorithms that involve matching of image intensities. Real-world experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed similarity measure in comparison to the standard L2 norm.
Outbreak of serogroup C meningococcal disease associated with campus bar patronage.

Between February 1991 and April 1992, eight undergraduates at a US residential university and one at a nearby 2-year college contracted serogroup C meningococcal disease. A case-control investigation with 20 controls per case, oropharyngeal carriage surveys, and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MEE) of serogroup C isolates were used to identify factors contributing to the outbreak. All eight sterile-site isolates from cases were closely related by MEE and were similar (though not identical) to the strain associated with the 1991-1992 epidemic of meningococcal disease in eastern Canada. Disease was associated with cigarette smoking (p = 0.012), recent patronage of campus-area bars (p = 0.034), estimated amount of time spent in campus-area bars (p = 0.0003), and, especially, recent patronage of one specific bar, bar A (p = 0.0006 ; odds ratio = 23.1, 95% confidence interval 3.0-571.5). In carriage surveys, 1,528 throat cultures taken from (primarily student) noncases yielded only five (0.3%) strains that were identical by MEE to those from cases. Two of these were found among 22 cultures obtained from bar A employees in spring 1992. Some cases in this outbreak may have followed transmission of the epidemic strain in bar A. Campus bar environments may facilitate the spread of meningococcal disease among teenagers and young adults.
Evaluating opportunistic routing protocols with large realistic contact traces

Traditional mobile ad hoc network (MANET) routing protocols assume that contemporaneous end-to-end communication paths exist between data senders and receivers. In some mobile ad hoc networks with a sparse node population, an end-to-end communication path may break frequently or may not exist at anytime. Many routing protocols have been proposed in the literature to address the problem, but few were evaluated in a realistic "opportunistic" network setting. We use simulation and contact traces (derived from logs in a production network) to evaluate and compare five existing protocols: direct-delivery, epidemic, random, PRoPHET, and Link-State, as well as our own proposed routing protocol. We show that the direct delivery and epidemic routing protocols suffer either low delivery ratio or high resource usage, and other protocols make tradeoffs between delivery ratio and resource usage.
The role of social norms and friends' influences on unhealthy weight-control behaviors among adolescent girls.

Dieting is common among adolescent girls and may place them at risk of using unhealthy weight-control behaviors (UWCBs), such as self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diet pills, or fasting. Research has suggested that social factors, including friends and broader cultural norms, may be associated with UWCBs. The present study examines the relationship between the school-wide prevalence of current weight loss efforts among adolescent girls, friends' dieting behavior, and UWCBs, and investigates differences in these associations across weight categories. Survey data were collected in 31 middle and high schools in ethnically and socio-economically diverse communities in Minnesota, USA. The response rate was 81.5%. Rates of UWCBs were compared across the spectrum of prevalence of trying to lose weight and friends' involvement with dieting, using chi(2) analysis and multivariate logistic regression, controlling for demographic factors and clustering by school. Girls with higher body mass index (BMI) were more likely to engage in UWCBs than those of lower BMI. Multivariate models indicated that friends' dieting behavior was significantly associated with UWCBs for average weight girls (OR = 1.57, CI = 1.40-1.77) and moderately overweight girls (OR = 1.47, CI = 1.19-1.82). The school-wide prevalence of trying to lose weight was significantly, albeit modestly, related to UWCBs for average weight girls (15th-85th percentile; OR = 1.17, CI = 1.01-1.36), and marginally associated for modestly overweight girls (85th-95th percentile; OR = 1.21, CI = .97-1.50), even after controlling for friends' dieting behaviors. The social influences examined here were not associated with UWCBs among underweight ( 95th percentile) girls. Findings suggest that social norms, particularly from within one's peer group, but also at the larger school level may influence UWCBs, particularly for average weight girls. Implications for school-based interventions to reduce UWCBs are discussed.
Wafer-level defect-based testing using enhanced voltage stress and statistical test data evaluation

In this paper, we illustrate the effectiveness of wafer-level enhanced voltage stress (EVS) along with low voltage sweep (LVS), I/sub DDQ/ and other parametric tests to screen early life failure defects. Our experiment shows temporary undetected defects after repeated exposure to certain applied voltages. We demonstrate a statistical methodology to screen die with suspected early life failure defects.
Current steering to control the volume of tissue activated during deep brain stimulation.

Background Over the last two decades, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has become a recognized and effective clinical therapy for numerous neurologic conditions. Since its inception, clinical DBS technology has progressed at a relatively slow rate; however, numerous advances in neural engineering research have the potential to improve DBS systems. One such advance is the concept of current steering, or the use of multiple stimulation sources to direct current flow through targeted regions of brain tissue. The goals of this study were to develop a theoretical understanding of the effects of current steering in the context of DBS, and use that information to evaluate the potential use of current steering during stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus. Methods We used finite element electric field models, coupled to multicompartment cable axon models, to predict the volume of tissue activated (VTA) by DBS as a function of the stimulation parameter settings. Results Balancing current flow through adjacent cathodes can increase the VTA magnitude, relative to monopolar stimulation, and current steering can be an effective technique to sculpt the shape of the VTA to fit a given anatomic target. Conclusions These results provide motivation for the integration of current steering technology into clinical DBS systems, thereby expanding opportunities to customize DBS to individual patients, and potentially enhancing therapeutic efficacy.
Internal Waves and Turbulence in the Upper Central Equatorial Pacific: Lagrangian and Eulerian Observations

Abstract In the shear stratified flow below the surface mixed layer in the central equatorial Pacific, energetic near-N (buoyancy frequency) internal waves and turbulence mixing were observed by the combination of a Lagrangian neutrally buoyant float and Eulerian mooring sensors. The turbulence kinetic energy dissipation rate ϵ and the thermal variance diffusion rate χ were inferred from Lagrangian frequency spectral levels of vertical acceleration and thermal change rate, respectively, in the turbulence inertial subrange. Variables exhibiting a nighttime enhancement include the vertical velocity variance (dominated by near-N waves), ϵ, and χ. Observed high levels of turbulence mixing in this low-Ri (Richardson number) layer, the so-called deep-cycle layer, are consistent with previous microstructure measurements. The Lagrangian float encountered a shear instability event. Near-N waves grew exponentially with a 1-h timescale followed by enhanced turbulence kinetic energy and strong dissipation rate. The e...
Psychological ownership: theoretical extensions, measurement and relation to work outcomes

Summary Viewing psychological ownership as a positive resource for impacting human performance in organizations, the present study investigated the components of an expanded view of psychological ownership. Confirmatory factor analyses on a proposed measure of psychological ownership provided support for a positively-oriented, ‘‘promotion-focused’’ aspect of psychological ownership comprised of four dimensions: self-efficacy, accountability, sense of belongingness and self-identity. In addition, territoriality was examined as a unique and more ‘‘prevention-focused’’ form of ownership. Practical implications and suggestions for future research on psychological ownership and positive organizational behavior conclude the article. Copyright # 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Targeting Breast Cancer Metastasis.

Metastasis is the leading cause of breast cancer-associated deaths. Despite the significant improvement in current therapies in extending patient life, 30–40% of patients may eventually suffer from distant relapse and succumb to the disease. Consequently, a deeper understanding of the metastasis biology is key to developing better treatment strategies and achieving long-lasting therapeutic efficacies against breast cancer. This review covers recent breakthroughs in the discovery of various metastatic traits that contribute to the metastasis cascade of breast cancer, which may provide novel avenues for therapeutic targeting.
Prospective study on the effects of regular and decaffeinated coffee on urinary symptoms in young and healthy volunteers.

Aims Coffee reduction has been a strategy to prevent urinary symptoms with conflicting evidence. We aimed to study the effects of regular and decaffeinated coffee on urinary symptoms among low and frequent coffee users, who were young and healthy. Methods We conducted a double-blinded parallel study on subjects, who were restricted from consuming caffeinated items outside the study. After subjects completed 5 days of caffeine abstinence they consumed regular coffee (450 mg/d caffeine content) or decaffeinated coffee (12 mg/d caffeine content) for 5 days. Previous caffeine use and urinary symptoms were assessed by a diet survey, urogenital distress inventory, and interstitial cystitis problem and symptom indices (ICPI, ICSI). Results Forty nine subjects completed the study. When assessing the submeasures “frequency” and “urgency” on ICPI and ICSI subjects drinking coffee reported a significant increase in urgency (P < 0.05) and frequency (P < 0.05), whereas subjects drinking decaffeinated coffee experienced no difference in those submeasures in comparison to no caffeine intake. However, previous “low coffee users” experienced the largest increase of urinary symptoms, whereas previous “frequent coffee users” showed fewer symptoms when exposed to regular coffee. Conclusions The study suggests that avoiding high-dosage coffee consumption prevents urgency and frequency, which supports recommendations to limit caffeinated beverages. The study differentiates between subjects having a history of low and frequent coffee use. Subjects, who are not used to regular coffee consumption, seem to be more vulnerable to the effects of coffee on urinary symptoms. Better understanding of the effects of coffee on urinary symptoms may improve patients counseling. Neurourol. Urodynam. 9999:XX–XX, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A New Strategy for Trichomonas Testing Female Adolescents in the Emergency Department.

Abstract Study Objective Sensitive trichomonas diagnostic testing has become available, including nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and a rapid antigen test. The study purpose was to determine if adding sensitive trichomonas testing to routine female sexually transmitted infection (STI) evaluations would increase trichomonas identification and treatment. Design Two study time periods. Study time 1 (T1) was used for a retrospective review. Study time 2 (T2) was used for a prospective study. Setting Emergency Department. Participants Symptomatic female patients aged 13-20 years (N = 447). Interventions Implementation of routing trichomonas testing in the Emergency Department during T2. Main Outcome Measures Trichomonas diagnosis and treatment rates were compared during T1 and T2. Results During T1 31 of 234 of eligible patients (13%) were trichomonas-tested. Laboratory-confirmed trichomonas was identified in 3 of 234 (1.3%). During T2, 212 of 213 of eligible patients (99.5%) were trichomonas-tested; 39 of 212 tested trichomonas-positive (18.4%); 29 of 212 tested rapid trichomonas antigen test-positive (13.6%; P P P = .688). During T1, 14 of 17 women who received trichomonas treatment (82.4%) did not have a laboratory-confirmed trichomonas diagnosis and during T2 13 of 52 women without a laboratory-confirmed trichomonas diagnosis (25%) were treated for trichomonas ( P Conclusion Incorporating trichomonas rapid antigen tests and NAATs into routine female adolescent STI testing significantly increased the number of laboratory-confirmed adolescent trichomonas diagnosis and treatment and are useful Emergency Department STI screening tools.
Eye-Directed Overpressure Airwave-Induced Trauma Causes Lasting Damage to the Anterior and Posterior Globe: A Model for Testing Cell-Based Therapies.

Abstract Purpose: Characterization of the response of the Balb/c mouse to an eye-directed overpressure airwave, with the hypothesis that this mouse strain and model is useful for testing potential therapeutics for the treatment of traumatic eye injury. Methods: The left eyes of adult Balb/c mice were exposed to an eye-directed overpressure airwave. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured and eyes were inspected for gross pathology changes. Optical coherence tomography and histology were used to examine the structural integrity of the retina and optic nerve. Immunohistochemistry, in vivo molecular fluorophores, and a multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were utilized to identify changes in cell death, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. Results: This model induced a transient increase in IOP, corneal injuries, infrequent large retinal detachments, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) vacuolization, glial reactivity, and retinal cell death. Both the corneal damage and RPE vacuolization persisted wit...
Experimental Studies and Thermodynamic Modeling of the Interaction of O2 with SiC

We report on experimental studies and thermodynamic modeling of the reaction of O2 with the 4H- and 6H-SiC surfaces at high temperatures. This reaction leads to the growth of passivating SiO2 layers at high O2 pressures, etching of the surfaces at lower pressures, and enhancements of the surface segregation of carbon at still lower pressures. A pressure-temperature phase diagram for the oxidation of SiC is presented. Evidence for the thermal decomposition of the SiO2 layer on SiC is also presented.