cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lumbosacral spine fusion. A method of bilateral posterolateral fusion combined with a Hibbs fusion.

A technique of bilateral posterolateral fusion of the lumbosacral spine combined with a classic Hibbs spine fusion is described, as performed on 150 patients. This method provided a high incidence (95 per cent) of successful fusion with low morbidity, and good or fair results in 90 per cent of patients.
Extensive bullae formation in acute iliofemoral venous thrombosis.

A 58-year-old man presented with an acutely painful swollen left leg which was cyanotic and crowded with cutaneous bullae. After confirmation with color duplex ultrasound, intravenous streptokinase therapy was commenced with a bolus of 250,000 i.u. followed by maintenance infusion of 100,000 i.u. hourly for 72 hours. Treatment was changed to heparin for 14 days and then oral warfarin for another 6 months. Effacement of bullae accompanied subsidence of swelling of the leg. This case highlights the potential contribution of fluid retention in acute deep venous thrombosis to extensive bullae formation. This has not been previously reported in the literature.
Accurate low cost phaseless measurement method of CP antennas at millimeter wave and terahertz bands

We propose a new measurement technique for CP-gain characterization of antennas at sub-mm-wave and terahertz frequencies. At these frequencies, the conventional measurement techniques fail, due to waveguide-based connections and phase sensitivities. The proposed method eliminates these issues by employing a phase-less and rotation-less measurement process using standard scattering objects. The method utilizes the double reflection property of dihedral corner reflector and single reflection from metallic-plate to extract the co-pol and cross-pol characteristics of a CP-AUT. In this paper, we demonstrate the proposed method for broadside gain measurements of two different antennas in 90–140 GHz band. The technique is further employed to measure the antenna patterns across the band.
Plasmon–Exciton Coupling between Metallic Nanoparticles and Dye Monomers

We investigate electromagnetic coupling between localized surface plasmons and excitons in a Ag nanoparticle (NP) and monomer dye conjugate. Strong coupling is observed as Rabi splitting in the optical scattering response of the conjugate. We measure the strength of coupling as a function of NP–dye separation distance using bifunctional molecules that link the dye and NP with nanoscale control. Coupling strength follows a single-exponential decay with a decay length of 13.7 ± 5 nm, indicating that the conjugates can be used as a plasmon ruler. In addition, we find that at separation distances below 2 nm the coupling strength is strongly decreased by quantum effects such as electron tunneling which interfere with plasmon–exciton hybridization. Using single NP spectroscopy to investigate conjugate coupling energy, we are able to tune separation distance to achieve coupling energies as high as 600 meV, among the highest energies reported for Ag NPs.
Nutritional Antioxidants, Dietary Carbohydrate, and Age-Related Maculopathy and Cataract

Loss of vision is the second greatest fear, next to death, among the elderly. Age-related cataract (ARC) and maculopathy (ARM) are two major causes of blindness worldwide. There are several important reasons to study relationships between risk for ARC/ARM and nutrition: (1) because it is likely that the same nutritional practices that are associated with prolonged eye function will also be associated with delayed age-related compromises to other organs and perhaps, aging in general; (2) surgical resources are insufficient to provide economic and safe surgeries for cataract and do not provide a widely practicable cure for ARM; (3) there will be considerable financial savings and improvements in quality of life if health is extended, particularly given the rapidly growing elderly segment of ourpopulation.
The diagnosis and treatment of adolescent anxiety disorders

In adolescents, anxiety disorders may be manifested as juvenile anxiety syndromes, adult anxiety syndromes, or an adjustment disorder with anxious mood. In addition, depressive illnesses and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder often exist comorbidly with the primary anxiety disorder. The treatment of anxiety in adolescents should be multimodal, including psychotherapeutic and psychosocial interventions along with pharmacotherapy. Tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors have been successful in most anxiety disorders, although both classes of drug are associated with significant adverse effects and require careful monitoring. Benzodiazepines are effective in juvenile anxiety disorders. Clonazepam's long duration of action and relatively benign side-effects profile make it an attractive agent in adolescent populations.
The low temperature properties of Tin-antimony and Tin-cadmium alloys

This is the second in a series of papers coming from this laboratory on the correlation of the low temperature tensile properties of tin-binary alloys with microstructure. These engineering data and those of the previous paper were obtained as the initial part of a long-range program to determine the changes in the fundamental mechanical properties accompanying the beta to alpha phase change in tin and its binary alloys below 13.2 deg C. Since it appears now that the more fundamental studies will be delayed, and since no summary of the low temperature properties of these tin-base white bearing alloys was found in the literature, it was decided to publish all the engineering data thus far obtained.
Acute and long-term complications of therapeutic radiation for skull base tumors.

Acute toxicity from radiation of skull base tumors typically resolves spontaneously within days-to-weeks after completion of therapy. Long-term complications have a latency of months-to-years after radiation and are usually reversible. Use of conformal radiation techniques with image guidance may result in improved tumor control by allowing delivery of higher radiation doses to the tumor, while maintaining an acceptable level of risk for chronic toxicity. Symptoms resulting from chronic radiation toxicity are indistinguishable from symptoms caused by tumor progression. Diagnosis of late-term radiation complication must be made only after verifying that the tumor has not progressed.
Emotions, Immunity and Disease: An Historical and Philosophical Perspective

Really to be historical about mind-body interactions let us go back to some very ancient concepts of medicine. When in India learning about traditional Hindu medicine, I was surprised to find out that Ayurveda, which dates back over two thousand years, had concepts of natural and acquired immunity, of psychophysiological response specificity, and believed that certain types of people, based on personality and somatotype, had greater resistance to disease (Shukla et al., 1979). Galen said that melancholy women are more prone to cancer than sanguine women, and Osler is reputed to have said that it is as important to know what is going on in a man’s head as in his chest in order to predict the outcome of pulmonary tuberculosis. Jonas Salk pointed out in the early 1960’s that all disease really relates to genetic, behavioral, nervous and immune interrelationships (and I think we should add endocrine)(Salk, 1962). We need to think of all disease in multifactoral ways. for example, in Mirsky’s work, dependency and/or stress measures were lower in patients with peptic ulcer who had very high pepsinogen levels (Mirsky, 1957).
The “Collections Risk Management” Program at the American Museum of Natural History:

In addition to the wear and tear of time and exposure that normally endanger museum collections, larger scale events such as September 11, 2001, the Northeast Blackout of 2003, Hurricanes Kathna an...
Multidimensional skills and the returns to schooling: Evidence from an interactive fixed‐effects approach and a linked survey‐administrative data set

This paper presents new evidence on the returns to schooling based on an interactive fixed effects framework that allows for multiple unobserved skills with associated prices that are potentially time-varying. Skills and prices are both allowed to be correlated with schooling.
Application of TruGraf v1: A Novel Molecular Biomarker for Managing Kidney Transplant Recipients With Stable Renal Function.

Abstract TruGraf v1 is a laboratory-developed DNA microarray-based gene expression blood test to enable proactive noninvasive serial assessment of kidney transplant recipients with stable renal function. It has been previously validated in patients identified as Transplant eXcellence (TX: stable serum creatinine, normal biopsy results, indicative of immune quiescence), and not-TX (renal dysfunction and/or rejection on biopsy results). TruGraf v1 is intended for use in subjects with stable renal function to measure the immune status as an alternative to invasive, expensive, and risky surveillance biopsies. Materials and Methods In this study, simultaneous blood tests and clinical assessments were performed in 192 patients from 7 transplant centers to evaluate TruGraf v1. The molecular testing laboratory was blinded to renal function and biopsy results. Results Overall, TruGraf v1 accuracy (concordance between TruGraf v1 result and clinical and/or histologic assessment) was 74% (142/192), and a result of TX was accurate in 116 of 125 (93%). The negative predictive value for TruGraf v1 was 90%, with a sensitivity 74% and specificity of 73%. Results did not significantly differ in patients with a biopsy-confirmed diagnosis vs those without a biopsy. Conclusions TruGraf v1 can potentially support a clinical decision enabling unnecessary surveillance biopsies with high confidence, making it an invaluable addition to the transplant physician's tool kit for managing patients. TruGraf v1 testing can potentially avoid painful and risky invasive biopsies, reduce health care costs, and enable frequent assessment of patients with stable renal function to confirm the presence of immune quiescence in the peripheral blood.
Covert Gates: Protecting Integrated Circuits with Undetectable Camouflaging

Integrated circuit (IC) camouflaging has emerged as a promising solution for protecting semiconductor intellectual property (IP) against reverse engineering. Existing methods of camouflaging are based on standard cells that can assume one of many Boolean functions, either through variation of transistor threshold voltage or contact configurations. Unfortunately, such methods lead to high area, delay and power overheads, and are vulnerable to invasive as well as non-invasive attacks based on Boolean satisfiability/VLSI testing. In this paper, we propose, fabricate, and demonstrate a new cell camouflaging strategy, termed as ‘covert gate’ that leverages doping and dummy contacts to create camouflaged cells that are indistinguishable from regular standard cells under modern imaging techniques. We perform a comprehensive security analysis of covert gate, and show that it achieves high resiliency against SAT and test-based attacks at very low overheads. We also derive models to characterize the covert cells, and develop measures to incorporate them into a gate-level design. Simulation results of overheads and attacks are presented on benchmark circuits.
Risk Perception and Sexual Assault

This chapter presents research on sexual assault and risk perception among women. Different paradigms for research on risk perception are described, and then studies examining perceived risk for sexual assault are presented. Optimistic bias, as it pertains to women’s understanding of general risk for sexual assault and personal vulnerability, is discussed. Research on situational risk perception is summarized, including research on risk recognition as well as behavioral response to risk. Research on the link between women’s alcohol consumption and impaired risk perception is discussed, with a particular focus on lab-based analog experiments regarding the role of alcohol intoxication on women’s risk recognition and response. Studies of global alcohol consumption and risk perception are also included. Throughout the review of research on risk perception, the role of previous victimization history and the impact of revictimization on risk perception and related factors are examined. The chapter ends discussing how traumatic distress may influence women’s risk recognition and responses, including discussion of the unique role of specific forms of psychopathology such as PTSD. A critique of the research and suggestions for future investigations are offered.
Identification and functional validation of genetic variants in potential miRNA target sites of established BMI genes.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in posttranscriptional regulation by binding to target sites in the 3′UTR of protein-coding genes. Genetic variation within target sites may potentially disrupt the binding activity of miRNAs, thereby impacting this regulation. In the current study, we investigated whether any established BMI-associated genetic variants potentially function by altering a miRNA target site. The genomic positions of all predicted miRNA target site seed regions were identified, and these positions were queried in the T2D Knowledge Portal for variants that associated with BMI in the GIANT UK Biobank. This in silico analysis identified ten target site variants that associated with BMI with a P value ≤ 5 × 10−8. These ten variants mapped to nine genes, FAIM2, CCDC171, ADPGK, ZNF654, MLXIP, NT5C2, SHISA4, SLC25A22, and CTNNB1. In vitro functional analyses showed that five of these target site variants, rs7132908 (FAIM2), rs4963153 (SLC25A22), rs9460 (ADPGK), rs11191548 (NT5C2), and rs3008747 (CCDC171), disrupted the binding activity of miRNAs to their target in an allele-specific manner. In conclusion, our study suggests that some established variants for BMI may function by altering miRNA binding to a 3′UTR target site.
Comprehensive Analysis of the Effect of Ketorolac Administration after Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Background Outcome improvement is a major goal of pancreatic surgery. Such efforts include decreasing perioperative narcotic use to optimize care and reduce potential contributions to the opioid crisis. Ketorolac, a frequent component of opioid-minimizing recovery pathways, has not been universally adopted over concerns regarding adverse events including anastomotic fidelity, hemorrhage, and renal failure. We examined ketorolac’s effects on pancreatic fistula (PF) formation and related morbidity after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Study Design A retrospective review of consecutive patients undergoing PD from December 2008 to September 2018 was conducted and stratified by receipt of ketorolac during the initial 5 postoperative days. The primary outcome was clinically relevant PF (CR-PF) per international consensus definitions. Secondary outcomes included fistula risk score (FRS)-adjusted CR-PF and cumulative morbidity. Results Of 429 patients, CR-PF occurred in 9.3% (n = 40), and 249 patients received ketorolac before postoperative day 6 (58.0%), with a mean dose of 36.1 ± 22.3 mg/day. CR-PF occurred in 11.2% (n = 28) of patients receiving ketorolac vs 6.7% (n = 12) who did not ( p = 0.12); CR-PF incidence was unrelated to dose. Overall CR-PF incidence did not differ statistically by ketorolac use in the first 5 days postoperatively across FRS categories. Results from multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for known PF risk factors suggested that ketorolac was not significantly associated with risk of CR-PF (odds ratio [OR] 1.99 [range 0.93 to 4.26], p = 0.08). Operative mortality and major (Clavien ≥ 3) morbidity, including hemorrhage and renal failure, did not differ statistically between groups. Conclusions Ketorolac administration was associated with an acceptable risk of CR-PF and no increase in major morbidity after PD. These data suggest ketorolac can be used in strategies to optimize analgesia and minimize opioid usage.
Lysosomal storage disease spectrum in nonimmune hydrops fetalis: a retrospective case control study.

OBJECTIVES Nonimmune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) accounts for 90% of hydrops fetalis cases. About 15% to 29% of unexplained NIHF cases are caused by lysosomal storage diseases (LSD). We review the spectrum of LSD and associated clinical findings in NIHF in a cohort of patients referred to our institution. METHODS We present a retrospective case-control study of cases with NIHF referred for LSD biochemical testing at a single center. Cases diagnosed with LSD were matched to controls with NIHF and negative LSD testing and analyzed according to the STROBE criteria to the extent the retrospective nature of this study allowed. RESULTS Between January 2006 and December 2018, 28 patients with NIHF were diagnosed with a LSD. Eight types of LSD were diagnosed: galactosialidosis 8/28 (28.6%), sialic acid storage disease (SASD) 5/28 (17.9%), mucopolysaccharidosis VII 5/28 (17.9%), Gaucher 4/28 (14.3%), sialidosis 2/28 (7.1%), GM1 gangliosidosis 2/28 (7.1%), Niemann-Pick disease type C 1/28 (3.6%), and mucolipidosis II/III 1/28 (3.6%). Associated clinical features were hepatomegaly 16/21 (76.2%) vs 22/65 (33.8%), P < .05, splenomegaly 12/20 (60.0%) vs 14/58 (24.1%), P < .05, and hepatosplenomegaly 10/20 (50.0%) vs 13/58 (22.4%) P < .05. CONCLUSION The most common LSD in NIHF were galactosialidosis, SASD, mucopolysaccharidosis VII, and Gaucher disease. LSD should be considered in unexplained NIHF cases, particularly if hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, or hepatosplenomegaly is visualized on prenatal ultrasound.
Early infection with Histomonas meleagridis has limited effects on broiler breeder hens' growth and egg production and quality

Abstract A study was conducted to determine differences between Histomonas meleagridis–infected and control pullets based on disease signs, hen growth, and egg production and quality. Ross 708SF females were weighed and then placed in pens on the day of hatch (92 chicks/pen). At 25 D, 4 pens were infected with H. meleagridis in the cloaca, whereas 4 pens were control. At 5, 10, and 20 D after inoculation, 5 birds per pen (2 birds per pen at 20 D) were subjectively scored for blackhead disease. Birds were feed restricted based on BW and/or egg production. Individual BW were collected at 3, 5, 13, 15, 20, and 64 wk. Egg production was recorded at 24–63 wk. Egg quality was measured at 30, 34, 39, 42, and 56 wk and included shell and vitelline membrane strength, shell thickness, egg weight, and Haugh units. Hatchability was measured at 27, 37, and 60 wk and fertility at 27 and 37 wk. Treatment effects were determined by JMP Pro 14 using GLM with means separated using the Student t test (P ≤ 0.05). Cecal lesions were apparent on 5, 10, and 20 D and liver lesions on 10 and 20 D for the infected birds. The control had no histomoniasis lesions. Flock uniformity differed on wk 13 and 20 (P = 0.04; 0.04). Infected birds weighed less at 64 wk (P = 0.002). The onset of lay was not delayed. Infected birds produced more eggs during 1 period (P = 0.02). The infected birds produced heavier eggs at 30 wk (P = 0.04), eggs with a stronger and thicker shell at 42 wk (P = 0.05, 0.03), and eggs with a stronger vitelline membrane at 56 wk (P = 0.049). Hatchability and fertility did not differ (P > 0.05). H. meleagridis was observed in the infected birds' cecal samples at trial termination. This study indicates early infection with H. meleagridis has limited effects on pullet egg production and quality.
Activity-Dependent Mitochondrial Plasticity and Mitoproteome are Dysregulated in Fragile X Syndrome

Homeostatic plasticity is necessary for the construction and maintenance of functional neuronal networks and becomes disrupted in certain neurodevelopmental disorders. Principal molecular mechanisms required for or modified by homeostatic plasticity are not well understood. We recently reported that homeostatic plasticity induced by activity deprivation is dysregulated in cortical neurons from Fragile X Mental Retardation protein (FMRP) knockout mice (Bulow et al. 2019). These findings suggested to us that proteins responsive to both activity deprivation and modulated by FMRP expression would be robust putative pathways necessary for or modified by homeostatic plasticity. Here, we used unbiased quantitative mass spectrometry to quantify steady-state proteome changes following chronic activity deprivation in wild type and Fmr1-/y cortical neurons. We found that most proteome hits responsive to both activity deprivation and the Fmr1-/y genotype were annotated to mitochondria. Surprisingly, we observed that Fmr1-/y neurons showed exaggerated changes in the expression of mitochondrial proteins following activity deprivation. We identified significant, but compartment specific, changes in the mitochondrial morphology and membrane polarization in dendrites and axons of wild type neurons following activity deprivation. However, these compartmentalized changes were already present in Fmr1-/y neurons at baseline and remained insensitive to activity deprivation. Our findings suggest that mitochondria are required and modified during the induction, establishment or maintenance of homeostatic plasticity. Loss of FMRP exaggerates changes in the mitoproteome during activity deprivation, but Fmr1-/y neurons fail to appropriately regulate mitochondrial morphology and function in an activity dependent and compartmentalized manner. We propose that abnormal compartmentalized mitochondrial plasticity contributes to neurodevelopmental disorders.
Biosynthesis of the Peptidoglycan of Bacterial Cell Walls XV. THE BINDING OF RADIOACTIVE PENICILLIN TO THE PARTICULATE ENZYME PREPARATION OF BACILLUS SUBTILIS AND ITS REVERSAL WITH HYDROXYLAMINE OR THIOLS

Abstract The binding of radioactive penicillin G to a particulate enzyme preparation derived from Bacillus subtilis has been examined. The binding required an intact β-lactam ring and showed saturation kinetics. About 49 µµmoles of penicillin G were bound per mg of enzyme protein. The binding was reversed by neutral hydroxylamine, ethanethiol, or H2O2. The product of reversal with hydroxylamine was identified as penicilloyl hydroxamate, and that with ethanethiol after methylation as α-ethylthio-β-methylbenzylpenicilloate. The binding was also prevented by prior reaction of the particulate enzyme preparation with sulfhydryl reagents such as iodoacetate. These data indicate that penicillin G reacted with some component of the particulate enzyme preparation to form a thiol ester of penicilloic acid and a functional thiol group in the enzyme preparation.
Duration of SARS-CoV-2 positive in quarantine room environments: A perspective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the duration of SARS-CoV-2 persistence in quarantine hotel environments. METHODS: 39 Patients confirmed by RT-PCR were included. We collected clinical features, laboratory test results, smear sample information, and quarantine room information. Genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were conducted. We analyzed the factors associated with environmental contamination. RESULT: Among 39 COVID-19 cases, 10 were asymptomatic and 37 were imported from aboard. We collected 271 swab samples from environmental surfaces related to observational patients. Eighteen swab samples from seven patients were positive. The highest contamination rates occurred on cups (100%), followed by hand sink (12.82%), toilet seat and flush (7.89%), telephone (5.56%), bedside table (5.56%), and floor drain (5.41%). The results showed that environmental surface contamination was associated with the clinical cycle threshold values for patients (P = 0.01) and the sampling interval time after the cases left their rooms (P = 0.03). The duration of environmental surface contamination was associated with the wet status of the sampling site (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that environmental contamination might be attributed to the viral load in the respiratory tracts of patients and the sampling interval time after the cases left their rooms. Moist surfaces were more vulnerable to remaining SARS-CoV-2 RNA-positive. Our study highlights the importance of implementing strict chemical disinfection strategies in quarantine rooms.
Accountability in Government Contracting Arrangements: Experimental Analysis of Blame Attribution Across Levels of Government:

While governments increasingly turn to third-party providers to deliver public services and government responsibilities are increasingly shifted from the federal to the state and local levels, both...
DOF adjustment and 3D free viewpoint viewing of Z stack data of fluorescent microscope using image processing

In recent years, confocal fluorescence microscopes have become widespread and many Z-stack data have been collected. However, it is the current situation that there is hardly a method for three-dimensional observation of huge amounts of data with sufficient resolution and without loss of information. In light of this situation, we have developed an image processing algorithm, referred to as arbitrary blur algorithm (ABA), which enables post-adjustment of DOF and 3D image observation from a free viewpoint, with high resolution and without loss of information. In this report, we first explain the principle of image processing that enables depth of field (DOF) adjustment and 3D image observation from a free viewpoint using Z-stack data. Next, the results of the simulation are introduced. In the simulation, we show the comparison result of the point image by MIP (maximum intensity projection) method and the point image of the proposed method and clarify the superiority of the proposed method. Next, we introduce the results of the experimental verification. For experimental verification, we show the results using wide field fluorescence microscope Z-stack data and confocal fluorescence microscope Z-stack data. As confocal data, observation examples of mouse hippocampal neuron synapses are shown in comparison with the results displayed by existing software.
The Nuss Procedure and Anesthetic Implications

The Nuss procedure was introduced in 1998 as a less invasive surgical technique for correction of the chest wall deformity, pectus excavatum (PE). This chapter summarizes the clinical picture of PE, describes the Nuss procedure and explores the anesthetic requirements for a patient undergoing the procedure. The criteria for surgical correction and preoperative planning is outlined. Known and potential complications are discussed. Intra and postoperative pain management often presents a challenge to the anesthesiologist, therefore different methods of analgesia are examined. Multiple reviews of surgical outcomes describe success of the procedure as the surgical technique has been refined through the years.
Mahalanobis distance-based robust approaches against false data injection attacks on dynamic power state estimation

Abstract Many researchers have studied false data injection (FDI) attacks in power state estimation, but existing state estimation approaches are still highly vulnerable to FDI attacks. Currently, most existing studies on FDI attacks focus on static state estimation (SSE), where power system states are not changed with time, and one of them includes the discovery of three efficient FDI attacks that can introduce arbitrary large errors into certain state variables without being detected by existing bad measurement detection algorithms. In reality, however, power states are varied with time in real-world power systems. In this paper, we investigate the problem of the above three FDI attacks against dynamic power state estimation (DSE). Although the three attacks were discovered in SSE several years ago, none of them has been well addressed in static power state systems. In this research, we propose two robust defense approaches against the above three efficient FDI attacks on DSE. Compared to existing approaches, our proposed approaches have three major differences and significant strengths: (1) they defend against the three FDI attacks on dynamic power state estimation rather than static power state estimation, (2) they give a robust estimator that can accurately extract a subset of attack-free sensors for power state estimation, and (3) they adopt the little-known Mahalanobis distance in the consistency check of power sensor measurements, which is different from the Euclidean distance used in all the existing studies on power state estimation. We mathematically prove that the Mahalanobis distance is not only useful but also much better than the Euclidean distance in the consistency check of power sensor measurements. Our time complexity analysis shows that the two proposed robust defense approaches are efficient. Moreover, in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approaches, we compare them with the three well-known approaches: the least square approach, the Imhotep-SMT approach, and the MEE-UKF approach. Our extensive xperiments show that the proposed approaches further reduce the estimation error by two orders of magnitude and four orders of magnitude compared to the Imhotep-SMT approach and the least square approach, respectively. Moreover, our approach is more stable than the MEE-UKF approach.
Supporting Collaborative Process Knowledge Management in New Product Development Teams

Knowledge centric activities of developing new products and services are becoming the primary source of sustainable competitive advantage in an era characterized by short product life cycles, dynamic markets and complex processes. We view new product development (NPD) as a knowledge-intensive activity. Based on a case study in the consumer electronics industry, we identify problems associated with knowledge management (KM) in the context of NPD by cross-functional collaborative teams. We map these problems to broad Information Technology enabled solutions and subsequently translate these into specific system characteristics and requirements. A prototype system that meets these requirements developed to capture and manage tacit and explicit process knowledge is further discussed. The functionalities of the system include functions for representing context with informal components, easy access to process knowledge, assumption surfacing, review of past knowledge, and management of dependencies. We demonstrate the validity our proposed solutions using scenarios drawn from our case study.
University–industry collaboration: Enhancing students’ business acumen and aptitude through competitive SCM challenges

This article describes a collaborative process between a university’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) program and the business community supporting the program to bring about a student team–based cas...
A conductive heat transfer model for particle flows over immersed surfaces

Abstract A fundamental continuum model for conductive heat transfer between an immersed boundary and flowing particles is developed. The model is derived for systems where conduction through the interstitial gas between nearby surfaces is the dominant heat transfer mechanism. Conductive heat transfer depends on the thermal properties of the solids and gas phases, particle size and morphology, and packing structure. The new model incorporates both particle size and arrangement effects using first principles, and is applicable to flows spanning dilute to dense regimes. Specifically, a novel particle–wall distribution function is employed to capture the effects of particle arrangement over a range of solids concentrations. Discrete element method (DEM) simulations are used to close the model in terms of continuum variables and to generate constitutive relations for the Nusselt number and local heat transfer coefficient. The resulting expression is implemented into a continuum gas–solid model and tested against DEM data for particle flow down a ramp, flow around a hexagon, and crossflow around a cylinder. The model accurately predicts the local heat transfer coefficient over a range of flow parameters, and is valid for the full range of solids concentrations.
Tailoring the efficiency of 3D wire‐shaped photovoltaic cells (WPVCs) by functionalization of solid–liquid interfacial properties

An efficient 3D dye-sensitized photovoltaic microwire has been developed using thermally stable and highly conductive titanium microwires and carbon nanotube yarns (CNYs). Interaligned, ultrastrong, and flexible CNYs with excellent mechanical integrity and electrocatalytic property were successfully used as counter electrodes (CEs). The TiO2 nanophase coated Ti-microwire acts as the working electrode (WE). The CEs were twisted around the WE to collect and transmit the photogenerated electrons from the outer circuit. The interface in between photoactive TiO2 film and 3D conductive support has been optimized. The optimized 3D WPVC shows a 0.583% photon to energy conversion efficiency under an irradiation of AM 1.5 (100 mW cm−2). Cells with various lengths were observed to attain a fill factor (FF) above 0.8. This work tested WPVCs under different working environments to assess their engineering potential.
Impact of dietary fiber-based SCFA mixtures on colon epithelial barrier function (822.1)

Patients with HIV, obesity, and inflammatory bowel disease often have impaired gut barrier function. Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly butyrate, provide energy to the intestinal epithel...
Reflections on Recruitment for Mission and Catholic Identity: Lessons Learned.

This article presents how the division of student affairs at Siena College developed a framework for communicating its Franciscan and Catholic identity to job candidates and current staff. The recruitment for mission process described in this article has a dual purpose. The fi rst is to educate and provide development opportunities for existing staff to become conversant in what distinguishes us as Catholic institutions of higher education. The second is to be intentional about the recruitment, hiring, and orientation of prospective employees. This article offers suggestions for institutions to refl ect upon prior to embarking on an effort to recruit for mission. Suggested readings are also referenced.
An Overview of the Contaminated Site Regulatory Framework, the Site Assessment Process and Parameters Affecting Site Cleanup Costs

The purpose of this article is to outline the legal requirements and regulations that govern hazardous wastes and cleanup. In addition, an outline of the site assessment process is developed and the factors that must be considered in evaluating site-specific costs are reviewed.
Influence of Catalase Activity on Resistance of Coagulase-positive Staphylococci to Hydrogen Peroxide

Catalase activities of intact cells and cell-free extracts of coagulase-positive staphylococcal cultures 105B and 558D isolated from milk, culture 25042 from a clinical source, and Staphylococcus aureus 196E were determined at 32.2 C. Cultures were treated with 0.025 and 0.05% hydrogen peroxide at 37.8 and 54.4 C and without hydrogen peroxide at 54.4 C to determine the relationship between catalase activity and resistance to these treatments. The relationship held true for cultures 105B and 196E; culture 105B had the lowest catalase activity and lowest resistance to H2O2 at 37.8 C, whereas S. aureus 196E possessed a high catalase activity and was most resistant at 37.8 C. Catalase activities of cell-free extracts of cultures 25042, 558, and 196E were similar, but resistance to H2O2 at 37.8 C was greater for culture 196E. The lower resistance of culture 25042 was related to low catalase activities of whole cells of this culture, which were only one-third that of whole cells of culture 196E. Culture 558 was least resistant to heat treatment at 54.4 C and showed the greatest sensitivity to added H2O2 at this temperature.
Voting Methods and Information Exchange in Group Support Systems

ABSTRACT Voting tools in Group Support Systems (GSS) have been considered valuable assets in groups’ decision processes. One important aspect of voting is the method of conducting the vote. Research in Social Choice Theory (SCT) has shown that different voting methods can lead to different voting outcomes. However, SCT seldom addresses how a voting method affects decision making processes. Voting methods interacting with the computation power and communication capability in GSS can also affect decision processes and outcomes. This paper reviews theories about voting methods and their implications to GSS. A classification of voting methods based on information exchange is proposed to examine the effect of voting methods on groups’ decision processes. Keywords Voting, group support systems (GSS), decision support. INTRODUCTION Computerized voting has gained attention in research. However, the attention is focused on large-scale elections with topics such as security and integrity of voting protocols and usability of voting machines (Hoffman and Cranor, 2001; Mercuri and Camp, 2004). There is another side of computerized voting, voting tools in Group Support Systems (GSS) that support group decision making. Voting tools have been recognized by GSS researchers as valuable assets to aiding groups in making decisions. For example, Kraemer and King (1988, p. 131) suggest that voting systems have a pronounced effect on group decision making, that is, voting systems allow groups to identify the variance in issues being considered rapidly, and the anonymous voting in such systems can reduce the bias of dominant individuals. Nunamaker and his colleagues (Nunamaker, Briggs, Mittleman, Vogel and Balthazard, 1997) have pointed out that voting in GSS plays a different role than paper-balloting. Electronic voting encourages members to “vote early, vote often,” because it is fast, preserves anonymity, helps achieve equality among members, and minimizes irrelevant influences. Although voting tools provide great potential for group making decisions, theories and studies of voting in GSS remain sparse (Cheng, Li and Van de Walle, 2001). In order to fully utilize voting tools, there is a need to develop theories for voting in GSS. The theories can direct GSS researchers in formulating experiments, guide GSS system builders in designing sophisticated voting tools, and help GSS users better utilize voting tools. Many aspects of voting have been studied in fields such as Social Choice Theory (SCT) and Public Choice. However, those studies usually do not consider the voting process in group decision making with enhancements provided by computer systems. In this paper, we will propose a theory about possible effects of voting in GSS.
Plasma para-chlorophenylalanine measurements with gas-liquid chromatography. Methodological and pharmacological studies.

Abstract A gas-liquid chromatographic method for determining the concentration of amino acids in biological fluids was used to determine the concentration of para-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA) in plasma and urine. After its removal from plasma or urine by an ion exchange resin, pCPA was converted to a volatile n-butyl-N-trifluoroacetyl ester. Using this method we evaluated the plasma concentration and the urinary excretion of pCPA in six patients with the carcinoid syndrome treated with pCPA for up to 18 months. We confirmed the prolonged plasma half-life (13 hr) of pCPA. The urine excretion of unchanged pCPA was approximately 10% of the administered dose, either in an acute-loading situation or with chronic-maintenance administration. The symptomatic response of the diarrhea in the patient with the carcinoid syndrome was more consistently associated with the suppression of urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid excretion than either the pCPA plasma concentration or the serum serotonin level.
The effect of summer on value-added assessments of teacher and school performance

This study examines the effects of including the summer period on value-added assessments (VAA) of teacher and school performance at the early grades. The results indicate that 40-62% of the variance in VAA estimates originates from the summer period, depending on the outcome. Furthermore, when summer is omitted from the VAA model, 51-61% of the teachers and 58-61% of the schools change performance quintiles, with many changing 2-3 quintiles. Extensive statistical controls for student background and classroom and school context reduce these differences, but 36-47% of the teachers and 42-49% of the schools are still in different quintiles. Besides misclassifying teachers and schools, including summer creates biases in VAA estimates against schools with concentrated poverty. These results suggest that removing summer effects from VAA estimates will likely require biannual achievement assessments (i.e., fall and spring).
True hermaphroditism in man, with an endocrinologic study

Abstract 1. 1. A case of true unilateral hermaphroditism in an adult white person is reported. 2. 2. The phallus and ovotestis were removed at operation, leaving probably normal female internal and external genitalia. 3. 3. Endocrinologic study is presented for the first time in true hermaphroditism with the demonstration of both male and female sex hormones. The male sex hormone disappeared entirely while the female sex hormone increased in amount after operation.
Use and exchange of salmonid genetic resources relevant for food and aquaculture

This review describes the global use and exchange of salmonid genetic resources for human food from fisheries and aquaculture. Trends in population abundance, variations in the harvest of wild stocks, historic transfers and worldwide translocations of stocks for fisheries and aquaculture are briefly described for seven species of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus), for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and for Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus). Also considered are the tools currently used to assist in the conservation of endangered wild populations (e.g. captive breeding programmes and gene banks) and the major techniques developed to enhance the production of cultured stocks (selective breeding, hybridization, sex control, chromosome set manipulation and gene transfer). The review briefly discusses the significance of salmon production to the economy of selected countries and the complexity of allocating economic value to long-range migratory fisheries resources that also hold direct and indirect value for aboriginal/native communities and recreational users.
Structural methodologies for auditing SNOMED.

SNOMED is one of the leading health care terminologies being used worldwide. As such, quality assurance is an important part of its maintenance cycle. Methodologies for auditing SNOMED based on structural aspects of its organization are presented. In particular, automated techniques for partitioning SNOMED into smaller groups of concepts based primarily on relationships patterns are defined. Two abstraction networks, the area taxonomy and p-area taxonomy, are derived from the partitions. The high-level views afforded by these abstraction networks form the basis for systematic auditing. The networks tend to highlight errors that manifest themselves as irregularities at the abstract level. They also support group-based auditing, where sets of purportedly similar concepts are focused on for review. The auditing methodologies are demonstrated on one of SNOMED’s top-level hierarchies. Errors discovered during the auditing process are reported.
Density dependent local composition models: an interpretive review

Abstract The introduction of local composition theory into equations of state has led to models capable of representing highly nonideal systems. Some distinguished developments have been made by introducing into the equations of state local compositions which vary with the density; i.e., by density dependent local compositions, DDLC. These models can match the observed low density behavior of mixtures and reproduce the predictions obtained by the successful liquid phase activity coefficient models. Local compositions have been extensively examined theoretically by statistical thermodynamics and by computer simulation. Inconsistencies have been found between the density dependence found for the engineering local composition models and those found for the model fluids examined by computer simulation. In spite of their theoretical shortcomings, we conclude that the current DDLC models are quite useful since they do reproduce the important characteristics needed to model phase equilibria. A new generation of thermodynamic models that will be able to account for the complex interactions of industrially important compounds is likely to arise from the synergistic interactions of the statistical and applied thermodynamicists.
Critical analysis of blogging in public relations

Abstract This essay conducts an analysis of blogs as public relations tools. Following an overview of blogs, attention is given to how blogs can be used more effectively by public relations professionals, and how blogs are favored by communication firms and consultants as essential public relations tools. The essay concludes that while blogs have incredible potential as research, framing, and persuasion tools, their utility as a public relations tool is currently limited.
Co-localization of GABA and neuropeptides in neocortical neurons

Abstract A number of well known brain—gut peptides are found in the cerebral cortex. Those with the highest concentrations are almost always co-localized with both conventional transmitters (particularly GABA) and/or with other peptides within limited populations of cortical intrinsic neurons. The neurons containing both GABA and a peptide have similar morphology but particular sub-groups can be identified in terms of the peptides they contain and their synaptic targets. Levels of one cortical peptide, somatostatin, decline in Alzheimer's disease without a concomitant decline in GABA, with which it is co-localized. This and certain other puzzling features of peptide action and peptidergic cell morphology suggest that some may mediate trophic, and other effects on cortical neurons.
FDG PET/CT findings of a ruptured pulmonary hydatid cyst with histopathological correlation

Abstract We present a case of ruptured pulmonary hydatid cyst in a patient with hemoptysis and suspected pulmonary malignancy, for which the 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) findings of absent metabolic activity within the cyst and hypermetabolism within a pericystic region of parenchymal consolidation were clues to the diagnosis. Our report is the first to correlate PET/CT findings in a ruptured cyst with histopathology. Moreover, this case demonstrates that even in nonendemic regions, ruptured pulmonary hydatid cyst should be considered in the differential for pulmonary malignancy. The ability of PET/CT to distinguish cyst rupture has implications for surgical management.
Alzheimer's disease: from molecular biology to neuropsychiatry.

Alzheimer's disease is a clinical syndrome reflecting the topography and rate of progression of amyloid-associated cell death and dysfunction. Abnormal processing of amyloid precursor protein or enhanced accumulation of brain amyloid incites multiple pathogenetic pathway including inflammation, oxidation, and tau protein hyperphosphorylation that lead to neuronal death. The molecular biology of Alzheimer's disease provides insight into the clinical phenotype. The steps of the amyloid cascade present multiple targets for drug development and identification of effective disease-modifying anti-Alzheimer's disease treatments.