cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Autism Mental Status Exam: Sensitivity and Specificity Using DSM-5 Criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Verbally Fluent Adults

The phenotypic heterogeneity of adults suspected of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) requires a standardized diagnostic approach that is feasible in all clinical settings. The autism mental status exam (AMSE) is an eight-item observational assessment that structures the observation and documentation of social, communicative and behavioral signs and symptoms of ASD. Previous findings indicate high classification accuracy when compared to the autism diagnostic observation schedule in a non-stratified population of high-risk patients suspected of having ASD. This protocol investigates the sensitivity and specificity of AMSE scores using DSM-5 criteria for ASD in a sample of high-risk verbally fluent adults. Findings indicate an optimized sensitivity of 0.91 and a specificity of 0.93 for this group. Because of its high clinical utility, the AMSE holds promise as a diagnostic assessment tool that can support one’s clinical diagnosis of ASD in high-risk adults.
Histologic processing and reporting of cutaneous pigmented lesions: recommendations based on a survey of 94 dermatopathologists.

Background Standard operating procedures for laboratory processing and reporting of margins of cutaneous pigmented lesions do not exist. We conducted a survey of 94 dermatopathologists to evaluate these practices. Objectives We sought to: (1) identify dominant practices among dermatopathologists; (2) determine the impact of the procedure, intent to excise, and histologic diagnosis on the process of margin evaluation; and (3) propose guidelines based on these findings. Methods The survey consisted of 44 questions focused on the impact of procedure (punch, shave, or ellipse), intent (excision or biopsy), and histologic diagnosis (common nevus, congenital nevus, atypical nevus, melanoma) on processing and margin reporting. Results For ellipses, or specimens indicated as excisions, the majority practice (76%-98%) was to ink the specimens. Although more than 90% of observers report the margins on all melanomas and atypical nevi, fewer than 50% of respondents report margins on all nonatypical nevi. Limitations The study consists of a survey sample of dermatopathologists and does not represent the practices of those who did not respond to the survey. Conclusions Based on the results of this survey we have arrived at the following recommendations: (1) ink all specimens that are ellipses or designated as excisions; (2) tips should be evaluated separately if the specimen is an ellipse; (3) obtain levels in cases with tumor in the tip but not at ink if the specimen is an ellipse or excision and the diagnosis is atypical nevus or melanoma; and (4) report margins on all atypical nevi and melanomas.
Temporal trends of polychlorinated biphenyls in precipitation and air at chicago.

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in precipitation (1997−2003) and in the atmospheric gas phase (1996−2003) collected in Chicago, IL, are reported. These data were obtained as part of the Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network. For comparison, PCB concentrations at a remote site, Sleeping Bear Dunes on the northeastern shore of Lake Michigan, are also reported. Much higher PCB concentrations in both precipitation (7.1 ± 0.9 ng/L) and the gas phase (1.4 ± 0.1 ng/m3) at Chicago compared to Sleeping Bear Dunes (1.1 ± 0.1 ng/L and 0.1 ± 0.08 ng/m3, respectively) indicate that Chicago is a source of PCBs to the Great Lakes. A long-term decreasing trend of PCB concentrations in precipitation was observed at Chicago with a half-life of 6.8 ± 3.1 years. The corresponding half-life for PCB concentrations in the gas phase was 7.7 ± 1.1 years. The significant long-term decrease of PCB concentrations in precipitation and the gas phase in Chicago suggests that regulatory efforts are working, at least in...
Autoradiographic studies of migrating neurons and astrocytes of human fetal cerebral cortex in vitro.

Abstract Autoradiographic studies with tritiated thymidine were carried out utilizing organotypic cultures established from full-thickness tissue blocks taken from primordial posterior frontal-anterior parietal human fetal cerebral neocortex. The specimens cultured came from fetuses of 8 wk to 20 wk gestation and were grown in vitro for one to 126 days. The principal cellular components in cultures were neurons and astrocytes as determined by special stains and electronmicroscopy. In all specimens studied, there was marked labeling of astrocytes, but no labeling of neurons could be found either in outgrowth zones or within primary explant areas. The findings were identical in 24 hr pulse-labeled and in cumulatively-labeled cultures. It is suggested that the final DNA synthesis of neurons destined for the posterior frontal-anterior parietal region of cerebral cortex in the human fetus may take place near the end of the first trimester. Inherent in these findings are implications concerning the vulnerability of developing human brain to various types of insults at different gestational ages.
Relationship between semen characteristics and body size in Barbus barbus L. (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) and effects of ions and osmolality on sperm motility

Abstract The objectives of the present study were to determine the relationships among length and weight of males, sperm volume, spermatozoa concentration, total number of spermatozoa, ionic contents and osmolality of seminal plasma in Barbus barbus. The effect of osmolality on sperm motility parameters after activation in NaCl, KCl, or sucrose solutions was also examined. There were significant correlations between spermatozoa concentration – length (R = + 0.7) and – weight (R = + 0.8) of males. No significant correlations were observed between the total number of spermatozoa, sperm volume, and length and weight of males. Seminal plasma osmolality was higher when the total number of spermatozoa (R = + 0.6) and sperm volume (R = + 0.6) were higher. Sperm motility and velocity was positively correlated with osmolality (R = + 0.5). The correlation between sperm motility and K+ was negative (R = 0.5), but positively correlated with Ca2+ (R = 0.8), Na+ (R = 0.8), and Cl− (R = 0.8). There was a rapid decrease (P
C/EBPα triggers proteasome‐dependent degradation of cdk4 during growth arrest

CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) causes growth arrest via direct interaction with the cyclin-dependent kinases cdk2 and cdk4. In this paper, we present evidence showing that C/EBPα enhances a proteasome-dependent degradation of cdk4 during growth arrest in liver of newborn mice and in cultured cells. Overexpression of C/EBPα in several biological systems leads to a reduction of cdk4 protein levels, but not mRNA levels. Experiments with several tissue culture models reveal that C/EBPα enhances the formation of cdk4–ubiquitin conjugates and induces degradation of cdk4 through a proteasome-dependent pathway. As a result, the half-life of cdk4 is shorter and protein levels of cdk4 are reduced in cells expressing C/EBPα. Gel filtration analysis of cdk4 complexes shows that a chaperone complex cdk4–cdc37–Hsp90, which protects cdk4 from degradation, is abundant in proliferating livers that lack C/EBPα, but this complex is weak or undetectable in livers expressing C/EBPα. Our studies show that C/EBPα disrupts the cdk4–cdc37–Hsp90 complex via direct interaction with cdk4 and reduces protein levels of cdk4 by increasing proteasome-dependent degradation of cdk4.
Anesthetic modulation of protein dynamics: insight from an NMR study.

Mistic (membrane integrating sequence for translation of integral membrane protein constructs) comprises the four-α-helix bundle scaffold found in the transmembrane domains of the Cys-loop receptors that are plausible targets for general anesthetics. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies of anesthetic halothane interaction with Mistic in dodecyl phosphocholine (DPC) micelles provide an experimental basis for understanding molecular mechanisms of general anesthesia. Halothane was found to interact directly with Mistic, mostly in the interfacial loop regions. Although the presence of halothane had little effect on Mistic structure, 15N NMR relaxation dispersion measurements revealed that halothane affected Mistic’s motion on the microsecond−millisecond time scale. Halothane shifted the equilibrium of chemical exchange in some residues and made the exchange faster or slower in comparison to the original state in the absence of halothane. The motion on the microsecond−millisecond time scale in several resi...
Nonlinear nanolayered polymers: ID photonic materials with applications to optical limiting

Summary form only given. New micro- and nano-layer polymeric materials have been fabricated by an extrusion method. The materials consist of up to many thousands of layers with a layer thickness down to 30 nm or smaller. The extrusion is a continuous process that yields polymeric photonic materials that are flexible sheets with large surface areas. We report nonlinear ID layered materials that were fabricated by dispersing nonlinear dyes in alternate layers. These new materials have a modulation in the complex nonlinear refractive index in the direction normal to the surface of the layers. There are several potential applications of these nanostructured materials including optical limiting.
Finding imaging patterns of structural covariance via Non-Negative Matrix Factorization

In this paper, we investigate the use of Non-Negative Matrix Factorization (NNMF) for the analysis of structural neuroimaging data. The goal is to identify the brain regions that co-vary across individuals in a consistent way, hence potentially being part of underlying brain networks or otherwise influenced by underlying common mechanisms such as genetics and pathologies. NNMF offers a directly data-driven way of extracting relatively localized co-varying structural regions, thereby transcending limitations of Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Independent Component Analysis (ICA) and other related methods that tend to produce dispersed components of positive and negative loadings. In particular, leveraging upon the well known ability of NNMF to produce parts-based representations of image data, we derive decompositions that partition the brain into regions that vary in consistent ways across individuals. Importantly, these decompositions achieve dimensionality reduction via highly interpretable ways and generalize well to new data as shown via split-sample experiments. We empirically validate NNMF in two data sets: i) a Diffusion Tensor (DT) mouse brain development study, and ii) a structural Magnetic Resonance (sMR) study of human brain aging. We demonstrate the ability of NNMF to produce sparse parts-based representations of the data at various resolutions. These representations seem to follow what we know about the underlying functional organization of the brain and also capture some pathological processes. Moreover, we show that these low dimensional representations favorably compare to descriptions obtained with more commonly used matrix factorization methods like PCA and ICA.
Uniform provability realization of intuitionistic logic, modality and λ-terms

Abstract The intended meaning of intuitionistic logic is explained by the Brouwer-Heyting-Kolmogorov (BHK) provability semantics which informally defines intuitionistic truth as provability and specifies the intuitionistic connectives via operations on proofs. The problem of finding an adequate formalization of the provability semantics and establishing the completeness of the intuitionistic logic Int was first raised by Godel in 1933. This question turned out to be a part of the more general problem of the intended realization for Godel's modal logic of provability S4 which was open since 1933. In this tutorial talk we present a provability realization of Int and S4 that solves both of these problems. We describe the logic of explicit provability (LP) with the atoms “t is a proof of F” and establish that every theorem of S4 admits a reading in LP as the statement about operations on proofs. Moreover, both S4 and Int are shown to be complete with respect to this realization. In addition, LP subsumes the λ-calculus, modal λ-calculus, combinatory logic and provides a uniform provability realization of modality and λ-terms.
The Grammar of History: Enhancing Content-Based Instruction Through a Functional Focus on Language

In K-12 contexts, the teaching of English language learners (ELLs) has been greatly influenced by the theory and practice of content-based instruction (CBI). A focus on content can help students achieve grade-level standards in school subjects while they develop English proficiency, but CBI practices have focused primarily on vocabulary and the use of graphic organizers along with cooperative learning activities. This article reports the results of a project intended to enhance CBI through activities that focus on the role of language in constructing knowledge. The strategies we present are based on identification and analysis of the challenges presented by grade-level textbooks in middle school history classrooms. By engaging in functional linguistic analysis, ELLs and their teachers can deconstruct the language of their textbooks, enabling students to develop academic language by focusing on the meaning-making potential of the historian's language choices.
Partial epilepsy presenting as focal atonic seizure: A case report

A case of atonic seizures localized to the frontal lobe by video-EEG monitoring is reported. The patient is a 38-year-old female with intractable atonic seizures characterized by abrupt onset of facial grimacing and a slow head drop. The onset of atonic seizures was about 6 years before presentation. Video-EEG monitoring showed that her atonic seizures were emanating from the right frontal head region. A high voltage spike and slow wave discharge invariably coincided with the onset of atonic seizures in the patient, similar to the interruption of tonic muscular activity time-locked to a spike on the EEG described in epileptic negative myoclonus; a syndrome associated with epileptic activity in the premotor cortex. Since routine MRI imaging in this patient was normal, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was applied to analyze the white matter integrity of the normal-appearing white matter in the frontal lobes of the patient. We compared the fractional anisotropy, parallel diffusivity and perpendicular diffusivity of normal-appearing white matter in the right versus left frontal lobe. Our results showed no significant difference between the two sides. Possible reasons for the normal DTI findings are discussed.
Approximate solutions of the particle-rotor model for decoupled bands

The particle-rotor model with a single nucleon in a configuration with large fixed j is treated by means of the Holstein-Primakoff expansion. The small-oscillation approximation yields relatively simple analytic expressions for energies, alignments, electromagnetic moments, and transition rates of decoupled bands, which are surprisingly accurate over a broad range of C/A.
Phase Coexistence of a Stockmayer Fluid in an Applied Field

We examine two apects of Stockmayer fluids, which consist of point dipoles that additionally interact via an attractive Lennard-Jones potential. We perform Monte Carlo simulations to examine the effect of an applied field on the liquid-gas phase coexistence and show that a magnetic fluid phase does exist in the absence of an applied field. As part of the search for the magnetic fluid phase, we perform Gibbs ensemble simulations to determine phase coexistence curves at large dipole moments, \ensuremath{\mu}. The critical temperature is found to depend linearly on ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}^{2}$ for intermediate values of \ensuremath{\mu} beyond the initial nonlinear behavior near \ensuremath{\mu}=0 and less than the \ensuremath{\mu} where no liquid-gas phase coexistence has been found. For phase coexistence in an applied field, the critical temperatures as a function of the applied field for two different \ensuremath{\mu} are mapped onto a single curve. The critical densities change very little as a function of applied field. We also verify that in an applied field the liquid droplets within the two-phase coexistence region become elongated in the direction of the field.
Perfluorooctanesulfonate and related fluorinated hydrocarbons in mink and river otters from the United States.

Mink and otters are good integrators of their aquatic environments and useful sentinel species for determining exposure to environmental contaminants. In this study, perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS; C8F17SO3-), perfluorooctanesulfonamide (FOSA; C8F17SO2NH2), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS; C6F13SO3-), and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA; C7F15CO2-) were measured in livers of mink and river otters collected from various locations in the United States. PFOS was found in all mink livers analyzed. Frequencies of occurrence of FOSA, PFHxS, and PFOA were less. The greatest concentration of PFOS measured in liver of mink was 5140 ng/g, wet weight. Maximum concentrations of FOSA, PFHxS, and PFOA in mink livers were 590, 39, and 27 ng/g, wet weight, respectively. There were no significant positive relationships between concentrations of PFOS and PFHxS or PFOA in mink livers. Concentrations of PFOS were positively correlated with those of FOSA in mink livers from Illinois. There was no significant correlation between conc...
The uptake and in vivo metabolism of the organophosphate insecticide fenitrothion by the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus☆

Callinectes were exposed to [14C]fenitrothion at a level of 5.2 micrograms/liter in either 22 degrees C, 34 ppt; 22 degrees C, 17 ppt; or 17 degrees C, 34 ppt seawater. Uptake from the water, as measured by a decrease in fenitrothion, and the distribution of radioactivity throughout the Callinectes were determined. The nature of radiolabeled metabolites in the water and hepatopancreas was also determined. Fenitrothion was absorbed more rapidly from the water at the higher salinity and temperature. Radioactivity was detected in all the organs assayed by 24 hr postexposure, though the levels increased in most tissues throughout the experiment. The highest concentrations of radioactivity were found in the hepatopancreas and stomach. The metabolites which were detected in the water and liver indicate that Callinectes metabolize fenitrothion by oxidation of the phosphorothioate to a phosphate to yield fenitrooxon. The presence of aminofenitrothion and 3-methyl-4-aminophenol shows that reduction of the nitro group to an amino group also occurs. The isolation of desmethyl forms of fenitrooxon and fenitrothion as well as 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol indicates that hydrolysis of both the P-O-aryl and P-O-alkyl bonds occurred. Glycoside and sulfate conjugates of both phenols were inferred in the hepatopancreas. Higher levels of fenitrooxon and lower levels of desmethyl fenitrothion were detected in the 34 ppt seawater than in the 17 ppt seawater. The 5 degrees C differential had no significant effect on the nature and concentrations of metabolites detected in the seawater.
Gigabits-per-second optical interconnection networks: fault-tolerance with and without optical amplifiers

This paper quantifies the power budget concerns with respect to the number of consecutive faults that must be tolerated before a network can fail. In particular, it is shown that multiple consecutive failures may have a serious adverse effect on the speed of gigabit optical networks. Results indicate that, with 20 nodes using simple direct-detection, only passive star networks can operate at Gb/s in the event of multiple consecutive faults. Use of optical preamplifiers is shown to remedy this shortcoming substantially: even with 3 consecutive node failures, optical networks with passive star couplers or single couplers can achieve Gb/s transmission speed for a node spacing of up to 2.3 km. >
Glutamate aspartate transaminase modified at cysteine 390 with enriched carbon-13 cyanide☆

Abstract The supernatant isozyme of pig heart glutamate aspartate transaminase (EC 2.6.1.1.) has been modified “syncatalytically” at cysteine 390 with 90% enriched [ 13 C] cyanide. The C-13 NMR spectra have been recorded under conditions of pH changes and addition of substrates and substrate analogs when the probe environment may be affected. Under these conditions the C-13 probe revealed no changes in the region surrounding cysteine 390.
Occurrence and Distribution of QoI-Resistant Isolates of Colletotrichum cereale from Annual Bluegrass in California.

ABSTRACT Turfgrass anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum cereale (ex. Colletotrichum graminicola), is an important disease of turf used on golf course putting greens. Recent management of the disease has become increasingly difficult, partly due to the possible development of practical resistance to the QoI fungicides. In all, 558 single-conidia isolates of C. cereale were collected from 10 California golf courses, 8 of which had been exposed to QoI fungicides and 2 where no fungicides had been used. Isolates were tested using a mycelial expansion assay on azoxystrobinamended media. For the two nonexposed populations, in vitro 50% effective dose (ED50) values ranged from 0.0060 to 0.089 μg/ml. All isolates from the exposed populations could not be fully inhibited by doses of azoxystrobin as high as 8.0 μg/ml. A subset of these isolates were tested in vitro with the QoI fungicides pyraclostrobin and trifloxystrobin and found to be similar in response, indicating that these isolates were fully cross-resista...
Forging New Ties between E. coli Genes

A recent study in Nature (Isalan et al., 2008) has examined the effects of systematically adding new transcriptional interactions in the bacterium Escherichia coli. Surprisingly, the majority of the engineered connections have no effect on growth, and in some cases the new connections enhance fitness. These findings reveal insights into the robustness and evolvability of gene networks.
Ice-Crystallization Kinetics in the Catalyst Layer of a Proton-Exchange-Membrane Fuel Cell

Author(s): Dursch, TJ; Trigu, GJ; Lujan, R; Liu, JF; Mukundan, R; Radkead, CJ; Weberb, AZ | Abstract: Nucleation and growth of ice in the catalyst layer of a proton-exchange-membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) are investigated using isothermal differential scanning calorimetry and isothermal galvanostatic cold-starts. Isothermal ice-crystallization rates and ice-nucleation rates are obtained from heat-flow and induction-time measurements at temperatures between 240 and 273 K for four commercial carbon-support materials with varying ionomer fraction and platinum loading. Measured induction times follow expected trends from classical nucleation theory and reveal that the carbon-support material and ionomer fraction strongly impact the onset of ice crystallization. Conversely, dispersed platinum particles play little role in ice crystallization. Following our previous approach, a nonlinear ice-crystallization rate expression is obtained from Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov (JMAK) theory. A validated rate expression is now available for predicting ice crystallization within water-saturated catalyst layers. Using a simplified PEMFC isothermal cold-start continuum model, we compare cell-failure time predicted using the newly obtained rate expression to that predicted using a traditional thermodynamic-based approach. From this comparison, we identify conditions under which including ice-crystallization kinetics is critical and elucidate the impact of freezing kinetics on low-temperature PEMFC operation. The numerical model illustrates that cell-failure time increases with increasing temperature due to a longer required time for ice nucleation. Hence, ice-crystallization kinetics is critical when induction times are long (i.e., in the "nucleation-limited" regime for T g 263 K). Cell-failure times predicted using ice-freezing kinetics are in good agreement with the isothermal cold-starts, which also exhibit long and distributed cell-failure times for T g 263 K. These findings demonstrate a significant departure from cell-failure times predicted using the thermodynamic-based approach. © 2013 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.
Simplified quantitation of gene transcripts in cultured neuroblastoma (SN49) and microglial (BV-2) cells using capillary electrophoresis and laser-induced fluorescence

Abstract We developed a simplified protocol for sensitive quantitation of mRNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of cDNA made by reverse transcriptase (RT), as resolved with capillary electrophoresis (CE) and detected with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). The conditions required for adequate accuracy of the simplified version of the RT PCR quantitation, in which a single concentration of external standard and amplification to within or near the plateau phase are used, were established for assay of mRNAs expressed at high, moderate, and low abundance. The mRNAs for the cytosolic enzyme, glyceradehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and the growth-associated protein GAP-43 in cultured SN49 neuroblastoma cells were used as target genes for high and moderate levels of expression, respectively. Using cultured mouse microglial cells (BV-2), we demonstrated the utility of this RT/PCR/CE/LIF protocol to quantitate a low-abundance mRNA, encoding a form of nitric oxide synthase (i-NOS) induced by treatment with endotoxin. The appearance of i-NOS mRNA after endotoxin treatment of BV-2 cells was confirmed by Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization histochemistry, and functional enzyme activity was followed by release of nitric oxide (as nitrite) into the medium. The many advantages of the ‘single-point’ RT/PCR/CE/LIF protocol for quantitating mRNAs of interest include: simplified protocol, elimination of the use of radiotracers, high sensitivity and precision, and semi-automation of the quantitation phase of analysis.
EFFICIENT METHODS FOR FINDING THE EQUILIBRIUM CLIMATE OF COUPLED OCEAN-ATMOSPHERE MODELS

Climate involves the interaction of the atmosphere, hydrosphere and cryosphere, with an extremely wide range of significant timescales. Straightforward numerical integration of the time-dependent equations of a climate model is not a practical way to find equilibrium solutions of a more complete climate model. Methods that have been found useful for finding climate equilibrium in low-resolution coupled atmosphere-ocean models are briefly described.
Validation of a mixed‐layer closure. II: Observational tests

Data from the DYCOMS2 observational campaign are used to test a mixed-layer entrainment model presented previously by the author. The model is extended to include the effects of drizzle precipitation and radiative warming from the surface. The most consistent results are obtained under the assumption that the mixed-layer top is unsaturated, that is, the cloud top is below the top of the turbulent flow. With this assumption, the predicted entrainment rates lie near those obtained by Faloona et al., and are well correlated with them, but are sensitive to the evaluation of temperature and moisture jumps and other parameters. The predicted entrainment rates are substantially smaller than those observed by Gerber et al., and are not correlated with them. Drizzle precipitation, as evaluated by VanZanten et al., reduces entrainment rates due to evaporative cooling below cloud base. This effect appears to improve the comparisons with observations. Tests of the robustness of the model calculations show mostly encouraging results. The effect of surface radiation into cloud base is found to be almost negligible. A new criterion for cloud-top entrainment instability, based on the entrainment closure, indicates stability for most observed conditions. The homogeneity of the DYCOMS2 data is beneficial for obtaining reliable measures of entrainment, but limits the ability to test closure predictions over a wide range of conditions. Use of this model for parametrization of marine stratiform cloud layers in large-scale or climate prediction models is considered plausible with limitations. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Evidence-based practice is wonderful...sort of.

What should nurses do in caring for intubated patients to prevent ventilatorassociated pneumonia? What is the most effective way to suction patients who are ventilator dependent? Should patients experiencing acute coronary syndrome be given thrombolytics or just be whisked to the catheterization laboratory for a cardiac angiogram, angioplasty, and stent? Should all diabetic patients, regardless of their lipid levels, receive statin therapy? What is the best way to prevent wound infections in high-risk patients? Can pressure ulcers be prevented in comatose patients? The answers to all of these questions are known and well documented in the literature. Every day, clinicians—nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, and others—confront difficult questions about caring for acutely ill patients. We want to know how to interpret a diagnostic test accurately, how to predict the prognosis of a specific patient, how to identify the comparative effectiveness of 2 therapeutic interventions, and how to compare the costs of our various options. Clinicians, the public, and policy makers all need to know the most effective care—from a clinical and cost perspective—for a patient hospitalized in an acute care setting. Increasingly, the answers to these questions are found in the guidelines that have evolved from systematic research.
Gender differences in social networks.

Researchers of peer relations in late middle childhood and early adolescence have often neglected to examine the context in which social relations occur. The present study was designed to examine one aspect of the context of peer relations-the social networks of males and females. Fourth- and fifth-grade children were asked to rate their peers using friendship and play rating scales and to describe their same-sex peers in open-ended interviews. Although males and females did not differ in the number of best friends they reported, males were found to have larger social networks than females. Further, for males, position in a social network was more highly linked with acceptance by the peer group. Finally, males were concerned with attributes that could be construed as important for status in the peer group, and females were concerned with attributes that appeared essential to relationships with a few friends.
Metal--Metal Matrix (M /sup 3/) for High-Speed MOS VLSI Layout

This paper proposes a new layout method for high-speed VLSI circuits in single-poly and double-metal MOS technology. With emphasis on the speed performance, our Metal-Metal Matrix (M /sup 3/) layout method employs maximal use of metal interconnections while restricting delay-consuming polysilicon or polycide features only to form MOS transistor gates or to connect the same type of transistor gates with common input signals. M /sup 3/ layout is also amenable to submicron technology trends and existing CAD tools for single-poly and single-metal chip assembly and routing. Our layout studies indicate that M /sup 3/ is particularly appealing to high-speed dynamic CMOS circuits in view of packing density and speed performance. This new structure has not been experimented with VLSI chip fabrication yet and awaits empirical verification.
A Study on Networked Manufacturing-Based Supplier Selecting Decision

Supplier selection is the precondition to implement networked manufacturing. There are three kinds of the evaluation indexes: accurate number type, interval number type and fuzzy number type, so the TOPSIS mixed multidimensional decision-making method was used. There are some evaluation factors such as price, quality, network information level, networked condition and credit in supplier selecting. The Java technique was used when developing the supplier selecting system platform, and the system contains three layers: EJB layer, Web layer, General data processing layer. It employs the B/S(Browser/Server) structure. The actual effect of this system proved that the system can help the enterprise to select and manage suppliers well.
Radio Over Fiber for Picocellular Network Architectures

We have studied RF transmission over various multimode fibers (MMFs) and a standard single-mode fiber, targeting picocellular networks for voice, data, and video applications. Bandwidth requirements of MMF links that are based on vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) have been extensively studied. The performance of the radio-over-fiber link is assessed in terms of the error vector magnitude. Also conducted was a full system analysis, including the investigation of an achievable dynamic range and a noise figure for different low-cost architectures. This was compared to coax-based RF transmission. The IEEE 802.11 a/b/g standard, as well as other applications like radio frequency identification tracking, was considered. For experimental investigations, we have used both commercial wireless access points and a vector signal generator as a signal source, with two types of directly modulated VCSELs - 850-nm sources and 1310-nm high-speed uncooled single-mode AlGaInAs/InP VCSELs. A robust system performance was demonstrated in both 2.4- and 5-GHz RF bands, and record multimode and standard single-mode fiber transmission distances were achieved. A transponder design that can meet system requirements in terms of sensitivity ( 95 dBldrHz2/3) for a dual-band wireless LAN (WLAN) fiber-radio picocellular network was developed. A full 14-cell experimental WLAN system with cells of 4-m radius was implemented to study networking issues such as handoff and cochannel interference.
Information extraction and integration from heterogeneous, distributed, autonomous information sources - a federated ontology-driven query-centric approach

This paper motivates and describes the data integration component of INDUS (intelligent data understanding system) environment for data-driven information extraction and integration from heterogeneous, distributed, autonomous information sources. The design of INDUS is motivated by the requirements of applications such as scientific discovery, in which it is desirable for users to be able to access, flexibly interpret, and analyze data from diverse sources from different perspectives in different contexts. INDUS implements a federated, query-centric approach to data integration using user-specified ontologies.
Resurrecting the Motivation-Hygiene Theory: Herzberg and the Positive Psychology Movement

Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory is a popular but controversial theory of employee satisfaction. The theory was at the center of a long debate that focused on conceptual and methodological problems with the theory. Now, more than 30 years after the debate and despite multiple claims that Herzberg's theory is dead, emerging research from the field of positive psychology is surprisingly consistent with basic tenets of the motivation-hygiene theory. It may be time to resurrect Herzberg's theory. This article includes a summary of the motivation-hygiene theory, a clarification of long-standing misinterpretations of the theory, and an examination of the fit between Herzberg's theory and contemporary research on happiness, intrinsic motivation, and materialism. The benefits of returning to Herzberg's model are discussed.
Toxicology Screening for Opioids

Monitoring compliance in the field of pain medicine is critically important. The medications that are used are powerful, and the potential for abuse is high. Some patients do not take the prescribed medications in favor of diversion or trafficking (Braithwaite et al., Ann Clin Biochem 32:123–53, 1995; Gourlay et al., Urine drug testing in primary care. Monograph for California Academy of Physicians, 2002), and some patients may abuse opioids other than those prescribed. Further complicating matters is that laboratory testing for opioids, though it seems straightforward, can be confusing. Physicians rarely receive adequate training in test ordering and interpretation. Laboratory methods vary tremendously; in addition, laboratorians are rarely consulted and, when they are, may be ill-equipped to answer clinically important questions.
Ketone photochemistry on solid silica. A diffuse reflectance laser flash photolysis study

Abstract Using diffuse reflectance laser flash photolysis, the lifetimes of the triplet states of valerophenone and diphenylbutyrophenone adsorbed on solid silica have been determined to be 0.3 and 0.9 μs respectively. These lifetimes are at least two orders of magnitude greater than those found in homogeneous solution. Quenching of the triplet states by gas-phase oxygen and butadiene is observed.
Filtration, Washing, and Caustic Leaching of Hanford Tank AZ‐101 Sludge

Abstract Approximately 4.3 kg of slurry from Hanford Tank AZ‐101 were evaluated by the pretreatment processes of cross‐flow filtration, washing, caustic leaching, and rinsing. The filterability was measured with a 0.1‐µm sintered metal filter using a single‐element, cross‐flow filtration system. During testing, the permeate flux and slurry axial velocity, pressure, and temperature were monitored every 10 min. The slurry temperature was maintained at 25°C ± 5°C, except during the elevated‐temperature leaching step. The test results show that cross‐flow filtration provides excellent separation of solids and liquids, as evidenced by the permeate flux and the measured activity of nearly insoluble 241Am. The average permeate flux measured was higher than the Waste Treatment Plant target of 0.014 gpm/ft2, and the average decontamination factor for 241Am was 985,000 during testing. This article is not subject to U.S. copyright law. The work discussed in this paper was conducted for Bechtel National, Inc.
A Comparison of the SB5 and the CAS in Educational Psychology Practice

Two tests of intellectual ability were compared in terms of quantitative measures and professional utility in the context of 41 students who were referred for psychoeducational investigation of their learning. Full-scale, Composite, and Factor scores from The Stanford Binet Intelligence Scales - Fifth Edition (SB5) and the Das Naglieri Cognitive Assessment System (CAS) were compared and individual profiles were examined. The SB5 is the latest version of a traditional test referenced to the Cattell-Horn-Carroll factor model of intelligence, while the CAS was developed from an information processing theory of intelligence. Full-scale measures of intellectual ability were found to differ significantly, with the SB5 approximately 8 points higher than the CAS. Analysis of the profiles assisted in understanding specific learning abilities and guided interventions. The implications of this for the relative utility of the two instruments, their interchangeablity, the meaningful interpretation of results, and their complementary contribution to practice are discussed.
Development of a high speed multi-megawatt HTS generator for airborne applications

General electric, under contract with the Air Force Research Labs (AFRL), has successfully developed and tested a high speed, multimegawatt superconducting generator. The generator was built to demonstrate high temperature superconducting (HTS) generator technology for application in a high power density multimegawatt electric power system (MEPS) for the air force. The demonstration tested the generator under load conditions up to 1.3 MW at over 10,000 rpm. The new MEPS generator achieved 97% efficiency including cryocooler losses. All test results indicate that the generator has a significant margin over the test points and that its performance is consistent with program specifications. This demonstration is the first successful full-load test of a superconducting generator for the air force. Here we report key features of the generator and test results.
Adaptive unstructured volume remeshing - I: The method

We present an adaptive remeshing algorithm for meshes of unstructured triangles in two dimensions and unstructured tetrahedra in three dimensions. The algorithm automatically adjusts the size of the elements with time and position in the computational domain in order to resolve the relevant scales in multiscale physical systems to a user-prescribed accuracy while minimizing computational cost. The optimal mesh that provides the desired resolution is achieved by minimizing a spring-like mesh energy function that depends on the local physical scales using local mesh restructuring operations that include edge-swapping, element insertion/removal, and dynamic mesh-node displacement (equilibration). The algorithm is a generalization to volume domains of the adaptive surface remeshing algorithm developed by Cristini et al. [V. Cristini, J. Blawzdziewicz, M. Loewenberg, An adaptive mesh algorithm for evolving surfaces: simulations of drop breakup and coalescence. J. Comp. Phys., 168 (2001) 445] in the context of deforming interfaces in two and three dimensions. The remeshing algorithm is versatile and can be applied to a number of physical and biological problems, where the local length scales are dictated by the specific problem. In Part II [X. Zheng, J. Lowengrub, A. Anderson, V. Cristini, Adaptive unstructured volume remeshing - II: application to two- and three-dimensional level-set simulations of multiphase flow, J. Comp. Phys., in press], we illustrate the performance of an implementation of the algorithm in finite-element/level-set simulations of deformable droplet and fluid-fluid interface interactions, breakup and coalescence in multiphase flows.
Development of an Adaptive Workload Management System Using the Queueing Network-Model Human Processor (QN-MHP)

The risk of vehicle collisions significantly increases when drivers are overloaded with information from in-vehicle systems. One of the solutions to this problem is developing adaptive workload management systems (AWMSs) to dynamically control the rate of messages from these in-vehicle systems. However, existing AWMSs do not use a model of the driver cognitive system to estimate workload and only suppress or redirect in-vehicle system messages, without changing their rate based on driver workload. In this paper, we propose a prototype of a new queueing network-model human processor AWMS (QN-MHP AWMS), which includes a queueing network model of driver workload that estimates the driver workload in several driving situations and a message controller that determines the optimal delay times between messages and dynamically controls the rate of messages presented to drivers. Given the task information of a secondary task, the QN-MHP AWMS adapted the rate of messages to the driving conditions (i.e., speeds and curvatures) and driver characteristics (i.e., age). A corresponding experimental study was conducted to validate the potential effectiveness of this system in reducing driver workload and improving driver performance. Further development of the QN-MHP AWMS, including its use in in-vehicle system design and possible implementation in vehicles, is discussed.
Novel medical wired palpation device: A validation study of material properties

The lack of haptic feedback during Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) can be potentially dangerous, and has been a factor in preventing a wider application of MIS. A Wired Palpation Device (WPD), which is designed to provide the surgeon with soft tissue viscoelasticity information during MIS, can be an appealing solution to this challenge. As a novel device, the validation of its functionality is critical before being put into actual usage. In this paper, a procedure assessing the effectiveness of the WPD in characterizing soft tissue material properties was introduced. Strain creep indentation tests were performed using the WPD method on four different synthetic tissue samples, followed by standard stress relaxation indentation tests on the same samples. The results showed that the WPD was reliable in characterizing the long-term material response when compared to the traditional method (an average of 5.21% difference), but may still need improvement in its capability of capturing short-term transient soft tissue response.
Growth And Characterization Of Amorphous Ain Thin Films By Reactive Magnetron Sputtering At Low Temperature

We present the first report of the preparation and characterization of α-AIN films using reactive magnetron sputtering at cryogenic temperature. By comparison, analogous films grown at room temperature were polycrystalline. The films were characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS), Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy and optical transmission. XRD studies on films grown at room temperature showed diffraction peaks corresponding to (100), (101), (102) and (210) planes. In contrast, no peaks were observed for AIN films formed at liquid nitrogen temperature confirming the amorphous nature of the films. Composition analysis using RBS showed the presence of Al and N in ≈1:1 stoichiometry. The films were highly transparent and the computed bandgaps of αand c-AIN films were 5.90 and 5.89 eV respectively. We also consider the possibilities of wet etching the AIN films in diluted KOH solution and the results are discussed.
Cause-Effect Modeling and Spatial-Temporal Simulation of Power Distribution Fault Events

Modeling and simulation are important tools in the study of power distribution faults due to the limited amount of actual data and the high cost of experimentation. Although a number of software packages are available to simulate the electrical signals, approaches for simulating fault events in different environments have not been well developed. In this paper, we propose a framework for modeling and simulating fault events in power distribution systems based on environmental factors and the cause-effect relationships among them. The spatial and temporal aspects of significant environmental factors leading to various faults are modeled as raster maps and probability functions, respectively. The cause-effect relationships are expressed as fuzzy rules and a hierarchical fuzzy inference system is built to infer the probability of faults in the simulated environments. A test case simulating a part of a typical city's power distribution systems demonstrates the effectiveness of the framework in generating realistic distribution faults. This work is helpful in fault diagnosis for different local systems and provides a configurable data source to other researchers and engineers in similar areas as well.
The evolution, morphology, and development of fern leaves

Leaves are lateral determinate structures formed in a predictable sequence (phyllotaxy) on the flanks of an indeterminate shoot apical meristem. The origin and evolution of leaves in vascular plants has been widely debated. Being the main conspicuous organ of nearly all vascular plants and often easy to recognize as such, it seems surprising that leaves have had multiple origins. For decades, morphologists, anatomists, paleobotanists, and systematists have contributed data to this debate. More recently, molecular genetic studies have provided insight into leaf evolution and development mainly within angiosperms and, to a lesser extent, lycophytes. There has been recent interest in extending leaf evolutionary developmental studies to other species and lineages, particularly in lycophytes and ferns. Therefore, a review of fern leaf morphology, evolution and development is timely. Here we discuss the theories of leaf evolution in ferns, morphology, and diversity of fern leaves, and experimental results of fern leaf development. We summarize what is known about the molecular genetics of fern leaf development and what future studies might tell us about the evolution of fern leaf development.
A new Amegilla of the zonata group from Malaysia and Thailand (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Abstract A new bee species of the genus Amegilla (Apinae: Anthophorini) is described and figured from western Malaysia and southern Thailand. Amegilla anekawarna Engel, new species, belongs to the zonata group of species and can be most readily confused with the widespread A. zonata (Linnaeus). The species is distinguished from A. zonata and other Southeast Asian, blue-banded Amegilla.