cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct Recording of Phase Plates in Holographic Material with Using of Probabilistic Amplitude Masks

Recording of robust permanent phase plate in photosensitive glass is proposed via contact method with probabilistic computer-generated amplitude mask with varying random binary transmission grid of micron size. Spatial light modulation is a possible application.
Bayesian Parameter Estimation and Segmentation in the Multi-Atlas Random Orbit Model

This paper examines the multiple atlas random diffeomorphic orbit model in Computational Anatomy (CA) for parameter estimation and segmentation of subcortical and ventricular neuroanatomy in magnetic resonance imagery. We assume that there exist multiple magnetic resonance image (MRI) atlases, each atlas containing a collection of locally-defined charts in the brain generated via manual delineation of the structures of interest. We focus on maximum a posteriori estimation of high dimensional segmentations of MR within the class of generative models representing the observed MRI as a conditionally Gaussian random field, conditioned on the atlas charts and the diffeomorphic change of coordinates of each chart that generates it. The charts and their diffeomorphic correspondences are unknown and viewed as latent or hidden variables. We demonstrate that the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm arises naturally, yielding the likelihood-fusion equation which the a posteriori estimator of the segmentation labels maximizes. The likelihoods being fused are modeled as conditionally Gaussian random fields with mean fields a function of each atlas chart under its diffeomorphic change of coordinates onto the target. The conditional-mean in the EM algorithm specifies the convex weights with which the chart-specific likelihoods are fused. The multiple atlases with the associated convex weights imply that the posterior distribution is a multi-modal representation of the measured MRI. Segmentation results for subcortical and ventricular structures of subjects, within populations of demented subjects, are demonstrated, including the use of multiple atlases across multiple diseased groups.
Electronic structure of small gap polymers

Abstract The following factors have a large effect on the electronic structures and energy gaps (E g ) of conjugated polymers: (1) perturbations due to hetero-atoms and side groups, (2) topology (fused rings, ladder structures, etc.) and (3) geometrical rearrangements. It is shown, how total energy minimization yields reliable enough geometrical parameters to be used in subsequent model Hamiltonian calculations of the electronic structures. Derivatives of polythiophene and polypyrrole, and thiophene-vinylene polymers are studied. Agreements with experimental E g values, where available, are good. A few proposed systems are predicted to have a gap in the vicinity of 1 eV.
Non-Uniform Cathode Emission Studies of a Mig Gun

Summary form only given. We present results of emission non-uniformity studies by 3D modeling and experiments on a 96 kV, 40 A magnetron injection gun (MIG) for use in a 1.5 MW 110 GHz gyrotron. Non-uniform beam current density is attributed to emitter surface roughness, surface temperature inhomogeneity, and variation of the work function along the emitting cathode ring. The emission nonuniformity can lead to increased mode competition and an overall decreased efficiency of the device. The gun is modeled from the cathode to the start of the interaction cavity using a 3D gun code, Michelle 3D developed by SAIC. A nonuniform emitter model is incorporated in Michelle to model the measured nonuniform emission from the cathode and to compute its impact on the velocity spread and the beam pitch factor. The designs of capacitive probes to measure the velocity pitch factor at four azimuthal sections of the beam and a rotating probe diagnostic to measure the emission nonuniformity at the cathode are also presented. Experimental results from these diagnostics will be presented and compared with Michelle 3D simulations
Centella Asiatica Triterpene Extract Is Effective in Treating Diabetic Neuropathy – A Pilot Study (P03.192)

Objective: To examine if CA triterpenes are effective in treating length-dependent neuropathy in DM patients. Background Many DM patients suffer from neuropathy which may be mediated by microangiopathy. Centella asiatica (CA) is an Indian herb widely used as a nerve tonic, and to treat vascular insufficiency. Its triterpene components are well characterized. We have shown that CA extract promotes neurite growth in vitro and the recovery of sciatic nerve injury in vivo. Design/Methods: Thirty-three subjects completed this 52-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Indena, Inc. supplied the study drug (Centella asiatica Selected Triterpenes, CAST). The first 12 weeks were a dose-escalating phase and the subjects remained on a stable dose of 240mg/day for 40 weeks. The primary outcome measure was Total Symptom Score (TSS) measuring the severity of parasthesia, numbness, pain and burning sensation. Secondary outcome measures were nerve conduction studies, Neurological Disability Score (NDS), and Qualitative Sensory Testing (QST). Results: At baseline, there was no difference in any outcome measures between treatment (n=15, 3F/12M) and placebo (n=18, 6F/12M) groups (TSS: 8.4±2.9 vs 8.3±2.5; combined sensory nerve action potential amplitude of sural and radial, SNAP: 18.8±8.9 vs 17.7±15.4 μV). With treatment, subjects in the treatment group had significantly lower TSS scores (6.3±0.5 vs 7.4±0.5 at week 29, 6.4±0.4 vs 7.5±0.4 at week 52, p Conclusions: CAST, at a dose of 240 mg QD, is safe and well tolerated. CAST is effective in reducing the sensory symptoms subjectively and preventing the reduction of the sensory nerve action potential amplitude objectively. A larger study is needed to confirm these findings. Supported by: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Disclosure: Dr. Lou has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dimitrova has nothing to disclose. Dr. Soumyanath has received personal compensation for activities with Oregon9s Wild Harvest as a consultant. Dr. Soumyanath has received license fee and royalty payments from AdPharma Inc. Dr. Soumyanath has received research support from AdPharma Inc., and Mediherb Integra. Dr. Belding has nothing to disclose. Dr. Le has nothing to disclose. Dr. Seifer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Arnold has nothing to disclose.
City management, public administration and the American enlightenment

History has often been ignored in examining administration at the local level. In this article the careers of three public administrators are studied, two academics and a practitioner. The practitioner helped shape city management and the ideals of the two academics characterize the field at that time. The foundations they laid have in many ways proved long lasting in spite of their beliefs in some dubious assumptions. Most importantly, these foundations are relevant for the future administration of the American city.
Impact of skin color upon occupational projection: A case for black male affirmative action

The recent attacks upon Affirmative Action in the workplace infer that merit should be the sole criterion for employment. Policies designed to compensate for past discriminatory practices are themselves considered discriminatory and to suggest minorities are inferior. In fact, a complex system of cultural norms precedes the influence of merit. For African American males one such norm is skin color. The present study was undertaken to determine the implications of skin color for the workplace. The data showed a significant relationship between light skin and aspiration to prestigious occupations.
SHAPE RECOGNITION USING A FIXED-SIZE VLSI ARCHITECTURE

Shape recognition is an important research area in pattern recognition. It also has wide practical applications in many fields. An attribute grammar approach to shape recognition combines both the advantages of syntactic and statistical methods and makes shape recognition more accurate and efficient. However, the time complexity of a sequential shape recognition algorithm using attribute grammar is O(n3) where n is the length of an input string. When the problem size is very large it needs much more computing time, therefore a high speed parallel shape recognition is necessary to meet the demands of some real-time applications. This paper presents a parallel shape recognition algorithm and also discusses the algorithm partition problem as well as its implementation on a fixed-size VLSI architecture. The proposed algorithm has time complexity O(n3/k2) if using k×k processing elements. When k=n, its time complexity is O(n). The experiment has been conducted to verify the performance of the proposed algorithm. The correctness of the algorithm partition and the behavior of the proposed VLSI architecture have also been proved through the experiment. The results indicate that the proposed algorithm and the VLSI architecture could be very useful to imaging processing, pattern recognition and related areas, especially for real-time applications.
Suspicion, Investigation and Truth: A Continuing Evolution in English Defamation Law

(2011). Suspicion, Investigation and Truth: A Continuing Evolution in English Defamation Law. Journal of Media Law: Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 61-87.
The Impact of Social Presence on Technology Based Self-Service Use: The Role of Familiarity

Technology based self-services (TBSS), such as airline ticket kiosks, automated hotel checkout systems, and self-scanning merchandise checkout stations, stand to become the primary interactive interface used by retailers to facilitate customer transactions. Research suggests TBSS adoption is often influenced by attitudes toward specific technologies and the degree of technological anxiety exhibited by the consumer. Yet social influence, a variable shown to play an important role in the consumption process, has received little research attention regarding its effects on attitudes toward TBSS use. Thus, a between-subjects field experiment tested the impact of mere social presence on consumers' emotional responses and behavioral intentions toward TBSS use. The results of this study suggest that while boundary conditions regarding social size effects exist under which social impact theory does not hold, such effects appear to be moderated by the level of familiarity with the purchase/task situation.
Minor-groove binding models for acetylaminofluorene modified DNA

Abstract Minimized potential energy calculations have been employed to locate and evaluate energetically a number of different models for DNA modified at carbon-8 of guanine by acetylaminofluorene (AAF). Three different duplex nonamer sequences were investigated. In addition to syn guanine models which have some denaturation and a Z-DNA model, we have found two new types of structures in which guanine remains syn and the AAF is placed in the minor groove of a B-DNA helix. One type features Hoogsteen base pairing between the modified guanine and protonated cytosine, with a sharply bent helix. The other (here termed the “wedge” model because the aromatic amine is wedged into the minor groove) maintains a single hydrogen bond between O6 of the modified guanine and N3 of protonated cytosine, with much less deformation of the helix, and close Van der Waals contacts between the AAF and the walls of the minor groove. Both types of structures (as well as the related forms produced by deprotonation of cytosine) ar...
Adverse events of procedural sedation and analgesia in a pediatric emergency department

Study objective: To determine the adverse event and complication rate for the use of procedural sedation and analgesia for painful procedures and diagnostic imaging studies performed in a pediatric emergency department. Methods: This prospective case series was conducted in the ED of a large, urban pediatric teaching hospital. Subjects were patients younger than 21 years seen between August 1997 and July 1998, who required intravenous, intramuscular, oral, rectal, intranasal, or inhalational agents for painful procedures or diagnostic imaging. All patients who underwent procedural sedation and analgesia were continually monitored. Adverse events and complications were recorded. The ED controlled substance log was checked weekly and all sedations were reviewed. Adverse events were defined as follows: oxygen desaturation less than 90%, apnea, stridor, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, cardiovascular instability, paradoxical reactions, emergence reactions, emesis, and aspiration. Complications were defined as adverse events that negatively affected outcome or delayed recovery. Results: Of 1,180 patients who underwent procedural sedation and analgesia in the ED, 27 (2.3%) experienced adverse events, which included oxygen desaturation less than 90% requiring intervention (10 patients) [supplemental oxygen (9), bag-mask ventilation (1)], paradoxical reactions (7), emesis (3), paradoxical reaction and oxygen desaturation requiring supplemental oxygen (2), apnea requiring bag-mask ventilation (1), laryngospasm requiring bag-mask ventilation (1), bradycardia (1), stridor and emesis (1) and oxygen desaturation requiring bag-mask ventilation with subsequent emesis (1). There was no statistically significant difference in mean doses for all procedural sedation and analgesia medication regimens between those children who experienced adverse events and those who did not. No single drug or drug regimen was associated with a higher adverse event rate. In addition, there was no significant difference in the adverse event rate between males and females, among the different ages, or among the different indications for procedural sedation and analgesia. No patient required reversal of sedation with naloxone or flumazenil, endotracheal intubation, or hospital admission because of complications from procedural sedation and analgesia. Conclusion: The adverse event rate for procedural sedation and analgesia performed by pediatric emergency physicians was 2.3% with no serious complications noted.
EMNEs and Knowledge-seeking FDI

Knowledge is the preeminent resource of firms that wish to become and/or remain globally competitive. This is especially true for emerging market multinationals, whose ability to overcome their inherent disadvantages as latecomers relies heavily on their ability to seek knowledge outside of their home borders through foreign direct investment. Our conceptual framework explores drivers of knowledge-seeking foreign direct investment, the types of functional knowledge sought, and the impact on location choice and entry mode decisions. It is argued that EMNE knowledge-seeking outward FDI is not based on the traditional asset-exploitation model of FDI, but rather tends to be focused on asset-augmentation through the exploitation of EMNE unique circumstances. Specifically, this work posits that an EMNE’s strategic orientation predicts its propensity to engage in knowledge-seeking FDI and that the type of knowledge sought predicts location choice and entry mode.
Measurement of monodisperse droplet desolvation in an inductively coupled plasma using droplet size dependent peaks in Mie scattering intensity

The periodic fluctuations in the Mie scattering intensity as a function of droplet diameter due to constructive and destructive interference of light reflected/diffracted from the droplet surface and light transmitted/refracted through the droplet were used to measure the desolvation rate of isolated water droplets in an inductively coupled plasma. The approach is applicable to study the desolvation of isolated, monodisperse droplets and does not require measurements as a function of wavelength or scattering angle. Use of a near forward scatter angle provides high intensity signals. Among the limitations of this measurement technique is the need to identify the absolute droplet diameter at one time during desolvation either by another droplet size measurement technique or by matching the pattern of Mie scattering intensity as the droplet evaporates to the theoretical intensity pattern. The results show that the droplet desolvation rate is not affected by the addition of 0.1 M NaCl to the sample even though the initial emission occurs earlier in time than when the sample does not contain a high matrix concentration. The measured droplet desolvation rates are higher than those reported by two previous publications but further measurements are needed to confirm the preliminary results reported here.
The Nomological Account of Ground

The article introduces and defends the Nomological Account of ground, a reductive account of the notion of metaphysical explanation in terms of the laws of metaphysics. The paper presents three desiderata that a theory of ground should meet: it should explain the modal force of ground, the generality of ground, and the interplay between ground and certain mereological notions. The bulk of the paper develops the Nomological Account and argues that it meets the three desiderata. The Nomological Account relies on two central notions: the notion of a ‘law of metaphysics’ and the notion of ‘determination via the laws’. The paper offers the constructional conception of the laws of metaphysics, on which the metaphysical laws are general principles that characterize construction–operations such as composition, constitution, or set-formation. The role of determination in the account is explained and some reductive approaches to the notion are sketched. The case for the Nomological Account presented in this article is also a case for the laws of metaphysics. Since the Nomological Account offers a promising approach to metaphysical explanation we should take the laws of metaphysics seriously.
Robot rockstars: a mixed-reality game

The mixed-reality game Robot RockStars combines a massively-interactive videogame controlled by multiple WiiGuitar players with a herd of Pleo and AIBO wireless robots as back-up singers, which can both react and affect gameplay. Attendees can affect gameplay by interacting with the robots or with mobile wireless devices. The main innovation lies in this project with the novelty of creating open-source, mixed-reality, plug-n-play tools that we build and the challenge for applications, such as the mixed-reality game Robot RockStars, to be constructed with them, allowing technology to go beyond what is currently possible for massively interactive collaboration between people and agents.
Penicillin V and rifampin for the treatment of group A streptococcal pharyngitis: a randomized trial of 10 days penicillin vs 10 days penicillin with rifampin during the final 4 days of therapy.

To improve the bacteriologic and clinical cure rates of streptococcal pharyngitis, 79 children were randomly assigned to receive penicillin V alone for 10 days (39 patients) or penicillin for the same duration and rifampin during the last 4 days of penicillin therapy (40 patients). Eleven patients given penicillin had evidence of bacteriologic failure (including eight with relapse of clinical illness) on repeat cultures done 4 to 7 days after treatment, whereas there were no failures in children given combination therapy (P=0.0015). All eight symptomatic children improved with penicillin-rifampin therapy and subsequent cultures were negative, whereas three asymptomatic children continued to harbor group A streptococci even after combination therapy. Antibody response by antistreptolysin O or antideoxyribonuclease B assay was seen in 50.6% of patients; the antibody responses in both groups were comparable. These results show that addition of rifampin to the penicillin regimen improves the clinical and bacteriologic cure rates in children with streptococcal pharyngitis
COPD: Focus on Prevention: Recommendations of the National Lung Health Education Program*

The purpose of this article is to provide the nurse in primary care with an overview of the National Lung Health Education Program guidelines. We outline the components of the guidelines for spirometry testing in persons at risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The role of spirometry testing in identifying those persons for whom smoking cessation is crucial is emphasized.
Donna V. Jones, The Racial Discourses of Life Philosophy: Négritude, Vitalism, and Modernity

An extended discussion of Donna V. Jones, The Racial Discourses of Life Philosophy: Negritude, Vitalism, and Modernity (New York: Columbia University Press, 2010), 217 pp.
Justification and debugging of answer set programs in ASP

The paper extends the concept of justification to the context of Answer Set Programming---a recent paradigm that builds on the foundations of logic programming, answer set semantics, and non-monotonic reasoning. A justification describes the support for the truth value of each atom in an answer set of a logic program, and it can be employed as a tool for reasoning and debugging of answer set programs. The paper describes the implementation of the notion of justification in the ASP system along with some examples of its applications.
Too stressed to work

Scientists must provide lab animals with decent living conditions or accept that their results could be useless, say Ann Baldwin and Marc Bekoff
Numerical analysis of mixed convection at the entrance region of a rectangular duct heated from below

Abstract An entrance region of a rectangular duct is examined numerically for a thermally-developing flow between a cooled top and a heated bottom boundary. Based on the results, which agree well with previous experimental results, equations for the entrance lengths, L1 for the onset and L2 for the full development of mixed convection are proposed. L1 approximately corresponds to the location where the Nusselt number takes a minimum before is increases as the buoyancy-induced flow becomes dominant. Results on the effects of the sidewall thermal condition as well as the inlet gas temperature are also discussed in relation to thermal transport.
Threshold Energies for Electron-Hole Pair Production by Impact Ionization in Semiconductors

Threshold energies for energy- and momentum-conserving impact ionization of electron-hole pairs in actual semiconductors are determined by differential analysis of the energy-wave-vector relations of the participating charge carriers and phonons. A necessary condition for the initiating carrier to have minimum energy consistent with pair production is that the resultant carriers and all phonons involved have identical real-space velocities. This criterion allows calculations of ionization threshold energies for any semiconductor for which the one-electron-energy-wave-vector relationship is known. A step-by-step graphical procedure is presented for the calculation of threshold energies when the final particles are traveling along a principal axis of a semiconductor. Threshold energies resulting from the application of this procedure are presented for Si, Ge, GaAs, GaP, and InSb. Each of these materials exhibits numerous threshold energies for phononless ionization initiated by either type of carrier. The lowest thresholds for electron-initiated ionization without phonon assistance are 1.1, 0.8, 1.7, 2.6, and 0.2 eV relative to the conduction-band minima in Si, Ge, GaAs, GaP, and InSb, respectively. For ionization initiated by holes, the corresponding results are 1.8, 0.9, 1.4, 2.3, and 0.2 eV relative to the valence-band maximum.
Effect of acute cold exposure of animals on the phosphorylase activity in heart

Abstract Acute cold exposure of rats and rabbits at 4°C increased phosphorylase a activity in the myocardium. In adrenalectomized or adrenal demedullated rats, the levels of cardiac phosphorylase a were not different from those in normal rats; however, exposure of such animals to cold failed to elevate the enzyme activity in the heart. Pretreatment of rats with nethalide decreased the phosphorylase a activity as well as abolished the effect of cold exposure. When the rats and rabbits were treated with reserpine, the cardiac phosphorylase activity was decreased but the action of cold exposure was not altered. Unlike guanethidine, bretylium was unable to decrease the phosphorylase a activity in rabbit heart and the animals treated with these agents showed an increase in enzyme activity in response to cold. The results indicate that in emergency conditions such as cold exposure, the heart phosphorylase is mainly influenced through the release of catecholamines from adrenal medulla.
Specific sequences of the env gene determine the host range of two XC-negative viruses of the Rauscher virus complex.

Abstract Two viruses which do not give rise to XC plaques in the standard XC assay (XC-negative) have been isolated from the Rauscher virus (RV) complex. These viruses differ in their host range. One, R-MCF-1, is dualtropic and will therefore infect both murine and non-murine cells. However, unlike other mink cell focus-inducing (MCF) viruses, it cannot infect NIH 3T3 cells. The other, R-XC − , is ecotropic. It will infect murine cells, including NIH 3T3 cells, but does not infect mink lung cells. Analysis of hybrid viruses, in which homologous regions of the genomes of R-MCF-1 and R-XC − virus were exchanged, indicated that the NH 2 -terminal portion of the gp70 is responsible for the particular host ranges of these viruses. The nucleotide sequence of the env gene of R-XC − virus was therefore determined and compared with the known env sequences of ecotropic MLVs and dualtropic MCF viruses of the Rauscher and Friend virus complexes. R-XC − virus was found to be a recombinant virus. Its env gene contained sequences derived from an endogenous env gene which were closely related to those of the MCF viruses but differed from any previously described sequences. The particular properties of R-MCF-1 and R-XC − virus suggest that the two viruses arose by recombination between R-MLV and two endogenous env sequences which differ from those of the known MCF viruses. If so, this suggests that the mouse genome contains at least five env sequences which can give rise to MCF-like viruses. In addition, since the host range and interference properties of R-XC − virus are very similar to those of the previously described ecotropic recombinant viruses (4), it may be that the ecotropic recombinant viruses arose by recombination with the same endogenous env sequences as did R-XC − virus.
Temperature Aging Characteristics of Class A Insulation

This paper reviews the literature relating to the effect of temperature on the life of class A insulation. It presents test data on aging of built-up samples 100 mils thick, of varnished cloth, both black and yellow, over the temperature range 105 to 200 degrees centigrade. The effect of temperature on the insulation was measured by three different methods — physical condition by visual observation, bending of the insulation to produce cracking, and the lowering of the breakdown voltage of samples which had been immersed in water. The final results are given in the form of temperature-time curves for several degrees of deterioration as measured by each of the tests.
Progress on RF Electron Superconducting Accelerators

Superconducting rf electron accelerator prototypes have been operated at Stanford University and at the University of Illinois. Many of the beam performance goals for emittance, current, energy resolution and stability have been achieved. Lower-than-expected accelerating gradients have necessitated the reevaluation of the energy objectives. Recirculation of the electron beam through the superconducting linacs will, however, increase the effective accelerating gradient.
Electrooptical Properties of Phase Separated Composite Organic Films of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals

A new structure of a light modulating element based on ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) is fabricated. It is prepared by the photopolymerization induced phase separation of an initially isotropic solution of FLC and a prepolymer. The element consists of two successive layers parallel to the cell substrates. One layer is the isotropic polymer and the other is the FLC macroscopically aligned by a rubbed alignment layer. A study of electrooptical properties of these FLC elements reveals a continuous gray scale, contrast ratio 100:1 along the cell normal, line addressing times of microseconds in the active mode. Because of their internal structure, they are insensitive to mechanical stress.
Epidermoids of the paranasal sinuses and beyond: endoscopic management.

BackgroundEpidermoid tumors of the craniofacial skeleton are uncommon, with the exception of acquired cholesteatoma of the temporal bone. These lesions may be primary embryologic in origin or, less...
High spatial resolution spectroscopy in the elemental microanalysis and imaging of biological systems.

Abstract The application of analytical electron microscopy to the high spatial resolution study of biological systems is reviewed. Specimen preparation, quantitative analysis, capabilities and limitations are all discussed, pricipally in the context of energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. Results are presented using both current techniques and the developing quantitative image analysis. Finally the role of new instrumental approaches, including electron energy loss spectrometry, is discussed.
Patient outcomes associated with group and individual genetic counseling formats

Identifying new methods to deliver cancer genetic counseling (GC) are needed to meet the growing interest in BRCA1/2 testing. The goal of this pilot feasibility study was designed to test the initial acceptability of group GC on selected patient outcomes (satisfaction, distress, perceived control) in a breast/ovarian cancer genetics clinic setting. Sixty-five participants at increased risk for hereditary breast/ovarian cancer (HBOC) agreed to participate in self-selected individual or group GC appointments. Forty-nine participants completed all study questionnaires and were included in the analyses. There were significant improvements for participants in both the individual and group GC formats with regard to perceived personal control, general psychological distress and cancer-specific psychological distress scores. Participants in both the individual and group formats reported high satisfaction scores on the Genetic Counseling Satisfaction Scale. Study results suggest that group GC may be feasible and acceptable to high-risk women.
The Impact of Gender and Department Climate on Job Satisfaction and Intentions to Quit for Faculty in Science and Engineering Fields

This study investigates whether gender and the perceptions of department climate affects faculty job satisfaction and intentions to quit (work outcomes) with surveys responses from 308 faculty members in science and engineering fields. The study finds that both gender and department climate are related to work outcomes and that two facets of department climate (affective and instrumental) mediate the relationship between gender and both job satisfaction and intention to quit. This finding suggests that universities can benefit from improving department climate, which then may improve the retention of both male and female faculty, but may have an even greater impact on improving job satisfaction and reducing intentions to quit of female faculty.
Evaluation of tracking performance using joystick manipulators that engage different arm workspaces

Robotic devices, especially those that are motivating, have shown a great deal of potential for use in upper-extremity stroke rehabilitation. The TheraJoy project aims at designing a cost efficient device for use in home therapy. This has involved altering a commercial force-reflecting joystick by lengthening the joystick shaft to encompass a larger range of horizontal motion, adding a vertical linkage system to add vertical arm movements, and adding springs to support the application of light passive and actuated forces. This system has been used in conjunction with specially designed software to study both assessment and therapeutic tasks. As the endpoint for each linkage moves in an arc that is nearly a plane, there is a need to generate expectations for tracking patterns for each manipulator. This study evaluates movements in able-bodied subjects for strategic tracking tasks. A key observation is that the non-dominant hand displays both longer reaction and movement times and also greater and more consistent deviations from straight-line paths over certain ranges and directions.
Accelerated detection of mycolactone production and response to antibiotic treatment in a mouse model of Mycobacterium ulcerans disease.

Diagnosis of the neglected tropical disease, Buruli ulcer, can be made by acid-fast smear microscopy, specimen culture on mycobacterial growth media, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and/or histopathology. All have drawbacks, including non-specificity and requirements for prolonged culture at 32°C, relatively sophisticated laboratory facilities, and expertise, respectively. The causative organism, Mycobacterium ulcerans, produces a unique toxin, mycolactone A/B (ML) that can be detected by thin layer chromatography (TLC) or mass spectrometric analysis. Detection by the latter technique requires sophisticated facilities. TLC is relatively simple but can be complicated by the presence of other lipids in the specimen. A method using a boronate-assisted fluorogenic chemosensor in TLC can overcome this challenge by selectively detecting ML when visualized with UV light. This report describes modifications in the fluorescent TLC (F-TLC) procedure and its application to the mouse footpad model of M. ulcerans disease to determine the kinetics of mycolactone production and its correlation with footpad swelling and the number of colony forming units in the footpad. The response of all three parameters to treatment with the current standard regimen of rifampin (RIF) and streptomycin (STR) or a proposed oral regimen of RIF and clarithromycin (CLR) was also assessed. ML was detectable before the onset of footpad swelling when there were 105 CFU per footpad. Mycolactone concentrations increased as swelling increased whereas CFU levels reached a plateau. Treatment with either RIF+STR or RIF+CLR resulted in comparable reductions of mycolactone, footpad swelling, and CFU burden. Storage in absolute ethanol appears critical to successful detection of ML in footpads and would be practical for storage of clinical samples. F-TLC may offer a new tool for confirmation of suspected clinical lesions and be more specific than smear microscopy, much faster than culture, and simpler than PCR.
Measuring Liquid Sulfur Mustard Recovery to Characterize a Weanling Swine Skin Short-Term Exposure Model

Sulfur mustard [bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide, SM] is a chemical warfare agent that penetrates the skin and causes extensive blistering. A weanling swine model was previously developed to evaluate woun...
Translating Cyclooxygenase Signaling in Patch Heterozygote Mice into a Randomized Clinical Trial in Basal Cell Carcinoma

This different perspective on Tang et al. (beginning on p. 25 in this issue of the journal) discusses the pivotal role of cyclooxygenase (COX) signaling in the pathogenesis of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). These investigators conducted elegant experiments showing increased BCC burden in patch heterozygous mice overexpressing COX-2 in the epidermis. Genetic deletion of COX-1 or COX-2 resulted in a robust decrease in BCC burden in patch heterozygote mice. They then studied pharmacologic COX inhibition in mice and humans with loss of patch, finding a trend in humans toward decreased BCC burden. This finding has implications for public health. Cancer Prev Res; 3(1); 4–7
Written language impairments in primary progressive aphasia: A reflection of damage to central semantic and phonological processes

Connectionist theories of language propose that written language deficits arise as a result of damage to semantic and phonological systems that also support spoken language production and comprehension, a view referred to as the "primary systems" hypothesis. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the primary systems account in a mixed group of individuals with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) by investigating the relation between measures of nonorthographic semantic and phonological processing and written language performance and by examining whether common patterns of cortical atrophy underlie impairments in spoken versus written language domains. Individuals with PPA and healthy controls were administered a language battery, including assessments of semantics, phonology, reading, and spelling. Voxel-based morphometry was used to examine the relation between gray matter volumes and language measures within brain regions previously implicated in semantic and phonological processing. In accordance with the primary systems account, our findings indicate that spoken language performance is strongly predictive of reading/spelling profile in individuals with PPA and suggest that common networks of critical left hemisphere regions support central semantic and phonological processes recruited for spoken and written language.
Contextualization: Providing One-Click Virtual Clusters

As virtual appliances become more prevalent, we encounter the need to stop manually adapting them to their deployment context each time they are deployed. We examine appliance contextualization needs and present architecture for secure, consistent, and dynamic contextualization, in particular for groups of appliances that must work together in a shared security context. This architecture allows for programmatic cluster creation and use, as well as mitigating potential errors and unnecessary charges during setup time. For portability across many deployment mechanisms, we introduce the concept of a standalone context broker. We describe the current implementation of the entire architecture using the virtual workspaces toolkit, showing real-life examples of dynamically contextualized Grid clusters.
Information retrieval and pedagogy in adapted physical activity.

The purpose was to address which databases would be most productive for literature searches by professionals seeking information on adapted physical activity pedagogy. Four databases were searched using 126 pedagogy and 66 disability terms. The results of the searches (4,130 hits) support the use of Sport Discus (n = 2,442 hits) as the most productive database for searches on adapted physical activity pedagogy.
Aligning Learning Activities with Instructional Models.

Model-based instruction has been increasingly used in physical education for the past two decades. Metzler (2011) identified eight instructional models that are commonly used in physical education today. Each model is designed to promote certain kinds of learning outcomes for students and to address different combinations of the national standards. Since each instructional model promotes a unique array of learning outcomes, there are differences in the kinds of learning activities that can be used across models in physical education. The purpose of this article is to describe how some typical learning activities in physical education can be aligned with each model and across different models.
Combined effects of systemic alcohol and nicotine on dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens shell.

Aims: This study was undertaken to determine whether simultaneous administration of both alcohol and nicotine systemically would result in an additive dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens (NACC). Moreover, to also investigate whether nicotinic receptors may be mediating these effects of alcohol and nicotine, the effects of mecamylamine, a nicotinic receptor antagonist was also evaluated. Methods: Microdialysis was applied to measure the dopamine overflow in the shell region of NACC. All drugs were administered intraperitoneally. The doses of alcohol ranged from 0.5-2.0 g/kg, and nicotine and mecamylamine 0.25-1.0 mg/kg. Results: An additive effect of combined alcohol and nicotine on dopamine release was obtained. This effect of alcohol and nicotine was dose-dependently blocked by mecamylamine pre-treatment. Conclusions: These findings further support the hypothesis that an additive effect of alcohol and nicotine on the mesolimbic 'reward pathway' may contribute to the high incidence of smoking in alcoholics. Furthermore, nicotinic antagonists can block such effects of combined alcohol and nicotine.
New Methods for Understanding Intra-urban Contours at a Global Scale: An Application of Dense Sampling Methods of QuikSCAT Scatterometer with Population and Housing Data

A global and consistent characterization of land use and land change in urban and suburban environments are crucial for many fundamental social and economic science studies and applications. Here, we present for the first time a dense sampling method (DSM) that uses satellite scatterometer data at a coarse resolution (~12 km) to delineate urban and intra-urban areas at a much higher resolution (~1 km). The trade-off is that the daily or near daily temporal resolution is reduced to yearly or multi-year time scale, which is still appropriate to map urban areas and to identify interannual changes in most cases. The DSM results will be analyzed together with information on population and housing censuses, with Spectral Mixture Analysis (SMA) of moderate and high spatial resolution optical satellite imagery, and with both DMSP night lights.
Display clutter: a review of definitions and measurement techniques

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to synthesize the literature on display clutter by reviewing definitions and measurement techniques and to develop a comprehensive, ergonomics-oriented perspective on clutter. We provide guidance for the selection of measurement approaches that can capture the various aspects and effects of clutter on visual search in particular. BACKGROUND: There is agreement that clutter may represent a significant problem to operators. The challenge is to determine the ideal middle ground between excessive data and insufficient information. However, definitions of clutter vary widely, which explains the range of measurement approaches, including image-processing algorithms, performance evaluation, subjective evaluation, and eye tracking. It is important to understand the affordances of each technique and provide guidance for their use. METHOD: We provide a systematic review of clutter definitions and develop a performance-oriented perspective for ergonomics research. Next, we present a critical overview of clutter measurement approaches. The benefits and limitations of each technique are detailed, and recommendations for best practice are provided. RESULTS: From an ergonomics perspective, clutter matters to the extent that it affects performance, particularly, visual search. A combination of measurement techniques can be employed in order to assess the performance costs stemming from the multiple aspects of clutter. CONCLUSION: Display clutter is a multifaceted construct that is a problem when it results in performance and attentional costs. The assessment of these costs is critical and requires the use of appropriate and complementary techniques. APPLICATION: It is important that the performance costs of clutter are detected reliably to be able to better support attention management. Language: en
Effectiveness of Ectiban, Egg Oil, Rabon, or Sevin for Control of Northern Fowl Mites on Laying Hens

Two field trials were conducted on different ranches to compare acaricides for control of northern fowl mite (NFM) on White Leghorn hens. In Trial 1 Ectiban spray and dust treatments were compared to Rabon and Sevin spray-treatments; egg oil, Rabon, and Sevin sprays were tested in Trial 2. Concentration and rates of application followed label recommendations for the registered compounds. In Trial 1 Ectiban spray gave excellent NFM control; Ectiban dust, Rabon, and Sevin spray treatments resulted in poor NFM control. Egg oil and Rabon sprays gave effective NFM control in Trial 2. Sevin, as in Trial 1, gave poor NFM control. The failure of Sevin to control mites both times suggests the possibility of NFM resistance to this chemical.
Hyperoxia-derived lung damage in preterm infants

Hyperoxia-induced lung injury is characterized by an influx of inflammatory cells, increased pulmonary permeability, endothelial and epithelial cell death. This review highlights the mechanistic aspects of inflammation, vascular leak and cell death. The focus will be on agents that contribute to hyperoxia-induced lung injury in developmentally appropriate animal models, and those that have been detected in human premature neonates.
Social networks and changes in contraceptive use over time: evidence from a longitudinal study in rural Kenya.

The impacts of social networks on changes in contraception in rural Kenya are investigated using special data from a longitudinal household survey. An analytic model, informed by detailed knowledge of the setting, yielded estimates that indicate that (1) social networks have substantial effects even after unobserved factors (e.g., homophily) that may determine social networks are controlled; (2) controlling for these unobserved factors may substantially alter the estimated effects of networks (these controls were not used in previous studies); (3) network effects are important for both men and women; and (4) network effects are nonlinear and asymmetric, suggesting that networks provide information primarily through social learning, rather than by exerting social influence.
Echocardiographic manifestations of d-transposition of the great vessels.

Echocardiograms were obtained from 16 patients with d -transposition of the great vessels proved at catheterization. These echocardiograms were compared with those obtained from 74 children who had congenital heart disease proved at catheterization but no transposition of the great vessels and those from 60 normal children. All 16 patients with transposition of the great vessels showed superimposition of the great vessels without intervening crista, and in 14 of 16 patients simultaneous recording of echoes from the semilunar valves was observed. This finding was not observed in the 74 children with other forms of congenital heart disease or in the 60 normal children. Superimposition of the great vessels with simultaneous recording of semilunar valve echoes appears to be specific for d -transposition of the great vessels.
How often are Patients Harmed When They Visit the Computed Tomography Suite? A Multi-year Experience, in Incident Reporting, in a Large Academic Medical Center

Our goal is to present our multi-year experience in incident reporting in CT in a large medical centre. This is an IRB-approved, HIPAA-compliant study. Informed consent was waived for this study. The electronic safety incident reporting system of our hospital was searched for the variables from April 2006 to September 2012. Incident classifications were diagnostic test orders, ID/documentation, safety/security/conduct, service coordination, surgery/procedure, line/tube, fall, medication/IV safety, employee general incident, environment/equipment, adverse drug reaction, skin/tissue and diagnosis/treatment. A total of 1918 incident reports occurred in the study period and 843,902 CT examinations were performed. The rate of safety incident was 0.22 % (1918/843,902). The highest incident rates were due to adverse drug reactions (652/843,902 = 0.077 %) followed by medication/IV safety (573/843,902 = 0.068 %) and diagnostic test orders (206/843,902 = 0.024 %). Overall 45 % of incidents (869/1918) caused no harm and did not affect the patient, 33 % (637/1918) caused no harm but affected the patient, 22 % (420/1918) caused temporary or minor harm/damage and less than 1 % (10/1918) caused permanent or major harm/damage or death. Our study shows a total safety incident report rate of 0.22 % in CT. The most common incidents are adverse drug reaction, medication/IV safety and diagnostic test orders. • Total safety incident report rate in CT is 0.22 %. • Adverse drug reaction is the most common safety incident in CT. • Medication/IV safety is the second most common safety incident in CT.