cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Climate change and angling behavior on the North shore of Lake Superior (USA)

Abstract Angling in Minnesota’s North Shore faces unique threats from the impacts of climate change. These impacts, such as changes in the presence and/or abundance of specific species, present management challenges which might also influence the demand for recreational angling throughout the region. Anglers’ adaptations to climate change in the North Shore region could shift densities, timing, and spatial use of the region’s fish populations, increasing the stress on ecological systems. Developing an empirically grounded understanding of the contingent behaviors of anglers is imperative if the region’s fish populations are to be managed sustainably. Using a travel cost model, we measure the demand for angling under current conditions and potential future climate and environmental conditions. Our research also explores the adaptive and coping behaviors of anglers. Results suggest North Shore anglers are not likely to alter the total number of trips they take to the region in the future as climate and environmental conditions change. Among the adaptive and coping behaviors we asked about, anglers indicated they are most likely to engage in a different activity (activity substitution) as conditions change; they also indicated a willingness to fish elsewhere (spatial substitution). Rescheduling or canceling angling trips (temporal substitution) was the least preferred adaptive/coping behavior. Further research is needed to understand why anglers’ future trip-taking behaviors are not responsive to changes in climate and environmental conditions, though their adaptive and coping behaviors are. Our findings can be used to help managers maintain the satisfaction, experiences, and participation of future generations of anglers.
Temporal Dynamic Model for Resting State fMRI Data: A Neural Ordinary Differential Equation approach.

The objective of this paper is to provide a temporal dynamic model for resting state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) trajectory to predict future brain images based on the given sequence. To this end, we came up with the model that takes advantage of representation learning and Neural Ordinary Differential Equation (Neural ODE) to compress the fMRI image data into latent representation and learn to predict the trajectory following differential equation. Latent space was analyzed by Gaussian Mixture Model. The learned fMRI trajectory embedding can be used to explain the variance of the trajectory and predict human traits for each subject. This method achieves average 0.5 spatial correlation for the whole predicted trajectory, and provide trained ODE parameter for further analysis.
Orbital Angular Momentum Modes from Coherently Coupled VCSEL Arrays

We present novel orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes from a 2x1 coherently coupled VCSEL array. An 8-phase spiral phase plate is used on both elements to generate coupled OAM modes. Far-field mode profiles calculated using Huygens principle are distinctly different for independent versus coherent operation.
Synthetic Lethal Drug Combinations Targeting Proteasome and Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors in TP53-Mutated Cancers.

Background We have recently published SL-BioDP, a web resource for querying, exploration and visualization of potential synthetic lethal targets and possible synergistic drug combinations for 18 cancer types. Methods From our predictive synthetic lethality model used in SL-BioDP, we inferred TP53 mutation lead to potential synergistic drug combination of Bortezomib and Vorinostat. Here we show, how to extrapolate the drug combination results by combining drug screening data from cancer cell lines and showed the potential synergy of the drug targets, proteasome, and histone deacetylase (HDAC) pathways respectively, for patient survival advantage. Results We found that TP53 mutation is potentially synthetic lethal with multiple genes from the proteasome and HDAC pathways exclusively in many cancer types. Also, HDAC and proteasomes were found to have potential synthetic lethal relationship. Using drug screening data in cancer cell line, the sensitivity of the HDAC inhibitor drug Vorinostat was found to be increased in TP53 mutated cells where the proteasome pathway was downregulated. Conclusions Our in-silico pharmacogenomic study indicates that the potential synergistic drug combination of proteasome and HDAC inhibitors may be considered as potential treatment for TP53-mutant cancers.
Feasibility of a home-based environmental enrichment paradigm to enhance purposeful activities in adults with traumatic brain injury: a case series

Purpose To assess the feasibility, safety, and functional recovery of an Environmental Enrichment (EE) inspired paradigm for enhancing daily activities in people with traumatic brain injury. Methods Two TBI-Caregiver dyads participated in the six-month study. A preinstalled harness provided the support structure that enabled the family to perform task-specific functional and cognitive goals. The pre- and post-intervention evaluations included the safety, feasibility, and clinical outcomes such as the 10-m walk test, the Timed Up and Go test, the Jebsen Hand Function test, the Six-Minute Walk test, and the Trail Making Test. The Actigraph GT9X recorded the Caregiver-TBI step count during days spent in harness and out of harness. Results The study was feasible, safe, and both TBI subjects improved in functional outcomes. Analysis of Actigraph GT9X yielded mixed results. Conclusion A partnership with caregivers and adults with TBI to design an EE-focused community program could improve functional activities in real life. To optimize this intervention, caregivers will likely need an alternate approach to record time spent in the harness.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe complexities of the real world encourage meaningful activities and participation.Autonomy in everyday activities is an important long-term objective for adults with brain injury.Community-tailored harnesses designed to prevent falls encourages physical activity and social interaction.
The Co-Created Classroom: Enhancing Students’ Professional Identity through a Teaching Apprentice Assignment

Professional identity development of students is an often discussed but never resolved issue in higher education. To facilitate a shift toward developing students’ professional identity, we propose...
White Matter Hyperintensity Volume and Location: Associations With WM Microstructure, Brain Iron, and Cerebral Perfusion.

Cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) represent macrostructural brain damage associated with various etiologies. However, the relative contributions of various etiologies to WMH volume, as assessed via different neuroimaging measures, is not well-understood. Here, we explored associations between three potential early markers of white matter hyperintensity volume. Specifically, the unique variance in total and regional WMH volumes accounted for by white matter microstructure, brain iron concentration and cerebral blood flow (CBF) was assessed. Regional volumes explored were periventricular and deep regions. Eighty healthy older adults (ages 60-86) were scanned at 3 Tesla MRI using fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), multi-echo gradient-recalled echo and pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling sequences. In a stepwise regression model, DTI-based radial diffusivity accounted for significant variance in total WMH volume (adjusted R2 change = 0.136). In contrast, iron concentration (adjusted R2 change = 0.043) and CBF (adjusted R2 change = 0.027) made more modest improvements to the variance accounted for in total WMH volume. However, there was an interaction between iron concentration and location on WMH volume such that iron concentration predicted deep (p = 0.034) but not periventricular (p = 0.414) WMH volume. Our results suggest that WM microstructure may be a better predictor of WMH volume than either brain iron or CBF but also draws attention to the possibility that some early WMH markers may be location-specific.
Quantitative Phase Imaging with an Electron Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

We present a novel scanning two-grating Mach-Zehnder interferometer in a conventional transmission electron microscope. We use it to (1) demonstrate interaction-free measurements with electrons and (2) perform quantitative phase imaging of a latex nanoparticle.
Continual Service Improvement

During the Continual Service Improvement stage, the IT organization collects data and feedback from users, customers, stakeholders, and other sources to enhance services and how they are provided.
Reasons Physicians Do Not Follow Clinical Practice Guidelines

To the Editor: Dr Cabana and colleagues 1 provide a helpful analysis of the failure of clinicians to follow existing practice guidelines. However, they overlook the possibility that such behavior may be deliberate, reflecting clinicians’ disagreement with the nonscientific value judgments of the guideline writers. Clinical practice guidelines necessarily incorporate not only the beliefs of the guideline authors about the medical facts, but also a set of evaluative judgments about whether the anticipated outcomes are good or bad (and how good or bad they are). These evaluations of outcomes reflect the value judgments of the guideline authors. A practitioner or patient who evaluates the outcomes differently may have a perfectly rational reason for refusing to follow the guidelines. For example, if guideline authors believe that the only value of antibiotics or tympanostomy tubes for otitis media in children is to prevent long-term damage, they are likely to produce a practice guideline that excludes these measures if they find no evidence that they help to achieve this outcome. However, the parents of a child with otitis media may have other goals in mind, such as relief of immediate discomfort. If there is evidence that the antibiotic administration or tube placement might accomplish these goals, these parents would rationally discount the practice guideline, not because of any of the reasons given by Cabana et al (eg, lack of outcome expectancy, belief that the clinician cannot perform the guideline recommendation, habit, routine, belief the guideline is not applicable to the patient, disagreements about the cost-benefit analysis, lack of confidence in the guideline developer, or lack of agreement with guidelines in general), but because they have a valid disagreement with the subjective value judgments inherent in the guidelines. Anyone who has different values, and therefore different goals for the clinical encounter, may act rationally in rejecting the clinical practice recommendations of either guideline authors or individual practitioners.
Hierarchical structure for supporting movable base stations in wireless networks

Wireless networks with movable base stations combine the advantages of mobile ad hoc networks and wireless LAN to achieve both flexibility and scalability. We present the hierarchical mobile wireless network (HMWN) to support movable base stations. HMWN may be applied to ad hoc networks as well to build a virtual hierarchy. In such a system, mobile hosts are organized into hierarchical groups. Four basic operations for setting up and maintaining the network structure are grouping, registration, leaving, and migration. An efficient group membership management protocol is developed to support mobile hosts roaming among different groups. The segmented membership-based group routing (SMGR) protocol is proposed to take advantage of the hierarchical structure and membership information. In this protocol, only local message exchanging is required for maintaining network topology and routing information. Simulation-based experiment demonstrates the scalability of the design in terms of protocol overheads.
Reducing theoretical uncertainties in mb, λ1

Abstract I present a recent calculation of generalized lepton energy moments in inclusive semileptonic decays. These moments allow to reduce the uncertainties in mb, λ1 and |Vcd|, as well as experimentally test the underlying assumptions of the operator product expansion.
Design of a fuel cell-based battery extender auxiliary power unit for a vehicular microgrid

Fuel cell-based power units have increasingly become an attractive option to provide clean and efficient electricity in certain niche applications. This paper discusses the characteristics of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell for a battery extender auxiliary power unit and explains the steps of the design process. A two-leg converter topology is proposed to control the fuel cell output, battery charge and discharge process, and the voltage of the DC link. Different operating modes of the system are analyzed and the functions of energy management system are studied. Sizing for the fuel cell, battery, power electronic converter, and passive components are presented, and the controllers of the power electronic converter are designed. Simulation case studies in both steady state and transient conditions are presented to validate the effectiveness of the presented fuel cell-based battery extender power unit and the proposed design process.
A COMPUTATIONAL STUDY ON CLOBAZAM

Benzodiazepinler sinifindan olan klobazam molekulu epilepsi, sizofreni ve anksiyete gibi CNS (Merkezi sinir sistemi)’ de ki bazi norolojik bozukluklarin tedavisinde kullanilmaktadir. Antikonvulstant olarak 1984 yilindan beri bilinmesine ragmen tonik- klonik ve miyoklonik nobetlerde tamamlayici olarak onaylanmasi 2005 yilini bulmustur (Kanada) [1]. Son zamanlarda ilac dizayninin erken evrelerinde, farmakokinetik ve ADME ozellikleri gibi onemli bazi ozellikleri belirlemek icin hesaplamali araclar kullanilmaktadir [2]. Klobazam molekulunun etki mekanizmasini anlamak icin, elektronik ve yapisal ozellikleri hesaplamali araclarla incelenmistir. Tum hesaplamalar Gaussian 09W ile yapilmistir. Geometri ve frekans hesaplamalari farkli basis setlerle HF ve DFT ile yapilmistir. Iyonlasma enerjileri ve enerji araligi degerleri Hem Koopman Teori hem de EPT ile hesaplanmistir. Ayrica elektronik ozellikleri degerlendirmek icin MPA, NPA, CHELPG ve ESP ile atomik yuk hesaplamalari yapilmistir (Asagida yalnizca O ve Cl atomlari icin yuk sonuclari verilmistir).
Numerical experiments with model monophyletic and paraphyletic taxa

The problem of how accurately paraphyletic taxa versus monophyletic (i.e., holophyletic) groups (clades) capture underlying species patterns of diversity and extinction is explored with Monte Carlo simulations. Phylogenies are modeled as stochastic trees. Paraphyletic taxa are defined in an arbitrary manner by randomly choosing progenitors and clustering all descendants not belonging to other taxa. These taxa are then examined to determine which are clades, and the remaining paraphyletic groups are dissected to discover monophyletic subgroups. Comparisons of diversity patterns and extinction rates between modeled taxa and lineages indicate that paraphyletic groups can adequately capture lineage information under a variety of conditions of diversification and mass extinction. This suggests that these groups constitute more than mere "taxonomic noise" in this context. But, strictly monophyletic groups perform somewhat better, especially with regard to mass extinctions. However, when low levels of paleontologic sampling are simulated, the veracity of clades deteriorates, especially with respect to diversity, and modeled paraphyletic taxa often capture more information about underlying lineages. Thus, for studies of diversity and taxic evolution in the fossil record, traditional paleontologic genera and families need not be rejected in favor of cladistically-defined taxa.
Research proposal: Barriers to new user and new domain adoption of the XSEDE cyberinfrastructure

This research proposal proposes the examination of user attitudes about the Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE). The XSEDE project supports basic research with a common system for making use of national cyberinfrastructure. The systems and infrastructure that make XSEDE useful for researchers are part of an actor network: these systems are socially constructed and they play their own part in the work of XSEDE, and in turn have an effect on the progress of basic research. I have completed previous work on the user relationships in the predecessor to XSEDE, the TeraGrid, and currently carry out participant observation with the management groups of the XSEDE project. By understanding the barriers to adoption of XSEDE by new researchers and new scientific domains, I hope to explore the linkage between resources (in this case computational resources) and scientific outputs.
Inverse-emulsion copolymerization of acrylamide and quaternary ammonium cationic monomers with block copolymeric surfactants: copolymer composition control using batch and semi-batch techniques

Abstract An experimental investigation of the inverse-emulsion copolymerization of acrylamide and quaternary ammonium cationic monomers (dimethylaminoethylacrylate, DMAEA and dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate, DMAEM) has been carried out using both a block copolymeric surfactant (HB246) whose hydrophilic moiety is polyethylene oxide and whose hydrophobic moiety is poly(12 hydroxy stearic acid) and sorbitan monoleate (SMO). Our results indicate that the choice of surfactant influences strongly the quality of the copolymers produced. For example, more uniform copolymers of acrylamide and DMAEA can be synthesized using the block copolymeric surfactant (HB246) at faster production rates in comparison with sorbitan monoleate (SMO) when utilizing batch reactors. However, a composition drift is observed in the inverse-emulsion copolymerization of acrylamide and DMAEM using HB246. A possible explanation for this behaviour is either a reduced reactivity ratio (r2) or propagation constant (k22). However, physical effects such as a possible lower interfacial acrylamide concentration are not to be ruled out. It is also shown, for the first time, that copolymers of acrylamide and DMAEM of more uniform composition can be produced by implementing simple semi-batch policies with non time-varying feedrates. It is believed that these cationic copolymers would have a higher flocculation efficiency both in municipal and in industrial water treatment due to their more uniform distribution of the positive charge along the polyacrylamide backbone.
Groundwater influences on atmospheric dust generation in deserts

Abstract Groundwater resources are being overexploited in arid and semi-arid environments globally, which necessitates a deeper understanding of the roles that groundwater plays in earth system processes. Of particular importance is the elucidation of groundwater's effect on the generation of atmospheric dust. While many spatially extensive, highly productive dust sources are influenced to some degree by water resource use, including groundwater pumping and other modifications to shallow groundwater tables (
Absorption of Atomic Oxygen into Subsurfaces of Pt(100) and Pt(111): Density Functional Theory Study

Density functional theory is used to examine binding energies and the most stable sites of atomic oxygen adsorbed on Pt(111) and Pt(100) surfaces as a function of surface coverage, as well as to evaluate the absorption energies and the energetically most favorable sites of atomic oxygen located in the subsurface, as a function of subsurface coverage. Based on the absorption energies, it is found that the tetrahedral site underneath the hcp hollow site is energetically the most favorable site to absorb atomic oxygen in the subsurface of Pt(111), and the tetrahedral site underneath the bridge site is the corresponding energetically most favorable subsurface site in Pt(100) cells. Minimum energy paths identified for the diffusion of low-coverage adsorbed atomic oxygen into the subsurface sites for Pt(111) and Pt(100) cells indicate the existence of high kinetic barriers to such diffusion.
Unreported crimes, public dissatisfaction of police, and observed police misconduct in the Volgograd region, Russia: A research note

The paper examines the issue of widespread underreporting of crimes in the Volgograd region of Russia. The factors of public satisfaction with police, prior observed police misconduct, type of crime, and victim’s demographics are used to explain a victim’s decision to report crimes to the police. The research is based on a representative sample of Russian citizens conducted over a 9 year period in the Volgograd region (1998–2007) with a sample size of 1332 cases. The study concludes that prior observed police misconduct, especially the falsification of documents, is the strongest predictor of victims’ decisions to report crimes. The research holds critical implications for the ongoing reform of Russian police.
Interactions between the metabolism of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids.

. Dietary n-3 fatty acids modify the fatty acid composition of phospholipids of different cells and tissues from rats in diverse ways. Neutrophil and platelet phospholipids contain elevated amounts of 20: 5n-3, but only relatively small changes occur in the levels of 22-carbon n-3 fatty acids. Conversely, dietary n-3 acids result primarily in an increase in 22-carbon n-3 acids in heart, liver and kidney phospholipids. Platelets metabolize exogenous n-6 and n-3 fatty acids into a variety of different autocoids. However, it appears that only arachidonate and 20:5n-3 are released from phospholipids upon agonist-induced stimulation of phospholipases. Neutrophils metabolize arachidonate and 20: 5n-3 in similar ways, both relative to phospholipid biosynthesis and the subsequent release of these acids for metabolism into leukotrienes.
Purity tests of a 68Ge68Ga generator

Abstract 68 Ga is a useful tracer which has many possible applications in Nuclear Medicine. Its short half-life of 68 min permits relatively large amounts to be used while maintaining an acceptable radiation dose to the patient. Leakage of the 280 day half-life parent isotope, 68 Ge, could result in a much larger radiation dose. Generator eluates were analyzed by gamma spectroscopy to determine radioactive impurities. 68 Ge was the only additional radioisotope found. The measured leakage of 68 Ge was used in calculating the relative patient dose from the 68 Ga and 68 Ge. If 68 Ga is administered soon after milking the generator, leakage of 68 Ge contributes no more than 25 per cent additional radiation exposure than 68 Ga alone. However, with each 68-min delay in administration, the relative contribution of 68 Ge doubles.
Customization of microfluidic devices using femtosecond laser micromachining

We use tightly-focused femtosecond laser pulses to add an integrated microcapillary to a microfluidic device fabricated in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). Femtosecond laser micromachining together with debris removal by a wetting fluid complements standard soft lithography techniques for microfluidics fabrication in PDMS, allowing the addition of three-dimensional and micrometer-diameter channels to devices.
Academic Achievement of Children in China: The 2002 Fulbright Experience.

The 2002 Fulbright team, led by Zheng Zhou of St. John's University, consisted of 12 professionals in the fields of education, counseling psychology, and school psychology. Spending one month visiting elementary schools, universities, governmental bodies, hospitals, and private schools throughout China, the Fulbright team had an opportunity to observe educational systems and mental health services to children in multiple sites (Beijing, Kunming, Shanghai, and Suzhou). This article outlines the educational system currently utilized in China and explores the cultural factors and key variables that impact Asian children. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 42: 233–239, 2005.
Converging operations on a basic level in event taxonomies

Research on object concepts has identified one level of abstraction as "basic" in cognition and communication. We investigated whether concepts for routine social events have a basic level by replicating the converging operations used to investigate object concepts. In Experiment 1, subjects were presented with event names from a taxonomy and were asked to list the actions comprising the event. Many more actions were listed at the middle than at the highest taxonomic level, without a further increase at the most specific level, paralleling the pattern of superordinate-, basic-, and subordinate-level object concepts. From these action lists, brief stories were composed for each event. In Experiment 2, subjects made pairwise similarity judgments on the stories. The mean similarity of events increased with specificity, as expected. But differentiation of categories (within-category similarity compared to between-category similarity) was highest for super-ordinates, contrary to results with object categories. In Experiment 3, subjects were fastest in recognizing actions as belonging to events named at the basic level. In Experiment 4, subjects predominantly chose basic-level terms to name stories. We conclude that event taxonomies do show basic-level structure, albeit a less sharply defined and less stable structure than in object taxonomies. The benefits and hazards of extending models of object concepts to other entities, such as social events, are discussed.
Inhibition of autophagy and induction of breast cancer cell death by mefloquine, an antimalarial agent

Autophagy has been recognized as a potential target for cancer therapy. The antimalarial drug chloroquine (CQ) is able to inhibit autophagy and therefore is being considered for cancer therapeutics. However, the relatively low potency of CQ prompted us to investigate whether other lysosomotropic agents might be more effective, and thus potentially more useful. We therefore compared the cytotoxic efficacy of CQ, the quinoline analog mefloquine (MQ), and the fluoroquinolones ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin in several human breast cancer cell lines. We found that MQ was the most potent compound tested; it inhibited autophagy, triggered endoplasmic reticulum stress, and caused cell death in T47D and MDA-MB-231. Altogether, our study demonstrates superior potency of MQ over CQ and the ability of MQ to produce anticancer effects in both hormone receptor positive and negative breast cancer cell lines, suggesting its usefulness in treating various types of cancer.
Using an IBM PC to network Walter/Palya experiment controllers

A communications module that provides for the convenient use of the Walter/Palya experiment controller with an IBM PC is discussed. Following the user’s responses to prompts for apparatus and experimental procedure, the module appropriately loads the controller. It also automatically uploads and stores experimental data. Error checking is transparent to the user. Personal getting-started experiences with the experiment controller are also discussed.
Historic space in Sokurov's Moloch, Taurus and The Sun

AbstractAleksandr Sokurov's first three instalments in his ‘tetralogy of dictators’ are discussed here from the perspective of spatial representation and history. As the Russian film-maker explores the morbid and intimate hours of Hitler, Lenin, and Hirohito (but also of Stalin, Goebbels, and General MacArthur), he creates strikingly ‘disorientated’ spaces, juggling with traditional cinematic grammar. The effect — and. message — offered. through this approach is multi-layered and manifold, and this article investigates how precisely these spaces function in the mise-en-scene and what the implications of this might be.
South Korean Labor Market Discrimination Against Women—A Comment

L'A. examine de facon critique un article publie par E. Monk-Turner et C. G. Turner concernant les discriminations sexuelles sur le marche du travail en Coree du Sud . Il estime que ces derniers ont mis l'accent de maniere erronee sur la situation des femmes mariees possedant un niveau d'instruction eleve. Il affirme que leur approche ignore le complexite des reseaux sociaux structurant la vie sociale coreenne. Monk-Turner et Turner repliquent en affirmant qu'ils n'ont pas ignore la specificite culturelle de la Coree du Sud. Ceux-ci soulignent qu'il existe de fortes discriminations entre les deux sexes sur le marche du travail dans ce pays
Drug-Induced Sexual Dysfunction

Drug-induced sexual dysfunction is a relatively common yet poorly understood clinical problem. The mechanisms whereby various drug classes alter sexual function remain poorly documented. An attempt has been made, based on recent advances in sexual physiology, to clarify drug-induced sexual dysfunction on the basis of possible or probable mechanisms of action. It is hoped that this approach may ultimately allow the physician to rationally select pharmacologic agents which minimize deleterious effects on libido, erection, ejaculation and orgasm.
Characterization of a novel gene (NKG7) on human chromosome 19 that is expressed in natural killer cells and T cells

NKG7 is a cDNA clone generated from a human NK-cell clone. The DNA and predicted aa sequence of NKG7 is not homologous with any previously reported genes or peptides. NKG7 mRNA is expressed in activated T cells and in A-LAK cells isolated from the peripheral blood of normal individuals, and in normal human kidney, liver, lung and pancreas. Furthermore, NKG7 mRNA is expressed at high levels in TCR gamma delta-expressing CTL clones, and in some TCR alpha beta-expressing CTL clones (both CD4+ and CD8+), but is not expressed in other TCR alpha beta-expressing CTL clones and in cell lines representing B cells, monocytes, and myeloid cells. NKG7 mRNA is not expressed in normal human brain, heart, or skeletal muscle. Southern hybridization of NKG7 suggests that NKG7 is a single-copy gene localized to chromosome 19. A hydropathicity profile of the predicted 148 aa polypeptide indicates that NKG7 is a type-I integral membrane protein with a 38-aa extracellular domain and a 61-aa cytoplasmic domain. These results indicate that the NKG7 gene encodes a novel cell surface protein expressed in several cell types, including NK cells and T cells.
The effect of ankle-foot orthoses on self-reported balance confidence in persons with chronic poststroke hemiplegia

Background:One intervention often used to address physical impairments post stroke is an ankle–foot orthosis. Ankle–foot orthoses may improve walking speed, stride length, and gait pattern. However, effects on balance, crucial for safe ambulation, are thus far inconclusive. One aspect of balance shown to contribute to functional ability is self-efficacy. Self-efficacy, defined as the belief in one’s ability to succeed in particular situations, has been shown to be more strongly associated with activity and participation (as defined by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health) than physical performance measures of gait or balance.Objectives:We investigated whether self-efficacy, or balance confidence when referred to in the context of balance capabilities, is improved with ankle–foot orthosis use.Study design:Repeated measures study design.Methods:Balance confidence was measured using the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale in 15 persons with chronic poststroke hemip...
Teachers in Charter and Traditional Schools

Teachers from charter and traditional schools in Colorado were queried about their perceptions of their level of empowerment, school climate, and working conditions. Using a cluster sampling design, approximately 100 teachers from 16 charter schools and 100 teachers from seven traditional schools were surveyed by combining several well-established instruments to measure empowerment, school climate, and working conditions. Factor analyses yielded three composite variables each for the three constructs. One-way analyses of variance were used to explore these teachers' differences in perceptions. Results yielded consistent and practically significant differences in these charter and traditional school perceptions of empowerment, school climate, and working conditions. Not all of these differences, however, were consistent with expectations given the educational and legislative contexts driving Colorado's charter school movement. Implications and recommendations for future research are given.
Reduction of Carboxylic Acids by Nocardia Aldehyde Oxidoreductase Requires a Phosphopantetheinylated Enzyme

Aldehyde oxidoreductase (carboxylic acid reductase (Car)) catalyzes the magnesium-, ATP-, and NADPH-dependent reduction of carboxylic acids to their corresponding aldehydes. Heterologous expression of the car gene in Escherichia coli afforded purified recombinant enzyme with a specific activity nearly 50-fold lower than that of purified native Nocardia sp. enzyme. The 5-fold increase in specific activity obtained by incubating purified recombinant Car with CoA and Nocardia cell-free extracts indicated that post-translational phosphopantetheinylation of Car is required for maximum enzyme activity. Nocardia phosphopantetheine transferase (PPTase) expressed in E. coli was isolated and characterized. When incubated with [3H]acetyl-CoA and Nocardia PPTase, the labeled acetylphosphopantetheine moiety was incorporated into recombinant Car. Coexpression of Nocardia Car and PPTase in E. coli gave a reductase with nearly 20-fold higher specific activity. Site-directed mutagenesis in which Ser689 was replaced with Ala resulted in an inactive Car mutant. The results show that Car expressed in Escherichia coli is an apoenzyme that is converted to a holoenzyme by post-translational modification via phosphopantetheinylation. Doubly recombinant resting E. coli cells efficiently reduce vanillic acid to vanillin.
Cognitive style and customer orientation

Cognitive style, the ways in which we take in information from the environment and process that information, has been shown to influence interactions in various behavioral fields. This paper investigates whether cognitive style would impact an individual's orientation toward the customer or toward the sale, as measured by the SOCO scale. The results suggest that cognitive style can influence one's orientation. This knowledge should prove useful to sales managers in designing training programs for new sales personnel, as well as in assigning sales personnel to specific selling tasks.
Multiple forms of biliverdin reductase: modification of the pattern of expression in rat liver by bromobenzene.

Rat liver biliverdin reductase was purified from control and bromobenzene-treated rats and was designated as C-BVR-T and B-BVR-T, respectively. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the existence of two molecular weight variants (30,100 and 29,800) in C-BVR-T but only one form (30,100) in B-BVR-T. Western immunoblotting confirmed that both molecular weight variants were biliverdin reductase. Nondenaturing electrophoresis separated C-BVR-T and B-BVR-T preparations into groups of four variants, designated as BVR ND1 to ND4. However, the C-BVR-T preparation contained three major forms (BVR ND1, ND2, and ND3) while the B-BVR-T preparation contained two major forms (BVR ND2 and ND3). In vitro treatment of biliverdin reductase preparations with either bromobenzene or dithiothreitol did not interconvert the variants of the enzyme. QAE-Sepharose anion-exchange chromatography was used to isolate the ND2 and ND3 variants for physiochemical analysis. The amino acid composition of the variants was rather similar except for their Tyr content. Also, the peptide maps were similar except for a series of moderately early chromatographic peaks. These findings implied secondary modifications to the protein rather than substantial differences in primary structure. The pH-dependent cofactor requirements for enzyme activity were examined. Both variants exhibited 2 pH optima that were cofactor dependent; maximum activity with NADPH and NADH was observed at pH 8.5 and 6.7, respectively. However, both variants exhibited a higher catalytic rate with NADH than with NADPH at their pH optima. Furthermore, BVR ND3 exhibited a higher catalytic rate than BVR ND2 with either cofactor throughout the pH range 6.5–9.
Synthesis of feedforward/state feedback controllers for nonlinear processes

A systematic method for synthesizing feedforward/state feedback controllers for a broad class of SISO nonlinear systems with measurable disturbances is presented. Depending on the structural characteristics of the system, the control law can be static or dynamic. The closed-loop system is independent of the measurable disturbances and linear with respect to set point changes. The performance of the proposed control scheme is illustrated through an example of composition control in a system of three CSTR's in series.
A Power Link Study of Wireless Non-Radiative Power Transfer Systems Using Resonant Shielded Loops

This paper discusses the use of magnetically coupled resonators for midrange wireless non-radiative power transfer (WNPT). A quasi-static (circuit) model is developed to establish key measures of performance and to aid in design. The use of directly fed, resonant shielded loops for WNPT is also proposed for the first time. Two experimental WNPT systems employing shielded loops are reported. A comprehensive experimental study is performed, and the performance of the WNPT systems shows close agreement with analytical predictions and developed circuit models. With a single-turn system of loop radius 10.7 cm, power transfer efficiency of 41.8% is achieved at a loop separation of 35 cm (3.3 loop radii). When the number of turns is increased to ten, a power transfer efficiency of 36.5% is achieved at a loop separation of 56 cm (5.3 loop radii). Measured magnetic field levels in the vicinity of the WNPT systems are shown to closely agree with analytical field values.
Preference semantics for message understanding

The design of effective natural language processing systems requires a combination of the theoretical and the practical. We want to have a theoretically well-founded design so that we can take advantage of gradual improvements in our knowledge of syntax, semantics, discourse structures, and the subject domain. At the same time we need to adopt a practical approach which recognizes the inevitable shortcomings of our knowledge in these areas. We need to create robust systems which are able to deal appropriately with these shortcomings. We are interested in particular in systems for extracting specified information from a text. Such systems are robust if they are able to extract at least partial information despite the presence of ill-formed or unexpected syntactic, semantic, or discourse structures.
Measurement of the residual mechanical properties of crazed polycarbonate. II: Design of experiments analysis

The Design of Experiments (DOE) approach was used to build quantitative empirical models of the residual mechanical properties of crazed polycarbonate as functions of relative craze density, crazing stress, and strain rate. Crazing did not affect the yielding behavior of polycarbonate, but increasing the strain rate increased the yield stress according to the Eyring theory. The Eyring activation volume for yielding of crazed polycarbonate was measured to fall between reported values for conformational changes of a dilute solution of polycarbonate chains and yielding of uncrazed polycarbonate. Also, with as little as 1% relative craze density, the failure stress was approximately 10% lower and the ductility was, on the average, 50% lower than for uncrazed polycarbonate properties. It was also found that increasing the crazing stress from 40 to 45 MPa increased the failure stress and ductility for a given magnitude of relative craze density.
High-order adaptive methods for parabolic systems

Abstract We consider the adaptive solution of parabolic partial differential systems in one and two space dimensions by finite element procedures that automatically refine and coarsen computational meshes, vary the degree of the piecewise polynomial basis and, in one dimension, move the computational mesh. Two-dimensional meshes of triangular, quadrilateral, or a mixture of triangular and quadrilateral elements are generated using a finite quadtree procedure that is also used for data management. A posteriori estimates, used to control adaptive enrichment, are generated from the hierarchical polynomial basis. Temporal integration, within a method-of-lines framework, uses either backward difference methods or a variant of the singly implicit Runge-Kutta (SIRK) methods. A high-level user interface facilitates use of the adaptive software.
Murine models of thrombosis

Manipulations of mouse vessels are difficult due to their small sizes, limiting the possibilities for developing clinically relevant thrombosis models. Currently used models of arterial and venous thrombosis have short-comings not only in terms of clinical relevance but also with respect to collection of data usable and commensurate with thrombodynamic processes. Confocal and multiphoton imaging systems offer continuous evaluation of more direct measures, such as fluorophore-labeled, thrombus-targeting factors, but have been predominantly confined to studies in microvessels (arterioles and venules) with questionable transference of findings to large-vessel thrombotic activities. Going forward, we should select more clinically relevant models, using evaluative measures that yield optimal quantitative data, to refine our understanding of critical aspects of thrombotic processes.
A comparison of soft tissue reaction to silastic and absorbable suture material.

Alloplastic implants in reconstructive surgery have many varied applications. The problem of extrusion in certain areas has not been totally resolved. Our intent was to design and develop a composite alloplastic implant which would be fixed to local tissues by fibrous ingrowth. Small amounts, less than 5% by weight, of a biodegradable substance with either Silicone type A or clear dental acrylic were used. Laboratory rats were implanted subcutaneously with sterile prostheses measuring 21 mm × 1 mm. The biodegradable portion consisted of presently available absorbable suture-polyglycolic acid, chromic catgut, and plain catgut in small particles. The implants were harvested at six weeks and three months and objectively evaluated for tissue fixation and fibrous reaction. In our model, the composite alloplastic prosthesis of chromic catgut and Silicone type A established superior fixation by fibrous ingrowth with a minimum of fibrous capsular thickness.
Role of externally produced hydrogen peroxide in damage to Paramecium aurelia by x-rays.

SummaryThe production of nongenetic death and division delay by X-rays is greatly enhanced if the paramecia are irradiated in a dilute medium with very few bacteria rather than the usual lettuce infusion with many bacteria. This effect is shown to be accounted for almost entirely by relatively stable substances produced by irradiation of this medium. About two-thirds of the total effect can be attributed to H2O2 or its reaction products, while the rest results from an action on the medium not due to H2O2. On the other hand, the frequency of genetic changes is not affected by the medium in which the organisms are irradiated nor does irradiated medium or medium to which H2O2 was added induce such changes. The failure to find an effect upon the genetic mechanism is interpreted as probably the result of the failure of the substances produced in the medium to reach the micronuclei which are situated some microns below the cell surface. The corollary to this is that the nongenetic changes are due to alterations...
Understanding process change management in electronic health record implementations

Electronic health record (EHR) implementations involve changes to core organizational processes, and management of these changes is critical to the success of such implementation efforts. This research describes how process change issues relate to implementation of large IT projects in healthcare settings. Specifically, we draw on extant literature and conduct directed content analysis on project reports by past HIMSS Davies Award recipients to present process change related best practices occurring in EHR implementations. The results from this study can influence implementation strategies for future health information technology implementation efforts in the healthcare sector.
Neue Werkstoffe aus Organosiliciumvorstufen

Spatlese von den Munchner Silicontagen: die materialwissenschaftlichen Aspekte. Viele Molekulchemiker haben sich ein zweites Standbein in der Materialforschung zugelegt, und umgekehrt finden Anwender zunehmend den Kontakt zu den „molekulchemischen Wurzeln”.
The negative impact of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on bone in a mouse model.

AbstractIntroduction: While it is well established that the brain produces hypothalamic hormones and neuropeptides that influence skeletal metabolism, the impact of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on bone is unknown. Based on the recognition from clinical studies that there is an association between TBI and long-term hypothalamic pituitary dysfunction, it was hypothesized that TBI exerts a negative impact on skeletal growth and maintenance.Methods: To test the hypothesis, this study employed a repetitive weight drop model for TBI. Four impacts were applied for four consecutive days on 5-week old female C57BL/6 J mice. Bone measurements were taken 2 weeks after the first impact.Results: Bone mineral content (BMC), bone area (B area) and bone mineral density (BMD) in the total body were reduced by 14.5%, 9.8% and 5.2%, respectively, in the impacted vs. control mice. There was a 17.1% reduction in total volumetric BMD (vBMD) and a 4.0% reduction in material vBMD in cortical bone. In trabecular bone, there was a...
Surfactant Depolarizes Neutrophil Membranes and Inhibits Response to Physiologic Activation

Surfactant Depolarizes Neutrophil Membranes and Inhibits Response to Physiologic Activation
Kinematic analysis and synthesis of an adjustable six-bar linkage

This paper investigates the kinematics of an adjustable six-bar linkage where the rotation of the input crank is converted into the oscillation of the output link. This single-degree-of freedom planar linkage will be used as a variable-speed transmission mechanism where the input crank rotates at a constant speed and the output link consists of an overrunning clutch mounted on the output shaft. The analysis uses a novel technique in which kinematic coefficients are obtained with respect to an independent variable. Then kinematic inversion is used to express the kinematic coefficients with respect to the input variable of the linkage. This technique decouples the position equations and provides additional insight into the geometry of the adjustable linkage. The angle through which the output link oscillates, for each revolution of the input crank, can be adjusted by a control arm. This arm allows a fixed pivot to be temporarily released and moved along a circular arc about a permanent ground pivot. The paper shows how to determine the angle of oscillation of the output link for a specified position of the fixed pivot and investigates the extreme positions of the output link corresponding to the extreme positions of a point on the coupler link. For this reason, the paper includes a study of the geometry of the path traced by a coupler point and determines the location of the ground pivot of the control arm which will cause the output link to remain stationary during a complete rotation of the input crank. Finally, the paper shows how the kinematic analysis results can be used, in a straightforward manner, to redesign the control arm.
Actual and potential results from electrical exploration of the atmosphere

Interesting information about the atmosphere has been provided by several types of electric measurements, some made at the surface of the Earth, others made in the free atmosphere with the aid of kites, balloons, or other aircraft. Franklin with his kite made the first electrical exploration of the atmosphere. The scientific and practical results are well known, at least they have become commonplace, perhaps so much so that their significance for human thought and affairs is not adequately appreciated. It was in 1750 in a letter to Collinson, member of the Royal Society of London, that he announced the first experimental evidence that electricity is generated in the air during storms.