cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Invasive cardiovascular procedures--optimizing patient safety.

Invasive cardiovascular procedures offer many patients substantial diagnostic and therapeutic benefits. Vascular angioplasty, electrophysiological ablation procedures, and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt procedures are among the important therapeutic procedures that provide potentially superior alternatives to conventional open operations. In addition, invasive cardiovascular procedures provide diagnostic information that cannot be obtained by noninvasive methods. The diagnostic and therapeutic value of these procedures has fueled a broad-based and successful effort to improve their safety and efficacy. The hazards associated with invasive cardiovascular procedures include vascular injury, systemic embolization, contrast-agent–induced nephropathy, and radiation-induced injury. Although substantial progress has been made, severe life-threatening and fatal . . .
Response to a second comment by Conwell on dispersion of surface plasmons in inhomogeneous media

We answer the criticism in the preceding comment by showing that our formal solutions are correct and argue against the interpretation of our surface-plasmon data in terms of "guided waves."
Surface Texture Measurement By Computer Vision

A fully automated, non-contacting, full field method is presented to measure the surface roughness parameters using a computer vision system and image processing techniques. The texture features, namely, coarseness, contrast and roughness are extracted from digitized images of standard surface roughness comparator plates and correlated with the arithmetic average roughness (Ra) of the surface. The vision system offers a fast and accurate method for the on-line automated surface roughness inspection of machined components.
Heteroduplex DNA: a recombinational intermediate in bacteriophage f1.

Abstract Further insight into the mechanism of gene recombination in bacteriophage f1 was obtained from the following findings. 1. (1) A single recombination event between a gene II amber mutant and a nonviable (deletion) mutant of bacteriophage f1 generates a gene II + viable recombinant that is most frequently associated with the amber parent rather than with the non-viable parent. This finding is best explained and co-ordinated with earlier data by envisaging a recombinational intermediate containing both the recombinant genotype and one parental genotype in a single heteroduplex DNA molecule that then segregates a recombinant homoduplex and a parental homoduplex. 2. (2) In restriction crosses between a phage that is sensitive (SB + ) to a host restriction-modification system and a phage that is genetically resistant (SB 0 ) to it, the recombinant yield is dramatically dependent upon, and negatively correlated with the linkage between the recombinant locus and the SB + site. In light of the known properties of this restriction-modification system this finding constitutes additional and independent support to the segregating heteroduplex model for genetic recombination in f1. This model is discussed in relation to earlier data on f1 recombination and to other bacterial recombination systems.
Innovative Analyses and Interventions in the Treatment of Selective Mutism

The authors present a successful, 25-session, multidimensional intervention for the treatment of selectivemutismin a 6-year-old male with a 1-year observational follow-up. They also include an eval...
Recent applications of nuclear microprobes to the study of art objects and archaeological artifacts

Abstract This review covers the period from the 4th Nuclear Microprobe Conference held in Shanghai, China, October 10–14, 1994 to the present. As per the last review on this topic, as given by the present author, emphasis will be placed on studies using external beams with diameters in the range from 1000 to 50 μm. A vacuum environment is not generally suitable for art objects and archaeological artifacts; howerver, a degree of spatial resolution is essential for the analysis of most materials-metal alloys, the products of metal smelting (copper and iron), multi-colored glasses, gold jewelry, pottery glazes/slips, manuscripts and paintings and, finally, human remains (bones and hair). Reference is made to investigations in many laboratories around the world which are involved in the study of such materials.
Gelatin and the Tyndall Effect: A Colorful and Tasty Demonstration

This demonstration is a safe and nontoxic example of the Tyndall effect that utilizes common, even edible, materials. A glass of gelatin and a laser pointer are used to illustrate the Tyndall effect. Laser light is scattered when it is shone through a colloidal gelatin dispersion. At least two glasses of gelatin are aligned so that students can see scattering through the first glass, then a lower overall intensity of scattered light through the second glass. Variations of the demonstration are presented, such as shining the laser light through a glass of salt water to show the effect as the salt dissolves.
Doped polyaniline in Brønsted acid ionic liquid 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis[trifluoromethyl(sulfonyl)]imide/bis[trifluoromethyl(sulfonyl)]imide

We report the preparation and characterization of doped polyaniline (PANI) in an ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis[trifluoromethyl(sulfonyl)]imide (BMImTFSI) medium. Aniline monomer was chemically polymerized via oxidation with KMnO4 in an ionic liquid BMImTFSI solution containing a monoprotic Bronsted acid bis[trifluoromethyl(sulfonyl)]imide (HTFSI). HTFSI is the source of proton that doped PANI. The identity of PANI as the reaction product was confirmed with both ultraviolet–visible and Fourier transform infrared spectra. Unlike syntheses in aqueous media, the doped PANI did not readily precipitate from the ionic liquid; a transparent and stable green solution-like liquid dispersion was obtained (dispersion is used to refer the product hereafter). PANI precipitated when dedoped with organic bases such as triethylamine. The PANI precipitate can be redoped by HCl and the so-doped PANI has conductivity of about 2.0 × 10−2 S/cm. The liquid dispersion of doped PANI in the ionic liquid can be diluted by many organic solvents or other ionic liquids to diluted “solutions.” © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Further evidence on the link between migraine and neuroticism

Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated an association between migraine and neuroticism. In this report, we examine prospectively whether higher levels of neuroticism, measured at baseline by the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, signaled increased risk for first incidence of migraine during a 5-year follow-up interval. The sample was randomly selected from the list of young adult members of a large Health Maintenance Organization in southeast Michigan. Follow-up data were available on 972 subjects, 97.2% of the initial sample. Neuroticism predicted the first incidence of migraine in females. The relative risk for migraine in females scoring in the highest quartile of the neuroticism scales versus the lowest quartile was 4.0 (95% CI 1.6, 10.3). Controlling for history of major depression and anxiety disorders at baseline reduced the estimate to 2.9 (95% CI 1.1, 7.7). Neuroticism did not predict migraine in males, although the results in males were limited greatly by the small number of incidence cases. Neuroticism might be causally related to migraine, or alternatively, might be an early correlate with shared etiologies.
Grain boundary dislocation observations using the field ion microscope

A study is made of a grain boundary dislocation in tungsten. Observations are made using the field ion microscope a t 78 K. The boundary is between two crystals misoriented by approximately 38° about an axis near [110]. The grain boundary dislocation is observed to be split into two partial grain boundary dislocations over portions of its length. Es werden Grenzflachenversetzungen in Wolfram untersucht. Bei 78 K werden die Beobachtungen mit dem Feldemissionsmikroskop durchgefuhrt. Die Grenze liegt zwischen zwei Kristallen, die um ungefahr 38° um eine Achse in der Nahe von [110] fehlorientiert sind. Es wird beobachtet, das die Grenzflachenversetzung in zwei Grenzflachenteilversetzungen auf Teilen ihrer Lange dissoziiert wird.
Application of ion-etching of grooves into quartz for surface acoustic wave devices

The application of r.f.-sputter etching techniques to the fabrication of grooves in the surface of quartz is reported. This process has been used for the construction of devices which employ the interaction of surface acoustic waves with arrays of well-defined parallel grooves. Devices have been produced with grooves up to 2.5 μm deep, which have substantially rectangular profiles and controllable mark-to-space ratios. The groove geometries have been characterized using Talysurf, optical microscopy, SEM and TEM techniques.
Global holomorphic 2-forms and pluricanonical systems on threefolds

The change of zero locus of a global holomorphic 2-form on a threefold under birational transformations is investigated. It is proved that existence of 2-forms with certain conditions on their zero loci on a threefold of nonnegative Kodaira dimension limits types of terminal singularities appearing on its minimal models. As a result of the restriction on the types of terminal singularities and Reid's Riemann-Roch formula, a universal bound N is found such that the linear system NK defines a birational map from a threefold of general type admitting those 2-forms, where K is the canonical bundle of the threefold.
Current Distribution and Electrochemical Environment in a Cathodically Protected Crevice

Abstract Current and potential distributions inside the crevice of a simulated disbonded coating with a holiday during cathodic protection (CP) of steel were measured experimentally in 0.001 M to 0.6 M sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions covering a range of conductivity from 0.012 Ω−1 m−1 to 5.1 Ω−1 m−1. The circular crevice was 95 mm in radius, 0.8 mm in thickness, and open to the test solution through a holiday of 5 mm in radius on the center of the coating. Microelectrodes mounted on the steel surface were used to determine the local current densities inside the crevice. Change in the concentration of dissolved oxygen inside the crevice was monitored with a micro-oxygen electrode. Current distribution was extremely nonuniform. Depending upon NaCl concentrations, the local current density on steel exhibited a 100-fold decrease from that at the holiday opening within 20 mm to 40 mm into the crevice. Current and potential distribution curves became less uniform with a decrease in NaCl concentration and solut...
Association of physician specialty and medical therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

BACKGROUND Despite little available evidence to determine whether recently introduced selective α-1 blockers and 5-α reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) are superior to the existing agents in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), they are being increasingly prescribed. OBJECTIVE To describe the prescribing patterns of new and existing agents among patients with incident BPH after the introduction of several new agents and determine whether these varied by physician specialty. RESEARCH DESIGN We analyzed a retrospective cohort from an administrative claims database from January 2004 through December 2010. SUBJECTS Patients diagnosed with incident BPH aged 40 years and above and those who received medical management. MEASURES Receipt of medical therapy for incident BPH (ie, selective α-1 blockers [prazosin (released 1976), terazosin (1987), doxazosin (1990), tamsulosin (1997), alfuzosin (2003), silodosin (2009)] and 5-ARIs [finasteride (1992) and dutasteride (2002)]). RESULTS A total of 42,769 men with incident BPH received any selective α-1 blocker or 5-ARI. Tamsulosin and dutasteride were the most widely prescribed agents of their respective drug classes. Predicted probabilities showed that urologists were more likely to prescribe alfuzosin (24.0% vs. 7.8%; P<0.001) and silodosin (2.3% vs. 0.4%; P<0.001) when compared with primary care providers (PCPs) at 6 months after diagnosis. Urologists were more likely to prescribe 5-ARIs but less likely to prescribe older α-1 blockers (terazosin, prazosin, and doxazosin) than PCPs at 6 months postdiagnosis. CONCLUSIONS Among insured patients diagnosed with BPH, our study suggests that the overall use of new agents is rising. In particular, urologists were more likely to prescribe newer selective α-1 blockers compared with PCPs.
Practical points inspinal endoscopy

This article presents an overview of spinal endoscopy, including history,indications, and contraindications, along with the anatomy and physiology of the spine. A description of the procedure is provided, complications are identified, and nursing considerations are highlighted.
Reversed-phase chromatographic resolution of N-(3,5-dinitrobezoyl)- α-amino acids on chiral stationary phases

Abstract The enantiomers of N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)-α-amino acids are readily separated by reversed-phase chromatography on chiral stationary phases. Lipophilic interactions are quite important and largely determine the relative contributions of two competing “opposite sense” chiral recognition processes. Selectivities are fairly high and, on chiral phases 2a, derived from ( R )-N-(11-triethoxysilylundecanoyl)cyclohexyl (6,7-dimethyl-1-naphthyl)methylamine, are adequate for preparative separation as well as analytical separations. The ( S )-enantiomers consistently elute last from the ( R )-2a column. Chiral recognition models are proposed to accomodate the observed separability factors and elution orders.
Melt Energetics at High Temperature and Pressure

The physical behavior of silicate liquids at high pressure is important in modeling the dynamic processes of the deep earth. The density of the silicate liquids determines the transport properties of silicate melts and volumetric properties of silicate melts are therefore of prime importance. However, the partial molar volumes of melt components are difficult to evaluate since it is difficult to observe the molten state at high pressure. A variety of approaches are used to investigate silicate melt properties. Individual melt components can be used and complex mixing terms used to describe mixing behavior. Alternatively the melt species themselves can be investigated, although there is little information as to what these actually are. In both cases the accurate determination of the dP/dT slope of the melting curves is critical. p]Speciation reactions can be studied in situ at one atmosphere through high temperature calorimetry. An approach has been developed where the dissolution of melt components which are readily soluble in silicate solvents and which have a large heat effect can be used to determine the dependence of the activities of these components on melt structure. In addition the high temperature calorimetric data can be used in combination with solution calorimetric data at lower temperatures to evaluate the temperature-dependent stability of these melt species. These studies are independent of and complementary to spectroscopic determinations and provide a description of the temperature-dependence of melt structure at one atmosphere. Recent studies have focused on the solution of La2O3 and TiO2 in model silicate melts to assess the role of melt structure in the complexing of these components. The next obvious step is to extrapolate to high pressure. One possible approach is to combine one atmosphere data with existing melting relationships to determine the optimized melt compositions for a model natural systems. The next step is to then assess the stability of melt species from the partial molar properties and the partitioning of the elements between coexisting melts and mineral phases at pressures and temperatures of interest.
The effects of different instructor facilitation approaches on students' interactions during asynchronous online discussions

This study compared the impact of three different facilitation approaches on elementary teacher candidates' interactions in an asynchronous discussion board as well as their satisfaction with an online educational technology course. These participants were enrolled in three different sections of the same online course. In the first section (Group 1), the instructor responded to each student's initial message regarding the discussion question and then required students to respond to at least two of their classmates' postings. In the second section (Group 2), the instructor responded to each student's initial message to the discussion question, but did not require students to respond to other classmates' postings. Instead, it was the student's voluntary choice. In the third group (Group 3), the instructor did not respond to each student's initial message on the discussion question, but required students to respond to at least two classmates' postings. Data were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively, by using ANOVA, social networking analysis (SNA) and content analysis. The results indicated that in Group 2, voluntary interactions among students rarely occurred, resulting in the instructor primarily providing feedback to the students, with a low number of cues for social presence. In comparing Groups 1 and 3, when students were required to respond to one another, too much instructor intervention did not lead to more interactions among the students. Rather, when the instructor's intervention was minimal, students tended to more freely express their thoughts and opinions, with a large number of cues for social presence. However, more interactions among students, occurring in a required setting, may not have correlated with student satisfaction with the online course ratings and the instructors' ratings.
Integrated Photonic Magic-T (with Twice the Magic)

We propose a photonic 4-port that doubly guarantees 50:50 signal splitting from either input port: by symmetry, analogously to the microwave “magic T”, and by adiabaticity. Applications include coherent receivers, dual-output modulators and polarization diversity.
Peak separation and sorting by coherent 2D resonance Raman spectroscopy.

The ability to separate and sort peaks is explored using a new coherent two-dimensional form of resonance Raman spectroscopy. This experimental technique distributes normally congested rotational−vibrational peaks along a series of curved lines according to vibrational sequence, rotational quantum number, and selection rule. Each line consists of rotational−vibrational peaks that have the same vibrational sequence and the same value for ΔJ, distributed in order by rotational quantum number. For diatomic molecules, these lines originate from points where they initially travel in opposite or orthogonal directions in two-dimensional space, which helps facilitate the separation between lines. Simulations and experimental results on C2 in a flame confirm the ability to separate and sort these normally congested rotational−vibrational peaks. This method appears to provide a solution to the long-standing problems of spectral congestion and disorder in gas-phase electronic spectra.
Murders, he wrote: a note on declining deadly violence

In an article in this Journal, Edwin Mills (J Bioecon 11:296, 2009) raises to future researchers the following question: ‘[W]hy has natural selection not produced a gradual trend toward a reduction in deadly violence?’ This question has two components: (1) Has deadly violence declined? And (2) What role has been played by natural selection? This note highlights evidence bearing upon the first of these questions and offers perspectives on the second.
Sleep receives Walter H. Bucher medal

Norman H. Sleep was awarded the Walter H. Bucher Medal at the AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony which was held on December 8, 1998, in San Francisco, California. The medal recognizes original contributions to the basic knowledge of the Earth's crust.
Optimal sequences for CDMA with decision-feedback receivers

We consider a symbol-synchronous code-division multiple-access (CDMA) system that is equipped with a multiuser decision-feedback receiver and for which power control is available. The users are each assigned a quality-of-service (QoS) threshold to be guaranteed by the system, and to cover scenarios for which there are multiple classes of users, these are not required to be equal to each other. For an ideal decision-feedback receiver, it is known that with enough power the system can always meet the users' QoS thresholds, so we instead minimize the sum of the users' received powers over system designs (i.e., signature sequences, power-control policy, and decision-feedback receiver) which guarantee the QoS requirements. It is found that the optimal design produces two classes of users, those whose sequences and powers satisfy with equality the generalized Welch bound inequality and those oversized users that are mutually orthogonal to each other and the rest of the users. In terms of power and bandwidth savings, the optimal sequences for the decision-feedback receiver are found to compare very favorably to optimal designs for linear receivers and to random sequences for the decision-feedback receiver.
The Value of Mentoring

Mentoring involves the use of an experienced individual to teach and train someone with less knowledge in a given area. Through individualized attention the mentor/teacher transfers needed information, feedback, and encouragement to the protege/learner. The success of such a program depends heavily on the investment of effort by the mentor. Although benefits for the protege are typically easily discerned and have been well documented in the past, the factors affecting motivation for the mentor have been less well defined. Therefore, after a discussion of the basic mentoring process and a summary of the protege and organizational benefits, the major focus of our paper is directed to the extrinsic and intrinsic rewards attained by those who participate as mentors and to the establishment of guidelines that help to maximize the value for all involved.
The 4d, 5s, and 5p Orbitals of Rhodium

Abstract The 4d, 5s, and 5p orbitals of rhodium have been studied by semiempirical molecular orbital calculations for a Rh2 molecule. Overlap populations, overlap energy, and orbital energies were computed as functions of the orbital exponents of Slater type atomic orbitals. This study was prompted by extremely unsatisfactory results obtained attempting to predict electronic spectra, structure, and bonding in a number of rhodium complexes using analytic atomic orbitals deduced1 from accurate Hartree-Pock(HF) atomic calculations. “These reference calculations considered only the atomic configuration (4d)7(5s)2 for rhodium.
Kinetics of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Decay following Entry into Resting CD4+ T Cells

In untreated human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, most viral genomes in resting CD4 + T cells are not integrated into host chromosomes. This unintegrated virus provides an inducible latent reservoir because cellular activation permits integration, virus gene expression, and virus production. It remains controversial whether HIV-1 is stable in this preintegration state. Here, we monitored the fate of HIV-1 in resting CD4 + cells by using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter virus carrying an X4 envelope. After virus entry into resting CD4 + T cells, both rescuable virus gene expression, visualized with GFP, and rescuable virion production, assessed by p24 release, decayed with a half-life of 2 days. In these cells, reverse transcription goes to completion over 2 to 3 days, and 50% of the viruses that have entered undergo functional decay before reverse transcription is complete. We distinguished two distinct but closely related factors contributing to loss of rescuable virus. First, some host cells undergo virus-induced apoptosis upon viral entry, thereby reducing the amount of rescuable virus. Second, decay processes directly affecting the virus both before and after the completion of reverse transcription contribute to the loss of rescuable virus. The functional half-life of full-length, integration-competent reverse transcripts is only 1 day. We propose that rapid intracellular decay processes compete with early steps in viral replication in infected CD4 + T cells. Decay processes dominate in resting CD4 + T cells as a result of the slow kinetics of reverse transcription and blocks at subsequent steps. Therefore, the reservoir of unintegrated HIV-1 in recently infected resting CD4 + T cells is highly labile.
WNT4/β-Catenin Pathway Maintains Female Germ Cell Survival by Inhibiting Activin βB in the Mouse Fetal Ovary

Female germ cells are essential for organogenesis of the ovary; without them, ovarian follicles do not form and functional and structural characteristics of the ovary are lost. We and others showed previously that when either Wnt4 or β-catenin was inactivated in the fetal ovary, female germ cells underwent degeneration. In this study, we set out to understand whether these two factors belong to the same pathway and how they maintain female germ cell survival. We found that activation of β-catenin in somatic cells in the Wnt4 knockout ovary restored germ cell numbers, placing β-catenin downstream of WNT4. In the absence of Wnt4 or β-catenin, female germ cells entered meiosis properly; however, they underwent apoptosis afterwards. Activin βB (Inhbb), a subunit of activins, was upregulated in the Wnt4 and β-catenin knockout ovaries, suggesting that Inhbb could be the cause for the loss of female germ cells, which are positive for activin receptors. Indeed, removal of Inhbb in the Wnt4 knockout ovaries prevented female germ cells from undergoing degeneration. We conclude that WNT4 maintains female germ cell survival by inhibiting Inhbb expression via β-catenin in the somatic cells. Maintenance of female germ cells hinge upon a delicate balance between positive (WNT4 and β-catenin) and negative (activin βB) regulators derived from the somatic cells in the fetal ovary.
Coronary Artery Bypass Performed Without the Use of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Is Associated With Reduced Cerebral Microemboli and Improved Clinical Results

Study objectives: Strokes and neurocognitivedysfunction have been correlated with cerebral microemboli producedduring cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The purpose of this study was todetermine whether, and to what extent, off-pump coronary artery bypass(OPCAB) reduces the occurrence of cerebral microemboli compared withtraditional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with CPB and tocompare clinical results. Design and patients: Aretrospective review of 137 patients undergoing elective CABG wasperformed, 70 of whom underwent traditional CABG and 67 of whomunderwent OPCAB. Using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, 40patients (20 CABG, 20 OPCAB) were continuously monitoredintraoperatively for the occurrence and pattern of cerebralmicroemboli. Setting: Private, university-affiliatedtertiary care hospitals. Results: There was nostatistical difference in the age, sex, or underlying comorbiditiesbetween those patients undergoing CABG and OPCAB. CABG patients didhave a slightly lower preoperative ejection fraction (50.9% vs 55.5%,p = 0.03). Despite these similar preoperative characteristics, the, OPCAB group experienced significant reductions in cerebral microemboli(27 vs 1,766, p = 0.003), transfusion requirements (29.9% vs 47.1%,p = 0.04), intubation time (3.3 vs 9.5 h, p Conclusions: In similar patient populations, OPCAB wasassociated with significantly fewer cerebral microemboli and improvedclinical results without an increase in mortality. We believe thatthese early results support OPCAB as a viable and potentially saferalternative to traditional CABG.
Hg Emission from Dental Amalgam as Related to the Amount of Sn in the Ag-Hg (γ1) Phase

Previous studies have shown that: (1) different dental amalgams emit different amounts of Hg vapor after surface films have been removed by abrasion (Boyer, 1988); (2) Sn oxide may be the predominant factor in these surface films that inhibit Hg vapor loss (Okabe et al., 1989); and (3) Sn in the Ag-Hg (gamma 1) phase may influence the vapor pressure of gamma 1 (Reynolds, 1974). The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between Hg vapor emission and the Sn content of the Ag-Hg (gamma 1) phase in dental amalgam. Eleven commercial amalgams were selected whose gamma 1 phases contain different amounts of Sn. Amalgam specimens were ground on 600-grit carborundum paper and immediately placed into an apparatus designed around a gold film Hg vapor detector. Hg vapor loss in air over a 30-minute period was determined, and the log10 Hg loss/volume fraction gamma 1 was plotted vs. the Sn content of the gamma 1 phase for the 11 test amalgams. A linear regression of these data, showing that of the higher the Sn content in gamma 1, the lower the Hg vapor loss, produced a highly significant R2 = 0.94 (p < 0.001). To examine for differences in vapor pressure among alloys, we eliminated the oxidation effect by conducting these same tests in an argon atmosphere. Although the Hg loss was significantly greater in argon than in air, the same differences among alloys were observed. Thus, from the standpoint of both vapor pressure and oxidation, the amount of Sn in the gamma 1 phase of dental amalgam has a significant and specific influence on the potential for Hg vapor emission.
Accuracy and quality of massively parallel DNA pyrosequencing

Massively parallel pyrosequencing systems have increased the efficiency of DNA sequencing, although the published per-base accuracy of a Roche GS20 is only 96%. In genome projects, highly redundant consensus assemblies can compensate for sequencing errors. In contrast, studies of microbial diversity that catalogue differences between PCR amplicons of ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) or other conserved gene families cannot take advantage of consensus assemblies to detect and minimize incorrect base calls. We performed an empirical study of the per-base error rate for the Roche GS20 system using sequences of the V6 hypervariable region from cloned microbial ribosomal DNA (tag sequencing). We calculated a 99.5% accuracy rate in unassembled sequences, and identified several factors that can be used to remove a small percentage of low-quality reads, improving the accuracy to 99.75% or better. By using objective criteria to eliminate low quality data, the quality of individual GS20 sequence reads in molecular ecological applications can surpass the accuracy of traditional capillary methods.
Using a positivist case research methodology to test a theory about IT-enabled business process redesign

We derive a process theory, the “technology-oriented theory of business process redesign,” from the business process reengineering (BPR) literature and test it in a positivist case study of a corporation that implemented BPR. Our evidence refutes the theory. The future direction we suggest for researchers and practitioners is to adopt, from the beginning, an orientation that is not technocentric or overly technological, but gives equal consideration to social dimensions and the interactions between the social and the technological.
Evidence that Catecholaminergic and Peptidergic (Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone) Neurons in Suprachiasmatic-Medial Preoptic, Medial Basal Hypothalamus and Median Eminence Are Involved in Estrogen-Negative Feedback*

A time-course study was performed to correlate serum gonadotropin changes after ovariectomy (OVX) or OVX plus acute estradiol (E2) treatment with LHRH content and norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) content and turnover in the suprachiasmatic-medial preoptic region (SCH-PO), the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH), and the the median eminence (ME). Rats on diestrous day 1 (D1) were sham operated to serve as controls or were ovariectomized and killed 1, 3, 10, 30, or 60 days after OVX. Catecholamines (CA) were measured by a radioenzymatic isotopic assay. LHRH, LH, and FSH were measured by RIA. CA turnover estimates were obtained after blocking CA synthesis with α-methyl-p-tyrosine. Twenty-four hours after OVX, serum FSH rose 3-fold while LH remained unchanged. An abrupt rise in the LHRH content of the ME and MBH (P < 0.05) was found, while the LHRH content of the SCH-PO was unaltered. The content of DA in the ME and MBH showed a significant rise at 24 h. A significant increase in DA turnover in the ME was al...
The Metalloprotease of Listeria monocytogenes Controls Cell Wall Translocation of the Broad-Range Phospholipase C

Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive bacterial pathogen that multiplies in the cytosol of host cells and spreads directly from cell to cell. During cell-to-cell spread, bacteria become temporarily confined to secondary vacuoles. The broad-range phospholipase C (PC-PLC) of L. monocytogenes contributes to bacterial escape from secondary vacuoles. PC-PLC requires cleavage of an N-terminal propeptide for activation, and Mpl, a metalloprotease of Listeria, is involved in the proteolytic activation of PC-PLC. Previously, we showed that cell wall translocation of PC-PLC is inefficient, resulting in accumulation of PC-PLC at the membrane-cell wall interface. In infected cells, rapid cell wall translocation of PC-PLC is triggered by a decrease in pH and correlates with cleavage of the propeptide in an Mpl-dependent manner. To address the role of the propeptide and of Mpl in cell wall translocation of PC-PLC, we generated a cleavage site mutant and a propeptide deletion mutant. The intracellular behavior of these mutants was assessed in pulse-chase experiments. We observed efficient translocation of the proform of the PC-PLC cleavage site mutant in a manner that was pH sensitive and Mpl dependent. However, the propeptide deletion mutant was efficiently translocated into host cells independent of Mpl and pH. Overall, these results suggest that Mpl regulates PC-PLC translocation across the bacterial cell wall in a manner that is dependent on the presence of the propeptide but independent of propeptide cleavage. In addition, similarly to Mpl-mediated cleavage of PC-PLC propeptide, Mpl-mediated translocation of PC-PLC across the bacterial cell wall is pH sensitive.
Weekend business school degrees: Levelling the playing field?

Using a sample of 6001 students in the traditional Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programme and 228 students in the weekend BBA programme, this study considers whether undergraduate students who participate in a weekend bachelor degree programme at an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)-accredited business school perform as well as students who attend the traditional programme at the same university as measured by their final Grade Point Averages (GPAs). The results of this study demonstrate that some demographic factors that are correlated with the level of overall academic performance in the weekend programme significantly differ from the demographic factors that are correlated with students' performances in the traditional programme. Although the mean performances of students in the traditional and weekend programmes differ only slightly (2.95 GPA and 3.00 GPA, respectively), gender and age were a factor only in the traditional programme as females and older student...
Behavior of Random Hole Optical Fibers under Gamma Ray Irradiation and Its Potential Use in Radiation Sensing Applications

Effects of radiation on sensing and data transmission components are of great interest in many applications including homeland security, nuclear power generation, and military. A new type of microstructured optical fiber (MOF) called the random hole optical fiber (RHOF) has been recently developed. The RHOFs can be made in many different forms by varying the core size and the size and extent of porosity in the cladding region. The fibers used in this study possessed an outer diameter of 110 μm and a core of approximately 20 μm. The fiber structure contains thousands of air holes surrounding the core with sizes ranging from less than 100 nm to a few μm. We present the first study of the behavior of RHOF under gamma irradiation. We also propose, for the first time to our knowledge, an ionizing radiation sensor system based on scintillation light from a scintillator phosphor embedded within a holey optical fiber structure. The RHOF radiation response was compared to normal single mode and multimode commercial fibers (germanium doped core, pure silica cladding) and to those of radiation resistant fibers (pure silica core with fluorine doped cladding fibers). The comparison was done by measuring radiation-induced absorption (RIA) in all fiber samples at the 1550 nm wavelength window (1545 ± 25 nm). The study was carried out under a high-intensity gamma ray field from a 60Co source (with an exposure rate of 4×104 rad/hr) at an Oak Ridge National Laboratory gamma ray irradiation facility. Linear behavior, at dose values < 106 rad, was observed in all fiber samples except in the pure silica core fluorine doped cladding fiber which showed RIA saturation at 0.01 dB. RHOF samples demonstrated low RIA (0.02 and 0.005 dB) compared to standard germanium doped core pure silica cladding (SMF and MMF) fibers. Results also showed the possibility of post-fabrication treatment to improve the radiation resistance of the RHOF fibers.
Spectral quality of ALS U5.0 undulator and field error effects

The first insertion device of the Advanced Light Source (ALS), a U5.0 undulator, has been carefully adjusted and qualified with a specially designed magnetic measurement system. The magnetic field of the undulator has been fully mapped at a series of gaps with very high accuracy. Based upon these measured field data, we evaluate the radiation spectral quality of this device in terms of an ideal sinusoidal device and examine the field error effects. Moreover, the statistical correlation between the field errors and radiation degradation is examined by using the large quantity of magnetic field data sets accumulated in the process of adjusting and qualifying the U5.0 undulator. >
Rapid FTIR method for quantification of styrene‐butadiene type copolymers in bitumen

The mid-IR molar absorptivity for polystyrene (PS) and polybutadiene (PB) blocks were obtained for five styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) and SB copolymers, including linear, branched, and star copolymers, and their blends with bitumen. The average absorptivity for PS and PB blocks was 277 and 69 L mol−1 cm−1 and it was little affected by the S/B ratio or the copolymer architecture. In the presence of bitumen, Beer's law was obeyed but the respective PS and PB absorptivity was 242 and 68 L mol−1 cm−1, possibly because of weak interactions between the copolymer and bitumen. The absorptivity values were used to calculate the concentration of SB-type copolymers in blends with bitumen with an accuracy of 10% or better. The method can be used to probe the stability of bitumen–copolymer blends in storage at 165°C, to determine the copolymer concentration in commercial polymer modified bitumen (PMB), and to assess the resistance of PMB to weathering. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 1034–1041, 2001
Hybrid technique for enhanced optical ranging in turbid water environments

A hybrid approach is described that enhances the performance of an underwater optical ranging system. This approach uses high-frequency modulation and a spatial delay line filter to suppress unwanted backscatter. A dual frequency approach is also implemented to reduce the effects of forward scatter and remove the ambiguity associated with using the phase of the single, high-frequency modulation envelope to measure range. Controlled laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the hybrid technique to reject multiple scattered light and improve range precision. The experimental results were compared with data generated from a theoretical model developed to predict the performance of the technique as a function of system and environmental variables. Model and experimental results are shown that reveal the ability of the approach to provide accurate ranging to an underwater object in a variety of water environments. Model predictions also indicate that advancements in transmitter and receiver technology will extend the range and improve the accuracy of the technique beyond what has been achieved thus far.
Effect of therapy with latamoxef (moxalactam) on carriage of Clostridium difficile

Twenty-seven patients receiving latamoxef (moxalactam) as a single antimicrobial agent were studied prospectively for Clostridium difficile carriage and development of diarrhoea or colitis. Stools were available prior to therapy from only seven patients, one of whom (14.3%) was an asymptomatic carrier. None of twelve patients studied during therapy were carriers. Seven of 27 patients (25.9%) were colonized with Cl. difficile after completion of latamoxef therapy, and three patients had cytotoxin positive stools. Two patients with cytotoxin grew Cl difficile from stools and one patient was culture negative. Only one patient, who had both culture and cytotoxin positive stools, had profuse diarrhoea. Cl. difficile clinical isolates were only moderately susceptible to latamoxef in vitro. Hamsters given moxalactam developed caecitis. Patients receiving latamoxef, or third generation cephalosporins, may be at increased risk of development of Cl. difficile associated diarrhoea and should be followed closely for this complication, especially after therapy has been discontinued.
Strengthening Higher Education Through Gridiron Success? Public Perceptions of the Impact of National Football Championships on Academic Quality*

Objectives. This article examines the extent to which the public connects athletic success with academic quality, whether these connections are stronger during a year in which a state university wins a national championship, the type of respondents most likely to make such connections, and whether these connections make a difference in terms of public evaluations and support for higher education. Embedded within the 2004 survey instrument, we also consider whether respondents primed with specific question wording identifying the national championship are more likely to make the connection than respondents given more generic language referring to success in college athletics. Methods. Data for the study are based on two statewide, randomly selected samples of Louisiana voting-age residents, with the first survey conducted in February 2004 in the wake of LSU's BCS National Championship and the second survey conducted in January 2005 in the wake of a 9–3 season. Results. We find that a substantial proportion of the population believes that athletic success and academic quality are connected, that less-educated respondents are more likely to make such connections, and that these connections affect evaluations of colleges and universities. Conclusions. Athletic success may or may not directly affect academic quality, but the public largely believes such a link exists and those beliefs have important implications for higher education.
Efficient recursive query processing using wavefront methods

In this paper, we study the optimization of linear recursive queries using wavefront methods. The following results are obtained.(i) In spite of seemingly reasonable approach of the wavefront methods, certain linear recursive queries are not processed efficiently or correctly.(ii) A characterization of the expressions generated by linear recursive rules is given. Properties of the expressions will be useful for efficient processing of linear recursive queries.(iii) Conditions for efficient processing of linear recursive rules using wavefront methods with the properties given in (ii) are provided.
Polyphenols and Public Health

The general term polyphenols encompasses many chemicals with the same general structure. Polyphenols are complex antioxidants with increasing public health significance, particularly in the areas of nutrition, epidemiology, and primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Consumption of foods containing polyphenolic compounds is common, as the chemical is in many recommended foods. Dietary supplements containing polyphenols are also currently marketed in the United States, though there are at present no governmental dietary recommendations for polyphenols. Increasing epidemiologic research will further the application of polyphenols in public health by providing evidence for dietary recommendations as well as the promotion of consumption to prevent current challenging diseases such as diabetes and various cancers.
Configuration and Performance of a Television X-Ray Detector System for Imaging and Diffraction Applications

Publisher Summary A computer-controlled, intensified SIT television detector system has been developed for a wide range of applications for X-ray, visible light and UV, and particle detection. In particular, this system has been used for X-ray diffraction, imaging applications, electron microscopy, and observational astronomy studies are being initiated. The basic system consists of (1) an image intensification section, (2) a SIT vidicon tube (or other vidicon tube or CCD array), (3) timing and scan control electronics, (4) signal processing electronics, and (5) a large capacity, high-speed memory system. X-rays and particles are detected using a phosphor or scintillator convertor deposited on a fiber-optic faceplate coupled to the fiber optic input of the image intensifier. Each incident X-ray or particle generates a burst of approximately 25 to 50 photons in the 450 to 600-nm range for each kilovolt of photon or particle energy. These events are subsequently detected above the thermionic photoelectron background from the photocathode of the image intensifier.
Selective Amplification of the Genome Surrounding Key Placental Genes in Trophoblast Giant Cells

While most cells maintain a diploid state, polyploid cells exist in many organisms and are particularly prevalent within the mammalian placenta [1], where they can generate more than 900 copies of the genome [2]. Polyploidy is thought to be an efficient method of increasing the content of the genome by avoiding the costly and slow process of cytokinesis [1, 3, 4]. Polyploidy can also affect gene regulation by amplifying a subset of genomic regions required for specific cellular function [1, 3, 4]. This mechanism is found in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, where polyploid ovarian follicle cells amplify genomic regions containing chorion genes, which facilitate secretion of eggshell proteins [5]. Here, we report that genomic amplification also occurs in mammals at selective regions of the genome in parietal trophoblast giant cells (p-TGCs) of the mouse placenta. Using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) of mouse p-TGCs, we identified five amplified regions, each containing a gene family known to be involved in mammalian placentation: the prolactins (two clusters), serpins, cathepsins, and the natural killer (NK)/C-type lectin (CLEC) complex [6-12]. We report here the first description of amplification at selective genomic regions in mammals and present evidence that this is an important mode of genome regulation in placental TGCs.
The inspired maverick: Dirty Harry lives on the edge

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe three threshold experience cases where individuals avoid and disobey hierarchy and rules in order to satisfy their own values and aspirations. Design/methodology/approach – Observations of the author as a participant observer, employee, and academic researcher are reported and analyzed. Findings – In each of the three cases, the formal hierarchy was reversed or temporarily dissolved, continuity of tradition was uncertain and outcomes were thrown into doubt. These were liminal situations which involved uncertainty, ambiguity, doubts, and fear as a result of the suspending of organizational structure. The circumstances in which disobedience is most likely to occur are: lack of transparency; conflict between point of view of leaders and individual perception; demands that seem to be unreasonable; individual role in conflict with authoritative expectations. Originality/value – Organizational hierarchy and mandates are designed to produce achievement of manage...