cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Playing to the technical audience: evaluating the impact of arts‐based training for engineers

Purpose – Aims to assess the effectiveness of arts‐based learning for technical trainees.Design/methodology/approach – Considers the CONNECT Program in the Engineering School of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. The Program has been running since 1997.Findings – Communicating with an audience is essentially a social skill, behavioral in basis, a fact that becomes all too apparent when one's audience has a divergent set of expectations. Failing to meet an audience's expectations opens up what is called an “audience gap.”Originality/value – Of value to anyone, particularly technical personnel and trainers, interested in closing the audience gap and learning how to communicate effectively with those with a less technical background, be they internal or external customers.
A new SVPWM modulated input switched multilevel converter for grid-connected PV energy generation systems

This paper proposes a new space vector pulsewidth modulation (SVPWM) strategy for a hybrid input switched multilevel converter for photovoltaic energy generation systems. The converter topology is a cascaded connection of input switched and H-bridge converters, which can provide 2N + 1 voltage levels for each phase. The proposed SVPWM strategy treats the multilevel converter as a two-level converter by introducing an offset vector. With a generated switching pattern, it is possible to obtain minimum number of switching-state transitions and switch the H-bridge close to line frequency; thus, the switching losses can be significantly reduced. The proposed SVPWM strategy has been realized on a seven-level converter to demonstrate the principle of operation. The advantages of the proposed scheme and architecture are verified by both simulation and experimental results.
Altered plasma membranes in experimental scrapie.

The status spongiosus in the cerebral cortex of mice affected with two different strains of scrapie virus corresponded to focally swollen perikaryal cytoplasm of nerve cells and astrocytes, to swollen neuronal and astrocytic processes and to membrane-bounded vacuoles within pre- and postsynaptic neuronal terminals. The swollen cytoplasm contained uniformly dispersed, finely granulo-filamentous material. A few enlarged dendrites were filled with fragments of membranes or 350 A wide vesicular and tubular structures suggestive of virus particles. Ruptured plasma membranes and curled fragments of membranes were seen around cleared cytoplasmic regions and within membrane-bounded vacuoles. Neurons or astrocytes that lined affected cells or processes frequently showed similar changes. Confluence of swollen cells or processes occurred after dissolution of their adjacent plasma membranes. Astrocytes reacted to the injury by proliferation whereas nerve cells degenerated. The findings are compared to those seen in other subacute spongiform virus encephalopathies, i. e., mink encephalopathy, Kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The characteristic vacuolar degeneration of nerve cells in these diseases which is associated with fragmentation and accumulation of plasma membranes is discussed with reference to the peculiar properties of the scrapie virus.
The isolation and identification of the two juvenile hormones from the Cecropia silk moth.

Abstract A five-step purification sequence which leads to a pure juvenile hormone preparation is described in detail. This preparation consists of two hormone molecules that were separated by micropreparative gas-liquid chromatography. The structures of the hormone molecules were identified by spectrometric microtechniques. The highresolution mass and infrared spectra of the hormones are presented and discussed. The main component of the preparation, methyl 12,14-dihomojuvenate (formula III), was found to be identical to the hormone molecule elucidated previously by the Wisconsin group. The less abundant compound, accounting for 13–20% of the juvenile hormone activity in Cecropia moths, was the new compound methyl 12-homojuvenate (formula II), which is a lower homolog of the above structure. Our earlier observation that both hormones exhibited about the same potent morphogenetic activity when assayed in Lepidoptera was confirmed; their effectiveness in other insect species is discussed. The two hormones induced ovarian development in species in which this process is under control of the corpora allata . No methyl juvenate (formula I) was present in the examined extracts, nor were there any trans -10 isomers of the hormones detected. The reactivity of the hormone molecules complicated their isolation in pure form. Some interfering reactions were recognized after the compounds had been isolated. Thus we were able to substantiate the presence of noxious contaminants in high-grade solvents and to prescribe procedures for purifying and testing the necessary solvents. Furthermore, the compounds were coverted under conditions of thermal metal catalysis in a manner that indicates the occurrence of a series of most interesting cyclization and rearrangement reactions. To avoid any such destructive conversion in our analytical and micropreparative gas-liquid chromatographic system, a metal-free sample injector and effluent splitter were constructed. It was also essential to neutralize the liquid phases before preparing the gas chromatographic supports. If the hormones were chromatographed on columns for which this precaution had not been taken, acid traces remaining in many ordinary commercial liquid phases transformed a fraction of the applied hormone to Compound A, and thus gave rise to ambiguous analyses of the unsaturated epoxides in our high-sensitivity system. The behavior of the hormones under alkaline and acidic conditions is discussed. The main product of III obtained by catalytic hydrogenation in the presence of a palladium catalyst deposited on calcium carbonate has been identified as methyl 7-ethyl-3,11-dimethyl-10-oxotridecanoate.
The Information Explosion: Continuing Implications for Reference Services to Adult Learners in Academia

Summary The reference environment is being transformed by constant changes in computer technologies and communications, as collections and information in general become increasingly accessible electronically. Academic library users now have access to seemingly unlimited information. The explosion of information choices has implications for reference services to all users, particularly adult learners —those students older than the typical undergraduate —who are becoming a large presence on university and college campuses. This paper will explore these implications, stress the need for information literacy, and challenge academic reference librarians to assert themselves in the information arena.
Information Selection based on Data Read from Multiple RFID Tags

As the ubiquitous society progresses, RFID tags are expected to spread widely. However, a tag still costs more than a barcode. To improve the cost-effectiveness of RFID tags, it is necessary to consider secondary uses for them. This paper focuses on a secondary use of applying RFID tags to a local area advertising system. It proposes an algorithm to determine what information is to be displayed on a series of display screens installed along a pedestrian path, based on information about the preferences of nearby pedestrians, collected from RFID tags which the pedestrians are carrying. The algorithm is characterized by the use of several information items to determine the information to be displayed. These include the degree to which the preferences read in front of one display are used to influence the information to be shown in other displays, the weights given to the preferences of the all the pedestrians concerned, and the "word-of-mouth" information available from Web pages via the Internet. It has been confilrmed that the proposed algorithm can successfully select display information according to the preferences of the pedestrians concerned.
Appendiceal hyperemia and/or distention is not always appendicitis: appendicitis mimicry in the pediatric population

Appendicitis is the most common surgical cause of acute abdominal pain in the pediatric population. Several conditions can mimic the clinical presentation of appendicitis, leaving imaging as an essential modality to uncover the etiology, yet under certain circumstances, it can be misleading. Here, we present three cases where findings on multidetector computerized tomography scans supported the diagnosis of appendicitis, yet an alternate cause was found. These cases highlight a particular pitfall of satisfaction of search.
Configuration interaction calculations of the controlled phase gate in double quantum dot qubits

We consider qubit coupling resulting from the capacitive coupling between two double quantum dot (DQD) singlet-triplet qubits. Calculations of the coupling when the two DQDs are detuned symmetrically or asymmetrically are performed using a full configuration interaction (CI). The full CI reveals behavior that is not observed by more commonly used approximations such as Heitler London or Hund Mulliken, particularly related to the operation of both DQDs in the (0,2) charge sector. We find that there are multiple points in detuning space where a two-qubit entangling gate can be realized, and that tradeoffs between coupling magnitude and sensitivity to fluctuations in detuning make a case for operating the gate in the (0,2) regime not commonly considered.
Motions in fluids caused by microgravitational acceleration and their modification by relative rotation

The primary reason for conducting many materials science experiments in space is to minimize or eliminate undesirable effects that might result because of convective motions in fluids which are driven by buoyancy effects. Of particular interest are the low-frequency accelerations caused by the earth's gravity gradient field, spacecraft attitude motions, and atmospheric drag, since it is known that these can give rise to sustained fluid motion. In order to gain a limited understanding of the effects of these accelerations their magnitude and orientation have been examined, and the Stokes' motion of a spherical particle in a fluid has been calculated for various types of spacecraft attitude motions. In addition, the effect of slowly rotating the experimental system relative to the spacecraft (in order to increase the residence time of the particle in the neighborhood of its initial position) is assessed.
Differential Effects of Aging and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 on Synapses in CA1 of Rat Hippocampus

Aging-related impairments of learning and memory can be ameliorated by 28 days of intracerebroventricular (icv) infusion of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in old rats. The present study investigated whether there is an aging-related synaptic decline in the stratum radiatum of hippocampal CA1 and whether IGF-1 can ameliorate that decline. Five young (4 months), five middle-aged (18 months) and five old (29 months) Fischer 3443Brown Norway rats received saline infusion; five old (29 months) rats received IGF1 infusion for 28 days preceding sacrifice. Pyramidal neurons, total synaptic profiles as well as synaptic profiles in multiple spine bouton (MSB) complexes in CA1 were quantified stereologically with the physical disector technique and the postsynaptic density (PSD) length was determined as well. The results indicated a decrease of total synapses between middle and old age but a maintenance of PSD length and MSB synapses throughout life. IGF-1 infusion in old rats did not reverse the aging-related decline in total synapses but did increase PSD length and the number of MSB synapses. These changes in synaptic configurations are morphological correlates of enhanced synaptic efficacy. Thus, aging and IGF-1 affect different, but complementary, aspects of synapses in hippocampal CA1.
The influence of spatial variations of diffusion length on charge collected by diffusion from ion tracks

Charge collected by diffusion from ion tracks in a semiconductor substrate may be influenced by the substrate diffusion length, which is related to recombination losses. A nonuniform spatial distribution of recombination centers results in a nonuniform diffusion length function. A theoretical analysis shows that, excluding some extreme cases, charge collection is insensitive to spatial variations in the diffusion length function, so it is possible to define an effective diffusion length having the property that collected charge can be approximated by assuming a uniform diffusion length equal to this effective value. Extreme cases that must be excluded are those in which a large number of recombination centers are confined to a narrow region near the substrate boundary.
Socialism as Classical Political Philosophy

A small puzzle: the terms ‘capitalism’ and ‘socialism’ initially present themselves as contraries, the one affirming what the other rejects. However, once removed from the dictionary, they function otherwise. The theory of capitalism is very much contained within the science of economics. The positive theory of capitalistic institutions, but also its normative superstructure, rest most easily within the language and methodology of the economist. What distinguishes the free market? It is efficient; allocation of factors of production are optimized; individuals maximize their utility; and so on. These are the terms with which justifications of capitalistic production typically begin – begin, and often end.
Synthetic Biology Design and Analysis: A Case Study of Frequency Entrained Biological Clock

Biological clock, a self sustaining oscillation widely discovered in many species, is important to determine many biological activities,for example, the sleep-wake cycle. Although the frequency entrainment of biological clock has long been observed, the exact biochemical mechanism for this property has not been proposed. Recent advances in synthetic biology have led researchers to engineer new or better biological systems that may or may not exist in nature. In this work, by adapting the ideas of an electronic circuit, phase lock loop, we design and analyze a genetic circuit that allows the frequency entrainment of its internal biological clock, which demonstrates that knowledge and experiences accumulated in other engineering fields are great sources for the further development of synthetic biology.
Incorporating Realistic Acoustic Propagation Models in Simulation of Underwater Acoustic Networks: A Statistical Approach

The development of protocols to advance the state of the art in underwater acoustic networks (UANs) relies on the use of computer simulations to analyze protocol performance. It is typical for designers to abstract away much of the detail of the physical environment in order to simplify the development of the simulation and ensure the simulation runtime performance is reasonable. The validity of the simulation results becomes questionable. There are, though, very high fidelity models developed by acoustic engineers and physicists for predicting acoustic propagation characteristics. In addition to these models, empirical data collections have been generated for many geographic regions of interest to UAN planners. However, incorporating these engineering and physics models or data collections into a network simulation is problematic, as the models are computationally complex and the data sets are not directly usable for acoustic signal propagation characterization. This paper presents a statistical method for developing a computationally efficient and simulation friendly approximation of a physics model of path loss. This method may also be used to adapt empirical data sets for use in network simulation in the same manner. The method was applied to the output of the Monterey-Miami Parabolic Equation model to assess its impact on the runtime performance of an OPNET-based simulation. Results of that simulation are compared to results from a previous OPNET simulation that simply used distance to determine reception. The simulation results confirm the incorporation of the MMPE approximation does not noticeably impact the runtime performance of the simulation. Anecdotally, the simulation confirms earlier results that suggest contention-based access controls without collision avoidance techniques may outperform the typical access technique adapted from wireless radio networks that employs collision avoidance, contrary to conventional wisdom
Complex role of microRNAs in HTLV-1 infections

Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) was the first human retrovirus to be discovered and is the causative agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and the neurodegenerative disease HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). The importance of microRNA (miRNA) in the replicative cycle of several other viruses, as well as in the progression of associated pathologies, has been well established in the past decade. Moreover, involvement of miRNA alteration in the HTLV-1 life cycle, and in the progression of its related oncogenic and neurodegenerative diseases, has recently come to light. Several HTLV-1 derived proteins alter transcription factor functionalities, interact with chromatin remodelers, or manipulate components of the RNA interference (RNAi) machinery, thereby establishing various routes by which miRNA expression can be up- or down-regulated in the host cell. Furthermore, the mechanism of action through which dysregulation of host miRNAs affects HTLV-1 infected cells can vary substantially and include mRNA silencing via the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), transcriptional gene silencing, inhibition of RNAi components, and chromatin remodeling. These miRNA-induced changes can lead to increased cell survival, invasiveness, proliferation, and differentiation, as well as allow for viral latency. While many recent studies have successfully implicated miRNAs in the life cycle and pathogenesis of HTLV-1 infections, there are still significant outstanding questions to be addressed. Here we will review recent discoveries elucidating HTLV-1 mediated manipulation of host cell miRNA profiles and examine the impact on pathogenesis, as well as explore future lines of inquiry that could increase understanding in this field of study.
DNA methylation controls the responsiveness of hepatoma cells to leukemia inhibitory factor

The related members of the interleukin 6 (IL-6) family of cytokines, IL-6, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and oncostatin M, act as major inflammatory mediators and induce the hepatic acute phase reaction. Normal parenchymal liver cells express the receptors for these cytokines, and these receptors activate, to a comparable level, the intracellular signaling through signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins and extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK). In contrast, hepatoma cell lines show attenuated responsiveness to some of these cytokines that is correlated with lower expression of the corresponding ligand-binding receptor subunits. This study tests the hypothesis that the reduced expression of LIF receptor (LIFR) observed in hepatoma cells is mediated by altered DNA methylation. H-35 rat hepatoma cells that have a greatly reduced LIF responsiveness were treated with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, an inhibitor of DNA methyltransferase. Surviving and proliferating cells showed reestablished expression of LIFR protein and function. Restriction landmark genomic scanning (RLGS) demonstrated genome-wide drug-induced alterations in DNA methylation status, with striking similarities in the demethylation pattern among independently derived clonal lines. Upon extended growth in the absence of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, the cells exhibit partial reversion to pretreatment patterns. Demethylation and remethylation of the CpG island within the LIFR promoter that is active in normal liver cells correlate with increased and decreased usage of this promoter in H-35 cells. In conclusion, these results indicate that transformed liver cells frequently undergo epigenetic alterations that suppress LIFR gene expression and modify the responsiveness to this IL-6 type cytokine.
Elective surgery days after myocardial infarction: clinical and ethical considerations.

Abstract We present an unusual case of verified myocardial infarction without surgery. Successful elective lumbar spine surgery was performed 4 days post–myocardial infarction during perioperative β -blockade, after cardiology evaluation recommended surgery without further evaluation. Clinical and ethical considerations are discussed.
Efficient Bottom-Up Image Segmentation Using Region Competition and the Mumford-Shah Model for Color and Textured Images

Curve evolution implementations [3][23] [25] of the Mumford-Shah functional [16] are of broad interest in image segmentation. These implementations, however, have initialization problems [6] [25]. A mathematical analysis of the initialization problem for the Chan-Vese implementation [3] [25] is provided in this paper. The initialization problem is a result of the non-convexity of the Mumford- Shah functional and the top-down hierarchy of the model?s use of global region information in the image. Based on the analysis, efficient implementation methods are proposed for the Chan-Vese models [3] [25]. The proposed methods do not have to solve PDEs and thus work fast. The advantages of level set methods, such as automatic handling of topological changes, are preserved. These methods work well for images without strong noise. Initialization problems, however, still exist. A bottom-up image segmentation method is proposed that alleviates the initialization problem, based on region competition and the Mumford Shah functional [16]. This algorithm extends the method in [15], and is able to automatically and efficiently segment objects in complicated images. Using a bottom-up hierarchy, the method avoids the initialization problem in the Chan-Vese model and works for images with multiple junctions and color images. It is then extended to textured images using Gabor filters and fractal methods. Experimental results show that the proposed method works well and is robust to the effects of noise.
Electrooptic imaging of surface electric fields in high-power photoconductive switches

A two-dimensional electrooptic probe was used to image the electric field in high-power photoconductive switches during switch operation. A LiTaO/sub 3/ crystal, covering the entire active area of the photoconductive switch, coupled the surface electric field with the polarization of an optical probe pulse. The optical probe was imaged onto a two-dimensional detector array, producing snapshots of the surface field with 200-ps time resolution and 3- mu m spatial resolution. The probe system was used to monitor the electric field in the electrode gap of high-voltage switches, the focus of investigation being the collapse of the electric field in a GaAs bulk switch as it was switched with a lambda =1.06 mu m optical pulse. The switching speed and generation of field enhancements were found to be dependent on the illumination configuration and the applied electric field, which varied from 0 to 15 kV/cm. Switching efficiency was found to decrease with increasing field. >
Modeling, simulation and measurement of the dynamic performance of an ohmic contact, electrostatically actuated RF MEMS switch

In this paper we present a 3D nonlinear dynamic model which describes the transient mechanical analysis of an ohmic contact RF MEMS switch, using finite element analysis in combination with the finite difference method. The model includes real switch geometry, electrostatic actuation, the two-dimensional non-uniform squeeze-film damping effect, the adherence force, and a nonlinear spring to model the interaction between the contact tip and the drain. The ambient gas in the package is assumed to act as an ideal and isothermal fluid which is modeled using the Reynolds squeeze-film equation which includes compressibility and slip flow. A nonlinear contact model has been used for modeling contact between the microswitch tip and the drain electrode during loading. The Johnson–Kendall–Roberts (JKR) contact model is utilized to calculate the adherence force during unloading. The developed model has been used to simulate the overall dynamic behavior of the MEMS switches including the switching speed, impact force and contact bounce as influenced by actuation voltage, damping, materials properties and geometry. Meanwhile, based on a simple undamped spring–mass system, a dual voltage-pulse actuation scheme, consisting of actuation voltage (Va), actuation time (ta), holding voltage (Vh) and turn-on time (ton), has been developed to improve the dynamic response of the microswitch. It is shown that the bouncing of the switch after initial contact can be eliminated and the impact force during contact can be minimized while maintaining a fast close time by using this open-loop control approach. It is also found that the dynamics of the switch are sensitive to the variations of the shape of the dual pulse scheme. This result suggests that this method may not be as effective as expected if the switch parameters such as threshold voltage, fundamental frequencies, etc. deviate too much from the design parameters. However, it is shown that the dynamic performance may be improved by increasing the damping force. The simulation results obtained from this dynamic model are confirmed by experimental measurement of the RF MEMS switches which were developed at the Northeastern University. It is anticipated that the simulation method can serve as a design tool for dynamic optimization of the microswitch. In addition, the approach of tailoring actuation voltage and the utilization of squeeze-film damping may provide further improvements in the operation of RF MEMS switches.
Bend and Twist Sensing in a Multiple-Core Optical Fiber

A method for estimating an optical fiber's shape from internal strain states is presented. Localized sensing of both bending and twisting requires a specialized multi- core fiber design, high-performance static strain sensing, and robust reconstruction algorithms.
VASSILIEV HOMOTOPY STRING LINK INVARIANTS

We investigate Vassiliev homotopy invariants of string links, and find that in this particular case, most of the questions left unanswered in [3] can be answered affirmatively, In particular, Vassiliev invariants classify string links up to homotopy, and all Vassiliev homotopy string link invariants come from marked surfaces as in [3], using the same construction that in the case of knots gives the HOMFLY and Kauffman polynomials. In addition, the Milnor μ invariants of string links are shown to be Vassiliev invariants, and it is re-proven, by elementary means, that Vassiliev invariants classify braids.
Representing layout information in the CMSD specification

Developing mechanisms for the efficient exchange of information between simulations and other manufacturing tools is a critical problem. For many areas of manufacturing, neither representations for the information nor mechanisms for exchanging the information have been agreed upon. Manufacturing plant layout is one such area. The Core Manufacturing Simulation Data (CMSD) specification is being developed to address some of these issues, through the definition of neutral representations for the "core" manufacturing entities that need to be exchanged between simulations and other applications, through the creation of a Unified Modeling Language information model that defines the relationships between the core manufacturing entities, and through the definition of eXtensible Modeling Language Schemas based on the information model to facilitate the exchange of information that adheres to the model. This paper describes an effort to extend the CMSD specification to cover the definition and exchange of layout information.
Contig Map of the Parkinson's Disease Region on 4q21-q23

We have constructed a yeast artificial chromosome contig (YAC) map of human chromosome 4q21q23 across the Parkinson's disease region by combining molecular and fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques. This map contains 55 YACs and 51 molecular markers, including 23 polymorphic markers. We have also isolated one PI and 33 bacterial artificial chromosomes located within this contig. Plasmid libraries were generated from 11 of these BAC and PI clones, and 614 random plasmid clones were sequenced for a total of about 200 kb. This contig allowed us to precisely determine the location of 18 transcripts within the D4S2460-D4S2986 interval, including the alpha-synuclein gene found to be mutated in some families with Parkinson's disease.
1: Year of the Monkey (from I Hotel)

So I'm Walter Cronkite dig? And it's February 27, 1968, and I'm saying, the U.S. is mired in a stalemate in Vietnam, and you are there.But whoa, let's back up twenty-nine days to the Lunar New Year. Now we know the Vietnamese call it Tet, but the Chinese own it: New Year, they call it. This year it's significant for Paul because on this night his dad grabs his heart like it's been antipersonnel- mined with a BLU-43, what you call dragontooth, like it was waiting there in one of those jungle paths, waiting for someone to put his toe on the de-toe-nator, and boom! There's firecrackers busting all up and down Grant Avenue, so Paul can't hear his dad cry out, but he's walking behind through a narrow in the crowded festivities and the spitting lights glittering overhead only to stumble across his dad, crumpling into a laundry heap on the sidewalk.
Chemical pressure effects on structural, magnetic, and transport properties of Mn 1 − x Co x V 2 O 4

We present the low-temperature XRD, susceptibility, specific heat, and resistivity results on single crystal Mn${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Co${}_{x}$V${}_{2}$O${}_{4}$. With increasing Co doping, the chemical pressure related to the decreasing V-V distance drives the system toward the itinerant electron limit, accompanied with the increase of the ferrimagnetic transition temperature and the suppression of the structural distortion. These effects are compared to pressure effects, and show that the V-V distance is the critical parameter controlling the properties of AV${}_{2}$O${}_{4}$.
Integrated Aeroelastic Shape Optimization of Flight Vehicles

As a demonstration of the new emerging multidisciplinary design optimization capability, this paper presents results of an ongoing research and development of a new tool for the preliminary design and optimization (PDOT) of launch and re-entry vehicles. The paper focuses on the optimal structural/aerodynamic shape design optimization of flexible generic flight vehicles. Sensitivity analysis with respect to structural and shape design variables is used to construct Taylor series constrain approximations. Approximation accuracy is investigated in order to guide move-limit setting for a Nonlinear Programming/Approximation Concepts strategy to systems optimization. The capability described here covers a wide range of flow regimes with matched structural/aerodynamic meshes that can be automatically generated and varied.
Plaque assay of measles virus on Erythrocebus patas monkey kidney monolayers.

SummaryMeasles virus produces tiny but distinct plaques with sharp boundaries, in bottle cultures prepared from kidneys of African red grass monkeys (Erythrocebus patas). As with other viruses, quantitative assays and neutralization tests with measles virus may now be carried out by the plaque technic.
Effects of osteoclastic resorption on bone surface ion composition

Osteoclasts are responsible for resorption of bone mineral. To determine how osteoclasts alter bone surface ion composition, neonatal mouse bone cells were isolated and cultured in the presence of ...
The Influence of Sexual Orientation and Gender on Perceptions of Successful Leadership Characteristics

Previous research has extensively studied the role of gender on leadership perceptions, but little research has examined the dual effect of both gender and sexual orientation on leadership perceptions. Due to research demonstrating that sexual orientation-based discrimination and stereotyping are common occurrences in workplace contexts (King and Cortina. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice 3(1):69–78, 2010), information about a person’s sexual orientation may impact how people are viewed as leaders. The current study extends the leadership literature by examining the degree to which successful leader characteristics align with stereotypes of gay male and lesbian leaders and heterosexual male and female leaders. 156 heterosexual participants used a modified version of the Descriptive Index attribute inventory to rate one of five target groups: successful leaders, heterosexual male leaders, heterosexual female leaders, gay male leaders, and lesbian leaders. The findings revealed that heterosexual male leaders were seen as more similar to successful leaders than lesbian and gay male leaders. Additionally, the results found that gay male and lesbian leaders were seen as more similar to their opposite-sex heterosexual counterparts than to their same-sex heterosexual counterparts. Finally, the results provide a descriptive profile of the leadership-related attributes that each target group is perceived to possess, demonstrating that leaders are evaluated differently on specific attributes depending on their gender and sexual orientation.
Consistently Inconsistent—Bone Marrow Mononuclear Stem Cell Therapy Following Acute Myocardial Infarction A Decade Later

A decade ago, 3 potentially groundbreaking trials were published that ushered in a new era of cardiovascular regenerative medicine.1–3 Using autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMCs) in patients with acute ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the trials were notable for their clear signal of safety, but discordant in their findings of benefit. Unfortunately, the 1-year results of the SWISS-AMI trial (Swiss Multicenter Intracoronary Stem Cells Study in Acute Myocardial Infarction)4 reported in this issue of Circulation Research again remind us about the inability of BMC therapy in patients with STEMI to demonstrate consistent benefit. Why are there such disparate results in trials using a similar cell product in a similar patient population? Article, see p 481 REPAIR-AMI (Reinfusion of Enriched Progenitor cells and Infarct Remodeling in Acute Myocardial Infarction),1 remains the largest (n=204) and landmark trial to demonstrate that BMCs improve left ventricular (LV) function in patients after STEMI. Patients were randomized to intracoronary delivery (using stop-flow technique) of BMC versus placebo 3 to 7 days after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). At 4 months, BMC-treated patients had a significant improvement in ejection fraction (EF) measured by left ventriculography at 4 months compared with placebo (5.5±7.3% versus 3.0±6.5%; P =0.01). In subgroup analyses, the improvement in LVEF was most significant in patients with a baseline LVEF below the median value of 48.9% and in patients treated ≥4 days post MI. At 1 year, there was a significant reduction in the prespecified combined clinical end point of death, recurrent MI, and any revascularization procedure (5.8% versus 1.9%; P =0.01). This trial generated excitement for the potential of cardiovascular stem cell therapy for AMI (as well as other cardiovascular diseases), but this excitement was tempered by the results of a second study, ASTAMI (Autologous Stem cell Transplantation in …
Improved efficiency of small area selectively oxidized VCSELs

We demonstrate increasing slope efficiency with decreasing aperture size for 850 nm selectively oxidized VCSELs (GaAs/AlGaAs) as small as 0.5/spl times/0.5 /spl mu/m. Thin apertures are positioned at a longitudinal field null within 3/4-/spl lambda/ thick high index layers.
Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte/Monocyte Ratio At Diagnosis and Survival in Nodular Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin's Lymphoma,

Abstract 3642 Purpose: The reactive pathologic background in nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) consists of lymphocytes and histocytes. Lymphopenia is a negative prognostic factor in NLPHL as it is also in Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL). In cHL, tumor-associated macrophages recruited from circulating monocytes are a negative prognostic factor for survival. Thus, we studied if the peripheral blood absolute lymphocyte count/absolute monocyte count ratio at diagnosis (ALC/AMC-DX), as a surrogate biomarker of the host response against the neoplastic lymphocytic and/or histiocytic (LH 20 (20%) patients with chemotherapy alone; and 18 (17%) patients with chemotherapy and radiation. The median follow-up period was 8.9 years (range: 0.3–31 years). An ALC/AMC-DX ≥ 2.1 was the best cut-off value for survival with an empirical AUC of 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78 to 0.88), a sensitivity of 70% (95% CI, 61% to 76%) and specificity of 84% (95%CI, 59% to 82%). The cut-off value for ALC/AMC-DX ≥ 2.1 was validated by the k-fold cross validation method, showing a cross validation ROC with an AUC of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.72 to 0.93) for an ALC/AMC-DX ≥ 2.1. Using Kaplan-Meier analysis, we studied overall survival (OS), lymphoma-specific survival (LSS), progression-free survival (PFS), and time to progression (TTP) based on ALC/AMC-DX ≥ 2.1. Patients with an ALC/AMC-DX ≥ 2.1 experienced an superior OS, LSS, PFS, and TTP compared with patients with an ALC/AMC-DX Conclusion: ALC/AMC-DX is an independent prognostic factor for survival and provides a single biomarker to predict clinical outcomes in NLPHL. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
The Role of Infection in Interstitial Lung Diseases: A Review

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) comprises an array of heterogeneous parenchymal lung diseases that are associated with a spectrum of pathologic, radiologic, and clinical manifestations. There are ILDs with known causes and those that are idiopathic, making treatment strategies challenging. Prognosis can vary according to the type of ILD, but many exhibit gradual progression with an unpredictable clinical course in individual patients, as seen in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and the phenomenon of "acute exacerbation"(AE). Given the often poor prognosis of these patients, the search for a reversible cause of respiratory worsening remains paramount. Infections have been theorized to play a role in ILDs, both in the pathogenesis of ILD and as potential triggers of AE. Research efforts thus far have shown the highest association with viral pathogens; however, fungal and bacterial organisms have also been implicated. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the role of infections in the setting of ILD.
Latin American Studies: Geography

Geographic research on Latin America has been active in Britain, the United States, France, and many Latin American countries. Topical areas of focus have included the spatial and social analysis of development and globalization, critical and Marxist analysis of dependency and political ecology, the study of nongovernmental organizations and indigenous movements, the study of cities, and the study of human–environment interactions at a variety of spatial scales. Historical geography—of both preHispanic and colonial landscapes and spatial patterns—has been active, and there is a growing interest in modern technological methods as well as perceptions and representations of place and space.
Sociometric Techniques with Young Children: A Review of Psychometrics and Classification Schemes.

The literature on sociometric assessment with preschool children is reviewed. The importance of early assessment is underscored by the predictive relationship between childhood social status and ad...
Fractographic Identification of Strength-Controlling Flaws and Microstructure

Previously the main approach to understanding the strength behavior of ceramics was through the study of its dependence on microstructure. More recently, the fracture mechanics approach, with great emphasis on fracture energy, has come to the fore. Both approaches are incomplete by themselves; they must be correlated with the character of actual failure origins. The major purpose of this paper is to present results of recent fracture origin determinations and utilize these to correlate and modify both approaches. This three-way correlation more extensively incorporates into fracture mechanics the important, if not dominating, effect micro- structure has on mechanical behavior. The large back-ground of strength-microstructure data is more effectively used and behavior is more clearly linked to processing. A sounder basis is laid for comparison of bodies made by different people, processes, etc., which is important to broader application of ceramics.
The Crisis at White Metals and Manufacturing, Inc.

The twelve holonomic processes in the theory of the organizational hologram lead to the six major and desired organizational characteristics. As described in the previous chapter, there is an inherent geometry to the relationships among the holonomic processes and the six major and desired organizational characteristics. The derivation of the twelve holonomic processes and the six major and desired organizational characteristics can be found in Chapters Twelve and Thirteen. A device for representing these interrelationships, called the Holonomic Cube, is the subject of Chapter Fourteen. The Holonomic Cube represents the holographic image of the organizational hologram.
Automobile Insurance and Driver Ability: Contract Choice as a Screening Mechanism

We analyze whether allowing the choice between full tort and limited tort coverage can serve as a screening mechanism in automobile insurance markets with asymmetric information. We show that limited tort policies create an externality on the market. Using a model of price competition where menus of contracts can be offered, and drivers choose their level of safety effort, we show that there can exist a separating equilibrium where low risks choose full tort contracts and high risks choose limited tort contracts. There also can exist pooling equilibria at the full tort or the limited tort contracts. We show that equilibria without limited tort policies and equilibria that include limited tort policies are mutually exclusive. We also show that, relative to an exclusively full tort system, a choice system is no worse and leads to a Pareto improvement if a separating or limited tort pooling equilibrium is obtained.
Carbon Dioxide Capture Using Amine Functionalized Hydrothermal Carbons from Technical Lignin

Amine scrubbing is the most optimized and widely researched post combustion carbon dioxide capture technology till date. However, amine scrubbing remains costly because of high energy inputs during the regeneration stage. Although less researched, “solid sorbents” such as zeolite, active carbon, carbon coke, metal–organic frameworks and mesoporous silica are currently under development for CO2 capture as potential alternatives to amine scrubbers. In this study, sorbents were synthesized from carbonaceous materials (CMs) obtained from hydrothermally treated (350 °C) lignin, a waste material from forest biorefineries. CMs were activated with potassium hydroxide (KOH) at 800 °C to improve their textural properties and finally functionalized with polyethyleneimine (PEI) to also improve its CO2 capture properties. This study evaluated synergistic effect of these two treatments on adsorption capacity of CO2. Activation increased surface area of CMs from 2.8 to 1341 m2 g−1. CO2 capacities of 2 mmol g−1 (L350 PEI 5%) and 1.53 mmol g−1 (L350) could be reached at 30 °C, due to improved textural and chemical properties of the samples. Optimal PEI loading was determined to be 5%, after which CO2 sorption decreased with further additions of PEI. This was ascribed to blockage of the micro-pores in the activated samples at high PEI impregnation. Also, activated samples showed faster adsorption kinetics compared to PEI functionalized activated samples. The feasibility of using waste lignin with improved surface area and surface functionalities as alternative materials for CO2 adsorption was demonstrated.
Priorities in the Neurotology Fellowship Match: A Survey Study of Program Directors and Fellows:

Objectives:To ascertain motivations and priorities for neurotology fellowship applicants and program directors during the match process.Methods:Anonymous online survey distributed to 20 fellowship ...
Gastrointestinal and Pelvic Tumors

Various malignancies of the abdomen and retroperitoneal areas have been observed to accumulate the radionuclide 67-Ga (18, 19, 20, 24, 29, 36, 54, 55, 56). Both primary and metastatic disease have been visualized and the agent has been useful in delineating both carcinomas and lymphomas. The 67-Ga scintiscan has been helpful in detecting unsuspected sites of neoplastic involvement and in delineating the extent of neoplastic spread within a given area. In patients with malignant lymphoma, the agent has been useful in defining the degree of lymph node involvement since it tends to be concentrated within disease-laden lymphatic tissue (51). Thus, it has become a valuable adjunct in ‘staging’ the degree of neoplastic spread in this type of malignancy (50).
New species of gnaphosid spiders (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) from the Western Ghats of India

ABSTRACTThree new species of the family Gnaphosidae are diagnosed and illustrated: Hitobia procula sp. nov. (only male), Synaphosus iunctus sp. nov. (only female) and Urozelotes patulusus sp. nov. (both male and female). The genera Hitobia and Synaphosus are recorded for the first time from India.www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B0090C55-5C3A-4D8A-A543-EFE945F09332
Social psychological approaches to consciousness

This chapter considers three distinct but related classes of evidence: behavioral studies, neuroimaging, and brain-damaged patient case studies. It discusses recent advances in the study of implicit perception, considering the ways in which they do and do not improve on earlier approaches. The chapter highlights claims for implicit perceptual or semantic processing of discrete stimuli, largely overlooking implicit skill learning, artificial grammar learning, or other forms of procedural knowledge that might well be acquired without awareness. It also considers recent arguments about how best to study implicit perception. Claims for and against implicit perception received extensive empirical attention starting in the late 1950s, with sentiment in the field vacillating between acceptance and skepticism. Finally, the chapter discusses how qualitative differences in the nature of perceptual processing may be of theoretical significance even without a clear demonstration that processing occurs entirely outside of awareness.
Three-Dimensional Photon Beam Calculations

In radiation treatment of cancer it is necessary to: (a) accurately define the extent of disease, (b) customize radiation treatment delivery of required dose to diseased tissues while minimizing dose to normal surrounding tissue, and (c) verify that the delivered dose is the amount planned. Attention to all these issues is essential to design a treatment regimen that controls the disease without causing serious complications to normal critical structures. In most clinical cases direct measurement of the dose delivered to the tumor and normal tissue is not possible.Thus the radiation oncologist depends on the calculated dose distribution to evaluate the appropriateness of a particular treatment plan. Clinical studies have documented that small changes of ±5% in the dose delivered can result in significant differences in complication-free local control of disease (ICRU Report 24,1976).