cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Academic English Program Evaluation of the Foundation Year at Saudi Petroleum Services Polytechnic College: Trainees and EFL Instructors’ Perceptions

The main reason of conducting this study is grounded on my rational to provide further guidance to curriculum staff in my professional context, College of Saudi Petroleum Services Polytechnic (SPSP), to develop the current English program taught to vocational trainees to prepare them to their future jobs at petroleum services industry in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, the graduates’ spoken language is inadequate at their worksites and therefore their employers are relatively dissatisfied with the language quality of their manpower. Accordingly, I have decided to explore the speaking skill aspects in the existing English curriculum to value its effectiveness in improving and helping the academic staff to produce fluent speakers of English at oil industry workplaces. Based on my study findings, I have found that it is relatively difficult to assign a language course book which meets all the needs of trainees at vocational training institutions because their working environment needs specific learning objectives for learning job-related language. In my research and professional experience, as a researcher in language curriculum development as well as being a language instructor at a vocational training college, I can conclude that the solution to solve language learning and its implication at workplace is to develop EAP/ESP language program based on specific instructional objectives driven from the actual needs assessment at the target workplaces and their intended learning outcomes could be aligned with both learning and teaching activities and assessment tasks using the constructive alignment principles as the constructive alignment framework could be effective in structuring and designing aligned curriculum to meet the intended goals of these contexts, especially vocational training centers and higher education institutions.
Lives Through Film: 49 UP and the UP Series as a Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Change

In this chapter we examine the UP series of documentary films, a longitudinal examination of the lives of 14 British individuals. The first film, 7 UP!, depicted participants at age 7 and was produced in 1963. The most recent, 49 UP, was produced in 2005. We consider the value and the limitations of the series as a study of personality development and describe the trajectories of the lives of three participants in some detail.
GPR80/99, proposed to be the P2Y15 receptor activated by adenosine and AMP, is not a P2Y receptor

The orphan receptor GPR80 (also called GPR99) was recently reported to be the P2Y15 receptor activated by AMP and adenosine and coupled to increases in cyclic AMP accumulation and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization (Inbe et al. J Biol Chem 2004; 279: 19790–9[12]). However, the cell line (HEK293) used to carry out those studies endogenously expresses A2A and A2B adenosine receptors as well as multiple P2Y receptors, which complicates the analysis of a potential P2Y receptor. To determine unambiguously whether GPR80 is a P2Y receptor subtype, HA-tagged GPR80 was either stably expressed in CHO cells or transiently expressed in COS-7 and HEK293 cells, and cell surface expression was verified by radioimmunoassay (RIA). COS-7 cells overexpressing GPR80 showed a consistent twofold increase in basal inositol phosphate accumulation. However, neither adenosine nor AMP was capable of promoting accumulation of either cyclic AMP or inositol phosphates in any of the three GPR80-expressing cells. A recent paper (He et al. Nature 2004; 429: 188–93 [15]) reported that GPR80 is a Gq-coupled receptor activated by the citric acid cycle intermediate, α-ketoglutarate. Consistent with this report, α-ketoglutarate promoted inositol phosphate accumulation in CHO and HEK293 cells expressing GPR80, and pretreatment of GPR80-expressing COS-7 cells with glutamate dehydrogenase, which converts α-ketoglutarate to glutamate, decreased basal levels of inositol phosphates. Taken together, these data demonstrate that GPR80 is not activated by adenosine, AMP or other nucleotides, but instead is activated by α-ketoglutarate. Therefore, GPR80 is not a new member of the P2Y receptor family.
Cyclotron autoresonance maser amplifier experiments at MIT

Two studies of cyclotron autoresonance maser (CARM) amplifiers are underway at MIT. They differ both in frequency and in the technologies used. The 35-GHz amplifier uses a 1.5 MeV, 260 A, 30 s electron beam from a field-emission (explosive) cathode energized by a Marx-type accelerator. The entire system is immersed in a uniform, pulsed magnetic field of 7 kG. Measurements give a small-signal gain of 90 dB/m, a saturated power output of 10 MW, and an electronic efficiency of 3%. The 140 GHz amplifier under development will use a 450-700 kV, 30 A, 1 mu s electron beam from a Pierce-type gun driven by a high-voltage, long-pulse modulator. The magnetic field ( approximately 25 kG) in the CARM interaction region will be produced by a superconducting magnet. Theoretical investigations of CARM efficiency, efficiency enhancement by magnetic tapering, and amplifier stability are also being carried out. >
Advances in Remote Sensing of Magnetic Fields

In sharp contrast to stellar magnetic fields, geomagnetic fields have never been remotely sensed. If geomagnetic fields could be measured remotely at the nanotesla (nT) level or better, our understanding of the processes that produce these fields would advance markedly. Unlike characteristics such as topography and temperature, measurements of the magnetic field are determined almost exclusively in situ. The inability to remotely sense these fields has hindered their utility. The Remote Atmospheric Magnetics Workshop highlighted advances in this frontier area, focusing on lab- and field-based studies.
Stress-drop heterogeneity within tectonically complex regions: a case study of San Gorgonio Pass, southern California

In general, seismic slip along faults reduces the average shear stress within earthquake source regions, but stress drops of specific earthquakes are observed to vary widely in size. To advance our understanding of variations in stress drop, we analysed source parameters of small-magnitude events in the greater San Gorgonio area, southern California. In San Gorgonio, the regional tectonics are controlled by a restraining bend of the San Andreas fault system, which results in distributed crustal deformation, and heterogeneous slip along numerous strike-slip and thrust faults. Stress drops were estimated by fitting a Brune-type spectral model to source spectra obtained by iteratively stacking the observed amplitude spectra. The estimates have large scatter among individual events but the median of event populations shows systematic, statistically significant variations. We identified several crustal and faulting parameters that may contribute to local variations in stress drop including the style of faulting, changes in average tectonic slip rates, mineralogical composition of the host rocks, as well as the hypocentral depths of seismic events. We observed anomalously high stress drops (>20 MPa) in a small region between the traces of the San Gorgonio and Mission Creek segments of the San Andreas fault. Furthermore, the estimated stress drops are higher below depths of ∼10 km and along the San Gorgonio fault segment, but are lower both to the north and south away from San Gorgonio Pass, showing an approximate negative correlation with geologic slip rates. Documenting controlling parameters of stress-drop heterogeneity is important to advance regional hazard assessment and our understanding of earthquake rupture processes.
Serum and amniotic fluid lactic dehydrogenase in pregnant women.

Abstract No significant differences were found when the serum and amniotic fluid total lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and LDH isoenzymes in women with newborn infants involved by Rh hemolytic disease were compared with women with uninvolved infants. During the twenty-fourth to thirty-second weeks of gestation, the serum LDH 1 level was higher and the serum LDH 3 level was lower than levels of the nonpregnant control subjects. Serum LDH 3 levels were lower than those of the nonpregnant control subjects during the thirty-third to forty-second weeks of pregnancy. It was noted that there was an increase in amniotic fluid LDH 5 with increasing gestational age.
Possible applications of neural networks in manufacturing

Summary form only given. An examination is made of the potential of neural networks and the impact of parallel processing in the design and operations of manufacturing systems. After an initial discussion on possible areas of application, an approach that integrates artificial intelligence, operations research, and neural networks for the solution of a scheduling problem is examined. >
Personality and daily experience revisited.

Abstract In this introduction to the Journal of Personality special issue devoted to “Advances in Personality and Daily Experience” we attempt to trace recent progress in the study of personality and daily life. We begin by comparing and contrasting the methods of daily experience research adopted by investigators who authored empirical articles in the 1991 and current special issues according to the mode, schedule, and sampling frame for data collection. We then compare data analytic strategies across the 14 years between the two special issues and conclude that although the nature of the questions addressed has not changed dramatically, newer analytic methods and associated software have enhanced our ability to answer these questions more precisely. Finally, we provide an overview of the special issue contributions organized around three broad themes: personal vulnerabilities and resources that predict reactions to everyday events, interpersonal manifestations of personality in daily experience, and how personality in daily life affects physical and mental health and relates to disease risk.
A technique utilizing a steerable hydrophilic guidewire for permanent pacemaker implantation.

We report the use of a steerable hydrophilic guidewire for permanent pacemaker implantation. This wire, previously used for peripheral vascular and cardiac angiography, is able to be steered and passed in many situations when a standard guidewire cannot be used. We report three cases where the standard F-tipped guidewire could not be passed fay either the cephalic or subclavian route and the hydrophilic guidewire allowed for successful atraumatic placement of a sheath and pacemaker lead.
Discussing the future of U.S. western mountains, climate change, and ecosystems

Mountain regions are uniquely sensitive to changes in climate, and are especially vulnerable to climate effects acting on many biotic systems and the physical settings. Because mountain regions serve as sources of needed natural resources (e.g., water, forests) and as foundations for desired human activities (e.g., tourism, places to live), changes in mountain systems cascade into issues of regional and national concern. Mountains also comprise highly sensitive systems that may act as “canaries in the coal mine” to provide early signals of significant climate-driven changes in many of our valued resources.
Quenching, nonquenching, and beyond quenching for solution of some parabolic equations

In this paper we examine the first initial boundary value problem for ut=uxx + e(1 − u)−β,ɛ > 0,β > 0,on (0, 1) × (0, ∞) from the point of view of dynamical systems. We construct the set of stationary solutions, determine those which are stable, those which are not and show that there are solutions with initial data arbitrarily close to unstable stationary solutions which quench (reach one in finite time). We also examine the related problem ut=uxx, 0 0;u(0,t)=0, e(1 − u(1, t))−β. The set of stationary solutions for this problem, and the dynamical behavior of solutions of the time dependent problem are somewhat different.
Approximation of k-set cover by semi-local optimization

In this thesis a powerful new approximation technique called semi-local optimization is introduced. It provides very natural heuristics that are distinctly more effective than those based on local optimization. With an appropriate metric, semi-local optimization can still be viewed as a local optimization, but it has the advantage of making global changes to an approximate solution in polynomial time. Semi-local optimization generalizes recent heuristics of Halldorsson for the 3-Set Cover problem, the Color Saving problem, and the k-Set Cover problem. Greatly improved performance ratios of 4/3 for the 3-Set Cover problem and 6/5 for the Color Saving problem in graphs without independent sets of size 4 are obtained and shown to be the best possible with semi-local optimization. Also, based on the result for the 3-Set Cover problem and a restricted greedy phase for big sets, the performance ratio, for the k-Set Cover problem is correspondingly improved to ${\cal H}\sb{k}-1/2$. This result is also tight with the semi-local optimization technique. For larger values of k, further improvement better than ${\cal H}\sb{k}-1/2$ are also possible when the greedy selection of big sets is replaced by a local optimization selection. In the Color Saving problem, when larger independent sets exist, an improvement of the performance ratio to ${240}\over{193}$ for general graphs can be obtained.
Pseudomonas cepacia in the hospitalsetting: Lack of transmission between cystic fibrosis patients

Possible mechanisms of transmission of Pseudomonas cepacia in hospitalized patients with cystic fibrosis were examined. Twelve patients were colonized with P. cepacia prior to admission (group 1), and 15 patients were not (group 2). Daily contact occurred between both groups. Sputum cultures were obtained from all patients at admission and discharge, and 3 and 6 months after discharge in group 2 patients. Environmental cultures included cough plates settle plates, spirometry tubing, stethoscopes, sinks, wall outlets, and hands of patients, physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists. Specimens were plated on a P. cepacia -selective medium. All group 1 patients remained colonized with P. cepacia at discharge. None of the group 2 patients acquired P. cepacia during hospitalization or follow-up P. cepacia was recovered from three of 151 environmental cultures; two of these were presumably patient related. P. cepacia contamination of pulmonary function equipment, wall outlets, hands, and stethoscopes was not documented. We conclude that transient aerosol environmental contamination is uncommon and restricted to the immediate patient environment.
Why do employers only reward extreme performance? Examining the relationships among performance, pay, and turnover.

Todd R. Zenger Washington University This study develops an efficiency explanation for commonly observed performance-based compensation contracts that aggressively reward extreme performance while largely disregarding performance distinctions for moderate performance levels. In response to this reward-the-extremes contract, the paper predicts a relationship between performance and turnover that fluctuates by performance level. Evidence of the hypothesized contract and the resulting pattern of turnover are provided empirically with data collected from 984 engineering employees of two large high-technology companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. The data confirm that extremely high and moderately low performers are likely to remain in firms offering these contracts while moderately high and extremely low performers are likely to depart."
Ontogeny of dominance in free-living spotted hyaenas: juvenile rank relations with other immature individuals

Abstract Abstract. This study documents the development of rank relations between free-living juvenile spotted hyaenas, Crocuta crocuta , and (1) members of the peer cohort, (2) older non-sibling juveniles, and (3) older siblings. All agonistic interactions observed among 67 juvenile members of one large spotted hyaena clan were recorded, both in natural contexts and following experimental presentation of food. Within peer groups, juveniles of both sexes initially exhibited aggression and appeasement without regard to their social partners' maternal ranks. This changed during ontogeny such that juveniles came to direct aggression only towards peers from lower-ranking matrilines, and only appeased peers from higher-ranking matrilines. By 6-8 months of age, intra-cohort ranks were highly correlated with maternal rank. The same age-related trends found in juveniles' interactions with peers were also observed in aggressive and appeasement interactions between younger and older juveniles, despite their differences in body size. However, juveniles directed a greater number of coalitionary attacks against older juveniles than against peers. Presence of mothers during their offspring's aggressive interactions strongly influenced interaction outcomes of juveniles less than 6 months of age. At approximately 8 months of age, juveniles rapidly outranked their older siblings, who had previously dominated them. Juveniles 12-36 months old could be ordered in a linear hierarchy in which ranks were transitive and isomorphic with maternal ranks. Ontogenetic trends in outcomes of rank-related interactions revealed no significant sex differences. Female dominance, characteristic of rank relations among adult hyaenas, was not expressed among juveniles in their natal clan.
Deficiency of complement factor MBL in a patient required cardiac surgery after an acute myocardial infarction with underlining chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Increasing evidence suggests that Mannan-binding lectin (MBL), the initial factor of the lectin pathway of complement, plays a role in cardiovascular diseases, i.e. inversely associated with risk of myocardial infarction (MI). In the present case, a patient with MBL deficiency underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) after an acute MI with underlining chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Post-operatively, the patient had a cerebral vascular accident and eventually expired. Analysis of his blood samples from pre-, intra-, and post-operative periods showed that MBL levels abruptly increased post-operatively. We hypothesize that the post-operative increase of MBL in the patient with pre-existing MBL deficiency may contribute to systemic inflammation, causing a detrimental effect after cardiac surgery.
Limited knowledge of fraction representations differentiates middle school students with mathematics learning disability (dyscalculia) versus low mathematics achievement.

Abstract Fractions pose significant challenges for many children, but for some children those challenges persist into high school. Here we administered a fractions magnitude comparison test to 122 children, from Grades 4 to 8, to test whether their knowledge of fractions typically learned early in the sequence of formal math instruction (e.g., fractions equivalent to one-half, fraction pairs with common denominators) differentiates those with mathematics learning disability (MLD) versus low achievement (LA) or typical achievement (TA) in mathematics and whether long-term learning trajectories of this knowledge also differentiate these groups. We confirmed that although fourth graders with TA ( n = 93) were more accurate in evaluating “one-half” fractions than in evaluating “non-half” fractions (until they reached ceiling performance levels on both types of fractions), children with MLD ( n = 11) did not show a one-half advantage until Grade 7 and did not reach ceiling performance even by Grade 8. Both the MLD and LA groups had early difficulties with fractions, but by Grade 5 the LA group approached performance levels of the TA group and deviated from the MLD group. All groups showed a visual model advantage over Arabic number representation of fractions, but this advantage was short-lived for the TA group (because ceiling level was achieved across formats), whereas it was slightly more persistent for the LA group and persisted through Grade 8 for children with MLD. Thus, difficulties with fractions persist through Grade 8 for many students, but the nature and trajectories of those difficulties vary across children with math difficulties (MLD or LA).
Perverse Desire: The Lure of the Mannish Lesbian

(1991). Perverse Desire: The Lure of the Mannish Lesbian. Australian Feminist Studies: Vol. 6, No. 13, pp. 15-26.
Studies on the mechanism of action of micrococcal nuclease. 1. Degradation of thymus deoxyribonucleic acid.

Abstract 1. 1. A procedure involving paper electrophoresis and paper chromatography has been adapted for use in the resolution of products resulting from the action of micrococcal nuclease on calf-thymus DNA. 2. 2. Using this procedure, 27 mono-, di-, and trinucleotides have been isolated from the enzymic digest and identified. 3. 3. With both native and heat denatured DNA, micrococcal nuclease has been found to hydrolyze preferentially those phosphodiester bonds whose cleavage results in the liberation of fragments terminating in deoxyadenylic or thymidylic acid residues bearing free 5′-hydroxyl groups. The possibility is considered that the specificity may be related to a lower order of structural organization resulting from sequences rich in deoxyadenylic acid and thymidylic acid residues which permits better access to the enzyme. 4. 4. Certain trinucleotides, particularly those rich in guanylic acid, accumulate near the end of the enzymic reaction. Their further hydrolysis has been found tobe slow compared with the initial hydrolysis of the entire DNA molecule. 5. 5. The specificity of micrococcal nuclease enables it to be of some, although limited, use in the determination of base sequences in DNA.
Melt-processable molecular composites via ion-dipole interactions: Poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) anion and poly(vinylpyridine)s

Abstract PPTA anion shows polyelectrolyte behaviour in solution and birefringence in film specimens, reflecting rigid conformation of backbone chains. The PPTA anion was blended with a flexible-coil polymer, poly(vinylpyridine) to make molecular composites. Optical clarity, polarizing optical microscopy, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis all indicate the formation of homogeneous molecular composites for the PPTA anion/poly(4-vinylpyridine) system having up to 2 wt% of PPTA anion. These molecular composites show no phase separation upon heating, indicating that they are melt-processable. Ion-dipole interactions formed between ionic groups of the PPTA anion and ionic dipoles of vinylpyridine groups are responsible for good miscibility. The change of the matrix polymer to poly(2-vinylpyridine) leads to some phase separation, as a result of decreased miscibility due to steric hindrance.
Influence of Ice Crystal Aspect Ratio on the Evolution of Ice Size Spectra during Vapor Depositional Growth

Abstract The relationship among aspect ratio, initial size, and the evolution of the size spectrum is explored for ice crystals growing by vapor deposition. Ice crystal evolution is modeled based on the growth of spheroids, and the ice size spectrum is predicted using a model that is Lagrangian in crystal size and aspect ratio. A dependence of crystal aspect ratio on initial size is discerned: more exaggerated shapes are shown to result when the initial crystals are small, whereas more isometric shapes are found to result from initially large crystals. This result is due to the nature of the vapor gradients in the vicinity of the crystal surface. The more rapid growth of the smaller crystals is shown to produce a period during which the size distribution narrows, followed by a broadening led by the initially smallest crystals. The degree of broadening is shown to depend strongly on the primary habit and hence temperature.
Acoustic sensor for monitoring adhesion of Neuro-2A cells in real-time

Neuronal adhesion plays a fundamental role in growth, migration, regeneration and plasticity of neurons. However, current methods for studying neuronal adhesion cannot monitor this phenomenon quantitatively in real-time. In this work, we demonstrate the use of an acoustic sensor to measure adhesion of neuro-blastoma cells (Neuro-2A) in real-time. An acoustic sensor consisting of a quartz crystal sandwiched between gold electrodes was placed in a flow cell and filled with 600 microl of phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Two sets of in vitro experiments were performed using sensors that had uncoated gold electrodes and sensors that were coated with a known neuronal adhesion promoter (poly-l-lysine or PLL). The instantaneous resonant frequency and the equivalent motional resistance of the acoustic sensor were monitored every second. Cell Tracker was used to confirm neuronal adhesion to the surface. Addition of 10 microl of media and Neuro-2A cells into the above set-up elicited exponential changes in the resonant frequency and motional resistance of the quartz crystal with time to reach steady state in the range of 2-11 h. The steady-state change in resonant frequency in response to addition of neurons was linearly related to the number of Neuro-2A cells added (R2=0.94). Acoustic sensors coated with the adhesion promoter, PLL showed a much higher change in resonant frequency for approximately the same number of neurons. We conclude that the acoustic sensor has sufficient sensitivity to monitor neuronal adhesion in real-time. This has potential applications in the study of mechanisms of neuron-substrate interactions and the effect of molecular modulators in the extra cellular matrix.
The phase structure of supersymmetric Sp(2N c ) gauge theories with an adjoint

We study the phase structure of = 1 supersymmetric Sp(2Nc) gauge theories with 2Nf fundamentals, an adjoint, and vanishing superpotential. Using a-maximization, we derive analytic expressions for the values of Nf below which the first several gauge-invariant operators in the chiral ring violate the unitarity bound and become free fields. In doing so we are able to explicitly check previous conjectures about the behavior of this theory made by Luty, Schmaltz, and Terning. We then compare this to an analysis of the first two 'deconfined' dual descriptions based on the gauge groups Sp(2Nf+2) × SO(2Nc+5) and Sp(2Nf+2) × SO(4Nf+4) × Sp(2Nc+2), finding precise agreement. In particular, we find no evidence for non-obvious accidental symmetries or the appearance of a mixed phase in which one of the dual gauge groups becomes free.
Differential effects of in vitro heating on rat sciatic nerve branches and spinal nerve roots.

Abstract Locally applied heat induces nerve conduction block. Conflicting observations have been made regarding the relation of fiber conduction velocity to heat sensitivity. This study utilized sciatic nerve branches and spinal nerve roots which were heated until a substantial conduction block occurred. The results indicated that sensory fibers conducting at >40 m/s are more heat-sensitive than motor fibers of the same conduction velocity.
Contribution of DNA polymerase δ to DNA replication in permeable CHO cells synchronized in S phase

Abstract To evaluate the relative contributions of DNA polymerase alpha and DNA polymerase delta in chromosome replication during the S phase of the cell cycle, we have used the permeable cell system for replication as a functional assay. We carried out the analysis of DNA polymerases both in quiescent cells stimulated to proliferate and progress through the cell cycle (monolayers) and in actively growing cells separated into progressive stages of the cell cycle by centrifugal elutriation (suspension cultures). DNA polymerase alpha was measured by using the inhibitor butylphenyl dGTP at low concentrations. Using several inhibitors such as aphidicolin, ddTTP and butylphenyl dGTP, we found that DNA polymerase alpha and delta activity were coordinately increased during S phase and declined at the end. However, DNA polymerase delta was performing about 80% of the total replication and DNA polymerase alpha performed only 20%. This high ratio of DNA polymerase delta to DNA polymerase alpha replication activity was maintained throughout S phase in two entirely different experimental approaches.
Perceived Contingency of Parental Reinforcements, Parent-Child Relations, and Locus of Control

To determine the relationships among perceived contingency of parental reinforcements, parent-child relations, and locus of control, 100 university students (53 females and 47 males) completed questionnaires. In general, subjects with an internal orientation perceived their parents as contingently punishing. This finding holds most clearly for males and fathers. No relationships between perceived contingency of parental rewards and locus of control were found. Also, little evidence of a relationship between perceived parent-child relations and locus of control was obtained. Parents perceived as contingently punishing were also perceived as loving while parents perceived as noncontingently punishing were seen as rejecting. Many other significant relationships between parent-child relations measures and perceived contingency of parental reinforcement measures were obtained. These relationships differed by sex and parent. The contingency and locus of control results were discussed in terms of Seligman, Maier...
A case study of organizational form and risk shifting in the savings and loan industry

Abstract I analyze the investment and funding strategies of two thrifts, one stock owned and one mutually owned, from 1983 to 1988. Despite their similarities prior to 1983, the stock thrift implemented a riskier financial strategy and did so only after converting to stock ownership. Although this strategy ultimately led to its failure, the stock thrift still made significant payouts to its controlling shareholders. This case study illustrates in stark terms the relation between organizational form and risk shifting in the thrift industry.
Impact of User Satisfaction and Trust on Virtual Team Members

Pressured by the growing need for fast response times, mass customization, and globalization, many organizations are turning to flexible organizational forms, such as virtual teams. Virtual teams consist of cooperative relationships supported by information technology to overcome limitations of time and/or location. Virtual teams require their members to rely heavily on the use of information technology and trust in coworkers. This study investigates the impacts that the reliance on information technology operationalized in our study via the user satisfaction construct and trust have on the job satisfaction of virtual team members. The study findings reveal that both user satisfaction and trust are positively related to job satisfaction in virtual teams, while system use was not found to play a significant role. These findings emphasize that organizations seeking the benefits of flexible, IT-enabled virtual teams must consider both the level of trust among colleagues, and the users' satisfaction with the information technology on which virtual teams rely.
High resolution UV photoelectron spectroscopy of CO+2, COS+ and CS+2 using supersonic molecular beams

Abstract Very high resolution HeI (584 A) photoelectron spectra of CO+2, COS+, and CS+2 are presented. The spectra were obtained by using supersonic molecular beams to eliminate the rotational and Doppler broadenings. The spin-orbit split components in the Π bands are all explicitly resolved. The removal of the inelastic scattering peaks, due to the use of molecular beams, allowed new features to be observed in the B and C bands of CS+2, and new spectroscopic constants were derived.
Enterohemorrhagic E. Coli infection

Escherichia coli O157:H7 has become a significant worldwide cause of food-borne illness since its discovery in the early 1980’s. This enteric organism is able to secrete a Shiga toxin distinguishing it from other pathogenic strains of E. coli. It has been implicated as the source of numerous outbreaks and sporadic cases predominantly from consumption of bovine food products. Transmission has also been linked to unpasteurized milk and cider, contaminated drinking and swimming water, fresh vegetables and secondarily through person-to-person contact. Infection due to E. coli 0157:H7 or enterohemorrhagic E. coli is typically characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramping and hemorrhagic colitis. Hemolytic uremic syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura are less common, but severe, sequelae of infection. Early diagnosis through stool cultures specific for the organism and isolation of the source are important issues in controlling the spread of disease. At this time, there is no treatment other than appropriate supportive care.
1)H NMR based profiling of spent culture media cannot predict success of implantation for day 3 human embryos.

Background Identification of a non-invasive technique to assess embryo implantation potential in assisted reproduction would greatly increase success rates and lead more efficiently to single embryo transfer. Early studies suggested metabonomic analysis of spent culture media could improve embryo selection. The goal of this study is to assess if embryo implantation can be predicted based on proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) profiles of spent embryo culture media from patients undergoing transfer of multiple embryos on cycle day 3.
Amniotic fluid interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α at mid-trimester genetic amniocentesis: Relationship to intra-amniotic microbial invasion and preterm delivery

Abstract Objective To determine the value of amniotic fluid interleukin-6 (AF IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (AF TNF-α) in the diagnosis of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity and in the prediction of preterm delivery (PTD). Study design Following amniocentesis, a sample of amniotic fluid was sent for aerobic and anaerobic bacterial cultures along with Ureaplasma urealyticum culture and it was also assessed for IL-6 and TNF-α. Results Forty-eight women who delivered preterm ( 99.3 pg/ml and of >6.6 pg/ml respectively, had a sensitivity of 89.6% and 81.3% and a specificity of 80.3% and 79.2% for the prediction of spontaneous PTD. Moreover, AF IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations of >99.3 pg/ml and of 6.3 pg/ml respectively, had a sensitivity of 91.9% and 78.4% and a specificity of 73.8% and 70.1% for the prediction of a positive AF culture. Conclusions Elevated mid-trimester concentrations of AF IL-6, or/and of TNF-α can identify women at risk for intra-amniotic infection and for spontaneous PTD.
Effect of Added Pentosans Isolated from Wheat and Rye Grain on some Properties of Bread

Water-soluble and water-insoluble pentosans extracted from wheat and water-soluble pentosans extracted from rye were added in concentrations of 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% to flour samples having different qualities. The effects of these pentosans on the physical and technological properties of the dough and bread and bread staling were then determined. Results show that all three pentosans markedly increased the water absorption and loaf volume, and retarded bread staling. Water-soluble rye pentosans in particular showed the most desirable effects.
Tropospheric and Stratospheric Ducting of Stationary Mountain Lee Waves

Abstract The mountain lee-wave problem is solved for a steady-state linearized model yielding both real and complex resonance modes. Filters applied to the wind and potential temperature determine the mean conditions and the number of layers required. Continuity of the wavenumber at the layer interfaces excludes spurious resonance modes. For multilayer models the solutions usually include six to nine waves ducted in the stratosphere and one wave ducted in the troposphere. Changing the tropospheric duct changes the tropospheric resonant wavelength and modulates the amplitude of the stratospheric waves. Progressive lowering of the top of the stratospheric duct from infinity changes the horizontal wavenumber of the longest waves from real to complex. These radiating waves dampen downstream from the mountain. Rotor pairs and steps in the stratospheric streamlines, generated when the ducting is strong, suggest sources of clear air turbulence. Large-amplitude tropospheric waves, thought to produce shock waves a...
Single-crystal elastic properties of chondrodite: implications for water in the upper mantle

Chondrodite, a member of the humite group of minerals, forms by hydration of olivine and is stable over a range of temperatures and pressures that includes a portion of the uppermost mantle. We have measured the single crystal elastic properties of a natural chondrodite specimen at ambient conditions using Brillouin spectroscopy. The isotropic aggregate bulk (K) and shear (µ) moduli calculated from the single-crystal elastic moduli, Cij, are: KS=118.4(16) GPa and µ=75.6(7) GPa. A comparison of the structures and elasticity of olivine and chondrodite indicate that the replacement of O with (OH,F) in M2+O6 octahedra has a small effect on the elasticity of humite-group minerals. The slightly diminished elastic moduli of humite-group minerals (as compared to olivine) are likely caused by a smaller ratio of strong structural elements (SiO4 tetrahedra) to weaker octahedra, and perhaps a more flexible geometry of edge-sharing MO4(O,OH,F)2 octahedra. In contrast to the humite-olivine group minerals, the incorporation of water into garnets and spineloids leads to a more substantial decrease in the elastic properties of these minerals. This contrasting behavior is due to formation of O4H4 tetrahedra and vacant hydroxyl-bearing octahedra in the garnets and spineloids, respectively. Therefore, the mechanism of incorporation of H/OH into mineral phases, not only degree of hydration, should be taken into account when estimating the effect of water on the elastic properties of minerals. The bulk elastic wave velocities of chondrodite and olivine are very similar. If humite-like incorporation of OH is predominant in the upper mantle, then the reaction of OH with olivine will have a minor or possibly no detectable effect on seismic velocities. Thus, it may be difficult to distinguish chondrodite-bearing rocks from “anhydrous” mantle on the basis of seismically determined velocities for the Earth.
Biophysics of left-handed Z-DNA.

Substantial new information in the past several years has been reported on different types of DNA structures and the possible biological consequences of these conformations. Detailed X-ray crystallographic analyses have provided a good understanding of several types of DNA structures. Biochemical studies demonstrated the concept of DNA microheterogeneity, i.e., the realization that more than one conformation can exist in a given DNA molecule. This mandates the presence of conformational junctions. Most cellular DNA is believed to exist in a right-handed structure. However, left-handed helices are stabilized by supercoiling. The energetics of the transition reveal a delicate balance between right-handed structures and left-handed helices. Several types of sequences adopt left-handed structures and several of these are known to serve as recombination hot spots. The Hha I restriction enzyme and methylase do not act on left-handed DNA, thus these agents may be used as probes for left-handed helices within suitable sequences. Furthermore, B-Z-DNA junctions contain few if any, non-paired bases at physiological superhelical densities.
Politics, Pragmatism, and Departures from the U.S. Courts of Appeals, 1954–2004*

Objective. This article uses Cox proportional hazards models to explain departures from the U.S. Courts of Appeals from 1954–2004. I argue that reforms to pension eligibility and financial incentives in 1984 extended opportunities for voluntary departures and strategic behavior, and that reasons for quitting (whether political, personal, or institutional) differed among types of departures and over time. Methods. The data represent all judge-years from 1954–2004. Both the full period and 1954–1983 and 1984–2004 subperiods are examined. Results. The effects of political factors are limited to partial retirements and suggest judges' recognition of contentious confirmation politics since the 1980s. Personal and institutional variables dominate outright departures. Conclusions. Explanations for departures from the circuit bench differ both by type and over time. Scholars and policymakers should refine arguments regarding judicial turnover and its causes.
Purification and characterization of the l-Ara4N transferase protein ArnT from Salmonella typhimurium

Abstract The covalent addition of 4-amino-4-deoxy- l -arabinose ( l -Ara4N) groups to lipid A, which resides in the outer membranes of bacteria such as Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli , is the final step in the polymyxin-resistance pathway in these organisms. This modification is catalyzed by the inner membrane protein 4-amino-4-deoxy- l -arabinose transferase (ArnT). Little is known about the ArnT protein structure because it has not previously been purified. We report here the first expression and purification of 6× His-tagged S. typhimurium ArnT in NovaBlue cells. The enzyme was purified using sequential Q-Sepharose anion exchange and HisLink nickel affinity column chromatography. The purified protein has an apparent molecular weight of 62 kDa on SDS–PAGE and the identity of the purified ArnT was confirmed by Western blot using a monoclonal antibody against the His-tag and by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Purified ArnT protein was shown to be highly α-helical as determined by circular dichroism analysis. A chromosomal ArnT knockout strain of E. coli BL21(DE3) was developed to allow in vivo functional analysis of plasmid-encoded ArnT constructs, and a polymyxin assay was used to confirm that the cloned ArnT proteins retained full activity. These studies provide an essential foundation for further analysis of ArnT structure and function using mutagenesis and biophysical techniques.
Reversal of fortune: induced endoleak to resolve neurological deficit after endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm.

PURPOSE To describe a direct anatomical treatment approach using an induced type Ib endoleak to increase spinal cord perfusion and reverse paraplegia occurring after endovascular exclusion of a type 2 thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA). TECHNIQUE The approach is illustrated in an 82-year-old woman who underwent branched endovascular repair of an asymptomatic, 6.8-cm-diameter type 2 TAAA. In 4-hour procedure, 3 aortic components were implanted beginning 50 mm distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery and ending 33 mm proximal to the aortic bifurcation. Upon awakening, the patient had sluggish movement in her legs. She responded to vasoactive agents and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage, but 3 recurrent episodes of paraplegia within 24 hours and severe headache indicated that the limits of CSF drainage had been reached. The patient was taken back to the operating room, and a type Ib (distal) endoleak was created by placing a balloon-expandable stent between the distal end of the infrarenal stent-graft component and the aortic wall, partially re-establishing flow into the aneurysm. The patient had no further recurrence of lower extremity paraplegia or paraparesis. At 3.5 months postoperatively, a Palmaz stent was deployed inside the distal end of the infrarenal stent-graft component to crush and occlude the Express LD stent, re-establishing a complete seal to preclude flow into the aneurysm. The patient remains clinically stable without lower extremity neurological deficit 3 months after the last procedure and 7 months after endovascular TAAA repair. CONCLUSION A direct anatomical approach to reverse spinal cord ischemia following endovascular TAA or TAAA repair is feasible by creating a type I or type III endoleak to afford partial, temporary reperfusion of the excluded aorta.
Purification and assay of bacterial collagenases

Many different types of bacteria, including pathogens, produce collagenolytic enzymes. In the past, it has been diffucult to determine the role of these enzymes in host-parasite relationships because few detailed purification procedures and collagenase-specific assays have been available. The development of procedures to purify bacterial collagenases to homogeneity and assays to specifically determine their collagenolytic activity have made it possible to further study and characterize these enzymes. Assays to measure collagenolytic activity include radioactive assays to measure of [14C]amino acids or peptides from radioactively labeled collagen, a viscometric assay to determine decreases in viscosity of collagen solutions, ninhydrin-based assays to detect amino acids and peptides liberated from collagen, synthetic peptide assays to measure hydrolysis of synthetic peptides similar in structure to collagen, and collagen film/gel assays to detect collagen hydrolysis. This paper reviews some of the techniques available to purify and assay bacterial collagenases.
Optical brain imaging in vivo: techniques and applications from animal to man

Optical brain imaging has seen 30 years of intense development, and has grown into a rich and diverse field. In-vivo imaging using light provides unprecedented sensitivity to functional changes through intrinsic contrast, and is rapidly exploiting the growing availability of exogenous optical contrast agents. Light can be used to image microscopic structure and function in vivo in exposed animal brain, while also allowing noninvasive imaging of hemodynamics and metabolism in a clinical setting. This work presents an overview of the wide range of approaches currently being applied to in-vivo optical brain imaging, from animal to man. Techniques include multispectral optical imaging, voltage sensitive dye imaging and speckle-flow imaging of exposed cortex, in-vivo two-photon microscopy of the living brain, and the broad range of noninvasive topography and tomography approaches to near-infrared imaging of the human brain. The basic principles of each technique are described, followed by examples of current applications to cutting-edge neuroscience research. In summary, it is shown that optical brain imaging continues to grow and evolve, embracing new technologies and advancing to address ever more complex and important neuroscience questions.
Nanoscale engineering of extracellular matrix-mimetic bioadhesive surfaces and implants for tissue engineering.

Abstract Background The goal of tissue engineering is to restore tissue function using biomimetic scaffolds which direct desired cell fates such as attachment, proliferation and differentiation. Cell behavior in vivo is determined by a complex interaction of cells with extracellular biosignals, many of which exist on a nanoscale. Therefore, recent efforts in tissue engineering biomaterial development have focused on incorporating extracellular matrix- (ECM) derived peptides or proteins into biomaterials in order to mimic natural ECM. Concurrent advances in nanotechnology have also made it possible to manipulate protein and peptide presentation on surfaces on a nanoscale level. Scope of Review This review discusses protein and peptide nanopatterning techniques and examples of how nanoscale engineering of bioadhesive materials may enhance outcomes for regenerative medicine. Major Conclusions Synergy between ECM-mimetic tissue engineering and nanotechnology fields can be found in three major strategies: (1) Mimicking nanoscale orientation of ECM peptide domains to maintain native bioactivity, (2) Presenting adhesive peptides at unnaturally high densities, and (3) Engineering multivalent ECM-derived peptide constructs. General Significance Combining bioadhesion and nanopatterning technologies to allow nanoscale control of adhesive motifs on the cell–material interface may result in exciting advances in tissue engineering. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Nanotechnologies - Emerging Applications in Biomedicine.