cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On non-symmetric deformations of an incompressible nonlinearly elastic isotropic sphere

A class of non-symmetric deformations of a neo-Hookean incompressible nonlinearly elastic sphere are investigated. It is found via the semi-inverse method that, to satisfy the governing three-dimensional equations of equilibrium and the incompressibility constraint, only three special cases of the class of deformation fields are possible. One of these is the trivial solution, one the solution describing radially symmetric deformation, and the other a (non-symmetric, non-homogeneous) deformation describing inflation and stretching. The implications of these results for cavitation phenomena are also discussed. In the course of this work, we also present explicitly the spherical polar coordinate form of the equilibrium equations for the nominal stress tensor for a general hyperelastic solid. These are more complicated than their counterparts for Cauchy stresses due to the mixed bases (both reference and deformed) associated with the nominal (or Piola-Kirchhoff) stress tensor, but more useful in considering general deformation fields.
Nicolás Armando Herrera Farfán y Lorena López Guzmán (Comps.), Ciencia, compromiso y cambio social. Textos de Orlando Fals Borda. El Colectivo-Lanzas y Letras-Extensión libros, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2013. 460 páginas

Vale la pena empezar esta resena de Ciencia, compromiso y cambio social senalando lo obvio: Orlando Fals Borda es a la sociologia lo que Paolo Freire es a la pedagogia y Frei Beto a la teologia, es decir, un pensador de la liberacion de los pueblos del sur. En este sentido, tendremos que volver una y otra vez a leer criticamente sus textos en busca de herramientas y lenguajes que sigan abonando el terreno de la rebelion popular, las transformaciones y la descolonizacion en Colombia y en Ameri...
CORRELATION OF CHEMICAL REACTIVITY IN THE SOLID STATE WITH CRYSTAL STRUCTURE

For the past eight years, a collaborative program in the areas of organic chemistry and crystal structure analysis has been carried out at the University of Illinois involving the study of many aspects of organic chemical reactions in the solid state [1, 2]. At this time we wish to present some results which have been obtained that are particularly pertinent to the crystalline environment of the reactant molecules. Examples have been noted where the extent and the direction of the solid state reaction have been controlled by the crystal structure of the reactant species.
Geography and the American Viticultural Areas Process, Including a Case Study of Lodi, California

The United States has a legal system for the formal designation of wine appellations of origin overseen by the Department of the Treasury. By regulating the labeling of wine to ascertain the area of origin of the wine for the consumer, the Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau controls place names that can be used on wine labels and, indirectly then, throughout the wine trade. Approved places are known as American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) and are established (or rejected) through a formal public petition, review, comment, and sometimes, a hearing process. The geographical distinctiveness of the place drives its approval as a formal AVA. This is primarily based on physical geographic criteria such as climate, topography, soils, and geology, and also on a function of place history and name as cultural elements of the landscape. Geographers are well engaged in the AVA establishment process and through this, contribute to the education of winegrowers, the trade, the government, and the public on place-based distinctiveness of wines. Over 200 AVAs have been established in the United States since the rule-making process began in 1978, with over 100 of these AVAs in the State of California. Over the last 30 years, the federal agency has become stricter in following its criteria to delimit geographically distinctive areas with historical name recognition, less sympathetic to letting in wine-growers outside the proposed AVA boundaries without cause, and more systematic in how AVAs nest within one another. The best examples of the AVA establishment process now are also about building a sense of community and place through contestation and discourse and the give and take that shapes a community of place. The petition to divide the large Lodi, California American Viticultural Area into seven distinct AVAs is outlined as a case study in this process, where winegrowers and many other community members came together to support the establishment of finer-scale AVAs with the large Lodi AVA.
Study of induction docetaxel, cisplatin, cetuximab and bevacizumab (TPE-A) followed by concurrent radiotherapy, cisplatin, cetuximab and bevacizumab (XPE-A) in patients with high-risk locally advanced head and neck cancer.

e22004 TITTLE: A Phase II Study of Induction Docetaxel, Cisplatin, Cetuximab and Bevacizumab (TPE-A) Followed by Concurrent Radiation, Cisplatin, Cetuximab and Bevacizumab (XPE-A) in Patients With ...
(Ultra-) completeness numbers and (pseudo-) paving numbers

Abstract We study the completeness and ultracompleteness numbers of a convergence space. In the case of a completely regular topological space, the completeness number is countable if and only if the space is Cech-complete, and the ultracompleteness number is countable if and only if the space is ultracomplete. We show that the completeness number of a space is equal to the pseudopaving number of the upper Kuratowski convergence on the space of its closed subsets, at ∅. Similarly, the ultracocompleteness number of a space is equal to the paving number of the upper Kuratowski convergence on the space of its closed subsets, at ∅.
Providing Primary Care for HIV in the Context of Trauma: Experiences of the Health Care Team.

Abstract Background Trauma-informed health care for women living with human immunodeficiency virus attends not only to human immunodeficiency virus treatment, but also to the many common physical and emotional health consequences of trauma. One principle of providing trauma-informed care is the acknowledgement that working with a population that has experienced extensive trauma affects the team members who care for them in the clinic, as well as the interactions between those team members. Methods To understand the needs of one primary health care team, we conducted in-depth interviews with 21 providers, staff, and collaborators who provide care to patients within the clinic. We use symbolic interaction and grounded theory methods to examine how interactions unfold within the clinic and how they are influenced by trauma. Results The clinic team serves a highly traumatized and vulnerable population. Within this context, interactions between clinic staff unfold and trauma surfaces, and power dynamics play out along the lines of professional hierarchy. Although power differences cause tension within the clinic, professional hierarchy also serves as an important division of labor in times of medical crises. Conclusions Clinic power dynamics may be influenced to improve the care environment for patients, and to realize a more effective and satisfying trauma-informed health care clinic for both patients and staff.
Nourishing urban development: A palaeodietary study of Archaic Gabii, Italy (6th–5th c BCE)

Abstract Gabii was established around the 8th century BCE in the province of Latium and was considered to be a sister city to Rome. In an effort to learn more about its settlers and their dietary patterns, stable isotope analysis was conducted using skeletal remains from eight individuals found in chamber tomb burials dating to the Archaic period (6th–5th centuries BCE). The δ15N (9.3‰ to 11.5‰) and δ13Cco (−20.5‰ to −18.9‰) from bone collagen as well as the δ13Cap (−13.2‰ to −9.5‰) from the bone apatite demonstrate that Archaic Gabines' diet consisted mainly of terrestrial protein in conjunction with C3 plants. In comparing the Archaic diet with the earlier Iron Age and later Imperial diets, a shift towards more positive carbon and nitrogen values is seen through time, suggesting both the introduction of new foods and the correlative relationship between foodways and the rise of urbanism in Latium.
Characterization of the effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist for Alzheimer's disease

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (cGRP) receptor antagonists effectively treat migraine through reducing neuroinflammation, vasoconstriction and possibly neruogenesis. Since neuroinflammation is also involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's diseases (AD), we hypothesized and tested if a cGRP receptor antagonist, BIBN 4096 BS (BIBN), has effects on AD pathology. Using an AD mouse model, 5XFAD, with different ages, here we report that the BIBN treatment significantly increased the brain expression of PSD95, a postsynaptic protein, in both young and old AD mice. In parallel, BIBN improved learning and memory in the behavior test in the young, but not old, AD mice. The BIBN treatment reduced α-synuclein aggregation in both young and old AD mice. BIBN significantly decreased neuroinflammatory markers of ionized calcium binding adapter molecules-1 (Iba-1) and the p38 MAPK and NFκB signaling pathways in young, but not old, AD mice. The treatment also reduced the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ), and decreased tau phosphorylation through the pathway of CDK5/p25 in young mice only. Our study provides the evidence and suggests that the cGRP antagonists might be a therapeutic target to attenuate the pathological cascade and delay cognitive decline of AD in humans.
An evolutionary approach for constructing multi-stage classifiers

Multi-stage classification is a supervised learning approach that distributes a set of features, each with an associated importance and cost of generation, across a series of classifiers (stages). Inputs are processed in a pipeline fashion through the stages, each of which utilizes only a subset of the complete feature set, until a confident classification decision can be made or until all features and stages have been exhausted. This design benefits from processing inputs in parallel and ensures that labels are assigned using only the necessary features, but the number and composition of stages used by the model can have significant impact on overall performance. Unfortunately, identifying these critical design aspects becomes more difficult as the number of features and possible stages increases, often making brute-force search or human intuition impractical. This paper introduces a novel evolutionary approach for discovering multi-stage configurations that provide high classification performance and fast processing times. Using this approach, multistage classifier configurations are modeled as chromosomes, and a series of selection, recombination, and mutation operations are iteratively performed to find better configurations. Since the problem has multiple objectives, a Pareto-based fitness measure is developed to rank chromosomes, where better chromosomes have high accuracy, high conclusiveness, and fast processing time. Experimental results indicate this approach is able to consistently find accurate and fast multi-stage classifier configurations under various conditions, including an increasing number of features and different feature synthesis time distributions.
Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of amino acid transporters in 136 prostate cancer samples

1457 Objectives To determine which amino acid transporter has the best capacity to distinguish prostate cancer. Methods We analyzed a U133A array dataset published by YP Wang et al. (GSE8218) that includes 136 prostate samples with documenting percentages of tumor, stroma, hypertrophy, and atrophy. 17 transcripts of amino acid transporters were investigated by ROC, an excel program developed by Charles Zaiontz (www.real-statistacs.com) Results eight over 17 transcripts of amino acid transcripts have an AUC > 0.5 (p Conclusions Based on traditional academic point system (0.9-1=excellent; 0.8-0.9=good; 0.7-.08=fair; 0.6-0.7= poor; 0.5-0.6= fail), SLC7A11 and SLC7A1 are classified as fair. Other amino acid transporters are poor or fail. Our analysis suggests SLC7A11 and SLC7A1 might be the biological foundation for Anti-1-Amino-3-18F-Fluorocyclobutane-1-Carboxylic Acid (FACBC) uptake in prostate cancer. Research Support T32EB006351
Lifetime prevalence and correlates of female condom use for anal sex in a geographically diverse sample of Men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States

To examine the use of the female condom (FC) for anal sex among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. Methods: An online survey among 3,837 MSM. Results: 5.2% had used the FC for an...
Neurosurgeons in 2020: the impact of gender on neurosurgical training, family planning, and workplace culture.

OBJECTIVE In 2008, a Women in Neurosurgery Committee white paper called for increased women applicants and decreased women's attrition in neurosurgery. However, contributing factors (work-life balance, lack of female leadership, workplace gender inequality) have not been well characterized; therefore, specific actions cannot be implemented to improve these professional hurdles. This study provides an update on the experiences of neurosurgeons in 2020 with these historical challenges. METHODS An anonymous online survey was sent to all Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited US neurosurgical programs, examining demographics and experiences with mentorship, family life, fertility, and workplace conduct. RESULTS A total of 115 respondents (64 men, 51 women; age range 25-67 years) had trained at 49 different US residencies. Mentorship rates were very high among men and women in medical school and residency. However, women were significantly more likely than men to have a female mentor in residency. During residency, 33% of women versus 44% of men had children, and significantly fewer women interested in having a child were able to do so in residency, compared to men. Significantly more women than men had a child only during a nonclinical year (56.3% vs 19.0%, respectively). Thirty-nine percent of women and 25% of men reported difficulty conceiving. The major difficulty for men was stress, whereas women reported the physical challenges of pregnancy itself (workplace teratogens, morning sickness, etc.). Failed birth rates peaked during residency (0.33) versus those before (0.00) and after residency (0.25).Women (80%) experience microaggressions in the workplace significantly more than men (36%; p < 0.001). Ninety-five percent of macro-/microaggressions toward female neurosurgeons were about their gender, compared to 9% of those toward men (p < 0.001). The most common overall perpetrators were senior male residents and attendings, followed by male patients (against women) and female nurses or midlevel providers (against men). CONCLUSIONS Accurate depictions of neurosurgery experiences and open discussions of the potential impacts of gender may allow for 1) decreased attrition due to more accurate expectations and 2) improved characterization of gender differences in neurosurgery so the profession can work to address gender inequality.
Chemical complementarity between immune receptors and cancer mutants, independent of antigen presentation protein binding, is associated with increased survival rates.

Abstract Uterine cancer has been associated with a T-cell immune response that leads to increased survival. Therefore, we used several bioinformatics approaches to explore specific interactions between T-cell receptor (TCR) and tumor mutant peptide sequences. Using endometrioid uterine cancer exome files from the The Cancer Genome Atlas database, we obtained tumor resident V-J recombinations for the T-Cell Receptor alpha gene (TRA). The charged-based, chemical complementarity for each patient's LRP2 or TTN mutant amino acids (AAs) and the recovered, TRA complementarity determining region-3 (CDR3) sequences was calculated, allowing a division of patients into complementary and noncomplementary groups. Complementary groups with TTN mutants had increased disease-free survival and increased expression of complement genes. Furthermore, the survival distinction based on CDR3-mutant peptide complementarity was independent of programmatically assessed HLA class II binding and was not observable based on the CDR3 AA chemical features alone. The above approach provides a potential, highly efficient method for identifying TCR targets in uterine cancer and may aid in the development of novel prognostic tools.
Bone accrual in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: current knowledge and future directions.

Purpose of review Skeletal fragility is now recognized as a significant complication of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Many patients with T1D develop the disease in childhood and prior to the attainment of peak bone mass and strength. This manuscript will review recent studies investigating the effects of T1D on skeletal development. Recent findings Mild-to-moderate deficits in bone density, structure, and mineral accrual were reported early in the course of T1D in some but not all studies. Childhood-onset disease was associated with a more severe skeletal phenotype in some adult studies. Lower than expected bone mass for muscle size was been described. Hemoglobin A1c was negatively associated with bone density and structure in several studies, though the mechanism was not clear. Summary The use of advanced imaging techniques has shown that the adverse effects of T1D on the developing skeleton extend beyond bone density to include abnormalities in bone size, shape, microarchitecture, and strength. Despite these gains, a uniform understanding of the pathophysiology underlying skeletal fragility in this disorder remains elusive. Longitudinal studies, especially in association with interventions to reduce hyperglycemia or improve muscle strength, are needed to inform bone healthcare in T1D.
Adaptive-Sweep Algorithm for Spacecraft Carrier Acquisition and Tracking: System Analysis and Implementation

This paper presents an adaptive-sweep algorithm that can be used in conjunction with a Phased-Lock Loop to acquire and track the carrier of a Binary Phase-shift Keying signal with residual carrier. This algorithm is useful in proximity links where no Doppler pre-compensation is available at the transmitter, and allows the receiver to acquire the incoming carrier even if the experienced Doppler shift is several orders of magnitude larger than the PLL bandwidth. Other applications for this algorithm include Multiple Uplink per Antenna at the Deep Space Network, and generation of observables (Doppler shift, Doppler rate, range rate) for in-situ navigation purposes. This paper enhances a previously presented adaptive-sweep algorithm and its performance analysis in two fronts. First, the algorithm now uses the direction function to automatically estimate the required frequency jump to achieve PLL lock. This enables a fully adaptive-sweep scheme in which system implementer does not need to manually select thresholds. On the other hand, we study the system performance in the presence of Additive White Gaussian Noise and derive necessary conditions for the system to operate at low signal-to-noise conditions. This allows us to create design rules that specify all parameters of the algorithm given a set of system-level requirements. To test the performance of the proposed algorithm, we implement it in GNU Radio, an open-source Software-Defined Radio that interfaces with several commercial radio peripherals. We use this implementation to demonstrate carrier lock and quantify system performance under different noise conditions. We also test the algorithm using open-loop recordings of two downlinks between the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Deep Space Network. We show that even after large frequency jumps (tens of kHz), the proposed system is able to rapidly reacquire the carrier and continue operation.
Elucidating Protactinium Hydrolysis: The Relative Stabilities of PaO2(H2O)(+) and PaO(OH)2(+).

It is demonstrated that the gas-phase oxo-exchange of PaO2+ with water is substantially faster than that of UO2+, indicating that the Pa–O bonds are more susceptible to activation and formation of the bis-hydroxide intermediate, PaO(OH)2+. To elucidate the nature of the water adduct of PaO2+, hydration of PaO2+ and UO2+, as well as collision induced dissociation (CID) and ligand-exchange of the water adducts of PaO2+ and UO2+, was studied. The results indicate that, in contrast to UO2(H2O)+, the protactinium oxo bis-hydroxide isomer, PaO(OH)2+, is produced as a gas-phase species close in energy to the hydrate isomer, PaO2(H2O)+. CID behavior similar to that of Th(OH)3+ supports the assignment as PaO(OH)2+. The gas-phase results are consistent with the spontaneous hydrolysis of PaO2+ in aqueous solution, this in contrast to later AnO2+ (An = U, Np, Pu), which forms stable hydrates in both solution and gas phase. In view of the known propensity for Th(IV) to hydrolyze, and previous gas-phase studies of othe...
Ch’an (Zen) Buddhism in China: Its History and Method

For more than a quarter of a century, my learned friend, Dr. Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki, formerly of the Otani University, Kyoto, Japan, has been interpreting and introducing Zen Buddhism to the Western world. Through his untiring effort and through his many books on Zen, he has succeeded in winning an audience and a number of followers, notably in England. As a friend and as a historian of Chinese thought, I have followed Suzuki’s work with keen interest. But I have never concealed from him my disappointment in his method of approach. My greatest disappointment has been that, according to Suzuki and his disciples, Zen is illogical, irrational, and, therefore, beyond our intellectual understanding. In his book Living by Zen Suzuki tells us:It is this denial of the capability of the human intelligence to understand and evaluate Zen that I emphatically refuse to accept. Is the so-called Ch’an or Zen really so illogical and irrational that it is “altogether beyond the ken of human understanding” and that our rational or rationalistic way of thinking is of no use “in evaluating the truth and untruth of Zen”?
Suboptimal Control of Flexible Structures With Clearances in the Connecting Joints

Clearances are important sources of nonlinear behavior in connected or "built-up" structures. This paper examines the effects of clearances on the performance of a linear state-feedback and estimated state feedback control design. The control laws are designed using linear quadratic optimal contol theory and using a linear plant model. The closed-loop behavior of the linear plant is compared to that of the nonlinear plant under the action of the same control laws. It is seen that, relative to the linear plant, clearances can have detrimental or beneficial effects on the closed-loop performance depending on the nature of the clearances and depending on the system initial conditions.
Dielectric and Microstructural Properties of Ba(Ti1−xZrx)O3 Thin Films on Copper Substrates

Barium titanate zirconate, Ba(Ti 1 - x Zr x )O 3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.25), thin films were deposited via the chemical solution deposition (CSD) process directly on copper foils. The films were processed in a reductive atmosphere containing water vapor and hydrogen gas at 900°C in order to preserve the metallic copper substrate while crystallizing the film into a perovskite structure. The microstructure and phase transition phenomena of films were studied utilizing x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and the temperature dependence of the dielectric constant and loss tangent Increasing the fraction of BaZrO 3 revealed several effects, including an increase in unit cell dimensions, a decrease in both the temperature and value of the maximum permittivity, as well as a decrease in the average grain size of the films. Films were analyzed for dispersion in the transition temperature with frequency. Results indicated that films containing 25 mol% BaZrO 3 demonstrate a shift in the temperature of the ferroelectric phase transition with increasing measurement frequency. This shift, combined with the dispersive nature of the transition, suggests that films of this composition are of the relaxor ferroelectric family. The ability to process high permittivity thin film materials directly on inexpensive copper substrates has strong technological implications toward embedded passives and efficient frequency agile devices.
Improving Social Work Education in Vietnam Through International Cooperation: The ‘Social Work Education Enhancement Program’

This paper describes an initiative to improve social work education in Vietnam through a three-year international collaborative, including US Aid for International Development, San Jose State University, eight universities in Vietnam, Vietnam's government ministries, and Cisco Systems, Inc. The social work profession was officially recognized by the Vietnamese government in 2010. Despite the rapid expansion of social work education programs, there are significant limitations in the universities' ability to provide social work education. The goal of the Social Work Education Enhancement Program (SWEEP) is to strengthen the capacity of Vietnam's undergraduate social work programs to deliver quality education and prepare trained, job-ready social workers. The SWEEP project aims to improve the administration of social work education, the professional capacity of faculty, social work curriculum, and networking technology to enable centers for excellence in learning and scholarship. To ensure that the SWEEP tea...
Down-regulation of major histocompatibility complex class I synthesis by murine cytomegalovirus early gene expression.

Abstract Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection of C57BL/6 (H-2b) mice prevents priming of antigen-specific helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) (J. S. Slater, W. S. Futch, V. J. Cavanaugh, and A. E. Campbell, Virology 185:132-139, 1991). In vitro, MCMV infection alters presentation of antigens to antigen-specific, MHC class I-restricted CTL (A. E. Campbell, J. S. Slater, V. J. Cavanaugh, and R. M. Stenberg, J. Virol. 66:3011-3017, 1992). This is accompanied by a significant decrease in surface expression of H-2Kb and H-2Db. We therefore examined the effects of MCMV infection on the intracellular expression of H-2Kb and H-2Db by immunoprecipitation with conformation-independent antibodies. MCMV early-gene products severely repressed synthesis of H-2Kb and H-2Db. This down-regulation was not restored by gamma interferon treatment. The MCMV-induced suppression of MHC class I protein synthesis resulted in a retarded rate of accumulation of these molecules within the cell. In addition, MCMV infection prevented maturation of class I heavy chains to the fully glycosylated forms and inhibited transport of H-2Db from the endoplasmic reticulum-cis Golgi. Virus infection had no effect on the rate of degradation of the class I molecules. These results demonstrate that MCMV early-gene products down-regulate synthesis and posttranslational events in MHC class I expression, thereby limiting the number of antigen-presenting molecules within infected cells. This limitation defines a potential mechanism for regulation of MHC class I-restricted antigen presentation by MCMV.
The Impact of Civil Unions on Hawai`iâs Economy and Government

On 29 April 2010, the Hawai`i State Legislature passed HB 444, a measure that allows same-sex and opposite-sex couples to enter into civil unions. This report provides quantitative and qualitative measures of the impact of civil unions on the Hawai`i economy, Hawai`i businesses, and the State of Hawai`iâs budget. More specifically, we examine the effect of civil unions on tourism arrivals to Hawai`i; state government revenues and expenditures; employer provision of health insurance to civil union partners and their dependents; and the family with civil union partners. We conclude that the Legalization of civil unions in Hawai`i will have only a very minimal impact on any aspect of Hawai`iâs economy and state government operations.
Transesterification of Waste Olive Oil by Candida Lipase

Biodiesel was produced by transesterification of waste olive oil with methanol and Novozym®435. The effect of the molar ratio of methanol to triolein, mode of methanol addition, reaction temperature, and mixing speed on biodiesel yield was determined. The effect of different acyl acceptors and/or solvents on biodiesel yield was also evaluated. Finally, the efficacy of Novozym®435 was determined by reusing the enzyme after washing it with a solvent.
Catalytic syntheses of amino acids and their significance for nebular and planetary chemistry

Abstract– It has been intermittently debated whether some of the organic compounds we find in meteorites, which show a general relationship to interstellar precursors in their isotopic enrichments, could also be formed ab initio from simple gases in nebular and/or parent body processes. Spurred by divergent findings for the organic composition of different stones of the Tagish Lake meteorite, we studied the likelihood of Fisher Tropsch type syntheses of amino acids from CO, H2, and NH3 in the presence of different meteoritic minerals as catalysts and report that amino acids and amines can be produced efficiently under these conditions. Products differed in their molecular distribution depending on the catalyst used, with α-aminoisobutyric acid synthesized preferentially by Murchison and magnetite powders.
Cognitive task analysis of the laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair: Efficiency, slow-down moments and teaching principles

Introduction The TEP repair is associated with a learning curve of at least 250 repairs. Expert surgeons' decision-making becomes automated, making it difficult for them to recognize and teach their decision-making process. We sought to deconstruct the intraoperative decision-making of the TEP repair in order to discern the key cognitive and technical teaching principles. Methods Five expert TEP surgeons participated in an individual critical decision method-based cognitive task analysis interview, supervised by an educational psychologist. Experts were asked to recall and describe their last unilateral TEP repair. Recordings were transcribed, and cognitive demand tables were created outlining operative and decision making steps. Thematic analysis was then conducted to identify common operative strategies, and agreement between experts was compared. Results Analysis of transcripts revealed 26 operative and 23 decision-making steps, yielding 9 themes: efficiency, troubleshooting, "slow down" moment, critical step, error avoidance, cost-saving, patient-specific, surgeon-specific, and teaching principles. Each theme had areas of overlap as well as unique operative strategies (among 13 teaching principles identified, 10 were common to >1 surgeon and 3 were unique to only one surgeon). Experts were more likely to agree in operative than in decision making steps (81% vs 56%, p Conclusions Cognitive task analysis with experienced TEP hernia surgeons identified strategies to improve efficiency, discovered critical operative cues and outlined key teaching principles for the TEP repair. These results can be integrated into instructional programming and clinical training to facilitate growth and acquisition of procedural decision making of surgical trainees.
Part-whole and whole-part free recall learning

The present study has demonstrated the reliability of the phenomena of part-whole and whole-part free recall learning originally described by Tulving. It has further shown that the effect of prior learning of either the part of the whole leads to negative transfer in comparison with prior learning of an unrelated list and no transfer at all in comparison with no prior learning. Finally, it has pointed to the old words as the locus of the disadvantage of the PW S s at least through the sixth trial on the whole list. While several different analyses were performed in an attempt to test the interpretation of the phenomena in terms of SO, the results of these analyses were inconclusive as to the validity of this interpretation.
Religion and Public Opinion about Same‐Sex Marriage*

Objective. The goal of this article is to analyze the relationship between religion, measured in terms of religious affiliation and religiosity, and public opinion about same-sex marriage, civil unions, and a federal constitutional amendment that would prohibit gay marriage. Methods. We use logistic regression with calculated standardized coefficients to analyze data from a nationally representative survey of 1,610 respondents conducted in March–April 2004. Results. Religious variables perform better than demographic measures in models of attitudes about same-sex unions. Non-Protestants are much more likely to support same-sex unions than are Protestants, and individuals with conservative attitudes toward morality and secularism and (to a lesser extent) those who participate actively in religious life are more likely to oppose such unions. On the whole, religious variables play a weaker role in predicting support for a constitutional amendment to prevent gay marriage than they do in predicting attitudes toward same-sex unions. Conclusions. Religious variables play powerful roles in structuring attitudes about same-sex unions. Moreover, homosexuality appears to be a major component of the “moral values” discourse that is currently so popular in American politics.
Experimental Dynamic Characterization of a Reconfigurable Adaptive Precision Truss

The dynamic behavior of a reconfigurable adaptive truss structure with non-linear joints is investigated. The objective is to experimentally examine the effects of the local non-linearities on the global dynamics of the structure. Amplitude changes in the frequency response functions are measured at micron levels of motion. The amplitude and frequency variations of a number of modes indicate a non-linear Coulomb friction response. Hysteretic bifurcation behavior is also measured at an amplitude approximately equal to the specified free-play in the joint. Under the 1 g pre-load, however, the non-linearity was dominantly characteristic of Coulomb friction with little evidence of free-play stiffening.
Spectral line interferences in atomic absorption spectroscopy

Abstract Spectral line interferences may occur in atomic absorption spectroscopy when there is significant overlap of the primary-source, emission-line profile with the absorption line profiles of any interfering species in the flame. Both theoretical calculations and experimental observations reported in this paper provide ample documentation that line interferences do occur, thus negating the published conclusions that the technique is completely free of spectral interferences. Four typical examples representing various degrees of interference are described.
An open level set framework for image segmentation and restoration using the Mumford and Shah model

In two dimensions, the Mumford and Shah functional for image segmentation and regularization15 has minimizers (u,K), where u is a piecewise-smooth approximation of the image data f, and K represents the set of discontinuities of u (a union of curves). Theoretically, the edge set K could include both closed and open curves. The current level set and piecewise-smooth Mumford-Shah based segmentation algorithms4, 23, 24 can only detect objects with closed edges, which are boundaries of open sets. We propose an efficient Mumford-Shah and level set based algorithm for segmenting images with edges which are made up of open curves or crack-tips. By adapting Smereka's open level set formulation21 to variational problems, we are able to extend the current piecewise-smooth and level-set based image segmentation methods, such as4, 23, 24 to the case of open curve segmentation. The algorithm retains many of the advantages of using level sets, such as well-defined boundaries and ability to change topology. We solve the resulting Euler-Lagrange equations by Sobolev H1 gradient descent, avoiding instability and the need for additional regularization of the level set functions, while also accelerating convergence to the reconstructed image. Finally, we present the numerical implementation and experimental results on various noisy images.
Iron-arylimide clusters [Fe(m)()(NAr)(n)Cl(4)](2)(-) (m, n = 2, 2; 3, 4; 4, 4) from a ferric amide precursor: synthesis, characterization, and comparison to Fe-S chemistry.

Tetrahedral FeCl[N(SiMe(3))(2)](2)(THF) (2), prepared from FeCl(3) and 2 equiv of Na[N(SiMe(3))(2)] in THF, is a useful ferric starting material for the synthesis of weak-field iron-imide (Fe-NR) clusters. Protonolysis of 2 with aniline yields azobenzene and [Fe(2)(mu-Cl)(3)(THF)(6)](2)[Fe(3)(mu-NPh)(4)Cl(4)] (3), a salt composed of two diferrous monocations and a trinuclear dianion with a formal 2 Fe(III)/1 Fe(IV) oxidation state. Treatment of 2 with LiCl, which gives the adduct [FeCl(2)(N(SiMe(3))(2))(2)](-) (isolated as the [Li(TMEDA)(2)](+) salt), suppresses arylamine oxidation/iron reduction chemistry during protonolysis. Thus, under appropriate conditions, the reaction of 1:1 2/LiCl with arylamine provides a practical route to the following Fe-NR clusters: [Li(2)(THF)(7)][Fe(3)(mu-NPh)(4)Cl(4)] (5a), which contains the same Fe-NR cluster found in 3; [Li(THF)(4)](2)[Fe(3)(mu-N-p-Tol)(4)Cl(4)] (5b); [Li(DME)(3)](2)[Fe(2)(mu-NPh)(2)Cl(4)] (6a); [Li(2)(THF)(7)][Fe(2)(mu-NMes)(2)Cl(4)] (6c). [Li(DME)(3)](2)[Fe(4)(mu(3)-NPh)(4)Cl(4)] (7), a trace product in the synthesis of 5a and 6a, forms readily as the sole Fe-NR complex upon reduction of these lower nuclearity clusters. Products were characterized by X-ray crystallographic analysis, by electronic absorption, (1)H NMR, and Mossbauer spectroscopies, and by cyclic voltammetry. The structures of the Fe-NR complexes derive from tetrahedral iron centers, edge-fused by imide bridges into linear arrays (5a,b; 6a,c) or the condensed heterocubane geometry (7), and are homologous to fundamental iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster motifs. The analogy to Fe-S chemistry also encompasses parallels between Fe-mediated redox transformations of nitrogen and sulfur ligands and reductive core conversions of linear dinuclear and trinuclear clusters to heterocubane species and is reinforced by other recent examples of iron- and cobalt-imide cluster chemistry. The correspondence of nitrogen and sulfur chemistry at iron is intriguing in the context of speculative Fe-mediated mechanisms for biological nitrogen fixation.
The production of nitric oxide in EL4 lymphoma cells overexpressing growth hormone.

Abstract Growth hormone (GH) is produced by immunocompetent cells and has been implicated in the regulation of a multiplicity of functions in the immune system involved in growth and activation. However, the actions of endogenous or lymphocyte GH and its contribution to immune reactivity when compared with those of serum or exogenous GH are still unclear. In the present study, we overexpressed lymphocyte GH in EL4 lymphoma cells, which lack the GH receptor (GHR), to determine the role of endogenous GH in nitric oxide (NO) production and response to genotoxic stress. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the levels of GH increased approximately 40% in cells overexpressing GH (GHo) when compared with cells with vector alone. The results also show a substantial increase in NO production in cells overexpressing GH that could be blocked by N G -monomethyl- l -arginine ( l -NMMA), an l -arginine analogue that competitively inhibits all three isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). No evidence was obtained to support an increase in peroxynitrite in cells overexpressing GH. Overexpression of GH increased NOS activity, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) promoter activity, and iNOS protein expression, whereas endothelial nitric oxide synthase and neuronal nitric oxide synthase protein levels were essentially unchanged. In addition, cells overexpressing GH showed increased arginine transport ability and intracellular arginase activity when compared with control cells. GH overexpression appeared to protect cells from the toxic effects of the DNA alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate. This possibility was suggested by maintenance of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential in cells overexpressing GH when compared with control cells that could be blocked by l -NMMA. Taken together, the data support the notion that lymphocyte GH, independently of the GH receptor, may play a key role in the survival of lymphocytes exposed to stressful stimuli via the production of NO.
The exterior Dirichlet problem for a strongly nonlinear elliptic equation

Let Ω be the exterior of a bounded domain in RN (N ⩾ 2). For a possibly nonlinear elliptic operator A in divergence form and a differentialbe function p: R→R with p(0) = 0, p′(t)⩾0∀t∈R we discuss the solvability of the boundary value problem Au+p(u)=ƒ−Σi=1N∂ƒi∂xi inΩ, u=0 on ∂Ω under various restrictive conditions on p(·) which, however, would still allow more or less liberal exponential growths. The right-hand side of the equation belongs to some subspaces of the dual of W01,2(Ω).
Geology and geochronology of the Middle Miocene Kipsaramon site complex, Muruyur Beds, Tugen Hills, Kenya

Abstract The Muruyur Beds are a substantial sedimentary deposit within a middle Miocene sequence of mafic volcanic flows associated with early stages of rifting in the central Kenyan Rift Valley. They are best represented in the Muruyur region, near Bartabwa, north of Kipsaramon, where dates range from 16·0 to 13·4 Ma. At Kipsaramon, located about 10 km south of Muruyur along the crest of the Tugen Hills, the upper Muruyur Beds are absent and the lower part can be divided into three members. Important fossil sites within Member 1 are dated between 15·8 and 15·6 Ma, and within Member 3 between 15·6 and 15·4 Ma. BPRP#89, in Member 1, is a bonebed at least 2500 m 2 in areal extent and up to 30 cm thick, which constitutes one of the richest concentrations of in situ fossil vertebrate bones in eastern Africa. BPRP#91, at approximately the same level at BPRP#89, is the source of a hominoid talus and other mammal and bird fossils. In Member 3, BPRP#122 has produced specimens of at least five individuals of the hominoid Equatorius , including a partial skeleton. The Muyuyur Beds were deposited near the western margin of a lake that was formed during the early stages of faulting and volcanism in the African Rift system. The bonebed in Member 1 appears to represent the influx of fluvially transported vertebrate and plant remains into a shallow portion of the lake. Elements of the fauna as well as stable isotopes that indicate both forest and more open environments occurred in proximity to the lake during the time of deposition of Member 1.
Rich environments for active learning: a definition

In today's complex world, simply knowing how to use tools and knowledge in a single domain is not sufficient to remain competitive as either individuals or companies. People must also learn to apply tools and knowledge in new domains and different situations. Industry specialists report that people at every organizational level must be creative and flexible problem solvers (Lynton, 1989). This requires the ability to apply experience and a definition knowledge to address novel problems. Consequently, learning to think critically, to analyse and synthesize information to solve technical, social, economic, political, and scientific problems, and to work productively in groups are crucial skills for successful and fulfilling participation in our modern, competitive society. DOI: 10.1080/0968776950030202
Information Seeking Within Organizations

In this article, both the literature on employee feedback-seeking behavior and the literature on information seeking by organizational newcomers are reviewed. This review highlights the various motives that affect the decision of whether or not to seek information, shows how the strength of those motives is affected by both characteristics of the individual and characteristics of the organizational context, and reviews evidence that information seeking has beneficial outcomes. The author then offers an integrated model of antecedents, dynamics, forms, and outcomes of employee information seeking and concludes with suggestions for how future research can extend current understanding of employee information seeking.
Acetone and water on TiO2(110): competition for sites.

The competitive interaction between acetone and water for surface sites on TiO2(110) was examined using temperature programmed desorption (TPD). Two surface pretreatment methods were employed, one involving vacuum reduction of the surface by annealing at 850 K in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) and another involving surface oxidation with molecular oxygen. In the former case, the surface possessed about 7% oxygen vacancy sites, and in the latter, reactive oxygen species (adatoms and molecules) were deposited on the surface as a result of oxidative filling of vacancy sites. On the 7% oxygen vacancy surface, excess water displaced all but about 20% of a saturated d6-acetone first layer to physisorbed desorption states, whereas about 40% of the first layer d6-acetone was stabilized on the oxidized surface against displacement by water through a reaction between oxygen and d6-acetone. The displacement of acetone on both surfaces is explained in terms of the relative desorption energies of each molecule on the clean su...
Helping Students with Disabilities Deal with Acts of Terrorism

Educators and speech-language pathologists have a new and unwanted area for which they need to be prepared. Unfortunately, helping students deal with acts of terrorism now needs to be addressed in the schools. This article discusses the special needs of students with cognitive or language-processing disabilities in dealing with tragedy. Specific suggestions for helping students cope are given for the following areas: feeling safe, handling emotion, and developing understanding.
A busca da competitividade nas empresas

The current competitive environment and the key strategies to be implemented by the companies to succeed.
Evaluation of interprocessor communication overhead in distributed computer systems

Abstract With the advent of VLSI technology, the processing power to cost ratio of microprocessors has increased considerably. This has provided an incentive to develop microprocessor based Distributed Computer Systems (DCS) that have the advantage of increased reliability, modularity, survivability, responsiveness and incremental growth. However, a degradation of system throughput and excessive delays are observed when the software processes are widely distributed over different processors. This is due to excessive interprocess communication overhead. In this paper we evaluate the performance impact of interprocess communication in distributed computer systems. A general queuing model of a DCS is described. It consists of an open network of queues of the type GI/G/I with feedback. It is analyzed using the heavy traffic diffusion approximation. Simulation is used for validating the results and where the analysis is mathematically intractable. A Data Flow Task Scheduling (DFTS) algorithm is introduced for improving the system performance. The performance impact of software/hardware failures in DCS is also evaluated.