cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does Information Systems Support for Creativity Enhance Effective Information Systems Use and Job Satisfaction in Virtual Work

Virtual work has increasingly gained global popularity in the business community, with virtuality becoming integrated into traditional office work settings. As the essence of virtuality comprises geographic dispersion and information systems (IS) use, the implementation of a wide variety of novel and advanced information technologies (IT)/IS as productivity and communication tools have fueled the trend in which virtual work permeates the modern workplace. Despite the heavy use of advanced IT/IS as an integral part of virtual work, our understanding on identifying the work dynamics between IS-related antecedents and employee work outcomes in virtual work contexts is still limited. Drawing on efficacy theory, this study focuses on two important IS-related antecedents within virtual work contexts—IS support for creativity and effective IS use—and their effects on job satisfaction. Specifically, we examine the mediating effect of effective IS use on the relationship between IS support for creativity and job satisfaction above and beyond the perceived usefulness and IS satisfaction, which have previously been recognized as impactful antecedents for IS-related effectiveness. To test the posited hypotheses, data were collected (N = 504) from an online survey platform. Using multiple mediation analyses, the study results confirm our hypotheses that (1) IS support for creativity is positively related to job satisfaction in virtual work settings; and (2) effective IS use mediates the relationship between IS support for creativity and job satisfaction even after controlling for perceived usefulness and IS satisfaction, which indicates the unique explanatory power of effective IS use for increased job satisfaction in virtual work settings. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Regression models for count data from truncated distributions

We present new commands for analyzing count-data regression models for truncated distributions. The trncregress command allows specification of a regression model for the mean of the truncated distribution through options. In addition to support for truncated Poisson and negative binomial, trncregress fits models based on truncated versions of distributions including generalized Poisson, Poisson-inverse Gaussian, three-parameter negative binomial power, three-parameter Waring negative binomial, and three-parameter Famoye negative binomial.
The Characterization of Surface Defects Using Rayleigh Wave Hodographs

The interaction of Rayleigh waves with surface inhomogeneities has received considerable attention in recent years. Though of interest to the geophysics and microelectronics communities, the subject is particularly important to those involved in nondestructive testing. This is because of industry demands for more detailed and reliable characterizations of surface-breaking defects. Material interrogation using Rayleigh waves offers an effective means of detecting such inhomogeneities because energy is confined to the near-surface region. Flaws can be detected up to depths of one or two wavelengths, corresponding to 0.31–6.1 mm over a frequency range of 0.50–10.0 MHz [1]. The associated area of coverage is ten to one hundred square feet. The material need not be conductive, as required for electromagnetic methods, and is more sensitive than bulk wave ultrasonic testing to small cracks.
Shot-time photography at the National Ignition Facility

The Nation Ignition Facility (NIF) conducts a variety of experiments to study matter at the extremes, including studies of material properties, hydrodynamics, and the interaction of intense radiation fields with matter. The NIF supports the users by operating twenty-four hours a day, with a laser shot rate that averages one per day. We have developed a shot time camera that has the capability to provide an image of each shot for the users. While initially more of a promotional tool, there is emerging interest from the scientific staff in support of their experiments at the NIF. The shot time camera is a time integrated, shot-triggered, digital camera that images visible light generated at shot time in the NIF target chamber. It is selectable by the user and operates automatically with the NIF shot cycle. We will discuss the system design, recent results, and plans for the future.
Interaction analysis of physical education classes.

Abstract The Flanders System of Interaction Analysis was applied to 40 physical education classes at different grade levels. The teachers of these physical education classes were a direct verbal influence, did most of the talking, placed a great deal of emphasis on content, and viewed themselves as authority figures in the classroom. The primary interaction pattern for the 40 teachers was lecture, followed by silence or confusion, followed by lecture. The male teachers had a different primary interaction pattern than did the females, and different primary interaction patterns and category emphasis occurred between sexes and at different grade levels. Student talk was very limited, especially in the classes taught by male teachers. Statistical comparisons were made via chi square and a Poisson distribution test, both at the .01 level.
Stalingrad to Kursk: Triumph of the Red Army, by Geoffrey Jukes

While publications on the Eastern Front of the Second World War have come into their own in the West, there is still a long way to go before truly definitive grand narratives can be crafted. Geoffr...
Vulnerable Children: Parents' Perspectives and the Use of Medical Care

Abstract In a study of use of five general pediatric services, 750 parents were interviewed on site about their decisions on how and when to seek medical care for their children. Parents' fears that a particular child was "vulnerable"--ie, uniquely threatened by an episode of illness--was a recurrent concern (reported by 27%), explaining many of their medical visits. Medical record review indicated that in 40%, there was no clinical basis for these parent concerns. One important source of these unwarranted concerns was fear of recurrence of an earlier medical problem, long since resolved. In some families, the role of social and environmental issues in generating a high level of concern was evident. Vulnerable children made more visits per year and made many more of their visits to the emergency room, and their parents more often expressed dissatisfaction with care received. Recognition of reasons underlying parents' sense of the child's special status may do much to allay unnecessary fears and promote more appropriate use of health care facilities.
Seismic Design Criteria for Underground Pipelines

The current design practice for water/sewer lifelines does not take seismic loads into account. Note that the design of buried pipelines for seismic excitation is not necessarily governed by the strength of the system, but is governed by its flexibility or ductility. For evaluation of existing piping systems, as well as future design application, the purpose of this paper is to define the reserve strengths and reserve ductilities of a buried pipeline beyond its normal stress/strain conditions. By comparing the reserve strains/curvatures to the imposed ground strains/curvatures, the safety of a given pipeline can be studied. Hence, the studies of current design practices and ultimate failure criteria are essential. One may note that in designing buried pipelines, corrosion tolerance is added to the required thickness. With the passing of time, the corrosion tolerance thickness is reduced. Thus, the reserve strength/ductility calculated for seismic resistance will also vary with time.
The use of Earth observing satellites for hazard support

Weather satellites have long been used to support forecasting of intensive weather hazards such as tropical cyclones, severe storms and flash flooding. Although there, have been numerous research and operational demonstrations that illustrate the potential usefulness of EO satellite data for a broader range of hazards, the operational application of these data to other hazards is rare. Recognizing the benefits that could be gained from better application of EO satellite data to natural and technological hazards, the Committee of Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) initiated a project for disaster management support. The project has published two annual reports. Since the last report was published, the project has become an ad hoc working group. This paper summarizes the work of the ad hoc working group. A fall report of the work of the group is in the group's first annual report which is available from the author of this paper. The ad hoc Disaster Management Support Group (DMSG) supports natural and technological disaster management on a worldwide basis by fostering improved utilization of existing and planned Earth Observation (EO) satellite data. The DMSG focuses on developing and refining recommendations for the application of satellite data to selected hazard areas. Hazard teams for these selected areas have been formed to document findings, recommendations, and specific user requirements. An information tools team has also been formed to develop a server intended to demonstrate timely access to satellite-derived data and information products (i.e., "one stop shopping") to support various facets of disaster management.
The evolution of resource‐advantage theory

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a personal retrospective on six of the key events/experiences that influenced the development of the structure, foundational premises, and models of the resource‐advantage theory of competition.Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses a personal retrospective approach.Findings – The paper finds that six key events influenced the development of resource‐advantage theory: B.J. “Bud” LaLonde emphasizes the works of Alderson; Rob Morgan suggests an article on the resource‐based theory of the firm; Roy Howell suggests a presentation on R‐A theory; Randy Sparks shows a “socialist calculation” article; Kim Boal suggests the Journal of Management Inquiry as a publication outlet; and Bob Phillips discusses his work on “firm effects vs industry effects”. The paper then relates each of the six events to the paths, routes, or procedures that are often proposed as (or reported to be) likely to lead to the development of theories.Originality/value – By providing the...
A Zombie in the Supreme Court: The Elane Photography Cert Denial

One of the least interesting legal phenomena is a denial of certiorari by the Supreme Court. The Court has absolute control of its docket, it can decline to hear a case without explanation, and its denial of review is legally meaningless and has no precedential effect. However, the recent cert. denial in Elane Photography v. Willock, a case that presented a three-way collision between gay rights, religious liberty, and free speech, is a revealing window on the limits of constitutional lawmaking. The real issue in the case, the question of how gay people and religious conservatives can live out their ideals, was obscured by weak free speech claims. The Court was right to turn the case away.The reconciliation of gay rights and religious liberty is an important and pressing question. But the cert. petition left it out of consideration. Instead, that question was displaced by weak free speech claims. This paradoxically meant that the Court could not hope to do justice to any of the real issues. The case as presented in the petition for cert. was a zombie: still moving, but without its soul.
Medical aspects of jellyfish envenomation: pathogenesis, case reporting and therapy

With larger human population numbers and their need for recreation, contact between humans and jellyfish is increasing. The pathogenesis of cnidarian stings is discussed here and some of the factors influencing the variability in adverse reactions they produce are mentioned. The pharmakinetics of venom delivery determines the organ site of damage and the extent of abnormality. Since venoms can injure man by allergic or toxic reactions, the differences between these processes is elucidated. Toxic reactions predominate and allergic ones are unusual. A more complete list of disease entities caused by jellyfish stings has been compiled. These sting reactions may be local, systemic, chronic or fatal. Most follow cutaneous stinging but some occur after stings to the eye or following ingestion. Increased case loads and experience has also lead to a more comprehensive understanding of sting pathogenesis and treatment. Accordingly, the principles of prevention and first aid therapy are outlined. Finally, some recommendations for more complete recording of adverse stings are suggested.
Voltage imaging of epileptiform activity in slices from rat piriform cortex: onset and propagation

The piriform cortex is a temporal lobe structure with a very high seizure susceptibility. To investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics of epileptiform activity, slices of piriform cortex were examined by imaging electrical activity with a voltage-sensitive fluorescent dye. Discharge activity was studied for different sites of stimulation and different planes of slicing along the anterior-posterior axis. Epileptiform behavior was elicited either by disinhibition with a gamma-aminobutyric acid-A receptor antagonist or by induction with a transient period of spontaneous bursting in low-chloride medium. Control activity recorded with fluorescent dye had the same pharmacological and temporal characteristics as control activity reported previously with microelectrodes. Simultaneous optical and extracellular microelectrode recordings of epileptiform discharges showed the same duration, latency, and all-or-none character as described previously with microelectrodes. Under all conditions examined, threshold electrical stimulation applied throughout the piriform cortex evoked all-or-none epileptiform discharges originating in a site that included the endopiriform nucleus, a previously identified site of discharge onset. In induced slices, but not disinhibited slices, the site of onset also included layer VI of the adjoining agranular insular cortex and perirhinal cortex, in slices from anterior and posterior piriform cortex, respectively. These locations had not been identified previously as sites of discharge onset. Thus like the endopiriform nucleus, the deep agranular insular cortex and perirhinal cortex have a very low seizure threshold. Additional subtle differences were noted between the induced and disinhibited models of epileptogenesis. Velocity was determined for discharges after onset, as they propagated outward to the overlying piriform cortex. Propagation in other directions was examined as well. In most cases, velocities were below that for action potential conduction, suggesting that recurrent excitation and/or ephaptic interactions play a role in discharge propagation. Future investigations of the cellular and organizational properties of regions identified in this study should help clarify the neurobiological basis of high seizure susceptibility.
Corticolous myxomycetes of Singapore.

Abstract The moist chamber culture technique was employed to detect myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds) associated with the bark surface of living trees. Twenty-five species of myxomycetes in 13 genera were identified from moist-chambered bark samples collected at three localities in Singapore. Seventeen species are new records for Singapore. One species, Comatricha pseudonigra was previously known only from Mitchell River National Park in the state of Victoria, Australia. Introduction All previous published reports of myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds) from Malaysia and Singapore have dealt with species that produce fruiting bodies which are large enough to be detected in the field (Chip, 1921; Sanderson, 1922; Emoto, 1931; Lister, 1931; Nawawi, 1973). Fruiting bodies of “corticolous” (bark-inhabiting) myxomycetes are usually too minute to be detected in nature but can be recovered from the bark of living trees by using the moist chamber technique of Gilbert and Martin (1933). The purpose of this study was to survey the myxomycetes of the bark microhabitat in Singapore.
Bloating in (Pb 0.95 Sn 0.05 Te) 0.92 (PbS) 0.08 -0.055%PbI 2 Thermoelectric Specimens as a Result of Processing Conditions

Lead chalcogenides such as (Pb0.95Sn0.05Te)0.92(PbS)0.08-0.055%PbI2 have received attention due to their encouraging thermoelectric properties. For the hot pressing (HP) and pulsed electric current sintering (PECS) techniques used in this study, decomposition reactions can generate porosity (bloating). Porosity in turn can degrade electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. In this study, microstructural observations (scanning electron microscopy) and room-temperature elasticity measurements (resonant ultrasound spectroscopy) were used to characterize bloating generated during post-densification anneals. Although every HP specimen bloated during post-densification annealing, no bloating was observed for the PECS specimens processed from dry milled only powders. The lack of bloating for the annealed PECS specimens may be related to the electrical discharge intrinsic in the PECS process, which reportedly cleans the powder particle surfaces during densification.
Recent changes in the air-sea gas exchange of methyl chloroform

Atmospheric measurements of methyl chloroform provide important constraints on the rate of oxidation of hydrocarbons in Earth's atmosphere. Estimates of the loss of methyl chloroform to the oceans play a small but important role in these calculations. Here, we examine the ocean-atmosphere interaction of methyl chloroform in a global ocean model. Contrary to previous assumptions, these simulations suggest that the high-latitude oceans are currently a source of this chemical to the atmosphere. If confirmed, this finding alters estimates of the change in the atmospheric oxidation rate of hydrocarbons. We highlight the potential usefulness of methyl chloroform as a tracer of ocean circulation.
Copula density estimation by total variation penalized likelihood with linear equality constraints

A copula density is the joint probability density function (PDF) of a random vector with uniform marginals. An approach to bivariate copula density estimation is introduced that is based on maximum penalized likelihood estimation (MPLE) with a total variation (TV) penalty term. The marginal unity and symmetry constraints for copula density are enforced by linear equality constraints. The TV-MPLE subject to linear equality constraints is solved by an augmented Lagrangian and operator-splitting algorithm. It offers an order of magnitude improvement in computational efficiency over another TV-MPLE method without constraints solved by the log-barrier method for the second order cone program. A data-driven selection of the regularization parameter is through K-fold cross-validation (CV). Simulation and real data application show the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The MATLAB code implementing the methodology is available online.
Oxidative Stress and Neuronal DNA Fragmentation Mediate Age-Dependent Vulnerability to the Mitochondrial Toxin, 3-Nitropropionic Acid, in the Mouse Striatum

Oxidative stress is involved in the neuropathology of several neurodegenerative diseases and stroke, all of which are related to excitotoxicity. Age-dependent vulnerability is characteristic of these conditions. It is not clear whether apoptosis-related neuronal death is involved in age-dependent vulnerability to excitotoxicity. We evaluated whether apoptosis-related neuronal death after treatment with 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) is age-dependent in the mouse striatum. We have demonstrated that oxidative stress occurs early after 3-NP treatment and even more so in aged mice. DNA fragmentation with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated uridine 5'-triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling staining and gel electrophoresis occurred in an age-dependent fashion. Expression of the DNA repair enzyme, apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease, was more attenuated in old mice. Therefore, these results suggest that oxidative stress induces age-dependent neuronal apoptosis in the mouse striatum after 3-NP treatment, which in turn produces an age-dependent vulnerability to 3-NP.
Organizational culture and effectiveness: A study of values, attitudes, and organizational outcomes

Abstract That organizational culture influences firm effectiveness is an assumption implicitly held by many managers and management researchers, although few empirical studies have provided detailed insight into the relationship. This manuscript addresses this dearth of research by examining employee attitudes as a potential mediator of the relationship between organizational culture, as operationalized by the competing values framework [Quinn, R.E., Beyond Rational Management. San Francisco: Josey-Bass; 1988.], and diverse measures of organizational effectiveness. Results of this study, which was conducted in 99 healthcare facilities across the US, provide evidence that suggests that employee attitudes mediate the culture–effectiveness relationship.
Acute sleep deprivation enhances post-infection sleep and promotes survival during bacterial infection in Drosophila.

Study objectives Sleep is known to increase as an acute response to infection. However, the function of this behavioral response in host defense is not well understood. To address this problem, we evaluated the effect of acute sleep deprivation on post-infection sleep and immune function in Drosophila. Setting Laboratory. Participants Drosophila melanogaster. Methods and results Flies were subjected to sleep deprivation before (early DEP) or after (late DEP) bacterial infection. Relative to a non-deprived control, flies subjected to early DEP had enhanced sleep after infection as well as increased bacterial clearance and survival outcome. Flies subjected to late DEP experienced enhanced sleep following the deprivation period, and showed a modest improvement in survival outcome. Continuous DEP (early and late DEP) throughout infection also enhanced sleep later during infection and improved survival. However, improved survival in flies subjected to late or continuous DEP did not occur until after flies had experienced sleep. During infection, both early and late DEP enhanced NFκB transcriptional activity as measured by a luciferase reporter (κB-luc) in living flies. Early DEP also increased NFκB activity prior to infection. Flies that were deficient in expression of either the Relish or Dif NFκB transcription factors showed normal responses to early DEP. However, the effect of early DEP on post-infection sleep and survival was abolished in double mutants, which indicates that Relish and Dif have redundant roles in this process. Conclusions Acute sleep deprivation elevated NFκB-dependent activity, increased post-infection sleep, and improved survival during bacterial infection.
A New Facility for the Investigation of Low Noise Millimeter Wave Techniques

This paper describes a new state-of-the-art facility for millimeter-wave radioastronomy and instrumentation research presently nearing completion at the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory (FCRAO), in Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S.A. The system, employing a precision 13.7 meter reflector and state-of-the-art cooled receiver technology at 94 GHz, will demonstrate an order of magnitude increase in channel capacity over all presently used satellite communications systems. This bandwidth enhancement will be accomplished with lower total system noise figures than any other system presently operational at millimeter wavelengths. It is also argued that developing the 94 GHz band will result in reduced cost-per-unit-bandwidth for future satellite communications facilities.
Encoding and choice in the task span paradigm

Cognitive control during sequences of planned behaviors requires both plan-level processes such as generating, maintaining, and monitoring the plan, as well as task-level processes such as selecting, establishing and implementing specific task sets. The task span paradigm (Logan in J Exp Psychol Gen 133:218–236, 2004) combines two common cognitive control paradigms, task switching and working memory span, to investigate the integration of plan-level and task-level processes during control of sequential behavior. The current study expands past task span research to include measures of encoding processes and choice behavior with volitional sequence generation, using the standard task span as well as a novel voluntary task span paradigm. In two experiments, we consider how sequence complexity, defined separately for plan-level and task-level complexity, influences sequence encoding (Experiment 1), sequence choice (Experiment 2), sequence memory, and task performance of planned sequences of action. Results indicate that participants were sensitive to sequence complexity, but that different aspects of behavior are most strongly influenced by different types of complexity. Hierarchical complexity at the plan level best predicts voluntary sequence generation and memory; while switch frequency at the task level best predicts encoding of externally defined sequences and task performance. Furthermore, performance RTs were similar for externally and internally defined plans, whereas memory was improved for internally defined sequences. Finally, participants demonstrated a significant sequence choice bias in the voluntary task span. Consistent with past research on choice behavior, volitional selection of plans was markedly influenced by both the ease of memory and performance.
SEXUAL REPRODUCTION AND INTERCROSSING IN VOLVULINA STEINW(1).

Gametes of Volvulina steinii bear near-apical mating papillae. Zygospore germination yields a single biflagellate cell that develops into a colony xuhose asexual progeny are all of the same mating type. Backcrossing of clones of progeny indicated a 1 :1 ratio of mating types among the progeny. Of 20 clones from a number of localities, none was homothallic and 3 showed no matins: reaction. Mating reactions of clones crossed in all possible combinations indicated the presence of 2 sexually isolated groups of clones producing smooth-walled zygospores and 1 group that produced spiny-walled zygospores. In the latter group weak and nonreciprocal mating reactions occurred in some clone combinations. Failure of germination of spiny-walled zygospores from certain crosses suggests further subdivision into genetically isolated groups.
The epidemiology of HIV infection among injecting drug users and other risk populations in Thailand.

HIV infection and AIDS in Thailand had been increasing among injecting drug users (IDU) from approximately 1% reported in 1987 to over 40% in late 1988. Two genetically different viruses have been shown to cause HIV infection among IDU and individuals infected sexually. HIV subtype B is responsible for 67-78% of infections in IDU patients while HIV subtype E is responsible for 96% of infections in sexually acquired cases. It appears that 2 separate epidemics are occurring simultaneously. It has recently been noted that the HIV subtype E frequency in the IDU individuals seems to be increasing. A stable but high HIV prevalence rate of 40% among IDU in Bangkok was found. The incidence however is higher than observed in IDU individuals from Europe or North America. This is believed to be related to the high turnover rate (70%) of IDU individuals seeking the Thai governments detoxification treatment program. This study also compared 2 methods for estimating seroconversion. Method one assumed that the study subjects had an equal risk of HIV seroconverting on any day between blood testing (midpoint analysis) and produced an artificially low incidence estimate at both the beginning and end of a study interval. Method two assigned an equal probability for each day of the study interval for the patient to seroconvert. According to the author this produced a more realistic estimate of the incidence curve. The IDU infections are important but are generally considered a minor part of the HIV infection epidemic which is occurring in Thailand. Thailands HIV-positive population offers an opportunity for a field study of vaccines as well as an opportunity to field test and evaluate prevention methods and strategies.
TU‐C‐I‐609‐07: Optimization of a Real Time Dual‐Energy Subtraction Technique Based On a Flat Panel Detector

Purpose: To determine the optimal x-ray spectra for dual-energy subtraction with a flat panel detector (FPD), and to quantify the effects of dynamic filtration and FPD gain settings on image quality, tube loading, patient exposure, and overall system performance. Method and Materials: A simulation study was performed using available empirically determined data of x-ray spectra. The lungs and mediastinum of the chest were modeled with 12.5 cm and 20 cm thick regions of Lucite, respectively. Coronary calcification was modeled with a 1 mm thickness of bone-equivalent plastic. The FPD was modeled as an ideal detector with a 600 micron thick layer of CsI. Scatter was not considered in this study. Low and high energy images were normalized to a desired energy deposit in the detector dependent on FPD gain. A figure-of-merit (FOM) was used t6o quantify the overall system performance. The effects of various silver filter thicknesses (0–1000 microns), high to low energy image signal ratios (1–8), and two dual-energy noise reduction algorithms were evaluated for their effect on image quality, patient entrance exposure, tube loading, and FOM improvement. Results: As the thickness of the high-energy filter increased, image contrast, contrast-to-noise ratio, FOM and tube loading increased. Patient exposure was reduced by approximately 10% for the range of filter thicknesses studied. The FOM was maximized with a FPD signal ratio of approximately 3 without application of dual-energy noise reduction. However, dual gain operation did not show any improvement after noise reduction. Conclusion: An optimal dynamic filter combined with dual-energy noise reduction can improve the system FOM by a factor of 5. There is no further improvement in the system FOM when dual detector gain is used in conjunction with dual-energy noise reduction.
Transport properties of n-dodecane

We have surveyed literature data and developed correlations for the viscosity and thermal conductivity of n-dodecane that are valid over a wide range of fluid states. The new correlations are applicable from the triple point (263.59 K) to 800 K, and at pressures up to 200 MPa. The viscosity correlation has an estimated uncertainty of 0.5% along the saturation boundary in the liquid phase, 3% in the compressed liquid region, and 3% in the vapor (where the uncertainties can be considered as estimates of a combined expanded uncertainty with a coverage factor of 2). The thermal conductivity correlation has an estimated uncertainty of 4% along the liquid saturation boundary and in the compressed liquid, and ∼5% in the vapor region.
Assessing fear in patients with cervical pain: Development and validation of the Pictorial Fear of Activity Scale-Cervical (PFActS-C)

The fear avoidance model (FAM) postulates that fear of pain or reinjury is a risk factor for persistent pain and disability, because it leads to the avoidance of physical activity. Research on the FAM has not yielded consistent results, which may be attributed to the model itself, but could also be a product of the way fear of movement is assessed. Studies of the FAM have measured fear using verbal scales consisting of items that are often vague and have only an indirect relationship with fear. This study reports on the development of a Pictorial Fear of Activity Scale-Cervical (PFActS-C). The instrument consists of a set of photographs depicting movements in which four factors that determine biomechanical demands on the neck are systematically varied--Direction of Movement, Arm Position, Weight Bearing, and Extremity of Movement. Patients (n=355) who had been involved in motor vehicle collisions with minimal symptoms (n=143) and moderate to severe symptoms (n=212) rated their fear of engaging in a set of activities depicted in the PFActS-C. Based on a principle components analysis, a 19 item measure was developed. Internal consistency (alpha=.98), stability over time (n=44, IntraClass Correlation=.72), and construct validity were all good to excellent. The results indicate that the PFActS-C may be a useful tool for assessing fear of movement in patients with cervical pain. Research is needed to confirm the factor structure of the PFActS-C and to assess the generalizability of the results to other samples with neck pain.
Über Verbindungen des Typs “P(OR)2F3”

Es wird uber Darstellung, Eigenschaften und Aufbau der Verbindungen P(OR)2F3 mit R CH3, C2H5 und C6H5 berichtet. Acetonitrillosungen enthalten die Verbindungen in Form von [P(OR)4]+- und [PF6]−-Ionen. Die Methyl- und die Athylverbindung sind im festen Zustand ebenfalls aus diesen Ionenarten aufgebaut, wahrend die Phenylverbindung im festen Zustand einen molekularen Aufbau zeigt. Preparation, properties and structures of compounds P(OR)2F3 (R CH3, C2H5, C6H5) are described. Acetonitrilic solutions contain these compounds as [P(OR)4]+ and [PF6]− ions. The methyl and ethyl compound also contain these ion types in the solid state, whereas the solid phenyl compound has a molecular structure.
Syntheses and crystal structures of the lanthanum titanium oxyselenides La4Ti2O4Se5 and La6Ti3O5Se9

The new compounds La{sub 4}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 4}Se{sub 5} and La{sub 6}Ti{sub 3}O{sub 5}Se{sub 9} have been obtained from stoichiometric reactions of La, Ti, TiO{sub 2}, and Se in fused-silica tubes at 1223 K. Potassium halide fluxes were used to promote the crystallization. The compounds have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. La{sub 4}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 4}Se{sub 5} crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm with eight formula units in a cell at 153 K of dimensions a=3.9695(4) {angstrom}, b=33.115(3) {angstrom}, c=18.6380(18) {angstrom}. The five independent La atoms in the structure are found in four different coordination polyhedra, namely tricapped trigonal prism, bicapped trigonal prism, square antiprism, and 7-octahedron, whereas the three independent Ti atoms have octahedral coordination. The crystal structure comprises infinite layers that stack along the b-axis. Two adjacent layers are linked by La-Se bonds. La{sub 4}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 4}Se{sub 5} represents the first rare-earth titanium oxychalcogenide containing only Ti{sup 3+} cations. La{sub 6}Ti{sub 3}O{sub 5}Se{sub 9} crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m with four formula units in a cell at 153 K of dimensions a=43.999(6) {angstrom}, b=3.9454(6) {angstrom}, c=11.1093(16) {angstrom}, {beta}=96.882(2){degree}. The six independent La atoms in the structure are found in three different coordination polyhedra, namely tricappedmore » trigonal prism, bicapped trigonal prism, and 7-octahedron. The four independent Ti atoms have octahedral coordination. The crystal structure comprises infinite condensed layers of composition {sub {infinity}}{sup 2}[La{sub 2}Ti{sub 1}O{sub 2}Se{sub 3}] that stack successively with extended slabs of composition {sub {infinity}}{sup 2}[La{sub 4}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 3}Se{sub 6}] along the a-axis. La{sub 6}Ti{sub 3}O{sub 5}Se{sub 9} is a mixed-valence compound in which two-thirds of the Ti cations are Ti{sup 3+} and one-third are Ti{sup 4+}.« less
Blood, sweat, and tears: wasted by Medicare's missed opportunity.

Medicare’s failure to include clinical pharmacists among its list of providers is costing the United States health care system several billion dollars annually and is contributing to several hundred thousand strokes, heart attacks, and deaths each year. The recent report by Drs. Bond and Raehl adds to the extensive data of more than 100 articles supporting this waste. Their report found that the absence of clinical pharmacy services for hospitalized Medicare patients requiring anticoagulation cost more than 60,000 units of blood, $3 billion (sweat) in additional hospital charges, and more than 25,000 avoidable deaths (tears) annually for Medicare patients alone. As sobering as these findings are, it should be recognized that even more patient harm and waste are occurring in non-Medicare patients, ambulatory patients, patients receiving other forms of medical therapy, and millions of patients who are not receiving recommended therapy. The failure of Medicare to recognize clinical pharmacists as providers is the primary reason that these benefits are not being realized by most patients in the United States and by the U.S. health care system. In some instances, other professionals (who are not as well trained to provide clinical pharmacy services) are being used, under clinical pharmacist supervision, because the provider status of these other professionals allows them to bill Medicare. Failure to recognize clinical pharmacists as providers under Medicare severely limits the provision of these services and, thereby, harms and even kills thousands of patients annually, increases health care costs, limits the return on the resources invested in clinical pharmacists’ education and training, and represents an unfair business practice within the health care arena. What possible justification can there be for not allowing clinical pharmacy professionals to provide the beneficial and cost-saving services for which they are trained and licensed? In view of the available data, one has to question how Congress, Medicare, the pharmacy profession, and any other group committed to improving health care can allow such extensive waste and patient harm to continue. Legislation to secure Medicare provider status for clinical pharmacists was introduced in 2001 in both houses of the U.S. Legislature (House bill HR2799 and Senate bill S974), but neither bill made it to the floor for a vote. In its June 2002 report to the Congress, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission gave a favorable review to the issue of having Medicare pay for clinical pharmacy services; in June 2004 House bill HR4724 was introduced in a renewed effort to secure provider status for clinical pharmacists. At the time of this writing (October 2004), submission of a similar bill in the U.S. Senate is pending.
The Development of the Attitudes toward Computer Usage Scale

An Attitudes-Toward-Computer Usage Scale (ATCUS) was developed in two studies. In the first study, 40 items were administered to 365 undergraduate students to assess attitudes toward the use of computers and computer-related mechanisms. The scale was found to have high internal consistency and was significantly correlated with two other scales measuring attitudes toward computers. Sex differences were also found. Based on factor analysis results, the scale was reduced to 20 items and administered to 351 undergraduates in a second study, where is was also found to have high internal consistency. Factor analysis revealed four factors, with three showing significant sex differences.
Effects of porous coating, with and without collar support, on early relative motion for a cementless hip prosthesis.

Abstract In theory, porous or rough coatings could be used to reduce early post-operative relative motion about cementless hip prostheses. To investigate this theory, we used detailed, non-linear finite element analysis to compare early relative motion about a well-fit Anatomical Medullary Locking (AML) prosthesis for different amounts of porous coating (full, proximal 2 3 , and no coating), both with and without collar support. Details of the model included quantitative computed tomography-derived (QCT-derived) geometric and material properties for the bone, and a no-tension interface condition at all bone-prosthesis interfaces, with Coulomb friction (μ = 1.73) over coated surfaces and zero friction elsewhere. Predicted values of relative motion for this well-fit device were in the range of approximately 1–550 μm. The distribution of relative motion was relatively insensitive to the amount of porous coating but was sensitive to collar support, while the magnitude of relative motion was sensitive to the porous coating and collar support. In addition, a reduction in the porous coating caused larger increases in relative motion when there was no collar support, indicating an interaction between the effects of porous coating and collar support. For example, distal twist increased (full vs 2 3 partial coating) by 38% with collar support and by 58% without collar support. These data suggest that porous coating, or other surface treatments which result in a high coefficient of friction at the bone-prosthesis interface, may well be used to control the magnitude of early relative motion, particularly when there is no collar support.
Research and Practice in Child Interviewing: Implications for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence

Recent research documents the comorbidity of child maltreatment and domestic violence as well as the detrimental impact of exposure to domestic violence on children. Domestic violence and child interviewing also share the distinction of being contested social issues. This article argues that methods employed in interviewing children about child maltreatment can be applied to interviewing children about exposure to domestic violence. The article describes how cognitive interviewing, narrative elaboration, and event segmentation can be employed when talking to children about domestic violence. In addition, the article discusses how focused questions related to child maltreatment and child endangerment can be used to elicit information from children about domestic violence.
Drinking to cope among African American college students: an assessment of episode-specific motives

Despite evidence that African Americans are disproportionately affected by drinking to cope relative to European Americans, African American college students' drinking motives remain understudied. Additionally, most research has only examined between-person differences in drinking to cope as a predictor of alcohol use, ignoring within-person variability. In the current daily diary study of 462 African American undergraduates from a historically Black university, associations between episode-specific drinking to cope motives and alcohol use were tested, an approach more consistent with motivational theories of drinking. At baseline, students completed traditional global drinking motive measures; then for 30 days they reported the number of standard drinks they consumed the previous night, and, if they drank, their coping, enhancement, and social reasons for doing so. Students who reported higher mean levels of episode-specific coping motives, on average, consumed more alcohol on drinking evenings. Furthermore, mean episode-specific coping motives, but not global coping motives, predicted average levels of alcohol use. Additionally, coping motives were particularly important for predicting nonsocial (vs. social) drinking. Finally, during evenings for which students reported higher than usual episode-specific coping motives, men consumed more alcohol in both social and nonsocial contexts; in contrast, women reporting higher than usual drinking-to-cope motives only consumed more nonsocial drinks. In conclusion, drinking among African American college students was related to coping motives, particularly among men and in the context of nonsocial alcohol consumption. Moreover, motivational theories of alcohol use may be refined by measuring episode-specific drinking motives that more accurately capture the drinking-to-cope process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Plasma cytokines after thermal injury and their relationship to infection.

Objective The relationship of plasma cytokine levels to infection, core temperature, and to one another in patients with thermal injury was examined. Summary background data The response to infection has been associated with cytokines such as interleukin 1 beta (IL1 beta), interleukin 6 (IL6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), and these cytokines have been studied in various inflammatory diseases. The authors previously reported that patients with thermal injury have elevated IL1 beta and IL6 plasma levels and that these cytokines may play different roles in the response to thermal injury. Methods IL1 beta, IL6, and TNF alpha were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serial samples of plasma from 27 patients. Results IL6 and TNF alpha levels were increased in severely infected patients as compared to patients who remained free of infection, and the IL6 level was higher in infected patients who died than those who survived. There was no apparent relationship between IL1 beta levels and infection. IL6 and IL1 beta were positively correlated with core temperature. The correlations between IL6 and IL1 beta, between IL6 and TNF alpha, and between TNF alpha and IL1 beta were significant. Conclusions These results suggest that IL6 and TNF alpha play a role in the response of burned patients to infection.
Abstract A103: ET-743 and irinotecan cooperate to inhibit the EWS/FLI1 transcription factor and the associated DNA damage response.

Background: ET-743 (Trabectedin, Yondelis™) is a natural product recently identified as a particularly active agent for Ewing9s sarcoma cells in vitro. ET-743 interferes with the activity of the oncogenic transcription factor EWS/FLI1 in Ewing9s sarcoma cells. In addition ET-743 induces DNA damage and poisons DNA damage repair pathways. In this report, we hypothesized that the EWS-FLI1 transcriptional program may mediate aspects of the DNA damage response. Therefore, interference with EWS/FLI1 activity by ET-743 may confer additional sensitivity to specific cytotoxic agents. Methods: DNA repair pathways and EWS/FLI1 targets were evaluated by microarray expression, western blot analysis and siRNA interference. To optimize the activity of ET-743 in Ewing9s sarcoma several combination therapies were investigated in vitro. The combination of ET-743 and Irinotecan was further evaluated in vivo with two ESFT xenograft models. Results: ESFT cells displayed increased sensitivity to the combination of ET-743 and the topoisomerase I inhibitor, SN-38. This result was unique to topoisomerase I inhibitors and further restricted to ESFT cell lines. Preliminary xenograft results suggest the combination is also effective in vivo. This sensitivity can be accounted for by both the impaired DNA damage response and greater transcriptional inhibition of EWS/FLI1. Previous reports have established that cells deficient in WRN, a critical protein in the NHEJ DNA repair pathway, are hypersensitive to topoisomerase I inhibitors. Microarray expression and western blot analysis revealed that ET-743 suppresses WRN expression. Further siRNA data showed that the EWS/FLI1 transcription factor drives the expression of WRN. These results suggest that WRN suppression by ET-743 is occurring through an EWS/FLI1 dependent mechanism. Additionally Irinotecan augments the transcriptional inhibition of EWS/FLI1, as evident by suppression of downstream targets. Conclusion: We have proposed a mechanism for the clinically relevant combination treatment of ET-743 and Irinotecan by interfering with the DNA damage response and augmenting the transcriptional interference of EWS/FLI1. By linking the EWS-FLI1 transcriptional program to the DNA damage response in ESFT cells, we expose an inherent weakness to topoisomerase I inhibitors thus creating a cell type specific sensitivity to the drug. In addition, we found Irinotecan cooperates with the ET-743 mediated suppression of EWS/FLI1 targets. These two effects increase the sensitivity of ESFT cells to this drug combination. Finally, the report provides a novel method of oncogenic transcription factor targeting that involves direct suppression of downstream targets and exploitation of the resulting changes in gene expression. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A103.