cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Involving Hispanic Parents in Educational Activities Through Collaborative Relationships

Abstract This article is based on a literature review of school districts’ successful practices in involving Hispanic parents, particularly migrant and immigrant parents, in their children’s school activities. It presents a brief overview of the tradition of parental involvement, followed by a force field analysis of factors, which facilitate or hinder the involvement in education of this population. Finally, the author presents promising practices which result in higher levels of involvement and, most importantly, foster positive relationships.
Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

New results in this issue of Science by Olson et al. ([p. 884][1]) report a way to genetically engineer mosquitoes so they cannot transmit dengue fever to humans. This first successful effort to express an exogenous gene that confers resistance to an important human pathogen is discussed by James in his Perspective. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.272.5263.884
Developing a virtual simulation game for elearning

This case study describes interactive learning in an online environment in which technical communication students use a digital construction kit (OMEGA) to collaboratively design a product, write assembly instructions, and test another teams' work. It presents an example of using readily-available software, Microsoft Visio, in designing instructional projects. The theoretical framework (constructivism, engagement theory, and simulation) for the project is presented, followed by outcomes and lessons learned.
Electrodeposition of Group-IIIA Doped ZnO as a Transparent Conductive Oxide

Electrodeposition of Group-IIIA (Al and Ga) doped ZnO with resistivity as low as 3.8×10-4 Ω-cm is reported here. This ZnO can be used as an "on-top" transparent conductive oxide which is deposited on semiconductors in thin-film solar cells such as amorphous Si, CIGS, and organic cells. In addition to low cost, high throughput, and large-area processing, electrodeposition provides advantages other solution-based deposition techniques do not offer, including precise and in-line control of the film thickness. After post-deposition annealing, Al-doped ZnO achieves a resistivity of 8×10-4 Ω-cm and Ga-doped ZnO 3.8×10-4 Ω-cm, respectively. The doping mechanism is believed to be co-precipitation of ZnO with Al2O3 or Ga2O3 in the aqueous solution, leading to Al or Ga substitution of Zn in the ZnO lattice as n-type dopant. Both Al-doped and Ga-doped ZnO shows high transmittance above 80% for films of ~450 nm thick.
Obstructive sleep apnea surgery practice patterns in the United States: 2000 to 2006

Abstract Objective To determine obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) surgical volume, types, costs, and trends. To explore whether specific patient and hospital characteristics are associated with the performance of isolated palate versus hypopharyngeal surgery and with costs. Study Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Inpatient and outpatient medical facilities in the United States. Subjects and Methods OSA procedures were identified in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample for 2000, 2004, and 2006 and from State Ambulatory Surgery Databases and State Inpatient Databases for 2006 from four representative states (California, New York, North Carolina, and Wisconsin). National combined inpatient and outpatient surgery estimates for 2006 were generated using a combination of databases. Chi-square and regression analysis examined procedure volume and type and inpatient procedure costs. Results In 2006, an estimated 35,263 surgeries were performed in inpatient and outpatient settings, including 33,087 palate, 6561 hypopharyngeal, and 1378 maxillomandibular advancement procedures. The odds of undergoing isolated palate surgery were higher for younger (18-39 yrs) and black patients. Outpatient procedures were more common than inpatient procedures. Inpatient surgical volume declined from 2000 to 2006, but it was not possible to evaluate trends in total volumes. In 2006, mean costs were approximately $6000 per admission. For inpatient procedures in 2004 and 2006, costs were higher for hypopharyngeal (vs isolated palate) surgery, in rural hospitals, and for patients who were younger, with greater medical comorbidity, and with primary Medicaid coverage. Conclusion Surgical treatment is performed in 0.2 percent of all adults with OSA annually. Validation of the exploratory findings concerning procedure type and cost requires additional studies, ideally including adjustment for clinical factors.
Blessed Anastacia: Women, Race, and Popular Christianity in Brazil

Blessed Anastacia: Women, Race, and Popular Christianity in Brazil. John Burdick. New York: Routledge, 1998. vii. 246 pp., photographs, notes, bibliography, index.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia: a review and ultrasound classification.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is reviewed, including definition, natural history, diagnosis, and brief discussion of clinical management. Transrectal ultrasound is used to demonstrate the gross anatomy and natural history of BPH and its role in diagnosis and treatment strategies. A potentially useful ultrasound classification of BPH based on the gross anatomic classification of Randall is illustrated.
L 1 group consensus of multi-agent systems with stochastic inputs under directed interaction topology

We address L 1 group consensus problems of networked multi-agent systems with fixed directed information exchange in this article. A discrete-time protocol is designed to solve the L 1 group consensus problems via general stochastic inputs. Under some mild assumptions, we derive sufficient conditions to guarantee the L 1 group consensus based on algebraic graph theory and ergodicity theory for finite Markov chains. Moreover, the boundedness of the expected infinite sum of the inputs ensures the boundedness of the expected trajectory. Numerical simulations instantiating the inputs as varied independent and identically distributed random processes as well as autoregressive processes are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of our theoretical results.
Perspectives on...copyright and fair-use guidelines for education and libraries: the multimedia guidelines

The process leading to the drafting of fair-use guidelines for educators who are creating multimedia curricula is documented through the experience of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), one of the dozens of educational organizations that served on the development committee. This article outlines the challenges and opportunities presented by new media, the issues that have engaged educators and copyright holders in heated debate, and the strategies that helped move a committee from impasse to action over a three-year period. Summarizing sections of the guidelines, the article makes plain the purpose of multimedia guidelines, their relation to fair-use law, who can benefit from using them and how, and some of the public education and advocacy campaigns created by the committee to promote public awareness about fair use and the multimedia guidelines.
Molecule—surface collision-induced dissociation of internally excited NO2 on MgO(100)

Abstract Collision-induced dissociation (CID) of highly excited NO 2 in the mixed 2 A 1 / 2 B 2 electronic system has been observed for well characterized MgO(100) surfaces with parent and product angular resolution at various internal energies. NO state distributions were probed by two-photon, two-frequency ionization, and its yield was found to track the NO 2 absorption spectrum, confirming the CID mechanism. The angular dependence of the NO state distribution indicates that CID occurs following direct inelastic scattering rather than trapping-desorption.
Capillary discharge thermonuclear burner design

Abstract Design considerations are presented for a capillary discharge thermonuclear burner with parameters near energy break-even.
An alternate proof related to the algebraic Riccati equation

An alternate proof of necessary conditions for the existence of a unique positive-semidefinite stabilizing solution of the algebraic Riccati equation is given.
Industrial recruitment and economic development: a comparative analysis of competing south‐eastern cities using perceptual mapping

In this study of industrial recruitment and economic development, perceptual mapping was used to identify the collective and individual positions of ten competing south‐eastern cities. The perceived position of the “ideal” city also was captured by the study's findings. Industrial real estate executives who were surveyed indicated that some cities have positioned themselves strategically in terms of quality of life, whereas others are recognized because of their resources and markets or pro‐business environment. Some cities appear better able to take advantage of their position, whereas others face economic development obstacles.
The relationship between borderline personality disorder criteria and dysthymia symptoms

Several authors have proposed that the comorbidity of borderline personality disorder is, in part, due to the overlap between the criterion sets. To test this proposition, the relationship between BPD criteria and dysthymia symptoms was assessed in a large sample of psychiatric inpatients. Substantial covariation was observed between individual BPD items and dysthymia symptoms. In addition, results indicated that four BPD items (affective instability, suicidal threats/gestures/behavior/self-mutilating behavior, chronic feelings of emptiness/boredom, and frantic attempts to avoid real/imagined abandonment) were significantly associated with both the number of 11 dysthymia symptoms rated as present and a diagnosis of dysthymia. Implications of these results and directions for future research are discussed.
The regional and species differences on the activation of myocardial alpha-adrenoceptors by phenylephrine and methoxamine

1. 1. The inotropic responses to phenylephrine and methoxamine were compared in isolated left and right atria, ventricles and papillary muscles from rat, guinea-pig and rabbit. The responses were not consistent to both alpha-adrenoceptor agonists and depended on the type of preparation. 2. 2. The positive inotropic effect of phenylephrine was much greater than that of methoxamine in most of the preparations. However, in the rat atria, the inotropic effect of both agonists was equivalent. 3. 3. Phenolamine treatment (10−6M) shifted the dose response curve for phenylephrine to the right in all the preparations except for guinea-pig ventricles and papillary muscles. However, after combined treatment with phentolamine and propranolol (both 10−6M), the maximum tension increase produced by phenylephrine was inhibited. 4. 4. On the other hand, phentolamine nearly abolished the methoxamine-induced positive inotropic effect in rat ventricles and papillary muscles and reversed the methoxamine response to a negative inotropic effect in rabbit left atria. Even in the absence of phentolamine, methoxamine was able to elicit a negative inotropic effect in guinea pig ventricles and papillary muscles. 5. 5. Propranolol (10−6M) did not have apparent effect on any of the methoxamine responses. 6. 6. In the atria from the different animals, methoxamine could elicit the positive inotropic effect at different frequencies of stimulation (0.5–2.0 Hz). 7. 7. These results suggested that the existence of the regional and species differences should be considered in a study of the nature of myocardial adrenoceptors and that the alpha receptor is capable of eliciting an inotropic effect.
Unraveling Uses and Effects of an Interactive Health Communication System

By developing a number of measures distinguishing amount, type of content, and when and how that content is used, the current study revealed effective patterns of use that are associated with quality of life benefits during an eHealth intervention. Results generally suggest that the benefits depend on how a patient uses the system, far more than on sheer amount of exposure or even what type of content is chosen. The next generation of eHealth system should focus on providing new and varying content over time, but even more on encouraging intensity of use and long-term commitment to the system.
A charge conserving non-quasi-state (NQS) MOSFET model for SPICE transient analysis

An analytic charge-conserving non-quasi-static (NQS) model is derived for long-channel MOSFETs and has been implemented in SPICE3. The model is based on approximate solutions to the transient current continuity equation, an analytic equations are derived for node charges using the charge-sheet formulation. The NQS effects in several test circuits, which include a pass transistor, a CMOS inverter chain, and a differential sample-hold circuit, are stimulated. Excellent agreements have been observed among this work, PISCES (2-D device simulation), the 1-D numerical simulation, the multiple lump model, and CODECS (a mixed device and circuit simulation). However, large differences have been observed between this work and conventional quasi-static (QS) models. The model computation time of this work implemented in SPICE3 is about 2-3 times larger than those of QS models (BSIM, Level-2 Meyer) in SPICE3. >
Reflection properties of metallic gratings on ZnO films over GaAs substrates

A potential application for piezoelectric film deposited on GaAs substrates is the monolithic integration of surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices with GaAs electronics. Metallic gratings are basic elements-required for the construction of such devices, and analyzing the reflectivity and the velocity change due to metallic gratings is often a critical design parameter. In this article, the Datta and Hunsinger technique is extended to the case of a multilayered structure, and the developed technique is applied to analyze shorted and open gratings on ZnO films sputtered over (001)-cut (110)-propagating GaAs substrates. The analysis shows that zero reflectivity of shorted gratings can be obtained by a combination of the ZnO film and the metal thickness and the metallization ratio of the grating. Experiments are performed on shorted and on open gratings (with the center frequency of about 180 MHz) for three different metal thicknesses over ZnO films which are 0.8 mm and 1.6 mm thick. From the experiments, zero reflectivity at the resonant frequency of the grating is observed for a reasonable thickness (h/l=0.5%) of aluminum metallization. The velocity shift between the shorted and the open grating is also measured to be 0.18 MHz and 0.25 MHz for 0.8 mm and 1.6 mm thickness of the ZnO film, respectively. The measured data show relatively good agreement with theoretical predictions
Alternative function of a protein kinase homology domain in 2′,5′-oligoadenylate dependent RNase L

RNase L is the 2',5'-oligoadenylate (2-5A)-dependent endoribonuclease that functions in interferon action and apoptosis. One of the intriguing, albeit unexplained, features of RNase L is its significant homology to protein kinases. Despite the homology, however, no protein kinase activity was detected during activation and RNA cleavage reactions with human RNase L. Similarly, the kinase plus ribonuclease domains of RNase L produced no detectable protein kinase activity in contrast to the phosphorylation obtained with homologous domains of the related kinase and endoribonuclease, yeast IRE1p. In addition, neither ATP nor pA(2'p5'A)3was hydrolyzed by RNase L. To further investigate the function of the kinase homology in RNase L, the conserved lysine at residue 392 in protein kinase-like domain II was replaced with an arginine residue. The resulting mutant, RNase LK392R, showed >100-fold decreases in 2-5A-dependent ribonuclease activity without reducing 2-5A- or RNA-binding activities. The greatly reduced activity of RNase LK392Rwas correlated to a defect in the ability of RNase L to dimerize. These results demonstrate a critical role for lysine 392 in the activation and dimerization of RNase L, thus suggesting that these two activities are intimately linked.
Behavior of the aurora during 10–12 May, 1999 when the solar wind nearly disappeared

We show that die aurora was still active with occasional pseudo breakup events when die solar wind density diminished to unusually small densities during May 10-12, 1999. The aurora was observed at high magnetic latitudes indicating that the electron precipitation source moved northward as die soar wind and geomagnetic activities decreased. These features are well known and seen at other times when the geomagnetic activities are weak. Intense auroral events accompanied other periods of low solar wind density (for example, February 10, 1997 and May 5,1998) indicating that the solar wind density alone is not die primary parameter that controls die auroral activity. However, a new auroral feature was observed on May, 11, 1999 during approx. 09-20 LIT hours. The electron precipitation was energetic, uniform and covered the polar latitudes commonly identified as die polar cap region. This precipitation lasted form ore that 10 hours and was stable over time scales of tens of minutes. On May 12, as the solar wind began to recover, a prolonged period of dayside activity occurred and was subsequently followed by a "typical" aurora at approx. 05 UT. All of the auroral activities occurred accompanying weak auroral electrojet activity (approx. 150 nT maximum).
Bioactivity screenings of plants selected on the basis of folkloric use or presence of lignans in a family

Twenty-one plant species were selected to provide samples for a pilot test of the newly established in-house antiviral screening programme at The University of Mississippi. These species were selected on the basis of folkloric use or the present of lignans in the plant family to increase the likelihood of positive results. The percentage (19%) of species showing antiviral activity against either Rhino virus 1A or Herpes Simplex virus 1 was within the percentage range of plants with antiviral activity found in other screenings for which a similar basis for collection was used. The plant extracts were also screened for antimicrobial activity and for toxicity to brine shrimp. Results of the screenings for all biological activities were correlated with the basis for collection. The best correlation between basis for collection and biological activity was seen for species from plant families containing lignans that were collected based on folkloric use for colds and anti-Rhino viral activity.
Factors and Outcomes Associated with the Decision to Treat Primary Pulmonary Coccidioidomycosis

Background Studies that assess the value of initiating oral antifungal therapy to treat primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis have not been published previously. Methods Prospectively collected observational data were analyzed from patients with primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis who attended a single clinic devoted to the management of coccidioidomycosis that is located in a region of coccidioidal endemicity. Results Fifty-four of 105 patients with primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis were prescribed antifungal therapy, whereas 51 were not. No statistically significant differences were found between the 2 groups with regard to age, ethnicity, sex, or the presence or type of underlying diseases (for all, P > .100). Treated patients had a higher total clinical score (P = .001), had a higher symptom score (P = .049), and were more likely to have a culture of sputum that was positive for Coccidioides species (P = .048), compared with patients who were not prescribed therapy. There was prospective in-clinic follow-up for 43 patients, for a median duration of 286 days (range, 35-1124 days). The health of all 16 patients who were not treated improved after a median of 217 days, and no patients developed complications during follow-up. However, 2 of 20 patients who were treated but whose therapy was subsequently stopped developed disseminated disease. The rate of clinical improvement was similar in treated and untreated patients (P = .899). A retrospective follow-up of 58 of the remaining 62 patients identified 6 additional patients with complications, all from the group that was initially treated but whose therapy was subsequently discontinued. Conclusions Approximately one-half of patients with primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis were prescribed antifungal therapy on the basis of clinical severity. Complications were seen only among patients in the group that was prescribed therapy but whose treatment was discontinued.
Fine-structural alterations and clustering of developing synapses after chronic treatments with low levels of NMDA

In the visual pathway of frogs it is possible to apply low levels of NMDA chronically to the optic tectum and study the mechanisms underlying the stabilization of synapses developing within the CNS. Earlier studies (Cline and Constantine-Paton, 1990) found that chronic NMDA treatment of tecta innervated by two retinas results in a reduction of branching within the terminal arbors of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). We now report that this same chronic NMDA treatment produces fine-structural changes in synaptic morphology as well as local synaptic rearrangements within the retinotectal neuropil. Chronic NMDA treatment of doubly innervated tecta was associated with a thickening or darkening of both pre- and postsynaptic densities. These changes in synapse morphology were restricted to the superficial neuropil of tecta in regions where reductions in branches of RGC axonal arbors were observed at the light microscopic level. The fine- structural effects were absent from similarly treated tecta innervated by only one eye, where RGC axonal arbor pruning was not observed. Stereological analyses indicated that the incidence of two or more presynaptic profiles converging on the same postsynaptic process was significantly increased in the NMDA-treated, doubly innervated tecta. This observed increase in synaptic clustering was not associated with a larger synaptic active zone, or with an increase in the number of synapses per unit volume. These data are discussed in the context of the hypothesis that chronic NMDA treatment raises the threshold for synapse stabilization in tectal neurons, causing the selective loss of poorly correlated synapses of both retinal and non-retinal origin from tectal neuropil that is innervated by two retinas: increased pre- and postsynaptic thickening could reflect greater efficiency in the remaining synaptic contacts and their closer spatial proximity on the same postsynaptic process is consistent with greater cooperativity and less competition.
Acylglycerol Acylhydrolase (Lipase) Activities of Streptococcus lactis, Streptococcus cremoris, and Their Mutants

Abstract Cell-free extracts of Streptococcus lactis (C2) and Streptococcus cremoris (KH) and their mutants S. lactis (25Sp), and S. cremoris (KHA2) were evaluated for acylglycerol acylhydrolase (lipase) activity using different triacylglycerols and milk fat emulsions. All cell extracts exhibited lipase activity and hydrolyzed triacylglycerol substrates better than milk fat. Highest specific lipase activities were exhibited by S. cremoris (KHA2) with tributyrylglycerol and milk fat emulsions as substrates. Generally, highest specific lipase activity of all extracts occurred at 37°C and pH 7.0 to 8.5 for tributyrylglycerol and pH 7.0 for milk fat emulsions. Glutathione (.01% ppm) (wt/vol) in the growth medium increased lipase activity by 20 to 30%. Activity was greater in extracts from log-phase rather than stationary-phase cells. Lipolysis of tributyrylglycerol emulsion was increased by 3 to 7% over control values in the presence of .38 M (2%) NaCl and was retarded by 24 to 30% of control values in the presence of 3.42 M (20%) NaCl. Larger amounts of short-chain fatty acids (C 4:0 to C 8:0 ) were liberated by the mutant rather than parent strains. Both mutant strains liberated greater amounts of caprylic acid (C 8:0 ), 1.72 (KHA2) and 1.50 (25Sp) mg/100g of milk fat, as compared with 1.06 (KH) and 1.04 (C2) mg/100g of milk fat liberated by the parent strains. Somewhat greater amounts of palmitic acid (C 16:0 ) and oleic acid (C 18:1 ) were liberated from milk fat by cell-free extracts of mutant rather than parent strains.
Estimating causal effects of public health education campaigns using propensity score methodology

Many evaluations of public health education campaigns attempt to draw conclusions regarding the effect of messages on audiences’ attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors based on observational data. To make causal inferences in these instances, it is necessary to adjust estimated campaign effects for possible selection bias due to systematic differences between respondents exposed to the campaign and those that were not. In particular, it is necessary to adjust for the impact of confounding variables that are likely to be determinants of both campaign exposure and outcomes. In comparison to other available methods for adjusting for selection bias such as multiple regression and instrumental variable methods, propensity scores offer a particularly simple way of adjusting estimates of campaign exposure effects for selection bias. This paper discusses the logic of this approach and illustrates its application to the evaluation of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. q 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The next generation of low-cost personal air quality sensors for quantitative exposure monitoring

Abstract. Advances in embedded systems and low-cost gas sensors are enabling a new wave of low-cost air quality monitoring tools. Our team has been engaged in the development of low-cost, wearable, air quality monitors (M-Pods) using the Arduino platform. These M-Pods house two types of sensors – commercially available metal oxide semiconductor (MOx) sensors used to measure CO, O3, NO2, and total VOCs, and NDIR sensors used to measure CO2. The MOx sensors are low in cost and show high sensitivity near ambient levels; however they display non-linear output signals and have cross-sensitivity effects. Thus, a quantification system was developed to convert the MOx sensor signals into concentrations. We conducted two types of validation studies – first, deployments at a regulatory monitoring station in Denver, Colorado, and second, a user study. In the two deployments (at the regulatory monitoring station), M-Pod concentrations were determined using collocation calibrations and laboratory calibration techniques. M-Pods were placed near regulatory monitors to derive calibration function coefficients using the regulatory monitors as the standard. The form of the calibration function was derived based on laboratory experiments. We discuss various techniques used to estimate measurement uncertainties. The deployments revealed that collocation calibrations provide more accurate concentration estimates than laboratory calibrations. During collocation calibrations, median standard errors ranged between 4.0–6.1 ppb for O3, 6.4–8.4 ppb for NO2, 0.28–0.44 ppm for CO, and 16.8 ppm for CO2. Median signal to noise (S / N) ratios for the M-Pod sensors were higher than the regulatory instruments: for NO2, 3.6 compared to 23.4; for O3, 1.4 compared to 1.6; for CO, 1.1 compared to 10.0; and for CO2, 42.2 compared to 300–500. By contrast, lab calibrations added bias and made it difficult to cover the necessary range of environmental conditions to obtain a good calibration. A separate user study was also conducted to assess uncertainty estimates and sensor variability. In this study, 9 M-Pods were calibrated via collocation multiple times over 4 weeks, and sensor drift was analyzed, with the result being a calibration function that included baseline drift. Three pairs of M-Pods were deployed, while users individually carried the other three. The user study suggested that inter-M-Pod variability between paired units was on the same order as calibration uncertainty; however, it is difficult to make conclusions about the actual personal exposure levels due to the level of user engagement. The user study provided real-world sensor drift data, showing limited CO drift (under −0.05 ppm day−1), and higher for O3 (−2.6 to 2.0 ppb day−1), NO2 (−1.56 to 0.51 ppb day−1), and CO2 (−4.2 to 3.1 ppm day−1). Overall, the user study confirmed the utility of the M-Pod as a low-cost tool to assess personal exposure.
The clinical and laboratory diagnosis of acute meningitis and acute encephalitis

Introduction: Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) is a life-threatening infectious disease requiring prompt antimicrobial therapy. ABM must be differentiated from systemic disorders with CNS manifestations that may mimic ABM. ABM should also be differentiated from acute meningoencephalitis (AME) and acute viral encephalitis (AVE). Nonviral causes of AME are treatable. Among the causes of AVE, Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is treatable. This article reviews the clinical diagnostic approach to ABM, AME and AVE. Areas covered: The differential diagnostic (DDx) approach to ABM, AME and AVE is based on clinical and laboratory findings. A specific pathogen diagnosis is based on serum/cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests. This overview presents the diagnostic approach to ABM, AME and AVE in normal hosts (excluding brain abscesses and chronic CNS infections). Expert opinion: It is time critical to diagnose ABM and begin empiric antimicrobial therapy based on the known/most likely pathogen. The diagnosis of ABM depend...
Efficient user preference predictions using collaborative filtering

Two major challenges in collaborative filtering are the efficiency of the algorithms and the quality of the recommendations. A variety of machine learning methods have been applied to address these two issues, including feature selection, instance selection, and clustering. Most existing methods either compromise computational complexity or prediction precision. Two novel, scalable memory-based CF algorithms are proposed, namely BS1, BS2, which combine the strengths of existing techniques while discarding their weaknesses. Experiments show that both the efficiency and performance have been improved when compared to three classical techniques: VSIM, FCBF and PD.
Perceived Reactions to Interracial Romantic Relationships: When Race is Used as a Cue to Status

Two studies examined the hypothesis that race, by serving as an indicator of status, more strongly affects prejudice against females’ romantic relationships than males’. In Study 1, participants reported on an interracial romantic relationship about which close others disapproved. Consistent with evolutionary and social structural theories of mate selection, non-White males indicated more disapproval from their White female partners’ friends and family than all other combinations of race and gender. In Study 2, White females reported more anticipated disapproval for dating members of low status groups than did White males. Moreover, White females anticipated greater disapproval for dating non-Whites, but only if they perceived their parents as prejudiced. Evolutionary and social structural explanations for these findings are discussed.
Is work conducive to self-destruction?

While the current literature contains numerous studies and even more numerous assumptions linking aspects of the work setting, stress, and mortality; no systematic investigation has been made of possible patterns of stress-induced self-destructive behaviors among the work settings per se. This research paper attempts to help fill that gap by reporting on an analysis of data on industry, age and mortality rates for seven stress-related causes of death (suicide, homicide, hypertensive heart disease, cirrhosis of the liver, arteriosclerotic heart disease, ulcer of the stomach, and hypertension). Using available United States' mortality statistics, a consistent pattern is found for all of the stress-related types of deaths by industry and age. A suggested explanation of this pattern is based on status integration theory.
Liver X receptors and cholesterol homoeostasis: spotlight on the adrenal gland.

The LXRs (liver X receptors) (LXRα and LXRβ) are nuclear hormone receptors that are activated by oxysterols, endogenous oxidative metabolites of cholesterol. These receptors regulate an integrated network of genes that control whole body cholesterol and lipid homoeostasis. A brief overview of the mechanism of this regulation by LXRs in the liver, macrophage and intestine will be outlined, followed by data from our recent work demonstrating that LXRα is crucial in maintaining adrenal cholesterol homoeostasis. In the adrenal gland, oxysterols are formed as intermediates in the conversion of cholesterol into steroid hormones and can act as endogenous activators of LXR. We have found using both gain- and loss-of-function models that LXR acts to maintain free cholesterol below toxic levels in the adrenal gland, through the co-ordinated regulation of genes involved in cholesterol efflux [ABCA1 (ATP-binding-cassette transporter A1)], storage (sterol-regulatory-element-binding protein-1c and apolipoprotein E) and metabolism to steroid hormones (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein). Furthermore, we show that under chronic dietary stress, the adrenal glands of LXR-null mice (and not wild-type mice) accumulate free cholesterol. These results support the role of LXR as a global regulator of cholesterol homoeostasis, where LXR provides a safety valve to limit free cholesterol in tissues experiencing high cholesterol flux.
Analysis of the efficacy of an automated TheraCys BCG preparation

A standard pharmaceutical agent used in the treatment of bladder cancer, TheraCys BCG, poses a high toxicity risk to its surrounding environment, as well as, the individuals preparing it. The main component of the drug is the infectious bacteria, Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin (BCG), in a lyophilized form that is manually reconstituted by suspension in a saline buffer. The final preparation requires withdrawing the suspension into a syringe before placing it in a final buffer for administration, which introduces measurement, cross-contamination and inactivation challanges to the process. The DRUG-device serves to eliminate all these factors by automating the reconstitution process. A vertical actuating syringe is mounted above a rotating vial rack that contains: the lyophilized BCG, saline buffer and final buffer solution. The step-wise reconstitution process is then executed through a computer initiated sequence controller. A suspension of BCG is expected to contain an average of 10.5 ± 8.7 colony forming units per vial, which the device has shown to accurately produce using suspended granular molecular sieves as a check-out. Success with the automation of the TheraCys BCG preparation opens possibilities for use of this device with other reconstitutionable drugs such as Mitomycin and Intron A.
Integration of monitoring systems for grid environments

Traditional approaches to grid monitoring tend to focus on vertical systems that provide specific views of the system in select, key metrics. What happens when application and/or project requirements cover more than any single system can provide or when development time and effort are limited? We discuss here an integrative approach which focuses on combining components of "off the shelf" systems into a composite monitoring framework providing a broad range of monitoring indicators from several levels of the fabric/middleware/application stack. The solution implemented starts from an analysis of requirements, surveys the available products, and organizes a project which integrates the selected monitoring components into a framework, providing information used for performance measurements and debugging as well as accounting and resource management.
Estimation of Photorespiration Based on the Initial Rate of Postillumination CO2 Release: II. Effects of O2, CO2, and Temperature

An open system associated with an infrared gas analyzer was employed to study transients in CO2 exchange generated upon darkening preilluminated leaf discs of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum vars John Williams Broadleaf and Havana Seed). An empirical formula presented previously enabled prediction of the analyzer response under nonsteady state conditions as a function of time and of the leaf CO2 exchange rate. A computer was used to evaluate parameters of the leaf CO2 release rate to provide an estimate of the initial rate of postillumination CO2 evolution and to produce maximal agreement between predicted and observed analyzer responses. In 21% O2, the decline in rate of CO2 evolution upon darkening followed first order kinetics. Initial rates of CO2 evolution following darkening were relatively independent of the prior ambient CO2 concentrations. However, rates of photorespiration expressed as a fraction of net photosynthesis declined rapidly with increasing external CO2 concentration at 21% O2. Under normal atmospheric conditions, photorespiration was 45 to 50% of the net CO2 fixation rate at 32°C and high irradiance. The rapid initial CO2 evolution observed upon darkening at 21% O2 was absent in 3% O2. Rates of photorespiration under normal atmospheric concentrations of CO2 and O2 as measured by the postillumination burst were highly dependent upon temperature (observed activation energy = 30.1 kilocalories per mole). The results are discussed with respect to previously published estimates of photorespiration in C3 leaf tissue.
Cognitive speed as an objective measure of tinnitus.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Subjective, chronic tinnitus is a common but poorly understood condition. The heterogeneity within tinnitus has hindered the development of functional severity measures and effective treatment. Tinnitus at least partially results from maladaptive cortical processes that are associated with cognitive deficits. This study examined whether cognitive processing speed might serve as a novel objective measure of tinnitus severity, and whether the psychiatric comorbidities of depression and somatization are predictive of self-reported tinnitus severity. Study Design: Cross-sectional study of 92 chronic tinnitus participants. Methods: The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) captured the self-reported severity of tinnitus. Cognitive processing speed was objectively measured by the Brain Speed Test (BST), a short computerized test from Posit Science. Somatization and depression were captured by the Whiteley-7 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scales. The results of these tests were combined into a Composite Psychiatric State (CPS) variable. The ability of BST z score and CPS level to predict THI was assessed. Results: There was a significant correlation (r = 0.54, P < .001) between BST z scores and THI in those with bothersome tinnitus (THI ≥ 30). Additionally, BST z score was correlated with the validated neurocognitive tests. Multivariate analysis identified BST z score and CPS level as independent predictors of THI. Conclusions: In severe tinnitus, BST provides an objective measure of the functional impact of tinnitus. Cognitive processing speed and psychiatric state are independent predictors of self-reported tinnitus severity. These measures help define clinical subgroups within tinnitus: one subgroup whose functional impact is primarily cognitive and another whose functional impact is primarily psychiatric. Laryngoscope, 2012
Internal Knowledge Growth Due to Alliances: Evidence from Self Citations

Apart from facilitating knowledge flows between partners, do alliances also enhance the growth and utilization of knowledge within the firm’s boundaries? We address the question by studying changes...
Rethinking Diversity in Resegregated Schools: Lessons from a Case Study of Urban K-8 Preservice Teachers.

Using the research question “How do urban teacher candidates (TCs) understand socioeconomic, racial, and cultural diversity in resegregated urban educational contexts,” this case study examines the...
Evaluating Service Departments As Value Streams

Evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of service departments in a lean accounting environment is a subject that has received little attention. The cost of service departments is usually a substantial portion of the total costs of operating a business or other entity. This paper proposes a unique method of evaluating service departments in a lean accounting environment by recasting them as value streams. The Internal Auditing department is used as an example, although these techniques are applicable to all service departments of entities that use the lean accounting model.
Tolerance bands for functional data

Often the object of inference in biomedical applications is a range that brackets a given fraction of individual observations in a population. A classical estimate of this range for univariate measurements is a "tolerance interval." This article develops its natural extension for functional measurements, a "tolerance band," and proposes a methodology for constructing its pointwise and simultaneous versions that incorporates both sparse and dense functional data. Assuming that the measurements are observed with noise, the methodology uses functional principal component analysis in a mixed model framework to represent the measurements and employs bootstrapping to approximate the tolerance factors needed for the bands. The proposed bands also account for uncertainty in the principal components decomposition. Simulations show that the methodology has, generally, acceptable performance unless the data are quite sparse and unbalanced, in which case the bands may be somewhat liberal. The methodology is illustrated using two real datasets, a sparse dataset involving CD4 cell counts and a dense dataset involving core body temperatures.
Design of Warp Knit Spacer Fabrics – Recent research insights on technical applications

Warp knit fabrics are recently being used in technical applications. This paper critically reviews the recent research trends in warp knit spacer fabrics intended for various technical applications. When considering areas of applications such as sofas, seat covers, and cushions, warp knit spacer fabrics could offer a good substitute for polyurethane foams due to their advantages of combining compressive characteristics, air permeability, and thermoregulation arising out of their 3D structure. The compressive behavior of warp knit spacer fabrics has been analyzed under both static and dynamic conditions so as to determine their suitability for protective applications. The sound absorption behaviour of both warp and weft knitted fabrics have been studied. The study reveals that fabric surface structure and thickness, spacer yarn type and their connecting ways, fabric combinations and their arrangement methods have significant influence on the sound absorbability. The findings also show that good sound absorbability could be achieved by using knitted spacer fabrics when suitable fabric structures and combinations are used. Attempts have been made to study the relationships among the stab resistance and fabric density, thickness and the spacer structure. The results indicate that the thickness and the density of warp knitted spacer fabric and the compressive of the spacer layer structure are the main influencing factors on the stab resistance. The three layer composite structure of warp knitted spacer fabric was able to resist the penetration by stages during the penetration process and thereby achieved the objective of multiple protection through the knife self locking, energy dissipation and friction damping.
Atypical Den Use of Carolina Northern Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus) in the Southern Appalachian Mountains

Abstract Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus (Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel) is a federally endangered subspecies that occurs in high elevation forests of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Denning sites may be a limiting factor for this subspecies in areas where cavity trees are not abundant or where interspecific competition from other tree squirrels occurs. This shortage can result in use of unusual denning sites, such as subterranean dens. Herein, we report atypical denning habits of radio-collared Carolina Northern Flying Squirrels in southwestern Virginia and western North Carolina from 2008 to 2011 and 2014. Increased knowledge of denning habitats may be beneficial for conservation and habitat management of this subspecies, particularly in sub-optimal or degraded habitats.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with Quadriceps Tendon Autograft: A Minimally Invasive Harvest Technique

[Introduction][1] We describe a minimally invasive surgical technique for harvest of a quadriceps tendon autograft that reliably produces a graft suitable for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction while minimizing morbidity and complications classically associated with alternative autograft choices. [Step 1: Positioning][2] Position the patient supine on the operating room table. [Step 2: Marking of Landmarks][3] Palpate and mark soft-tissue and osseous landmarks on the involved extremity. [Step 3: Subcutaneous Dissection][4] Perform the incision and subcutaneous dissection. [Step 4: Graft Harvest][5] Harvest the graft. [Step 5: Graft Preparation][6] Prepare the graft. [Step 6: Closure][7] If a partial-thickness graft is harvested, no deep closure is needed. [Results][8] Since September of 2011, the quadriceps tendon has been our autograft of choice for ACL reconstruction. [Indications][9] [Contraindications][10] [Pitfalls & Challenges][11] [Introduction][1] We describe a minimally invasive surgical technique for harvest of a quadriceps tendon autograft that reliably produces a graft suitable for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction while minimizing morbidity and complications classically associated with alternative autograft choices. [Step 1: Positioning][2] Position the patient supine on the operating room table. [Step 2: Marking of Landmarks][3] Palpate and mark soft-tissue and osseous landmarks on the involved extremity. [Step 3: Subcutaneous Dissection][4] Perform the incision and subcutaneous dissection. [Step 4: Graft Harvest][5] Harvest the graft. [Step 5: Graft Preparation][6] Prepare the graft. [Step 6: Closure][7] If a partial-thickness graft is harvested, no deep closure is needed. [Results][8] Since September of 2011, the quadriceps tendon has been our autograft of choice for ACL reconstruction. [Indications][9] [Contraindications][10] [Pitfalls & Challenges][11] [1]: #sec-10 [2]: #sec-11 [3]: #sec-12 [4]: #sec-13 [5]: #sec-14 [6]: #sec-15 [7]: #sec-16 [8]: #sec-17 [9]: #sec-19 [10]: #sec-20 [11]: #sec-21
Social Bonds and the Migration Intentions of Elderly Urban Residents: The Mediating Effect of Residential Satisfaction

Under the incorporation of social bonds within the residential satisfaction model, this study has attempted to examine why the elderly living in neighborhoods consider moving. The main hypothesis proposed in this study is that the four social bonds (friendship, social cohesion and trust, informal social control, and neighborhood activities), combined with residential satisfaction, affect the mobility intentions of elderly urban residents. This hypothesis is tested by survey data collected in 1995 from 1123 Chicago residents age 65 and over. The results support the hypothesis that strong social bonds, combined with residential satisfaction, are working as important factors when the mobility intentions of elderly urban residents are deterred.