cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Longitudinal Study of Hospitality and Tourism Management Graduate Program Quality Assessment Rankings: 2002–2012

The hospitality and tourism industry has become one of the fastest growing and largest industries. The demand for skilled professionals and researchers in this field has also been consistently increasing. To meet these demands, higher education institutions endeavor to offer high-quality hospitality and tourism graduate programs as well as undergraduate programs. Prospective students, recruiters, administrators, and other academic researchers have found ranking systems to be a tool for peer evaluation, resource allocation, and recruitment. This study examined both master's- and doctoral degree–granting programs in hospitality and tourism management in the United States and provides a longitudinal view of the graduate programs’ quality assessment rankings over the past decade. The results are compared in light of previous studies conducted in 2002 and 2006. Graduate programs were evaluated by using tested and objective criteria based on their strengths and resources. Rankings of the programs, which were ba...
Parameterization of mixed layer eddies. III: Implementation and impact in global ocean climate simulations

Abstract A parameterization for the restratification by finite-amplitude, submesoscale, mixed layer eddies, formulated as an overturning streamfunction, has been recently proposed to approximate eddy fluxes of density and other tracers. Here, the technicalities of implementing the parameterization in the coarse-resolution ocean component of global climate models are made explicit, and the primary impacts on model solutions of implementing the parameterization are discussed. Three global ocean general circulation models including this parameterization are contrasted with control simulations lacking the parameterization. The MLE parameterization behaves as expected and fairly consistently in models differing in discretization, boundary layer mixing, resolution, and other parameterizations. The primary impact of the parameterization is a shoaling of the mixed layer, with the largest effect in polar winter regions. Secondary impacts include strengthening the Atlantic meridional overturning while reducing its variability, reducing CFC and tracer ventilation, modest changes to sea surface temperature and air–sea fluxes, and an apparent reduction of sea ice basal melting.
Limiting distribution of decoherent quantum random walks

The behavior of one-dimensional quantum random walks is strikingly different from that of classical ones. However, when decoherence is involved, the limiting distributions take on many classical features over time. In this paper, we study the decoherence on both position and ``coin'' spaces of the particle. We propose an analytical approach to investigate these phenomena and obtain the generating functions which encode all the features of these walks. Specifically, from these generating functions, we find exact analytic expressions of several moments for the time and noise dependence of position. Moreover, the limiting position distributions of decoherent quantum random walks are shown to be Gaussian in an analytical manner. These results explicitly describe the relationship between the system and the level of decoherence.
Are nanotwinned structures in fcc metals optimal for strength, ductility and grain stability?

The optimality of nanotwinned structures in imparting maximum strength and stability has been investigated by performing atomistic simulations of dislocation interactions with various types of grain boundaries. By developing an understanding of the mechanism of the instability, we predict that nanocrystalline metals with grain sizes below 50 ± 10 nm or 70 ± 10 nm (in Cu) are inherently unstable at 0 or 300 K, respectively, in contrast to nanotwinned face-centered cubic structures which are stable and optimal.
Adenosquamous carcinoma of the colon and rectum

PURPOSE: Adenosquamous carcinomas of the colon and rectum are rare tumors. These tumors have malignant glandular and squamous components capable of metastasizing. We report seven patients with adenosquamous carcinoma of the colon and rectum and their clinical outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective review was undertaken of seven patients who were identified by the tumor registry at Roswell Park Cancer Institute between 1971 and 1994. RESULTS: These represent a 0.18 percent incidence of adenocarcinomas in our institution. There were five tumors located in the rectum and two in the colon. All patients were Stage III or IV on presentation. Median overall survival was 23 months. In three patients, the tumor was associated with ulcerative colitis; in one of these patients, hypercalcemia was present. All patients died of their disease or with the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Previously reported aggressive behavior of this cancer is confirmed in our series.
Observed Changes in Radiographic Measurements of the First Ray after Frontal Plane Rotation of the First Metatarsal in a Cadaveric Foot Model

We observed the changes in the angular measurements commonly used in the evaluation of the first metatarsal and first metatarsophalangeal joint in cadaveric specimens before and after frontal plane rotation of the first metatarsal. Measurements of the first and second intermetatarsal angle (IMA), hallux abductus angle, proximal articular set angle, and tibial sesamoid position (TSP) were taken after varying degrees of varus and valgus rotation of the first metatarsal. Standard dorsoplantar radiographs were taken at 0°, 10°, 20°, and 30° of valgus rotation of the first metatarsal and repeated at 10°, 20°, and 30° varus rotation of the first metatarsal. The data were analyzed using a mixed linear model to compare the change in each angle measurement over the range of valgus and varus rotation. The change in the TSP was significant in both valgus and varus rotations (p = .0004 and p = .028, respectively), an increase in valgus rotation causing an increase in the TSP and an increase in varus rotation causing a decrease in TSP. The change in the IMA was significant compared with valgus rotation (p = .028), showing that as the valgus rotation increased, the IMA also increased. However, compared with the varus rotation, the correlation was not significant (p = .18). The proximal articular set angle and hallux abductus angle measurements, compared with metatarsal rotation, showed positive trends but were not statistically significant. From our results and a review of the published data, we have hypothesized that frontal plane rotation of the first metatarsal is an integral component of hallux abducto valgus pathologic features, specifically in relation to the TSP and IMA.
The irregular and non-hyperregular α-r.e. degrees

We characterize those admissible ordinals α which have precisely one α-r.e. degree containing a non-regular or non-hyperregular set. For all other α we prove that any such degree c can be split into two strictly smaller such degreesa andb witha∨b=c. We also prove that weak α-recursiveness (≦ wα) is intransitive on the α-r.e. sets just in case there is more than one nonhyperregular α-r.e. degree.
Factors affecting the species-homologous and species-heterologous binding of mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor, IF1, to the mitochondrial ATPase of slow and fast heart-rate hearts.

Abstract We examined the effects of a variety of conditions upon the IF 1 -mediated inhibition of the ATPase in both intact and sonicated mitochondria and in IF 1 -depleted submitochondrial particles (SMP) in species-homologous and species-heterologous combinations of IF 1 and ATPase. IF 1 -mediated ATPase inhibition occurred in intact rabbit heart mitochondria at low matrix pH and low membrane potential, but not in intact pigeon and rat heart mitochondria under the same conditions. IF 1 -mediated ATPase inhibition was, however, demonstrable in both the rabbit and pigeon heart systems in sonicated mitochondria incubated at low ionic strength. The rat heart system failed to exhibit significant IF 1 -mediated ATPase inhibition in either intact or sonicated mitochondria due to the low amount of IF 1 present. When rabbit heart IF 1 -containing extracts were incubated with IF 1 -depleted rabbit heart SMP over a range of KCl concentrations, increasing the [KCl] to 100 mM had little effect on IF 1 -mediated ATPase inhibition. When pigeon heart IF 1 -containing extracts were incubated with IF 1 -depleted pigeon heart SMP under the same conditions, increasing [KCl] to 100 mM nearly completely blocked IF 1 -mediated ATPase inhibition. While the species-endogenous level of rat heart IF 1 (i.e., 1× IF 1 ) inhibited IF 1 -depleted rat heart SMP virtually not at all at any [KCl] examined, the 8× rat heart IF 1 was nearly as inhibitory as the 1× rabbit heart IF 1 at varying ionic strengths. When rabbit, pigeon, or rat heart IF 1 was bound to rabbit versus pigeon IF 1 -depleted SMP, the effect of varying ionic strength on IF 1 -mediated ATPase inhibition was related to the species source of the IF 1 , not to the species source of the enzyme; 1× bovine heart IF 1 purified to homogeneity behaved much like 1× crude rabbit heart IF 1 when binding to either the rabbit or the pigeon heart enzyme. This suggests that an IF 1 -ATPase complex stabilizing factor such as has been isolated from baker′s yeast cells is neither lacking in the pigeon heart system nor required for the more ionic-strength-resistant binding of IF 1 observed in slow heart-rate mammalian heart mitochondria.
Large-scale holographic memory: experimental results

Reference EPFL-CONF-158498View record in Web of Science Record created on 2010-11-25, modified on 2017-05-10
Corporate Training Programmes Lessons for Colleges and Universities

Employee training programmes have long been considered one of the keys to corporate success. The primary focus of this article is on what higher education professionals can learn from their counterparts in business and industry with respect to training in a collegiate environment. The elements of a successful training programme are discussed along with how the process can be adapted by colleges and universities. The distinction between training and education is explained, with a discussion of why ‘soft skills’ training initiatives are often less effective than skills-based approaches. The critical role of the training coordinator in facilitating a programme is assessed and other important considerations are set out, such as selection of the appropriate training topics and determining how long training should last and how many participants should be permitted to attend.
Mx gene diversity and influenza association among five wild dabbling duck species (Anas spp.) in Alaska

Mx (myxovirus-resistant) proteins are induced by interferon and inhibit viral replication as part of the innate immune response to viral infection in many vertebrates. Influenza A virus appears to be especially susceptible to Mx antiviral effects. We characterized exon 13 and the 3' UTR of the Mx gene in wild ducks, the natural reservoir of influenza virus and explored its potential relevance to influenza infection. We observed a wide range of intra- and interspecies variations. Total nucleotide diversity per site was 0.0014, 0.0027, 0.0044, 0.0051, and 0.0061 in mallards, northern shovelers, northern pintails, American wigeon, and American green-winged teals, respectively. There were 61 haplotypes present across all five species and four were shared among species. Additionally, we observed a significant association between Mx haplotype and influenza infection status in northern shovelers. However, we found no evidence of balancing or diversifying selection in this region of the Mx gene. Characterization of the duck Mx gene is an important step in understanding how the gene may affect disease resistance or susceptibility in wild populations. Furthermore, given that waterfowl act as a natural reservoir for influenza virus, the Mx gene could be an important determinant in the ecology of the virus.
Intestinal 59Fe distribution and absorption in rats with different iron status and given wheat bran or ferrous sulfate as dietary iron sources

Abstract Distribution of intestinal iron and absorption were studied in rats with high hemoglobin (Hb) levels of >7.5 g/dL or low-Hb, ≤7.5 g/dL, which were fasted overnight and fed a single 2-gram meal of diet containing either wheat bran or FeSO 4 . One hour later they were gavaged with 2 μCi of 59 FeCl 3 in 0.5M HCl. Low-Hb rats absorbed similar amounts of iron from the bran and FeSO 4 diets. Both groups of rats absorbed similar amounts of iron from FeSO 4 , but the high-Hb rats absorbed less iron from bran than did the low-Hb ones. Gastric 59 Fe clearance was slower in the high-Hb than in the low-Hb rats. Gastric 59 Fe clearance was faster from FeSO 4 diet, regardless of iron status. About 10–20% of the 59 Fe was in the ileum and about 1.3–3.3% of the 59 Fe was in the colon after gavaging; the distal intestines of the rats fed the bran diet contained the least 59 Fe. During the first 24 h, whole blood 59 Fe activity was similar for both diets; but after 24 h, 59 Fe activity was lower in the rats fed the bran diet. During the first 48 h, plasma clearance of i.v. injected 55 Fe transferrin was greater in the low-Hb rats than in the high-Hb ones but plasma clearance was not affected by iron source. However, beginning at 36 h, clearance was reduced in rats fed the bran diet. Thus, the high-Hb rats (but not the low-Hb rats) differed in the mechanisms of their absorption of wheat bran and FeSO 4 iron.
Manipulations of the relationship between response alternatives and exogenous saccade latencies

The relationship between the latencies of saccadic eye movements and the number of response alternatives is complex. Previously, we have found a decrease in exogenous saccade latencies with an increase in the number of response alternatives (i.e., an anti-Hick's effect). In the present study, we examined the effect of bottom up and top down influences on the effect. In Experiment 1, we found that the anti-Hick's effect is dependent upon the number, as opposed to the configuration, of response alternatives, suggesting that the effect is not a purely bottom up phenomenon. In Experiment 2, we examined whether top down processes, such as expectancy, influence the magnitude and/or direction of the relationship between response alternatives and reaction time. We found that interleaving, as opposed to blocking, the number of alternatives negated the anti-Hick's effect. Taken together, these results suggest that the anti-Hick's effect arises not only from stimulus-based perceptual signals but also from higher-order control signals.
Examining post-wildfire reseeding on arid rangeland: A multivariate tobit modelling approach

Despite fire cycles of increasing severity and frequency in the arid western U.S., very little empirical analysis has examined the success of plant seeding on arid rangeland following fire. This manuscript uses a unique dataset to assess causal factors underlying the measured densities, several years after fires, of: (1) unwanted invasive grasses, (2) seeded grasses, and (3) sagebrush, on rangeland in a western U.S. state. To accommodate various characteristics of the data, we employ trivariate tobit maximum likelihood estimation. Results indicate that the success of reseeding efforts is sensitive to the timing of and techniques used in reseeding, as well as whether grazing is allowed on the land. Our findings have broad implications for emergency fire rehabilitation management and policy for rangelands in the western U.S., as well as arid and semiarid rangelands elsewhere.
Preventing ARDS: Progress, Promise, and Pitfalls

Advances in critical care practice have led to a substantial decline in the incidence of ARDS over the past several years. Low tidal volume ventilation, timely resuscitation and antimicrobial administration, restrictive transfusion practices, and primary prevention of aspiration and nosocomial pneumonia have likely contributed to this reduction. Despite decades of research, there is no proven pharmacologic treatment of ARDS, and mortality from ARDS remains high. Consequently, recent initiatives have broadened the scope of lung injury research to include targeted prevention of ARDS. Prediction scores have been developed to identify patients at risk for ARDS, and clinical trials testing aspirin and inhaled budesonide/formoterol for ARDS prevention are ongoing. Future trials aimed at preventing ARDS face several key challenges. ARDS has not been validated as an end point for pivotal clinical trials, and caution is needed when testing toxic therapies that may prevent ARDS yet potentially increase mortality.
Polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein activity in cantaloupe fruit as a function of fruit maturation and tissue origin

Netted cantaloupe (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis cv. Magnum 45) were harvested from 5 to 35 days postanthesis. The fruit of each age group were divided into exocarp, outer mesocarp, mid mesocarp, inner mesocarp, placenta, and seed. Each tissue was extracted and assayed for polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (PGIP) activity against polygalacturonases (PGs) from three fungal pathogens of cantaloupe fruit. The PGIP activity of all tissues except placenta was high from the flower stage through the first week of fruit development but decreased markedly between 5 and 10 days postanthesis. PGIP activity against Phomopsis cucurbitae PG remained high and nearly constant in placental tissue throughout fruit development. However in this same tissue, PGIP activity against Fusarium solani PG decreased during fruit development to about 25% of its level in the 5-day-old fruit. This differential change in PGIP activity toward the two PGs suggests that different forms of the inhibitor are expressed between early and late stages of cantaloupe fruit development. The results also illustrate the importance of using multiple pathogen enzyme systems that can provide an opportunity for more accurate elucidation of mechanisms involved in the host–pathogen interaction.
Upgrade of the LLNL Nova laser for inertial confinement fusion

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has proposed construction of an upgrade to the Nova glass laser facility to give an output energy of 1.5-2 megajoules at 350 nanometers wavelength in a nominally 3-5 nanosecond shaped pulse. The Nova Upgrade will be suitable for driving inertial fusion targets to ignition. This paper reviews the design proposed for the laser.
Respiratory control in stuttering speakers: evidence from respiratory high-frequency oscillations.

This study tested the hypothesis that, in stuttering speakers, relations between the neural control systems for speech and life support, or metabolic breathing, may differ from relations previously...
Facilitation of shuttle avoidance by handling

Three groups of albino rats received shuttle, shuttle-plus-handling, or one-way shock avoidance training with a tone CS. Results showed that the two-way handled group reached a performance level significantly superior to that of the nonhandled shuttle group. These results, as well as those of other studies cited, suggest that the use of a warning stimulus, prior to and distinct from the CS, might serve to enhance performance in the standard shuttle-avoidance task.
Radiopharmacology of inhaled 133Xe in skeletal sites containing deposits of Gaucher cells

Abstract Gaucher's disease is a lysosomal storage disease in which cells of the reticuloendothelial system accumulate the lipid glucocerebroside. It is characterized by slowly progressive visceral and osseous involvement. One of the latter manifestations includes lipid infiltration of bone marrow. We monitored the rate of inhaled 133 Xe uptake and wash-out over diseased and normal metaphyseal and epiphyseal areas of the knee. Twenty-two patients (15 adults, 7 children) with various degrees of previously diagnosed Gaucher's disease were positioned supine under a γ-camera interfaced to a computer system. All patients rebreathed 133 Xe gas from a closed system for 10 min followed by 14 min of wash-out. Digitized images of the lung, liver, spleen, bony sites and soft tissue were obtained at 1 min intervals during the wash-in and wash-out phases. Counts for each ROI were normalized per 100 pixels and plotted as a function (time). Maximum uptake was also calculated by relating the counts/ROI/100 pixels to the 10 min integrated lung count during equilibrium (the administered "dose"). There was essentially no 133 Xe uptake in liver and spleen involved with Gaucher's disease. Monophasic uptake and biphasic wash-out curves were observed in the limited investigative population. Skeletal Gaucher deposits released the 133 Xe at a greater rate relative to soft tissue.
Use of CT scan in the diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Abstract Computed Tomography (CT) was used in evaluating five patients with abdominal aneurysms. In one case, an acute aneurysmal leak was evaluated by CT alone prior to surgery. In four cases, significant incidental diagnoses were made via CT. The use of CT in evaluating aorlic aneurysmal disease is discussed.
Atrazine effects on the microbial food web in tidal creek mesocosms

Abstract Atrazine effects on the microbial food web were assessed in mesocosms designed to simulate a southeastern tidal creek ecosystem. The test chambers simulate the major features unique to estuarine systems, such as tidal flow and salinity changes. Microbial communities were colonized on artificial substrates and analyzed for productivity, biomass, and community composition. Atrazine was found to reduce chlorophyll a , phototrophic carbon assimilation and phototrophic biovolume in the 40 and 160 μg l −1 treatments. Significant reductions in phototrophic variables occurred within 24 h of pesticide exposure and no recovery was detected after 9 days. Dissolved oxygen content in the mesocosms was not significantly affected by atrazine. Atrazine induced changes in composition of the algal community. Most taxa were reduced in abundance by atrazine exposure; however, cyanobacterial taxa generally became more abundant. Bacterial abundance was significantly elevated in the highest dose after 24 h, but decreased in a dose–response manner after 48 h. There was no significant effect on small ciliates; however, large ciliates and small flagellates increased significantly in number after 48 h and remained elevated after 9 days. Atrazine at 160 μg l −1 significantly reduced large flagellate density throughout the experiment. These results suggest that exposure of the estuarine microbial food web to agricultural pesticides can lead to both functional and structural changes, which may potentially impact higher trophic levels.
Binomial 2×2 test for independent samples with independent proportions

For two independent samples with independent proportions, the significance level of the difference between them can be obtainedfrom joint binomial probabilities, assuming the population propor-tion is well estimated by the samples' pooled proportion. An efficient computer program can be written for this binomial test. The x2 test, using a continuity correction of .25 for equal sample sizes and .1 for unequal sample sizes, is in close agreement with the binomial test.
Differentiation of the cardiac and pulmonary toxicity of monocrotaline, a pyrrolizidine alkaloid

Abstract Monocrotaline, given to rats as a 20 mg/l solution in drinking water for 3 weeks, doubled the mass of the right heart and lung. The rise in lung mass preceded that of the heart. These increases were accompanied by increases in the absolute protein content of the two organs, together with increases in the rates of both protein and RNA syntheses. The increase in lung mass was not accompanied by a change in total collagen content, as measured by two independent method: 4-hydroxyproline content and detergent fractionation. In contrast, the right ventricle showed more than a 4-fold increase in total collagen content. Total pulmonary lipids increased by 86%, but the lipid:protein ratio was unchanged. Right ventricular lipids were unchanged in amount but the lipid:protein ratio fell by 29%. Lung DNA:RNA ratio decreased 49% and right ventricle DNA:RNA ratio decreased 69%, indicating that both of these organs were responding to monocrotaline with hypertrophy. These results suggest that the processes of hypertrophy differ in the two organs: in the lung, there was no fibrosis despite a marked increase in dry weight, while right ventricular hypertrophy was characterized by increased collagen deposition. There was no alteration in the left ventricle in any of the parameters investigated.
Functional and Nutritional Characteristics of Soft Wheat Grown in No-Till and Conventional Cropping Systems

The effects of no-till versus conventional farming practices were evaluated on soft wheat functional and nutritional characteristics, including kernel physical properties, whole wheat composition, antioxidant activity, and end-product quality. Soft white winter wheat cultivar ORCF 102 was evaluated over a two-year period from three long-term replicated no-till versus conventional tillage studies in Oregon. Wheat from the no-till cropping systems generally had greater test weight, kernel diameter, and kernel weight and had softer kernels compared with wheat from the conventional tillage systems. Compared with the conventional systems, no-till whole wheat flour had lower protein and SDS sedimentation volume. Ash content as well as most minerals measured (calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc), except for manganese and phosphorus, were generally slightly lower in no-till than in conventional wheat. Whole wheat flour from the no-till cropping systems generally had slightly lower total phenolic content an...
Amino acid analysis of the β-lactoglobulins from individual cows of two phenotypes

Abstract Amino acid analyses were performed on β-lactoglobulin samples prepared from individual dairy cows, 24 of which were homozygous for β-lactoglobulin A and 9 for β-lactoglobulin B. No differences were found in individual contents of any amino acids other than the previously known β-A-β-B difference amino acids. The total analyses agreed well with previously published analyses on β-A and β-B obtained from pooled milk of many animals.
Real-time software metrics

This paper describes the software metrics analysis of 10 releases of a real-time telephone switching system developed by German telecommunications firm. We developed a metrics program that computes the standard complexity metrics plus the number of global and resource variables changed and referenced. The releases of the real-time software satisfies published laws of software evolution, e.g. continuing change, increasing entropy, and total change is not uniform over the changed modules. The data also supports Harrison and Cook''s program maintenance decision model. We propose the change standard deviation as a threshold for their model. We found that the information flow metrics (global and resource variables referenced or changed) characterize real-time complexity better than the standard software complexity metrics, e.g. Halstead''s Software Science, LOC, McCabe''s Cyclomatic Complexity. We also investigated the relations between programming hours for the various releases and the program changes and changes in metric values.
Effect of partial premixing on the sooting structure of methane flames

Abstract An experimental investigation of the sooting structure of diluted methane–oxygen counterflow flames is reported for partial premixing in the following two nonpremixed flame configurations: Case 1: Nonpremixed flame on the oxidizer side of the stagnation plane, Case 2: Nonpremixed flame on the fuel side of the stagnation plane. Effects of both fuel-side and oxidizer-side partial premixing for Cases 1 and 2 were investigated in a low-strain-rate (∼6–8 s −1 ) counterflow flame. Computations using OPPDIF code were in excellent agreement with the measured concentrations of major species and [OH]. Distribution of measured soot volume fraction and particle sizes are presented along with measured distributions of C 2 hydrocarbon species. Soot loading can increase or decrease depending on (a) the level of partial premixing, (b) the side of partial premixing (fuel side or oxidizer side), and (c) the nonpremixed flame configuration. Of particular interest is the trend for fuel-side partial premixing of Case 1, where the peak soot loading, the peak soot particle diameter, and the thickness of the soot zone initially decrease and then increase with progressive partial premixing. The trends presented are discussed based on chemical, dilution, and flow-field effects of partial premixing on soot growth in counterflow flames. Unlike previous literature, which focused on soot inception, this work emphasizes the role of partial premixing on soot growth by taking into account the changes in the temperature–time history of soot particulates in addition to the previously reported “chemical” and “dilution” effects.
CCR5 and its ligands: a new axis of evil?

Many additional effects in HIV pathogenesis are now described for the chemokine receptor CCR5, long recognized as an important coreceptor for HIV, and its ligand CCL3L1.
Initiating polymerization of glycol methacrylate with cyclic diketo carbon acids.

Several pharmacologically active cyclic diketone carbon acids, including phenylbutazone and 2-phenyl-1,3-indandione, catalyze the polymerization of glycol methacrylate momomers. GMA-cyclic diketone carbon acid monomer mixtures incorporating imidazole polymerize smoothly without obvious exothermicity at temperatures ranging from ambient to -5 C without the use of ultraviolet light. The only equipment required for this embedding technique is a refrigerator with a freezing compartment which can maintain temperatures of -15 C. A recipe consisting of 5 ml glycol methacrylate (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), 0.8 ml 1-pentanol, 16 mg imidazole, and 30 mg monophenylbutazone is recommended for general use. The use of dicyclopentyl methacrylate-glycol methacrylate comonomer mixtures incorporating cyclic ketone catalysts is advocated, as blends of these monomers have low basophilia, and tissues embedded in these matrices stain sharply and brilliantly. It is hypothesized that the driving force for the cyclic ketone-med...
Norman baker and KTNT

Many have heard of Dr. Brinkley of “goat gland”; fame, but few heard of his contemporary, Norman Baker. G. Joseph Wolfe, associate professor in the department of speech and dramatic art at the University of Missouri, earned his PhD. from the University of Iowa.
Landscape patterns of bioenergy in a changing climate: implications for crop allocation and land-use competition.

Rural landscapes face changing climate, shifting development pressure, and loss of agricultural land. Perennial bioenergy crops grown on existing agricultural land may provide an opportunity to conserve rural landscapes while addressing increased demand for biofuels. However, increased bioenergy production and changing land use raise concerns for tradeoffs within the food-energy-environment trilemma. Heterogeneity of climate, soils, and land use complicate assessment of bioenergy potential in complex landscapes creating challenges to evaluating future tradeoffs. The hypothesis addressed herein is that perennial bioenergy production can provide an opportunity to avoid agricultural land conversion to development. Using a process-based crop model, we assessed potential bioenergy crop growth through 2100 in a southern Appalachian Mountain region and asked: (1) how mean annual yield differed among three crops (switchgrass, giant miscanthus, and hybrid poplar) under current climate and climate change scenarios ...
Structural insights into FRS2α PTB domain recognition by neurotrophin receptor TrkB

The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) substrate 2 (FRS2) family proteins function as scaffolding adapters for receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). The FRS2α proteins interact with RTKs through the phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) domain and transfer signals from the activated receptors to downstream effector proteins. Here, we report the nuclear magnetic resonance structure of the FRS2α PTB domain bound to phosphorylated TrkB. The structure reveals that the FRS2α-PTB domain is comprised of two distinct but adjacent pockets for its mutually exclusive interaction with either nonphosphorylated juxtamembrane region of the FGFR, or tyrosine phosphorylated peptides TrkA and TrkB. The new structural insights suggest rational design of selective small molecules through targeting of the two conjunct pockets in the FRS2α PTB domain.
A constant approximation algorithm for link scheduling in arbitrary networks under physical interference model

Link scheduling is crucial in improving the throughput in wireless networks and it has been widely studied under various interference models. In this paper, we study the link scheduling problem under physical interference model where all senders of the links transmit at a given power P and a link can transmit successfully if and only if the Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise-Ratio (SINR) at the corresponding receiver is at least a certain threshold. The link scheduling problem is to find a maximum "independent set" (MIS) of links, i.e., the maximum number of links that can transmit successfully in one time-slot, given a set of input links. This problem has been shown to be NP-hard [10]. Here we propose the first link scheduling algorithm with a constant approximation ratio for arbitrary background noise N ≥ 0. When each link l has a weight w(l)>0, we propose a method for weighted MIS with approximation ratio O(min(log maxι∈Lw(ι)/minι∈Lw||ι||, log maxι∈Lw(ι)/minι∈Lw||ι||, where ||ι|| is the Euclidean length of a link ι.
Single-link cluster analysis, synthetic earthquake catalogues, and aftershock identification

SUMMARY This paper investigates several aspects of synthetic catalogue generation and aftershock identification schemes. First, we introduce a method for generating synthetic catalogues of earthquakes. This method produces a catalogue which has the geographic appearance of an actual catalogue when the hypocentres are plotted in map view, but allows us to vary the spatial and temporal relationships between pairs of close events. Second, we discuss six statistics to measure certain characteristics of synthetic and actual catalogues. These include four new statistics So, Bo, S1 and B1 which evaluate the distributions of link lengths between events in space and space-time as computed by single-link cluster analysis (SLC). Third, we develop a new scheme for identifying aftershocks in which a group of events forms an aftershock sequence if each event is within a space-time distance D of at least one other event in the group. We define the space-time separation of events by dst=√(d2+C2τ2), where d is the spatial separation of events, τ is the time separation, and C= 1km day-1. Our experience with several synthetic catalogues suggests that an appropriate trial value for D is 9.4 km1/2 (√S1) - 25.2 km. Here, S1, is the median link length using SLC with the metric dsT. Fourth, we generate synthetic catalogues resembling both teleseismic and local network catalogues to evaluate the validity and reliability of this aftershock identification scheme, as well as other schemes proposed by Gardner & Knopoff (1974), Shlien & Toksoz (1974), Knopoff, Kagan & Knopoff (1982), and Reasenberg (1985). Using a simple scoring method, we find that the SLC method compares favourably with other aftershock identification algorithms described in the literature.
Clopidogrel response variability and future therapies: clopidogrel: does one size fit all?

Case Presentation: A 75-year-old woman presents to the hospital with a non–ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI) and is found to have a subtotal occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. A drug-eluting stent is successfully deployed without complication, and the patient is given a 300-mg loading dose of clopidogrel. She is started on a treatment regimen that includes aspirin 325 mg daily and clopidogrel 75 mg daily. On hospital day 4, she develops recurrent chest pain and is found to have ST-segment elevation on ECG. She is taken to coronary angiography, where she is found to have an occlusive thrombus within a well-deployed stent. After percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), how should this patient be managed? Platelets play a central role in initiating and propagating pathological thrombosis after spontaneous or mechanical plaque rupture. Antiplatelet therapies, including aspirin and thienopyridines, are key components of pharmacotherapy in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and PCI.1,2 As monotherapy, treatment with clopidogrel modestly reduces cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with established atherosclerotic disease compared with aspirin treatment.3 When combined with aspirin, clopidogrel provides additive reduction in the risk of ischemic events in patients with non–ST-elevation ACS and in patients undergoing PCI.4,5 In addition, clopidogrel helps to maintain infarct-related artery patency and clinical outcomes in patients with ST-elevation MI receiving fibrinolytic therapy.6,7 Clopidogrel, a prodrug, relies on cytochrome P450–dependent pathways to form its active metabolite and inhibits platelet aggregation through irreversible blockade of the platelet P2Y12 receptor (Figure 1). When a 300-mg loading dose is used, clopidogrel requires at least 4 to 6 hours to achieve its maximal effect.8 Analyses from the Clopidogrel for the Reduction of Events During Observation (CREDO) trial suggest that clopidogrel pretreatment 6 to 15 hours before PCI is necessary to significantly reduce CV events.5,9 Clinicians …
Master Decomposition Curve for Binders Used in Powder Injection Molding

Thermal debinding is one of the crucial steps in powder injection processing. To systematically analyze and design the thermal debinding step, a master decomposition curve (MDC) has been formulated and constructed based on the intrinsic kinetics of polymer pyrolysis. The Kissinger method is used to estimate the activation energy from thermogravimetric studies. Overall thermal decomposition behavior has been synthesized from the MDCs of individual components of the binder system with good experimental agreement. Thus, process design changes can be calculated without additional experiment, because the MDC concept allows synthesis of new compositions. The input data were obtained from industrial debinding practice. In addition, the catalytic or high-conduction heat-transfer effect of metal powders has been investigated in terms of different powders. Sensitivity analysis is also done to identify the critical parameters in thermal decomposition of binders during debinding.
Determinants of work disability in patients with systemic sclerosis: a longitudinal study of the GENISOS cohort.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence, correlates, and predictors of work disability (WD) in the Genetics versus ENvironment In Scleroderma Outcome Study (GENISOS). We hypothesized that WD in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a function of demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors. Methods: Patients enrolled in the GENISOS cohort were subdivided in 3 groups: work disabled, working, and retired or homemakers. The latter group (n 29) was excluded from further analysis. We used logistic regression analysis with a forward hierarchical variable selection strategy to investigate the independent correlates of WD at enrollment. Cox regression proportional Hazard’s model with a similar variable selection strategy was utilized to determine the predictors of WD in those working at enrollment. Results: Overall, 284 patients with a mean age of 48.7 years and disease duration of 2.5 (1.6) years were enrolled into the GENISOS cohort, consisting of 83.5% female, 46.8% white, 28.9% Hispanic, and 20.4% African American. Patients were longitudinally followed in 1438 study visits. At enrollment, 124 patients (43.7%) were work disabled, whereas 131 (46.1%) were working. Lower level of education (P 0.001), higher Medsger Lung Severity Index (P 0.012), higher Fatigue Severity Score (P 0.008), and less social support (P 0.001) correlated independently with WD. Of those working at baseline, 35 (26.7%) eventually developed WD. Nonwhite ethnicity (P 0.038), lower DLCO % predicted value (P 0.038), and higher Fatigue Severity Score (P 0.009) at enrollment independently predicted WD on follow-up visits. Conclusions: WD is a major problem among SSc patients and its prevalence is substantially higher than other rheumatic conditions. Demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors correlate with WD cross-sectionally and predict WD longitudinally in these patients.
Design of a Wideband Power-Efficient Inductive Wireless Link for Implantable Biomedical Devices Using Multiple Carriers

This paper presents a novel design for wireless transmission of power and bidirectional data to biomedical implantable microelectronic devices using multiple carrier frequencies. Two separate pairs of coils have been utilized for inductive power and forward data transmission. A back telemetry link is established with a pair of patch antennas in the industrial-scientific-medical (ISM) band. Achieving high power transmission efficiency and high data transmission bandwidth with minimum bit error rate (BER) are the main goals in this application. One of the major challenges is to minimize the interference among carriers especially on the implantable side, where size and power are highly limited. The planar power coils are spiral shaped, and optimized in size to provide maximum coupling coefficient. The data coils are designed rectangular across the power coils diameter and oriented at right angles to the power coils planes to maximize their direct coupling, while minimize their cross-coupling with the power coils. The power, forward data, and back telemetry carriers, which are orders of magnitude different in amplitude, are widely separated in frequency at 125 kHz, 50 MHz, and 2.45 GHz range to further reduce the interference and facilitate filtering. Robust modulation and encoding techniques are currently under development to minimize the effects of interference even further
Determination of pulse wave velocities with computerized algorithms

Careful determination of pulse wave velocity is important in the study of arterial viscoelastic properties, wave reflections, and ventricular-arterial interactions. In spite of its increasingly widespread use, there is as yet no standardized method for its determination. Most studies have manually identified the transit time of the pressure wave front as it travels over a known distance in the arterial system, but the issues of accuracy and reproducibility have not been addressed. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of four computerized algorithms in the determination of pulse wave velocities in invasive as well as in noninvasive pressure determinations. The four methods were the identification of: (1) the point of minimum diastolic pressure, (2) the point at which the first derivative of pressure is maximum, (3) the point at which the second derivative of pressure is maximum, and (4) the point yielded by the intersection of a line tangent to the initial systolic upstroke of the pressure tracing and a horizontal line through the minimum point. High-fidelity aortic pressure recordings were obtained in 26 patients with a multi-sensor micromanometer catheter. Noninvasive brachial and radial pressure waveforms were recorded in 11 volunteers with external piezoelectric transducers. The results show that the first derivative method consistently provided results that were different from the other methods for both the invasive and noninvasive methods because of changes in the structure of the upstroke as the arterial pulse propagates distally. Although the minimum method worked well for the invasive determinations, it was erratic with the noninvasive determinations, probably because of the higher amount of noise and reflection in the latter. Among the four algorithms, the second derivative and the intersecting tangents methods worked well with both invasive and noninvasive determinations with mean variation coefficients of less than 7% and correlation coefficients between the methods of greater than 0.90 for all data. In conclusion, computerized algorithms allow accurate determination of pulse wave velocity in invasively and noninvasively measured arterial pressure waveforms.
Using the bootstrap to establish statistical significance for relative validity comparisons among patient-reported outcome measures

Relative validity (RV), a ratio of ANOVA F-statistics, is often used to compare the validity of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures. We used the bootstrap to establish the statistical significance of the RV and to identify key factors affecting its significance. Based on responses from 453 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients to 16 CKD-specific and generic PRO measures, RVs were computed to determine how well each measure discriminated across clinically-defined groups of patients compared to the most discriminating (reference) measure. Statistical significance of RV was quantified by the 95% bootstrap confidence interval. Simulations examined the effects of sample size, denominator F-statistic, correlation between comparator and reference measures, and number of bootstrap replicates. The statistical significance of the RV increased as the magnitude of denominator F-statistic increased or as the correlation between comparator and reference measures increased. A denominator F-statistic of 57 conveyed sufficient power (80%) to detect an RV of 0.6 for two measures correlated at r = 0.7. Larger denominator F-statistics or higher correlations provided greater power. Larger sample size with a fixed denominator F-statistic or more bootstrap replicates (beyond 500) had minimal impact. The bootstrap is valuable for establishing the statistical significance of RV estimates. A reasonably large denominator F-statistic (F > 57) is required for adequate power when using the RV to compare the validity of measures with small or moderate correlations (r 0.9).
Product Design in a Market with Satisficing Customers

We study the product design problem of a revenue-maximizing firm that serves a market where customers are heterogeneous with respect to their valuations and desire for a quality attribute and are characterized by a perhaps novel model of customer choice behavior. Specifically, instead of optimizing the net utility that results from an appropriate combination of prices and quality levels, customers are “satisficers” in that they seek to buy the cheapest product with quality above a certain customer-specific threshold. This model dates back to Simon’s work in the 1950s and can be thought of as a model of bounded rationality for customer choice. We characterize the structural properties of the optimal product menu for this model and explore several examples where such preferences may arise.
Empathic Touch by Relational Agents

We describe a series of experiments with an agent designed to model human conversational touch-capable of physically touching users in synchrony with speech and other nonverbal communicative behavior-and its use in expressing empathy to users in distress. The agent is composed of an animated human face that is displayed on a monitor affixed to the top of a human mannequin, with touch conveyed by an air bladder that squeezes a user's hand. We demonstrate that when touch is used alone, hand squeeze pressure and number of squeezes are associated with user perceptions of affect arousal conveyed by an agent, while number of squeezes and squeeze duration are associated with affect valence. We also show that, when affect-relevant cues are present in facial display, speech prosody, and touch used simultaneously by the agent, facial display dominates user perceptions of affect valence, and facial display and prosody are associated with affect arousal, while touch had little effect. Finally, we show that when touch is used in the context of an empathic, comforting interaction (but without the manipulation of affect cues in other modalities), it can lead to better perceptions of relationship with the agent, but only for users who are comfortable being touched by other people.