cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Culture and Creativity: World of Warcraft Modding in China and the US

Modding - end-user modification of commercial hardware and software - can be traced back at least to 1961 when Spacewar! was developed by a group of MIT students on a DEC PDP-1. Spacewar! evolved into arcade games including Space Wars produced in 1977 by Cinematronics (Sotamaa 2003). In 1992, players altering Wolfenstein 3-D (1992), a first person shooter game made by id Software, overwrote the graphics and sounds by editing the game files. Learning from this experience, id Software released Doom in 1993 with isolated media files and open source code for players to develop custom maps, images, sounds, and other utilities. Players were able to pass on their modifications to others. By 1996, with the release of Quake, end-user modifications had come to be known as “mods,” and modding was an accepted part of the gaming community (Kucklich 2005; Postigo 2008a, b). Since late-2005, we have been studying World of Warcraft (WoW) in which the use of mods is an important aspect of player practice (Nardi and Harris 2006; Nardi et al. 2007). Technically minded players with an interest in extending the game write mods and make them available to players for free download on distribution sites. Most modders work for free, but the distribution sites are commercial enterprises with advertising.
Allosteric inhibition of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) slows airway mucus transport in normal sheep

Rationale: Cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with increased concentrations of airway neutrophil elastase. One of the consequences of this elastase increase is slowed mucus clearance. To model the pathophysiological airway effects of increased elastase, we have challenged sheep with aerosolized human neutrophil elastase (HNE) and showed a slowing of mucociliary clearance (MCC)-and its surrogate marker tracheal mucus velocity (TMV). Furthermore, we have used this challenge model to identify agents that can prevent and/or reverse the HNE-induced effects. The mechanism by which HNE slows MCC is not completely known, but recent studies have suggested that HNE can directly cause CFTR degradation. Therefore, we hypothesized that if HNE was affecting CFTR function, then we should be able to replicate the mucociliary dysfunction seen with HNE, by directly interfering with CFTR. Methods: To inhibit CFTR function we used CFTR (inh)-172. We measured TMV before and for 8h after treating sheep with aerosol CFTR (inh)-172 (1 or 10mg) or HNE (1190 mU) for comparison (n=9). Results: 10mg of CFTR (inh)-172 decreased (x ± SD) TMV at 2h (67 ± 2 % of baseline) and TMV remained depressed for 8h (66 ± 9% of baseline). The effect of CFTR (inh)-172 was dose related as 1mg had no effect on TMV. The findings for HNE challenge were superimposable to that seen with CFTR (inh)-172. Conclusions: Allosteric inhibition of CFTR slows mucus transport in vivo. This may be a useful in vivo model to study dysfunctional CFTR-induced mucus stasis.
The Role of Herpes Simplex Virus Thymidine Kinase Expression in Pathogenesis and Latency

The role of herpes simplex virus (HSV) thymidine kinase (TK) expression for HSV neurovirulence and latency has been evaluated by many investigators. Although neurovirulence is complex and involves multiple host and viral factors, in studies with HSV TK-negative (TK) mutants, it seemed that TK expression was an important factor. This was apparent in experimental animal studies, as indicated by decreased replication of TK− HSV mutants in neural tissue and by decreased mortality. Although some virulent TK− HSV mutants have been reported, most investigators, including studies with HSV deletion mutants, have supported an important role for HSV TK expression and neurovirulence.
Particulate Emission from Spark-Ignition Engines

During the past fifteen years the gaseous components of automotive exhaust have been widely investigated to evaluate their role in air pollution. Relatively little effort has been devoted to the study of particulates emitted from automotive engines. The reason for the greater interest in gaseous emissions is understandable since gaseous components are emitted in considerably larger amounts than particulates, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Nevertheless, gasoline engines still introduce into the United States’ atmosphere about one million tons of particulate matter annually,(1) contributing significantly to air pollution. Most notably, particulates affect (a) solar radiation and climate near the ground, (b) visibility, (c) material damage, (d) vegetation, and (e) health. In this paper, these effects are not examined in detail (interested readers are referred to the comprehensive summaries given in Ref. 2); instead, attention is focused on the emission of particulates from spark-ignition engines.
Quantifying Generalized Residential Fire Risk Using Ensemble Fire Models with Survey and Physical Data

Understanding and quantifying property loss fire risk is critical to enabling decision makers in the fire field to make informed decisions. For example, the impact of various decisions made by fire departments on the fire risk in their community, while qualitatively understood by most parties, is not well quantified. Lack of quantification can lead to misdiagnosis and miscommunication on the value of services that result in sub-par resource allocations that negatively impact constituencies. Additionally, the confounding effects between fire department performance and fire risk in publicly available fire data can cause standard regression models to supply counter-intuitive conclusions based upon valid correlations (due to certain critical variables that are difficult to collect and thus unobserved). A methodology is presented that utilizes United States housing, room layout, and fire incident data, as well as experimental heat release rates, material degradation rates, and thermophysical property data in conjunction with physical fire models to estimate a community-averaged extent of fire damage in homes. Housing layout data for single family residential homes were collected from the American Housing Survey. Five home categories representing 45% of U.S. homes were selected for analysis. The U.S. Fire Administration National Fire Incident Reporting System database was used to select the distribution of initial fuels and ignition locations. Survey data was taken to specify furniture layout within the homes. A total of 5167 scenarios were developed for the combinations of home geometry, first item ignited, and furniture layout. Fire evolution was predicted for these scenarios using CFAST and coupled to a pyrolysis-inspired damage model using heat flux to targets in the homes. A damage evolution probability function was constructed for the ensemble of home and furnishing layouts and ignition distributions. This damage model was exercised in a decision analysis problem to demonstrate the utility of the methodology for community-scale resource allocation. Sensitivity studies on the model are likewise performed, indicating the largest source of uncertainty to be linked to the choice of surrogate material properties when calculating home damage. Comparison to best available data is made to assess the robustness of the model.
Power Efficient Scheduling Algorithms for Real-time Tasks on Multi-mode Microcontrollers

Mobile smart devices are advancing with stronger demands of high energy efficiency and longer battery life. Utilizing energy-efficient microcontroller units in a mobile device for always-on functionalities has proven to be an effective solution. MCUs have the ability to switch between different running modes dynamically enabling them to have outstanding low power performance while performing real-time sensing tasks. Besides hardware optimization, balancing energy efficiency and quality of service on a MCU lies within a well-designed scheduling algorithm. In this paper, we formally define, model and derive a proper scheduling algorithm that guarantees the hard real-time task sets schedulability and minimizes power consumption. Our findings provide an approach of calculating the MCUs resource shutdown schedule, i.e., the shutdown period and the standby time in each period, under Earliest Deadline First and Rate Monotonic scheduler. However, periodically shutting down the MCU may be a simplified way of implementing real-time scheduling on a MCU but not necessarily the optimal approach. Therefore, we further use a simulation to evaluate the performance gap of the periodic shutdown method and the optimal shutdown method with respect to the power savings.
Grasping for aspartate in tumour metabolism.

The metabolic phenotype of tumours is shaped by a complex interplay between cancer cells and their microenvironment. Two studies now show that aspartate acquisition is a metabolic limitation encountered by certain tumours in their native in vivo environment, and that overcoming this limitation is advantageous for tumour growth.
Qualitative Methods and the ‘Analytic Gaze:’ An Affirmation of Scientism?

This paper presents an argument organized in two parts: The first part is an interpretive sketch of the history of Qualitative Research in educational studies, as a developing appreciation for the primacy of interpretation in the organization of social worlds. The second part offers an alternative understanding of the analytic tasks encountered within an interpretively constructed social world - an alternative reading of the "Interpretive Move." Rather than a template for professional analytic methods, the insight of interpretation is taken as pointing to a foundational topic for social science: The interpretive practices of everyday life. In the difference, the interpretive methods of ordinary worlds come into view, setting aside the professional discourse on methodological interpretation. An analysis of a transcript from a 5th grade classroom complements the argument.
Pseudopotential Calculations for Ideal Interfaces

Real interfaces are complicated. Even for a surface resulting from a crystal cleaved in vacuum, it is difficult to eliminate steps, vacancies, and dislocations. If an ideal surface is obtained, reconstruction and charge redistribution are common properties. For solid-solid interfaces, diffusion, misfit dislocations, and other “nonideal” phenomena are common. However, it is still important to understand the ideal cases. A good description of an ideal interface provides a basis for comparison with real systems and allows an identification of observed properties in terms of deviations from ideal behavior.
Gastric Cancer: an Evolving Disease.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori, the primary risk factor for gastric cancer, is declining globally. Paralleling this trend, gastric cancer incidence is also decreasing. Historically, the populations most affected by this neoplasia have been males, Asians, and groups with low socioeconomic status. This review provides an update on recently published literature regarding changes in gastric cancer epidemiology. Gastric cancer incidence trends vary by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and tumor anatomical location. Overall incidence appears to be leveling off among young birth cohorts in Western populations, where H. pylori has declined considerably. The changes are more prominent for females and for tumors arising beyond the esophageal-gastric junction. The classical incidence pattern of gastric cancer is evolving. While uncertain, several hypotheses may explain the changing burden of disease. The mix of gastric cancer risk factors appears to be shifting, with H. pylori no longer the sole etiological driver. These changes may eliminate the previous predilection of males and lead to increases in overall gastric cancer rates. Analytical studies addressing known and novel factors related to major societal transitions may provide clues to understanding re-emergence of this serious public health problem.
Review of “The People Vs Tech: How the Internet is Killing Democracy (and How We Save It)” by Jamie Bartlett

The People Vs Tech: How the Internet is Killing Democracy (and How We Save It) by Jamie Bartlett. New York: Dutton, 2018. 256 pp., £8.99 (p/b), ISBN 978-1785039065.
Patient Attitudes Toward Telemedicine-Delivered Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Background Telemedicine-delivered cardiac rehabilitation (telemedicine-CR) provides an alternative pathway for patients who are unable to participate in conventional CR. Little is known regarding the relationships among potential participants' perceptions of barriers to CR participation, interest in telemedicine-CR, and self-efficacy beliefs toward the use of telemedicine. The purpose of this study was to identify if associations exist between these variables. Methods A quantitative, correlational survey study was conducted using the Cardiac Rehabilitation Barriers Scale and a survey examining interest in and self-efficacy for telemedicine technologies. Eighty-three patients were invited to participate. Results Twenty surveys (24%) were returned. Significant correlations were identified between interest in telemedicine-CR and self-efficacy beliefs for the use of live video links, rs(14) = .510, p = .044, and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Barriers Scale Comorbidity subscale, rs(18) = -.469, p = .037. Conclusions Higher self-efficacy for the use of video chat and fewer perceived comorbidity barriers were associated with greater interest in telemedicine-CR.
ACUTE MYOCARDITIS WITH CARDIOGENIC SHOCK: TEMPORARY STABILIZATION WITH IMPELLA CP

Myocarditis may initially present without typical symptoms of heart failure but rapid deterioration can occur at any time. A 33-year-old male with no past medical history presented with fever, lightheadedness and a rash for 2 days. He denied any dyspnea or chest pain. On initial presentation, he
Metabolism of Galactolipids in Dunaliella Salina

In spite of a relatively concerted effort recently directed to the study of plant lipid metabolism, many important and interesting questions remain unanswered. For a variety of reasons, plants often seem more intransigent than animals in yielding up their secrets. Our laboratory has initiated a study of membrane lipid synthesis and turnover in a simple eukaryotic green alga, Dunaliella salina, hoping that the ease of experimentation with it will lead to new and widely applicable knowledge.
Mechanical properties of stabilized nanocrystalline FCC metals

In this perspective, recent advances and current research challenges concerning the mechanical properties of stabilized nanocrystalline face-centered cubic (FCC) metals are discussed. First, a brief review of key experiments and modeling efforts over the last two decades is provided, with a focus on elucidating the mechanisms associated with plastic yield, hardening, and microstructure stabilization in nanocrystalline metals. This prior work has provided an understanding of the transition between dislocation-based and grain boundary-mediated mechanisms in plasticity and has identified several strategies to mitigate temperature or stress driven grain growth. Yet, the consequence of various stabilization methods on mechanical properties is not well understood. Future research challenges are presented in order to address this scientific gap, most critically the need to include grain boundary chemistry or grain boundary phases resulting from stabilization methods in new mechanistic theories for mechanical properties of nanocrystalline FCC metals.
$\Delta$-critical graphs with a vertex of degree 2

Let $G$ be a simple graph with maximum degree $\Delta$. A classic result of Vizing shows that $\chi'(G)$, the chromatic index of $G$, is either $\Delta$ or $\Delta+1$. We say $G$ is of \emph{Class 1} if $\chi'(G)=\Delta$, and is of \emph{Class 2} otherwise. A graph $G$ is \emph{$\Delta$-critical} if $\chi'(G)=\Delta+1$ and $\chi'(H) \Delta \lfloor (|V(G)|-1)/2 \rfloor$. Clearly, overfull graphs are Class 2. Hilton and Zhao in 1997 conjectured that if $G$ is obtained from an $n$-vertex $\Delta$-regular Class 1 graph with maximum degree greater than $n/3$ by splitting a vertex, then being overfull is the only reason for $G$ to be Class 2. This conjecture was only confirmed when $\Delta\ge \frac{n}{2}(\sqrt{7}-1)\approx 0.82n$. In this paper, we improve the bound on $\Delta$ from $\frac{n}{2}(\sqrt{7}-1)$ to $0.75n$. Considering the structure of $\Delta$-critical graphs with a vertex of degree 2, we also show that for an $n$-vertex $\Delta$-critical graph with $\Delta\ge \frac{3n}{4}$, if it contains a vertex of degree 2, then it is overfull. We actually obtain a more general form of this result, which partially supports the overfull conjecture of Chetwynd and Hilton from 1986, which states that if $G$ is an $n$-vertex $\Delta$-critical graph with $\Delta>n/3$, then $G$ contains an overfull subgraph $H$ with $\Delta(H)=\Delta$. Our proof techniques are new and might shed some light on attacking both of the conjectures when $\Delta$ is large.
Up-regulation of the p75 neurotrophin receptor is an essential mechanism for HIV-gp120 mediated synaptic loss in the striatum

Reduced synaptodendritic complexity appears to be a key feature in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurological disorder (HAND). Viral proteins, and in particular the envelope protein gp120, play a role in the pathology of synapses. Gp120 has been shown to increase both in vitro and in vivo the proneurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which promotes synaptic simplification through the activation of the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR). To provide evidence that p75NTR plays a role in gp120-mediated loss of synapses in vivo, we intercrossed gp120tg mice with p75NTR null mice and used molecular, histological and behavioral analyses to establish a link between p75NTR and gp120-mediated synaptic simplification. Synaptosomes obtained from the striatum of gp120tg mice exhibited a significant increase in p75NTR levels concomitantly to a decrease in synaptic markers such as TrkB and PSD95. Analysis of striatal dendritic spines by Golgi staining revealed that gp120tg mice display a reduced proportion of mushroom-type spines in addition to fewer spines overall, when compared to wild type or gp120tg lacking one or two p75NTR alleles. Moreover, removal of one p75NTR allele in gp120 transgenic mice abolished the gp120-driven impairment on a task of striatal-dependent motor learning. These data indicate that p75NTR could be a key player in HIV-mediated synaptic simplification in the striatum.
Impact of Screening and Treatment of Ureaplasma species on Hyperammonemia Syndrome in Lung Transplant Recipients: A Single Center Experience

Background Infection with Ureaplasma species (spp) has been linked to fatal hyperammonemia syndrome (HS) in lung transplant recipients. We sought to characterize the epidemiology of Ureaplasma spp in candidates and donors and describe outcomes of antimicrobial therapy in preventing and treating HS. Methods Candidate testing for Ureaplasma spp was performed with urine culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) pretransplant. Positive candidates were treated with levofloxacin. Donor testing was performed with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) culture and PCR intraoperatively. From 7/2014 to 2/2017 patients were treated according to results; from 2/2017 to 10/2018 recipients received empiric levofloxacin and azithromycin at transplant until testing returned negative. HS was defined as new onset altered mental status after transplant with ammonia > 200 µmol/L. Results In total, 60 patients who underwent lung transplant were included. And 80% (n = 48) of patients had negative screening tests in donor and candidate pre-lung transplant, 8.3% (n = 5) of recipients had positive Ureaplasma spp testing in urine pre-transplant, and 13.3% (n = 8) had positive donor BAL testing at the time of lung transplant. Three patients developed HS a median of 7 days posttransplant; 2 died of HS. Recipients of organs with Ureaplasma spp who received empiric therapy did not develop HS. Donors with Ureaplasma spp were younger and more sexually active. Conclusions Donor-derived Ureaplasma spp in lung transplant was associated with HS. Screening lung donors for Ureaplasma spp might allow for targeted therapy to reduce risk for development of HS, but future confirmatory studies are needed.
The Effect of the Crow Hop on Elbow Stress During an Interval Throwing Program.

Background:Postoperative rehabilitation protocols after ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction typically involve a structured interval throwing program. In an effort to minimize torque plac...
Private and Social Returns to R&D: Drug Development and Demographics

Investment in intangible capital such as R&D has increased dramatically since the 1990s. However, productivity growth remains sluggish in recent years. One potential reason is that a significant share of the increase in intangible investment is geared toward consumer products such as pharmaceutical drugs with limited spillovers to productivity. We document that a significant share of R&D spending in the United States is done by pharmaceutical firms and geared to developing drugs for older patients. Increased life expectancy and quality of life for the elderly increases welfare but may not be reflected in estimates of total factor productivity.
Engineering the interface between electroactive bacteria and electrodes

Chelsea Catania is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She received a BS in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Florida. She was an NSF graduate research fellow and obtained her PhD in Materials Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research interests are in the modification of biotic-abiotic interfaces for microbial electrochemical technologies and human health. Amruta A. Karbelkar is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She obtained her MS in Chemistry from the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India. She obtained her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Her research focuses on developing electrochemical platforms to study microbial electron transfer and diagnostics for infectious diseases. Ariel L. Furst is an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She obtained her BS in Chemistry from the University of Chicago and her PhD in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology. She was then an Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley. Her lab combines electrochemical methods with biomolecular and materials engineering to address challenges in human health and clean energy.
Flow Encourages Task Focus, but Frustration Drives Task Switching: How Reward and Effort Combine to Influence Player Engagement in a Simple Video Game

The current study explores the relationship between perceived cognitive and physical demands of a simple video game, and the balance of reward and effort that results in flow states during gameplay. Cognitive demands and both exertion-based and controller-based physical demands were perceived as lowest in situations where reward was high and effort was low (boredom), moderate when reward and effort were balanced (flow), and highest when the reward was low and effort was high (frustration). Surprisingly, player response times to a secondary task showed the greatest improvement when playing the frustrating video game condition. We interpret this latter finding as evidence of an observed task-switching effect: players initially tried to master the game's over-challenging primary task before giving up and, instead, diverted attention toward a secondary in-game task that required less effort and thus, gave greater attentional rewards to the player. The implications of this cognitive offloading are discussed.
Does it matter if a story character lives or dies?: a message experiment comparing survivor and death narratives

In narratives, characters often face threats where they either live (survivor narratives) or die (death narratives). Both outcomes have the potential to persuade, and are frequently utilised in mas...
Postoperative Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancers: A Case-Based Review

Postoperative radiation therapy targets of the head and neck region are often adjacent to nearby critical and avoidance structures. Therefore, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is preferred over previous techniques primarily due to (1) the ability to conform the high-dose regions around geometrically complex targets, (2) the ability to build steep dose gradients between targets and nearby critical structures, and (3) the ability to generate relative sparing of various surrounding nontarget normal structures from clinically significant doses without compromise of desired target coverage. Compared to clinical target volume delineation of intact regions (i.e., unoperated or unviolated neck), postoperative clinical target volumes are generally broader, in that they cross adjacent disturbed anatomic boundaries, are inclusive of surgical tracts and suture lines, and come nearer to the patient surface. Here we provide an expanded case-based illustration of our current approach to postoperative IMRT target volume delineation and treatment planning for various disease sites within the head and neck.
Identification of T-2 Toxin in Moldy Corn Associated with a Lethal Toxicosis in Dairy Cattle

Over a 5-month period during the winter of 1970-71, 20% of the lactating Holstein cows in a Wisconsin dairy herd died after prolonged ingestion of a diet containing 60% moldy corn infested with Fusarium tricinctum (2 x 10(5) propagules per g of moldy corn). Ethyl acetate extracts of the ground dried corn induced severe dermal reactions when applied to the skin of shaved 60-g albino rats and killed four of five 100-g rats that were force fed 1 ml in 2 ml of pure corn oil. T-2 toxin (3-hydroxy-4, 15-diacetoxy-8-[3-methylbutyryloxy]-12, 13-epoxy-Delta(9)-trichothecene) at concentrations of 2 mg per kg of dry corn was identified in purified extracts of the moldy corn by means of gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. This concentration of T-2 toxin in the moldy feed and the nature of the toxic effects observed strongly suggest a major causal relationship.
Chapter 6 – Fourier Analysis

Any periodic function can be expressed as the sum of sine and cosine functions. For example, a musical instrument usually creates several different tones at the same time, which are linear combinations of sine and cosine functions with different frequencies. Outside mathematics, Fourier analysis is used in many areas. It contains all of the central ideas of electrical engineering. Crystallography, the telephone, the x-ray machine, and many other devices use Fourier's ideas. Following Fourier's original ideas, this chapter illustrates how to represent a periodic function as a series of sine and cosine functions. Fourier series are a useful tool for analyzing the frequency properties of a function. When two Fourier series are multiplied together, it is easier to use the complex exponential representation instead of the sine and cosine representation. The Fourier transform represents a function in the frequency domain. It is the continuous version of the Fourier series. Many results for the Fourier transform are parallel to those for Fourier series. Convolution is a useful tool in the study of relationships between functions. The convergence theorem for Fourier series confirms that a periodic function can be identified with its Fourier series.
Die dynastische Ordnung

Der Regierungsform nach ist das Vereinigte Konigreich von Grosbritannien und Nordirland eine parlamentarische Demokratie, deren besondere Gestaltung die parlamentarische Kabinettsregierung ist. Der Staatsform nach aber ist Grosbritannien eine konstitutionelle — im Gegensatz zur absoluten — Monarchie, konstitutionell deswegen, weil die Ausubung der monarchischen Gewalt — die Royal Prerogative — durch Parlamentsgesetze und Konventionalregeln der Verfassung eingeschrankt und auch weiterhin einschrankbar ist. Die Eigenart des politischen Prozesses besteht nun darin, das die Krone zwar ein wesentlicher und nicht hinwegzudenkender Bestandteil der Regierung und Regierungsfuhrung ist, das dies aber allseitig, und gerade auch vom jeweiligen Trager der Krone — dem Souveran —, als eine verfassungsrechtliche Fiktion anerkannt ist. Denn mit geringen Ausnahmen werden alle Akte, welche selbst auszuuben der Souveran rechtlich ermachtigt ware, in der Praxis an seiner Stelle vom Kabinett veranlast und vollzogen. Was der Krone im zeitgenossischen Grosbritannien an Einflus und Prestige verblieben ist, hat sich vom verfassungsrechtlichen auf das gesellschaftliche Milieu verlagert 1.
Commutative algebras for arrangements

Let V be a vector space of dimension l over some field K. A hyperplane H is a vector subspace of codimension one. An arrangement is a finite collection of hyperplanes in V . We use [7] as a general reference.
Fast circuit simulator for transient analysis of CDM ESD

The run-time for circuit-level CDM ESD simulation can be prohibitively long. By leveraging the specific properties of the problem formulation, run-time can be reduced without compromising accuracy. A reduced run-time is obtained by using cluster computing, and additional speed-up is achieved using specialized device models and a customized simulation engine.
The impact of rape: social support as a moderator of stress.

This study investigated 25 victims' reactions to sexual assault and the role of social support in their subsequent adjustment. Victims were interviewed 3 months after the assault to gather information about the assault, the type of support they received, and the effects of the assault as measured by two scales of psychological stress: Impact of Events scale and SCL-90-R. Our major findings were that (a) victim's scale scores were significantly elevated, reflecting the considerable distress they were still experiencing; (b) there were significant differences in the availability of support from specific categories of people (e.g., police received significantly high ratings, whereas physicians' ratings were significantly low); (c) the amount of perceived support varied with the stressfulness of the assault; (d) however, contrary to initial hypotheses, the amount of overall support did not predict subsequent adjustment; (e) support from physicians did correlate significantly with both scales of psychological adjustment. Language: en
The relationship between organizational slack and innovation: revisited

Purpose – The slack-innovation relationship has interested scholars for years. The authors aim to delve into the impact of financial slack on firm innovation by replicating a classic study arguing that this relationship has an inverse U-shape. Design/methodology/approach – The sample consists of all US firms that were publicly traded between 1993 and 2011. The authors employ the standard econometrics methodology of panel regression with firm-fixed effect and time-fixed effect to estimate the regression equation of firm innovation on financial slack. Findings – The authors find that the relationship between financial slack and R&D investments is similar to that suggested by earlier authors, thus enhancing the generalizability of this important finding in management research. The authors also find that this relationship holds even during economic downturns. Originality/value – The authors replicate Nohria and Gulati's classic study by considering the impact of slack on innovation. The authors also move away...
Mobile corridors in marine landscapes: enhancement of faunal exchange at seagrass/sand ecotones

Field experiments utilizing peak nighttime activity levels of amphipods were performed to determine if the spatial location of drift macroalgae in seagrass landscapes affected amphipod abundance on drift macroalgae. The study was conducted in Tampa Bay, FL over two nights in August 1995, within a Halodule wrightii Ascherson Phillips seagrass bed. Amphipod utilization of drift algae was assessed by defaunating the drift alga, Hypnea cervicornis J. Agardh, and recording net faunal movement onto algal clumps which were (1) stationary in bare sediment for 120 min; (2) stationary in H. wrightii for 120 min; (3) moved through H. wrightii for 90 min; and (4) moved through H. wrightii for 90 min and then across the seagrass sand ecotone and into bare sediment for 30 min. Amphipods, almost exclusively epiphytic taxa, were recovered from all experimental algal clumps placed both in seagrass and sand areas. Fourteen amphipod species were recovered with Ampithoe longimana and Cymadusa compta making up 77% of the total abundance. Greater abundances (but not diversity) of epifaunal amphipods were found on algae when they were located within a seagrass bed compared to bare sediment. Drift algal clumps that passed through the seagrass/sand ecotone had significantly higher amphipod abundance than (1) clumps that did not move through seagrass and were stationary in bare sediment and (2) clumps which moved through, but not out of, a seagrass bed. Demographic and ontogenetic differences were also detected among drift algal treatments. Gravid females were less abundant on algae that did not remain within or was not inside of the seagrass bed and proportionately more males and juveniles were found on algal clumps anchored away from seagrass vegetation. These findings demonstrate that drift algae acting as a mobile corridor provide epiphytal amphipods with a mechanism for dispersal within a seagrass landscape. Moreover, the drift algae that serve as a mobile corridor also act as a mechanism whereby the exchange of fauna is enhanced as drift algae move across the seagrass/sand ecotone. Thus, factors controlling drift algae movement, such as regional meteorological conditions, should have implications for interpatch dynamics of amphipods within a seagrass landscape.
Agreement of patients' and nurses' perceptions of burn pain: a research review.

(1) The purpose of this study was to review all available research studies that reported the level of agreement between patients' and nurses' perceptions of burn pain. Findings from the eight studies included in this review varied, however, overall nurses appeared to be inclined to overestimate or underestimate patients' burn pain rather than rate patients' pain in accordance with patients' ratings. Possible factors that may have influenced the discrepancies in patients' and nurses' burn pain ratings and critiques of the eight research reports are discussed. Practice implications and recommendations for future research are provided.
Ozone and Visibility Reduction in the Midwest: Evidence for Large-Scale Transport

Abstract For June and July 1975, ozone concentrations throughout the Midwest showed a consistent dependence onwind direction with the highest concentrations associated with winds from the southeast. This systematicpattern suggests that large-scale transport rather than local sources control the general trends of the ozonelevel in the study area.Ozone and meteorological data covering an episode period 29 July-2 August have been analyzed usingweather maps, visibility reports, upper air soundings, trajectories and aircraft measurements to ascertainthe scale of the ozone problem. Results indicate that the highest ozone concentrations occurred within regions of reported haze, and that these regions had definite bounds which could be followed over the country.Moreover, distinct areas of reported obscured sky formed in the vicinity of St. Louis and Pittsburgh whichcould be followed over thousands of kilometers reducing visibilities substantially even in upper Ontario.Trajectories indicate that adverse conditions...
Nanotechnology in vascular tissue engineering: from nanoscaffolding towards rapid vessel biofabrication

The existing methods of biofabrication for vascular tissue engineering are still bioreactor-based, extremely expensive, laborious and time consuming and, furthermore, not automated, which would be essential for an economically successful large-scale commercialization. The advances in nanotechnology can bring additional functionality to vascular scaffolds, optimize internal vascular graft surface and even help to direct the differentiation of stem cells into the vascular cell phenotype. The development of rapid nanotechnology-based methods of vascular tissue biofabrication represents one of most important recent technological breakthroughs in vascular tissue engineering because it dramatically accelerates vascular tissue assembly and, importantly, also eliminates the need for a bioreactor-based scaffold cellularization process.
Prediction of in vivo function of human parathyroid tissue autografts by in vitro testing.

In an effort to overcome problems of hypoparathyroidism in patients undergoing reoperation for persistent hyperparathyroidism, a systematic plan has been evolved. All patients who have reoperation and in whom abnormal tissue has been identified have had that tissue removed and portions of it cryopreserved. Following successful reoperation those patients who have prolonged hypoparathyroidism, who cannot be maintained off of vitamin D and calcium, undergo autografting with cryopreserved tissue. Prior to autografting, the parathyroid tissue has been thawed and assessed for the appropriateness of parathyroid hormone suppressibility in response to varying levels of ambient calcium concentration. This report documents that this in vitro test of suppressibility correctly predicts in vivo parathyroid autograft function of both fresh and cryopreserved parathyroid autografts.
A highly purified antithrombin III concentrate prepared from human plasma fraction IV-1 by affinity chromatography.

We describe an improved method for large-scale purification of antithrombin III (AT-III) from human plasma involving heparin affinity chromatography of redis-solved fraction IV-1 paste, viral inactivation by heating, followed by a second heparin affinity column. The characteristics of a new heparin affinity resin and the ability to extrapolate process behavior from small-scale (20 ml) to large-scale (40 liter) columns are described. This supports the use of the small-scale column for process optimization and validation studies in compliance with current regulatory requirements for biological products. The process has been characterized by analytical techniques including sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), reducing SDS, and nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectroscopy, and electrospray mass spectroscopy. These results demonstrate that greater than 95% of the protein in the final products is AT-III, which is greater than 95% active as defined by thrombin inhibition.
Nuclear magnetic resonance study of Pt–Rh bimetallic clusters

The use of pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance to study supported Pt–Rh bimetallic clusters is described. Using energy-dispersive spectroscopy it has been shown that each individual cluster contains both Pt and Rh. For lower-dispersion samples (larger metal particles) the centre of the particles is pure Pt. For higher-dispersion samples (smaller metal particles) the Pt concentration in the surface layer of the clusters has been measured from observation of the dependence of the height of the Pt spin echo on the time, τ, between pulses of the echo sequence. For clusters on which 13CO has been adsorbed, the 13CO resonance frequency varies with the Pt–Rh ratio. 195Pt–13C spin-echo double resonance (SEDOR) has been employed to measure the fraction of Pt atoms in the surface layer of the cluster. By studying how the SEDOR signal depends on the frequency of the 13CO exciting pulse, it has been shown that the resonance frequency of 13CO is independent of whether the CO is bonded to Pt or Rh in a given sample. This result shows that the frequency shift of the 13CO is a non-local rather than a local phenomenon. The 13CO shift corresponds to that of pure Rh particles, even for surfaces which contain a substantial Pt content. The significance of this result is explained in terms of the mixing of the molecular and metallic wave-functions.
Brain Purines in a Genetic Mouse Model of Lesch-Nyhan Disease

: Mice carrying a mutation in the gene encoding the purine salvage enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) have recently been produced to provide an animal model for Lesch-Nyhan disease. The current-studies were conducted to characterize the consequences of the mutation on the expression of HPRT and to characterize potential changes in brain purine content in these mutants. Our results indicate that the mutant animals have no detectable HPRT-immunoreactive material on western blots and no detectable HPRT enzyme activity in brain tissue homogenates, confirming that they are completely HPRT deficient (HPRT-). Despite the absence of HPRT-mediated purine salvage, the animals have apparently normal brain purine content. However, de novo purine synthesis, as measured by [14C]formate incorporation into brain purines, is accelerated four- to fivefold in the mutant animals. This increase in the synthesis of purines may protect the HPRT- mice from potential depletion of brain purines despite complete impairment of HPRT-mediated purine salvage.
Long term behaviors of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 and La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 as cathodes for solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract This work studies the electrochemical performance and stability of La 0.8 Sr 0.2 MnO 3 (LSM) and La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3 (LSCF) cathodes in a AISI441 interconnect/cathode/YSZ electrolyte half-cell configuration at 800 °C for 500 h. Ohmic resistance and polarization resistance of the cathodes are analyzed by deconvoluting the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results. The LSM cathode has much higher resistance than the LSCF electrode even though the respective cathode resistance either decreases or stays stable over the long term thermal treatment. During the 500 h thermal treatment, dramatic elemental distribution changes influence the electrochemical behaviors of the cathodes. Chromium diffusion from the interconnect into the LSM electrode at triple phase boundaries (TPBs) leads to segregation of Sr away from La and Mn. For the LSCF cathode, Sr and Co segregation is dominant. The fundamental processes at the TPBs are proposed. Overall, LSCF is a much preferred cathode material because of its much smaller resistance for the 500 h thermal treatment time.
The effects of “effort after meaning” on recall: Differences in within- and between-subjects designs

In four experiments, we examined free recall of ambiguous sentences with or without corresponding cues to facilitate comprehension, using Auble and Franks's (1978) paradigm to examine effort after meaning (Bartlett, 1932). The ambiguous sentences were studied without cues, with cues meaningfully embedded in them, with cues provided shortly before the sentence (precue), or with cues following the sentence after several seconds (delayed cue). When these conditions were manipulated within subjects, the process of cue integration in the pre- and delayed-cue conditions enhanced recall, relative to the no-cue and embedded-cue conditions. Furthermore, in a test condition in which subjects first attempted to recall the cues alone, recall was also best in the delayed-cue condition. The effects described above did not occur when the cue presentation conditions varied between subjects, and on a test of order reconstruction, there was even an advantage for sentences studied in the embedded-cue condition over those studied in the delayed-cue condition. The dissociative effects of experimental design on sentence recall and order reconstruction suggest that effort after meaning might enhance memory for study items at the cost of impairing memory for temporal order information.
Accumulation of DNA damage in pre- and posthepatectomized liver of aged rats

Abstract Although the majority of the literature supports the concept that an accumulation of DNA damage or a modification in the DNA structure of postmitotic cells occurs with increasing age, there are also several reports that show no DNA changes in these cells with increasing age. In the study reported here, two components of the DNA damage hypothesis of aging were tested. Young (4–6 months) and old (18–20 month) unirradiated or irradiated, pre- and posthepatectomized male Fisher 344 rats were killed, and the posterior lateral lobe of the liver removed. Single cell/nuclei suspensions were made, and the DNA damage accumulated with age or remaining at various times after irradiation was measured using the alkaline elution technique. The results demonstrate that, 1) DNA damage accumulates in rat liver cells with age, and 2) liver cells repair their radiation-induced DNA damage slower in posthepatectomized, but not prehepatectomized aged rats.
The norm of equity in a three‐person majority game

The study of re-person game theory and of coalition formation frequently provide useful analogs for the study of such systems as: face-to-face groups, states, nations, or any self-interested groups in situations involving the possibility of mixed motive or competitive interaction. The present study addresses itself to some of the processes that occur in triads when distribution of limited resources is the goal. Specifically, the processes involved are: decision making, cooperation and conflict, bargaining, and social comparison. Three players, A, B, and C, were told that they could split a payoff if any two of them agreed upon a solution. If A and B formed a coalition, they would each receive 50 percent of the winnings. If AC or BC formed a coalition, then AorB would get 40 percent and C would get 60 percent. They were also allowed to use side payments. Because of the use of side payments, the formal models would see all players as equal, and therefore any two-person coalition would be equally likely to form. It was predicted, however, that in the absence of a formal solution, players would invoke psychological considerations to arrive at a solution. Since the norm of equity is widely held, it was predicted that the AB coalition would result most frequently and that to justify excluding C, and that, A and B would show a pre-post bargaining change of opinion regarding C. The results were not as expected even though 15 of the 20 groups opted for the AB split. However, in 13 of the 20 groups the two included members used side payments to form a fully inclusive three-person coalition. In comparing the opinion change of the formally excluded member in the three-way split groups with the excluded member in the two-way split groups, there was greater opinion change of the excluded member in the two-way split group. While this was not predicted, it fits the basic predictions of the study.
Cartesian Boundary Treatment of Curved Walls for High-Order Computational Aeroacoustics Schemes

It is known that the use of high-order central difference schemes on a Cartesian grid is preferable for the computation of acoustic wave propagation problems. Those schemes tend to be less dispersive and dissipative than most other types of schemes. They are also more capable of providing an accurate wave speed. A Cartesian boundary treatment for problems involving the scattering of acoustic waves by solid objects with curved boundary surfaces, designed to be used in conjunction with such high-order central difference schemes, is proposed. The development of this method is based on the observation that a solid wall actually exerts a pressure force on the fluid to keep it from flowing across the wall surface. In this method, ghost values of pressure are introduced at mesh points adjacent to the solid boundary inside the object. The ghost values are then chosen so that the solid wall boundary condition is satisfied. The method is also applicable to objects with sharp corners. Numerical examples are provided.