cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 440: Activation of the Brain Renin-angiotensin System is Critically Involved in the Hypertension Associated With Bbs

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a human autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a pleiotropic of phenotypes including obesity, renal abnormalities, mental retardation, retinal pigmentary dystrophy, polydactyly and hypogenitalism. Hypertension is also common in BBS patients, except BBS2. Consistent with this, we previously demonstrated that obese Bbs2 knockout mice are normotensive while obese Bbs4 null mice are hypertensive. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of hypertension in BBS remain poorly defined. Using BBS mice, we tested whether abnormalities in the brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to the increased arterial pressure in BBS. Using real time PCR, we found that mRNA expression of RAS components were differentially altered in Bbs2 -/- and Bbs4 -/- mice. Compared to wild type controls, the hypertensive Bbs4 -/- mice exhibited significantly (P -/- mice, the expression of renin, AT1aR and AT1bR were significantly (P -/- mice. Consistent with our previous findings, radiotelemetric mean arterial pressure was significantly (P -/- mice (114±3 mmHg) relative to wild type controls (101±1 mmHg). Moreover, Bbs4 -/- mice exhibited an exaggerated decrease in arterial pressure in response to intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of losartan (AT1 receptor antagonist). Indeed, ICV losartan (10 g) decreased mean arterial pressure by 24±7 mmHg in Bbs4 -/- mice vs. 5±10 mmHg in wild type controls (P
School climate: the controllable and the uncontrollable

A positive school climate impacts students by promoting positive relations among students, staff and faculty of the school. The current study used latent class analysis and multinomial regression w...
Performance Bounds on Spatial Coverage Tasks by Stochastic Robotic Swarms

This paper presents a novel procedure for computing parameters of a robotic swarm that guarantee coverage performance by the swarm within a specified error from a target spatial distribution. The main contribution of this paper is the analysis of the dependence of this error on two key parameters: the number of robots in the swarm and the robot sensing radius. The robots cannot localize or communicate with one another, and they exhibit stochasticity in their motion and task-switching policies. We model the population dynamics of the swarm as an advection-diffusion-reaction partial differential equation (PDE) with time-dependent advection and reaction terms. We derive rigorous bounds on the discrepancies between the target distribution and the coverage achieved by individual-based and PDE models of the swarm. We use these bounds to select the swarm size that will achieve coverage performance within a given error and the corresponding robot sensing radius that will minimize this error. We also apply the optimal control approach from our prior work in [13] to compute the robots’ velocity field and task-switching rates. We validate our procedure through simulations of a scenario, in which a robotic swarm must achieve a specified density of pollination activity over a crop field.
Multi-year study of remotely-sensed ammonia emission from fumaroles in the salton sea geothermal field

A multi-year study of ammonia emissions from a recently exposed geothermal fumarole field at the SE edge of the Salton Sea (Southern California) is described. The work makes extensive use of airborne thermal-infrared hyperspectral imagery acquired over the field site.
Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Therapy

The use of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) devices in the therapeutic approach to lymphedema is perhaps the most controversial element of what is traditionally termed complex decongestive physiotherapy. In the United States, historically, pneumatic compression has been the mainstay of lymphatic therapy for decades.
Diaspora policy in weakly governed arenas and the benefits of multipolar engagement: lessons from the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt

Much of the literature on diaspora policy frameworks assumes states are monolithic, with exclusively centralised decision-making and political and administrative capacity spread across decentralise...
Bioty: A cloud-based development toolkit for programming experiments and interactive applications with living cells

Human-Biology Interaction (HBI) is an emerging subdomain of HCI enabling humans to have real-time interactions with living microbiological systems. The creation of new HBI applications is currently challenging and time consuming, even for experts, as it requires knowledge of biotechnology, hardware design, and software development in addition to continuous access to reliable and responsive biological materials. We therefore developed Bioty, a JavaScript-based web toolkit enabling rapid prototyping of versatile HBI applications utilizing swarms of motile, phototactic cells hosted on a remote cloud lab, and where virtual sandbox modes mitigate physical resource limitations. We evaluated and demonstrated the utility of Bioty through user studies with both HBI novices and experts, who used Bioty to create applications such as biotic video games, scientific experiments, and biological art. Our findings inform the design of development toolkits for HBI and swarm programming.
Physics in the News

A headline from Mother Jones magazine from 2015 warns that “Scores of Scientists Raise Alarm About the Long-Term Health Effects of Cell Phones.” A photograph shows a woman wincing in pain while holding a cell phone, as an eerie red glow envelops the side of her face next to the phone. Stories about the dangers of cell phones keep popping up year after year. The situation is somewhat similar to the climate change debate. While the vast majority of scientists believe climate change is occurring, there are a few scientists who claim that everyone else is wrong. The media often turns this into a “he said, she said” story, usually without making any comment on the value of the scientific arguments presented.
Ethnic variations in the relationship between multiple stress domains and use of several types of tobacco/nicotine products among a diverse sample of adults

Abstract Introduction Financial strain and discrimination are consistent predictors of negative health outcomes and maladaptive coping behaviors, including tobacco use. Although there is considerable information exploring stress and smoking, limited research has examined the relationship between patterns of stress domains and specific tobacco/nicotine product use. Even fewer studies have assessed ethnic variations in these relationships. Methods This study investigated the relationship between discrimination and financial strain and current tobacco/nicotine product use and explored the ethnic variation in these relationships among diverse sample of US adults (N = 1068). Separate logistic regression models assessed associations between stress domains and tobacco/nicotine product use, adjusting for covariates (e.g., age, gender, race/ethnicity, and household income). Due to statistically significant differences, the final set of models was stratified by race/ethnicity. Results Higher levels of discrimination were associated with higher odds of all three tobacco/nicotine product categories. Financial strain was positively associated with combustible tobacco and combined tobacco/nicotine product use. Financial strain was especially risky for Non-Hispanic Whites (AOR:1.191, 95%CI:1.083–1.309) and Blacks/African Americans (AOR:1.542, 95%CI:1.106–2.148), as compared to other groups, whereas discrimination was most detrimental for Asians/Pacific Islanders (AOR:3.827, 95%CI:1.832–7.997) and Hispanics/Latinas/Latinos (AOR:2.517, 95%CI:1.603–3.952). Conclusions Findings suggest discrimination and financial stressors are risk factors for use of multiple tobacco/nicotine products, highlighting the importance of prevention research that accounts for these stressors. Because ethnic groups may respond differently to stress/strain, prevention research needs to identify cultural values, beliefs, and coping strategies that can buffer the negative consequences of discrimination and financial stressors.
Snuffbox arteriovenous fistulas have similar outcomes and patency as wrist arteriovenous fistulas

Abstract Objective Radial artery-based wrist arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are commonly created as an initial upper extremity arteriovenous access. A more distal access site, such as the anatomic snuffbox AVF, can also be created. Although much has been written about wrist AVFs, outcomes of snuffbox AVFs are unclear. Our goal was to compare perioperative and midterm outcomes between these two types of distal access. Methods The Vascular Quality Initiative database was queried for all patients undergoing snuffbox AVFs and wrist AVFs from 2011 to 2017. Unmatched and matched analyses were performed for baseline characteristics and outcomes at 6 months for ischemic steal, wound infection, and arm swelling. Multivariable analysis was performed for unmatched and matched analyses for primary patency, surgical or endovascular repair, and patient survival. Kaplan-Meier matched analysis was performed for primary patency, freedom from surgical or endovascular intervention, and survival. Results We identified 4525 distal forearm fistulas: 179 (4%) snuffbox AVFs and 4346 (96%) wrist AVFs. The average age was 59 ± 14.7 years, and 72.3% of patients were male. There were no significant differences in baseline demographics or comorbidities of patients with snuffbox AVFs and wrist AVFs except that patients with snuffbox AVFs had fewer tunneled lines at access creation (70.2% vs 65.2%; P = .046) and had a lower American Society of Anesthesiologists class. There were no significant differences in unmatched outcomes at 6 months for ischemic steal (0.8% vs 1.9%; P = .336), wound infection (0% vs 0.2%; P = .649), and arm swelling (0.8% vs 1.3%; P = .592). Matched analysis showed no significant differences in baseline characteristics and outcomes at 6 months for ischemic steal (0% vs 1.8%; P = .146), wound infection (0% vs 0%), and arm swelling (0.9% vs 1.2%; P = .789). Kaplan-Meier matched analysis showed no significant differences between snuffbox AVFs and wrist AVFs at 6 months for primary patency (51% vs 48%; P = .61), freedom from endovascular intervention (84.5% vs 82.5%; P = .98), freedom from surgical intervention (90% vs 86%; P = .08), and survival (92% vs 96%; P = .1). In multivariable analysis of unmatched data, snuffbox AVFs and wrist AVFs had similar primary patency (hazard ratio [HR], 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75-1.26; P = .83), likelihood of surgical intervention (HR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.35-1.05; P = .074) and endovascular intervention (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.65-1.42; P = .83), and survival (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 0.9-2.4; P = .128). Conclusions Snuffbox AVFs have midterm results similar to those of wrist AVFs.
Preparation of 12-[3H]-Oleates for Assay of the Δ-12 Desaturase

The Δ12-desaturase is an enzyme which introduces a second cis double bond into monounsaturated fatty acids like oleate (9-cis-octadecenoic acid) between the twelfth and thirteenth carbon atoms. This desaturation is the first step of polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, a process almost entirely confined to plants, some yeast and fungi, and some insects [1]. Mammals derive the essential fatty acids required in their diets from plant sources, the richest source being oil seeds. In developing oil seeds, the Δ12-desaturase obtains a pair of electrons from cytochrome b5 and molecular oxygen to abstract the two hydrogen atoms from the alkyl chain. The cytochrome b5, the b5 reductase, and the Δ12-desaturase are normal components of the endoplasmic reticulum of developing seeds [2] although some mutants are known in which the activity of this desaturase is greatly reduced [3].
Studying extracellular signaling utilizing a glycoproteomic approach: lectin blot surveys, a first and important step

Successful innovative proteomic analysis is highly dependent on molecular biology techniques at the surveying and validation stage. This is because mass spectrometry (MS) analyses of complex samples are limited by their dynamic range for detection—so careful front-end sample preparation, fractionation, and enrichment are crucial to find biologically relevant signals in an extremely complex extracellular environment. Here, we share a very useful and simple front-end surveying methodology—lectin blotting—for proteomic analysis of glycosylation patterns—the most abundant posttranslational modification in extra-cellular signaling. Lectin blotting is an effective biochemical technique based on lectin–glycan interactions. It is used to detect and characterize carbohydrate epitopes on protein or lipids. Depending on lectin patterns, specific lectins can be used as tags to enrich glycoproteins for further proteomic analysis. In this method, proteins or lipids are resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and transferred electrophoretically to adsorbent membranes such as nitrocellulose or polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane first. Transferred proteins or lipids are subsequently analyzed by probes including labeled lectins. In this chapter, we provide a detailed methodology of lectin blotting for glycol-proteomic analysis. This method is robust and can be used for complex cell lysates, conditioned media, or human samples to monitor glycosylation pattern following extracellular signal transduction. Here, we will use patient plasma samples post hypothermic therapy—an extremely complex medium—as a tool to describe in detail the technique of lectin blotting for proteomic analysis.
Critical Skills for Today's Accounting and Business Graduates

This paper describes skills that today’s accounting and business students must acquire to achieve success in the corporate world. Students without these skills may get jobs but will ultimately find themselves underemployed in dead-end jobs. Although specialized knowledge in a discipline is important, it is the mastery of core skills such as communication and ethical awareness that really prepare students for today’s fast-changing work environment. The perceived purpose of college education has shifted in the past century from “morality/values” to “cognitive immersion” to “career preparation.” Today’s focus on “career preparation” has actually brought about a return to the “morality/values” and cognitive immersion” approaches of the past.
Forced Medication of Prison Inmates

A review of a landmark case that determined why and under what circumstances antipsychotic medications can be administered to incarcerated patients with mental illness against their will. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Evaluation of the Factor Structure of the Adolescent Stress Questionnaire in Chinese Adolescents.

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of Adolescent Stress Questionnaire (ASQ-CN) in a sample of Chinese middle school students (N = 420; 52.14% boys and 47.86% gi...
Searching for axion dark matter with birefringent cavities

Axionlike particles are a broad class of dark matter candidates which are expected to behave as a coherent, classical field with a weak coupling to photons. Research into the detectability of these particles with laser interferometers has recently revealed a number of promising experimental designs. Inspired by these ideas, we propose the axion detection with birefringent cavities (ADBC) experiment, a new axion interferometry concept using a cavity that exhibits birefringence between its two, linearly polarized laser eigenmodes. This experimental concept overcomes several limitations of the designs currently in the literature and can be practically realized in the form of a simple bowtie cavity with tunable mirror angles. Our design thereby increases the sensitivity to the axion-photon coupling over a wide range of axion masses.
Late-stage obstruction due to preventative wrapping of left ventricular assist device outflow graft

Preventative polytetrafluoroethylene coverings are often used to protect the left ventricular assist device outflow graft during sternal re-entry. We herein describe 5 cases of late-onset, significant left ventricular assist device outflow graft obstruction due to external outflow graft compression. We present clinical presentations, therapies and outcomes.
Empirical Circuit Model for Output Capacitance Losses in Silicon Carbide Power Devices

In recent reports, a variety of power devices, including wide-bandgap transistors, SiC diodes, and Si superjuction MOSFETs, exhibit losses occurring from hysteretic charging and discharging of their output capacitance (C OSS for MOSFETs and C J for Schottky diodes). In many instances and soft-switching power converter applications, these losses are comparable to conduction losses, especially for HF/VHF switching frequencies. Manufacturer SPICE models and datasheets do not report these losses, and are why device power dissipation in simulation significantly contrasts with that in actual converters. However, we propose a viable empirical circuit model that incorporates these losses, with capabilities to integrate into circuit simulation tools such as SPICE. We, in addition, demonstrate the model by comparing device power dissipation in a class-E inverter and class-E rectifier between simulation and implementation.
Mn(III)-ligand complexes as a catalyst in ligand-assisted oxidation of substituted phenols by permanganate in aqueous solution

Ligands can significantly increase the oxidation rates of phenolic compounds by MnO4-. This was often explained by the in situ formed Mn(III)- or Mn(X)-ligand complexes that can oxidize phenols faster than MnO4- can. This work discovered that Mn(III)-ligand complexes also acted as a catalyst for the oxidation of phenolic compounds by MnO4- (i.e., the catalytic role of Mn(III)-ligand). First, when phenol was mixed with MnO4- and pyrophosphate (PP, a representative ligand), Mn(III)-PP was found to form while phenol was quickly oxidized. However, the amount of phenol that was directly oxidized by Mn(III)-PP only accounted for ∼25% of phenol that was oxidized in the mixture, indicating that there were other pathways. Then, when pentachlorophenol (PCP) was used as another phenolic probe, the externally prepared Mn(III)-PP was observed to only slightly oxidize PCP, but its addition significantly accelerated PCP oxidation by MnO4-. The Mn(III)-PP concentration also remained unchanged during the above reaction, thus suggesting the catalyst role of Mn(III)-PP. This new pathway was further validated by successfully explaining all the experimental observations obtained so far, including the effect of pH, effects of different ligand amounts and types, product patterns, and the induction period. Finally, possible catalytic mechanisms of Mn(III)-ligand were discussed based on the experimental results.
Current Approaches to Germline Cancer Genetic Testing.

The prevalence of genetic predisposition to cancer is greater than initially appreciated, yet most affected individuals remain undiagnosed. Deleterious germline variants in cancer predisposition ge...
Primary care physician knowledge, attitudes, and diagnostic testing practices for norovirus and acute gastroenteritis.

Background Norovirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) across the age spectrum; candidate vaccines are in clinical trials. While norovirus diagnostic testing is increasingly available, stool testing may not be performed routinely, which can hamper surveillance and burden of disease estimates. Additionally, lack of knowledge of the burden of disease may inhibit provider vaccine recommendations, which could affect coverage rates and ultimately the impact of the vaccine. Our objectives were to understand physicians' stool testing practices in outpatients with AGE, and physician knowledge of norovirus, in order to improve surveillance and prepare for vaccine introduction. Methods Internet and mail survey on AGE, norovirus, and future norovirus vaccines conducted January to March 2018 among national networks of primary care pediatricians, family practice and general internal medicine physicians. Results The response rate was 59% (820/1383). During peak AGE season, physicians estimated they ordered stool tests for a median of 15% (interquartile range: 5-33%) of their outpatients with AGE. Stool tests were reported as more often available for ova and parasites, Clostridioides difficile, and bacterial culture (>95% for all specialties) than for norovirus (6-33% across specialties); even when available, norovirus-specific tests were infrequently ordered. Most providers were unaware that norovirus is a leading cause of AGE across all age groups (Pediatricians 80%, Family Practice 86%, General Internal Medicine 89%) or that alcohol-based hand sanitizers are ineffective against norovirus (Pediatricians 51%, Family Practice 66%, General Internal Medicine 62%). Concerns cited as major barriers to implementing a future norovirus vaccine included if the vaccine is not covered by insurance (General Internal Medicine 64%, Pediatricians 67%, Family Practice 74%) and lack of adequate reimbursement for vaccination (Pediatricians 43%, General Internal Medicine 46%, Family Practice 50%). Factors that providers believed were 'not at all a barrier' or 'minor barrier' to new vaccine introduction included the belief that "my patients won't need this vaccine" (General Internal Medicine 78%, Family Practice 86%, Pediatricians 90%) and "my patients already get too many vaccines" (Family Practice 89%, General Internal Medicine 92%, Pediatricians 95%). Conclusions Primary care physicians had few concerns regarding future norovirus vaccine introduction, but have knowledge gaps on norovirus prevalence and hand hygiene for prevention. Also, physicians infrequently order stool tests for outpatients with AGE, which limits surveillance estimates that rely on physician-ordered stool diagnostics. Closing physician knowledge gaps on norovirus burden and transmission can help support norovirus vaccine introduction.
COVID-19 Public Health Measures During National Assembly Elections of the Republic of Korea

The general elections for the 21st National Assembly in the Republic of Korea were scheduled for April 15th, 2020, which was during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. To ensure a safe election, the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) recommended several public health measures. The KCDC developed key interventions after reviewing the general election strategy that targeted COVID-19 patients and individuals isolating at home. Four voters who participated in the election tested positive, but did not contract COVID-19 during voting. The results demonstrated that the KCDC minimized the spread of infection in the community during the election. The measures implemented by KCDC during the election held under a COVID-19 outbreak cannot be generalized to elections as a whole because cultural and national consciousness vary between countries. Nevertheless, it demonstrates that the systemic strategies and applications against the pandemic can minimize the possibility of viral spread.
Nanotechnology Approaches for Chloroplast Biotechnology Advancements

Photosynthetic organisms are sources of sustainable foods, renewable biofuels, novel biopharmaceuticals, and next-generation biomaterials essential for modern society. Efforts to improve the yield, variety, and sustainability of products dependent on chloroplasts are limited by the need for biotechnological approaches for high-throughput chloroplast transformation, monitoring chloroplast function, and engineering photosynthesis across diverse plant species. The use of nanotechnology has emerged as a novel approach to overcome some of these limitations. Nanotechnology is enabling advances in the targeted delivery of chemicals and genetic elements to chloroplasts, nanosensors for chloroplast biomolecules, and nanotherapeutics for enhancing chloroplast performance. Nanotechnology-mediated delivery of DNA to the chloroplast has the potential to revolutionize chloroplast synthetic biology by allowing transgenes, or even synthesized DNA libraries, to be delivered to a variety of photosynthetic species. Crop yield improvements could be enabled by nanomaterials that enhance photosynthesis, increase tolerance to stresses, and act as nanosensors for biomolecules associated with chloroplast function. Engineering isolated chloroplasts through nanotechnology and synthetic biology approaches are leading to a new generation of plant-based biomaterials able to self-repair using abundant CO2 and water sources and are powered by renewable sunlight energy. Current knowledge gaps of nanotechnology-enabled approaches for chloroplast biotechnology include precise mechanisms for entry into plant cells and organelles, limited understanding about nanoparticle-based chloroplast transformations, and the translation of lab-based nanotechnology tools to the agricultural field with crop plants. Future research in chloroplast biotechnology mediated by the merging of synthetic biology and nanotechnology approaches can yield tools for precise control and monitoring of chloroplast function in vivo and ex vivo across diverse plant species, allowing increased plant productivity and turning plants into widely available sustainable technologies.
Tobacco price and use following California Proposition 56 tobacco tax increase

Author(s): Gunadi, Christian; Benmarhnia, Tarik; White, Martha; Pierce, John P; McMenamin, Sara B; Leas, Eric C; Shi, Yuyan | Abstract: BackgroundCalifornia Proposition 56 increased cigarette excise tax by $2 per pack with equivalent increases on non-cigarette tobacco products. We estimated the changes in cigarette price, cigarette use, and non-cigarette use following the implementation of Proposition 56 in California in 2017.MethodsSeven waves of Tobacco Use Supplements to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) 2011-2019 data were used to obtain state-level aggregate self-reported outcomes, including cigarette price per pack, current and daily cigarette use, cigarette consumption per day, and current and daily use of non-cigarette tobacco products (hookah, pipe, cigar, and smokeless tobacco). A modified version of a synthetic control method was used to create a "synthetic" California that best resembled pre-policy sociodemographic characteristics and outcome trends in California while correcting time-invariant pre-policy differences. Various sensitivity analyses were also conducted.ResultsThe implementation of Proposition 56 was associated with an increase in self-reported cigarette price per pack in California ($1.844, 95%CI: $0.153, $3.534; p = 0.032). No evidence suggested that Proposition 56 was associated with the changes in the prevalence of current or daily cigarette use, cigarette consumption per day, or the prevalence of current or daily use of non-cigarette tobacco products.ConclusionMost of the cigarette tax increase following Proposition 56 in California was passed on to consumers. There is a lack of evidence that the implementation of Proposition 56 was associated with the changes in the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products such as hookah, pipe, cigar, and smokeless tobacco.
Casket Case #3: House of Sacred Remains: Bishop Curry’s Wedding Homily and the Rhetorrectional Situation

In the wake of Derrida’s Specters of Marx, there was a “spectral turn” in scholarship. This turn explored hauntology’s emphasis on the present being haunted by the past and future (hauntology) and spectrality’s concept of felt absence. These ideas have been applied to a wide range of subjects—including two book-length works on homiletics. These books are Phil Snider’s Preaching After God and Jacob Myer’s Preaching Must Die! Troubling Homiletical Theology.
Practical and theoretical considerations in the application in the development of clinical gait analysis.

A system for clinical gait analysis must provide meaningful data, unique information (not available from a simpler physical examination) and have an acceptable cost to benefit ratio. While the treatment of a number of musculoskeletal conditions could benefit from clinical gait analysis, the scope of its usage to date has been limited. Traditional approaches to analyze the motion of the underlying joints have relied upon small markers at specific body locations. Measurements from skin-based markers often contain unwanted skin movement and only represent an approximation to the underlying skeletal movement. Ideally, complete six-degreeof-freedom movement of the underlying bony segments provides the most information. However, the ability to resolve detailed joint movement, from markers placed on the skin is limited. The problem becomes even more difficult with obese patients. Given the limitation of motion measurements derived from skin-based markers, can the kinematic and kinetic data provide meaningful clinical information? The purpose of this presentation is to examine the clinical usage of gait analysis in terms of its limitations associated with current technology by addressing the issues of precision, clinical applicability and practicality. This analysis will focus on the knee joint.
Green Revolution 2.0: Opportunities and Challenges in the Green Economy

The Green Agricultural Revolution greatly increased crop yields and averted mass starvation, but it also turned small farms into factory farms that concentrated production in few locations and reduced the diversity of crops. In this paper I propose a strategy for a Green Energy Revolution, centered on a smart electricity network, that takes a different path: By enabling rich information flows, it allows for diversity of energy sources. By conveying more accurate cost signals, it creates incentives to reduce levels of consumption and shifts consumption patterns to reduce the peak capacity needs. By bringing energy farms closer to demand centers, it reduces losses. And by improving the quality of power, it enables the creation of valuable new services.
THE PERSONALITY OF HIGH EARNING MBA'S IN BIG BUSINESS1

Summary AN effort was made to find personal qualifications that might be predictive of earnings in business. A follow-up by questionnaire five years after graduation was made for members of three MBA classes who had previously taken an eleven-instrument battery. Ninety percent responded. A comparison of the highest third and the lowest in terms of present compensation showed 13 differences at the .05 level of significance or higher among 55 predictor variables. At the .01 level were second year Graduate School of Business grade point average (GPA), Strong Vocational Interest Blank (SVIB) Personnel and Management Orientation scales, Guilford-Zimmerman Ascendance, Ghiselli's Decision Making and Initiative (from his Self-Description Inventory), and the Individual Background Survey. Hours of work and job satisfaction were greater for high earners.
The wrong path and the right path: The role of libraries in access to, and preservation of, cultural heritage

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of libraries in access to, and preservation of, cultural heritage in concert with a wide range of other cultural institutions.Design/methodology/approach – Considers a contest of values and the devaluation of reading and of the print culture as a feature of this contest. Rejects the values of information technology and scientific management and calls for their replacement by the humanistic values of libraries as one of a range of cultural institutions.Findings – Relates “cultural heritage” records to a variety of cultural institutions who could be allies with libraries within a shared culture.Originality/value – Calls for a structure and agreements between libraries and other cultural institutions aimed at pooling resources and harnessing energy and expertise to achieve cultural goals – particularly the organization, preservation, and transmission of the human record and the cultural heritage that it embodies.
The Metabolism of Rat Brain Mitochondria PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION

Abstract Since most previous studies on brain mitochondria have used a relatively crude preparation, a method was developed for preparing a purified mitochondrial fraction from rat brain cerebral cortex utilizing a rapid simple discontinuous Ficoll density gradient procedure. This mitochondrial preparation was shown by electron microscopy and enzymatic assay to be (a) free from contamination by synaptosomes or other membranous fragments and (b) predominantly of neuroglial origin. These mitochondria exhibited good respiratory control and respiratory rates with various substrates (pyruvate g succinate g glutamate g citrate, acetylcarnitine, isocitrate, α-ketoglutarate, α-glycerophosphate), comparable with other mammalian mitochondria. Pyruvate plus malate was oxidized at rates higher than any of the other substrates tested and consistently showed respiratory control ratios greater than seven. The mitochondria were further characterized with respect to nicotinamide and adenine nucleotide content, and cytochrome complement and content. The ratios of cytochrome b:c1:c:a:a3 were 0.6:0.9:1.7:1:0.6, similar to those observed in other mammalian mitochondria. As has been noted previously with brain preparations, increasing the K+ in the incubation medium caused an increase in the oxygen uptake with all the above substrates (except α-glycerophosphate). This effect was studied in more detail with pyruvate plus malate as substrate. Half-maximal respiration rates were obtained with 10 to 20 mm K+ in both ADP and valinomycin-stimulated mitochondria. The effect of K+ was not directly associated with an activation of electron transport per se, but rather with an increase in the availability of substrate for oxidation.
On Your Mark, Get Set, Develop!

One of the lingering questions for development economists is the question of economic transition and whether or not development can be promoted by a strong political leader. Earlier writings on leadership and economic development tend to fall into one of two camps: (1) Leaders matter and can contribute positively to economic growth; or (2) leaders seldom have positive effects and, at best, can avoid doing a great deal of harm. This article establishes a third option — a middle ground position — between these two views. Good leadership can, indeed, have a positive effect on economic growth, but only during the initial moment when economic reform is “up for grabs.” Once the opportunity to implement sweeping reform has passed, interests become entrenched and the opportunity for growth enhancing reform passes. Bad leaders, on the other hand, can hamper economic growth in periods well beyond the ideal reform moment.
Hydrologic Feasibility Assessment and Design in Phytoremediation

Several design considerations for phytoremediation are based on the capability of trees to remove contaminated water from aquifers. These capabilities depend upon the amount of water that can be withdrawn, the vertical distribution of contaminants, and flow patterns in the aquifer. For each of these, an example field site is given where methods were applied to quantify the characteristics. These include a model of forest evaporation for estimating the balance between precipitation and evapotranspiration, a simple model of recharge-driven plume diving, and the use of groundwater flow modeling for assessing various features of the groundwater flow. Keywords: phytoremediation; phytocontainment; plume diving; phytohydraulic containment; plume capture; MODFLOW
The Effectiveness of Group Medical Visits on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM2) Specific Outcomes in Adults: A Systematic Review

Review Objectives: The review objective is to conduct a systematic review (and meta-analysis if appropriate) to synthesize the best available evidence related to effectiveness of group medical visits on HBA1c, BP, and cholesterol measurements/levels for adult patients with DM2 in outpatient settings (i.e., outpatient clinics and private practices). Hospitalized patients will not be included in the review. Review Question: In adult patients with DM2 in outpatient settings, what is the effectiveness of group medical visits compared to usual care, on haemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol measurements/values? Inclusion Criteria: Types of participants: The review will consider studies that include adult patients greater than 18 years of age, males and females, all ethnic groups with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) in outpatient health settings using the following diagnostic outcome criteria: HbA1C, BP, and cholesterol (LDL). All severities of DM2, all co-morbidities, and all types of previous treatment will be considered. Types of interventions: The review will consider the group medical visit model as the intervention. The comparator: usual care as aforementioned Types of outcome measures: This review will consider studies that include the following outcome measures: haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) measurements.
Meta-Modeling for Project Engineering

Systems Engineering and Project Management are converging. Systems Engineers are assuming greater responsibilities for the complete project and Project Managers are requiring greater insight into the details of the project product and process. A technique, supported by a computer aided tool, is needed to assist the project Systems Engineer in meeting new responsibilities and to give the Project Manager the insight required. The technique proposed is meta-modeling. A practical working tool for project management and systems engineering meta-modeling is presented using an extension of the tool RDD-100. A new engineering discipline to provide the skill mix and modeling expertise required for project meta-modeling is described. This discipline, called project engineering, is a natural outgrowth of the convergence of systems engineering and project management.
Comparison at 32–37 Weeks Postconception of Infants Born 1983–1989 and 1995–2004 on the Neurobehavioral Assessment of the Preterm Infant

In spite of numerous recent outcome studies of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, no data exist on their development prior to term. In this study we traced and compared the neurobehavioral development of 251 ELBW (< 1,000 g) and 240 low birth weight (LBW; 1,000 g–2,500 g) preterms born between 1995 and 2004 from 32 to 37 weeks postconceptional age (PCA), using the Neurobehavioral Assessment of the Preterm Infant (NAPI; Korner & Thom, 1990). Compared to the original NAPI cohort of 521 infants (born 1983–1989), the ELBW and LBW infants were at higher medical risk, displayed weaker motor development, a tighter scarf sign and popliteal angle at all or most PCAs, and a weaker cry at older PCAs; they did not differ in irritability and percent asleep ratings. Few differences were noted between the ELBW and LBW groups. Research is now needed to determine whether the 1995 to 2004 NAPI values of ELBW and LBW infants at 32 to 37 weeks PCA are predictive of later outcome of high-risk preterms.
A computer program for 24-hour electric utility load forecasting

Abstract A computerized statistical model is described which makes twenty-four hourly forecasts of the total load supplied by an electric utility company. Weather forecasts are included in the load-forecasting process. The root-mean-square hourly forecasting error was less than 2% of the typical daily peak load in three weeks of testing.
BEI Resources: Supporting antiviral research

The Biodefense and Emerging Infections Research Resources Repository (BEI Resources) provides unique, quality-assured reagents to the scientific community for use in basic research and product development involving biodefense and emerging infectious diseases. These include microorganisms (up to Biosafety Level-3) on the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists of Category A, B and C priority pathogens. In addition to live microorganisms, related products such as polyclonal antisera, monoclonal antibodies, isolated nucleic acid preparations, overlapping peptide arrays, purified proteins, and assay kits are also available. Many of these materials have direct or indirect applications in antiviral research. These reagents are available free of charge to all registered investigators, regardless of funding source or affiliation. Acquisition of new reagents for the repository is one of the critically necessary and challenging tasks for BEI Resources. Therefore, investigators are encouraged to deposit relevant items, so as to provide access to materials, relief from the burden of distribution, protection of intellectual property rights, and secure storage. In addition, BEI Resources has the capability of contracting for the preparation of specific reagents. If there is a resource needed to advance a specific research area, contact an NIAID program officer or use the “suggest a reagent” option on the BEI Resources homepage, www.beiresources.org.
The Central Committee Secretariat, the Nomenklatura, and the Politics of Personnel Management in the Soviet Order, 1921-1927

This article re-examines early efforts to put into practice the nomenklatura system for assigning elite office holders adopted by the Organization Bureau of the Central Committee (Orgburo) of the Russian Communist Party in late 1923. Until recently, scholarly treatments of this issue have largely taken for granted Stalin’s ability to transform the formal authority this initiative concentrated in the executive agencies of the Central Committee into effective administrative power. This article challenges that assumption by looking past official regulations in order to examine the operational records of the body most closely involved in managing the assignment of responsible officials across the soviet political order, the Organization-Assignment Department of the Central Committee Secretariat. The working papers of the Organization-Assignment Department, the Secretariat and the Orgburo make it evident that the nomenklatura had not yet evolved into the central vehicle for managing elite office holding that it was intended to be prior to the Stalin Revolution. The evidence suggests the persistence of ad hoc improvisation in the management of personnel, which produced a hybrid order that relied on an unstable mix of bureaucratic, personalistic and campaign-style methods to extend communist influence over government and economic administration.
Gas/particle partitioning of neutral and ionizing compounds to single- and multi-phase aerosol particles. 2. Phase separation in liquid particulate matter containing both polar and low-polarity organic compounds

Abstract A modeling method is developed for use in predicting the stability of multiple liquid phases in atmospheric particulate matter (PM). The method utilizes a pseudo-diffusion process that simulates the multicomponent inter-phasic movement of constituents between adjacent PM phases. It can be used as a stand-alone application, and can also be incorporated in overall gas/particle (G/P) partitioning models of aerosol PM formation. Previously studied (Environ. Sci. Technol. 35 (2001) 1806) relative-humidity (RH)-dependent PM compositions resulting from the ozone oxidation of five different volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were verified as being stable as single phases. A number of additional cases were considered in which RH-dependent secondary PM compositions were amended with a mix of low-polarity (LP) organic compounds. It was determined that, depending on the mass fraction of added LP-mix, the PM can be more stable as a two-phase system. Phase separation into two phases can occur even in the absence of water in the PM. Assuming a single liquid PM phase when two are actually present will generally lead to an underprediction of TPM. For the cases considered here, the calculated errors in predicted TPM levels were found to range from −3.9% to −21.8%; conditions can be envisioned that would lead to even larger errors.
Critical-Field Enhancement and Reduced Dimensionality in Superconducting Layer Compounds

A strong upward curvature in ${H}_{c2\ensuremath{\parallel}}$ and a temperature-dependent critical-field anisotropy are observed in $2H$-Ta${\mathrm{S}}_{2}$ intercalated with methylamine. This is characteristic of dimensional crossover in Josephson-coupled superconducting layers and is confirmed by a dramatic reduction of the coherence length perpendicular to the layers. Critical fields greater than 213 kG are observed.
MORAL AFFECT AND COGNITIVE PROCESSES: DIFFERENTIATING SHAME FROM GUILT AMONG MEN AND WOMEN

Men (n = 103) and women (n = 183) completed measures of shame, guilt, self-critical cognitions, and perfectionism in order to explore gender differences in cognitive processes associated with moral affect. Women reported significantly higher rates of shame and guilt than men. Separate factor analyses for gender indicated that for men, shame loaded with self-critical cognitions while guilt loaded with dimensions of perfectionism. For women, both shame and guilt loaded with self-critical cognitions, but only socially-prescribed perfectionism. Results suggest that a person's gender may need to be considered in evaluations of shame and guilt.
Comparison of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and laparoscopic cryoablation for renal hilar tumors

Abstract Objectives To compare laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) and laparoscopic cryoablation (LC) for the management of small renal tumors located near the renal hilum. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients who underwent LPN and LC. A total of 23 patients (12 LPN and 11 LC) had tumors located within 5 mm of the renal hilar vasculature. Patient data were retrospectively analyzed for specific parameters, including operative time, efficacy, morbidity, and postoperative course. Results All 23 cases were successfully completed laparoscopically. The mean operative time for LPN and LC was 2.8 hours and 2.3 hours, respectively ( P = 0.03). The mean estimated blood loss was 197 mL for LPN and 70 mL for LC ( P P = 0.41). The hospital stay for patients in the LPN and LC groups was 3.9 days and 3.2 days respectively ( P = 0.55). No intraoperative complications occurred in either group. Six patients experienced nine complications in the LPN group. The complications included hemorrhage in 1, fever in 1, ileus in 1, urinary tract infection in 1, urine leak in 4, and transient postoperative neuropathy in 1. The LC group had no postoperative complications. In the LC cohort, no disease recurrence developed during the 11.3 months of follow-up. No positive margins were found in the LPN cohort, and with a mean follow-up of 12 months, none have developed recurrence. Conclusions LPN for hilar tumors is a reasonable surgical option but carries an increased risk of urine leak. LC for hilar tumors has a shorter operative time and results in significantly fewer postoperative complications. Long-term follow-up data for both techniques remain unavailable.
Theatre of good intentions: challenges and hopes for theatre and social change

Applied Theatre literature often interrogates projects that have been deemed ‘successful’. Implicitly, these studies suggest that the scholars and practitioners of this field can best learn about h...