cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parent-Adolescent Communication About Contraception and Condom Use.

A significant number of sexually active youth experience poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes, including unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and human immunodeficiency virus infection.1 Nearly half (47%) of all high school students intheUnitedStateshave everhadsexandmorethanone-third (34%)aresexuallyactive.1 Every year, more than 600 000 pregnancies occur among teens,2 and approximately half of all new sexually transmitted infections are attributed to youth aged 15 to 24 years.3 Youths whoare racial, ethnic, andsexualminorities aredisproportionatelyaffectedby thesenegative sexual andreproductivehealth outcomes.3 Public health efforts have targeted adolescents through a variety of prevention strategies, including efforts to strengthen parent-adolescent communication about sexual behavior.4 Extensive scientific literature suggests that parents play an important role in shaping sexual behavior among adolescents. However, there is a tendency in this research to prioritizedelayingadolescentsexualdebut,with lessattentiondevotedtocorrectandconsistentcondomandcontraceptiveuse.5 The limited studies that have addressed parental influences on adolescent condom and contraceptive use report inconsistent results.5 In this issue of JAMA Pediatrics, themetaanalysis by Widman et al6 examines correlations between parent-adolescent sexual communication and adolescent use of contraceptives and condoms (hereafter referred to as safer sex behavior). Widman et al highlight that parental communication is positively linked to safer sex behavior among adolescents.Themeta-analysis identified sexof theparent andsexof the adolescent as moderators of this association. The magnitude of the overall correlation (r = 0.10) can be interpreted as modest, so issues of magnitude warrant more attention. Although researchers long ago noted that even small correlations can represent societally important effectswhenone considers population size (>40 million adolescents) and the seriousnessof theoutcome(unintendedpregnancy,humanimmunodeficiency virus infection),7 we expand on the findings byWidmanetal6byhighlightingconceptual andmethodological issues that bolster the effect and association of parentadolescent communication on adolescent contraception and condom use.
Probiotic-induced reduction of gastrointestinal oxalate absorption in healthy subjects

Both a high dietary oxalate intake and increased intestinal absorption appear to be major causes of elevated urine oxalate, a risk factor for kidney stone formation. By favorably altering the gastrointestinal bacterial population, probiotics have the potential to lower oxalate absorption/urinary excretion. This study assessed whether a 4-wk daily consumption of a commercially available probiotic by 11 healthy volunteers (8 females, 3 males), aged 21-36 y, would decrease oxalate absorption. The study involved the ingestion of a probiotic (VSL#3®) for a 4 wk period followed by a 4 wk washout period. Oxalate load tests, providing a total of 80 mg oxalate, were conducted at baseline (pre-probiotic), and after the probiotic and washout periods. In the total subject population, mean total 22 h oxalate absorption at baseline (30.8 %) was significantly higher than after the probiotic (11.6 %) and washout (11.5 %) periods. However, four subjects identified as high oxalate absorbers at baseline had a particularly marked probiotic-induced reduction in oxalate absorption, which largely accounted for the reduction observed in the total subject population. The overall data suggested that in individuals characterized by high oxalate absorption levels, VSL#3® ingestion has the potential to reduce gastrointestinal oxalate absorption, which could decrease risk of kidney stones and other disorders related to hyperoxaluria.
Changes in interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 production in asymptomatic, human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive individuals.

Abstract Infection with HIV results in an incremental loss of T helper cell (TH) function, which can occur years before CD4 cell numbers are critically reduced and AIDS is diagnosed. All TH function is not affected, however, because B cell activation and hypergammaglobulinema are also characteristic of this period. Recently, in a murine model of AIDS an early loss in production of the CD4 cytokines IL-2 and IFN-gamma was correlated with an increase in the B cell stimulatory cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10. We therefore assessed the production of IL-4 generated by PBL from HIV-seropositive (HIV+) individuals who did not have AIDS, yet who exhibited different TH functional categories based on their IL-2 production profiles. We observed that the decreases in recall antigen-stimulated IL-2 production were accompanied by an increase in IL-4 production. The loss of recall antigen-stimulated responses in HIV+ individuals could be reversed in vitro by anti-IL-4 antibody. Our results suggest that the TH functions assessed by IL-4 production replace the normally dominant TH function of antigen-stimulated IL-2 production in the progression toward AIDS, and raise the possibility of cytokine cross-regulation in AIDS therapy.
Current standards and Regulations for Vehicle-Mounted Earth Stations and their impact on performance

Vehicle-Mounted Earth Stations (VMESs), also known as satellite communications on-the-move (SOTM) terminals, are satellite communication terminals that are mounted on land vehicles. These are new communication terminals that are important in both military and commercial applications. A key distinguishing feature of these satellite terminals is the potential interference to other satellites because of motion-induced antenna pointing errors. To accommodate the operation of these terminals at the Ku frequency band many national and international standards and regulatory agencies have established requirements on the effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) from these terminals so that the resulting interference is controlled. This paper will describe and analyze the salient features of ITU-R Recommendation S.1857, FCC Regulation §25.226, and the ETSI standard EN 302 977.
Scalable quantum computing in the presence of large detected-error rates

The theoretically tolerable erasure error rate for scalable quantum computing is shown to be well above 0.1, given standard scalability assumptions. This bound is obtained by implementing computations with generic stabilizer code teleportation steps that combine the necessary operations with error correction. An interesting consequence of the technique is that the only errors that affect the maximum tolerable error rate are storage and Bell measurement errors. If storage errors are negligible, then any detected Bell measurement error below 1/2 is permissible. For practical computation with high detected error rates, the implementation overheads need to be improved.
The dynamics of dislocation interaction with sessile self-interstitial atom (SIA) defect cluster atmospheres

Abstract The interaction dynamics between dislocations and radiation induced sessile self-interstitial atom (SIA) dislocation loops in FCC metals are investigated. As a result of dislocation line flexibility, its equilibrium configuration is found to be sensitive to the elastic field of nearby SIA dislocation loops. Dislocation line flexibility also influences the critical stress to free trapped dislocations from pinning atmospheres (i.e. the critical resolved shear stress (CRSS)). Calculated CRSS values differ by up to 100% from the estimates of Trinkaus et al. [J. Nucl. Mater. 249 (1997) 91; J. Nucl. Mater. 251 (1997) 172], which are based on cluster forces exerted on static rigid dislocations. The mechanism of dislocation unpinning from random cluster atmospheres is shown to be a consequence of morphological instabilities on the dislocation line. The initial location of the unlocking instability is always associated with regions of minimum line tension in the vicinity of the lowest cluster density. The growth of dislocation shape fluctuations leads to a sequence of unzipping events, freeing the dislocation from the elastic field of cluster atmospheres. The relative critical shear stress to unlock dislocations in FCC metals, (τC/μ), is found to be in the range: 0.001–0.002, for random atmosphere cluster densities of 10 24 –10 25 m 3 , and in the range: 0.0014–0.003, for coherent cluster atmospheres of the same density range. These values are factors of 4–6 smaller than Kroupa's estimates. Implications of these results to the determination of the upper yield point of irradiated FCC metals are discussed.
Aurelia labiata jellyfish in Roscoe Bay on the West Coast of Canada: Seasonal changes in adult bell diameter and mingling of juvenile and adult populations

Abstract The bell diameter of adult Aurelia labiata in Roscoe Bay increased from spring (April) to early summer (May/June) and decreased over the rest of the year (2009/2010). The increase in bell diameter in the spring would have been supported by the increase in zooplankton that occurs in the northeast Pacific at this time. Over the summer, bell diameter may have decreased because the food available/medusa would have been decreased by the arrival of a large number of juveniles and may have decreased further over the fall and winter when zooplankton levels are known to be low. Adults and juveniles were intermingled during 2010, 2011, and 2012. Correlations between the number of adults and number of juveniles obtained in individual net lifts across the entire bay and in different parts of the bay were all positive and most were statistically significant. In 2012, salinity in the entire water column of the west side of the bay dropped below 20 ppt in July and most medusae migrated to higher salinity in the east side of the bay, a distance of about 0.5 km. The mingling of adults and juveniles supports other evidence that adult Aurelia sp. medusae do not prey upon juveniles. The ability to withstand months with insufficient food and to inhibit preying on juveniles would contribute greatly to the survival of Aurelia sp. jellyfish.
Silencing the Center: Local Knowledge and Imported Model in Learning Disabilities.

This qualitative study investigates the interaction between local and imported knowledges in a specific case of transnational importation; the whole‐sale importation of the American medical learning disabilities (LDs) model in Kuwait. A discourse analysis of the narratives of local educators at the only school for LDs in the country reveals a belief in the value of the imported model over their personal, experiential and cultural knowledge in the education of students identified with LDs. I conclude that importation needs to be a conscious act or the result would be the total loss of local culture.
Effects of an applied field on the steady state characteristics of a unidirectional photorefractive ring oscillator

Abstract Steady state oscillation in a unidirectional photorefractive ring oscillator is examined in the presence of a dc electric field. For small applied field strengths, there is a shift in the origin of the linear curve for the frequency difference between the oscillating field and the pump beam versus the cavity detuning. Consequently, the resonator field oscillates at a different frequency from the pump beam, even when the cavity is tuned to exact resonance. This frequency difference is determined by the dc electric field and the characteristic fields of the photorefractive medium. For large applied fields, the frequency difference becomes an asymmetric function of the cavity detuning due to the dominance of the drift motion of the liberated charge carriers in one preferred direction. The range of cavity detuning over which oscillation will occur for a given set of parameters (reflectivity of mirrors, absorption coefficient and two beam coupling constant of the photorefractive medium) is enhanced when large electric fields are applied to the photorefractive medium; this effect may best be observed in resonators with high finesse.
1H-1,2,4-triazole angiotensin II receptor antagonists: N-phenylpyridinylmethyl and N-pyridinylphenylmethyl analogs of SC-50560

Abstract Substituting nitrogen for carbon in the pyridinylphenylmethyl analogs of SC-50560 proved to be detrimental, however, the two phenylpyridinylmethyl analogs of SC-50560 retained their potencies. Of these two analogs, SC-52458 was found to have superior in vivo properties.
RE-GENDERING THE SOCIAL WORK CURRICULUM: NEW REALITIES AND COMPLEXITIES

With the advent of the 2nd wave of the women's movement, numerous voices within social work academia called for the inclusion of gendered content in the curriculum. The subsequent addition of conte...
Consumption of Migrating Juvenile Salmonids by Gulls Foraging below a Columbia River Dam

Abstract Consumption of migrating juvenile Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. and steelhead Salmo gairdneri by gulls was estimated below the turbine area of Wanapum Dam on the Columbia River in 1982. Foraging success of the gulls, chiefly ring-billed gulls Larus delawarensis, averaged 65% during bright light conditions and 51% during the evening. The number of salmonids consumed by gulls ranged from 50 to 562 fish/h. Multiple-regression analysis indicates that the number of salmonids consumed by gulls is significantly affected by the passage rate of fish through the turbines and spillgates, and by light intensity. The number of salmonids consumed by gulls foraging below the turbines during 25 d of peak salmonid migration was approximately 111,750 to 119,250 fish or 2% of the estimated spring migration. Although some salmonids consumed by gulls had been killed when passing through the turbines, the mortality of salmonids caused by gulls is potentially important. Inexpensive measures could be implemented to d...
Extreme value theory for multivariate stationary sequences

Abstract A distributional mixing condition is introduced for stationary sequences of random vectors to study their extremes. For a sequence satisfying the condition, the following topics which concern the weak limit F of properly normalized partial maxima are studied: (1) To obtain characterizations of F. (2) To study a condition under which the partial maxima behave as they would if the sequence were i.i.d. (3) To consider problems in connection with the independence of the margins of F.
SINGLE‐STRAND BREAKS INDUCED IN BACILLUS SUBTILIS DNA BY ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT: ACTION SPECTRUM and PROPERTIES

— The induction of single-strand breaks (alkali-labile bonds plus frank breaks) in the DNA of Bacillus subtilis irradiated in vivo by monochromatic UV light at wavelengths from 254 to 434 nm was measured. The spectrum consists of a major far-UV (below 320 nm) component and a minor near-UV shoulder. A mutant deficient in DNA polymerase I accumulates breaks caused by near-UV (above 320 nm) wavelengths faster than the wild-type strain proficient in polymerase I. Measurable breaks in extracted DNA are induced at a higher frequency than those induced in vivo. Anoxia, glycerol, and diazobicyclo (2.2.2.) octane inhibit break formation in extracted DNA. Alkali-labile bonds induced by 365-nm UV radiation are largely (78%) covalent bond chain breaks, the remainder consists of true alkali-labile bonds, probably apurinic and apyrimidinic sites.
STRUCTURAL CHANGE AND FISCAL FLOWS A Framework for Analyzing the Effects of Urban Events

The political and policy impacts of alternative governing arrangements are an enduring and important puzzle of urban politics. Locating the source of the empirical confusion over structural effects in the use of static data analysis, the author emphasizes the benefits of investigating the substantive consequences of identifiable events (e.g., changes in form of government, budgeting techniques, the election of a minority mayor) via dynamic multiwave panel data and appropriate estimation techniques. This point is illustrated by analyzing the fiscal effects of reformism in a panel of 222 cities (1946-1966). Findings suggest no more than transient decreases in per-capita city expenditures postadoption of council-manager government.
Statistical error mapping for reliable quantitative T1 imaging.

We developed a statistically based error image for rapid appreciation of unreliable regions in quantitative water proton T1 images. The chi-squared error and co-efficient of variation of the fitted parameter were used to estimate uncertainties in the goodness-of-fit to mono-exponential T1 relaxation and the reliability of the calculated T1, respectively, for each pixel. Errors exceeding a statistical threshold based on a .1 acceptance criterion were displayed as a color-coded overlay on the T1 image. Error maps of quantitative T1 images from 31 healthy volunteers showed a characteristic error structure; few pixels within the parenchyma had excessive errors. Clinical cases with stroke and sickle cell disease showed deviations from the normal pattern in the spatial distribution and magnitude of chi-squared errors. Disease states may deviate from mono-exponential T1 relaxation more than normal brain does. The color-coded error map is a valuable tool for investigators using quantitative MR imaging to determine tissue relaxation parameters.
Discrete-Time Domain Modeling and Design for AC Machine Current Regulation

Complex vector current regulators provide robust performance at high fundamental frequency operation, but there are difficulties in increasing the current regulation bandwidth and in operating at very high fundamental frequencies. In this paper, a discrete-time domain model of general AC machines is proposed. Based on this model, a discrete-time domain current regulator design methodology is proposed. This method is a generalization of the complex vector current regulator's pole- zero cancellation approach and it furthermore explicitly incorporates and compensates the control delay common in discrete-time implementations.
Immobilized enzyme electrodes for the potentiometric measurement of glucose concentration: immobilization techniques and materials.

Glucose oxidase, catalase, and bovine serum albumin were co-immobilized with glutaraldehyde around a platinum screen or around a single platinum—iridium wire. The potential difference between this dual enzyme electrode and a Ag/AgCl reference electrode was proportional to the logarithm of the glucose concentration over the range from 10 to about 150 mg glucose per 100 ml in buffered solution at pH 7.4 and 37°C. The enzyme electrode responded in serum only if coated with a semipermeable film, such as cellulose acetate, to exclude serum macromolecules. The potentiometric results were similar to those obtained with the two enzymes co-immobilized in polyacrylamide gel around a platinum screen or with only one of the enzymes, glucose oxidase, covalently coupled to a platinum screen. The results so far suggest that these potentiometric enzyme electrodes may have sufficient specificity for glucose for development of a continuous in vivo glucose sensor.
Measuring pain quality: validity and reliability of children's and adolescents' pain language

Although considerable research has been conducted to identify children's and adolescents' language of pain, research is lacking regarding a method to quantify the pain quality described by this language. Three descriptive studies involving 1223 children, aged 8-17 years, were conducted in school and hospital settings. The aims were to develop and examine the validity and reliability of a word list for measuring pain quality that was free of age, gender, and ethnic biases. A word list with 43 words was developed and resulted in sensory, affective, evaluative, and total scores that correlated with pain location and pain intensity scores (r = 0.19-0.44; P less than or equal to 0.01). Pain quality scores decreased over time in a postoperative pain model. Test-retest reliability of the word list scores was high (r = 0.78-0.95; P less than 0.001). This word list was revised and resulted in a word list with 56 words relatively free of gender, ethnic, and developmental biases. Additional research is needed to assess the psychometric properties of this word list in pediatric populations experiencing different pain syndromes.
Temperature Dependent Efficacy of Evaporative Cooling for Broilers

A stochastic weather model was used in conjunction with a broiler performance model to determine the effects of outside temperature upon production with and without evaporative cooling. Stochastic simulations were conducted for 200 years at a series of expected outside temperatures between 21°C (69.8°F) and 30°C (86.0°F). Yearly variations were particularly large for mortality, and this variation had a significant impact on the economic returns realized. The stochastic analysis yielded very different results than an analysis using a deterministic weather model, which has been the normal method of analysis to date. The simulation results indicated that evaporative cooling can provide significant production benefits at 25°C (77°F) or higher expected mean daily temperature.
Hematologic values in young pretraining healthy Greyhounds

Background: Greyhound dogs have numerous clinicopathologic differences compared with other dog breeds, most notably in their hematologic profiles. The hematologic differences are likely related to breed; however, the influence of other factors, including age, sex, and training, has not been fully determined. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess hematologic values in young, healthy, pretraining Greyhounds and to determine the effects of age and sex on these findings. Methods: Jugular venous EDTA-anticoagulated blood samples were collected from 43 healthy, pretraining Greyhounds between 5 and 13 months of age. Samples were analyzed within 24 hours of collection on an Abbott CELL-DYN 3500R hematology analyzer. Mean hematologic results for different age groups, and correlation with age and sex were determined for each analyte. Results were compared with adult canine, nonbreed-specific reference intervals. Results: From the age of 9 to 10 months, Greyhounds had higher HCT, hemoglobin concentration, and RBC counts compared with adult canine reference intervals. Younger Greyhounds (5–6 months) had values comparable with reference intervals. Mean total WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts tended to be toward the lower end or below the reference intervals. HCT, hemoglobin concentration, and RBC counts were correlated positively with age, and platelet count was correlated negatively with age. No differences were found based on sex. Conclusions: These results confirm that significant hematologic differences exist in pretraining Greyhounds by 9 to 10 months of age, when compared with adult canine, nonbreed-specific reference intervals; however, these differences are less marked in Greyhounds 5 to 6 months old. Given these findings, it is unlikely that factors such as training or racing are responsible for differences in hematologic values between adult Greyhounds and other breeds.
The Management of Quality Assurance: A Review of International Practice

Current and recent international practice in the management of quality assurance for higher education systems and institutions is reviewed. Particular attention is given to administrative agencies or units with responsibility for the management of quality assurance at both national and institutional levels; whether participation in reviews and other activities is optional or compulsory; the main methodologies employed; the focus of quality assurance activities; the purposes of such activities; and reporting and/or follow-up activities.
High power vertical external cavity surface emitting lasers and their applications

In this paper we present the development and demonstration of multi-watts high-brightness vertical-extemal-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs). Over 10 W TEM 00 continuous-wave (CW) output power with high efficiency is demonstrated. Tunable multi-watts VECSELs with over 20 nm tuning range and narrow linewidth are achieved. Potential applications of tunable VECSELs are introduced.
Reliability characteristics of GaAs and InP-based heterojunction bipolar transistors ☆

Abstract The reliability characteristics of Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor made on GaAs and InP substrates are reviewed and ways of improving them by design, growth and processing are described. Materials for HBTs are grown by a variety of techniques (MBE, MOCVD, CBE). Their choice is made based on considerations such as satisfaction of design requirements and manufacturing but also dopant incorporation without risk of diffusion, as well as, minimization of hydrogen incorporation which may result in device degradation. The minority carrier lifetime in the base is influenced by hydrogen incorporation in C-InGaAs. Conventional alloyed and non-alloyed, as well as, refractory metallization schemes are considered for best reliability performance. The dielectric deposition scheme used for passivation plays a major role on device reliability. Good reliability performance is reported for GaAs but also for InP-based HBTs. A correlation is finally reported to exist between the low-frequency noise properties of HBTs and their reliability characteristics.
Extrapulmonary small cell sarcinoma: involvement of the brain without evidence of extracranial malignancy by serial PET/CT scans

Background Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma (EPSCC) involving the brain is a rare manifestation of an uncommon tumor type.
Weed management in wide- and narrow-row glyphosate resistant soybean.

Field experiments were conducted in 1996 and 1997 at East Lansing, MI, to evaluate weed management programs in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] planted in 30 in, and 7.5 in, rows. Efficacy of glyphosate applied alone, with ammonium sulfate (AMS), flumiclorac, or imazethapyr was compared with preemergence and postemergence weed management programs used in nontransgenic soybean. Glyphosate provided consistent weed control in wide- and narrow-row soybean in both years. Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) and velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medicus) control decreased when flumiclorac was tank mixed with glyphosate compared with glyphosate alone in wide-row soybean. Weed control was usually greater in narrow- than in wide-row soybean for treatments without glyphosate. Soybean yield with most herbicide treatments equaled the weed-free control in narrow-rows, and gross margins for soybean planted in narrow-rows were greater than wide-rows. Yield in wide-row soybeans was reduced compared with the weed-free control with all treatments except glyphosate, glyphosate + AMS, or glyphosate + imazethapyr. Glyphosate and glyphosate + AMS had the greatest gross margins for both years.
Prenatal cocaine exposure influences the growth and life span of laboratory rats.

Abstract Laboratory rats prenatally exposed to alcohol, nicotine, amphetamine, undernutrition or hypoxia can exhibit shortened life span and other signs of enhanced age-related degeneration. We evaluated the possibility of similar effects following prenatal cocaine exposure. Pregnant rats received 20 or 40 mg/kg cocaine HCl subcutaneously (C20, C40), twice daily, from gestation days (GD) 7–20. Untreated control (UTC) and pair-fed control (PFC) groups were also used. The pregnant C40, C20, and PFC dams ate less food and gained less weight than the UTC dams did. The pregnant C40 and C20 dams drank more water than the UTC dams did, and the pregnant PFC dams drank less than the UTC dams did. The C40 and PFC offspring had delayed earflap openings. The C40 male and female offspring had lower birth weights than their cohorts in the other three groups. The C40 female and male offspring remained significantly underweight until postnatal day (PND) 28 and PND56, respectively. During young adulthood, the males and females in the C20, C40, and PFC groups had normal body weights. During old adulthood, however, the C20 and C40 males and the C20, C40, and PFC females developed reduced body weights as compared with their UTC cohorts. The C20 and C40 male offspring and the C20, C40, and PFC female offspring also had life spans that were 7–12% shorter than that of their UTC cohorts. Thus, groups that showed reduced body weights in old age also showed shorter life spans. These results provided converging evidence that prenatal cocaine exposure caused enhanced age-related degeneration. Observations on cardiac and other organ pathology were also made. Health implications for children born to cocaine-abusing women are discussed.
Seeking balance in graduate school: A realistic expectation or a dangerous dilemma?

With the significant increase in graduate students characterized as nontraditional, challenges associated with balance have become more prominent. The author explores issues of work-life balance, institutional ownership, and the chilly climate, each of which can contribute to negative academic outcomes.
Influence of crack closure on the stress intensity factor in bending plates - A classical plate solution

Based on the classical plate theory in conjunction with the assumption of line contact at the compressive edge of a crack face, closed form solutions were presented for a through-the-thickness central crack in an infinite plate subjected to all around bending. The complete solutions were obtained by superposing the membrane components due to the contact forces at the crack face to the non-closure bending components. The distribution of the contact forces was found uniform by considering the contact condition which prevents mutual penetration of the crack faces at the compressive edges. The results showed that the closure of the crack faces tends to reduce the crack opening displacement at the tension side and, consequently, reduce the stress intensity factor. The finite element method was also used to investigate the present problem. The modified crack closure method in combination with the finite element method was used to find the stress intensity factors. Close agreement between the finite element and the analytical solutions was observed.
Cylindrical Conduction Mode Basis Functions for Modeling of Inductive Couplings in System-in-Package (SiP)

PEEC method with global basis functions on the cylindrical coordinates is presented for efficient modeling of bond wires in system-in-package. Combination of a few basis functions accurately describes high-frequency effects of closely located wires with shorter simulation time compared to the conventional PEEC method. Simplified equivalent circuit from the proposed method is also favorable for modeling of large coupling structures.
Optoelectronic Integration for Planar Lightwave Systems in Chip Scale Sensing, Optical Interconnect, and Signal Processing

This paper focuses on the modeling, design, fabrication, and test of planar lightwave structures composed of multiple materials that are integrated together, including passive and active optical components and electronic circuits. The heterogeneous integration of thin film compound semiconductor active devices embedded in passive optical polymer structures will be described. The integration platforms for these structures include Si, Si CMOS, and FR-4 printed wiring boards
Physician acceptance of information technologies: Role of perceived threat to professional autonomy

Physician acceptance of clinical information technology (IT) is important for its successful implementation. We propose that perceived threat to professional autonomy is a salient outcome belief affecting physician acceptance of an IT. In addition, level of knowledge codification of an IT is an important technological context affecting physician acceptance. Data from a sample of U.S. physicians were collected to test the hypotheses using partial least squares analysis. Results show that perceived threat to professional autonomy has a significant, negative direct influence on perceived usefulness of an IT and on intention to use that IT. Level of knowledge codification is also an important variable. The effect of perceived threat to professional autonomy is larger for clinical decision support systems than for electronic medical records systems. Awareness of these results would help managers better manage IT implementation in health care settings.
Esr And The Density Of Deep Gap States In A-Si:H

Electron spin resonance (ESR) is an important tool for providing detailed microscopic information about electronic states located within the energy gap in hydrogeated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H). There always exists an ESR signal in a-Si:H on the order of 1015 spins cm-3 which is attributed to silicon dangling bonds. After optical excitation with band-gap light, a metastable increase in the dangling bond ESR signal is observed. After rapid quenching of a sample from -200°C to room temperature, there is also an increase in the ESR signal with time (without optical excitation) as the sample approaches thermal equilibrium.
The Bible as biblio-source for poetry therapy

The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of the Bible as a resource in therapy. The authors provide a Bible Resource Subject Index (e.g., communication, depression, and incest) and offer several techniques on the differential use of the Bible in individual and group therapy. A brief example and discussion of the use of the Bible in social work with groups concludes the report.
Non-target toxicology of a new mosquito larvicide, trypsin modulating oostatic factor

Abstract Trypsin modulating oostatic factor (TMOF), a peptide hormone originally isolated from the ovaries of adult Aedes aegypti , is currently under commercial development as a new pesticide chemistry with a novel mode of action for the control of larval mosquitoes. The objective of the current research is to evaluate potential risks of the use of TMOF as an insecticide on non-target organisms. TMOF (YDPAP 6 ) was degraded in vitro (as determined by HPLC and LC/MS) to DPAP 6 , PAP 6 , and then AP 6 by leucine aminopeptidase, a pancreatic enzyme found in the digestive system of vertebrates. The rate of degradation of TMOF and PAP 6 was significantly greater than that of DPAP 6 , while no metabolism of AP 6 was found. TMOF technical insecticide was produced on a commercial scale by recombinant yeast (heat-killed before application). The technical TMOF when administered in a single dose by gavage to male and female mice at 2000 mg dry weight/kg body weight produced no negative effects as compared to controls up to 12 days after treatment. When male and female mallard ducks were treated by gavage with 1250 mg dry weight of technical TMOF/kg body weight each day for 5 days, again no toxic effects were noted through 35 days after the last treatment. TMOF technical insecticide was also applied to the shaved skin of male and female rabbits at the rate of 2000 mg/kg for 1–2 days, with no effect. The end point observations in these in vivo experiments were mortality; changes in growth rate, behavior, body structure, and color; and possible lesions observed during necropsy. Finally, Daphnia incubated with technical TMOF in rearing water at the level of 1.0 × 10 6 yeast cells/ml (10 mg/ml) also demonstrated no negative effects on mortality, growth, molting, time to first brood, and production of viable neonates. It appears from these studies that TMOF can be degraded by vertebrate digestive proteases and technical TMOF is not toxic to the non-target organisms examined.
Structures of A88696 C, D and F : gastric ATP-ase inhibitors

Abstract The structures of A88696C ( 1 ), D ( 2 ) and F ( 3 ), isolated from Streptomyces sclerotialus , are described on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. 1 and 3 are spirotetronic acid-containing macrolides, and 2 is the β-dicarbonyl tautomer with a spiroepoxide at the α-site of the lactone ring.
Toxin-Antitoxin Pairs in Bacteria: Killers or Stress Regulators?

Plasmid toxin-antitoxin systems, which kill daughter cells that fail to inherit the plasmid genome, have chromosomal homologs in eubacteria and archaea. In this issue of Cell, Pederson et al. show that the E. coli RelE toxin cleaves mRNA in the ribosomal A site, potentially allowing it to function as a stress regulator during amino acid starvation.
Effects of fasting on the myocardial subcellular distribution and lipid distribution of terminal p-iodophenyl-substituted fatty acids in rats

The myocardial lipid pool distribution and subcellular distribution of radiolabeled methyl-branched fatty acids in rats was evaluated under conditions of fasting (24 h) and feeding. With the unbranched iodophenyl fatty acid, fasting resulted in increased myocardial extraction and clearance time with a decrease in the incorporation into triglycerides and greater radioactivity in the mitochondrial fraction. With the monomethyl-branched analogue, the effects of fasting on lipid and subcellular distribution were minor except for a decrease in triglyceride incorporation. Like the unbranched analogue, the dimethyl-branched iodophenyl fatty acid showed increased myocardial extraction with fasting, however, this structurally-modified fatty acid showed increased rather than decreased incorporation into triglycerides.
On high-latitude convection field inhomogeneities, parallel electric fields and inverted-V precipitation events

A simple model of a static electric field with a component parallel to the magnetic field is proposed for calculating the electric field and current distributions at various altitudes when the horizontal distribution of the convection electric field is given at a certain altitude above the auroral ionosphere. The model is shown to be compatible with satellite observations of inverted-V electron precipitation structures and associated irregularities in the convection electric field.
Lean Six Sigma, creativity, and innovation

Purpose – Creativity and innovation have recently emerged as the latest focus of the popular business media, replacing established approaches, such as Lean Six Sigma (LSS). Some have gone so far as to suggest that LSS inhibits organizations from being creative and innovating. This paper aims to dig beneath the surface of the media reports to examine what creativity and innovation actually are, and how they relate to LSS.Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews current literature on creativity and innovation, and based on extensive experience implementing LSS, compare and contrast the approaches, searching for common ground.Findings – Not surprisingly, the paper finds that the terms creativity and innovation are typically not well defined in the media, and are used more as “buzzwords.” In reality, it argues, LSS clearly stimulates creativity. However, it is not the best method for identifying ideas for breakthrough innovation. Therefore, to have a holistic improvement system, organizations must comb...
Static task allocation using (m, l) evolutionary strategies

Abstract Allocating tasks optimally in distributed systems is a NP-hard problem which has led researchers to adopt heuristic techniques. In the past, evolutionary strategies have been shown to be capable of efficiently determining good allocations. All of this previous work has used the (μ + λ) version of the evolutionary strategy. In this paper, we show that the (μ, λ) version of evolutionary strategy can find even better task allocations.
In situ oxygen utilization in the rat intervertebral disc

Nucleus pulposus cells of the intervertebral disc have no endogenous vasculature and have thus been hypothesized to be hypoxic. This hypothesis was tested using 2-nitroimidazole, EF5, a drug that at low oxygen concentrations forms covalent adducts with cellular proteins. After administrating EF5 to rats, sections of the intervertebral disc were analysed for EF5 adducts. Drug adducts were quantified in tissue sections using a fluorescent monoclonal antibody. Although the level of EF5 fluorescence in all intervertebral disc tissues was low, the transition zone at the periphery of the nucleus pulposus exhibited the highest level of EF5 binding. To substantiate this result, tissue nitroreductase levels and drug pharmacology were evaluated. Nitroreductase levels were measured in whole discs under severe hypoxia. We noted that there was robust EF5 binding to cells in the annulus fibrosus and transition zone with modest binding to cells of the nucleus pulposus and endplate. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis indicated limitations in EF5 access to the nucleus pulposus, most probably related to the lack of vasculature and slow drug distribution through the gel-like interior of the disc. However, despite diffusion problems, the drug dose was determined to be sufficient to report the oxygen status of the nucleus pulposus cells. Based on these findings, we conclude that despite poor vascularization, the disc cells accommodate to the local environment by displaying a limited need for oxygen. Accordingly, the cells of the intervertebral disc are not severely hypoxic.
Modeling and Simulation of a Parametrically-Excited Micro-Mirror With Duty-Cycled Square-Wave Excitation

Electrostatically-actuated MEMS mirrors are used in a variety of applications involving fast optical scanning, with endoscopic microscopy an area of particular interest for miniaturization of advance optical imaging systems. In this paper, analytical and experimental characterization of the dynamics and stability of a 1D torsional micro-mirror is described. The micro-mirror being studied is intended for use in biomedical imaging, in which operation strictly by duty-cycled square waves at one or more voltages can be convenient for practical mirror operation and/or control. Analysis focuses on a Hill’s equation approach to predicting stability regions of parametric resonance behavior when input is a duty-cycled square wave, using an approximation for nonlinear capacitance behavior of the mirror. An analytical approach is compared to experimental results. In results to date, analytical models show good agreement with stability predictions, particularly at small voltages, over the range of duty cycled excitations. Additionally, the paper explores how phase delay varies over a range of micro-mirror frequencies for a 50% duty cycle, also compared with experimental results, for potential use in feedback control.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Robust Power Control Under Location and Channel Uncertainty in Cognitive Radio Networks

In this letter, we consider the power control problem in cognitive radio (CR) networks when both primary user (PU) location and wireless channel are unknown. Prior work in power control assumes perfect knowledge of PU and CR locations, which is not practical due to localization errors and node mobility. We assume the distance estimation error in CR–PU links to model location uncertainties and derive the distribution of channel gain with distance-dependent path loss and shadowing. We then proceed to develop an optimization framework for CR power control, which maximizes the CR data rate under PU interference power constraint. Simulation results showing the CR data rate and interference probability to the PUs are presented to demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed algorithm compared with reference schemes.
Effects of alkylating agents on dopamine D3 receptors in rat brain: selective protection by dopamine

Abstract Dopamine D 3 receptors are structurally highly homologous to other D 2 -like dopamine receptors, but differ from them pharmacologically. D 3 receptors are notably resistant to alkylation by 1-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ), which readily alkylates D 2 receptors. We compared EEDQ with N -( p -isothiocyanatophenethyl)spiperone (NIPS), a selective D 2 -like receptor alkylating agent, for effects on D 3 and D 2 receptors in rat brain using autoradiographic analysis. Neither agent occluded D 3 receptors in vivo at doses that produced substantial blockade of D 2 receptors, even after catecholamine-depleting pretreatments. In vitro, however, D 3 receptors were readily alkylated by both NIPS (IC 50 =40 nM) and EEDQ (IC 50 =12 μM). These effects on D 3 sites were blocked by nM concentrations of dopamine, whereas μM concentrations were required to protect D 2 receptors from the alkylating agents. The findings are consistent with the view that alkylation of D 3 receptors in vivo is prevented by its high affinity for even minor concentrations of endogenous dopamine.
Are Requests for Teaching Credentials Customary? A Content Analysis of the 1999 Employment Bulletin.

Efforts to prepare graduate students for the multiple responsibilities they will face as faculty members have led to an emphasis on the development of teaching credentials as evidence of teaching effectiveness. Teaching credentials refer to teaching experience, syllabi, teaching evaluations, a teaching philosophy, and a teaching portfolio. Although these indicators have gained popularity among some graduate education programs in sociology, to what extent are they requested of job applicants? Our content analysis of the academic positions advertised in the 1999 Employment Bulletin suggests that the majority of departments prefer applicants with teaching experience, but few request specific evidence of teaching effectiveness in their job advertisements. Moreover, we find that research-oriented institutions are less likely to request teaching credentials. Recommendations for future research are proposed
Effect of hyperlipemic serum lipoproteins on the lipid accumulation and cholesterol flux of rabbit aortic medial cells

Abstract The effects of hyperlipemic rabbit serum and its lipoproteins on the lipid accumulation in cultured rabbit aortic medial cells were evaluated in this study. Hyperlipemic serum stimulated the accumulation of cholesterol esters in these cells. Cells exposed to 5–40% normal serum had equivalent amounts of cholesterol ester, while cells exposed to only 2% hyperlipemic serum showed a 2–5-fold increase in cholesterol ester. This happened in spite of the fact that 2% hyperlipemic serum contained much less cholesterol than did 40% normal serum. Most of the cholesterol ester accumulation occurred in the initial 12 h and it could be reproduced by incubating these cells in a medium containing hyperlipemic low density lipoproteins. Cells exposed to low concentrations of hyperlipemic serum, as well as those in high concentrations of normal serum, also showed up to a 2-fold increase of free cholesterol and a smaller increase of triglycerides. This appeared to be a function of increased lipid level in the culture medium, not a specific effect of hyperlipemic serum. Furthermore, culture media containing a high lipid level, either from hyperlipemic serum or a high concentration of normal serum, showed a progressive increase in free cholesterol and a concomitant decline of cholesterol esters. These results indicated that the cells hydrolyzed a large amount of cholesterol ester. The present data do not permit a distinction to be drawn between hydrolysis in the cell and on the cell membrane. It is clear, however, that cells were required for hydrolysis and it is not due to enzymes excreted into the culture medium.
Microbe–metal interactions in marine hydrothermal environments

Abstract Marine hydrothermal microorganisms respond rapidly to changes in the concentrations and availability of metals within their environment. Hyperthermophilic archaea appear to possess novel mechanisms for metal detoxification, dissimilatory metal reduction and metal assimilation that may be absent in their mesophilic and bacterial counterparts. For example, tungsten was found in high concentrations in a hydrothermal sulfide deposit where hyperthermophiles were also most abundant, consistent with the unique requirement of these organisms for this element. Furthermore, newly isolated genera of iron-reducing hyperthermophiles expand the scope of carbon cycling in hydrothermal environments. The advent of genome sequences and new molecular techniques will facilitate our further understanding of microbe–mineral interactions in these environments.