cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robustness of spatial ranges of environmental chemicals to changes in model dimension

A comparison is made between a circular and a more adequate spherical reaction-diffusion multi-media mass balance model. This comparison adds new aspects to ongoing debates about more effective assessments of potentially harmful substances including persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The circular model serves as a paradigm in investigations of persistence and spatial range of non-polar chemicals. An analytic solution of the spherical model is presented. It is utilized in order to establish circular spatial ranges as versatile approximations of their spherical counterparts for most cases. Deviations in the few exceptions are demonstrated as playing a minor role compared to sensitivities against parameter uncertainties which characterize these exceptional cases as well. The sensitivities are fundamentally linked to the multi-scale nature of the underlying system. Finally, the insensitivity of spatial ranges with respect to dimension – circle versus sphere – is further secured by extensive studies of the role of the mode of entry for which a set of rules is established.
In-hospital delays to stroke thrombolysis: paradoxical effect of early arrival.

Abstract Objective: To determine the causes of in-hospital delays for thrombolysis. Methods: We performed a 4 year retrospective chart analysis of i.v. tPA-treated patients at an academic medical center. Data collected included age, stroke severity by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the following time points: symptom onset, hospital arrival, computed tomography (CT), i.v. tPA order and i.v. tPA initiation of infusion. Results: Thirty-one cases with sufficient information for analysis were identified. Mean time from onset to arrival was 58 minutes, from arrival to brain CT was 32 minutes, and from onset to i.v. rtPA infusion was 169 minutes. The mean delay between i.v. tPA order and infusion was 32 minutes. Delay between order and administration of i.v. tPA resulted in treatment after 3 hours in 9/31 cases. An inverse relationship between early hospital arrival and delayed thrombolysis was noted. Age and stroke severity did not impact treatment times. Conclusion: An unexpected de...
Reliability analysis of majority vote systems

Abstract Majority vote systems are commonly used in the synthesis of reliable digital systems from unreliable components. This paper presents a new analysis of the reliability of majority voting in terms of the conditional reliabilities of voters, where conditioning is with respect to correct outputs. Methods of implementation and conditions for optimality of the majority rule are also discussed. The question of how many voters to include is considered in detail. It is shown that in certain cases of practical interest reliability increases with more voters only up to a point, beyond which reliability actually decreases. The case where voter reliability degrades with time is presented as an example.
The Diversification and Cost Effects of Interstate Banking

This study examines recent interstate bank geographic diversification inside the United States. More than 80 holding companies that gradually evolved into interstate banking companies were tested for significant linkages to risk and efficiency indicators. The study finds that while geographic expansion frequently is associated with increases in risk, when banking firms were grouped by threshold levels of geographic diversification more highly diversified interstate banks appear to achieve reductions in risk exposure and operating costs. The study's results suggest the spread of interstate banking may change the industry's risk and cost profile significantly with profound implications for the future of the deposit insurance fund.
The molecular basis for the cytokine-induced defect in homing and engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells

Abstract Objective Hematopoietic stem cell homing and engraftment is dramatically altered by cytokine exposure. These studies address the molecular mechanisms responsible for the observed changes in transplantation biology. Methods Primitive murine hematopoietic stem cells were isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting of lineage depleted (Lin − ) cells exhibiting low staining of Hoechst 33342 and rhodamine 123 dyes or Lin − cells bearing Sca. Adhesion receptor expression was examined by immunofluorescence and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. In vitro adhesion assays were employed to define binding interactions between stem cells and stroma or extracellular matrix proteins. Results Adhesion of Lin − Sca + cells to Dexter stroma could be blocked by about 90% with antibodies to PECAM-1, αa 4 , or β 1 , and partially blocked by antibodies to α 5 , CD44, or L-selectin. By immunofluorescence, about 30% of purified Lin − Ho lo Rho lo cells expressed α 4 , α 5 , β 1 , and L-selectin, about 15% expressed α L and α 6 , half expressed PECAM-1, and none expressed α 1 or α 2 . After 48 hours in expansion cytokines, only 9% of the cells expressed α 4 and none expressed β 1 , whereas α L expression was fully restored, PECAM-1 and L-selectin partially restored, CD44 expression was newly induced, and adhesion to both fibronectin and laminin was reduced. Adhesion to purified collagen, fibronectin, or laminin enhanced expression of β 1 integrins. Conclusion Expansion cytokines that move quiescent primitive hematopoietic stem cells into S phase markedly altered adhesion receptor expression and reduced their functional binding to extracellular matrix, which could reduce engraftment after transplant.
Hearing Loss in Turner Syndrome

Summary Objective Recent reports have suggested a significant incidence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in children with Turner syndrome. This study reviewed a cohort of Australian children to clarify the incidence and pattern of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. Methods Retrospective cohort study of 23 individuals with Turner syndrome was identified – mean age 10 years 4 months. A retrospective review was undertaken and otologic status assigned. Results Middle ear disease affected 91% of patients. Two children (9%) demonstrated sensorineural hearing loss attributable to Turner syndrome. Average age of onset was 15 years – one demonstrated a classic U-shaped mid-frequency loss, the other a bilateral down-sloping sensorineural loss. Conclusions In this Turner syndrome cohort, 91% of subjects suffered middle ear disease, whilst the incidence of SNHL was 9%. It is recommended that individuals with Turner syndrome should be screened for onset and progression of hearing loss.
Electrical Characteristics of Power Transistors

The following electrical characteristics of a group of power transistors whose collector dissipation is in the region of 20 watts have been measured: the small-signal current amplification as a function of emitter current, the cutoff frequency as a function of emitter current and collector voltage, and the decrease of current amplification with increasing frequency. All these measurements were made in both common-base and common-emitter configuration. The results were compared with the theory developed for low-power transistors by Shockley, Rittner, Webster, and others, and it was found that for the frequency-dependent parameters, the agreement was quite good, but that differences exist in the case of those which are a function of current. This leads to the conclusion that further work must be done on the theory of junction power transistors.
Serum cholesterol and serum lipids in patients with far advanced active pulmonary tuberculosis on three drugs--preliminary report.

1) The serum cholesterol values increased over the eight weeks of study in these patients on a normal hospital diet. 2) There was a decrease in serum cholesterol as a result of a diet low in fat (less than 40 grams of fat per day) and a diet low in fat plus 16 ml per day of poly-unsaturated oil in chronically ill patients with far advanced active pulmonary tuberculosis on streptomycin, isoniazid and para-aminosalicylic acid (or some form of this drug depending upon the tolerance of the patient). 3) The rates of decrease of serum cholesterol are the same on both dietary regimens. The addition of 16 ml of high poly-unsaturated oil per day to the low fat 2400 calories diet did not show a significant decrease of the serum cholesterol below that of the diet without the oil. 4) There was a decrease in serum lipids in the patients on a low fat diet during the eight weeks of study. 5) There is no marked change in weights for the three groups during the eight weeks of study. 6) It can be stated that there is a reduction in serum cholesterol and serum lipids by decreasing the fat intake in chronically ill patients on three drugs, as was found by previous workers using normal healthy individuals, unstable diabetics, or mentally ill patients.
An Osmosensing Signal Transduction Pathway in Mammalian Cells

The osmotic balance between the cytoplasmic and extracellular compartments of cells is critical for the control of cell volume. A mammalian protein kinase, Jnk, which is a distant relative of the mitogen-activated protein kinase group, was activated by phosphorylation on threonine and tyrosine in osmotically shocked cells. The activation of Jnk may be relevant to the biological response to osmotic shock because the expression of human Jnk in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae rescued a defect in growth on hyper-osmolar media. These data indicate that related protein kinases may mediate osmosensing signal transduction in yeast and mammalian cells.
Pediatric Transvenous Pacing: A Concern for Venous Thrombosis?

Transvenous pacing has become the preferred method of pediatric cardiac pacing. Although no clinically important venous thromboses have been reported, concern has arisen about occult venous thrombosis. We evaluated 19 randomly selected children who had transvenous pacing implants. Sixteen were evaluated by venous plethysmography and Doppler while three had venous angiography and one had both. The leads had all been inserted by subclavian vein puncture. Ages at time of implant ranged from 17 months to 25 years; mean 9.8 years, median 9.0 years. Implant weights were from 9.6 kg to 56.0 kg, mean 31 kg, median 31 kg. The interval from implant to time of procedure ranged from 1 month to 46 months, mean 22.5 months, median 24 months. Four patients had one lead while 14 had two and one had four. Eleven leads were unipolar and 25 were bipolar. The bipolar leads were 6.6 French diameter. In the 19 patients evaluated, no thromboses were detected nor any narrowing greater thant 10% of proximal diameter as seen by angiography. No disturbances of blood flow in the subclavian vein was noted. Transvenous pacing did not result in venous flow abnormalities in these pediatric patients.
Additional short-wavelength vibratory modes from a large (bi)polaron.

The internal intersite motions of the self-trapped carriers of large (bi)polarons locally soften the vibrational modes to which they are coupled. Distinctively, this effect only occurs for phonon half wavelengths that are shorter than the diameter of the self-trapped carrier. With sufficiently strong electron-lattice coupling, distinct extra lower-frequency near replicas of the short-wavelength portion of the vibrational modes result. This unusual effect is consistent with observations in high-{ital T}{sub {ital c}} superconductors.
Ultrasonic System for Imaging of Vapor Bubbles in a Liquid Filled Pipe

An electronic system for acoustic imaging of vapor bubbles in a liquid filled steel pipe is described. An array of 20 acoustic transducers is attached around the pipe. They are fired one at a time by a programmable sequencer. The same transducers are in turn used as receivers of echoes reflected back from the bubbles. Analog and digital circuits and logic is described for fast processing of received signals. The majority of unwanted echoes are eliminated by a memorized "mask" frame, made with the water-filled pipe free from bubbles, enabling a high rate on-line data transfer to the computer. Unlike the earlier systems, this one makes possible the real time imaging of live bubbles.
A note on p/hp finite element methods for reaction–diffusion problems in polygonal domains

We present guidelines on how to choose the mesh and polynomial degree distribution for the approximation of reaction-diffusion problems in polygonal domains, in the context of the hp finite element method. These guidelines take into account the presence of both boundary layers and comer singularities in the solution. We present the results of numerical computations showing that robust, (near) exponential rates of convergence can be achieved using this technique.
Contractually integrated systems for the marketing of industrial supplies

Increasingly competitive pressures during the past decade have caused both industrial buyers and suppliers to search for new economies and means for achieving greater profitability. Industrial wholesaler-distributors have responded with a variety of contractually based “systems” that are designed to simplify customers' purchase of supplies while ensuring distributor profits. The two main varieties of such Systems are popularly called “Blanket Orders” and ”Systems Contracts,” but the latter are more comprehensive extensions of the former. Specifically, Systems Contracts imply a total commitment by a distributor toward solving his customers' supplies problems. Such agreements typically involve a shifting of the supplies warehousing function back to the vendor, where items are then automatically reordered by plant-level users as opposed to purchasing agents. Rounding out the System is an extensive array of vendor-supplied services: 24-hour item delivery, computer-processed item usage reports, a control feature, and vendor consultation and problem solving. The Contract effectively links buyer and supplier together in a harmonious, profitable relationship.
A framework for efficient resource management in IEEE 802.11 WLANs

Currently deployed IEEE 802.11 WLANs work mostly with distributed coordination function (DCF) mode at the media access control (MAC) layer, which does not provide quality of service (QoS) support. The upcoming IEEE standard 802.11e achieves service differentiation by assigning different channel access parameters (CAPs) to different traffic classes at the MAC layer. However, such relative differentiation does not yield QoS guarantee. In practice, appropriately selecting CAPs a priori is difficult. Time-varying traffic loads also make the use of fixed CAPs, inefficient for both QoS support and channel utilization. In this work, we propose a novel architecture called HARMONICA, in which the access point (AP) dynamically selects the best CAPs for each traffic class to optimally match their QoS requirements. We present and discuss a simple admission control (AC) mechanism used by HARMONICA to avoid congestion. Our simulation results demonstrate that under an interference-free environment, HARMONICA can guarantee the QoS for all traffic classes while simultaneously achieving quasi-optimal channel utilization. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reverse Self-Assembly: (111)-Oriented Gold Crystallization at Alkylthiol Monolayer Templates

It has long been known that thiol-terminated molecules self-assemble as commensurate monolayers on Au(111) surfaces. By spreading floating octadecanethiol monolayers on aqueous solutions of chloroauric acid (${\mathrm{HAuCl}}_{4}$) and using x rays to reduce the gold ions as well as to probe the structure, we have observed the nucleation of (111)-oriented Au nanoparticles at thiol surfaces. This process may be similar to the formation of biogenic gold by bacteria. The thiol monolayer acts as a ``soft template,'' changing its structure as Au crystals form so that there is a $\sqrt{3}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\sqrt{3}$ commensurate relationship.
Interferon-γ in the diagnosis and pathogenesis of pelvic inflammatory disease

Serologic markers were evaluated to determine if they could aid in the differential diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease in 48 consecutive women seeking evaluation for pelvic pain: On the basis of clinical and microbiologic parameters, 29 patients (60.4%) were diagnosed as having pelvic inflammatory disease. Neisseria gonorrhoeae only was isolated from the cervix of eight (27.6%) patients with pelvic inflammatory disease, five (17.2%) had only Chlamydia , and two (6.9%) had Neisseria and Chlamydia , whereas in 15 (48.3%) patients no pathogen was isolated. Interferon-γ was present in significantly more sera ( p Neisseria , seven (87.5%) had circulating interferon-γ; three (60%) of the women with only Chlamydia , one (50%) woman with Neisseria and Chlamydia , and eight (57.1 %) with no identified pathogens were also positive for interferon-γ. Sera from 11 of 28 patients with pelvic inflammatory disease (39%) but only one of 19 sera from women without pelvic inflammatory disease (5%) also inhibited the Candida -induced proliferation of control lymphocytes. This immunosuppressive activity was prevented by immunoprecipitation of interferon-γ by anti-interferon-,γ antibody but not by treatment with anti-interferon-α antibody. The persistence of interferon-γ in the sera of patients with pelvic inflammatory disease may aid in the differential diagnosis of this disease and increase our understanding of the pathogenesis of microbial-mediated tubal damage.
MBE-grown InGaAlAs 1.5 mu m MQW ridge waveguide laser diodes with AlAs etch stop layers

Ridge waveguide multiple quantum well laser diodes in which the ridge heights are predetermined by etch stop layers have been fabricated for the first time in InGaAlAs materials lattice-matched to InP. A 3nm thick pseudomorphic AlAs layer forms the etch stop layer in these devices and the selective etching was performed by a succinic acid solution that etches InGaAs and InAlAs but not AlAs. With this technique, more reliable and uniform ridge stripe device fabrication is expected.
Reduction of Oil in Tortilla Chips using Impingement Drying

Tortilla pieces were prepared from nixtamalized masa flour and dried under impinging hot air. The effect of different drying conditions on the drying rate, texture, shrinkage profile and microstructure was analysed. The results indicated that drying rate was mostly affected by the air temperature; texture was crispier at higher air temperatures; shrinkage of the piece was higher at lower convective heat transfer coefficient; and microstructure looked smoother at higher air temperature. A process to produce low-fat tortilla chips with good flavor and texture using convection-oven baking, air impingement drying, and frying was suggested and validated.
TROSY-selected ZZ-exchange experiment for characterizing slow chemical exchange in large proteins

A TROSY-selected ZZ-exchange experiment is described for measuring slow chemical exchange rates by monitoring the TROSY component of (15)N longitudinal magnetization. Application of the proposed pulse sequence to the cadherin 8 N-terminal extracelluar domain demonstrates that enhanced sensitivity is obtained, compared to a previously described TROSY-detected ZZ-exchange sequence (Sahu et al. J Am Chem Soc 129: 13232-13237, 2007), by preserving the TROSY effect during the mixing period as well as the frequency encoding periods.
The Structure and Vibrational Spectrum of the Si(111)−H/Cl Surface

In this work, the vibrations of mixed coverage Si(111)-H/Cl surfaces are determined using quantum chemical calculations and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The structure and symmetry considerations of the modes are used to assign the vibrational frequencies for varying coverages of both hydrogen and chlorine on the surface. Significant shifts in the Si-H and Si-Cl stretching frequencies are found as a function of coverage, while the bending modes are shifted very slightly. Our results suggest that Si-H stretching shifts can be used as a probe for chlorine coverage during the reaction of chlorine precursors with the hydrogen-terminated Si(111) surface. Finally, an analysis of coverage dependence suggests that a chemical inductive effect is the dominant origin of the resulting stretching frequency shifts, though a small contribution from the lone pairs interacting with the surface is also possible.
Phyllotactic patterns: Characterization by geometrical activity at the formative region

Patterns of leaves or florets, phyllotaxis, have long been well characterized using parameters that describe the patterns as lattices of points or arrangements of contiguous circles. The patterns are usually interpreted in terms of spiral lines drawn through the points or circles. For example, in a pine cone the number of visible spiral lines, in two sets with opposing spiral sense, is typically a pair of adjacent numbers in the Fibonacci series. This format for characterization, while precise and terse for spiral Fibonacci patterns, has four disadvantages or limitations when applied generally. First, when the spiral notation is applied to obviously orthogonal patterns, such as decussate, it implies developmental chirality even though the pattern has no intrinsic handedness. Second, the classification has led to no convenient subgrouping, of all patterns: i.e., do all forms with one organ per node constitute a natural group? Third, the characterization is of a static pattern based on an assumed constant center of symmetry. Characterization is not related to the mode of formation of the patterns. Finally, the notation is not convenient for describing gradual developmental transitions between patterns. We find that a broad range of phyllotactic patterns can be conveniently characterized by diagrams, each derived from a single measurement of the apical surface that produces the organs. During each developmental cycle, this area expands to a maximum and then is abruptly reduced to a minimum by demarcation of a new leaf (or leaves). The center of area is generally different before and after demarcation, hence its movement during the demarcation event is a vector. We present a method for juxtaposing these vectors over consecutive plastochrons. The resulting planar figure is diagnostic of the broad categories of phyllotaxis. In “balanced” forms, whorled apices, there is no net movement of the center of area so the resulting figure is a point. In the second category, “linear”, the vectors reverse, retracing a line segment. Leaves alternating in a plane, distichous phyllotaxy, arise from this pattern. In the third category, “polygonal”, the juxtaposed vectors advance so as to circumscribe a polygon. Such plants (some Euphorbias ) generate leaves in helical sequence but the leaves stand in vertical ranks. In the fourth category, “circular” the vectors circumscribe a circle. This behavior is found in plants with irrational divergence angles and hence applies to the common Fibonacci spiral forms. The vectorial mode of primary categorization appears to lack the four listed shortcomings.
A review of nuclear hydrogen production

Abstract The most ideal application of the high temperature reactor could be the production of hydrogen from water with the aid of thermochemical methods. At the present time, a large proportion of the world's energy demand is met by the fluid fossil fuels, because of their availability and convenient use. However, the long-term limited quantity and high cost of petroleum and natural gas resources are becoming more and more evident. For that reason, new forms of energy are required to solve the future problems of the world energy market, especially as regards the substitution of fossil fuels. This article shows how nuclear energy could make an important contribution towards this goal.
CRM systems and organizational learning: An exploration of the relationship between CRM effectiveness and the customer information orientation of the firm in industrial markets

Abstract The firm's customer relationship management (CRM) system is frequently a central element of the knowledge management function of the firm. It integrates information from internal and external sources to guide managers and field personnel in the development and presentation of the firm's value proposition. But despite the widespread adoption of CRM systems by firms operating in business-to-business markets, there is continued management skepticism concerning the effectiveness of these systems and their association with the firm's overall “customer information orientation.” The present study seeks to shed light on these topics by evaluating the relationship between the customer relationship orientation of the firm and its use of CRM, as well as the association of CRM use with overall firm performance in B-to-B settings across a range of traditional business performance measures. The authors employ a multi-method approach to determine the key variables, including: database currency, internal database utilization, database accuracy and performance based reward systems utilized to operationalize the construct “the firm's customer information orientation” in order to develop statistical measures of the relationships of selected variables. The results of the study provide support for the finding that customer information orientation is indeed associated with CRM system implementation and that CRM use is associated with firm performance in B-to-B markets.
Some Closed Range Integral Operators on Spaces of Analytic Functions

Our main result is a characterization of g for which the operator \({S_g(f)(z) = \int_0^z f'(w)g(w)\, dw}\) is bounded below on the Bloch space. We point out analogous results for the Hardy space H2 and the Bergman spaces Ap for 1 ≤ p < ∞. We also show the companion operator \({T_g(f)(z) = \int_0^z f(w)g'(w) \, dw}\) is never bounded below on H2, Bloch, nor BMOA, but may be bounded below on Ap.
Auto-triangulation and auto-trilateration. Part 1. Fundamentals

Accuracy of a machine tool limits the dimensional accuracy of parts machined on it; thus, the errors in machine tools need to be monitored and controlled. Conventional methods of observing machine tool errors use high precision artifacts, accurate displacement transducers, or a combination of both. Such systems often require high capital investment, trained technicians, and long set-up times. Further, the maintenance of these systems raises even more difficult problems. Therefore, it is desirable to have an error observation technique whose measurement accuracy has reduced dependency on the accuracy of the instruments used. In this work, a machine tool error identification scheme using an inaccurate linear displacement transducer with well-known and much-used trilateration (or triangulation) technique is provided. Because of the inaccuracy of the transducer, the trilateration technique alone would not be enough to accurately estimate the errors. However, accurate estimation of such errors is achieved by exploiting redundancy and transitivity relationships that enable successive information exchange between machine tool and transducer across machine workspace with the use of a strategically constructed error calibration map. In this part of the work, the proposed scheme is investigated in two-dimensional space, and the mathematical basis for auto-triangulation and auto-trilateration is developed.
Energy‐selective SESD imaging utilizing a CMA

A particularly simple conversion of a scanning Auger system for ESD ion energy distributions and scanning ESD has been developed. This approach combines the advantages of the small spot-size electron guns and mapping systems developed for SAM with the capability of ESD for the detection of hydrogen. Our intended use for the device is detection and mapping of surface concentrations of hydrogen on metals. The characteristics of SESD are illustrated with the preliminary results of an investigation into the ESD properties of hydrogenic adsorbates on Nb. It is shown that the ESDIED exhibit distinct differences indicative of the surface preparation, and that the ESD ion angular distributions have an effect on the observed contrast relationships in SESD.
Externally blown flap trailing edge noise reduction by slot blowing - A preliminary study.

Short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft using externally blown flaps (EBF) for lift augmentation develop considerable jet-flap interaction noise. A proposed method to reduce the EBF trailing edge noise is to locate a slot near the trailing edge of a flap through which low velocity secondary air is blown. Limited OASPL noise data were obtained from the interaction of the jet exhaust from a 5.08 cm diameter convergent nozzle with the trailing edge of a plate, and are presented for five slot configurations located near or at the trailing edge of the plate. Also presented are some significant jet trailing edge interaction data using a mixer nozzle with one of the slot configurations.
Improvement in attitudes toward influenza vaccination in medical students following an integrated curricular intervention

Introduction Vaccination of health care workers (HCW) reduces transmission of influenza among patients, yet uptake of vaccination remains low. If vaccination education is integrated into the early medical school curriculum, will student attitudes toward the vaccine change? The objectives of the study were to: (1) Determine influenza vaccination rates among entering medical students; (2) Assess the attitudes toward influenza vaccination; (3) Evaluate the effects of a multifaceted educational intervention on attitudes to vaccination. Methods Entering medical students were surveyed before and after an intervention at the beginning of the influenza season. This intervention provided by an inter-professional team, included education about influenza, importance of vaccination for HCWs, followed by vaccination administration practice, and ended with students vaccinating consenting classmates. Results The pre-intervention surveys and intervention were completed by 124 of 125 (99%) students. Pre-intervention survey revealed 60 (48%) of students had been previously vaccinated. Of the vaccinated students 91% had been recommended vaccination by their healthcare provider compared to 43% of non-vaccinated students. More positive attitudes were noted in the vaccinated students compared to non-vaccinated students: importance of vaccination (p < 0.01); HCWs should be vaccinated (p < 0.01); recommendation of vaccine to family and friends (p < 0.01). 97 (78%) students completed post-intervention surveys. Significant improvement in these attitudes was noted post-intervention compared to pre-intervention: importance of vaccination 93% versus 71% (p < 0.01); HCWs should be vaccinated 95% versus 83% (p < 0.01); recommendation to family and friends 93% versus 73% (p < 0.01); comfort with vaccine counseling 92% versus 41%; comfort with vaccine administration 84% versus 22% (p < 0.01). Conclusion Educating medical students and promoting the importance of vaccination early in a medical student's career using such an intervention is relatively simple and easily integrated into the curriculum. This intervention was successful in vaccinating all students, and demonstrated a marked positive shift in attitudes toward influenza vaccination.
Electronic Interaction Theory for Transverse-wave Couplers†

This paper is concerned with a general theoretical analysis of the interaction between transverse waves propagating on a filamentary electron beam and electromagnetic circuits. The class of circuits considered is that for which the transverse electric and magnetic fields are symmetric with respect to the z-axis. Aside from this restriction on the symmetry properties, the analysis is quite general in the sense that the transverse electric and magnetic field components are arbitrary functions of axial distance. Therefore, the analysis is valid for a variety of circuit configurations, ranging from simple coupler circuits, serving the purpose of coupling r.f. power in and out of the beam in r.f. and d.c.-pumped devices, to transverse travelling-wave tubes and multi-cavity klystrons. The transverse field components in pump circuits used for parametric pumping and d.c. pumping of transverse waves are all antisymmetric with respect to the z-axis and are therefore excluded from the present analysis. The material ...
Effects of busulfan on murine spermatogenesis: cytotoxicity, sterility, sperm abnormalities, and dominant lethal mutations

The alkylating agent busulfan (Myleran) adversely affects spermatogenesis in mammals. We treated male mice with single doses of busulfan in order to quantitate its cytotoxic action on spermatogonial cells for comparison with effects of other chemotherapeutic agents, to determine its long-term effects on fertility, and to assess its possible mutagenic action. Both stem cell and differentiating spermatogonia were killed and, at doses above 13 mg/kg, stem cell killing was more complete than that of differentiating spermatogonia. Azoospermia at 56 days after treatment, which is a result of stem cell killing, was achieved at doses of over 30 mg/kg; this dose is below the LD50 for animal survival, which was over 40 mg/kg. Busulfan is the only antineoplastic agent studied thus far that produces such extensive damage to stem, as opposed to differentiating, spermatogonia. The duration of sterility following busulfan treatment depended on the level of stem cell killing and varied according to quantitative predictions based on stem cell killing by other cytotoxic agents. The return of fertility after a sterile period did not occur unless testicular sperm count reached 15% of control levels. Dominant lethal mutations, measured for assessment of possible genetic damage, were not increased, suggesting that stem cells surviving treatment did not propagate a significant number of chromosomal aberrations. Sperm head abnormalities remained significantly increased at 44 weeks after busulfan treatment, however, the genetic implications of this observation are not clear. Thus, we conclude that single doses of busulfan can permanently sterilize mice at nonlethal doses and cause long-term morphological damage to sperm produced by surviving stem spermatogonia.
Co-occurrence of Boundary and Resonance Ejection in a Multiplexed Rectilinear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer

A method is reported for evaluating ion trap mass analyzers by selection of operating conditions under which both boundary and resonance ejection peaks occur in a single mass scan. The choice of frequency and amplitude of the auxiliary waveform applied for resonance ejection can be such as to produce a resonance ejection mass spectrum with unit resolution or, under selected conditions, signals attributable to both boundary and resonance ejection in a single mass scan. The contrasting mass resolution associated with these two ejection processes is evident in these data. The co-occurrence of the two ejection phenomena is ascribed to the effects of higher-order fields; it is more marked in some rectilinear ion traps (RITs) than in other nominally identical devices, leading to the possibility of using it to compare individual mass analyzers in multiplexed instruments. The method is used to compare multiple ion traps driven by the same RF signal in a fully-multiplexed mass spectrometer, composed of parallel ion source/mass analyzer/detector channels each housed in one quadrant of a specialized vacuum chamber.
New markets and technological change for the traditional cereals in semiarid sub-Saharan Africa: the Malian case

During the last three decades in sub-Saharan Africa, development and research resources have concentrated on the higher-rainfall and irrigated regions, especially on export crops and the principal food crops grown there. There has been much less concern and investment in semiarid regions without irrigation. Another negative factor has been the lack of public policy concern with the profitability of the basic food crops. With good weather, prices collapse. With bad weather, governments and NGOs dispense food crops as food aid or at subsidized prices. This article documents the importance of the demand side to facilitate diffusion of new technologies for the basic food commodities of semiarid regions—the traditional cereals. With farm programming models aggregated into a sector model, the combination of technological change and demand shifts for sorghum are evaluated in one semiarid region where the traditional cereals are concentrated. It focuses on combining policies to increase the prices farmers receive after introduction of technologies that use higher input levels. It also compares benefits of a strategy that focuses on yield and demand increases for a traditional cereal of the semiarid region, sorghum, with two alternative strategies for the higher-rainfall zone.
MODELLING AND CONTROL OF AN ELECTRO‐HYDROSTATIC ACTUATOR

The control of a novel aerospace actuator is considered, viz., an electro-hydrostatic actuator. It offers a high degree of maintainability and combat survivability of the aircraft's flight control system because all the actuator's elements are collocated. The quantitative feedback theory robust control method is used to design a controller for this novel actuator. Parameter variation, sensor noise and flight condition variability are explicitly considered in the design process. The resulting design is not only robust with respect to actuator parameter variations and flight condition and insensitive to sensor noise, but, in addition, the controlled actuator's phase lag is significantly reduced, thus improving the performance of the overall flight control system. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This paper was prepared under the auspices of the U.S. Government and it is therefore not subject to copyright in the U.S.
“DETERMINED RAPTURES”: ST. SEBASTIAN AND THE VICTORIAN DISCOURSE OF DECADENCE

“I unreservedly confess, for myself, that I cannot leave my natural perception of what is natural and true, at a palace door, in Italy or elsewhere, as I would leave my shoes if I were traveling in the East. I cannot forget that there are certain expressions of face, natural to certain passions, and as unchangeable in their nature as the gait of a lion, or the flight of an eagle. I cannot dismiss from my certain knowledge such common-place facts as the ordinary proportions of men’s arms, and legs, and heads; and when I meet with performances that do violence to these experiences and recollections, no matter where they may be, I cannot admire them.”— Charles Dickens, Pictures from Italy (1846)IN HIS ACCOUNT of his 1844 trip to Rome, Charles Dickens expressed bewilderment that the martyrdom of St. Sebastian should have been so commonly exploited as a subject by Italian artists. The novelist took the opportunity to disparage the “indiscriminate and determined raptures” of certain critics of Renaissance painting as “incompatible with the true appreciation of the really great and transcendent works of art . . . Neither am I partial to libelous Angels, who play on fiddles and bassoons, for the edification of sprawling monks apparently in liquor.” Dickens concluded that representations of St. Sebastian did not “have very uncommon and rare merits, as works of art, to justify their compound multiplication by Italian painters” (195).1
Penalized weighted least-squares image reconstruction for positron emission tomography

Presents an image reconstruction method for positron-emission tomography (PET) based on a penalized, weighted least-squares (PWLS) objective. For PET measurements that are precorrected for accidental coincidences, the author argues statistically that a least-squares objective function is as appropriate, if not more so, than the popular Poisson likelihood objective. The author proposes a simple data-based method for determining the weights that accounts for attenuation and detector efficiency. A nonnegative successive over-relaxation (+SOR) algorithm converges rapidly to the global minimum of the PWLS objective. Quantitative simulation results demonstrate that the bias/variance tradeoff of the PWLS+SOR method is comparable to the maximum-likelihood expectation-maximization (ML-EM) method (but with fewer iterations), and is improved relative to the conventional filtered backprojection (FBP) method. Qualitative results suggest that the streak artifacts common to the FBP method are nearly eliminated by the PWLS+SOR method, and indicate that the proposed method for weighting the measurements is a significant factor in the improvement over FBP. >
The Association of Low Social Support with Breast Milk Expression in Low-Income Mother–Preterm Infant Dyads

Background:Premature infants benefit from receiving expressed breast milk (BM), but expressing breast milk is difficult for new mothers. Little is known about mothers’ social support and BM expression during the premature infant’s hospital stay.Objective:We examined whether low maternal social support was associated with breast milk expression initiation and low breast milk expression among low-income mothers of premature infants.Methods:Maternal intake interview data and daily infant data on proportion of nutrition from BM during hospitalization were analyzed from a larger randomized trial testing a developmental intervention on 181 mother–premature infant dyads with at least 2 of 10 social-environmental risks. Multivariable modified Poisson regression was used to examine the relationship between social support (Personal Resources Questionnaire 2000; dichotomized as low for lowest quartile), initiation (any breast milk expressed vs none), and low breast milk expression (if BM was < 30% of infant total mi...
CyloFold: secondary structure prediction including pseudoknots

Computational RNA secondary structure prediction approaches differ by the way RNA pseudoknot interactions are handled. For reasons of computational efficiency, most approaches only allow a limited class of pseudoknot interactions or are not considering them at all. Here we present a computational method for RNA secondary structure prediction that is not restricted in terms of pseudoknot complexity. The approach is based on simulating a folding process in a coarse-grained manner by choosing helices based on established energy rules. The steric feasibility of the chosen set of helices is checked during the folding process using a highly coarse-grained 3D model of the RNA structures. Using two data sets of 26 and 241 RNA sequences we find that this approach is competitive compared to the existing RNA secondary structure prediction programs pknotsRG, HotKnots and UnaFold. The key advantages of the new method are that there is no algorithmic restriction in terms of pseudoknot complexity and a test is made for steric feasibility. Availability: The program is available as web server at the site: http://cylofold.abcc.ncifcrf.gov.
Is Large-Scale Military R&D Defensible Theoretically?:

Political decision theory provides a framework for evaluating three approaches to military research and development: offensive weaponry intended for deterrence, the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) and other weaponry intended fordefense, and cutbacks designed to slow the research and development (R&D) treadmill. Large-scale R&D does not protect against most of the risks facing national security. Nor does an R&D-intensive approach provide the flexibility necessary to adjust military policy in light of rapidly changing international conditions. Considering all factors together, there is a strong theoretical case for placing sharp constraints on military innovation, not just on the quantities of weapons deployed.
Distributed interactive simulation in the evolution of DoD warfare modeling and simulation

Distributed interactive simulation (DIS) is a revolutionary development that is changing permanently many features of Defense Department work. The field of warfare modeling and simulation (MS it can also improve operational readiness. To achieve these potential benefits, however, will require a holistic approach, conceptual breakthroughs, and profoundly difficult model development efforts. The challenges include developing integrated hierarchies of models, developing adaptive decision models and other models of human behavior, developing and using new forms of uncertainty-sensitive analysis, and learning how to use DIS experiments effectively. >
The impact of socioeconomic inequalities and lack of health insurance on physical functioning among middle-aged and older adults in the United States

Socioeconomic inequalities and lack of private health insurance have been viewed as significant contributors to health disparities in the United States. However, few studies have examined their impact on physical functioning over time, especially in later life. The current study investigated the impact of socioeconomic inequalities and lack of private health insurance on individuals' growth trajectories in physical functioning, as measured by activities of daily living. Data from the Health and Retirement Study (1994-2006) were used for this study, 6519 black and white adults who provided in-depth information about health, socioeconomic, financial and health insurance information were analysed. Latent growth curve modelling was used to estimate the initial level of physical functioning and its rate of change over time. Results showed that higher level of income and assets and having private health insurance significantly predicted better physical functioning. In particular, decline in physical functioning was slower among those who had private health insurance. Interestingly, changes in economic status, such as decreases in income and assets, had a greater impact on women's physical functioning than on men's. Black adults did not suffer more rapid declines in physical functioning than white adults after controlling for socioeconomic status. The current longitudinal study suggested that anti-poverty and health insurance policies should be enhanced to reduce the negative impact of socioeconomic inequalities on physical functioning throughout an individual's life course.
Developing a Customer Satisfaction Index Based on the Cognitive Structure of Customers

The paper reviews the relative literatures about the cognitive structure of customers and tries to introduce the concept of customer personal value which reflects customers' final needs into the cause-and-effect line of the customer satisfaction index. Customer personal value can reflect customers' value view and the deepest level of customers' needs. The companies can understand customer behavior better, when they conduct the more activities on understanding and recognizing customer personal value. Customer personal value should be an independent antecedent of customer satisfaction, and customer expectation, perceived quality and perceived value are the precondition of customer personal value. The new model of customer satisfaction index will deepen the understanding of the mechanism of forming customer satisfaction, and the theory will guide the service companies to choice suitable indices when they want to appraise the ability of fulfilling customer needs and economic performance in the new consuming environment.