cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A new vision of innovation management: towards an integrated paradigm

This paper proposes a model for revealing the shift of an innovation paradigm. It argues the following: that the shift of the basic innovation structure from dichotomous divisions to a unified consolidation has not been identified and addressed; that the shift of innovation outlets from physical to digital plays a key role in changing innovation practices; that the traditional discrete innovation paradigm is being replaced by an integrated paradigm, which is more accommodative in dealing with burgeoning innovation activities.
The validity and utility of geotaxis in young rodents.

Negative geotaxis, an automatic, reliable, stimulus-bound, orientation and movement directionally against gravitational cues, is often used for behavioral assessments of infant rodents. We summarize historical and contemporary analyses and conclude that negative geotaxis does not exist in infant rats. Infant rodents placed on inclined surfaces (ranging from 15° to 70° in most tests) are posturally unstable and their compensatory responses have been misinterpreted as negative geotaxis. In fact, recent findings suggest that if infant rats display a geotaxis, they show positive geotaxis on shallow angles of inclination (e.g., 4° and 8°). There may be utility in assessing postures and motoric responses of infant rats on relatively robust angles of inclination, but these are not tests of negative geotaxis.
Effect of desipramine treatment on 3H-imipramine binding in the blood platelets of depressed patients.

Abstract Platelet imipramine binding (IB) was studied in depressed patients before and after treatment with desipramine for 17–28 days. Administration of desipramine was associated with a significant increase in B max . There was a trend for an increase in K d , but it did not reach statistical significance. The net result of the changes in B max and K d was an increase in IB. There were significant correlations between the change in depression ratings and pretreatment K d , as well as the change in K d during treatment. These results suggest that decreased IB is not a trait-dependent marker, but a state-dependent marker for depression .
FT-IR Imaging of Polymer Dissolution by Solvent Mixtures. 1. Solvents

The dissolution of poly(α-methylstyrene) (PAMS) by a binary solvent mixture containing systematically varied amounts of methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) in deuterated cyclohexane was studied using FT-IR imaging. From each sequential image in a timed sequence, spatially resolved spectral data were gathered and absorbance profiles for the field of view were obtained. This allowed the study of solvent penetration and quantitative analysis of the dissolution process from concentration profiles. The dissolution of the polymer was found to vary linearly with time for ∼150 μm dissolved layer. The dissolution rate was found to increase linearly with MIBK concentration. In each solvent mixture, diffusion profiles were characteristic of case II diffusion. No solvent component segregation was seen. It is demonstrated that FT-IR imaging is a viable tool to characterize the dissolution of polymers by multicomponent solvents.
Formation and electrochemical performance of copper/carbon composite nanofibers

Abstract Copper-loaded carbon nanofibers are fabricated by thermally treating electrospun Cu(CH3COO)2/polyacrylonitrile nanofibers and utilized as an energy-storage material for rechargeable lithium–ion batteries. These composite nanofibers deliver more than 400 mA g−1 reversible capacities at 50 and 100 mA g−1 current densities and also maintain clear fibrous morphology and good structural integrity after 50 charge/discharge cycles. The relatively high capacity and good cycling performance of these composite nanofibers, stemmed from the integrated combination of metallic copper and disordered carbon as well as their unique textures and surface properties, make them a promising electrode candidate for next-generation lithium–ion batteries.
A conjoined analysis of American sign language relative clauses

(1983). A conjoined analysis of American sign language relative clauses. Discourse Processes: Vol. 6, American Sign Language, pp. 305-318.
Bankruptcy: A Legal Research Course

Several aspects of the subject matter and practice of bankruptcy law lend themselves to use as the underlying subject matter for a course in advanced legal research. Although the unique institutions and procedure in bankruptcy cases call for specialized instruction, the structure of the substantive field around an integrated, codified statute and the intersections of state and federal jurisdiction provide plentiful jumping-off points to reinforce important general concepts of strategic and thoughtful legal research practice. The first half of this article presents an introduction to the field as a basic substantive grounding necessary to any law librarian pondering a legal research course grounded in bankruptcy law. The article also familiarizes the prospective research instructor with the major sources of law in the field and assesses numerous secondary sources and research tools covering the field with an eye to which print and online sources will be of the best anticipated value to today's legal resear...
Malleable Implant Substitution for the Management of Penile Prosthesis Pump Erosion: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT Introduction Managing isolated scrotal pump erosion or infection in patients with inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is a challenging problem. We describe our malleable implant substitution technique to address this problem. Aim The aim of this study was to describe and assess the outcomes of the malleable implant substitution technique. Methods In this retrospective case series, six patients underwent removal of the infected and/or eroded scrotal pump, and replacement of the entire IPP with a malleable prosthesis. This procedure was only performed in men in the absence of penile pain on palpation or overwhelming sepsis. The procedure utilized components of the Mulcahy washout protocol with loose scrotal wound approximation and drains as necessary. Main Outcome Measures The main outcome is a recurrent infection rate and prosthesis functionality of the malleable implant substitution technique. Results All six men who underwent the procedure have done well and remain infection-free. Two men have undergone conversion from a malleable prosthesis back to IPP. Three are considering conversion to an IPP as they are satisfied with their current malleable prosthesis function. One man had a distal erosion of the malleable prosthesis that necessitated complete removal. Conclusions We believe the malleable implant substitution technique provides an excellent option for management of isolated scrotal pump erosion or infection and prevents the problems associated with the other common management strategies. Kohler TS, Modder JK, Dupree JM, Bush NC, and McVary KT. Malleable implant substitution for the management of penile prosthesis pump erosion: A pilot study. J Sex Med 2009;6:1474–1478.
Balancing competing resource allocation demands in a public cellular network that supports emergency services

When an emergency happens, public communication networks, including cellular networks, public switched telecommunication networks, and the Internet can be utilized to support emergency communications. The admission control strategies currently employed by the Wireless Priority Service (WPS), however, have drawbacks of being not able to address dynamic traffic demands for different scenarios and locations. They assume a standard profile for emergency and public demand at all locations. In contrast, this paper presents an analytical modeling framework that creates flexible, adaptive algorithms for operators to easily use based on the specifics of each scenario. Numerical results show that this provides an obvious improvement over the existing approaches. The analysis approach provided here, that incorporates the reneging behavior of customers waiting for service, also presents another main contribution compared with past work for computing the average waiting time.
Automated code generation for application engineers (avionics)

An approach which generates code and documentation from specifications of application designs is described. This approach to code generation is realistic, realizable with current technology, and capable of dramatically increasing productivity and reliability in avionics systems. The ALS CASE system, which adheres to this approach, has been implemented and used to successfully generate approximately 3000 lines of Ada code from a specification of a Boeing 737 autoland flight control system. >
Advances in Hearing Conservation Practices: An Interview With Mark Stephenson

Abstract It is estimated that 30 million Americans are exposed to hazardous noise levels at work (Stephenson et al., 2003). The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 created two separate agencies dedicated to promoting worker health and safety: the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Research at NIOSH informs OSHA regulations. This report comprises an interview with Mark Stephenson, PhD, Scientific Research Coordinator for the NIOSH noise and hearing loss research program. He provides insights into the latest advances in hearing conservation practices, what works and why. Current hearing conservation practices developed at NIOSH and not yet mandated by OSHA use methods borrowed from evidence-based health communication theories to change the ways individuals view the problem of noise exposure, eliminate barriers that prevent effective hearing protector use, and create a culture of self-efficacy with respect to hear...
Development of a wheelchair occupant injury risk assessment method and its application in the investigation of wheelchair securement point influence on frontal crash safety

To promote proper wheelchair securement in transportation, the proposed ANSI/RESNA Standard on Wheelchairs Used as Seats in Motor Vehicles will require that all transit wheelchairs be equipped with four securement points compatible with strap-type tiedowns. Through computer simulations, the location of these securement points has been found to influence wheelchair user response to a frontal crash. This study develops and employs an injury risk assessment method to compare the crashworthiness of various securement point configurations. The comparative injury risk assessment method is designed to predict the risk associated with internalized crash forces, as well as risk associated with secondary occupant impart with the vehicle interior. Injury criteria established by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and General Motors, along with excursion limitations set by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J2249 Wheelchair Tiedowns and Occupant Restraint Systems (WTORS) Standard were used as benchmarks for the risk assessment method. The simulation model subjected a secured commercial powerbase wheelchair with a seated 50th percentile male Hybrid III test dummy to a 20 g/30 mph crash. The occupant was restrained using pelvic and shoulder belts, and the wheelchair was secured with four strap-type tiedowns. Results indicated that securement points located 1.5 in to 2.5 in above the evaluated wheelchair's center of gravity provide the most effective occupant protection.
Measurement of stream instability of Argon-Xenon plasma

Previous experiments had shown the existence of ion-ion beam instability in weakly collisional Argon-Helium plasma in the pre-sheath near a negatively biased plate. [1] A new theory [2] suggests that this instability enhances the collisional friction between the ion species and determines their velocities at the sheath-presheath boundary. Here we report experimental measurements of the ion-ion instability in Argon-Xenon plasma carried out in conjunction with LIF velocity measurements. Instability is measured by a cylindrical probe collecting electron saturation current. Ion Acoustic Wave phrase velocity measurement is employed to determine the relative ion concentrations. Electron temperature is measured by a Langmuir probe and the sheath locations are determined by an emissive probe [3].
Systems Approach to Civil Engineering Decisions

While contemporary civil engineering projects are increasingly complex, the cognitive abilities of the decision maker remain limited. There is a conflict between the complexity that is required to describe a scenario with all its relevant properties and the limited number of ideas that can be included in rational considerations and decisions. A resolution requires the decision maker to construct a limited model that includes the most significant features. In this paper, a systems approach provides a general decisionmaking scheme that makes involvement in broadly based decisions accessible. This scheme is valid at all scales and in all classes of problems. This paper establishes a practical method for generating systems that contain all features relevant to a professional decision. The criterion of decision invariance is offered as a guide for establishing the size of the system model considered by the decision maker. It is argued that surprises cannot be avoided and must form an integral part of the decision.
Effectiveness of hypnosis as an adjunct to behavioral weight management

This study examined the effect of adding hypnosis to a behavioral weight-management program on short- and long-term weight change. One hundred nine subjects, who ranged in age from 17 to 67, completed a behavioral treatment either with or without the addition of hypnosis. At the end of the 9-week program, both interventions resulted in significant weight reduction. However, at the 8-month and 2-year follow-ups, the hypnosis clients showed significant additional weight loss, while those in the behavioral treatment exhibited little further change. More of the subjects who used hypnosis also achieved and maintained their personal weight goals. The utility of employing hypnosis as an adjunct to a behavioral weight-management program is discussed.
Secondary structure and domain architecture of the 23S and 5S rRNAs

We present a de novo re-determination of the secondary (2°) structure and domain architecture of the 23S and 5S rRNAs, using 3D structures, determined by X-ray diffraction, as input. In the traditional 2° structure, the center of the 23S rRNA is an extended single strand, which in 3D is seen to be compact and double helical. Accurately assigning nucleotides to helices compels a revision of the 23S rRNA 2° structure. Unlike the traditional 2° structure, the revised 2° structure of the 23S rRNA shows architectural similarity with the 16S rRNA. The revised 2° structure also reveals a clear relationship with the 3D structure and is generalizable to rRNAs of other species from all three domains of life. The 2° structure revision required us to reconsider the domain architecture. We partitioned the 23S rRNA into domains through analysis of molecular interactions, calculations of 2D folding propensities and compactness. The best domain model for the 23S rRNA contains seven domains, not six as previously ascribed. Domain 0 forms the core of the 23S rRNA, to which the other six domains are rooted. Editable 2° structures mapped with various data are provided (http://apollo.chemistry.gatech.edu/RibosomeGallery).
New Jersey's Drug Court Project*:

Interpreted time series analysis was used, in this program evaluation, to assess and measure the impact of a special drug court program in New Jersey insofar as the program's ability to impact upon serious court backlogs and on case processing delay. Monthly data was analyzed using ARIMA time series methodology over a six year time span, from 1985 through 1990. New Jersey's criminal justice systen responded to the rapid increase of narcotics violation arrests at the beginning of 1988 and subsequent backlogs in the courts by implementing special trial teams designed to reduce post-indictment case backlogs.
A Clustering-Based Approach for Failure Mode Identification

Research has shown that nearly 80% of the costs and problems are created in product development and that cost and quality are essentially designed into products in the conceptual stage. Currently failure identification procedures (such as FMEA, FMECA and FTA) and design of experiments are being used for quality control and for the detection of potential failure modes during the detail design stage or post-product launch. Though all of these methods have their own advantages, they do not give information as to what are the predominant failures that a designer should focus on while designing a product. This work uses a functional approach to identify failure modes, which hypothesizes that similarities exist between different failure modes based on the functionality of the product/component. In this paper, a statistical clustering procedure is proposed to retrieve information on the set of predominant failures that a function experiences. The various stages of the methodology are illustrated using a hypothetical design example.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Volatile Constituents of the Essential Oil of Kumquat

In this study 120 compounds were found and 71 volatile compounds were identified in the essential oil of kumquat. A simultaneous distillation/extraction technique was used to obtain the essential oil from the fruit. Individual compounds were identified by means of Kovats retention indices on polar and nonpolar columns and mass spectral data. Some 13 sesquiterpenes, 8 terpenes, 11 alcohols, 1 ketone, 8 aldehydes and 13 esters were identified in kumquat oil for the fist time. Limonene was the most abundant compound comprising 93% of the whole oil.
Urethral Fistulas and Diverticula

The female urethra is well protected and rarely injured except during childbirth, operation, or an automobile accident. As a result of the trauma, the patient may experience an avulsion of the urethra, generally in the area of the bladder neck. Less commonly, women may experience a penetrating wound as a result of being impaled while fence climbing or being struck by farming tools; such injuries frequently result in hematoma of the vulva and laceration of the urethra. Occasionally, injuries to the vagina, rectum, and urethra result from a disproportion between the size of the penis and that of the vagina. These usually result in disruption of the posterior vaginal wall and anal sphincter rather than trauma to the urethra or the base of the bladder.
Theoretical Study of Structural and Thermodynamic Properties of Yttrium Carbides, YCn (n = 2−6)

Theoretical studies of monoyttrium carbides, YCn, for n = 2−6, are presented. Consideration of several alternative structures leads to the kite, fan, and linear structures as the most attractive candidates for the ground states of different YCn complexes. The Y−C bond is strongly ionic due to the electron transfer from the yttrium to carbon atoms. The computed enthalpies of formation of YCn, atomization, and dissociation energies of these species are close to the corresponding experimental data. We compare the thermodynamic properties thus obtained from our theory with the experimentally estimated Gibbs energy functions and heat content functions using assumed structures.
Reengineering CCA-adding enzymes to function as (U,G)- or dCdCdA-adding enzymes or poly(C,A) and poly(U,G) polymerases

CCA-adding enzymes build and repair the 3′-terminal CCA sequence of tRNA. These unusual RNA polymerases use either a ribonucleoprotein template (class I) or pure protein template (class II) to form mock base pairs with the Watson–Crick edges of incoming CTP and ATP. Guided by the class II Bacillus stearothermophilus CCA-adding enzyme structure, we introduced mutations designed to reverse the polarity of hydrogen bonds between the nucleobases and protein template. We were able to transform the CCA-adding enzyme into a (U,G)-adding enzyme that incorporates UTP and GTP instead of CTP and ATP; we transformed the related Aquifex aeolicus CC- and A-adding enzymes into UU- and G-adding enzymes and Escherichia coli poly(A) polymerase into a poly(G) polymerase; and we transformed the B. stearothermophilus CCA-adding enzyme into a poly(C,A) polymerase by mutations in helix J that appear, based on the apoenzyme structure, to sterically limit addition to CCA. We also transformed the B. stearothermophilus CCA-adding enzyme into a dCdCdA-adding enzyme by mutating an arginine that interacts with the incoming ribose 2′ hydroxyl. Most importantly, we found that mutations in helix J can affect the specificity of the nucleotide binding site some 20 Å away, suggesting that the specificity of both class I and II enzymes may be dictated by an intricate network of hydrogen bonds involving the protein, incoming nucleotide, and 3′ end of the tRNA. Collaboration between RNA and protein in the form of a ribonucleoprotein template may help to explain the evolutionary diversity of the nucleotidyltransferase family.
On robust fuzzy systems

In this paper, we introduce and study the notion of a robust fuzzy system. Our definition is based on topological properties of the automorphism group of the lattice of all fuzzy sets on a given universe. A particular case of a fuzzy system that acts as an aggregation machine is studied in detail.
Quasi-continuous reservoir monitoring with surface seismic data

ABSTRACT We present an approach that creates the possibility of reservoir monitoring on a quasi‐continuous basis using surface seismic data. Current strategies and logistics for seismic data acquisition impose restrictions on the calendar‐time temporal resolution obtainable for a given surface‐seismic time‐lapse monitoring program. One factor that restricts the implementation of a quasi‐continuous monitoring program using conventional strategies is the time it takes to acquire a complete survey. Here quasi‐continuous monitoring describes the process of reservoir monitoring at short‐time intervals. Our approach circumvents the restriction by requiring only a subset of complete survey data each time an image of the reservoir is needed using surface seismic data. Ideally, the time interval between survey subset acquisitions should be short so that changes in the reservoir properties are small. The accumulated data acquired are used to estimate the unavailable data at the monitor survey time and the combined recorded and estimated data are used to produce an image of the subsurface for monitoring. We will illustrate the effectiveness of our approach using 2D and 3D synthetic seismic data and 3D field seismic data. We will explain the benefits and drawbacks of the proposed approach.
Analysis of uncertain data: Smoothing of histograms

We consider the problem of converting a set of numeric data points into a smoothed approximation of the underlying probability distribution. We describe a representation of distributions by histograms with variable-width bars, and give a greedy smoothing algorithm based on this representation.
Eight Segregates from the Neotropical Genus Mascagnia (Malpighiaceae)

ABSTRACT In the light of morphological and molecular evidence that the genus Mascagnia is polyphyletic, eight segregate genera are described, discussed, and illustrated, the necessary new combinations are proposed, and five new species are described (Amorimia camporum, A. kariniana, A. septentrionalis, A. velutina, and Niedenzuella caracasana). Keys to genera and species are provided. The genera and species are: Adelphia W. R. Anderson [A. hiraea (Gaertner) W. R. Anderson, A. macrophylla (Rusby) W. R. Anderson, A. mirabilis (W. R. Anderson) W. R. Anderson, A. platyrachis (Triana & Planchon) W. R. Anderson]; Aenigmatanthera W. R. Anderson [A. doniana (Grisebach in Martius) W. R. Anderson, A. lasiandra (A. Jussieu) W. R. Anderson]; Alicia W. R. Anderson [A. anisopetala (A. Jussieu in A. St.-Hilaire) W. R. Anderson, A. macrodisca (Triana & Planchon) W. R. Anderson]; Amorimia W. R. Anderson [A. amazonica (Niedenzu) W. R. Anderson, A. camporum W. R. Anderson, A. concinna (C. V. Morton) W. R. Anderson, A. exotr...
High-Performance Interpolation of Stellarator Magnetic Fields

We present a new algorithm for interpolation of static current-free magnetic fields based on the use of specialized fourth-degree vector polynomial functions (Maxwell elements) which solve the static current-free Maxwell equations. This method provides sufficient accuracy for the demands of stellarator applications and retains a great speed advantage over direct Biot-Savart calculation of the fields.
Behavioral and biochemical correlates of alcohol drinking preference: Studies on the selectively bred P and NP rats

The alcohol-preferring P and alcohol-nonpreferring NP lines of rates have been selectively bred and used to study the behavioral and biochemical correlates of alcohol-seeking behavior. The P rats satisfy all the perceived criteria for an animal model of alcoholism. Specifically, free-fed P rats voluntarily drink alcoholic solutions (10 to 30% v/v) to intoxication; they bar-press to obtain alcohol and self-administer ethanol intragastrically when food and water are available; and they acquire metabolic and neuronal tolerance and develop physical dependence when they drink alcohol chronically in a free-choice situation. The spontaneous motor activity in the P rats, but not in the NP rats, is stimulated acutely by low doses of alcohol. With a single hypnotic dose of ethanol, acute tolerance develops faster and to a greater degree and persists many days longer in the P than in the NP rats. These differences in response to ethanol may explain the disparate alcohol drinking behaviors of the P and NP rats. Bioch...
Perillyl alcohol and perillic acid induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in non small cell lung cancer cells

Plant products such as perillyl alcohol have been reported to possess anti-tumor activities against a number of human cancers though the mechanism of action has not yet been elucidated. The effects of perillyl alcohol (POH) and its metabolite perillic acid (PA) on the proliferation of non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC, A549, and H520) cells were investigated. Both POH and PA elicited dose-dependent cytotoxicity, induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis with increasing expression of bax, p21 and caspase-3 activity in both the cell lines. Combination studies revealed that exposing the cells to an IC50 concentration of POH or PA sensitized the cells to cisplatin and radiation in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that POH and PA in combination therapy may have chemotherapeutic value against NSCLC.
Combined Raman-elastic backscatter lidar method for the measurement of backscatter ratios.

A variation of the conventional combined Raman–elastic backscatter lidar method, the 1-2-3 lidar method, is described and analyzed. This method adds a second transmitter wavelength to the conventional combined Raman–elastic backscatter lidar. This transmitter wavelength is identical to that of the Raman receiver. One can generate the transmitted beam at this wavelength by Raman shifting the laser radiation in molecular nitrogen or oxygen. Measuring a second elastic lidar signal at the Raman-shifted wavelength makes it possible to eliminate differential transmission effects that can cause systematic errors in conventional combined Raman–elastic backscatter lidar.
Early outcome of initiating amiodarone for atrial fibrillation in advanced heart failure

Abstract Background Little information exists about the early outcomes of initiating amiodarone for atrial fibrillation in patients with advanced heart failure. This study assessed the initial rate of success and complications of amiodarone therapy initiated for patients with atrial fibrillation during hospitalization for heart failure. Methods We reviewed medical records for 37 consecutive patients with left ventricular ejection fractions ≤40% who underwent initiation of amiodarone for atrial fibrillation during hospitalization on a heart failure service. Results Atrial fibrillation was present in 35 (95%) and atrial flutter in 2 (5%), with mean duration of 30 months. New York Heart Association class was 3.1 (±1.1). Left ventricular ejection fraction was 24% ± 7%. All patients had received oral amiodarone with an initial dose of 1.2 ± 0.2 g/day. Bradyarrhythmia led to discontinuation of digoxin in 12 (32%) patients and to permanent pacemaker placement in 7 (19%) patients. Conversion to sinus rhythm occurred spontaneously in 2 patients and after electrical cardioversion in 26 patients, for an initial success of 76%. After a median follow-up of 9.5 months, 21 of 37 (57%) patients remained in sinus or atrial-paced rhythm. Amiodarone complications occurred after discharge in 5 (14%) patients, 4 with hypothyroidism. Conclusions Amiodarone with electrical cardioversion has a high initial success rate for treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with advanced systolic dysfunction. The major early side effect was bradyarrhythmia, frequently requiring discontinuation of digoxin or permanent pacemaker placement.
Telephone-delivered behavioral intervention among blacks with sleep apnea and metabolic syndrome: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Lack of adherence to recommended treatment for obstructive sleep apnea remains an ongoing public health challenge. Despite evidence that continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is effective and improves overall quality of life, adherence with the use of CPAP in certain racial/ethnic groups, especially blacks, is suboptimal. Evidence indicates that the incidence and prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea are higher among blacks, relative to whites, and blacks are less likely to adhere to recommended treatment compared with other racial/ethnic groups. Using a two-arm randomized controlled design, this study will evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally and linguistically tailored telephone-delivered intervention to promote adherence to physician-recommended sleep apnea assessment and treatment among blacks with metabolic syndrome, versus an attention-control arm. The intervention is designed to foster adherence to recommended sleep apnea care using the stages-of-change model. The intervention will be delivered entirely over the telephone. Participants in the intervention arm will receive 10 phone calls to address challenges and barriers to recommended care. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, and at 6- and 12-months post-randomization. This tailored behavioral intervention will improve adherence to sleep apnea assessment and treatment among blacks with metabolic syndrome. We expect to demonstrate that this intervention modality is feasible in terms of time and cost and can be replicated in populations with similar racial/ethnic backgrounds. The study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov NCT01946659 (February 2013)
Temperature-dependent development, diapause and cold tolerance of Gratiana graminea, a potential biological control agent of Solanum viarum in Florida, USA

The objectives of this study were to examine temperature-dependent development, diapause and cold tolerance of Gratiana graminea Klug (Chrysomelidae), a candidate biological control agent of tropical soda apple, Solanum viarum Dunal (Solanaceae). Immature development was examined at six constant temperatures ranging from 15°C to 30°C. Diapause induction was determined by exposing adults to either long or short photoperiods at 20°C and cold tolerance was assessed by exposing adults to 0°C. G. graminea completed development at temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C. Linear regression estimated a lower temperature threshold of 11.7°C and 312 degree-days were required to complete development. Diapause was induced when adults were exposed to short photoperiods (10:14 L:D h) at 20°C. The lethal times for diapausing adults of G. graminea at 0°C (LT50 = 19 days, LT90 = 41 days) were two times higher compared to Gratiana boliviana Spaeth, a biological control agent already established in south and central Florida, USA. The presence of diapause and the greater cold tolerance suggest that G. graminea may establish and perform better than G. boliviana in northern Florida.
Comparing common and discipline-specific first-year engineering programs: Examining the need and explaining the study

Work in Progress: Although there exists a variety of first-year engineering (FYE) course structures and content areas, there is little understanding supported by research of which structures or content may be more or less appropriate for novice engineering students compared to others. This Work in Progress addresses the clear need for comparing different FYE programs through a research study. We begin our comparison through the lens of community of practice because community and identity have been linked to current and important engineering issues such as retention. We employ a semi-longitudinal exploratory mixed methods design to investigate two popular FYE program structures. One of the data collection sites utilizes a common first-year and the other site utilizes discipline specific courses for each of separate engineering disciplines. Our research will result in tools that can be used to gather information about engineering community and identity development in different FYE landscapes. This research is relevant to anyone who works with FYE students and those interested in improving FYE through research.
Lymphatic Filariasis: Progress and Challenges in the Move Toward Elimination

Among the eight filarial species of humans (Table 7.1), three closely related parasitic nematodes (Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori) cause lymphatic filariasis (LF). Unlike most other helminthiases, the burden of infection and disease in lymphatic filariasis occurs primarily during adulthood where the cumulative effects of chronicity and infection intensity manifest themselves.
Peroxidases in tobacco abscission zone tissue. I. Fine-structural localization in cell walls during ethylene-induced abscission.

The fine-structural localization of peroxidases during ethylene-induced abscission of flower pedicels of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. ‘Little Turkish’ has been investigated. Peroxidase activity has been localized in both the cell walls and intercellular spaces of ethylene-treated flower pedicels which were fixed in glutaraldehyde, incubated in diaminobenzidine (DAB) medium with postfixation in 2% osmium tetroxide. Peroxidase staining is present in the cell walls and intercellular spaces of control tissue but is not as intense as in ethylene-treated tissue. Increased peroxidase staining is evident in the intercellular spaces and cell walls after 2 h of exposure to ethylene and increases in intensity between 2 and 5 h. At 5 h, ethylene-induced abscission occurs. Fine-structural investigations revealed prominent staining in the middle-lamellar and peripheral areas of the cell walls in ethylene-treated tissue. The peroxidase staining appears to be due to peroxidase as prior incubation with potassium cyanide gives a marked reduction in the staining reaction. Incubation of the ethylene-exposed tissue in aminotriazole, a specific inhibitor of catalase, does not reduce peroxidase staining, except in the microbodies, which reportedly contain catalase.
FORWARD Workshops: Strategies for Inclusion of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Abstract The Focus on Reaching Women for Academics, Research, and Development (FORWARD) program was initiated with the goal of advancing women and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. While FORWARD has successfully engaged various demographic groups, this chapter focuses on FORWARD activities at Gallaudet University and the general impact of FORWARD projects on deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HoH) individuals and on the university, as well as the impact of Gallaudet, D/HoH, and deaf culture on FORWARD workshops and its hearing participants. This chapter also provides some information to help scientific workshop organizers prepare to host meetings that will include D/HoH participants.
Size-to-Charge Dispersion of Collision-Induced Dissociation Product Ions for Enhancement of Structural Information and Product Ion Identification

Ion mobility is used to disperse product ions formed by collision-induced dissociation (CID) on the basis of charge state and size-to-charge ratio. We previously described an approach for combining CID with ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS) for dispersing fragment ions along charge state specific trend lines (Zinnel, N. F.; Pai, P. J.; Russell, D. H. Anal. Chem. 2012, 84, 3390; Sowell, R. A.; Koeniger, S. L.; Valentine, S. J.; Moon, M. H.; Clemmer, D. E. J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 2004, 15, 1341; McLean, J. A.; Ruotolo, B. T.; Gillig, K. J.; Russell, D. H. Int. J. Mass Spectrom. 2005, 240, 301), and this approach was used to assign metal ion binding sites for human metallothionein protein MT-2a (Chen, S. H.; Russell, W. K.; Russell, D. H. Anal. Chem. 2013, 85, 3229). Here, we use this approach to distinguish b-type N-terminal fragment ions from both internal fragment ions and y-type C-terminal fragment ions. We also show that in some cases specific secondary structural elements, viz., extended coils ...
Multistate Analysis and Optimization of a Geared Turbofan Engine Lubrication System

This paper describes the multistate analysis and design optimization of the lubrication system for a high bypass ratio geared turbofan (GTF) engine in the 20,000 to 30,000-lbf thrust class. Whereas traditional turbofan engines have a fixed shaft connecting the fan with the low-pressure turbine and compressor, the GTF engine has a fan drive gear system that couples the fan to the low pressure spool, allowing the fan and associated compressor and turbine to be operated at more efficient wheel speeds. This has advantages of improving fuel efficiency and reducing noise levels, but results in a more complex and operationally critical lubrication system. In order to ensure safe and satisfactory operation of the GTF across several operating states, a methodology is hereby used in the optimization of the lubrication design that treats it as a multistate system, where the states are defined by distinct levels of performance brought about by changes or failures in system components. Results indicate that when compared to the traditional, nominal case design as a baseline, performing the multistate design analysis improves the overall system expected availability by as much as 7% over a 500 hour period of operation. Furthermore, this result is obtained by making changes to the system’s static architectural design variables rather than component failure rates, the only area typically under consideration during traditional reliability analysis.
E. L. Doctorow and the Technology of Narrative

The work of E. L. Doctorow is difficult to place on the map of postmodernism because he is equally concerned with narrative or representational technique and with issues of history, power, and identity. Doctorow has focused his concerns in the question of technology, representing in each of his major works technological principles that not only typify the historical epoch in which the novel is set but also characterize the representational mode of the novel itself. The differences among technologies in his novels produce an arc of development that moves from a critique of the coercive power of a system epitomized by the electrical circuit in The Book of Daniel to a celebration of the possibilities for imaginative and representational freedom created by the computer in Loon Lake. Concentrating on the technology of narrative, Doctorow has contributed striking redefinitions of the historical subject while testing and extending the resources of the contemporary novel.
Electrochemical and Corrosion Stability of Nanostructured Silicon by Graphene Coatings: Toward High Power Porous Silicon Supercapacitors

We demonstrate the electrochemical stability of nanostructured silicon in corrosive aqueous, organic, and ionic liquid media enabled by conformal few-layered graphene heterogeneous interfaces. We demonstrate direct gas-phase few-layered graphene passivation (d = 0.35 nm) at temperatures that preserve the structural integrity of the nanostructured silicon. This passivation technique is transferrable both to silicon nanoparticles (Si-NPs) as well as to electrochemically etched porous silicon (P-Si) materials. For Si-NPs, we find the graphene-passivated silicon to withstand physical corrosion in NaOH aqueous conditions where unpassivated Si-NPs spontaneously dissolve. For P-Si, we demonstrate electrochemical stability with widely different electrolytes, including NaOH, enabling these materials for electrochemical supercapacitors. This leads us to develop high-power on-chip porous silicon supercapacitors capable of up to 10 Wh/kg and 65 kW/kg energy and power densities, respectively, and 5 Wh/kg energy densit...
University Innovation Input,Industry-University Cooperation and the Innovation Output of Large and Medium-sized Industrial Enterprises——Based on the Empirical Research of Thirteen Provinces and Cities in China

Both university innovation input and industry-university cooperation can affect the innovation output of enterprises to some extent,but existing research has seldom put the two factors into the same framework. Based on the economic statistics of thirteen provinces and cities in China from 2001 to 2010,this paper studies the impacts of university innovation input and industry-university cooperation on the innovation output of large and medium-sized industrial enterprises. The empirical results show that both university innovation input and that the later can positively affect the patent output of enterprises,and industry-university cooperation can improve the marginal contribution of enterprises' innovation capital input to the patent output. Based on the regions with different innovative capacity,the results show that university innovation input can promote the two kinds of innovation output of enterprises in the region with the first level innovative capacity. The industry-university cooperation,as the independent and adjustable variable respectively,can also improve the two kinds of innovation output remarkably inthe region with the first level innovative capacity.While in the region with the second level innovative capacity,its improving effects are mainly embodied on the patent output.
Increased dose of betamethasone for transforaminal epidural steroid injections is not associated with superior pain outcomes at 4 weeks

BACKGROUND Fluoroscopically guided transforaminal epidural steroid injections (FG-TFESIs) have been shown to provide both immediate and long-term improvement in patient's self-reported pain. Administration of the lowest possible dose of epidural betamethasone is desired to minimize side effects while maintaining efficacy. We hypothesize that a 3 mg or a 6 mg dose of betamethasone will demonstrate equivalent analgesic properties. OBJECTIVES To compare the analgesic efficacy of 3 mg and a 6 mg dose of betamethasone for use in FG-TFESI. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective evaluation. SETTING Academic outpatient pain center. METHODS One hundred fifty-eight patients underwent FG-TFESI for lumbar back pain between 2012 and 2013. Depending on the date of service, a dose of 3 mg or a dose of 6 mg betamethasone was used in the single level unilateral TFESI. Opioid consumption and NRS pain score were analyzed pre-procedurally and at a clinic visit 4 weeks post-procedurally. RESULTS Changes in numerical rating scale (NRS) pain score (-1.21 +' 2.61 vs. -0.81 +' 2.40 respectively, P = 0.17) and changes in opioid consumption as measured in oral morphine equivalents (-2.94 +' 16.4 mg vs. -2.93 +' 14.8 mg, P = 0.17) were statistically equivalent between both groups. Intergroup sub-analysis of those with > 50% reduction in baseline VRS {sp} pain score was not different (15.2% vs. 34%, P = 0.56), and the proportion with a VRS pain score < 3 were similar (24.5% vs. 23.8%, P = 0.92). LIMITATIONS Potential selection bias inherent with study design. CONCLUSIONS Reduction in NRS pain scores and narcotic usage at 4 weeks after FG-TFESI were statistically equivalent between patients who received 3 mg or 6 mg of betamethasone, suggesting that a lower steroid dose has similar analgesic efficacy. IRB Number: Cedars Sinai Medical Center Institutional Review Board Pro00031594
Giving Victims of Bullying a Voice: A Qualitative Study of Post Bullying Reactions and Coping Strategies

Current research on how adolescents cope with bullying is primarily quantitative, examines youth in Grades 1 through 6, and neglects to specifically assess how victims of bullying cope with being bullied. The current qualitative study explored the coping strategies of 22 rural middle- and high-school youth victimized by bullying. Results indicated that youth report using an array of emotion focused coping strategies (an internal coping strategy that focuses on emotion regulation) and problem focused coping strategies (active behaviors that are aimed to decrease or eradicate the stressor). These coping strategies included help seeking, physical and verbal aggression, standing up for themselves, and prosocial bystander behavior. While the majority of coping strategies were similar between middle- and high-school participants, these groups reported utilizing verbal and physical aggression in different ways. Further, certain coping strategies, such as help seeking and lashing out with physical and verbal aggression, were utilized as both emotion- and problem-focused coping strategies. Implications are discussed.
Fast Assessments with Digital Tools Using Multiple-Choice Questions

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) have come a long way since they were used in The Kansas Silent Reading Test in 1915. After over 100 years of MCQs, new innovative digital tools using this form of a...
Postemergence Oxalis Control with Diuron: Minimizing Crop Injury with Timely Irrigation

Abstract Experiments were conducted to evaluate tolerance of container nursery crop tolerance and yellow woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta) control with postemergence applied diuron as influenced by timely overhead irrigation. Intent was to identify an interval between application and irrigation that may reduce crop injury without compromising oxalis control. Diuron was applied at a common rate of 1.0 lb ai/A to oxalis and two nursery crops (Camellia sasanqua ‘Alabama Beauty’ camellia, and Rhododendron indicum ‘G.G. Gerbing’, azalea). Treatments consisted of irrigation at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, or 48 hr after application. Oxalis control was equivalent whether treated plants were irrigated within either 1 hr or 48 hr after application. Camellia exhibited no visible injury regardless of treatment. Azaleas exhibited diuron-induced injury, however injury was reduced if plants were irrigated within 1 hr of diuron application. 14C-diuron was used to determine the absorption rate of foliar-applied diuron into oxalis, came...
A Practical Approach to Managing Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Women with Diabetes

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is highly prevalent in women with diabetes mellitus (DM), yet it remains unaddressed, undiagnosed, and untreated. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is the most common complaint among women with FSD, but there is a paucity of research into its multifactorial etiology. Flibanserin is the only therapy approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treating acquired, generalized HSDD in premenopausal women. Women with DM diagnosed with HSDD may require a multidisciplinary approach for optimal management.