cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of stress, social support and age in survival from breast cancer

This study focused on the relationship of objective and subjective stresses to survival from breast cancer. The potential mediating roles of social support and age were also considered. This prospective study involved 208 white female breast cancer patients diagnosed between 1958 and 1960. At the time of diagnosis, subjects were interviewed regarding objective and subjective stress and social support present in the 5-year period preceding their diagnosis. Twenty years later, survival was calculated. The relationships between stress and survival were examined for three age groups: 15-45, 46-60, and 61 and older. Objective stress was related to survival for the oldest group while subjective stress was related to survival for the youngest group. Neither stress was related to survival for women aged 46-60. Social involvement was independently related to survival although it was not a mediator in the stress-survival relationship. Using the entire sample, stage of cancer at diagnosis was the best predictor of survival. However, when women aged 46-60 were eliminated from the analysis, stress and social involvement accounted for twice as much variance in survival as stage.
Pyrolysis of North-American grass species: Effect of feedstock composition and taxonomy on pyrolysis products

Abstract In the Midwest of the U.S., several members of the Poaceae family can be grown as bioenergy crops. Besides Miscanthus and switchgrass, which have been extensively studied, native Midwestern grasses such as big bluestem, coastal panicgrass, deertongue, indiangrass, sandreed and sideoats grama can be grown in monoculture or polyculture plantations. In addition to climate, soil fertility and water availability, the selection of bioenergy crops depends on the choice of conversion technology. One such technology, fast pyrolysis, is a thermochemical approach for converting biomass into a liquid product known as bio-oil, a hydrocarbon fuel intermediate. In this research, the eight aforementioned grass varieties were characterized by fiber and metal analyses as well as calorimetry and thermal gravimetry. Conversion by analytical pyrolysis showed that although variability exists, all eight grasses produced a similar spectrum of chemical compounds. Principal component analysis of pyrolysis-GC/MS data detected statistically significant differences amongst the grass varieties on the basis of six key chemical markers: glycolaldehyde, acetic acid, acetol, methyl glyoxal, 4-vinylphenol and levoglucosan. Though taxonomic classification was not found to affect product composition, correlation analysis verified that biomass composition and thermal properties might be responsible for the differences in pyrolysis products.
Optimizing KBART guidelines to restore perpetual access

Purpose – This case study aims to demonstrate how proactive use of KBART guidelines can assist librarians in the analysis and restoration of journal titles with post-cancellation perpetual access. Design/methodology/approach – After experiencing a 25-per cent decrease in the collection budget, the Queens College Libraries (QCL) faced losing electronic journal content with cancellations to Big Deal licensing agreements. By using tools such as Serials Solutions, Ex Libris SFX and Microsoft Excel, the library was able to optimize KBART guidelines to analyze and restore journal titles under perpetual access licensing clauses. The implemented workflow mirrored the process to create “Big Deal” renewal spreadsheets at Springer Science + Business Media. Findings – By using KBART guidelines to manipulate and analyze data, the library was efficiently able to identify journal titles for perpetual access. Because the resulting data were formatted within KBART guidelines, it could then be transferred to a knowledge ba...
Louis Bachelier: The Father of Modern Option Pricing Theory

Prior to the publication of the Black-Scholes model in 1973, the quest for a formula that would describe option prices reflected one of the elusive goals in financial economics. Many of the insights and techniques used to solve the option-pricing problem were anticipated at the beginning of the twentieth century by Louis Bachelier. Bachelier's innovations included the first graphical representation of option pricing and a mathematical description of stock prices utilizing Brownian motion.
Simultaneous Determination of the 5-Lipoxygenase Inhibitor “Zileuton” and its N-Dehydroxylated Metabolite in Untreated Rat Urine by Micellar Liquid Chromatography

Abstract A specific and sensitive HPLC procedure for the quantitative determination of Zileuton, (N- (1- (benzo-[b]-thien-2-yl)ethyl)-N-hydroxyurea), and its N-dehydroxylated metabolite in an untreated urine sample was developed. Separation of these compounds is achieved with micellar liquid chromatography, using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as the mobile phase and a CN-bonded silica column with UV detection at 262 nm. Because of the dissolving power of the micellar phase, urine samples were injected into the system without time-consuming protein precipitation and/or drug extraction steps. Changes in mobile phase variables such as SDS concentration, pH and/or organic modifier concentration profoundly affected both chromatographic selectivity and drug retention. Linear calibration curves of the relative peak heights versus concentrations were obtained from 0.10 – 5.0 ppm for Zileuton and its metabolite. The minimum quantifiable concentration using this column was 0.08 – 0.10 ppm.
Modeling national flood insurance policy holding at the county scale in Florida, 1999–2005 ☆

Abstract We analyze household flood insurance purchases in Florida from 1999 to 2005, and the extent to which household insurance purchases correspond with flood mitigation activities by local governments involved in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Community Rating System (CRS). Regression results indicate that household flood insurance purchases correlate strongly with local government mitigation activities, adjusting for hazard experience, hazard proximity, and community demography. Policy implications of this observed relationship are discussed, assuming four temporal order and floodplain development scenarios, with particular attention to the congruence of outcomes relative to policy objectives.
New Findings on Interactions among the Yeast Oligosaccharyl Transferase Subunits Using a Chemical Cross-linker

At present, there is very limited knowledge about the structural organization of the yeast oligosaccharyl transferase (OT) complex and the function of each of its nine subunits. Because of the failure of the yeast two-hybrid system to reveal interactions between luminal domains of these subunits, we utilized a membrane permeable, thiocleavable cross-linking reagent dithiobis-succinimidyl propionate to biochemically study the interactions of various OT subunits. Four essential gene products, Ost1p, Wbp1p, Swp1p, and Stt3p were shown to be cross-linked to each other in a pairwise fashion. In addition, Ost1p was found to be cross-linked to all other eight OT subunits individually. This led us to propose that Ost1p may reside in the core of the OT complex and could play an important role in its assembly. Ost4p and Ost5p were found to only interact with specific components of the OT complex and may function as an additional anchor for optimal stability of Stt3p and Ost1p in the membrane, respectively. Interestingly, Ost3p and Ost6p subunits exhibited a surprisingly identical pattern of cross-linking to other subunits, which is consistent with their proposed redundant function. Based on these findings, we analyzed the distribution of the lysine residues that are likely to be involved in cross-linking of OT subunits and propose that the OT subunits interact with each other through either their transmembrane domains and/or a region proximal to it, rather than through their luminal or cytoplasmic domains.
Chappati complaints and biriani cravings: the aesthetics of food in colonial Zanzibari institutions

Abstract This article examines prison and asylum diets in colonial Zanzibar, between 1928 to 1962. The aesthetics of food is considered here from the perspective of the consumer. Food was the principal issue of complaint among both prisoners and asylum inmates. The British officials who organized catering in these institutions paid little or no attention to the social significance of food for those who would consume it, and therefore paid the price in terms of unrest and agitation in these institutions. Most complaints focused on the aesthetics of food, and these are explored in detail so as to understand the nature of patients’ and prisoners' complaints. Why did these carefully crafted diets create so much conflict? What were the complaints? What do the complaints reveal about patients’ and prisoners' expectations about food aesthetics? It will be shown that personal preferences and cultural norms dictated eating habits, but what a person ate – and how it was eaten – also served as strong indicators of i...
Evidence-based application of aerobic and resistance training in patients with congestive heart failure.

Purpose The objective of this study was to use a modified Philadelphia Panel rating method to evaluate the evidence supporting the use of therapeutic exercise interventions in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods A computerized literature search was conducted. Inclusion criteria included studies using randomized clinical trial (RCT) or controlled clinical trial (CCT) study designs, participants from populations with CHF, and studies that evaluate the effects of aerobic exercise and/or strength training exercise. The outcomes examined were blood pressure (BP), maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max), resting heart rate (HR), left ventricular function, peak lactate levels, dyspnea, work capacity, muscle strength, and muscle endurance. The therapeutic interventions assessed were treadmill aerobic exercise, bicycle ergometer aerobic exercise, and resistance exercise. Results Aerobic exercise was shown to have significant (P Conclusions There is evidence to establish the efficacy of aerobic and resistance training for patients with CHF. Aerobic exercise was shown to improve VO2 max, dyspnea, work capacity, and left ventricular function. Resistance exercise was shown to improve left ventricular function, peak lactate levels, muscle strength, and muscle endurance. These results support the inclusion of aerobic exercise programs and resistance training for patients with CHF.
Nonlinear arithmetic operations on the delta sigma pulse stream

Abstract In this paper it is shown how a delta-sigma modulated (ΔΣM) pulse stream can be used to carry out many of the functions of nonlinear signal processing. It is demonstrated how to realize arbitrary nonlinear memoryless functions on the basis of ΔΣM. The error bounds for the delta demodulator (DDM) averaging filter are also given. An example of the squaring operation is given.
Labor market reputation and the value of the firm

This study examines the stock market reaction to announcements that should contribute to the positive reputation of firms' human resource management practices. Announcements consist of the annual release of the list of 'best' employers by Working Mother magazine. We hypothesize that these announcements positively contribute to the firms' labor market reputation, thereby improving a firm's ability to attract, retain and motivate good employees. We find a small but statistically significant increase in firms' stock prices following the release of the list. The effect is larger, the first time a firm appears on the list relative to subsequent appearances.
Potential effects of chondroitin sulfate on joint swelling: a GAIT report

The Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT) was a randomized double-blind placebo and active comparator (celecoxib) controlled trial of 1583 persons with symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee(1). Patients randomized to celecoxib had significant improvement in knee pain compared to those randomized to placebo. No statistically significant improvement in knee pain compared to placebo was seen among patients randomized to the dietary supplements, although a subset of patients with moderate-to-severe knee pain at entry who were assigned to the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate did seem to experience some improvement. Additionally, patients taking chondroitin sulfate were noted to have a statistically significant improvement in knee joint swelling. An exploratory post hoc analysis of GAIT patients suggested the effect of chondroitin sulfate on joint swelling occurred more often in patients with milder pain and lower Kellgren-Lawrence Grade at entry.
A study of magnetic field effects upon triplet-triplet absorptions

Abstract A study of triplet-triplet absorptions in the presence and absence of an external magnetic field is presented. Some theoretical aspects are discussed. It is demonstrated that the application of the external field has no effect upon the absorption bands if the zero field spin-dipolar and spin-orbit interactions are identical for the triplet states involved in the transition. If the zero field interactions are different, however, the external field is expected to induce changes in the absorption band profile. Some experimental results of high resolution, low temperature optical Zeeman spectroscopy using mixed crystals of diphenylmethylene in benzophenone are reported. Field-induced broadening of the fwhm intensity of an electronic—vibrational band of the guest carbene is observed.
Nestling Diet of Eastern Meadowlarks in East-central Illinois

Abstract We observed Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) nests in Conservation Reserve Program grasslands in east-central Illinois to examine the influence of the surrounding agricultural landscape on nestling diets. Esophageal ligatures were applied to 3- and 6-day old nestlings to examine food items brought to the nest. The most common items were spiders (44% of total volume; primarily wolf spiders [Hogna spp.]), followed by orthopterans (23%; crickets, grasshoppers, and katydids), and lepidopteran larvae (18%, primarily cutworms). Adult Eastern Meadowlarks foraged more often than expected in soybean fields.
Predictors of success for first stage neuromodulation: motor versus sensory response.

Purpose: We investigated whether intraoperative motor or sensory response is more predictive of successful sacral neuromodulation using the InterStim® system.Materials and Methods: A total of 35 pa...
The Support Points of the Unit Ball in Bloch Space

Let H(D) be the topological vector space of all functions F holomorphic in the unit disc D. We consider the compact convex subset B1 = {F ∈ H(D) : F(0) = 0 ∧ |F′(z)| (1 − |z|2) ≤ 1 for z ∈ D} of H(D) and show that G ∈ B1 is a support point of B1 if and only if Λ(G) = {z ∈ D : |G′(z) (1 − |z|2) = 1} ≠ ∅. This is an application of a more general result which is concerned with the maximization of continuous linear functionals on a set K1 related to B1.
Endophytic insect communities of two prairie perennials (Asteraceae: Silphium spp.)

Little is known of the biology of most insects that are endemic to prairie ecosystems of North America, with the exception of large and conspicuous species. In particular, species that are sequestered within plant tissues are commonly overlooked. In this paper, we assess the bio- diversity of endophytic insects that inhabit stems of Silphium laciniatum L. and S. terebinthinaceum Jacquin (Asteraceae), endemic plants of tallgrass prairies. Endophytic herbivores, gall wasps Antistrophus rufus Gillette and A. minor Gillette (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) and stem-boring larvae of the beetle Mordellistena aethiops Smith (Coleoptera: Mordellidae) were attacked by 10 species of natural enemies. We report new host plant associations for herbivores, and new host insect associations for parasitoids. The two plant species differed significantly in their densities of gall wasps and the vertical dispersion of galls within stems. Interactions within and between trophic levels attest to the biodiversity of endophytic insect communities, and the specialized nature of these insects suggests they are highly vulnerable to habitat conservation practices that involve destruction of dead vegetation.
Oh, Deer!: Predator and Prey Relationships: Students Make Natural Connections through the Integration of Mathematics and Science

This article describes an activity that integrates both mathematics and science while inviting students to make connections between the two and learn significant concepts in a meaningful way. Students work within the real-world context of wildlife population scenarios to make predictions, test their hypotheses, and determine and construct graphs that best represent their data while learning the importance of animal habitats and the factors that impact wildlife populations in continually changing ecosystems. Discussion and experiences with students prior to this activity should ensure that they understand ideas about carrying capacity, components of habitat, and limiting factors.
Kinematic analysis of the San Juan thrust system, Washington

Shear-related fabric in the middle to Late Cretaceous San Juan thrust system, Washington, is observed in imbricated blocks and in fault zones a few millimeters to tens of meters thick. Foliation and lineation are defined in tectonic blocks by alignment of (1) newly grown muscovite and chlorite and (2) flattened and stretched radiolaria, mineral porphyroclasts, and rock fragments. Thin argillaceous shear zones bear a pronounced lineation defined by lithologic "streaks" and slickenside corrugations. The slickenside and stretching lineations show a well-defined preferred orientation in a horizontal northwest-southeast direction. Widespread S-C fabrics, asymmetric pressure shadows, fault drag features, and asymmetric folds in the X-Z plane yield a sense of tectonic transport at most localities of upper plate to the northwest. Aragonite, prehnite, lawsonite, pumpellyite, and rare Na-amphibolite and Na-pyroxene characterize the metamorphism during the thrusting. The findings of this study indicate north-west, orogen-parallel, transport of the San Juan thrust system. We suggest that this structure is a large step-over zone transferring dextral strike slip from the western Cascades to the oceanward side of Wrangellia.
Verification of Decline Curve Analysis Models for Production Prediction

Reserves and production in petroleum reservoirs can be estimated using empirical and analytical decline curve analysis models. There have been many such models. In this study, three representative models (exponential, harmonic, and the mechanistic Li-Horne models) were chosen to predict and match oil and gas production from both core samples and reservoirs with different permeability. The recovery and reserves were estimated using the three models and the results were compared. The comparison demonstrated that the recovery at an assumed economic limit predicted using the LiHorne model was greater than the exponential model but was less than the harmonic model. Note that the exponential model tends to underestimate reserves and production rates while the harmonic model has a tendency to overpredict the reservoir performance. It was also found that the reserves predicted using the harmonic model were greater than one pore volume in some cases, which is physically impossible. The model predictions using the experimental data of recovery in the core samples were also compared to the true values. The results demonstrated that the Li-Horne model had the best estimation of the recoverable recovery compared to the exponential and the harmonic models in the cases studied.
Effects of various nitrogen fertilizers on emission of nitrous oxide from soils

Field studies of the effects of different N fertilizers on emission of nitrous oxide (N20) from three Iowa soils showed that the N2O emissions induced by application of 180 kg ha−1 fertilizer N as anhydrous ammonia greatly exceeded those induced by application of the same amount of fertilizer N as aqueous ammonia or urea. On average, the emission of N2O-N induced by anhydrous ammonia was more than 13 times that induced by aqueous ammonia or urea and represented 1.2% of the anhydrous ammonia N applied. Experiments with one soil showed that the N2O emission induced by anhydrous ammonia was more than 17 times that induced by the same amount of N as calcium nitrate. These findings confirm indications from previous work that anhydrous ammonia has a much greater effect on emission of N2O from soils than do other commonly used N fertilizers and merits special attention in research relating to the potential adverse climatic effect of N fertilization of soils.
Antibody against globular domain of H1° histone

Abstract Antibodies against the globular domain of histones H1° and H5 were developed in rabbit. The antibody against the globular domain of H5 cross-reacted with H1° but not with H1; the antibody against the globular domain of H1° did not cross-react with H5, H1 or with HMG proteins. The globular domain of H1° therefore appears to have an immunological determinant(s) which does not exist in H1 and H5. By use of these antibodies, we show that nucleated erthrocytes of bullfrog contain an H1°-like protein (not an H5-like protein). This observation coincided with the report of Shimada, T. [J. Biol. Chem. 256 (1981) 10577–10582]. These antibodies have application in detecting H1°-like proteins in eukaryotic cells.
Twenty-four hour growth hormone secretion in patients with panic disorder

Summary Background . Patients with panic disorder have blunted growth hormone (GH) responses to clonidine, suggesting subsensitivity of post-synaptic alpha 2 -adrenoreceptors, presumably in response to excessive central noradrenergic outflow. However, basal levels of GH release over a full circadian cycle have not been examined in panic. Reduced basal GH release would suggest an overall hypo-active GH system rather than a specific alpha-adrenergic abnormality. Methods . To determine whether panic patients show reduced basal GH secretion, 20 patients and 12 healthy controls were studied. Blood samples were drawn every 15 min for 24 h and plasma was assayed for GH. Patients were restudied during successful treatment with alprazolam. Groups were compared on overnight and daytime GH secretion and circadian patterns of release. Results . Patients showed normal levels on all measures of GH release. Treatment may have reduced nocturnal GH release slightly, but treated patients still did not differ from controls. The normal predominance of sleep over waking GH secretion was seen in both groups. Conclusions . Panic patients, in contrast to depressed patients, have normal somatotrophic axis activity when measured in a resting state over a full circadian cycle. GH dysregulation may only be evident in these patients in activation paradigms and has been most consistently demonstrated by challenges with the alpha 2 -noradrenergic agonist, clonidine.
Direct Numerical Simulation of Nucleation and Three-Dimensional, Diffusion-Controlled Growth

Direct numerical simulations, using a boundary integral method, are used to investigate nucleation followed by diffusion-limited growth during electrochemical deposition. Results are compared to three published models. For instantaneous nucleation, the theories are in good agreement with simulations. Errors are more significant for finite nucleation rates for two published theories, while the theory of Mirkin and Nilov is in very good agreement with simulations. The evolution in time of the standard deviation in cluster size due to the apparently random nature in space and time of nucleation is presented. The advantages and possible extensions of the simulation approach are also discussed.
Novel Pulse Electrodeposited Co–Cu–ZnO Nanowire/tube Catalysts for C1–C4 Alcohols and C2–C6 (Except C5) Hydrocarbons from CO and H2

Co–Cu–ZnO nanowire/tube catalysts were synthesized using pulse electrodeposition technique from a single aqueous electrolyte solution using a template synthesis technique. They were then tested as catalysts for the hydrogenation of CO to alcohols and higher hydrocarbons. Nanowires/tubes were grown inside the pores of membranes using a three-step sequential deposition process. First, a low current of −6.9 mA/cm2 was applied for 300 ms for Cu deposition, then a high current density of −11.5 mA/cm2 for t ms (t = 500, 600, 750 ms) was applied for Co deposition, and finally no current was applied for 1200 ms so that the ions near the cathode replenish. The surface had a significantly different composition than the bulk. On the surface, there was more Co, less Cu, and more Zn. The catalyst showed the alcohol (C1–C4) selectivity of 20.9 %C at H2/CO = 3/1, GHSV = 16 000 scc/h gcat, temperature = 270 °C, pressure = 15 bar, and time-on-stream = 65 h.
Reading through the Fog: Perception, the Passions, and Poetry in Spenser's Bower of Bliss

AbstractAlthough critics have largely neglected Spenser's depiction of the fog offshore Acrasia's island, stanzas 34 through 37 of Book II, canto twelve of The Faerie Queene are crucial to an under...
Instability of succinyl ester linkages in O2'-monosuccinyl cyclic AMP-protein conjugates at neutral pH

Abstract Chromatographic and immunological evidence is presented regarding the hydrolysis of the ester linkage of O2′-monosuccinyl cyclic AMP in neutral solutions. Such hydrolysis occurs whether the nucleotide derivative is present in free form in solution or conjugated through its succinyl carboxyl group via an amide bond to proteins. The latter process apparently occurs when succinyl cyclic AMP is conjugated to human serum albumin for use as an immunogen in the production of anti-cyclic AMP antibodies and when the derivative is coupled to the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.49). The enzyme conjugate has been used in developing a homogenous enzyme immunoassay for cyclic AMP. Inhibition of the catalytic activity of enzyme-cyclic AMP conjugates by anti-cyclic AMP antibody decreases with time, apparently due to the loss of cyclic AMP from enzyme-cyclic AMP conjugates stored in neutral solutions. In addition, the ability of free cyclic AMP to completely reverse the inhibition process decreases with time because of the presence of antibodies in the anti-cyclic AMP sera that apparently inhibit enzyme activity because of their binding specificity for the residual succinate-protein determinant sites of the enzyme conjugates. Lyophilization of the conjugates immediately after preparation helps to overcome the problem; however, in vivo hydrolysis of immunogens prepared with the succinyl cyclic AMP derivative may always occur. The consequence of this hydrolysis reaction and the subsequent formation of anti-succinyl-protein antibodies will be discussed with regard to existing RIAs for cyclic AMP and a new homogeneous enzyme immunoassay for the nucleotide.
The role of deformation and other quantities in an equation for enstrophy as applied to atmospheric blocking

In this note, equations for enstrophy and enstrophy advection are derived in terms of well-known quantities, assuming horizontal frictionless ow on a beta-plane. Specically, enstrophy can be written in terms of the geopotential (or pressure), relative vorticity, zonal wind, and resultant deformation. Enstrophy advection is shown to be related to the time evolution of deformation and ageostrophic relative vorticity. Based on previous research, these terms may contribute to instability associated with atmospheric blocking development and decay.
Silver rare-earth systems

This paper is an introduction to our evaluation of the rare-earth silver systems. Included here is a summary of the crystallographic data for the known rare-earth silver intermetallic compounds and discussions concerning reported structures that are not included in the tables, and alloy composition controversies. Because mischmetal is the most common form of the rare-earth metals used in commercial applications, an introduction to mischmetal phase diagrams, the properties of mischmetal, and the silver-mischmetal phase diagram are also included here.
Synthesis, Structure, and Activity of Diclofenac Analogues as Transthyretin Amyloid Fibril Formation Inhibitors

Twelve analogues of diclofenac (1), a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug and known inhibitor of transthyretin (TTR) amyloid formation, were prepared and evaluated as TTR amyloid formation inhibitors. High activity was exhibited by five of the compounds. Structure-activity relationships reveal that a carboxylic acid is required for activity, but changes in its position as well as the positions of other substituents are tolerated. High-resolution X-ray crystal structures of four of the active compounds bound to TTR were obtained. These demonstrate the significant flexibility with which TTR can accommodate ligands within its two binding sites.
The prevalence of colonization with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus at a Veterans' Affairs institution.

Objective: To study vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) prevalence, risk factors, and clustering among hospital inpatients. Design: Rectal-swab prevalence culture survey conducted from February 5 to March 22,1996. Setting: The Veterans' Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia. Patients: Hospital (medical and surgical) inpatients. Results: The overall VRE prevalence was 29% (42/147 patients). The VRE prevalence was 52% (38/73 patients) among patients who had received at least one of six specific antimicrobials during the preceding 120 days, compared with only 5% (4/74) among those who had not received the antimicrobials (relative risk, 9.6; P <.001). The longer the period (up to 120 days) during which antimicrobial use was studied, the more closely VRE status was predicted. Among 67 hospital patients in 28 multibed rooms, clustering of VRE among current roommates was not found. Conclusions: At this hospital with relatively high VRE prevalence, VRE colonization was related to antibiotic use but not to roommate VRE status. In hospitals with a similar VRE epidemiology, obtaining cultures from roommates of VRE-positive patients may not be as efficient a strategy for identifying VRE-colonized patients as obtaining screening cultures from patients who have received antimicrobials.
A light blanket for intraoperative photodynamic therapy

A novel light source - light blanket composed of a series of parallel cylindrical diffusing fibers (CDF) is designed to substitute the hand-held point source in the PDT treatment of the malignant pleural or intraperitoneal diseases. It achieves more uniform light delivery and less operation time in operating room. The preliminary experiment was performed for a 9cmx9cm light blanket composed of 8 9-cm CDFs. The linear diffusers were placed in parallel finger-like pockets. The blanket is filled with 0.2 % intralipid scattering medium to improve the uniformity of light distribution. 0.3-mm aluminum foil is used to shield and reflect the light transmission. The full width of the profile of light distribution at half maximum along the perpendicular direction is 7.9cm and 8.1cm with no intralipid and with intralipid. The peak value of the light fluence rate profiles per input power is 11.7mW/cm2/W and 8.6mW/cm2/W respectively. The distribution of light field is scanned using the isotropic detector and the motorized platform. The average fluence rate per input power is 8.6 mW/cm2/W and the standard deviation is 1.6 mW/cm2/W for the scan in air, 7.4 mW/cm2/W and 1.1 mW/cm2/W for the scan with the intralipid layer. The average fluence rate per input power and the standard deviation are 20.0 mW/cm2/W and 2.6 mW/cm2/W respectively in the tissue mimic phantom test. The light blanket design produces a reasonably uniform field for effective light coverage and is flexible to confirm to anatomic structures in intraoperative PDT. It also has great potential value for superficial PDT treatment in clinical application.
Multimodal interaction with an autonomous forklift

We describe a multimodal framework for interacting with an autonomous robotic forklift. A key element enabling effective interaction is a wireless, handheld tablet with which a human supervisor can command the forklift using speech and sketch. Most current sketch interfaces treat the canvas as a blank slate. In contrast, our interface uses live and synthesized camera images from the forklift as a canvas, and augments them with object and obstacle information from the world. This connection enables users to “draw on the world,” enabling a simpler set of sketched gestures. Our interface supports commands that include summoning the forklift and directing it to lift, transport, and place loads of palletized cargo. We describe an exploratory evaluation of the system designed to identify areas for detailed study. Our framework incorporates external signaling to interact with humans near the vehicle. The robot uses audible and visual annunciation to convey its current state and intended actions. The system also provides seamless autonomy handoff: any human can take control of the robot by entering its cabin, at which point the forklift can be operated manually until the human exits.
Characteristics of an aerosol photometer while automatically controlling chamber dilution-air flow rate.

Trials were conducted to determine those factors that affect the accuracy of a directreading aerosol photometer when automatically controlling airflow rate within an exposure chamber to regulate airborne dust concentrations. Photometer response was affected by a shift in the aerosol size distribution caused by changes in chamber flow rate. In addition to a dilution effect, flow rate also determined the relative amount of aerosol lost to sedimentation within the chamber. Additional calculations were added to a computer control algorithm to compensate for these effects when attempting to automatically regulate flow based on a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) feedback control algorithm. A comparison between PID-controlled trials and those performed with a constant generator output rate and dilution-air flow rate demonstrated that there was no significant decrease in photometer accuracy despite the many changes in flow rate produced when using PID control. Likewise, the PID-controlled trials produced ch...
Compassion at Work

Compassion is an interpersonal process involving the noticing, feeling, sensemaking, and acting that alleviates the suffering of another person. This process has recently received substantial attention by organizational researchers and practitioners alike. This article reviews what researchers currently know about compassion as it unfolds in dyadic interactions in work organizations. We begin by reviewing what we know about the benefits of compassion for the person who is suffering, for the provider of compassion, and for third parties who witness orhearabout compassion atwork.Theheartofthe article focuses on what research tells usabout embedding compassion in the personal, relational, and organizational contexts in which compassion takes place. We conclude by discussing implications for practice and for the future research agenda regarding this vital interpersonal process.
Gallbladder myocytes are short and cholecystokinin-resistant in obese diabetic mice.

Background. Obesity is associated with diabetes and gallstone formation. Obese leptin-deficient (Lep ab ) and leptin-resistant (Lep db ) mice are hyperglycemic and have enlarged gallbladders with diminished response in vitro to cholecystokinin (CCK) and acetylcholine (ACh). Whether this phenomenon is secondary to hyperosmolar myocytes and/or decreased neuromuscular transmission remains unclear. We hypothesize that myocytes from Lep ob and Lep db obese mice would not respond normally to neurotransmitters. Methods. Cholecystectomy was performed on 39 lean, 19 Lep ob , and 20 Lep db 12-week-old female mice. The gallbladder was divided and enzymatically digested. Half of each gallbladder's myocytes had contraction induced by CCK (10 -8 mol/L, n = 38) or ACh (10 -5 mol/L, n = 40). Results. Body weights, gallbladder volumes, and serum glucoses were greater for Lep ob and Lep db mice compared to controls (P <.001). Resting niyocyle lengths from Lep ob and Lep db mice were 93% and 91% of the length of controls (P <.001). In response to CCK, lean myocytes shortened 6% (P <.01). while myocytes from obese mice demonstrated no shortening. None of the myocytes demonstrated significant shortening with ACh. Conclusions. These data suggest that gallbladder myocytes from obese mice are (1) foreshortened and (2) have a diminished response to cholecystokinin. We conclude that altered leptin and/or increased glucose may foreshorten myocytes and decrease response to cholecystokinin.
Robust structure from motion and identified dynamics

This paper addresses robust recovery of structure and motion for rigid bodies in video sequences. For small inter-frame motion, feature appearance is commonly estimated according to the previous frame. However, in the case of occlusion or corrupt frames, the small interframe motion model fails. In this paper, we propose to use robust identification techniques to estimate the motion dynamics based on a set of previous frames. These dynamics are then recursively used to robustly estimate object structure and motion and to predict the object appearance in future frames. Results are tested for 3D reconstructions of rigid bodies in real and synthetic image sequences.
Distribution of Mesoscale Convective Complex Rainfall in the United States

Several annual mesoscale convective complex (MCC) summaries have been compiled since Maddox strictly defined their criteria in 1980. These previous studies have largely been independent of each other and therefore have not established the extended spatial and temporal patterns associated with these large, quasi-circular, and, typically, severe convective systems. This deficiency is primarily due to the difficulty of archiving enough satellite imagery to accurately record each MCC based on Maddox’s criteria. Consequently, this study utilizes results from each of the MCC summaries compiled between 1978 and 1999 for the United States in order to develop a more complete climatology, or description of long-term means and interannual variation, of these storms. Within the 22-yr period, MCC summaries were compiled for a total of 15 yr. These 15 yr of MCC data are employed to establish estimated tracks for all MCCs documented and, thereafter, are utilized to determine MCC populations on a monthly, seasonal, annual, and multiyear basis. Subsequent to developing an extended climatology of MCCs, the study ascertains the spatial and temporal patterns of MCC rainfall and determines the precipitation contributions made by MCCs over the central and eastern United States. Results indicate that during the warm season, significant portions of the Great Plains receive, on average, between 8% and 18% of their total precipitation from MCC rainfall. However, there is large yearly and even monthly variability in the location and frequency of MCC events that leads to highly variable precipitation contributions.
Sampling and inference in complex networks

Networks are ubiquitous – from social and information systems to biological and technological systems. With pervasive use of the Internet and various advances in technology, networks under study today are not only substantially larger than those in the past, but sometimes exist in a decentralized form. These factors can make analysis of and access to these networks, in their entirety, prohibitive. One approach to addressing these issues is sampling: inference using small subsets of nodes and links from a network. Unlike traditional sampling approaches which focus on inferences related to attributes of nodes, this thesis focuses on the use of sampling to infer non-trivial properties of the network itself – both structural and functional. We introduce a sampling technique, based on concepts from expander graphs, to infer aspects of community structure in the larger network. We draw and demonstrate connections between the expansion properties of samples and the extent to which networks can be efficiently searched. We conduct a study on how best to identify influential individuals while only accessing small portions of a social network. We show that certain sampling biases are, in fact, beneficial for many applications, as they "push" the sampling process towards inclusion of desired properties. Lastly, using a slightly different notion of sampling, we present a maximum likelihood-based approach to inferring social hierarchy.
Analysis of Sec22p in endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi transport reveals cellular redundancy in SNARE protein function.

Membrane-bound soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins form heteromeric complexes that are required for intracellular membrane fusion and are proposed...
Good Help is Hard to Find: A Few Comments About Alcohol and Work in Preindustrial England

Alcohol was an accepted and at times necessary complement to work in preindustrial England. It enabled laborers to endure the hardship of performing manual labor for 12 or more hours a day, and additionally enabled them to endure extremes of heat and cold. Employers' attitudes toward drinking on the job tended to vary according to the availability of labor: when it was scarce, as it was from the second half of the fourteenth century until the end of the Middle Ages, employers had no choice but to tolerate fairly heavy drinking both on and off the job; when labor was plentiful, as it was throughout the Tudor and Stuart periods, employers sought to control recreational drinking, while continuing to tolerate strictly occupational drinking.
Own and others’ prior experiences influence children's imitation of causal acts

Abstract Young children learn from others’ examples, and they do so selectively. We examine whether the efficacy of prior experiences influences children's imitation. Thirty-six-month-olds had initial experience on a causal learning task either by performing the task themselves or by watching an adult perform it. The nature of the experience was manipulated such that the actor had either an easy or a difficult experience completing the task. Next, a second adult demonstrated an innovative technique for completing it. Children who had a difficult first-person experience, and those who had witnessed another person having difficulty, were significantly more likely to adopt and imitate the adult's innovation than those who had or witnessed an easy experience. Children who observed another were also more likely to imitate than were those who had the initial experience themselves. Imitation is influenced by prior experience, both when it is obtained through one's own hands-on motor manipulation and when it derives from observing the acts of others.
Congenital nephrosis in low-risk pregnancies

Congenital nephrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder requiring neonatal renal transplant for survival. The postnatal diagnosis rests upon the electron microscopic evaluation of the epithelial foot processes and basal membrane of the glomeruli. The prenatal diagnosis can be suspected in the presence of a positive family history with an amniotic fluid (AF) alpha-fetoprotein level greater than 5 standard deviations (SD) above the population mean accompanied by a negative AF acetylcholinesterase, absent haemoglobin F, and an unremarkable fetal sonographic examination. We reviewed our series of seven cases of congenital nephrosis fulfilling the above criteria; four cases had negative family histories, and in two cases the diagnosis of congenital nephrosis was further supported by the presence of elevated AF albumin concentrations. We conclude that (1) the prenatal diagnosis of congenital nephrosis is feasible in a low-risk population, and (2) an elevated AF albumin concentration may represent an additional marker for the diagnosis of congenital nephrosis, even though false-negative results have been reported.
Less cyber, more café: enhancing existing small businesses across the digital divide with ICTs

About 10% of the world has access to information and communication technologies (ICTs). Telecenters and cyber cafes are one prevalent way to increase access. This paper suggests increasing access through currently existing, local businesses where people already gather and where proprietors already posses existing business relationships with suppliers and customers. This paper questions the prevailing emphasis on the "cyber" characteristics of access, e.g., computing and internet access as is currently known, and attempts to refocus the conversation by considering computing and access in the context of the "cafe," e.g., as public life in the sense of Habermas, which permits an in situ evolution of relevant access. This analysis is based on extant literature and direct ethnographic research in several public places in six countries. We offer example design perspectives based on a reflection of "third places" as inspiration for appropriate innovation in the provision of computing and communications.
Automatic Generation of Ontology from the Deep Web

The term "deep Web" refers to Web pages that are not accessible to search engines, e.g., because those Web pages are dynamically generated in response to queries through Web forms or Web services. The existing automated Web crawlers cannot index these pages, thus they are hidden from the Web search engines. Our goal is to properly annotate such deep Web services (i.e. content generation interfaces of hidden Web sources) with semantic indexing by constructing domain-specific ontologies to represent the contents of the deep Web sources. The fully automatic derivation of ontologies from Web sources without human review is to date a challenging research issue. We present a novel approach to automatically building a large, yet domain-specific, ontology by interweaving sub-taxonomies of WordNet with domain-specific information extracted from deep Web service pages. Our algorithms extract domain concepts from deep Web sources which are augmented with concepts and relationships from WordNet to construct ontology fragments. Structurally, these are directed acyclic graphs (DAGs). An iterative process of extracting WordNet concepts and relationships and bridging concept gaps is used to tie together disparate domain concepts and ontology fragments into one ontology. Using eight domains (airfares, jobs, etc.) from a well-known test-bed, our algorithms constructed an ontology of 1692 concepts from deep Web sources and 4434 concepts from WordNet. This ontology is expressed in the OWL format to support semantic Web searches.