cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Designing a seamless hotel organization

As hospitality customers become more seasoned, well‐travelled and quality conscious, a hotel’s organizational structure must facilitate the implementation of strategies designed to provide higher levels of service quality. This article discusses the weaknesses of the current organizational structure of hotels and presents a framework for the development of a seamless hotel organization. This modified structure is more favorable to the creation of an environment where customer service quality is the organizational driver, allowing hotels to develop service quality as a true competitive advantage.
FOLLICULAR NEOPLASMS : THE ROLE FOR OBSERVATION, FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY, THYROID SUPPRESSION, AND SURGERY

The diagnosis and management of follicular carcinoma of the thyroid gland remains a controversial topic. Fine needle aspiration, although very sensitive with other types of thyroid cancer, has limited accuracy with follicular lesions. The role of suppression combined with observation has yet to gain widespread acceptance. The extent of surgical excision of follicular carcinoma also raises several competing views. The goal of this review is to address these issues and present an algorithm for the management of follicular neoplasms of the thyroid.
Doxazosin, an inferior antihypertensive agent?

In the United States and Europe, there are more than 100 trade name drugs approved by regulatory agencies for the lowering of elevated blood pressure (BP). Some of these drugs have been shown in large, longterm, placebo-controlled clinical trials to reduce the risks of the cardiovascular complications of hypertension. Others have not, or they have not been tested. The aim of antihypertensive treatment is to prevent these often devastating complications, and not simply to lower an elevated BP. However, the medical community has assumed that the benefit of all antihypertensive agents is mediated through BP lowering so that it does not matter how this lowering is achieved. During the past several decades, the basis for this assumption has eroded for two reasons. First, investigators have realised that hypertension is more than elevated BP and involves many neurohormonal and metabolic functions. Second, the pharmaceutical companies have developed very potent drugs with multiple and unique mechanisms of action capable of interfering with the complex pathophysiology of hypertension. These lines of evidence provide a sound scientific and public health rationale for comparing the different groups of antihypertensive drugs in terms of their effect on reducing the risks of cardiovascular complications. Comparative outcome trials of antihypertensive drugs have in the past received low priority among pharmaceutical companies. There is always the possibility that one of the drugs in a comparison will emerge as the loser, a result that could have unfavourable ramifications for future sales. If the sponsor’s product comes out ahead, there is always a suspicion that the trial was unfairly designed. Another concern is that a large number of comparative trials are
Sequential Theories and Infinite Distributivity in the Lattice of Chapters

We introduce a notion of complexity for interpretations, which is used to prove some new results about interpretations of sequential theories. In particular, we give a new, elementary proof of Pudlak's theorem that sequential theories are connected. We also demonstrate a counterexample to the infinitary distributive law in the lattice of chapters, in which the chapters a and b i are compact. (Counterexamples in which a is not compact have been found previously.)
The lipids of matrix vesicles from bovine fetal epiphyseal cartilage.

Matrix vesicles are extracellular, membrane-bounded particles which are abundant in the matrix of calcifying cartilage and which are morphologically related to the deposition of mineral in this tissue. The matrix vesicles and cells of the epiphyses of the long bones of fetal calves were liberated by digestion with collagenase and separated by differential centrifugation. Vesicle preparations were found to be lipid-rich and to contain significantly more sphingomyelin and phosphatidyl serine than cellular fractions. The ratio, moles cholesterol to moles total phospholipid, was higher in vesicles than in cells, a finding which is consistent with vesicles having their origins in the plasma membranes of the chondrocytes.
Metastable phase equilibria and solid state amorphization

Abstract The specific kinetic conditions that are required for successful solid state glass formation impose constraints on the alloy system which can allow the establishment of a metastable phase equilibrium at the active interface regions. An analysis of these constraints can lead to the development of a thermodynamics-based framework to interpret solid state amorphization and to establish bounds on the limitations and extent of this process. The hierarchy of equilibrium is considered and the consequences of this ranking are developed for the solid state reactions involved in glass formation. Other thermodynamic features such as T0 curves and the effect of elastic stresses are also considered in the analysis. The development of a thermodynamic framework can provide a common basis on which to interpret seemingly different methods of amorphization in terms of their capability to expose an alloy system to metastable states and glass formation. Often the thermodynamics of the phase diagram features that appear to be related to amorphization are developed from an empirical model basis, but in alloys with well-established phase diagrams or available thermodynamic data, the use of actual data is preferred for analysis and prediction. However, glass formation occurs at deep effective undercoolings and departures from stable equilibrium so that the proper extrapolation and extension of data are necessary. Methods to carry out these operations are now being developed. These methods require careful assessment of thermodynamic data and the application of these data to construct physically realistic alloy solution models. Accurate information on lattice stability values for the components in the relevant phase states is critical. The most effective optimization of the thermodynamic models for improved accuracy in prediction of metastable states is also based on some metastable data, as illustrated in some model systems.
Low prevalence of Acinetobacter baumannii colonization on hospital admission.

We conducted a prospective cohort study of non–critically ill patients admitted to a tertiary care center between December 2003 and September 2004 and obtained perirectal samples at hospital admission to determine the prevalence of Acinetobacter baumannii . A baumannii was isolated from 1 of 555 cultures (0.18%); no multidrug-resistant A baumannii was identified. Interventions aimed at early identification of A baumannii –colonized patients may not benefit by widely targeting non–critically ill patients on hospital admission.
The neurobiology of insect olfaction: sensory processing in a comparative context.

Abstract The simplicity and accessibility of the olfactory systems of insects underlie a body of research essential to understanding not only olfactory function but also general principles of sensory processing. As insect olfactory neurobiology takes advantage of a variety of species separated by millions of years of evolution, the field naturally has yielded some conflicting results. Far from impeding progress, the varieties of insect olfactory systems reflect the various natural histories, adaptations to specific environments, and the roles olfaction plays in the life of the species studied. We review current findings in insect olfactory neurobiology, with special attention to differences among species. We begin by describing the olfactory environments and olfactory-based behaviors of insects, as these form the context in which neurobiological findings are interpreted. Next, we review recent work describing changes in olfactory systems as adaptations to new environments or behaviors promoting speciation. We proceed to discuss variations on the basic anatomy of the antennal (olfactory) lobe of the brain and higher-order olfactory centers. Finally, we describe features of olfactory information processing including gain control, transformation between input and output by operations such as broadening and sharpening of tuning curves, the role of spiking synchrony in the antennal lobe, and the encoding of temporal features of encounters with an odor plume. In each section, we draw connections between particular features of the olfactory neurobiology of a species and the animal's life history. We propose that this perspective is beneficial for insect olfactory neurobiology in particular and sensory neurobiology in general.
Brief Report: Problem Solving Therapy in College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), though academically capable, can have difficulty succeeding in college. Evidence-based intervention to promote effective problem solving may improve quality of life, as well as success and satisfaction in college. This study adapted and piloted a group-based cognitive-behavioral intervention program, Problem Solving Skills: 101 (PSS: 101), to teach effective problem solving ability in college students with ASD. Therapists met all treatment integrity objectives across sessions, four of the five participants completed at least eight of the nine sessions, and between-session assignments were generally completed (83 % completion rate), indicating a high level of treatment adherence. Two participants demonstrated reliable improvement post-intervention in problem solving ability and subjective distress. Further evaluation to assess efficacy of the intervention is warranted.
A simplified approach for ductile failure analysis of semi-elliptical surface cracks

This paper presents a new simplified approach for ductile failure analysis of semi-elliptical surface cracks under uniform tension by representing the load as a multiplication of two separate functions; a crack geometry function and a material deformation function. Experimental data of specimens with wide range of crack depth, crack width, and thickness are used in the implementation of this approach. The semi-elliptical surface crack is treated as an equivalent single edge crack. An appropriate form for such a treatment is carefully selected and studied. Both the geometry and deformation functions for the studied data are developed. For the first time, an ηpl value is developed for such a complex geometry. The existence of load separation, an equivalent one-dimensional crack length, and an ηpl value may allow the elastic-plastic fracture parameter J to be evaluated using a single specimen for this geometry. Both the geometry function ηpl and are also developed using Mattheck et al. limit load formula which is based on the Dugdale model. They agree well with those developed from the experimental data within the tested range. Finally, a key curve is developed and used in the prediction of the load-displacement records.
Human GABABR genomic structure: evidence for splice variants in GABABR1 but not GABABR2

The type B gamma-aminobutryic acid receptor (GABA(B)R) is a G protein coupled receptor that mediates slow pre- and post-synaptic inhibition in the nervous system. We find that the human GABA(B)R2 gene spans greater than 350 kb and contains 2.8 kb of coding region in 19 exons. The overall similarity in genomic structure with regard to conservation of intron position and exon size between human or Drosophila GABA(B)R1 and GABA(B)R2 genes suggests a common ancestral origin. Multiple transcripts GABA(B)R1a-c and GABA(B)R2a-c have been described and alternative splicing has been proposed to result in GABA(B)R1c, GABA(B)R2b and GABA(B)R2c. The results described here provide support for the existence of GABA(B)R1c but not for GABA(B)R2b and GABA(B)R2c. Splice junctions present in the GABA(B)R1 gene sequence are consistent with the formation of GABA(B)R1c by exon skipping of one sushi domain module. The GABA(B)R2 gene lacks canonical splice junctions for the reported variants. Consistent with this, RNA analysis demonstrates the presence of GABA(B)R1c and GABA(B)R2 transcripts in fetal and adult human brain RNA but GABA(B)R2b and GABA(B)R2c transcripts are not detected. These results provide insight into the evolution and transcript diversity of the mammalian GABA(B)R genes.
Fabrication and evaluation of a polymer Li-ion battery with microporous gel electrolyte

This paper introduces an easy method for the fabrication of polymer Li-ion batteries with microporous gel electrolyte (MGE). The MGE is a multiphase electrolyte, which is composed of liquid electrolyte, gel electrolyte, and polymer matrix. The MGE not only has high ionic conductivity and good adhesion to the electrodes at low temperatures, but also retains good mechanical strength at elevated temperatures. Therefore, the MGE batteries are able to operate over a wide temperature range. During battery fabrication, the MGE is formed in situ by introducing liquid electrolyte into a swellable microporous polymer membrane and then heating or cycling the battery. In this work, the chemical compatibility of MGE with metal lithium during 60 °C storage and with LiMn2O4 cathode during cycling was studied. In addition, graphite/MGE/LiMn2O4 Li-ion batteries were made and evaluated.
LinkWay S2 ™– Latest advance in mesh satellite networking

LinkWay S2 ™, the mesh IP satellite communication modem system for the U.S. Department of Defense, has proven itself over many years of fielded service to be the most flexible and capable mesh multi-frequency time-division multiple access (MF-TDMA) modem available for net-centric warfare. LinkWay S2 is currently used in the Army's Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) program, the Marine's Support Wide Area Network (SWAN) program and a number of other government programs. The latest development in the LinkWay S2 system take the IP network platform to a new level of performance, with improvements in efficiency, data handling capacity, and security, bringing even more capability to LinkWay S2 -based SATCOM terminals. This paper discusses the history of LinkWay and how development has led to the latest improvements to the LinkWay S2 system and their positive implications for the warfighter. These improvements include, for example, a new turbo coded TDMA waveform, doubling the TDMA maximum symbol rate to 10Msps; 8PSK modulation for even higher speed TDMA; pseudo-spread BPSK waveform for mobile and/or disadvantaged terminals, configurable modulation and coding on a per-link basis; embedded TRANSEC; integrated DVB-S2 receiver; increased IP packet processing capability; and enhanced IP QoS. In addition, the overall system architecture has been improved with a new network control server supporting automatic geographic redundancy. Also discussed are recent communications on-the-move (OTM) demonstrations and future enhancements including a further-developed communications on-the-move (OTM) capability through the implementation of a spread spectrum waveform, and even higher data rate handling with improved hardware.
Loss of nocturnal blood pressure fall after liver transplantation during immunosuppressive therapy.

Hypertension, which develops after organ transplantation during immunosuppression with cyclosporine (CSA), is often associated with a loss of nocturnal decrease in blood pressure. Few data correlate circadian blood pressure patterns before transplant with those observed at fixed time points after transplant, or address the role of alternate immunosuppressive agents such as FK506. FK506 is unrelated structurally to CSA and less often leads to hypertension early after transplant. The present study compared nocturnal blood pressure patterns in patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) before transplant to those of transplant recipients receiving either FK506 (0.15 mg/kg/day) plus prednisone or CSA (2 to 3 mg/kg/day) plus prednisone and azathioprine after orthotopic liver transplantation. Overnight ambulatory blood pressure profiles were studied in 13 pretransplant ESLD patients and in 34 patients (FK506: n = 13; CSA: n = 21) treated with different steroid doses (24 ± 11 mg/day FK506; 34 ± 3 mg/day CSA), according to protocol, 4 weeks (range, 2 to 7 weeks) after liver transplant. Mean blood pressure and heart rate values from awake and nocturnal 5-h time blocks were compared to 13 normotensive control subjects. Patients with ESLD were normotensive and maintained a normal nocturnal blood pressure fall (125 ± 3/74 ± 2 mm Hg awake; 109 ± 3/60 ± 2 mm Hg nocturnal). Awake ambulatory blood pressures were higher in CSA patients than in FK506 patients (148 ± 3/95 ± 2 v 128 ± 3/78 ± 2 mm Hg, respectively; P
Sub-lethal effects of tiametoxam on life table parameters of the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) under laboratory conditions

Efficiency of tiametoxam was determined on population growth parameters of cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae) using demographic toxicology by leaf spray method. At first, bioassay was performed. The LC50 values and confidence limits for thiamethoxam were 169.05 ppm (92.61–342.51). To evaluate, the sub-lethal effect of this insecticide on population growth parameters of cabbage aphid, LC25 and LC10 concentrations of tiametoxam were used at 58.8 and 22.05 ppm, respectively. Also, the LC50 value of insecticide on the life table estimates was measured. Experiments were carried out in the laboratory at 23 ± 1 °C, 60 ± 5% RH and 16:8 (L:D) photoperiod on cabbage seedlings, Brassica oleracea, var. capitata L. Net fecundity rate decreased in insecticide-treated populations. Intrinsic rates of increase (rm) were lower in tiametoxam treatment than in controls. There was a relative increase in intrinsic death rates of treated populations. The mean generation time and doubling time were al...
Tool life prediction using Bayesian updating. Part 1: Milling tool life model using a discrete grid method

Abstract According to the Taylor tool life equation, tool life reduces with increasing cutting speed following a power law. Additional factors can also be added, such as the feed rate, in Taylor-type models. Although these models are posed as deterministic equations, there is inherent uncertainty in the empirical constants and tool life is generally considered a stochastic process. In this work, Bayesian inference is applied to estimate model constants for both milling and turning operations while considering uncertainty. In Part 1 of the paper, a Taylor tool life model for milling that uses an exponent, n , and a constant, C , is developed. Bayesian inference is applied to estimate the two model constants using a discrete grid method. Tool wear tests are performed using an uncoated carbide tool and 1018 steel work material. Test results are used to update initial beliefs about the constants and the updated beliefs are then used to predict tool life using a probability density function. In Part 2, an extended form of the Taylor tool life equation is implemented that includes the dependence on both cutting speed and feed for a turning operation. The dependence on cutting speed is quantified by an exponent, p , and the dependence on feed by an exponent, q ; the model also includes a constant, C . Bayesian inference is applied to estimate these constants using the Metropolis–Hastings algorithm of the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approach. Turning tests are performed using a carbide tool and MS309 steel work material. The test results are again used to update initial beliefs about the Taylor tool life constants and the updated beliefs are used to predict tool life via a probability density function.
Longitudinal Assessment for Lead Poisoning

In a previous study, we showed that in our region the prevalence of lead poisoning (Pb > or = 10 micrograms/dL [0.483 mumol/L]) was high (29%) among urban infants. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of lead poisoning over time in this cohort to determine the best screening strategy. Eighty-nine percent (115/129) of infants who were initially screened for lead poisoning between 6 and 12 months of age had a repeat venous lead level by age 3 years (mean = 19.8 months). The majority (70%) lived in a major city and had private medical insurance (80%). The initial and repeat mean venous lead levels were similar for the overall population (lead1 = 8.7 micrograms/dL +/- 6.2 [0.420 +/- 0.299 mumol/L] and lead2 = 7.7 micrograms/dL +/- 6.8 [0.371 +/- 0.328 mumol/L]). However, the percentage of lead-poisoned (Pb > or = 10 micrograms/dL or 0.483 mumol/L) children whose levels were > or = 15 micrograms/dL (0.724 mumol/L) increased from 28% to 48% on repeat. The utility of the initial screen in predicting a second elevated lead level > or = 20 micrograms/dL (0.966 mumol/L) was as follows: sensitivity = 33%, specificity = 97%, positive predictive value = 40%, negative predictive value = 96%. We conclude that in this population, a single screen at 18-24 months of age would reduce the need for multiple venipunctures and would detect those children in need of an intervention.
State and velocity distributions of Cl atoms produced in the photodissociation of ICI at 237 nm

Photofragment spectroscopy of ICI molecules photodissociated at 237 nm is studied by 2 + 1 resonance-enhanced multi-photon ionization and time of flight techniques. Doppler profiles of the chlorine atom fragments in two spin—orbit states show that chlorine atoms in the ground state, 2P3/2, are produced from a perpendicular dissociative transition, and chlorine atoms in the excited state, 2P12, arise from a parallel transition. The possible electronically excited states leading to dissociation in both the perpendicular and parallel cases are considered.
Allocation Methodologies and Customizing Hedge Fund Multi-Manager Multi-Strategy Products

This article identifies many of the issues crucial to hedge fund investing that we believe may be ignored by the uncritical investor. We believe that some of these issues can be taken into account by a systematic investment methodology and outline a method for doing so. We lay out a complete methodology for a hedge fund strategy allocation. Based on the monthly return data over the period 1990–2002 we find that the return distributions of most hedge fund strategy indices display significant negative skew, as well as serial correlation and unstable correlation structures. These findings have important consequences for assembling portfolios of hedge funds. We demonstrate that although hedge fund strategy indices are highly attractive when only mean and variance are considered, this is much less the case for some strategies when the statistical effects of serial correlation are considered. We optimize with respect to conditional value-at-risk to take the negative skew into account. When we compare our results with mean-variance optimization, it becomes clear that mean-variance optimization underspecifies the risk in hedge fund strategies. This article isolates some of the historical properties of hedge funds and makes, we hope, a strong case for their systematic inclusion in a modern portfolio.
Brand Rivalry and Consumers’ Schadenfreude: The Case of Apple

Using a sample of users of Apple/Mac products, this study found that brand identification with Apple was positively related to schadenfreude (pleasure at misfortunes) toward rival Microsoft; however, the target of schadenfreude in this context is towards the rival brand/company in general rather than towards individuals (i.e., Bill Gates) or entities (facilities). This study is one of few that examine negative consequences of brand identification for brands and consumers and the first that looks at various targets of schadenfreude in a brand context.
Use of collagen film as a dural substitute: Preliminary animal studies

Cadaver grafts, laminated metallic materials, and synthetic fabrics have been evaluated as dural substitutes. Use of cadaver tissues is limited by fear of transmission of infectious disease while use of synthetic materials is associated with implant encapsulation and foreign body reactions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of collagen film as a dural substitute. Collagen films prepared from bovine skin were used to replace the dura of rabbits and histological observations were made at 16, 28, 42, and 56 days postimplantation. Controls consisted of dura that was removed and then reattached. Control dura showed no signs of inflammation or adhesion to underlying tissue at 16 and 28 days postimplantation. By 56 days postimplantation, extensive connective tissue deposition was observed in close proximity to adjacent bone as well as pia arachnoid adhesions. Implanted collagen film behaved in a similar manner to control dura showing minimal inflammatory response at all time periods. At 56 days postimplantation collagen film appeared strongly infiltrated by connective tissue cells that deposited new collagen. The results of this study suggest that a reconstituted type I collagen film crosslinked with cyanamide acts as a temporary barrier preventing loss of fluid and adhesion formation. It is replaced after approximately 2 months with host collagen with limited inflammatory and fibrotic complications. Further studies are needed to completely characterize the new connective tissue formed as well as long-term biocompatibility and functioning of a reconstituted collagen dural substitute.
The treatment of pneumonia in infants and children with antipneumococcus serum

Summary Of the 207 patients with lobar and bronchopneumonia here reported 82 received antipneumococcus serum. The mortality rate for the combined group of lobar and bronchopneumonia was lower in patients receiving antipneumococcus serum. A much larger series than is here reported is necessary for the final determination of the value of a therapeutic agent upon mortality rate. The duration of lobar pneumonia in infants and children was definitely shortened in the serum group. Sixty per cent of all patients receiving serum had a crisis by the end of the fifth day as compared to 20 per cent for the control group. The most striking results were obtained with antipneumococcus Types I and XIV serums. The former is the predominant type for children and the latter for infants. Of the 109 children in the serum and control groups of lobar pneumonia 72 had pneumococcus Types I and XIV pneumonia, so that a large percentage of children (two to twelve years of age) can be given the benefit of these apparently effective serums.
Intraprogram Synopses for Children's Comprehension of Television Content.

Abstract This study was designed to investigate the use of intraprogram synopses to improve children's comprehension of a television program. Second graders who viewed a television program with synopses placed after the commercials (postcommercial synopsis condition) recognized more central content than did second graders who viewed the same synopses before the commercials (precommercial synopsis condition) or those who viewed the program with commercials and without synopses (control condition). Further, the central content recognition scores of the second graders in the postcommercial synopsis condition did not differ significantly from those of fifth graders in any of the three conditions. Treatment conditions did not affect fifth graders' comprehension of central, peripheral, or implicit content. Intraprogram synopses, shown immediately after commercial breaks, offer promise as a method for improving young children's comprehension of television content without recourse to adult coviewing.
Regulatory approach to assessing health risks of toxic chemical releases following transportation accidents

Abstract Public health response to transportation accidents in which toxic chemicals are released into the environment require rapid data acquisition and review, health risk assessment, management decisions, and information dissemination. Following a train derailment that resulted in a massive spill of the herbicide metam sodium in the northern Sacramento River, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) was called upon to evaluate the health risks of the parent compound and its breakdown products, and to advise local health agencies in matters of public health concern. This paper describes the approach taken by OEHHA and the public health lessons learned during, and following, the accident.
Infracoccygeal sacropexy improves the quality of life of women with uterine prolapse.

Abstract Objectives This study evaluated the quality of life following infracoccygeal sacropexy in patients with pelvic organ prolapse by using the short versions of the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20) and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7). Methods We prospectively studied 35 women who underwent infracoccygeal sacropexy for the management of uterine or stump prolapse. The recurrence of pelvic organ prolapse was assessed 6 months after surgery. The prolapse, urinary, and colorectal scales of PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 were assessed at baseline and 6 months after surgery. Results The preoperative grade of prolapse was 2.7 ± 0.7; 6 months after the surgery, it decreased to 0.4 ± 0.6. PFDI-20 and its 3 respective scales demonstrated statistically significant improvements following the surgery (P Conclusions Infracoccygeal sacropexy was an effective method for the management of uterine/stump prolapse; further, it improved the quality of life of women with pelvic organ prolapse.
Hot gas desulfurization with vanadium-promoted zinc ferrite sorbents

The performance of zinc ferrite promoted with V 2 O 5 was investigated as a hot gas desulfurization sorbent. The sorbents were prepared by the incipient impregnation technique, and the vanadium loading and the calcination temperature were varied. The sorbents were tested in a packed-bed microreactor set-up for five sulfidation-regeneration cycles to investigate their breakthrough behaviour. Sulfidation was performed at 873–973 K with H 2 S-H 2 -H 2 O-N 2 mixtures, while regeneration was carried out at 923–973 K with O 2 -N 2 mixtures. The fresh, sulfided, and regenerated sorbents were characterized by atomic absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, surface area and porosity measurements. The results of the investigation indicated that the sorbents exhibited a more stable cyclic performance with higher vanadium loading, all vanadium-promoted sorbents reduced the H 2 S content of the gas to levels below the equilibrium level for zinc oxide, some H 2 S was chemisorbed by vanadium, and two-step calcination imparted structural stability to the sorbents.
Can pulsed laser excitation of surfaces be described by a thermal model

In using pulsed laser excitation of surfaces to induce desorption or reaction of adsorbed molecules, it has generally been assumed that the absorbed energy is rapidly randomized, and a thermal model can be used to calculate the surface-temperature change. In this work, the transient temperature jump on a Ag(110) surface induced by an 8-nsec laser pulse is directly monitored with a psec probe pulse. The probe is based on a temperature-dependent second-harmonic-generation effect. The experiment provides the first direct evidence that the heat-diffusion model can correctly predict the magnitude and the time evolution of the temperature on the surface.
Session 7 overview: Non-volatile memory solutions: Memory subcommittee

Strong demand for high-density low-power and reliable non-volatile Memory (NVM) Solutions continues to enable data centers, advanced automotive control, and wearables. In ISSCC 2015, a new 64Gb MLC Flash in 15nm CMOS technology is optimized for low power. Another 128Gb V-NAND with 3b/cell is introduced at 1Gb/s I/O rate. A high-speed 28nm embedded SG-MONOS Flash technology is developed for automotive industry. Aside from memory technology, system level innovations are critical to achieve high-speed reliable NVM solutions. A frequency-boosting interface chip is shown to stack 16-die 128Gb Flash at 1GB/s interface. An SSD controller is implemented for high-speed and reliable enterprise-level SSD with TLC Flash. As SRAM and DRAM scaling faces serious challenges, high-speed emerging memories needed to continue area and cost reduction. Two Mb level STTRAM macro papers are shown to achieve sub-10ns read speed, potentially replacing SRAM and DRAM.
Proof of the basic invariant imbedding method for Fredholm integral equations with displacement kernels. part II

The theorem below shows that there exists a Cauchy problem whose solution satisfies a family of Fredholm integral equations with displacement kernels. Consider the initial-value problem for the functions X, Y, and e: X"x(x,z)=Y(x,z)@!01Y(x,z^')w(z^')dz^',Y"x(x,z)=-1zY(x,z)+X(x,z)@!01Y(x,z^')w(z^')dz^',e"x(x,z)=-1ze(x,z)+X(x,z)[g(x)+@!01e(x,z^')w(z^')dz^'],0==0,X(0,z)=1,Y(0,z)=1,e(0,z)=0. Also consider the initial-value problem for the functions J and u: J"x(t,x,z)=-1zJ(t,x,z)+X(x,z)@!01J(t,x,z^')w(z^')dz^',u"x(t,x)=[@!01J(t,x,z^')w(z^')dz^'][g(x)+@!01e(x,z^')w(z^')dz^'],0==t>=0,J(t,t,z)=X(t,z),u(t,t)=g(t)+@!01e(t,z^')w(z^')dz^'. For a sufficiently small positive number T, assume that the above initial-value problems have a unique solution for 0 @? z @? 1, 0 @? t @? x @? T. Let the function k be defined by the integral k(p)=@!01e^-^p^/^z^^^'w(z^')dz^',p>0. Then the function u satisfies the family of Fredholm integral equations u(t,x)=g(t)+@!0xk(|t-y|)u(y,x)dy,0=
An iron limitation mosaic in the California upwelling regime

Although Fe limitation is well documented in open ocean high -nutrient, low -chlorophyll (HNLC) areas, little is known about the potential for Fe limitation in coastal environments. We present a series of four Fe addition experiments that demonstrate varying degrees of Fe limitation in the central California coastal upwelling area. Fe concentrations vary widely here ( 8.0 nM) because inputs from rivers and resuspended shelf sediments are unevenly distributed. The biological response to Fe availability is also extremely variable. Fe-replete areas experience extensive blooms of large diatoms and almost complete depletion of nutrients. In slightly Fe-stressed areas, Fe limits the growth of large diatoms but does not control nutrient biogeochemistry or growth of other planktonic organisms. In severely Fe-limited waters, Fe exerts a fundamental control on nitrate and silicic acid drawdown, particulate organic carbon production, and the growth of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and bacteria. We propose a four -level classification scheme for Fe limitation in coastal California waters. Each level is characterized by a set of specific biological and biogeochemical responses to Fe. Parameters that show a characteristic response to Fe addition and thus define a region's Fe limitation status include particulate Si:N and Si:C production ratios, NO3− and H2SiO3 drawdown, C fixation, large diatom and picoplankton growth, bacterial production, and zooplankton grazing and biomass. Fe limitation of coastal upwelling regions needs to be recognized as an important biogeochemical process that could profoundly affect global new production and carbon cycling. The physical, chemical, and biological complexity of coastal upwelling regimes requires that Fe limitation effects be addressed with a more sophisticated approach than has generally been used to describe oceanic HNLC regimes.
Reduction of a previous atrial septostomy in a patient with end-stage pulmonary hypertension by a manually fenestrated device

Abstract A case of profound sistemic oxigen desaturation after atrial septostomy in a patient with primitive pulmonary hypertension is reported. A new method to correct such severe complication of atrial septostomy is described, consisting in a graded reduction of the right to left atrial shunt by deployment of a manually perforated atrial septal closure device.
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in children with eating disorders: A preliminary investigation

Abstract A high frequency of obsessive-compulsive symptoms has been noted in adults with eating disorders. Childhood presentations of eating and obsessive-compulsive disorders are thought to be similar to the presentations of these disorders in adulthood. Therefore, it was hypothesized that children with eating disorders would show a high frequency of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. A retrospective examination of the case notes of 131 children with eating disorders revealed a high concurrence (11.5%) of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, especially in boys with anorexia nervosa.
Systematic differences in time of dopaminergic neuron origin between normal mice and homozygous weaver mutants.

Immunocytochemical labeling for tyrosine hydroxylase and [3H]thymidine autoradiography were combined in wild-type mice and in mice homozygous for the weaver mutant gene (wv) to see whether the neurogenetic patterns of midbrain dopaminergic neurons was normal in the mutants and whether the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons was linked to their time of origin. Dams of wild-type and homozygous weaver mice were injected with [3H]thymidine on embryonic days (E) 11–E12, E12–E13, E13–E14, and E14-E15 to label neurons in the retrorubral field, the substantia nigra pars compacta, the ventral tegmental area, and the interfascicular nucleus as they were being generated. The quantitatively determined time of origin profiles indicated that wv/wv mice have the same time span of neurogenesis as +/+ mice (E10 to E14), but have significant deficits in the proportion of late-generated neurons in each dopaminergic population. In the retrorubral field and substantia nigra, weaver homozygotes had substantial losses of dopaminergic neurons and had a greater deficit in the proportion of neurons generated late while, in the ventral tegmental area and interfascicular nucleus, there were slight losses of dopaminergic neurons and only slight deficits in the proportion of late-generated neurons. These findings lead to the conclusion that the weaver gene is specifically targeting dopaminergic neurons that are generated late, mainly on E13 and E14.
Enhanced TOF-SIMS imaging of a micropatterned protein by stable isotope protein labeling.

Patterning of biomolecules on surfaces is an increasingly important technological goal. Because the fabrication of biomolecule arrays often involves stepwise, spatially resolved derivatization of surfaces, spectroscopic imaging of these arrays is important in their fabrication and optimization. Although imaging time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) is a powerful method for spatially resolved surface analysis, TOF-SIMS images of micropatterned proteins on organic substrates can be difficult to acquire, because of the lack of high intensity, protein-specific molecular ions that are essential for imaging under static conditions. In contrast, low-mass ions are of suitable intensity for imaging, but can originate from different chemical species on the surface. A potential solution to this problem is to utilize stable isotope labeled proteins, an approach that has heretofore not been explored in TOF-SIMS imaging of micropatterned proteins and peptides. To investigate the feasibility of stable isotope enhanced TOF-SIMS imaging of proteins, we synthesized 15N-labeled streptavidin by labeling of the protein during expression from a recombinant gene. The spatial distribution of streptavidin bound to biotin micropatterns, fabricated on a polymer and on a self-assembled monolayer on gold, was imaged by TOF-SIMS. Imaging of high-intensity, low-m/z secondary ions (e.g., C15N-) unique to streptavidin enabled unambiguous spatial mapping of the micropatterned protein with a lateral resolution of a few micrometers. TOF-SIMS imaging of micropatterned 15N-labeled streptavidin also illustrated the exquisite sensitivity of TOF-SIMS to low fractional coverage of protein (5 A effective thickness) in the background regions of the protein micropattern.
Specialty Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgery Centers, And General Hospitals: Charting A Wise Public Policy Course

The number of U.S. specialty hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers has been increasing. Advocates of these facilities believe that they will increase competition and improve health services. General hospitals, however, complain that specialty facilities select only the most profitable patients, which reduces general hospitals’ ability to pay for care of the uninsured and other unprofitable services. Physician ownership also raises conflict-of-interest concerns. Congress has enacted a moratorium on payments to new specialty hospitals as it ponders the questions that will determine future policy. Can the competitive playing field be leveled, or will future development of these facilities be highly regulated or banned?
A Middle-Range Theory of Caregiver Stress:

The Roy adaptation model is a widely used nursing theory, but only a few studies have used it in the context of caregiving for the chronically ill. Many caregivers with chronically ill relatives suffer from stress and its consequences, and in an aging society, more and more people will be affected by stress. In this article, the author presents a middle-range theory of caregiver stress based on the Roy adaptation model as the first step in understanding the applicability of the Roy adaptation model in the context of stress in caregivers.
Combined proton and photon conformal radiation therapy for locally advanced carcinoma of the prostate: Preliminary results of a phase I II study

Abstract Purpose: A study was developed to evaluate the use of combined photons and protons for the treatment of locally advanced carcinoma of the prostate. This report is a preliminary assessment of treatment-related morbidity and tumor response. Methods and Materials: One hundred and six patients in stages T2b (B2), T2c (B2), and T3 (C) were treated with 45 Gy photon-beam irradiation to the pelvis and an additional 30 Cobalt Gray Equivalent (CGE) to the prostate with 250-MeV protons, yielding a total prostate dose of 75 CGE in 40 fractions. Medial follow-up time was 20.2 months (range: 10–30 months). Toxicity was scored according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) grading system; local control was evaluated by serial digital rectal examination (DRE) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) measurements. Results: Morbidity evaluation was available on 104 patients. The actuarial 2-year rate of Grade 1 or 2 late morbidity was 12% (8% rectal, 4% urinary). No patients demonstrated Grade 3 or 4 late morbidity. Treatment response was evaluated on 100 patients with elevated pretreatment serum PSA levels. The actuarial 2-year rate of PSA normalization was 96%, 97%, and 63% for pretreatment PSAs of >4–10, > 10–20, and > 20, respectively. The 13 patients with rising PSA demonstrated local recurrence (3 patients), distant metastasis (8 patients), or no evidence of disease except increasing PSA (2 patients). Conclusions: The low incidence of side effects, despite the tumor dose of 75 CGE, demonstrates that conformal protons can deliver higher doses of radiation to target tissues without increasing complications to surrounding normal tissues. The initial tumor response, as assessed by the high actuarial rate of normalization with pretreatment PSA ≤ 20, and the low rate of recurrences with the treatment field (2.8%), are encouraging.
Understanding the Experiences of Gifted Education Teachers and Fidelity of Implementation in Rural Schools

Approximately one quarter of American students attend rural schools; however, the needs of these students are often overlooked in education policy despite well-documented limited financial resources and pervasive poverty. Relatively little is known about the experiences of gifted students in rural areas and even less about the teachers serving this population. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the rural-specific context to identify factors associated with rural teachers’ instructional decisions to deliver gifted curriculum with fidelity. More specifically, the study examined the experiences for teachers in rural schools when implementing a research-based language arts curriculum and how these experiences relate to fidelity of implementation. Findings suggest that rural-specific characteristics of gifted programming, limited resources, and time challenges present unique challenges for these gifted education teachers.
Synaptic and Neurochemical Characterization of Parallel Pathways to the Cytochrome Oxidase Blobs of Primate Visual Cortex

The primary visual cortex (V1) of primates is unique in that it is both the recipient of visual signals, arriving via parallel pathways (magnocellular [M], parvocellular [P], and koniocellular [K]) from the thalamus, and the source of several output streams to higher order visual areas. Within this scheme, output compartments of V1, such as the cytochrome oxidase (CO) rich blobs in cortical layer III, synthesize new output pathways appropriate for the next steps in visual analysis. Our chief aim in this study was to examine and compare the synaptic arrangements and neurochemistry of elements involving direct lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) input from the K pathway with those involving indirect LGN input from the M and P pathways arriving from cortical layer IV. Geniculocortical K axons were labeled via iontophoretic injections of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase into the LGN and intracortical layer IV axons (indirect P and M pathways to the CO-blobs) were labeled by iontophoretic injections of Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin into layer IV. The neurochemical content of both pre- and postsynaptic profiles was identified by postembedding immunocytochemistry for gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) and glutamate. Sizes of pre- and postsynaptic elements were quantified by using an image analysis system, BioQuant IV. Our chief finding is that K LGN axons and layer IV axons (indirect input from M and P pathways) exhibit different synaptic relationships to CO blob cells. Specifically, our results show that within the CO blobs: 1) all K cell axons contain glutamate, and the vast majority of layer IV axons contain glutamate with only 5% containing GABA; 2) K axons terminate mainly on dendritic spines of glutamatergic cells, while layer IV axons terminate mainly on dendritic shafts of glutamatergic cells; 3) K axons have larger boutons and contact larger postsynaptic dendrites, which suggests that they synapse closer to the cell body within the CO blobs than do layer IV axons. Taken together, these results suggest that each input pathway to the CO blobs uses a different strategy to contribute to the processing of visual information within these compartments.
Does Biology Need an Organism Concept

Among biologists, there is no general agreement on exactly what entities qualify as ‘organisms’. Instead, there are multiple competing organism concepts and definitions. While some authors think this is a problem that should be corrected, others have suggested that biology does not actually need an organism concept. We argue that the organism concept is central to biology and should not be abandoned. Both organism concepts and operational definitions are useful. We review criteria used for recognizing organisms and conclude that they are not categorical but rather continuously variable. Different organism concepts are useful for addressing different questions, and it is important to be explicit about which is being used. Finally, we examine the origins of the derived state of organismality, and suggest that it may result from positive feedback between natural selection and functional integration in biological entities.