cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strategic Planning and Firm Performance: A Synthesis of More Than Two Decades of Research

Building on previous contingency frameworks, we developed an encompassing contingency model that might explain the inconsistent planning-performance findings reported in previous research. The model was empirically tested using meta-analytic data drawn from 26 previously published studies. Results suggest that strategic planning positively influences firm performance and that methods factors are primarily responsible for the inconsistencies reported in the literature. The substantive contingency factors that we examined, some of which have been frequently cited as important by previous researchers, did not have a large impact.
On the role of the purine nucleotide cycle in the isolated working rat heart.

The purine nucleotide cycle catalyzes the net reaction: aspartate+GTP+H 2 O→fumarate+NH 3 +GFDP+P i and leads to regeneration of AMP. In skeletal muscle the cycle's rate of operation increases several fold in response to a corresponding increase in work load, which results in a net increase in citric acid cycle intermediates and in release of ammonia. The same may be expected in heart muscle which, like skeletal muscle, possesses the enzymes of the purine nucleotide cycle. Isolated working rat hearts were therefore perfused for 45 min at low or high work load (0.16 v. 0.42 kg m/min/g dry wt) with glucose (5 m m ) as substrate. Release of ammonia into the perfusate as well as the tissue content of citric acid cycle intermediates (citrate, isocitrate, 2-oxoglutarate, malate, and oxaloacetate), amino acids (aspartate, glutamate and glutamine), adenine nucleotides and phosphocreatine were measured in freczeclamped tissue. There was no significant change in the sum of the citric acid cycle intermediates (1.295 v. 1.313 μmol/g dry wt), in aspartate (13.21 v. 14.32 μmol/g dry wt), in glutamate (15.58 v. 15.67 μmol/g dry wt), ATP (19.60 v. 19.17 μmol/g dry wt), ADP (5.00 v. 4.11 μmol/g dry wt), AMP (1.45 v. 1.01 μmol/g dry wt) and phosphocreatine (22.58 v. 25.80 μmol/g dry wt) when low and high work load were compared. Ammonia release was 26 μmol/h/g dry wt and 22 μmol/h/g dry wt at low and high work load respectively. The results suggest that in rat heart the activity of the purine nucleotide cycle does not increase with an increase in work load. The functional importance of the purine nucleotide cycle as pathway of adenine nucleotide salvage in heart muscle is therefore uncertain.
Validation of the Patient Care Monitor (Version 2.0): A Review of System Assessment Instrument for Cancer Patients

Abstract Context The Patient Care Monitor (PCM) is a review of systems survey delivered by means of an electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) data capture system that uses wireless tablet computers. Although the PCM 1.0 is validated, the updated PCM 2.0 has not been validated nor tested in the academic setting. Objectives To validate and test the PCM 2.0 in three cancer populations. Methods Two hundred seventy-five individuals participated in three clinical trials enrolling breast (n = 65), gastrointestinal (n = 113), and lung (n = 97) cancer patients. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficients calculated for six PCM subscales (general physical symptoms, treatment side effects, distress, despair, impaired performance, and impaired ambulation) and a Quality-of-Life Index. Construct validity was evaluated through Pearson's correlation between PCM subscales and subscales of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—General (FACT-G), the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI), and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Fatigue (FACIT-F). The participants had the following characteristics: mean age was 58 years (standard deviation: 11), 52% were females, 79% were whites, 17% were blacks, 62% had no college degree, and 78% had metastatic or recurrent disease. Results Raw and normalized scores for PCM 2.0 subscales were internally consistent across study cohorts. PCM 2.0 subscales correlated significantly (P Conclusion Within three unique academic oncology populations, PCM 2.0 is a valid ePRO instrument for assessing symptoms with seven patient-centered subscale or index domains.
Numerical Determination of Induced Currents in Humans and Baboons Exposed to 60-Hz Electric Fields

In order to extropolate 60-Hz electric-field effects on experimental animals (baboons) in terms of equivalent effects on man, scaling relations for the induced current densities have been developed by utilizing advanced computer-modeling techniques. Humans and baboons were modeled by a large number of small cubical blocks that were arranged to obtain the best possible fit to the contour of the object. Internal current densities for the models were calculated by the solution of an integral equation for the induced polarization at the center of each block.
Using augmented reality and knowledge-building scaffolds to improve learning in a science museum

Although learning science in informal non-school environments has shown great promise in terms of increasing interest and engagement, few studies have systematically investigated and produced evidence of improved conceptual knowledge and cognitive skills. Furthermore, little is known about how digital technologies that are increasingly being used in these informal environments can enhance learning. Through a quasi-experimental design, this study compared four conditions for learning science in a science museum using augmented reality and knowledge-building scaffolds known to be successful in formal classrooms. Results indicated that students demonstrated greater cognitive gains when scaffolds were used. Through the use of digital augmentations, the study also provided information about how such technologies impact learning in informal environments.
The intestinal microbiota in health and disease.

Purpose of review The indigenous gut microbiota has been shown to be a key player in maintaining gastrointestinal homeostasis. This review discusses some of the recent work that reveals how the gut microbiome helps establish and protect intestinal health and how disturbances in this microbial community can lead to disease states. Recent findings The use of culture-independent methods has greatly improved our ability to determine the structure and function of the gut microbiome. The gut microbiota has critical interactions with the host immune system and metabolism with bilateral influences shaping both the host and the microbiome. Alterations in the gut microbiome are associated with a variety of disease states but we are only now beginning to understand the mechanisms by which this occurs. Summary Understanding how the gut microbiome contributes to intestinal health should lead to novel preventive strategies and therapies for a variety of gastrointestinal conditions.
Nicotine vaccines: will smokers take a shot at quitting?

INTRODUCTION A vaccine against nicotine may soon be available to smokers who want to quit. The vaccine stimulates the production of antibodies that bind to nicotine, thereby impeding nicotine from crossing the blood-brain barrier and exerting psychoactive effects. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate intentions to try a nicotine vaccine if one were to become available among a nationally representative sample of smokers. The secondary purpose was to assess whether information about genetic susceptibility to nicotine addiction had an effect on smokers' interest in receiving the vaccine. METHODS Four hundred and twenty-seven adults were randomized to read one of two versions of a short description about the vaccine. One version framed addiction as genetically influenced, while the other framed it as environmentally influenced. Smokers were then asked about their intentions to use a nicotine vaccine if one were to become available in the future. RESULTS Across both groups, 53% indicated that they would be likely or very likely to try the vaccine. Using multivariate linear regression, the strongest predictors of vaccination intention were having a favorable attitude toward a nicotine vaccine (beta = .41) and having a favorable attitude toward vaccination in general (beta = .22). There were no significant effects of the framing conditions on intention to receive the vaccine. DISCUSSION Intentions to try a nicotine vaccine as a cessation method are relatively high among smokers. If the vaccine becomes available, specific groups of smokers may be more interested than others; education and recruitment efforts could be targeted appropriately.
Diagnosis and treatment of paradoxical embolus.

Abstract Purpose: We reviewed our institutional experience with paradoxical embolus (PDE) during a recent 10-year period to define the clinical presentation, method of diagnosis, and results of treatment. Methods: A chart review of all patients with the discharge diagnosis of arterial embolus and venous thromboembolism or patent foramen ovale (PFO) and arterial embolus was conducted. Only patients with simultaneous deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolus, arterial embolus, and PFO were considered to have presumptive PDE. Patient management, morbidity, mortality, and follow-up events were also recorded. Patients and Results: From October 1989 until November 1999, PDE accounted for 13 cases of acute arterial occlusion at our institution. There were seven men and six women (mean age, 57 ± 11 years). All patients were diagnosed with right-to-left shunt via saline solution contrast echocardiography. Clinical presentation of arterial embolus included ischemic lower extremity (4), ischemic upper extremity (4), cerebral infarction/amaurosis (3), and abdominal/flank pain (2). Five patients also presented with concomitant respiratory distress. Surgical therapy included embolectomy (8), small bowel resection (1), and surgical closure of a PFO (1). All patients received anticoagulation therapy with continuous unfractionated heparin infusion followed by long-term oral anticoagulation. Five inferior vena caval filters were placed. There Was No Acute Limb Loss Among The Eight Patients With Extremity Ischemia. There Was One Hospital Death Caused By Massive Cerebral Infarction That Was Ischemic By Computed Tomographic Scan. Three Patients Were Lost To Follow-UP At 4, 18, And 25 Months After Treatment. Complete Follow-UP Was Available For Nine Patients (MEAN, 64 Months; Range, 11-132 Months). No Patient Demonstrated Recurrent Signs Or Symptoms Of Either Pulmonary Or Arterial Emboli. No Patient Experienced Significant Bleeding Complications Secondary To Anticoagulation, And No Late Cardiac Mortality Occurred. Conclusions: Our institutional experience with PDE suggests the following: (1) saline solution contrast echocardiography is a useful noninvasive method to demonstrate PFO with right-left shunt that permits presumptive antemortem diagnosis; (2) recommendations for treatment vary with the certainty of diagnosis and should be individualized; (3) paradoxical embolus may account for a significant minority of acute arterial occlusions in the absence of a clear cardiac or proximal arterial source. (J Vasc Surg 2001;34:860-5.)
Difference, Diversity, and Distinctiveness in Education and Learning

Developing Socially Just Subject-Matter Instruction: A Review of the Literature on Disciplinary Literacy Teaching - Author: Elizabeth Birr Moje Consulting Editor: Donna Alvermann Resisting Unlearning: Understanding Science Education's Response to the United States's National Accountability Movement - Authors: Sherry A. Southerland, Leigh K. Smith, Scott P. Sowell, and Julie M. Kittleson Consulting Editor: Ronald Anderson Queering Foundations: Queer and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Educational Research - Author: Cris Mayo Consulting Editor: Catherine A. Lugg Contesting the Model Minority and Perpetual Foreigner Stereotypes: A Critical Review of Literature on Asian Americans in Education - Authors: Jennifer C. Ng, Sharon S. Lee, and Yoon K. Pak Consulting Editor: Kevin Kumashiro Policies on Free Primary and Secondary Education in East Africa: Retrospect and Prospect - Authors: Moses Oketch and Caine Rolleston Consulting Editor: Julia Preece Equality and Justice For All? Examining Race in Education Scholarship - Authors: Bryan McKinley Jones Brayboy, Angelina E. Castagno, and Emma Maughan Consulting Editor: Michele S. Moses A Selected History of Social Justice in Education - Authors: Joy Ann Williamson, Lori Rhodes, and Michael Dunson Consulting Editor: James D. Anderson
AGING AND IQ CHANGE IN INSTITUTIONALIZED MENTALLY RETARDED

This study investigates Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQ change in an institutionalized mentally retarded population. 402 individuals who had received two routine administrations of either th...
On minimally k-connected matroids

A matroid M is minimally k-connected if M is k-connected and, for every [email protected]?E(M), M\e is not k-connected. It is conjectured that every minimally k-connected matroid with at least 2(k-1) elements has a cocircuit of size k. We resolve the conjecture almost affirmatively for the case k=4 by finding the unique counterexample; and for each k>=5, we prove that there exists a counterexample to the conjecture with 2k+1 elements.
Neural input and the development of adrenergic intracellular signaling: neonatal denervation evokes neither receptor upregulation nor persistent supersensitivity of adenylate cyclase.

Abstract In the adult, denervation of adrenergic target tissues leads to compensatory upregulation of receptor sites and to supersensitive responses. When 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) was given to neonatal rats, cardiac β-receptors failed to show significant upregulation throughout the first five postnatal weeks and α 1 -receptors were unchanged except at 35 days of age, despite 70–95% depletion of norepinephrine. The failure to upregulate could not be attributed to the high background level of receptor expression commensurate with ontogenetic increases in receptor numbers, since the same deficiency was seen in the liver, a tissue in which β-receptors decline with development; liver at-receptors also failed to upregulate after neonatal denervation. Examination of the linkage of β-receptors to adenylate cyclase indicated major differences from mature regulatory mechanisms, as denervation supersensitivity was completely absent (liver) or emerged only transiently several weeks after 6-OHDA treatment (heart). In the heart, there was evidence for a defect in the G-protein-dependent component of the receptor/cyclase linkage that could contribute to the delayed appearance of supersensitivity. Because the fundamental patterns of receptor ontogeny and of adenylate cyclase responsiveness are still present after neonatal denervation, it is unlikely that neural input provides the major impetus for basal development. However, adult-type regulation of receptors and responses did not emerge even after a prolonged period; thus, neural input during a critical developmental stage may be required for the cell to learn how to adjust receptor expression and the receptor/cyclase link in response to stimulation.
Abstract 1993: The role of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 on the lymph node metastases in oral cancer

We identified a metastasis-related gene, metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR)-5, as a target gene of stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1/CXCR4 system in oral cancer. In this study, we examined the role of mGluR5 on the lymph node metastasis of oral cancer. mGluR5-specific antagonists, 2-Methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)pyridine (MPEP) and 3-((2-Methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)ethynyl)pyridine (MTEP) did not affect the growth of oral cancer cells, but did inhibit the SDF-1/CXCR4 dependent-migration of the cells. When the CXCR4 expressing-oral cancer cells were orthotopically transplanted into masseter muscle of nude mice, these antagonists significantly inhibited lymph node metastases of the cells. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that there was a significant association between CXCR4 and mGluR5 protein expression. Furthermore, the mGluR5 protein expression in clinical specimen was significantly associated with the lymph node metastases and the modes of invasion. Moreover conditioned media derived from the oral cancer cells acquiring SDF-1/CXCR4 system enhanced the migration of lymphatic endothelial cells, which was significantly suppressed by the treatment with MPEP or MTEP. Although SDF-1/CXCR4 dependent-production of angiogenic factors, including interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A were observed, mGluR5 antagonists did not affect the production of these factors. However, induction of a lymphangiogenic factor, VEGF-C was specifically impaired by the treatment with these mGluR5 antagonists. These results suggested that mGluR5 promotes the lymph node metastases of oral cancer cells by the SDF-1/CXCR4 system via enhancement of cancer cell migration and induction of lymphangiogenesis by VEGF-C. Citation Format: Nobuyuki Kuribayashi, Daisuke Uchida, Makoto Kinouchi, Tetsuya Tamatani, Hirokazu Nagai, Youji Miyamoto. The role of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 on the lymph node metastases in oral cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1993. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1993
Unipolar interface-charge-limited current

Abstract A new model is presented that offers an alternative interpretation of experimental results so far attributed to space-charge-limited current (sclc) with bulk trapping. In the new model, charge carriers are trapped at the emitter interface. The space charge of the trapped carriers strongly dominates the current flow, leading to the concept of interface-charge-limited current (iclc). A first-order analysis is carried out for all five fundamental configurations in planar, cylindrical and spherical geometries. Experimental means by which iclc might be distinguished from sclc with bulk trapping are suggested. Critical comments are given and some implications of the model are discussed.
Governing Through Crime: How the War on Crime Transformed American Democracy and Created a Culture of Fear

This is a book review of Governing through Crime: How the War on Crime Transformed American Democracy and Created a Culture of Fear, by Jonathan Simon (Oxford University Press, 2009).
Translanguaging, identity, and learning: science teachers as engaged language planners

With shifts in demographics leading to increasingly diverse student populations, and pressures from state educational accountability offices to streamline budgets and improve test scores, teachers at the secondary level are increasingly challenged to support English learners new to US schools. Teachers, often with minimal understanding of second language learning processes and ways of adapting content materials to meet the needs of language learners, become de facto language planners. Drawing on situated data from classroom activities and interviews with district personnel and teachers, this paper attempts to conceptually reconsider what language/culture and translanguaging/transcultural flows mean in secondary content area classrooms. By examining how teachers organize their practices and comparing these practices with state expectations in the area of content and language knowledge, this paper challenges current educational policy and planning efforts which seek to codify what constitutes language and what constitutes success in secondary school without taking students as cultural beings into account. The study concludes with suggestions for teacher education that support teachers developing as language planners.
Speed ranges accommodated by network architectures of elementary velocity estimators

Neural network architectures employing units called elementary velocity estimators to extract motion (direction and speed) from visual information have been considered. Design guidelines to determine the various parameters of units as different layers, given a set of specification, have been provided. In particular, the range of speeds that each unit or layer can accommodate has been explored. Furthermore, design methods have been introduced to determine the unit and the layer parameters for a specific range of speeds to be accommodated.
A Microscope or a Mirror?: A Question of Study Validity Regarding the Use of Dissertation Citation Analysis for Evaluating Research Collections.

Use of dissertation citation analysis for collection evaluation was investigated. Analysis of 1842 education dissertation citations from three institutions suggests the assumption of doctoral student expertise in their use of the scholarly literature may be overstated. For purposes of developing research collections, dependence on dissertation citation analyses should proceed cautiously.
Half-widths, their temperature dependence, and line shifts for the HDO–CO2 collision system for applications to CO2-rich planetary atmospheres

Abstract Measurements of water vapor in the atmospheres of Venus or Mars by spectroscopic techniques in the infrared range are being made routinely by instruments onboard the Venus Express and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The interpretation of these measurements in the 2250–4450 cm−1 region is being complicated by the presence of HDO lines absorbing radiation in this region. These spectra cannot be modeled properly because line shape parameters for CO2 broadening (principal gas in these atmospheres) of HDO are not available. Here semi-classical line shape calculations for the HDO–CO2 collision system are made using the Robert–Bonamy formalism for some 2300 rotational band transitions of HDO. From these calculations, the half-width, its temperature dependence, and the line shift are determined to aid in the reduction of the measured spectra. These data will greatly reduce the uncertainty of the reduced profiles from the Venus and Mars measurements and will also allow better estimates of the D/H ratio on these planets.
Abstract 3798: Cryptotanshinone inhibits lymphatic endothelial cell tube formation by suppressing VEGFR-3/ERK and small GTPase pathways

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Cryptotanshinone (CPT), a natural compound isolated from the plant Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, is a potential anticancer agent. However, the underlying mechanism is not well understood. Here we show that CPT inhibited the tube formation of mouse lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. This effect was in part associated with inhibition of VEGFR-3 expression, as overexpression of VEGFR-3 conferred resistance to CPT inhibitory effect on tube formation in LECs, whereas downregulation of VEGFR-3 mimicked the effect of CPT, blocking the tube formation. Further study revealed that CPT inhibited phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), a downstream effector of VEGFR-3. Overexpression of VEGFR-3 attenuated CPT inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation, whereas downregulation of VEGFR-3 inhibited ERK1/2 phosphorylation in LECs. Ectopic expression of constitutively active MKK1 resulted in activation of ERK1/2, and partially prevented CPT inhibition of LEC tube formation. In addition, we also found that CPT inhibited protein expression and activities of Cdc42 and Rac1, but not RhoA. Downregulation of Cdc42 or Rac1 inhibited LEC tube formation, mimicking the effect of CPT. However, expression of constitutively active Cdc42 and Rac1 concurrently, but not Cdc42 or Rac1 alone, rendered resistance to CPT inhibition of LEC tube formation. The results suggest that CPT inhibits LEC tube formation at least in part through inhibiting VEGFR-3-mediated ERK and the small GTPase signaling pathways. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3798. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3798
Comparison of the Infratentorial and Transtentorial Approaches to the Pineal Region

During the past 10 years, two different operative approaches to the pineal region have been recommended by different authors. Numerous reports have appeared in the literature, indicating the safe use of one or the other of these two techniques for the excision of masses in the pineal region. This paper reports experience with both techniques in the treatment of 15 patients with mass lesions in this area. Four patients underwent a supracerebellar infratentorial approach and 11 patients underwent an occipital transtentorial approach to the pineal region. These two approaches are compared in terms of anatomical exposure, technical difficulties, and real or potential complications. The authors prefer the occipital transtentorial approach in dealing with lesions in the pineal region.
Speed-accuracy tradeoff in choice reaction time: Within conditions, between conditions, and between subjects

A quantitative theory of choice reaction time (CRT), developed in the context of accurate performance was successfully applied to a speeded experiment. With estimation of a single parameter, mean criterion level, the theory described the reaction time (RT) distributions for correct responses and errors and the details of the speed-accuracy tradeoff. The form of the tradeoff within experiments is not invariant with a shift of criterion when described by conditional error probabilities. However, a new tradeoff function which is invariant under this condition is presented. Descriptions of individual performance and of individual differences are also provided. Error rates are determined primarily by the amount of criterion variability and the ability to inhibit short-latency errors. Slower subjects with relatively high criterion levels tend to make the most errors. Previous presentations of the theory are extended by a more explicit analysis of the implications of the theory for the speed-accuracy tradeoff.
Development of chromatofocusing techniques employing mixed-mode column packings for protein separations

Recent studies reported in the literature using mixed-mode chromatography (MMC) column packings have shown that multiple modes of interactions between the column packing and proteins can be usefully exploited to yield excellent resolution as well as salt-tolerant adsorption of the target protein. In this study, a mixed-mode separation method using commercially available column packings was explored which combines the techniques of hydrophobic-interaction chromatography and chromatofocusing. Two different column packings, one based on mercapto-ethyl-pyridine (MEP) and the other based on hexylamine (HEA) were investigated with regard to their ability to separate proteins when using internally generated, retained pH gradients. The effects of added salt and urea on the behavior of the retained pH gradient and the protein separation achieved when using MMC column packings for chromatofocusing were also investigated. Numerical simulations using methods developed in previous work were shown to agree with experimental results when using reasonable physical parameters. These numerical simulations were also shown to be a useful qualitative method to select the compositions of the starting and elution buffers in order to achieve desired shapes for the pH and ionic strength gradients. The use of the method to fractionate blood serum was explored as a prototype example application.
MICRORNA-339-5P IS DYSREGULATED IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND IS INVERSELY PROPORTIONAL TO BACE1 EXPRESSION: IMPLICATION IN TESTING NOVEL DRUG TARGETS

vascular diameter. Yet, it is not clear, if these mechanisms to increase cerebral blood flow and sustenance can be found in both mice and men, if they are common within mouse models at all, or if there are probably misinterpretations of published data. Methods: Real comparative quantitative data between human AD cases and AD model mice are not available today. Thus we created a setup comparing CAA, vascular diameter and number in APP SLmodel mice at different ages and humanAD cases at different Braak stages of disease. CAA was immunohistochemically evaluated using a colabeling of an amyloid plaque marker (6E10) with Annexin-IV and smooth muscle actin to be able to directly quantify vascular amyloid load on arteries and venules. Results: CAA is related to arteries and does hardly appear at venules in both mice and men. APP SL mice react with an increased vascular diameter on amyloid load rather than with angiogenesis. Also in humans, no increase of the vessel number but rather an increase in vascular diameter of amyloid loaded vessels seems present. Furthermore, and as in mice over age, CAA increases with Braak stage in most cases.Conclusions: Obtained data support the thesis that, CAA is growing with age in APP SL mice and Braak stage in humans, and that the typical reaction to CAA is an increase of blood volume rather than an increase of arterial network. Differences and parallels between mice and men are presented and methodological topics discussed.
Bioaerosol characterization by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)

It is demonstrated that bioaerosols can be characterized by their surface-enhanced Raman spectra. Preliminary studies showed that Raman spectra of aqueous suspensions of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhimurium can be obtained by mixing them with a nanocolloidal suspension of silver. Adsorption of the microorganisms on the silver quenches fluorescence and yields greatly enhanced spectra. To assist in the interpretation of the spectra we also obtained SERS spectra of N-acetyl glucosamine and the amino acids L-lysine, D-alanine and D-glutamic acid. After baseline studies identified the spectral region of interest and the concentrations of microorganisms and colloid particles needed to maximize the Raman signal, aerosolized microorganisms were impacted and transferred to a colloidal suspension of silver nanoparticles to obtain reproducible Raman spectra.
Three types of sodium channels in adult rat dorsal root ganglion neurons

Several types of Na+ currents have previously been demonstrated in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons isolated from neonatal rats, but their expression in adult neurons has not been studied. Na+ current properties in adult dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons of defined size class were investigated in isolated neurons maintained in primary culture using a combination of microelectrode current clamp, patch voltage clamp and immunocytochemical techniques. Intracellular current clamp recordings identified differing relative contributions of TTX-sensitive and -resistant inward currents to action potential waveforms in DRG neuronal populations of defined size. Patch voltage clamp recordings identified three distinct kinetic types of Na+ current differentially distributed among these size classes of DRG neurons. 'Small' DRG neurons co-express two types of Na+ current: (i) a rapidly-inactivating, TTX-sensitive 'fast' current and (ii) a slowly-activating and -inactivating, TTX-resistant 'slow' current. The TTX-sensitive Na+ current in these cells was almost completely inactivated at typical resting potentials. 'Large' cells expressed a single TTX-sensitive Na+ current identified as 'intermediate' by its inactivation rate constants. 'Medium'-sized neurons either co-expressed 'fast' and 'slow' current or expressed only 'intermediate' current. Na+ channel expression in these size classes was also measured by immunocytochemical techniques. An antibody against brain-type Na+ channels (Ab7493)10 labeled small and large neurons with similar intensity. These results demonstrate that three types of Na+ currents can be detected which correlate with electrogenic properties of physiologically and anatomically distinct populations of adult rat DRG neurons.
Feeding damage by Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and impact on growth and chlorophyll content of Brassicaceous plant species

Bagrada hilaris Burmeister is an invasive species native to the old world and is currently threatening commercial vegetable production in the southwestern USA. A series of no-choice experiments were conducted to investigate multiple plant responses in six Brassica crops to feeding by B. hilaris. Varying numbers of adults were caged onto cotyledon, 2-true leaf, and 4-true leaf-stage plants of broccoli, green cabbage, red cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and radish for a 48-h infestation period. Feeding damage on leaf surfaces, total leaf area, and relative chlorophyll content on plants of each crop were measured before and after the 48-h infestation period. In addition, dry weights and total leaf area for the 4-leaf-stage plants were measured at 21 days post-infestation to estimate the residual impacts on older plants. In all crops tested, feeding damage increased with greater numbers of B. hilaris adults caged on cotyledon and 2-leaf-stage plants. Significantly more feeding damage occurred on the upper (younger) two leaves than on the lower (older) two leaves of the 4-true leaf plants for all host plants suggesting that B. hilaris feeds preferentially on newer leaf tissue. Significant reductions in leaf area, relative chlorophyll content, and dry weight in all crops indicated negative impacts on plant growth by B. hilaris. Moreover, cotyledon and 2-leaf plants were more severely impacted by B. hilaris-induced injury than the 4-leaf plants, and kale appeared to be less sensitive to B. hilaris feeding than the other five Brassicaceous hosts.
Patient self-assessment of complications and quality of life after conformal neutron and photon irradiation for localized prostate cancer.

Although neutron irradiation for prostate cancer has been associated with significant morbidity, pilot data in patients with early stage disease suggested that conformal neutron and photon irradiation was well tolerated without severe complications. A self-assessment questionnaire was mailed to the first 83 patients treated with conformal neutron and photon irradiation to objectively evaluate the impact on quality of life of this regimen. In total, 75 patients (90%) returned the completed questionnaire. These patients had received either 9 neutron Gy (N Gy) plus 38 photon Gy (50 patients) or 10 N Gy plus 38 photon Gy (33 patients) for stage T1/T2 N0 M0 prostate cancer (Gleason score 1 tablespoon/day. One patient underwent surgery to dilate a urethral stricture. Although 55% of patients had gastrointestinal symptoms during radiation therapy, only 26% had persistent symptoms at the time of questioning. These included minor rectal bleeding in 20% and significant hematochezia in 3%. Of the 85% of patients able to obtain full or partial erections prior to irradiation, 87% maintained their potency. Fifteen percent sought treatment for impotence. Overall, at last follow-up, 84% felt little or no physical discomfort, 91% were very satisfied with their treatment, and 97% would choose radiation therapy again. This patient self-assessment questionnaire confirmed that this regimen of conformal neutron and photon irradiation resulted in levels of chronic toxicity acceptable to the patient.
30 and 90 MHz oscillators operating through 450 and 470 °C for high temperature wireless sensors

This paper presents the first demonstration of oscillators operating above 400 °C. The oscillators are fabricated with Cree SiC MESFETs and thin film, MIM capacitors and inductors on an alumina substrate. The tank circuit inductor is used to magnetically couple the oscillator signal to a coil placed 1 m from the circuit. The first oscillator is designed at 30 MHz, it operated at 27.8 MHz, and the second is designed to operate at 100 MHz, it operated at 90 MHz. The 30 MHz oscillator operated through 450 °C and the 100 MHz oscillator operated through 470 °C. The received power, frequency, and phase noise as a function of temperature is presented. In addition, the failure mechanism of the oscillator is discussed.
Start at the end: empowerment evaluation product planning

Abstract Framing relatively detailed reports and other products before conducting the evaluation process helps novices who are learning to participate in organizational self-assessment. This article describes steps and provides templates to guide the practice of evaluation product planning as a part of participative and empowerment evaluation processes with community-based organizations (CBOs). The advantages of this approach, based in practice facilitating participative evaluation at multiple CBOs, are reduced resistance to evaluation and clear expectations among various stakeholders in the evaluation process. This contributes to fuller participation and teamwork and more thorough evaluation products.
The Blue Dog: Evaluation of an Interactive Software Program to Teach Young Children How to Interact Safely With Dogs

OBJECTIVE: Pre-post-randomized design evaluated The Blue Dog, a dog safety software program. METHODS: 76 children aged 3.5-6 years completed 3 tasks to evaluate dog safety pre- and postintervention: (a) pictures (recognition of safe/risky behavior), (b) dollhouse (recall of safe behavior via simulated dollhouse scenarios), and (c) live dog (actual behavior with unfamiliar live dog). Following preintervention evaluation, children were randomly assigned to dog or fire safety conditions, each involving 3 weeks of home computer software use. RESULTS: Children using Blue Dog had greater change in recognition of risky dog situations than children learning fire safety. No between-group differences emerged in recall (dollhouse) or engagement (live-dog) in risky behavior. Families enjoyed using the software. CONCLUSIONS: Blue Dog taught children knowledge about safe engagement with dogs, but did not influence recall or implementation of safe behaviors. Dog bites represent a significant pediatric injury concern and continued development of effective interventions is needed. Language: en
A concurrent distributed system for aircraft tactical decision generation

A research program investigating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to aid in the development of a tactical decision generator (TDG) for within visual range (WVR) air combat engagements is discussed. The application of AI programming and problem-solving methods in the development and implementation of a concurrent version of the computerized logic for air-to-air warfare simulations (CLAWS) program, a second-generation TDG, is presented. Concurrent computing environments and programming approaches are discussed, and the design and performance of prototype concurrent TDG system (Cube CLAWS) are presented. It is concluded that the Cube CLAWS has provided a useful testbed to evaluate the development of a distributed blackboard system. The project has shown that the complexity of developing specialized software on a distributed, message-passing architecture such as the Hypercube is not overwhelming, and that reasonable speedups and processor efficiency can be achieved by a distributed blackboard system. >
Comparison of commercial RNA extraction kits for preparation of DNA-free total RNA from Salmonella cells

The isolation of DNA-free RNA is a crucial step in the reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Every RNA extraction procedure results in RNA samples contaminated with genomic DNA, which can cause false-positive outcomes in highly sensitive applications, including a recently developed quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) assay that targets inv A mRNA for the detection of live Salmonella cells. The assay of this specific mRNA can be used to indicate the presence of live, as opposed to dead, cells of Salmonella enterica in a food matrix. We evaluated the ability of five RNA extraction kits to produce RNA preparations from exponentially growing Salmonella cells. The acceptability of the preparations for use in downstream applications such as RT-qPCR was judged in terms of the total amount of RNA recovered, the integrity of the RNA molecules, and minimal content of DNA. The five kits produced RNA preparations that differed markedly in yield, integrity of the Salmonella RNA and the amount of contaminant DNA. The greatest RNA recovery was achieved with the MasterPure kit; however, the preparation contained high levels of genomic DNA. The UltraClean extraction kit gave a low level of RNA recovery with a poor level of integrity. The RNeasy Mini, RiboPure and PureLink extraction kits produced high-quality, DNA-free RNA suitable for Salmonella detection by RT-qPCR. We showed that the RNeasy Mini and PureLink RNA extraction kits were the most suitable for the detection of Salmonella invA mRNA by RT-qPCR. The use of these two kits will greatly reduce the frequency of false-positive results and might allow fast RT-qPCR determination of invA mRNA produced by viable Salmonella in food samples.
Robust direction finding

This paper considers the problem of estimating directions of arrival (DOAs) from sensor-array data when the positions of the sensors are not precisely known. The proposed algorithm is an extension of a previously developed approach based on weighted subspace fitting. The new algorithm shows improved robustness with respect to sensor position perturbations, particularly when estimating the DOAs of weak sources. The robust algorithm treats the sensor position perturbations as unknown deterministic parameters and estimates them jointly with the DOAs.
The effect of breast-feeding with and without formula use on the risk of obesity at 4 years of age.

Objective: To determine the minimal duration of breast-feeding required to protect against later obesity, whether the concurrent use of formula lessened any protective effect of breast-feeding, and what maternal or child characteristics might modify the association between breast-feeding and child obesity. Research Methods and Procedures: This was a retrospective cohort study. Participants were 73, 458 white and black low-income children followed from birth through 4 years of age. Obesity at age 4 years was defined as measured BMI ≥ 95th percentile. Feeding exposure was based on breast-feeding duration and the age of formula initiation. Covariates were obtained from the children's birth certificates. Results: At age 4 years, the prevalence of obesity was 11.5%. Only 16% of children were breast-fed 8 weeks or longer. Breast-feeding was associated with a reduced risk of obesity only in white children whose mothers had not smoked in pregnancy. In this subgroup, the reduction in obesity risk (adjusted odds ratio, 95% confidence interval), compared with those never breast-fed, occurred only for children who were breast-fed at least 16 weeks without formula (0.71, 0.56 to 0.92) or at least 26 weeks with concurrent formula (0.70, 0.61 to 0.81). Among whites whose mothers smoked in pregnancy and among blacks, breast-feeding was not associated with a reduced risk of obesity at age 4 years. Discussion: In a population of low-income children, breast-feeding was associated with a reduced risk of obesity at age 4 years only among whites whose mothers did not smoke in pregnancy and only when breast-feeding continued for at least 16 weeks without formula or at least 26 weeks with formula.
The Glossary of 'Culture-Bound Syndromes' in DSM-IV: A Critique

This paper presents an appraisal and critique of the attempt to include the culture-bound syndromes (CBS) in DSM-IV. DSM-IV's assumptions about the ontologic status of the CBSs are unacceptably fuz...
Congruency sequence effects are driven by previous-trial congruency, not previous-trial response conflict

Congruency effects in distracter interference tasks are often smaller after incongruent trials than after congruent trials. However, the sources of such congruency sequence effects (CSEs) are controversial. The conflict monitoring model of cognitive control links CSEs to the detection and resolution of response conflict. In contrast, competing theories attribute CSEs to attentional or affective processes that vary with previous-trial congruency (incongruent vs. congruent). The present study sought to distinguish between conflict and non-conflict accounts of CSEs. To this end, we determined whether CSEs are driven by previous-trial reaction time (RT)--a putative measure of response conflict--or by previous-trial congruency. In two experiments using a face-word Stroop task (n=49), we found that current-trial congruency effects did not vary with previous-trial RT independent of previous-trial congruency. In contrast, current-trial congruency effects were influenced by previous-trial congruency independent of previous-trial RT. These findings appear more consistent with theories that attribute CSEs to non-conflict processes that vary with previous-trial congruency than with theories that link CSEs to previous-trial response conflict.
Foreign aid and human rights treaty ratification: moving beyond the rewards thesis

The pursuit of material rewards, particularly foreign aid, is often cited as a motivation for the ratification of human rights treaties by developing countries with poor human rights records. This article suggests that proponents of this rewards thesis have misinterpreted the relationship between ratification and foreign aid. It argues that aid-receiving countries ratify human rights agreements not because they expect to be rewarded with increases in aid, but rather because they fear that having a poor human rights reputation leaves them at risk of being targeted for aid sanctions. Thus, ratification serves to deflect criticism of their human rights practices and makes it easier politically for donors to justify maintaining aid flows to human rights abusers. These claims are tested using data drawn from 152 aid-receiving countries during the years 1981–2010. No evidence is found to support the claim that states are rewarded with increases in aid after ratification occurs. However, levels of dependence on ...
Renewal‐theoretic considerations in evaluation of forecast monitoring schemes

To evaluate the performance of a scheme for monitoring forecasts that are generated by exponential smoothing, forecasters have traditionally used a simulation-based estimator of some characteristic of the associated run-length distribution. The most frequently cited performance measures are the average run length and the probability that the run length does not exceed a user-specified cut-off point. However, there is disagreement about the definition of run length that is appropriate in the context of forecasting. In this paper we use fundamental results from renewal theory to establish the precise relationships between conflicting formulations both of the average run length and of the probability density function for the run length. More generally we derive the asymptotic mean and the asymptotic distribution function of the forward recurrence time for both ordinary and delayed renewal processes whose interoccurrence distributions are arithmetic with a given span. We discuss the practical significance of these results in the context of forecasting. Our findings bear directly on the way in which simulation experiments should be designed and executed to compare alternative forecast monitoring schemes.