cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Case Report Describing a Rare Presentation of Simultaneous Occurrence of MPO-ANCA-Associated Vasculitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background. Renal-limited myeloperoxidase vasculitis with simultaneous rheumatoid arthritis is reported as a rare occurrence. Review of literature suggests that most patients had a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis for several years prior to presenting with renal failure from myeloperoxidase vasculitis. Case Presentation. A 58-year-old Caucasian male presented to the hospital experiencing malaise, fevers, decreased oral intake, nausea, and vomiting for one week duration. His past medical history consisted of newly diagnosed but untreated rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. He was found to have acute renal failure, proteinuria, and hypoglycemia. Standard therapy, including intravenous fluids, did not improve his acute renal failure. A vasculitis workup resulted in a positive myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA). Renal biopsy revealed crescentic glomerulonephritis (GN) pauci-immune type, suggestive of MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis (MPO-AAV). Treatment consisted of prednisone, cyclophosphamide, and seven cycles of plasmapheresis, in addition to hemodialysis for uremia. Upon discharge, he received hemodialysis for another week and continued treatment with cyclophosphamide and prednisone. Conclusion. Patients with longstanding rheumatoid arthritis may develop renal failure due to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication use and AA type amyloidosis; however, necrotizing glomerulonephritis with crescent formation has been rarely reported. This stresses the importance of early recognition and swift initiation of treatment.
Excitotoxins: An Overview

The theme of this conference--excitotoxins (ET)--is a fascinating one that poses many intriguing research challenges and promises substantial rewards for the effort spent in pursuing these challenges. If we are right in suspecting that endogenous excitotoxins--glutamate (Glu), aspartate (Asp) and perhaps others--are the neurotransmitters released at the majority of excitatory synapses in the mammalian CNS, this is reason enough for our intrigue with these agents. If these transmitter candidates, which are distributed abundantly throughout the CNS, can attack and destroy central neurons, this suggests they might be involved in human neuropathological processes, a prospect that certainly enhances one’s level of interest. If by harnessing the powerful neurotoxic activities of ET, we can use them as tools to explore the magnificent organization and functions of the CNS, this is a splendid. bonus for which we must indeed be grateful. But there are many gaps in our understanding of these agents, gaps which can only be filled by years of methodical research, but gaps which must be filled if we are to decipher the roles of ET in the physiology and pathology of the CNS and realize their full potential as tools in neuroscience research. In this overview on ET lesions, I will not attempt a comprehensive review of the burgeoning literature on ET--a task that would be impossible within the time constraints--but rather will focus on a few key issues which I consider fundamental to our understanding of these agents and the lesions they induce.
An unscented Kalman filter based on-line diagnostic approach for PEM fuel cell flooding

Poor water management usually leads to various degrees of flooding in the hydrogen type fuel cell, affecting both the instantaneous performance and the long-term durability of the system adversely. While a lot of fuel cell diagnostic tools exist that could be utilized for the flooding diagnostics, most of these approaches are intrusive, requiring special modification to the fuel cell that affects its integrity, or special equipment (e.g. AC spectrometer) that adds to the complexity and cost of the system, and therefore are not considered to be a viable solution for the on-board integration of the diagnostic scheme.This paper proposes a model based approach for the fuel cell flooding diagnostics problem, utilizing only the cell current and voltage, and the inlet pressures of the fuel cell as the input signals of the diagnostic scheme. A diagnostic-oriented fuel cell system dynamic model is developed to incorporate the effects of the fault, i.e. the flooding, on the system dynamics. For simplicity, only the cathode channel flooding, the cathode gas diffusion layer (GDL) flooding, and the anode channel flooding are considered while we neglect the mass transport loss through the anode GDL. The cathode channel flooding and the GDL flooding diagnostic problems are decoupled and formulated as standard joint state and parameter estimation problems, with the amounts of the liquid water treated as varying system parameters to be identified. The unscented Kalman Filter technique has been applied to solve these problems. Simulation results validate the applicability of the cascading unscented Kalman filter design for flooding diagnostics.
Use of Saliva Biomarkers to Monitor Efficacy of Vitamin C in Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress

Saliva is easily obtainable for medical research and requires little effort or training for collection. Because saliva contains a variety of biological compounds, including vitamin C, malondialdehyde, amylase, and proteomes, it has been successfully used as a biospecimen for the reflection of health status. A popular topic of discussion in medical research is the potential association between oxidative stress and negative outcomes. Systemic biomarkers that represent oxidative stress can be found in saliva. It is unclear, however, if saliva is an accurate biospecimen as is blood and/or plasma. Exercise can induce oxidative stress, resulting in a trend of antioxidant supplementation to combat its assumed detriments. Vitamin C is a popular antioxidant supplement in the realm of sports and exercise. One potential avenue for evaluating exercise induced oxidative stress is through assessment of biomarkers like vitamin C and malondialdehyde in saliva. At present, limited research has been done in this area. The current state of research involving exercise-induced oxidative stress, salivary biomarkers, and vitamin C supplementation is reviewed in this article.
50th Anniversary Perspective: Are Polymer Nanocomposites Practical for Applications?

The field of polymer nanocomposites has been at the forefront of research in the polymer community for the past few decades. Foundational work published in Macromolecules during this time has emphasized the physics and chemistry of the inclusion of nanofillers; remarkable early developments suggested that these materials would create a revolution in the plastics industry. After 25 years of innovative and groundbreaking research, PNCs have enabled many niche solutions. To complement the extensive literature currently available, we focus this Perspective on four case studies of PNCs applications: (i) filled rubbers, (ii) continuous fiber reinforced thermoset composites, (iii) membranes for gas separations, and (iv) dielectrics for capacitors and insulation. After presenting synthetic developments we discuss the application of polymer nanocomposites to each of these topic areas; successes will be noted, and we will finish each section by highlighting the various technological bottlenecks that need to be over...
The Nature and Extent of Explicit Theory Testing in the Discipline of Operations Research

This piece is a contribution to the sociology and philosophy of science within the discipline of operations management. It provides new insights that address the evolution, research methodology and...
Herbert Hoover, Henry Stimson, and the Collapse of the Post-World War I International Order, 1921–1933

Herbert Hoover was arguably the most significant political figure during the Republican administrations between 1921 and 1933, first as secretary of commerce then as president of the United States. Along with the presidents under whom he served as secretary of commerce, Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge, Hoover thought the United States had entered a new era of peace and prosperity during the 1920s. Yet by the time Hoover left office, after serving only one term in the presidency, prosperity was only a memory, and Europe’s peace was threatened by the advent to power in Germany of Adolf Hitler and Japan's conquest of China’s Manchurian provinces.
Collective contribution to escape width of analog resonances

Abstract The collective isovector monopole state decreases escape widths of analog states by 10–20%. Thus spectroscopic factors determined in previous calculations are too small by this amount. The monopole has a much greater influence on the spreading widths; the reason it is less important in the decay width is that the transition density is more external to the nucleus.
Progress in Computational Magneto-Fluid-Dynamics for Flow Control

In the late 1990’s a promising and innovative concept of the Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD)-bypass scramjet engine rejuvenated interest in magnetoaerodynamic research worldwide [1]. Many interdisciplinary ideas were put forth in the areas of plasma actuator for flow control, MHD propulsion, remote energy deposition for drag reduction, radiation driven hypersonic wind tunnel, sonic boom meditation, and enhanced plasma ignition and combustion stability [2,3]. Extensive and in-depth research however has revealed that additional and refined fidelity of physics for modeling and analyzing are required to reach a conclusive assessment for the MHD-bypass scramjet engine [4]. From this lesson learned; most recent research activities tend to refocus on more basic and simpler aerodynamic-electromagnetic interaction phenomena.
Cardiac MRI findings in mucolipidosis III.

(2014). Cardiac MRI findings in mucolipidosis III. Acta Cardiologica: Vol. 69, No. 5, pp. 564-565.
Modeling of track geometry degradation and decisions on safety and maintenance: A literature review and possible future research directions:

In a railroad track, the inherent and small geometrical deviations in the position of rails from their ideal design states constitute imperfections that can have a significant impact on the safety ...
Toronto: Transformations in a city and its region, by Edward Relph

Not purely an academic text, nor a nonfiction book for a general audience, Relph’s assessment of the metamorphosis of Toronto occupies a niche in which both literary forms are evident. The book is ...
U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office monitoring of the Laurentian Great Lakes: Insights from 40 years of data collection

Abstract The U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) implements long-term monitoring programs to assess Great Lakes ecosystem status and trends for many interrelated ecosystem components, including offshore water quality as well as offshore phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthos; chemical contaminants in air, sediments, and predator fish; hypoxia in Lake Erie's central basin; and coastal wetland health. These programs are conducted in fulfillment of Clean Water Act mandates and Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement commitments. This special issue presents findings from GLNPO's Great Lakes Biology Monitoring Program, Great Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Program, Lake Erie Dissolved Oxygen Monitoring Program, Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network, Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program, and Great Lakes Sediment Surveillance Program. These GLNPO programs have generated temporal and spatial datasets for all five Great Lakes that form the basis for assessment of the state of these lakes, including trends in nutrients, key biological indicators, and contaminants in air, sediments and fish. These datasets are used by researchers and managers across the Great Lakes basin for investigating physical, chemical and biological drivers of ongoing ecosystem changes; some of these analyses are presented in this special issue, along with discussion of new methods and approaches for monitoring.
Cardiac Physiology Review

A basic understanding of cardiovascular physiology is fundamental to the comprehension of the conditions and pharmacological mechanisms described throughout this Handbook. With that goal in mind, this chapter provides an overview of cardiovascular physiology and highlights the unique aspects of the neonatal and pediatric heart. Although not intended to be an exhaustive review, this chapter should serve to familiarize the reader with concepts to be discussed in greater detail in later chapters. For those seeking further knowledge, a list of more comprehensive sources is provided at the conclusion of this chapter.
Current educational trends in the information-and library science curriculum

This paper reports on an analysis of information published on the websites of North American schools of information and library science (ILS). The objective of the analysis was to determine new trends in educational practice in the form of new courses, course concentrations, and programs. New educational trends were primarily user-centered. Library educators should avoid placing too much reliance on the users' niche because it places them in an intermediary role. Information technology has had a devastating impact on intermediaries such as travel agents, realtors, and financial brokers. If librarians focus exclusively on users, they run the risk of becoming displaced. Instead, programs should stake out unclaimed or disputed areas such as the organization of information, content creation, authoritative information, and/or collection preservation. The paper concludes with the recommendation that ILS faculty should examine new content areas that schools are now offering and embark on new curricular opportunities that make sense in view of their view of the future, expertise on staff, available resources, and the resources they are able to secure to make changes at their institutions.
Effect of Relaxin on Mammary Growth in the Hypophysectomized Rat

The ovarian peptide, relaxin, has long been known to modify the structures in the area of the birth canal of the pregnant animal in preparation for parturition (Hall, 1960; Hisaw, 1926; Hisaw et al,5 1944; Steinetz et al 1960). Since relaxin is found in abundance in the blood serum of many pregnant mammals, it seems plausible that the development of the mammary gland during gestation might be regulated in part at least by the presence of the hormone. Much work in delineating qualitative hormone requirements for mammary growth in hypophysectomized rats has been accomplished through the technique of whole mount observations (Cowie and Folley, 1947; Hamolsky and Sparrow, 1945; Kahn, Baker and Zannotti, 1965; Mixner, Lewis and Turner, 1940). In the past this technique was adapted to semiquantification by at best using some arbitrary numerical scale to assign each gland a grade for the extent of development (Kahn, Baker and Zanotti, 1965; Meites, 1965; Wrenn et al., 1966). Chemical DNA determination is an acceptable method for quantification in spite of the minor complication in measuring stromal as well as parenchymal tissue, and a qualitative picture of growth is not obtained. Therefore, it was concluded that the best approach to investigating the effect of relaxin on growth and differentiation of the mammary gland was to combine previously determined DNA measurements with whole mount observations, and to develop a better method of quantification for a more valid statistical analysis.
Housing Finance: Deposit Guarantees

A positive public perception regarding the soundness of any depository financial system is crucial to its continued acceptance and beneficial role in an economy. Deposit guarantees serve as a means to boost public confidence in such a system. These guarantees come in different forms, including explicit guarantee programmes that are directly backed by governmental or central banking authorities and those that are often backed by other implicit government guarantees. Maintenance of the public’s confidence in the banking system is important to housing finance, as banking institutions in the form of commercial banks and savings and loan institutions have played a major role as sources of funds for residential mortgages. Diminished interest in depository accounts at institutions due to negative public perceptions regarding the risk of loss could, in the case of financial systems with widespread reliance upon these institutions, lead to a decline in credit available for residential housing.
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor mobilization alters dendritic cell cytokine production and initiates T helper 2 polarization prior to host alloantigen presentation.

The recent paper by Arpinati et al[1][1] elegantly demonstrates that the numbers of T helper 2–inducing dendritic cells (pre-DC2s) are increased in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)–mobilized allografts. Pre-DC2s on subsequent activation lead to polarization of naive CD4 T cells
Clinical tumour sequencing for precision oncology: time for a universal strategy.

Routine, comprehensive molecular characterization of patient tumours has the potential to accelerate therapeutic advances and inform cancer biology. Here, we describe insights from the implementation of an enterprise-wide, prospective clinical sequencing strategy at an academic cancer centre.
Near-Earth Asteroid Characterization and Observation (NEACO) Mission to Asteroid (469219) 2016 HO3

The Near-Earth Asteroid Characterization and Observation (NEACO) mission is a concept study proposing to explore the fast-rotating asteroid (469219) 2016 HO3, one of Earth’s few quasi-satellites. I...
Runaway Carbon Dioxide Conversion Leads to Enhanced Uptake in a Nanohybrid Form of Porous Magnesium Borohydride

Author(s): Jeong, Sohee; Milner, Phillip J; Wan, Liwen F; Liu, Yi-Sheng; Oktawiec, Julia; Zaia, Edmond W; Forse, Alexander C; Leick, Noemi; Gennett, Thomas; Guo, Jinghua; Prendergast, David; Long, Jeffrey R; Urban, Jeffrey J | Abstract: Leveraging molecular-level controls to enhance CO2 capture in solid-state materials has received tremendous attention in recent years. Here, a new class of hybrid nanomaterials constructed from intrinsically porous γ-Mg(BH4 )2 nanocrystals and reduced graphene oxide (MBHg) is described. These nanomaterials exhibit kinetically controlled, irreversible CO2 uptake profiles with high uptake capacities (g19.9 mmol g-1 ) at low partial pressures and temperatures between 40 and 100 °C. Systematic experiments and first-principles calculations reveal the mechanism of reaction between CO2 and MBHg and unveil the role of chemically activated, metastable (BH3 -HCOO)- centers that display more thermodynamically favorable reaction and potentially faster reaction kinetics than the parent BH4 - centers. Overall, it is demonstrated that size reduction to the nanoscale regime and the generation of reactive, metastable intermediates improve the CO2 uptake properties in metal borohydride nanomaterials.
Characterization of CaMKIIα holoenzyme stability

Ca2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a Ser/Thr kinase necessary for long-term memory formation and other Ca2+ -dependent signaling cascades such as fertilization. Here, we investigated the stability of CaMKIIα using a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray crystallography, and mass photometry (MP). The kinase domain has a low thermal stability (apparent Tm = 36°C), which is slightly stabilized by ATP/MgCl2 binding (apparent Tm = 40°C) and significantly stabilized by regulatory segment binding (apparent Tm = 60°C). We crystallized the kinase domain of CaMKII bound to p-coumaric acid in the active site. This structure reveals solvent-exposed hydrophobic residues in the substrate-binding pocket, which are normally buried in the autoinhibited structure when the regulatory segment is present. This likely accounts for the large stabilization that we observe in DSC measurements comparing the kinase alone with the kinase plus regulatory segment. The hub domain alone is extremely stable (apparent Tm ~ 90°C), and the holoenzyme structure has multiple unfolding transitions ranging from ~60°C to 100°C. Using MP, we compared a CaMKIIα holoenzyme with different variable linker regions and determined that the dissociation of both these holoenzymes occurs at a higher concentration (is less stable) compared with the hub domain alone. We conclude that within the context of the holoenzyme structure, the kinase domain is stabilized, whereas the hub domain is destabilized. These data support a model where domains within the holoenzyme interact.
Geographic disparities in access to scalp cooling for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia in the United States.

Background Chemotherapy-induced alopecia is psychologically challenging for patients undergoing cancer treatment, and scalp cooling has been shown to prevent or decrease the hair loss. Objective To evaluate whether access to scalp cooling varies by geographic area in the United States. Methods Cancer treatment centers offering scalp cooling were identified using data from the Rapunzel Project. Medicare claims data were queried to evaluate the number of chemotherapy infusions occurring in each zip code in the United States. Geographic distribution of chemotherapy infusions and scalp cooling centers was determined using ArcGIS software. The average distance from the geographic center of all 5-digit zip codes in which chemotherapy infusions occur to the nearest scalp cooling center was calculated in miles. Results There are 366 chemotherapy infusion centers in the United States that offer scalp cooling. Overall, 43.9% of Medicare-billed chemotherapy infusions in the United States occur in zip codes less than 12.5 miles from a scalp cooling center, 24.8% occur between 12.5 and 49.9 miles away, and 31.3% occur more than 50 miles away. Limitations Our results are only generalizable to patients seen at Medicare-accepting institutions in the United States. Conclusions Geographic disparities affect which patients can access scalp cooling therapy, and implementation in suburban and rural areas would increase access for patients who wish to preserve their hair while undergoing chemotherapy.
White matter atrophy in cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

Objective We postulated that cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is associated with white matter atrophy (WMA) and that WMA can be related to cognitive changes in CAA. Methods White matter volume expressed as percent of intracranial volume (pWMV) of prospectively enrolled patients without dementia diagnosed with probable CAA was compared to age-matched healthy controls (HC) and patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Cognitive scores were also sought to understand the potential effects of WMA on cognitive function. Results Patients with CAA (n = 72) had significantly lower pWMV (27.97% ± 2.63) when compared to age-matched HC (n = 72; mean difference [MD], 2.38%; p Conclusions Patients with CAA show WMA when compared to age-matched HC and patients with AD. WMA independently correlates with the number of lobar microbleeds, a marker of CAA severity. Consistent spatial patterns of WMA especially in posterior regions might be related to CAA. The association between WMA and measures of executive function suggests that WMA might represent an important mediator of CAA-related neurologic dysfunction.
Sarcomere integrated biosensor detects myofilament-activating ligands in real time during twitch contractions in live cardiac muscle

The sarcomere is the functional unit of cardiac muscle, essential for normal heart function. To date, it has not been possible to study, in real time, thin filament-based activation dynamics in live cardiac muscle. We report here results from a cardiac troponin C (TnC) FRET-based biosensor integrated into the cardiac sarcomere via stoichiometric replacement of endogenous TnC. The TnC biosensor provides, for the first time, evidence of multiple thin filament activating ligands, including troponin I interfacing with TnC and cycling myosin, during a cardiac twitch. Results show that the TnC FRET biosensor transient significantly precedes that of peak twitch force. Using small molecules and genetic modifiers known to alter sarcomere activation, independently of the intracellular Ca2+ transient, the data show that the TnC biosensor detects significant effects of the troponin I switch domain as a sarcomere-activating ligand. Interestingly, the TnC biosensor also detected the effects of load-dependent altered myosin cycling, as shown by a significant delay in TnC biosensor transient inactivation during the isometric twitch. In addition, the TnC biosensor detected the effects of myosin as an activating ligand during the twitch by using a small molecule that directly alters cross-bridge cycling, independently of the intracellular Ca2+ transient. Collectively, these results aid in illuminating the basis of cardiac muscle contractile activation with implications for gene, protein, and small molecule-based strategies designed to target the sarcomere in regulating beat-to-beat heart performance in health and disease.
Myxomycetes Recorded from the Vicinity of the Mountain Lake Biological Station

Myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds or myxogastrids) have been collected in the Mountain Lake area of southwestern Virginia since 1890, and several recognized authorities on this group of organisms along with numerous other individuals have visited or worked at the University of Virginia Mountain Lake Biological Station. The collective efforts of all these individuals have generated a considerable body of information on myxomycetes. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive annotated checklist of all species of myxomycetes reported from the Mountain Lake area. This checklist contains 166 species in 39 genera. This total is approximately 36% of the total number of species of myxomycetes known from all the eastern United States and is likely to be higher than the total recorded for any area of comparable size in the entire country and perhaps the entire world.
Inclusive innovation editorial: The promise of inclusive innovation:

Innovation is an elusive concept that is widely viewed as a panacea for economic renewal. Public-sector institutions invest heavily in innovation even as private-sector actors and interests dominat...
Western Conference Football Strategy: A Review of the 1930 Season

(1930). Western Conference Football Strategy. The Journal of Health and Physical Education: Vol. 1, No. 10, pp. 23-50.
Examining missing data mechanisms via homogeneity of parameters, homogeneity of distributions, and multivariate normality

This paper reviews various methods of identifying missing data mechanisms. The three well-known mechanisms of missing completely at random (MCAR), missing at random (MAR), and missing not at random (MNAR) are considered. A number of tests deem rejection of homogeneity of means and/or covariances (HMC) among observed data patterns as a means to reject MCAR. Utility of these tests as well as their shortcomings are discussed. In particular, examples of MAR and MNAR data with homogeneous means and covariances between their observed data patterns are provided for which tests of HMC fail to reject MCAR. More generally, tests of homogeneity of parameter estimates between various subsets of data are reviewed and their utility as tests of MCAR and MAR (in special cases) is pointed out. Since many tests of MCAR assume multinormality, methods to assess this assumption in the context of incomplete data are reviewed. Tests of homogeneity of distributions among observed data patterns for MCAR are also considered. A new nonparametric test of this type is proposed on the basis of pairwise comparison of marginal distributions. Finally, methods of examining missing data mechanism based on sensitivity analysis including methods that model missing data mechanism based on logistic, probit, and latent variable regression models, as well as methods that do not require modeling of missing data mechanism are reviewed. The paper concludes with some practical comments about the validity and utility of tests of missing data mechanism. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. How to cite this article:
Involving Early Childhood Stakeholders in Program Evaluation: The GGA Story

When we advocate for quality in early childhood care and education settings, we must remember that quality itself is culturally and contextually bound, and can look very different in different countries, communities, and cultures. While in one culture, quality may mean that children participate in food preparation as part of the center community, that type of participation may not be appropriate or valued in another culture. With the development of the Global Guidelines Assessment (GGA) in 1999, its authors created a globally applicable measurement tool for quality in early childhood care and education programs that left room for the cultural and contextual differences inherent in any assessment of quality. One important element of the GGA is its inclusion of internal stakeholders. This idea of inclusion—both of diverse students and of parents and community members—is critical to ensuring quality care and education for all young children.
Large-scale nonlinear programming: an integrating framework for enterprise-wide dynamic optimization

Abstract Integration of real-time optimization and control with higher level decision making (scheduling and planning) is an essential goal for profitable operation in a highly competitive environment. While integrated large-scale optimization models have been formulated for this task, their size and complexity remains a challenge to many available optimization solvers. On the other hand, recent development of powerful, large-scale solvers leads to a reconsideration of these formulations, in particular, through development of efficient large-scale barrier methods for nonlinear programming (NLP). As a result, it is not unrealistic to solve NLPs on the order of a million variables, for instance, with the IPOPT algorithm. More recently, IPOPT has been embodied as an object oriented code that exploits problem structure, takes advantage of parallelism, and allows configuration of different “internal decomposition strategies” without compromising its fast convergence properties. Finally, an NLP sensitivity extension was added to this code that allows the fast approximate solution of perturbed NLP problems. These developments are demonstrated on dynamic optimization formulations that integrate real-time optimization with on-line calculations required by model predictive control. This allows on-line computations to be drastically reduced, even when large nonlinear optimization models are considered.
Best practices in software engineering: does anybody in industry or academia care?

In 1991, Motorola became one of the first companies to establish a software center in Bangalore, India. The plan, at the time, was to investigate whether or not it was possible to build an organization from the ground up to develop software using the processes and best practices being promoted by the Software Engineering Institute. Within 2 years, that goal was realized when the Motorola India Electronics, Ltd. (MIEL), became one of the first groups ever to be assessed at SEI CMM Level 5. Today, MIEL has grown to over 1500 software engineers having achieved CMMI Level 5 SCAMPI in 2003. Motorola's Global Software Group, in fact, numbers over 4500 software staff with over 90% working in a Level 4 or 5 organization.
Staff nurses' experiences as preceptors and mentors: an integrative review.

omansky g.l. (2010) Journal of Nursing Management 18, 697–703 Staff nurses' experiences as preceptors and mentors: an integrative review Aim The aim of this integrative review is to describe staff nurses’ experience when functioning as a preceptor or mentor for student nurses. Background The preceptor’s role is to guide students from the theory of nursing to the application of nursing theory, teaching clinical skills and clinical thinking. Relatively few research studies focus on the staff nurses’ experience. Evaluation Research studies and topical articles from Australia, Canada, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States were drawn from databases. The theoretical framework for the analysis was the Kahn et al. (1964) role episode model. Key issues Reservations over the efficacy of preceptor experiences have been identified. Along with intrinsic rewards, there is considerable stress and responsibility associated with precepting or mentoring. Nurse preceptors experience role ambiguity, conflict and overload when interacting with students. Conclusions Research indicates what might reduce the amount of stress for the nurse preceptor and increase job satisfaction and nurse retention. Implications for nursing management Defining and formalising the preceptor role can improve the standing of this function. Adjustments can be made to decrease the stress of the role. Preceptors and mentors request recognition and support for the amount of work involved in teaching students.
Collagenolytic Activity of Dental Plaque Associated with Periodontal Pathology

Certain dental plaques, removed from sites of gingival and periodontal pathology in mentally retarded, institutionalized individuals, when incubated in phosphate buffer with Achilles tendon collagen, gave rise to an increase in ninhydrin-positive material. These plaques, while showing great variability, released significantly more ninhydrin-positive material per milligram of plaque (wet weight) than did either the endogenous or heat-treated controls. Certain plaques could also break down soluble, tritiated, labeled collagen isolated from the calvaria of chicken embryos. Bacteroides melaninogenicus and Clostridia histolyticum were found in plaques by either fluorescent antibody or cultural methods. C. histolyticum, when detected, accounted for about 0.01 to 0.1% of the bacteria in plaque. A conspicuous isolate from some plaques was a Bacillus species which rapidly liquefied gelatin. Cell-free supernatants of this organism were able to degrade about 50 to 70% of the soluble collagen when incubated at 36 C. C. histolyticum ATCC 8034 caused an 80% degradation of the collagen under the same conditions of incubation. The Bacillus strains were facultative, could ferment glucose, reduced nitrate to nitrite, and were catalase, indole, and urease negative. The limited taxonomic information for the isolates is compatible with the description given for Bacillus cereus.
Engineering improved bio-jet fuel tolerance in Escherichia coli using a transgenic library from the hydrocarbon-degrader Marinobacter aquaeolei

Recent metabolic engineering efforts have generated microorganisms that can produce biofuels, including bio-jet fuels, however these fuels are often toxic to cells, limiting production yields. There are natural examples of microorganisms that have evolved mechanisms for tolerating hydrocarbon-rich environments, such as those that thrive near natural oil seeps and in oil-polluted waters. Using genomic DNA from the hydrocarbon-degrading microbe Marinobacter aquaeolei, we constructed a transgenic library that we expressed in Escherichia coli. We exposed cells to inhibitory levels of pinene, a monoterpene that can serve as a jet fuel precursor with chemical properties similar to existing tactical fuels. Using a sequential strategy with a fosmid library followed by a plasmid library, we were able to isolate a region of DNA from the M. aquaeolei genome that conferred pinene tolerance when expressed in E. coli. We determined that a single gene, yceI, was responsible for the tolerance improvements. Overexpression of this gene placed no additional burden on the host. We also tested tolerance to other monoterpenes and showed that yceI selectively improves tolerance. The genomes of hydrocarbon-tolerant microbes represent a rich resource for tolerance engineering. Using a transgenic library, we were able to identify a single gene that improves E. coli’s tolerance to the bio-jet fuel precursor pinene.
A preliminary evaluation of the reliability and validity of a self‐reported communicative functioning item pool

Background: Item banking, an approach to test development based in item response theory (IRT), is beginning to be applied to the measurement of communicative functioning in aphasia. This approach involves calibrating a set of test items responding to a particular latent trait to a common measurement scale. One method for validating such scales is to examine the degree to which obtained item calibration estimates agree with a priori item rankings based on theory or expert opinion. Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of magnitude estimation (ME) procedures for validating item banks containing self‐reported functional performance items, and to make a preliminary analysis of the validity of a proposed item pool for measuring self‐reported communicative functioning in aphasia. Methods & Procedures: A total of 14 raters made ME ratings of physical and communicative functioning items. These ratings were evaluated for their intra and inter‐observer reliability and, for subsets of the items...
Differential use of the CAHPS® 0–10 global rating scale by medicaid and commercial populations

The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether Medicaid managed care enrollees and commercially insured health plan participants respond differently to the CAHPS® 2.0 health plan survey global ratings of health care, personal doctor or nurse, and health plan. A secondary objective was to examine whether and how these differences may vary by alternative approaches to collapsing the 0-10 response scale. This study is a secondary analysis of CAHPS 2.0 health plan survey data collected in 1999 and 2000. Data on 2,142 Iowa Medicaid managed care enrollees and 1,051 commercially insured State of Iowa employees were analyzed. Differences in responses between the Medicaid-enrolled and commercially insured respondents were modeled using multinomial logistic regression, adjusting for demographics, health status and CAHPS composite measures. Results of these analyses indicated that Medicaid enrollees were significantly more likely than State of Iowa employees to use the extreme ends of the CAHPS global rating scales, particularly in the approaches when the category representing the highest end of the scale was defined as a score of 10 for the analysis. Thus, the choice of cut points for collapsing the 0-10 scales influenced statistical differences on CAHPS global ratings of care, doctor and health plan between Medicaid and privately insured populations. In conclusion, a populations use of the extremes of the global rating scales should be considered when comparing or combining CAHPS data for different populations. If response contraction bias is present, a format such as the alternative approach presented here (using categories 0-4, 5-8, 9, 10) that captures that bias may be preferable to the CAHPS format, which has been shown to maximize plan differentiation.
Growth of the thermophilic bacterium Clostridium thermocellum in continuous culture

Clostridium thermocellum is an anaerobic thermophilic bacterium that produces enthanol from cellulosic substrates. When the organism was grown in continuous culture at dilution rates ranging from 0.04 to 0.25 h-1, growth yields on cellobiose were higher than on glucose, and even higher yields were observed on cellotetraose. However, differences in bacterial yield were much greater at slow growth rates, and it appeared that glucose-grown cells had a fourfold higher (0.41 g substrate/g protein/h) maintenance energy requirement than cellobiose-grown cultures. Cellobiose and glucose were co-utilized in dual substrate continuous culture, and this was in contrast to batch culture experiments which indicated that the organism preferred the disaccharide. These experiments demonstrate that carbohydrate utilization patterns in continuous culture are different from those in batch culture and that submaximal growth rates affect substrate preference and bioenergetic parameters. The mechanisms regulating carbohydrate use may be different in batch versus continuous culture.
Increasing Retention and Student Satisfaction Utilizing an Online Peer Mentoring Program: Preliminary Results

Abstract Background Anxiety and apprehension have been observed in beginning nursing students as a recurrent pattern, particularly when students are entering upper level foundational nursing courses. This anxiety contributes to increased withdrawals from nursing programs and decreased satisfaction in retained nursing students. Purpose of Study To determine the effect of an e-mentoring program that pairs junior and senior level undergraduate nursing students on student satisfaction and student retention. Methods This mixed methods design utilizes an online peer mentoring strategy. 20 junior mentees and 20 senior level mentors participated in the study. Students completed surveys after one semester of participation, to evaluate the success of their mentor-mentee relationship, and gauge student satisfaction with the program. All information was utilized to assess retention implications, and implement changes with the e-mentoring program for future nursing students. Results and Conclusions 14 mentors and 16 mentees returned surveys. The majority of students felt that they had benefitted from participation after one semester. Students indicated they preferred the online format to in- person meetings. Mentors were able to share studying tips, time-management skills and organizational strategies. Responses to open-ended questions indicated that the success of the mentor-mentee relationship depends on the mentee communicating with the mentor. Implications for Practice While preliminary data suggests that promising results in student satisfaction, retention rates of students will be determined after one year of the mentorship program. An e-mentoring program could be a necessary component to foster relationships between excelling senior nursing students and junior nursing students, and allow for support in class load, coursework, school, and outside stressors. This relationship allows for collaboration of ideas, and provides perspective for the senior mentor in terms of growth and knowledge base.
Transport of neutral atoms and molecules in TFCX

Abstract The distribution of neutrals in the proposed reactor TFCX has been modeled by the 3-D Monte Carlo neutral transport code DEGAS, which has been run in conjunction with the 1 1 2 -D time-dependent plasma transport code WHIST. The former code contains the best available treatment of neutral-particle physics, including a selection of wall reflection models. The latter code has a comprehensive set of plasma transport coefficients, an MHD equilibrium package, and provision for source terms such as those involving neutrals. It has a simple scrape-off model involving sound-speed flow to the neutralizer plates. The codes are run in iteration, so that the flux-surface averaged particle and energy sources due to interactions with neutrals are consistent with the plasma profiles. The design considered here has a bottom limiter with a pumping plenum. Results are given for the power balance, the mutually consistent plasma and neutral distributions set up in the edge region, the neutral density in the plenum, and the charge exchange power deposition and erosion along the limiter.
A deployable conical log-spiral antenna design for CubeSat applications

In this paper a conical log-spiral antenna is presented with a new feeding scheme. This antenna is proposed for deployment on a CubeSat platform, where the new feeding technique allows for easier antenna deployment. A microstrip balun is also presented to provide the antenna with proper phase balance and impedance associated with the needed differential feed.
Enhanced ion irradiation tolerance properties in TiN/MgO nanolayer films

Abstract Interface mitigation effects on ion irradiation induced damage are explored in TiN/MgO nanolayer thin films with nanolayer thickness varied from 10 nm to 50 nm. After ion irradiation with He ions to a fluence of 4 × 10 16 cm −2 at 50 keV, no hardness variation is observed in the nanolayer samples based on the nano-indentation measurement, and high resolution TEM indicates no obvious ion damage in the MgO layers in the nanolayered samples. However, single layer MgO film shows a significant hardness increase of ∼20% and high density point defect clusters (∼5 nm) are clearly identified. These results suggest that, in this system, nanolayer interfaces could act as effective point defect sinks and be responsible for the enhanced radiation tolerance properties.
Patterns of bone strain in the zygomatic arch

Background The transmission of force through the skull is complicated by the irregular form of the bones, the interposed sutures, and the multiplicity of loads from the teeth, muscles, and environment. The in vivo relationship between bone strain and muscle function in the mammalian skull is best investigated empirically. Methods We studied the zygomatic arch of pigs (Sus scrofa) by simultaneous strain gauge recording and electromyography. Seventeen juvenile animals were used, employing multiple strain gauges arranged either in rosettes or strips. Strain was recorded during mastication and muscle stimulations. Bony architecture was examined on sectioned specimens. Results Strain patterns were complex even in this beamlike structure. During masseteric contraction, the more anterior zygomatic bone showed in-plane bending such that its lower border became more convex, and the major principal strain axis (tension) was parallel to the masseter muscle. The posterior squamosal bone was slightly bent in the opposite direction, and the major principal strain was rotated 45–60° from the masseteric line of action. Strain magnitudes in the squamosal were larger than those in the zygomatic. Woven bone composing the surface of the arch appeared denser in the zygomatic bone, where its predominant orientation corresponded with compressive strain. In the squamosal bone trabeculae were more regularly arranged, but their orientation did not correspond with strain axes. Conclusions The magnitude differences are probably related to the different architecture of the zygomatic and squamosal bones, whereas the different strain patterns primarily reflect the influence of the sutures in selectively damping or transmitting loads. In particular, the zygomatic bone may be loaded by three-point, distributed-load bending, whereas the squamosal, loaded at only two points, may be sheared. We conclude that each cranial bone functions in a unique strain environment, with the sutures serving to redirect loading. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Endosalpingiosis presenting as multiple pelvic masses.

Endosalpingiosis is a rare disorder of Mullerian origin, in which non-neoplastic tubal epithelium is present in ectopic anatomic locations (Hesseling and De Wilde 2000). An atypical clinical subtyp...