cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The measured effect of soils on ground penetrating radar antenna resolution

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is emerging as viable technology for rapid and accurate landmine detection. Although GPR has been successfully used for landmine and subsurface object detection, the performance of GPR is dependant on the type of medium the subsurface object is buried in. In this paper, we report studies of the effect of three different soils. on two sets of GPR antenna's imaging response to an easily understood target.
A robust design tutorial

Describes a framework for discrete event simulation which synthesizes Taguchi's (1986, 1987) robust design philosophy and a response surface metamodeling approach. We show how the use of a loss function which incorporates both system mean and system variability can be used to efficiently and effectively carry out system optimization and improvement efforts. The results can yield new insights into system behavior, and may recommend system configurations which differ substantially from those selected by analysis solely of the mean response. Issues of model validation and model complexity can also be addressed. The tutorial is meant for both practitioners and researchers. We assume a knowledge base at the level of Chapters 11 and 12 of "Simulation Modeling and Analysis" (Law and Kelton, 1991), but review essential elements and give illustrative examples.
Diversity and Longevity of the Soybean Debris Mycobiota in a No-Tillage System.

ABSTRACT The survival of the mycobiota on pod and stem debris of soybean produced in a no-tillage system with cover crops of alfalfa, canola, rye, or wheat or with no cover was studied during 1994 and 1995. Fiberglass mesh bags containing pods and stems were assayed every 28 to 31 days to determine the isolation frequency of fungi. Over 90% of the 11,906 isolates obtained were members of the Deuteromycotina. The most common genera isolated were Alternaria, Cercos-pora, Colletotrichum, Epicoccum, Fusarium, and Phoma. Alternaria spp. had the greatest isolation frequencies and constituted 40% of the total cultures. Numbers of total fungi (all fungi isolated) on sampling dates in 1994 were similar to the totals in 1995. In May 1994, the mean isolation rates for many of the fungal species were significantly lower (P = 0.05) in several of the cover crops, but no consistent pattern could be determined. Common soybean pathogens isolated included Colletotrichum spp., Diaporthe spp., and Cercospora kikuchii. Fusari...
Principal's Preparation Program: Managing the Learning Environment Using ELCC Standards.

School principals need to be well prepared to manage school facilities assigned to their care. Educational leadership programs can make best use of the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) Standards to develop a course of study to address school facility management issues. Every standard has its facility implications that lead to designing course activities to prepare school principals to be facility managers. A school facility management course can be effectively delivered by meeting all ELCC Standards.
Behavioral activation and lack of concern, core symptoms of anorexia nervosa?

Objective The core symptoms of anorexia nervosa have remained points of debate. The goal of this paper is a close study of unexpected and paradoxical symptoms in anorexia nervosa which are described in the literature but which, for the most part, have escaped the attention of investigators. Method Following a brief examination of psychological influences: developmental psychodynamics issues, psychiatric comorbidity and personality features, as well as the physical consequences of starvation, all of which are considered probable contributors to the pathological process, the symptoms of denial, lack of concern, contentment, liveliness, and overactivity in anorexia nervosa are discussed. Results If these symptoms are accepted as specific for anorexia nervosa, their presence suggests that starvation might generate in individuals with a vulnerability for anorexia nervosa a condition of mental and physical activation. Discussion Areas of research to test this hypothesis, positing starvation-induced arousal or activation as a physiological dysregulation in anorexia nervosa which would powerfully support food avoidance, are discussed. © 1998 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 24: 381–393, 1998.
The importance of submarine groundwater discharge to the near shore nutrient supply in the Gulf of Aqaba (Israel)

We used two short-lived radium isotopes (223Ra, 224Ra) and a mass balance approach applied to the radium activities to determine the nutrient contribution of saline submarine groundwater discharge to the coastal waters of the northern Gulf of Aqaba (Israel). Radium isotope activities were measured along transects during two seasons at a site that lacked any obvious surficial water input. An onshore well and an offshore end member were also sampled. For all samples, nutrients and salinity data were collected. Radium isotope activities generally decreased with distance offshore and exhibited significant tidal variability, which is consistent with a shorederived tidally influenced source. Submarine groundwater contributes only 1–2% of the water along this coast, but this groundwater provides 8–46% of the nutrients. This saline groundwater is derived predominately from tidally pumped seawater percolating through the unconfined coastal aquifer and leaching radium and nutrients. This process represents a significant source of nutrients to the oligotrophic nearshore reef.
Usefulness of noninvasive assessment of aortic stenosis before and after percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty

Abstract Noninvasive and catheterization studies were performed in 40 patients (mean age 76 ± 12 years) before and after percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty. Measurements included time to 1/2 carotid upstroke, left ventricular ejection time, aortic valve excursion, mean aortic valve gradient and aortic valve area assessed using the continuity equation: aortic valve area=A×V/V 1 where A=left ventricular outflow tract area, V=maximal left ventricular outflow tract velocity assessed by pulsed Doppler echocardiography and V 1 = peak velocity in the aortic stenotic jet assessed using continuous-wave echocardiography. In addition, mitral regurgitation was assessed by pulsed Doppler mapping techniques. Mean aortic valve gradient, cardiac output and aortic valve area, calculated using the Gorlin formula, were determined at cardiac catheterization. There were significant correlations between Doppler and catheterization measurements of aortic valve area both before (r = 0.71, p 2 ), Doppler valve area (0.64 ± 0.22 to 0.91 ± 0.37 cm 2 ), valve excursion (0.5 ± 0.3 to 0.8 ± 0.3 cm) and cardiac output (4.5 ± 1.6 to 4.9 ± 1.7 liter/min). Significant decreases (all p The Doppler continuity equation can accurately predict the prevalvuloplasty and postvalvuloplasty severity of aortic stenosis. Following valvuloplasty, there are significant changes in multiple other invasive and noninvasive parameters, including the presence and severity of mitral regurgitation.
On Reducing Communication Cost for Distributed Moving Query Monitoring Systems

Moving monitoring query on moving objects is an important type of query in location based services. Existing solutions suffer from high communication cost. In this paper, we propose a distributed solution to this problem. Our approach employs two ways of communications, on-demand access and broadcast channel, to reduce communication cost. Two different indexes are proposed and evaluated using simulations. The performance results indicate that our solution achieves from 30% to 60% savings in communications when compared to MobiEyes [2].
Flexible catalytic site conformations implicated in modulation of HIV-1 protease autoprocessing reactions

Background: The HIV-1 protease is initially synthesized as part of the Gag-Pol polyprotein in the infected cell. Protease autoprocessing, by which the protease domain embedded in the precursor catalyzes essential cleavage reactions, leads to liberation of the free mature protease at the late stage of the replication cycle. To examine autoprocessing reactions in transfected mammalian cells, we previously described an assay using a fusion precursor consisting of the mature protease (PR) along with its upstream transframe region (p6*) sandwiched between GST and a small peptide epitope. Results: In this report, we studied two autoprocessing cleavage reactions, one between p6* and PR (the proximal site) and the other in the N-terminal region of p6* (the distal site) catalyzed by the embedded protease, using our cell-based assay. A fusion precursor carrying the NL4-3 derived protease cleaved both sites, whereas a precursor with a pseudo wild type protease preferentially autoprocessed the proximal site. Mutagenesis analysis demonstrated that several residues outside the active site (Q7, L33, N37, L63, C67 and H69) contributed to the differential substrate specificity. Furthermore, the cleavage reaction at the proximal site mediated by the embedded protease in precursors carrying different protease sequences or C-terminal fusion peptides displayed varied sensitivity to inhibition by darunavir, a catalytic site inhibitor. On the other hand, polypeptides such as a GCN4 motif, GFP, or hsp70 fused to the N-terminus of p6* had a minimal effect on darunavir inhibition of either cleavage reaction. Conclusions: Taken together, our data suggest that several non-active site residues and the C-terminal flanking peptides regulate embedded protease activity through modulation of the catalytic site conformation. The cellbased assay provides a sensitive tool to study protease autoprocessing reactions in mammalian cells.
Similarity as an explanatory construct

Theories can be found throughout cognitive science that give an explanatory role to similarity. Such theories can be contrasted with those that model thought using abstract rules. We lay out four possible explanatory roles for similarity. We then review the computational pros and cons of similarity- and rule-based models and outline the empirical work that speaks to the psychological plausibility of the two frameworks. We conclude that an adequate model of human thought must take advantage of both the flexibility of similarity-based inference and the compositionality and certainty associated with rule-based inference.
The Soviet Ural-Kuznetsk Combine: A Study in Investment Criteria and Industrialization Policies

I. Introduction, 368. — II. Pre-Soviet history, 369. — III. Early Soviet projects, 372. — IV. The Combine controversy, 375. — V. Implementation: 1928–1937, 378. — VI. De-emphasis on the Combine, 1937–1955, 383. — VII. The Sixth Five Year Plan, 1956–1960, 387. — VIII. Criteria of evaluation, 389. — IX. Evaluation of the Combine, 395. — X. Summary, 403.
Facilitating Mental Modeling in Collaborative Human-Robot Interaction through Adverbial Cues

Mental modeling is crucial for natural human-robot interactions (HRI). Yet, effective mechanisms that enable reasoning about and communication of mental states are not available. We propose to utilize adverbial cues, routinely employed by humans, for this goal and present a novel algorithm that integrates adverbial modifiers with belief revision and expression, phrasing utterances based on Gricean conversational maxims. The algorithm is demonstrated in a simple HRI scenario.
High Levels of Viremia in Patients with the Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a rare but acute fulminant disease caused by Sin Nombre virus (SNV). To understand the role of the viral load in the pathogenesis of HPS, the load of virus in the blood of patients with HPS was measured. A quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay was developed for SNV, because SNV is difficult to grow in cell culture. Thirty-eight samples from 26 patients with HPS were analyzed. Twenty of the 26 initial samples were positive for viral RNA (7 of 9 samples were obtained from patients with fatal cases, and 13 of 17 were obtained from survivors). Mean viral RNA copy numbers were 106.1+/-1.4/mL in positive cases (106.7+/-1.4/mL in fatal cases, 105.8+/-1.3/mL in survivors) and were correlated with peak hematocrit (P<.05) and with the lowest platelet count (P=.05). In 8 survivors who had serial samples obtained, viral RNA copy numbers decreased promptly after resolution of fever.
Barriers to participation in a worksite wellness program

The purpose of this research was to determine barriers that prevent participation in an employee wellness program, Wellness Wednesdays: “Eat & Meet” About Healthy Living, conducted at East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, North Carolina. All ECU ARAMARK employees (n = 481) over the age of 18 were eligible to participate in the wellness program. Weekly 30 minute classes, taught by a Registered Dietitian, on various nutrition- and health-related topics were conducted for 10-weeks. Five question knowledge quizzes were administered to participants at the end of each class to determine the comprehension of material presented. Qualitative interviews (n = 19) were conducted with employees (participants and non-participants) and the program organizer after the completion of the 10-week program to identify barriers to program participation. A total of 50 (10.4% of the total number of potential participants) ECU ARAMARK employees, managers, and leadership team directors attended Wellness Wednesdays at least once during the 10-week program. Employees, on average, scored 71-100% on the weekly knowledge quizzes administered at the end of each class. The most common barriers to participation reported included (most often to least often reported): insufficient incentives, inconvenient locations, time limitations, not interested in topics presented, undefined reasons, schedule, marketing, health beliefs, and not interested in the program. Results showed that employee wellness programs can be effective in increasing knowledge of employees on nutrition- and health-related topics. However, program planning that addresses identified barriers including insufficient incentives, inconvenient locations, and time limitations may facilitate higher participation in future worksite wellness opportunities.
Electroluminescence from a freestanding integratable single ZNO dot

We present electroluminescence (EL) from a free standing isolated single ZnO dot device integrated on a microfabricated probe-tip interface. EL from the device in ambient conditions at room temperature has been observed by the naked eye at a bias current of 1 µA. The device fabrication is compatible with CMOS processing and is suitable for chip-scale optoelectronics. This device is shown to be capable of emitting one photon at a time, which is useful for many NEMS and MEMS sensors.
Deleting the Redundant TSH Receptor C-Peptide Region Permits Generation of the Conformationally Intact Extracellular Domain by Insect Cells

The TSH receptor (TSHR) extracellular domain (ECD) comprises a N-terminal leucine-rich repeat domain and an hinge region (HR), the latter contributing to ligand binding and critical for receptor activation. The crystal structure of the leucine-rich repeat domain component has been solved, but previous attempts to generate conformationally intact complete ECD or the isolated HR component for structural analysis have failed. The TSHR HR contains a C-peptide segment that is removed during spontaneous TSHR intramolecular cleavage into disulfide linked A- and B-subunits. We hypothesized that deletion of the redundant C-peptide would overcome the obstacle to generating conformationally intact TSHR ECD protein. Indeed, lacking the C-peptide region, the TSHR ECD (termed ECD-D1) and the isolated HR (termed HR-D1) were secreted into medium of insect cells infected with baculoviruses coding for these modified proteins. The identities of TSHR ECD-D1 and HR-D1 were confirmed by ELISA and immunoblotting using TSHR-specific monoclonal antibodies. The TSHR-ECD-D1 in conditioned medium was folded correctly, as demonstrated by its ability to inhibit radiolabeled TSH binding to the TSH holoreceptor. The TSHR ECD-D1 purification was accomplished in a single step using a TSHR monoclonal antibody affinity column, whereas the HR-D1 required a multistep protocol with a low yield. In conclusion, we report a novel approach to generate the TSHR ECD, as well as the isolated HR in insect cells, the former in sufficient amounts for structural studies. However, such studies will require previous complexing of the ECD with a ligand such as TSH or a thyroid-stimulating antibody.
Effects of Repeated Stress on Excitatory Drive of Basal Amygdala Neurons In Vivo

Chronic stress leads to heightened affective behaviors, and can precipitate the emergence of depression and anxiety. These disorders are associated with increased amygdala activity. In animal models, chronic stress leads to increased amygdala-dependent behaviors, as well as hyperactivity of amygdala neurons. However, it is not known whether increased excitatory synaptic drive after chronic stress contributes to hyperactivity of basolateral amygdala (BLA; comprised of basal, lateral, and accessory basal nuclei) neurons. This study tested whether repeated stress causes an increase in excitatory drive of basal amygdala (BA) neurons in vivo, and whether this is correlated with an increase in the number of dendritic spines and a shift in dendritic distribution. Using in vivo intracellular recordings, this study found that repeated restraint stress caused an increase in the frequency of spontaneous excitatory synaptic events in vivo, which correlated with the number of dendritic spines in reconstructed neurons. Furthermore, parallel changes in the kinetics of the synaptic events and the distribution of spines indicated a more prominent functional contribution of synaptic inputs from across the dendritic tree. The shift in spine distribution across the dendritic tree was further confirmed with the examination of Golgi-stained tissue. This abnormal physiological drive of BA neurons after repeated stress may contribute to heightened affective responses after chronic stress. A reduction in the impact of excitatory drive in the BA may therefore be a potential treatment for the harmful effects of chronic stress in psychiatric disorders.
Electromigration in Pb-free solders

Electromigration (EM)-induced damage in lead-free solders strongly depend on the Sn grain orientation in the Pb-free solder joint. Significant damage can develop at a very early stage when the c-axis of a Sn-grain is oriented close to the current direction. Rapid dissolution of both intermetallic compounds (IMC) and under-bump metallurgy (UBM) that led to significant cavitations at interface is caused by fast diffusion of Cu and Ni through the Sn crystal along the c-axis. On the other hand, when the c-axis of a Sn grain is not aligned with the current direction, cavitations at solder-IMC interface are formed mostly due to Sn-self diffusion which is correlated with failures at a much longer stress time. This is a direct proof of the highly anisotropic diffusion behavior of Cu and Ni in Sn, reported by Turnbull and Huntington many years ago. The stable Ag 3 Sn network and cyclic twinning in SnAg solder contributed to the better EM performance of Sn1.8Ag compared to that of Sn0.7Cu solder. The ranking of the three surface finishes, from best to worst, is Ni(P)/Cu, Ni(P)/Au, and Cu, when electrons are entering from the tested surfaces. A Ni barrier layer is needed to retard the electromigration damage. However, the addition of Cu at an optimized level to the Sn-Ag solder drastically improved the electromigration performance.
Relation of Calcium, Vitamin D, and Dairy Food Intake to Ischemic Heart Disease Mortality among Postmenopausal Women

To investigate whether greater intakes of calcium, vitamin D, or milk products may protect against ischemic heart disease mortality, the authors analyzed data from a prospective cohort study of 34,486 postmenopausal Iowa women 55-69 years old and without a history of ischemic heart disease who completed a dietary questionnaire in 1986. Through 1994, 387 deaths due to ischemic heart disease were documented (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes 410-414, 429.2). The multivariate-adjusted relative risks for the highest versus the lowest quartiles of total calcium, vitamin D, and milk product intakes were as follows: 0.67 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.47-0.94; p for trend = 0.09) for calcium, 1.41 (95% CI 0.93-2.15; p for trend = 0.12) for vitamin D, and 0.94 (95% CI 0.66-1.35; p for trend = 0.68) for milk products. The relative risk was 0.63 (95% CI 0.40-0.98) for high dietary calcium but no supplemental calcium intake and 0.66 (95% CI 0.36-1.23) for high supplemental calcium but low dietary calcium intake. These results suggest that a higher intake of calcium, but not of vitamin D or milk products, is associated with reduced ischemic heart disease mortality in postmenopausal women, and reduced risk may be achievable whether the higher intake of calcium is attained by diet, supplements, or both.
A mouse tumor-derived osteolytic factor stimulates bone resorption by a mechanism involving local protaglandins production in bone

Abstract Culture medium which was conditioned by tissue of a CE mouse breast tumor in vitro containes dose-dependent osteolytic activity. The osteolytic activity was not soluble in dichloromethane and ethylacetate, indicating that it was not attributable to vitamine D metabolites or prostaglandins. HOwever, breast tumor-conditioned medium stimulated production and release of prostaglandin E 2 from mouse calvaria in vitro, and the stimulation of bone resorption in vitro by breast tumor-conditioned medium was blocked by a dose of indomethacin that prevented stimulation of mouse calvarial prostaglandin E 2 production and release. The resorptive activity of parathyroid hormone(PTH) was not affected by the same dose of indomethacin, suggesting that the osteolytic factor was not PTH. This was further supported by observation that mouse kidney cell cAMP production was stimulated by PTH, but not only by the aqueous phase of ethylacetate-extracted breast tumor-conditioned medium. In addition to osteolytic activity, breast tumor-conditioned medium contained a dose-dependent bone cell mitogenic activity, demonstrated by the stimulation of [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation into trichloroacetic acid-insoluble macromolecules and a corresponding increase in bone cell number in monolayer cultures of bone cells. Breast tumor-conditioned medium also contained a dose-dependent transforming growth factor-(TGF)-like activity as defined by its ability to transform anchorage-dependent growth of nontransformed cells to anchorage-independent growth. The TGF in breast tumor-conditioned medium did not compete with epidermal growth factor (EGF) for EGF receptor binding, but its transforming activity was greatly enhanced by EGF, indicating that it was a β-type TGF. Both the osteolytic and mitogenic activities were nondialyzable, sensitive to reducing agent, and not removable by dichloromethane and ethylacetate extractions. Furthermore, the TGF activity was not removed by the ethylacetate extraction. Thus, the possibility that these activities in breast tumor-conditioned medium might be mediated by the same molecule must be considered. In summary, our data suggest that the CE mouse mammary carcinoma cells produce and secret into the culture medium an osteolytic factor which is neither PTH nor prostaglandin and which stimulates local synthesis in bone of prostaglandin E 2 which in turn increased bone resorption in vitro.
Impacts of geography, taxonomy and functional group on inorganic carbon use patterns in marine macrophytes

Summary Carbon uptake in terrestrial plants functions under near-constant source carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and isotopic ratios, but aquatic macrophytes operate in a more complex system where environmental fluxes and biotic interactions undermine assumptions of constant CO2 concentration and 13C/12C. Many marine macrophytes not only passively access CO2 for photosynthesis, but also actively concentrate CO2 and bicarbonate (HCO3−) using carbon concentration mechanisms (CCMs). These processes change macrophyte carbon fractionation signatures (13C/12C) and elevate seawater pH as high as 10.4 in mesocosm pH assays, in which the pH value reached is termed pH*. I assembled a global data set of 2027 marine macrophyte δ13C and pH assay values for 664 species to assess (i) how macrophyte δ13C varies with the abiotic parameters such as sea surface temperature (SST), latitude and habitat, and the organismal traits of taxonomic and functional group membership and (ii) how species δ13C is related to CCM presence or absence, as determined by a pH drift assay. Across 613 macrophyte species, collection site distance from the equator was negatively related to species δ13C, while collection site variance in SST was positively related to species δ13C. Macrophyte tissue δ13C differed among oceans as well as in intertidal versus subtidal habitats. Species from phylum Rhodophyta had the lowest δ13C, and functional group was related to δ13C, largely due to higher δ13C in calcifying species. Analysis of 141 species with paired pH*–δ13C data found that these metrics of CCM presence are not independent. As species δ13C increases so does the probability of species pH* > 9.0, a threshold value of CCM presence in pH assays. Synthesis. CCMs revealed species patterns in communities at every scale investigated, from local emersion gradients to oceanic and global gradients. Trends in macrophyte δ13C values indicate that macrophytes rely more on CO2 further from the equator, but have increased use of HCO3− at sites with high temperature variance, patterns that may be driven by species turnover rather than intraspecific variation. Patterns in species CCMs will be crucial to understanding how macrophyte communities respond to ocean acidification-induced changes to SST and variability.
Variation in intraoperative and postoperative red blood cell transfusion in pediatric surgery.

BACKGROUND Intraoperative and postoperative red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are relatively frequent events tracked in the American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric (ACS-NSQIP-P). This study sought to quantify variation in RBC transfusion practices among hospitals. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS This is an observational study of children older than 28 days who underwent a general, neurologic, urologic, otolaryngologic, plastic, or orthopedic operation at 50 hospitals in participating in the ACS-NSQIP-P during 2011 to 2012. The primary outcome was whether or not a RBC transfusion was administered from incision time to 72 hours postoperatively. Transfusions of fresh-frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, and platelets were excluded from data abstraction due the rarity of their administration. A multivariate hierarchical risk-adjustment model estimated the risk-adjusted hospital RBC transfusion odds ratio (OR) and designated hospitals by transfusion practice. RESULTS The mean RBC transfusion rate was 1.5%. Five preoperative variables were associated with greater than threefold increased odds of having an intraoperative or postoperative RBC transfusion; young age; 29 days to 1 year (OR, 5.9; p < 0.001) and 1 to 2 years (OR, 3.4; p < 0.001); American Society of Anesthesiologists Class IV (OR, 3.2; p < 0.001); procedure linear risk (OR, 3.1; p < 0.001); preoperative septic shock (OR, 14.5; p < 0.001); and preoperative cardiopulmonary resuscitation (OR, 8.1; p < 0.001). Twenty-five hospitals had RBC transfusion practices significantly different than risk-adjusted mean (17 higher and eight lower). CONCLUSION Intraoperative and postoperative RBC transfusion practices vary widely among hospitals after controlling for patient and procedural characteristics.
Spin assignments for quasi-molecular resonances from angular correlation techniques

Particle angular correlation techniques have been used to determine the spins of three resonances observed in the inelastic scattering reaction12C(12C,12C[3-])12C, betweenEc.m. = 25 MeV and 35 MeV The results are compared with previous suggested spin assignments in this energy region, and with the predictions of the Band Crossing Model.
Early Heart Rate Characteristics Predict Death and Morbidities in Preterm Infants.

Objectives To determine whether an early heart rate characteristics (HRC) index (HeRO score), measured in the first day and week after birth predicts death and morbidities compared with established illness severity scores. Study design For all very low birth weight infants in a single neonatal intensive care unit from 2004-2014, the average first day HRC index was calculated within 24 hours of birth (aHRC-24h) and the average first week HRC index within 7 days of birth (aHRC-7d). The Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology (SNAP-II) and Clinical Risk Indicator for Babies (CRIB-II) were calculated when data were available. The aHRC was compared with the SNAP-II and CRIB-II for predicting death, late-onset septicemia, necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, severe intraventricular hemorrhage, or severe retinopathy of prematurity. Results All 4 scores were associated with death and severe intraventricular hemorrhage ( P P P Conclusions HRC assessed in the first day or first week after birth compares favorably to established risk scores to predict death and morbidities in very low birth weight infants.
Characterization of the dizocilpine binding site on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Although the dissociative anesthetic dizocilpine [(+)-MK-801] inhibits nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) function in a noncompetitive manner, the location of the dizocilpine binding site(s) has yet to be clearly established. Thus, to characterize the binding site for dizocilpine on the AChR we examined 1) the dissociation constant (Kd) and stoichiometry of [3H]dizocilpine binding; 2) the displacement of dizocilpine radioligand binding by noncompetitive inhibitors (NCIs) and conversely dizocilpine displacement of fluorescent and radiolabeled NCIs from their respective high-affinity binding sites on the AChR; and 3) photoaffinity labeling of the AChR using125I-dizocilpine. The results establish that one high-affinity (Kd = 4.8 μM) and several (3–6) low-affinity (Kd = ∼140 μM) binding sites exist for dizocilpine on the desensitized and resting AChR, respectively. The binding of the fluorescent NCIs ethidium, quinacrine, and crystal violet as well as [3H]thienylcyclohexylpiperidine was inhibited by dizocilpine on desensitized AChRs. However, Schild-type analyses indicate that only the inhibition of quinacrine in the desensitized state seems to be mediated by a mutually exclusive action. Photoaffinity labeling of the AChR by 125I-dizocilpine was primarily restricted to the α1 subunit and subsequent mapping revealed that the principal sites of labeling are localized to the M4 (∼70%) and M1 (30%) transmembrane domains. Collectively, the data indicate that the high-affinity dizocilpine binding site is not located in the lumen of the ion channel but probably near the quinacrine binding locus at a nonluminal domain in the AChR desensitized state.
Sentinel Surveillance on Male Visitor to STD Clinic in Sichuan,2010-2012

Objective To investigate the HIV related knowledge,behaviors and HIV prevalence among male visitors to the sexually transmitted disease( STD) clinic in Sichuan. Methods According to the National Scheme of HIV Sentinel Surveillance,28 622 STD clinic visitors in sentinel sites from 2010 to 2012 were surveyed and conducted serological test. Results The annual average prevalence rate of HIV was 0. 66% over the 3 years. A proportion of 27. 40% of the clinic visitors had non-marital sexual behavior in the last 3 months,and 40. 85% of them had more than one sexual partner. Conclusion The overall prevalence rate of HIV among male visitors to STD clinics in Sichuan during 2010-2012 remains at a comparatively low level. Nevertheless,the infection risk of HIV is still alerting,and thus health education and efficient intervention measures should be strengthened in time.
Names, Missions and Constitution of Journalism and Mass Communication——A Discussion with LI Xi-guang and PAN Zhong-dang

Guided by the theories and principles of applied semiotics, the author analyzed a spirited disagreement between a well-known "journalism" professor and a well-known "communication" professor. It was found that two Chinese words, "chuan bo xue" and "xin wen xue," were used to represent three key concepts, 1) communication research and education, which include sub-disciplines such as journalism, public relations, advertising, media management, internet communication, and basic research; 2) basic research only; 3) journalism education and journalism research. With these two signifiers (words) and three signified (concepts), there are two trios of "one signifier for two signified" and one trio of "two signifiers for one signified," leading to confusion and an identity crises about the composition and mission of the field. The author suggests adding a third term "ji chu chuan xue" to represent basic research, and reassign meanings to the other two terms so that "xin wen xue" only represents journalism education and journalism research, and "chuan bo xue" represents the entire field. Using the explicated concept and the clarified labels, the author went on to discuss the constitution and the mission of the field, and the division of labor between profession and academia, teaching and research, skill courses and theory courses, applied research and basic. research, generally applied research and singularly applied research, and among various sub-disciplines of mass communication.
DIRECT STANDARDIZATION METHOD FOR SULFUR DIOXIDE STANDARD SOLUTION

A new method of standardizing sulfur dioxide standard solution has been presented, in which iodine that is derived from the reaction of KIO 3 with excess KI istitrated directly. Comparing with standard methods, the new way does not need to prepare and standardize the unstable Na 2S 2O 3 solution and use volatile I 2. As a result, the analytical time is shortened and the cost is reduced. The reaction condition is easy to reach and the method has high accuracy (CV≈0.082%, RE±0.4%). It is a method that is worth recommending.
The Effects of Sinus Bacteria on Human Ciliated Nasal Epithelium in Vitro

The mechanisms by which bacteria colonize and damage ciliated epithelium are important in understanding the pathophysiology of rhinitis, sinusitis, and otitis. Bacteria that have the ability to impair mucociliary clearance would be at an advantage in establishing infection of ciliated surfaces. This study investigates the effect of Hemophilus Influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Brahmanella catarralis, and Staphylococcus epidermidis on the ciliary activity of normal ciliated nasal epithelium in human beings. Ciliary activity of the nasal epithelium in the presence of each pathogen was assessed for more than 240 minutes with a photometric method of ciliary beat frequency (CBF) measurement. H. influenzae exerted significant effects on ciliary activity, with a 46% decrease in the CBF by 4 hours (with bacteria-containing broth) and a 32% decrease with bacteria-free filtrate. S. epidermidis decreased CBF by 44% with the bacterial broth. A sterile cell-free filtrate had no significant effect. S. pneumoniae and...
Current status of organ transplantation

Recent advances in the understanding of mechanisms of graft rejection and in the prevention and treatment of rejection are discussed. The clinical success of kidney, liver, heart, and pancreas transplants is analyzed.
Adapting computational text analysis to social science (and vice versa)

Social scientists and computer scientist are divided by small differences in perspective and not by any significant disciplinary divide. In the field of text analysis, several such differences are noted: social scientists often use unsupervised models to explore corpora, whereas many computer scientists employ supervised models to train data; social scientists hold to more conventional causal notions than do most computer scientists, and often favor intense exploitation of existing algorithms, whereas computer scientists focus more on developing new models; and computer scientists tend to trust human judgment more than social scientists do. These differences have implications that potentially can improve the practice of social science.
Toxoplasmosis of the bladder: case report and review of the literature

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that is responsible for an asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic lymphadenopathy syndrome, which in the immunocompromised host can be life threatening. Toxoplasmosis commonly affects the central nervous system. Genitourinary involvement is uncommon with reported cases limited to Toxoplasma orchitis and the nephrotic syndrome. To our knowledge we report the first case of toxoplasmosis of the bladder as an intravesical mass without central nervous system or other organ involvement in a young man with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
From the user's perspective

We departed from existing studies on Internet use by exploring users' perception of their own use of the Internet. Using a mixed-method explanatory sequential design approach, we first asked users to generate lists of actions they take on the Internet and then asked them why they engage in these 35 activities. Using the information gleaned from the interviews, we developed surveys that asked 261 users (ages 19-68) to rate the perceived risk (defined as situations that contain uncertainty regarding outcomes and/or possess the potential for negative consequences) associated with each action, benefits received from each action, frequency with which they engage in the action, and amount of information they are willing to share to engage in the action. We also assessed a number of individual difference characteristics. Our study results (1) provide an Internet Action list usable in future studies; (2) provide an initial understanding that users (to a degree) engage in Internet actions for the benefits they perceive they gain; (3) show that users share little personal information, if any, to get those benefits; and (4) users have little ability to accurately evaluate the true risk (i.e., due to Internet threats) associated with those actions. Users generated 35 Internet actions they say they take on the Internet.Users provided frequency ratings, risk perceptions, and benefits for each action.We compared user rated risk perceptions to expert ratings of risk for each action.Tendency towards risky behavior was unrelated to risk and frequency ratings.Younger and older adult users rate risks and gains about the same.
From Web to Cyborg: Tracing Power in Care

Late into my eight and a half hour shift as a hospital chaplain, the paper tally I keep in my breast pocket says that I have had only fifteen visits today. My goal is nineteen, given the pressure from administration to boost our office's coverage and increase the number of electronic forms we log into the interdisciplinary chart. The next visit initially appears to be a quick one. A middle-aged woman in a hospital gown greets me cautiously as I knock and enter. Perhaps because the patient is intuiting my fatigue or is just too tired to talk, she responds to my questions with one word answers: She feels “fine”; her stay has been “good”; she feels “ready” to leave to hospital “soon.” At the end of a long day, with a few more to go, I feel this visit going nowhere beyond these surface-level greetings, and I am ready to leave a few minutes into the conversation. I ask the patient if she would like prayer. She nods but does not voice any immediate concerns, so I pray for God's accompanying and loving presence ...
Production Rates for Oxyfluorides SOF2, SO2F2, and SOF4 in SF6 Corona Discharges.

The most abundant, long-lived stable gaseous species generated by corona discharges in SF6 gas containing trace levels of O2 and H2O are the oxyfluorides SOF2, SO2F2, and SOF4. Absolute energy and charge rates-of-production of these and the minor products SO2, OCS, and CO2 have been measured at different total gas pressures from 100 kPa to 300 kPa and for discharges of different current, power, and polarity. Oxyfluoride yields for SF6/O2 mixtures containing up to 10% O2 have also been measured. The results indicate that oxyfluoride production is not controlled by the concentrations of either O2 or H2O at levels below about 1%, and the rate controlling factor is the dissociation rate of SF6 in the discharge. The discharge current and time dependence of the production rates are discussed in terms of gas-phase mechanisms that have been proposed to explain previous observations of electrical, thermal, and laser-induced decomposition of SF6 and SF6/O2 mixtures. Upper limits on the total SF6 decomposition rate in low-current discharges have been estimated. Details of the chemical analysis procedures are given, and application of the results to the design of chemical diagnostics for SF6-insulated, high-voltage apparatus is discussed.
Link allocation, routing, and scheduling for fading hybrid FSO/RF networks

Hybrid free space optical (FSO)/RF networks have recently been proposed as an improved architecture for wireless mesh networks (WMN), providing broadband communications. In this paper we study the throughput improvement achieved by augmenting an RF WMN suffering from channel fading with an FSO network. We address the problem of optimally allocating FSO links and routing traffic through the hybrid network. The results show that the throughput of the original RF network increases dramatically using our algorithm.
Using Information-Flow Methods to Analyze the Security of Cyber-Physical Systems

Securing information flow is essential to methods that must ensure confidentiality, but information-flow disruption is equally important because it points to an integrity vulnerability. A proposed security model addresses both aspects, accounting for cyber-physical systems' unique confidentiality and integrity vulnerabilities.
Phosphorylation of CtIP by ATM regulates its own expression and activates both G1/S and G2/M checkpoints

2578 CtIP was initially identified as a protein interacting with CtBP, Rb family proteins and BRCA1, all of which are involved in transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Together with CtBP, CtIP can repress BRCA1-dependent trans-activation of p21 promoter; Rb was also previously shown to regulate p21 expression. Upon ionizing radiation (IR), CtIP was phosphorylated at serine664 and serine745 by ATM. However, the consequence of this phosphorylation remains unclear. To address this question, we generated both stable and tetracycline-inducible clones expressing CtIP(S664/745A) dominant-negative mutant protein to elucidate the biological function of phosphorylation of CtIP by ATM. Cells expressing GFP-CtIP(S664/745A) were hypersensitive to IR based on colony formation assay and have partial defects on both IR-induced G1/S and G2/M checkpoints, as indicated by BrdU incorporation and mitotic index analysis. Since p21 is an important cell cycle regulator for both G1 /S and G2/M checkpoints, induction of p21 was compromised in these cells expressing GFP-CtIP(S664/745A). Therefore CtIP may regulates checkpoint through regulating p21 expression. In addition, in cells expressing GFP-CtIP(S664/745A), the endogenous CtIP protein level decreases. Northern Blot and RT-PCR indicates this regulation is at RNA level. CtIP promoter activity is repressed in cells expressing GFP-CtIP(S664/745A), and CHIP assay indicates CtIP binds to its own promoter at E2F sites. Further analysis of CtIP promoter activity in a pair of wild-type and mutant Rb cell lines (SaoS-2 and SR5) indicates this regulation is dependent on Rb. Surprisingly, knocking down CtIP did not release this repression, on the other hand, the repression is even enhanced. We hypothesize that CtIP serves as a molecular module to remove the repression by Rb and thus influence cell cycle progression and checkpoint activation.
The Effect of Accidental Steam Entry on Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor Integral Neutronics Parameters

A possible accident scenario in a gas-cooled fast reactor (GCFR) is the leakage of secondary steam into the core. A full-scale experimental study of the physics effects of such an accidental condition has been performed on the zero power reactor (ZPR)-9 critical facility at Argonne National Laboratory. The results of integral neutronics measurements performed on the simulated steam-flooded GCFR core are reported, and comparisons with corresponding results for the reference GCFR core presented. Results of calculations of these parameters with ENDF/B-IV nuclear data and standard design methods are also presented. 26 refs.
Performance Prediction Equations for Linear Planar Structural Systems: Concept, Formulation, and Validation:

This paper presents and validates an analytical formulation, denoted as Performance Prediction Equations (PPEs), that relates the seismic response engineering demand parameter (EDP) of buildings to...
Enhancing Health Message Framing With Metaphor and Cultural Values: Impact on Latinas' Cervical Cancer Screening.

Background An integration of message framing and sociocultural literature suggests that ethnic health disparities may be reduced by incorporating minority groups' cultural values into persuasive health messages. Framing messages with metaphors represents one promising strategy for harnessing cultural values to change health outcomes. Still, the effectiveness of metaphoric health messages in minority populations has received virtually no empirical attention. Purpose To fill this gap, the present study tested whether a health message using a cancer-screening metaphor targeting collectivism and familism values would engage individual differences in these values to predict Papanicolaou (Pap) smear intentions among Latinas. Methods Latina women (N = 168) completed an online survey including measures of collectivism and familism. They were randomized to read a message about Pap smears featuring the metaphor the body is a family or no metaphor before reporting their Pap smear intentions. Results Regression analyses revealed a pattern of interactions suggesting metaphoric messages engage targeted cultural values: For Latinas reading the family metaphor message, collectivism and familism positively predicted Pap smear intentions, whereas for Latinas reading the no-metaphor message, these values did not predict intentions. Conclusions This study offers a foundation for further examination of the potential for metaphoric health messages that connect to cultural values to reduce ethnic health disparities. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
31P NMR Spectroscopy of the Mouse Heart

NMR spectroscopy of tissues and organs yields two kind of information: the steady state tissue content of abundant NMRobservable metabolites and ions and the kinetics of certain enzymes and metabolic pathways. Because these measurements are noninvasive, they can be made repetitively throughout a protocol. They can also be made simultaneously with assessment of physiologic function. In the case for 31P NMR spectroscopy of the isolated heart, and for the heart in situ, it is possible to make measurements of ATP and phosphocreatine (PCr) contents and turnover rates while simultaneously assessing systolic and diastolic performance. Such information is unique and provides a valuable solution to the perennial conflict between biochemistry and physiology. The biochemist dares to extrapolate results obtained from dilute solutions to the protein-rich cytosol, hoping that the results have functional meaning. The physiologist is so convinced of the importance of studying the intact heart, that he/she treats the heart as a black-box about which no molecular information can be known. The biophysicist has the best of both worlds: using NMR spectroscopy, one can learn about biochemical events within the cell while respecting the integrity of the physiological system.