cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cochlear amplification, outer hair cells and prestin

Mechanical amplification of acoustic signals is apparently a common feature of vertebrate auditory organs. In non-mammalian vertebrates amplification is produced by stereociliary processes, related to the mechanotransducer channel complex and probably to the phenomenon of fast adaptation. The extended frequency range of the mammalian cochlea has probably co-evolved with a novel hair cell type, the outer hair cell and its constituent membrane protein, prestin. Cylindrical outer hair cells are motile and their somatic length changes are voltage driven and powered by prestin. One of the central outstanding problems in mammalian cochlear neurobiology is the relation between the two amplification processes.
Racial differences in response to cinacalcet as a treatment for uremic hyperparathyroidism

To the Editor: In a recent issue of Kidney International, Martin et al.1 reported the results of a randomized controlled trial in which parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were compared for 205 patients with uremic hyperparathyroidism treated with cinacalcet versus 205 patients treated with placebo. We believe that this analysis may have obscured important PTH outcomes for black subjects.
Kinetic Studies on the Dehydration of Calcium Oxalate Monohydrate

Abstract The dehydration of CaC2O4 · H2O has been studied both isothermally and nonisothermally using thermogravimetric analysis. It was found that material which had aged for 1 year behaved differently from the original sample. Isothermal dehydration of the original material followed an R1 rate law and gave an activation energy of 60.1 ± 6.6 kJ mole-1. The reaction appears to be independent of particle size. Analysis of the data from nonisothermal experiments gave about equally good results with R2 and R3 rate laws. The isothermal dehydration of aged CaC2O4 · H2O followed R1, A2, or A3 rate laws and appears to have an activation energy of 118 ± 15 kJ mole-1. Sample to sample variation between runs is similar to that of K2[Cu(C2O4)2] · 2H2O.
Isothermal-desorption-rate measurements in the vicinity of the Curie temperature for H2 chemisorbed on nickel films

Measurements of the isothermal desorption rate of H2 chemisorbed onto polycrystalline nickel films made for temperatures spanning the Curie temperature of the nickel film are presented. Desorption kinetics were followed by measuring the decay of the change in resistance of the nickel film brought about by hydrogen chemisorption after gas-phase H2 had been rapidly evacuated. The desorption rate is found to undergo an anomalous decrease in the vicinity of the Curie temperature, accompanied by an increase in the desorption activation energy and the equilibrium constant for the chemisorbed hydrogen. The results are interpreted in terms of anomalous variations in rate constants for the formation of the precursor molecular adsorbed state and the chemisorbed atomic state due to the phase transition in the nickel. The changes in rate constants are also considered to be in qualitative agreement with theoretical predictions based on a spin coupling between the adatom and the magnetic substrate.
Rayleigh−Bénard Instability in Sedimentation

Instabilities often arise in the sedimentation of colloidal particles, even when using the density gradient technique. These instabilities occur at volume fractions as low as 10 -3 or 10 -4 , causing mixing of particles throughout the suspension, rather than the smooth sedimentation of particles. Here, we show that the mixing is due to a classical Rayleigh-Benard instability. The sedimentation process is modeled in an approximate manner, and experiments are done to test whether the approximate model gives maximum stable volume fractions in the correct range. Sedimentation is a well-studied problem, and yet, to our knowledge, this is the first time that the well-known instability has been described in terms of a Rayleigh-Benard instability.
Psychiatric history, due procedural safeguards, and the use of discretion in the criminal justice process

Using a stratified random sample of all male inmates released from one state's correctional facilities during a 13-month period (N = 550), this research investigates the impact of an extralegal variable (history of psychiatric hospitalization) on decisionmaking in stages in the criminal justice system at which defendants are granted more and fewer due procedural safeguards. On the basis of the work of Goffman and Green, it is hypothesized that this variable will not equally affect decisions made at various points in the criminal justice process. Instead, psychiatric history will have less impact at points in the process where the defendant is granted more due procedural safeguards (e.g., sentencing), with its significance increasing where the defendant receives fewer due procedural safeguards (e.g., parole). The results are consistent with the hypothesis: A history of psychiatric hospitalization was not significant in the decision regarding sentence length, though it became highly critical in the decision...
EMPIRICAL APPROACHES TO QUANTIFYING INTERACTION INTENSITY: COMPETITION AND FACILITATION ALONG PRODUCTIVITY GRADIENTS

Quantitative synthesis across studies requires consistent measures of effect size among studies. In community ecology, these measures of effect size will often be some measure of the strength of interactions between taxa. However, indices of interaction strength vary greatly among both theoretical and empirical studies, and the connection between hypotheses about interaction strength and the metrics that are used to test these hypotheses are often not explicit. We describe criteria for choosing appropriate metrics and methods for comparing them among studies at three stages of designing a meta-analysis to test hypotheses about variation in interaction intensity: (1) the choice of response variable; (2) how effect size is calculated using the response in two treatments; and (3) whether there is a consistent quantitative effect across all taxa and systems studied or only qualitatively similar effects within each taxon–system combination. The consequences of different choices at each of these stages are illu...
The IFAC multilingual dictionary of automatic control terminology

A brief history of the inception of the IFAC Dictionary is followed by an indication of its scope, and the problems of classification and compilation that were encountered in preparing it for publication.
Vibrational frequencies and structural determination of 1,3,5,7,2,4,6,8-tetrathiatetrazocine

Abstract The normal mode frequencies and corresponding vibrational assignments of 1,3,5,7,2,4,6,8-tetrathiatetrazocine are examined theoretically using the gaussian 98 set of quantum chemistry codes. Each of the vibrational modes was assigned to one of six types of motion predicted by a group theoretical analysis (S–N stretch, N–H stretch, N–H bend, N–S–N bend, S–N–S bend, and ring torsion) utilizing the C4v symmetry of the molecule. Uniform scaling factors were derived for each type of motion. Predicted infrared and Raman intensities are reported. Three high-energy conformers of 1,3,5,7,2,4,6,8-tetrathiatetrazocine with Cs, D2d, and C2h symmetries are examined. The normal modes of 1,3,5,7,2,4,6,8-tetrathiatetrazocine-d4 are also examined.
Exploring the Effects of Hope on GPA and Retention among College Undergraduate Students on Academic Probation

This study analyzed the impact of hope on the academic achievement and retention of 235 students on academic probation at a private Northeastern university. Probationary students were enrolled in a mandatory online course designed to facilitate academic and nonacademic skills, to improve student GPAs and overall retention. The Hope Scale (Snyder et al. (1991)) was administered to identify whether students with greater levels of hope would experience an increase in academic success upon completion of the course. Students were broken down into groups of high, medium, and low hope based on their scores on the instrument. Results showed students who completed the course were more likely to be retained than those who did not complete the course, had a slight increase in GPA by the end of the semester, and high-hope students showed the greatest overall gain in GPAs.
Dependence of the fluorescence of a composite photochromic molecule on structure and viscosity

The spectroscopic properties, transient spectra and kinetics of a composite molecule are described. This molecule consists of a photochromic moiety chemically bonded to a strongly fluorescing dye. Experimental data presented here show that this composite molecule performs as an erasable, re-writable molecular optical storage medium with non-destructive read-out. The dependence of the fluorescence efficiency on the structure of the photochromic group and viscosity is discussed.
SpxA1 Involved in Hydrogen Peroxide Production, Stress Tolerance and Endocarditis Virulence in Streptococcus sanguinis

Streptococcus sanguinis is one of the most common agents of infective endocarditis. Spx proteins are a group of global regulators that negatively or positively control global transcription initiation. In this study, we characterized the spxA1 gene in S. sanguinis SK36. The spxA1 null mutant displayed opaque colony morphology, reduced hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) production, and reduced antagonistic activity against Streptococcus mutans UA159 relative to the wild type strain. The ΔspxA1 mutant also demonstrated decreased tolerance to high temperature, acidic and oxidative stresses. Further analysis revealed that ΔspxA1 also exhibited a ∼5-fold reduction in competitiveness in an animal model of endocarditis. Microarray studies indicated that expression of several oxidative stress genes was downregulated in the ΔspxA1 mutant. The expression of spxB and nox was significantly decreased in the ΔspxA1 mutant compared with the wild type. These results indicate that spxA1 plays a major role in H(2)O(2) production, stress tolerance and endocarditis virulence in S. sanguinis SK36. The second spx gene, spxA2, was also found in S. sanguinis SK36. The spxA2 null mutant was found to be defective for growth under normal conditions and showed sensitivity to high temperature, acidic and oxidative stresses.
Demonstration of a missing outer membrane protein in tolG mutants of Escherichia coli

Abstract A class of Escherichia coli mutants called tolG are specifically tolerant to bacteriocin JF246. Cell envelopes were prepared from three independent spontaneous E. coli . tolG mutants and the parental strain ( tolG + ). Electrophoresis of these preparations in polyacrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulfate showed that the tolG strains lacked a cell envelope protein found in the tolG + strain. It was estimated that this protein accounted for 10% of the total cell envelope proteins by densitometer tracings of gels stained with Fast Green. Membrane fractionation by isopycnic centrifugation in a sucrose density gradient showed that this protein was located in the outer membrane of tolG + cells. Genetic studies using conjugation, transduction and reversion showed that, in the limited number of recombinants or revertants studied, strains exhibiting the tolerant phenotype lacked the outer membrane protein, whereas the protein was present in bacteriocin-sensitive strains.
Adolescents' reasons for having sex: gender differences.

Our findings challenge the assumption that females are motivated primarily to have sex in order to feel cared about or in order to maintain their relationship and that males are generally motivated to have sex for pleasure. We suggest that such a view reflects an artificial dichotomy and that intervention approaches that do not address both males’ and females’ emotional and physical desires for sex may fail to respond to the diversity of motivations for sex even within relatively homogenous ethnic communities. The general lack of endorsement of social or relationship pressures as motivations for sex in our sample may have come about because explicit “peer pressure” is more salient for the initiation of sex and therefore is less relevant for our sexually active sample. Alternatively the social pressures that adolescents experience to engage in particular behaviors may be subtle and are not recognized by youth as “peer pressure.” (excerpt)
Evaluation of Energy Gradients and Infrared Vibrational Spectra through Molecules-in-Molecules Fragment-Based Approach

Molecules-in-Molecules (MIM) is a general hybrid fragment-based extrapolation approach for calculating accurate total energies of large molecules, similar in spirit to the popular ONIOM methodology. In this work, the MIM model is extended for the precise evaluation of the energy gradients and infrared (IR) vibrational spectra of large molecules. The overlapping subsystems in this work are constructed from nonoverlapping fragments using a number-based scheme, and the dangling bonds are saturated with link-hydrogen atoms. Independent fragment calculations are performed to evaluate the energies and its gradients. Subsequently, the link-atom energy gradient components are projected back onto the corresponding host and supporting atoms, through the Jacobian projection method, as in the ONIOM approach. After geometry optimization, the Jacobian link-atom projection method is also employed for the precise evaluation of the force constants and dipole derivatives of the full molecule. The performance of the MIM model is benchmarked on 25 small-to-large peptides, with inevitable weak long-range intramolecular interactions. Upon accounting these long-range interactions through a second layer, at an inexpensive low-level of theory (MIM2), the energy accuracy improve by 80%, compared to MIM with one layer (MIM1). The MIM2 IR frequencies and intensities have an ∼75% improvement, compared to the corresponding values at the MIM1 level of theory. A similar improvement is also observed for anion, cation, and radical systems constructed from the neutral benchmark molecules. The accuracy and performance of the benchmark systems validate the MIM model for exploring the vibrational infrared spectra of large molecules.
"Let Women Not Despair": Rabanus Maurus on Women as Prophets

In his medieval commentary on the Book of Judges and in other writings, Rabanus Maurus refers to Deborah as a judge and prophet. The A. argues that Rabanus' surprising openness to ecclesiastical ministry for women derives from the practice of lectio divina that he shared with preScholastic theologians. The legacy of these theologians needs to be reappropriated and understood by the Modern Church so that it will achieve a fuller assimilation of Christian tradition
The group attribution error

Abstract There is a parallel between our tendency to infer the attitudes of an individual on the basis of his or her behavior, regardless of the external constraints ( Jones & Harris, 1967 ; Ross, 1977 ), and our tendency to infer the attitudes of a group on the basis of the group's decision, regardless of the group decision rule. The present research focuses on this latter process. What we term the group attribution error consists of the tendency to assume that group decisions reflect members' attitudes. This assumption can be erroneous because group decision rules, in addition to members' attitudes, can influence group decisions. In Experiment 1, members of a community in which a water conservation law was or was not instituted were assumed to have correspondent attitudes, regardless of how the community decision was made. In Experiments 2 and 3, subjects inferred a greater correspondence between out-group decisions and out-group attitudes than between an in-group decision and in-group attitudes. The fourth experiment found that subjects committed the group attribution error because they attended as much to the outcome of a recall election as to the actual proportion of voters for and against the recall. Finally, Experiment 5 showed that subjects' inferences of jury members' attitudes were influenced not only by the final jury vote but also by the actual decision, which was determined by the vote plus the decision rule by which the jury was bound. The results are related to previous research on the fundamental attribution error, stereotyping, and polarized appraisals of out-groups.
The Environmental Sample Processor (ESP) - An Autonomous Robotic Device for Detecting Microorganisms Remotely using Molecular Probe Technology

We are developing an instrument to conduct molecular biological analyses below the ocean surface, autonomously. The device is known as the Environmental Sample Processor, or ESP. The system is based on a modular design consisting of a core sample processor (the ESP), analytical modules and sampling modules. The core ESP provides the primary interface between the environment and a set of DNA and antibody-based tests that are carried out onboard the instrument in real-time. In addition, the ESP can be used to archive samples for a variety of analyses after the instrument is returned to a laboratory. Sampling modules are devices external to the core ESP that can be added to meet specialized needs, such as operating in the deep-sea (etc). Analytical modules are conceived of as stand-alone devices that can be added to the core ESP to impart different suites of analytical functions downstream of common sample processing operations. At the time of this writing we have worked most extensively on the core ESP and detection chemistries that involve DNA probe and protein arrays. The ESP has been deployed successfully in coastal ocean surface waters. We are also developing a sample collection module and pressure housing suitable for deploying the ESP at depths to 1000m. This version of the instrument is known as the deep-sea ESP, or D-ESP. The long-term objective of the D-ESP program is to provide a molecular analytical capability at deep-sea hot vents and cold seeps. The D-ESP will be deployed using an ROV and later transitioned to benthic moorings and a cabled observatory. Finally, we are just starting work to incorporate a microfluidic analytical module to support assays that require DNA purification and amplification
Cre-mediated site-specific recombination in zebrafish embryos

Cre-mediated site-specific recombination has become an invaluable tool for manipulation of the murine genome. The ability to conditionally activate gene expression or to generate chromosomal alterations with this same tool would greatly enhance zebrafish genetics. This study demonstrates that the HSP70 promoter can be used to inducibly control expression of an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) -Cre fusion protein. The EGFP-Cre fusion protein is capable of promoting recombination between lox sites in injected plasmids or in stably inherited transgenes as early as 2 hr post-heat shock induction. Finally, the levels of Cre expression achieved in a transgenic fish line carrying the HSP70-EGFP-cre transgene are compatible with viability and both male and female transgenic fish are fertile subsequent to induction of EGFP-Cre expression. Hence, our data suggests that Cre-mediated recombination is a viable means of manipulating gene expression in zebrafish.
Testing for exposure to illicit drugs and other agents in the neonate: a review of laboratory methods and the role of meconium analysis.

B ccording to a national survey, approximately 13 million Americans were illicit drug users in 1995.1 About 6.1% of this population were pregnant women or women of childbearing age. It has been reported that the prevalence of drug abuse among pregnant women ranged between 0.4% and 27%. 2 These figures are probably underestimated because they rely on maternal report. In a large survey of infants delivered at a tertiary perinatal center, 42% of the infants were found to be exposed to cocaine, heroin, or cannabinoids by meconium analysis, in contrast to the 10.5% drug use obtained by maternal history. 3 Drug abuse during pregnancy is a major health problem because the associated perinatal complications are numerous. These include a high incidence of stillbirths, fetal distress, meconium-stained anmiotic fluid, premature rupture of the membranes, and maternal hemorrhage (abruptio placentae or placenta previa). 4-7 For the neonate, the mortality rate, as well as morbidity rate (eg, asphyxia, prematurity, infections, low birth weight, hyaline membrane disease, aspiration pneumonia, congenital malformations, cerebral infarction, abnormal heart rate and breathing patterns, drug withdrawal, and risk for acquired immunodeficiency disease), is also increased. 8-16 Long-term sequelae are not uncommon and include delays in physical growth and mental development, learning disabilities, and sudden infant death syndrome. 17-21 Because of these immediate and long-term problems, neonates born to women who were not previously known to have abused drugs during pregnancy should be identified soon after birth, so that appropriate intervention and follow-up of the
Emerging Strains in GCC Labor Markets

Unemployment pressures among nationals are emerging in the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC). At a time when a rapidly growing number of young nationals are entering the labor force and governments are no longer able to act as employers of first and last resort, the non-oil sector continues to rely on expatriate labor to meet its labor requirements in most GCC countries. In this environment, policymakers face the related challenges of addressing unemployment pressures while striking a balance between maintaining a liberal foreign labor policy and a reasonable level of competitiveness of the non-oil sector. Using a matching function framework, this paper examines labor market policies that are likely to expand the ability to hire nationals in the non-oil sector. It finds that an effective labor strategy should focus on strengthening investment in human capital, adopting institutional reforms, and promoting a vibrant non-oil economy.
Ethnic minority status and adolescent mental health services utilization

Adolescents who are members of ethnic minority groups constitute a large and ever increasing proportion of the population. While the information base regarding mental health problems and mental health services utilization in adolescents in general is slowly increasing, relatively little knowledge has accumulated about the particular needs and practices of youth of color. The purpose of this article is to review the available literature about adolescent mental health needs and service utilization as well as literature regarding adult ethnicity and mental health service utilization. The conclusion of this review is that significant gaps exist in our knowledge base regarding ethnicity in adolescents and its implications for the utilization of mental health services. The limited data available suggest that significant numbers of adolescents of color have multiple needs for mental health care and that a complex set of barriers exists to prevent them from obtaining appropriate services. A variety of suggestions are offered to improve the opportunities for and the quality of mental health services for ethnic minority adolescents.
Solubilization of phenol in polyethoxylated nonionic micelles

Abstract The solubilization of phenol in nonionic micelles of polyethoxylated nonylphenols having 20 and 30 ethylene oxide units was investigated by means of various techniques including solubilization, ultrafiltration, diffusion, ultraviolet spectroscopy, and viscosity experiments. From these measurements, the degree of partitioning of phenol into the micelles was investigated as a function of phenol concentration at three different surfactant concentrations for each system. The data obtained from ultrafiltration were treated as binding phenomena. The degree of partitioning of phenol into the micelles was found to be constant over the entire range of phenol concentrations in its solubilization region when the surfactant concentration was held constant. As the surfactant concentration was increased, the fraction of phenol partitioning into the micelles also increased. Diffusion and viscosity measurements revealed that the sizes of micelles at a fixed surfactant concentration do not change significantly with phenol addition. Moreover, from data analysis of binding phenomena of ultrafiltration, calculations showed that the maximum number of binding sites of phenol molecules per ethylene oxide unit was 0.19 at 25°C. These results suggest that phenol molecules are solubilized within the palisade layer of ethylene oxide units of nonionic micelles. The ultraviolet absorbance measurements, using hexaethylene oxide mono-n-dodecyl ether as surfactant, also support this result.
Love makes you real: Favorite television characters are perceived as "real" in a social facilitation paradigm.

Borrowing from the media, communication, and psychological literatures on parasocial, or one–sided, relationships to media figures, the current investigation examined the processes underlying the anthropomorphism of favorite television characters. Two studies tested the hypothesis that individuals' affection for television characters predicts their perceptions of realness. In Study One, participants reported their perceptions of and feelings toward either their favorite television character or an equally familiar, nonfavorite character, and results provided initial support for our hypothesis. In Study Two, participants were passively exposed to an image of either their favorite television characters or a control, nonfavorite character while completing well–learned and novel motor tasks. In line with classic social facilitation findings, participants in the “presence of” their favorite character (versus the nonfavorite character) demonstrated facilitation on the well–learned task and inhibition on the nove...
Ukrainian Economic Policy after the Orange Revolution: A Commentary on Åslund's Analysis

One of the leading Western observers of Ukrainian affairs, before and after the dis-integration of the Soviet Union, discusses the preceding paper by Anders Aslund devoted to the economic policies of Ukraine after the Orange Revolution. The commentary covers in some detail the pervasive corruption, largely traced to Ukrainian oligarchs but also endemic in the administration and among the military. Relatively recent 2005 polls are cited to illustrate the citizenry's support for some of the government's policies and regulations pertaining to prices, privatization, and organized crime, as well as those showing presidential and ministerial approval ratings. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: H10, H80, O52, P30. 16 references.
Addressing current medical needs in invasive fungal infection prevention and treatment with new antifungal agents, strategies and formulations

Introduction: Morbidity and mortality associated with invasive fungal infections (IFIs) remains unacceptably high. Such diseases represent a substantial burden to the healthcare system. New options are needed to address antifungal resistance in existing and emerging pathogens and improve treatment outcomes while minimizing drug-related toxicities and interactions. Awareness of new and potential future options is of great value for those healthcare professionals who care for patients with IFIs. Areas covered: A search of PubMed, infectious diseases conference abstracts and reference lists from relevant publications was conducted and relevant information abstracted. This review describes the limitations of existing systemic antifungal therapies (e.g., resistance, drug-drug interactions, drug-related toxicities) and summarizes data regarding several emerging antifungal compounds including (but not limited to) new triazoles (e.g. isavuconazole, ravuconazole), echinocandins (e.g., aminocandin) and nikkomycin Z...
Reiterative growth in the complex adaptive architecture of the Paleozoic (Pennsylvanian) filicalean fern Kaplanopteris clavata

Reiteration is a widespread component of plant growth whose evolutionary importance in ferns is not recognized widely. We introduce and discuss the growth architecture of Kaplanopteris clavata, a fossil filicalean fern from the Pennsylvanian (ca. 305 million yeas old), focusing on types of reiteration exhibited by this species and on the adaptive and phylogenetic significance of reiteration for ferns in general. Kaplanopteris clavata combines two types of reiterative growth where growth modules are borne on fronds: (1) entire fronds derived from primary pinnae, and (2) epiphyllous plantlets. This combination of reiterative pathways, unique among fossil and living ferns, allowed K. clavata to explore ecospace through an opportunistic combination of scrambling, climbing and epiphytic growth. Kaplanopteris clavata underscores the organographic importance of fronds (as opposed to stems) in the adaptive architecture of ferns, emphasizing functional convergences between the different Bauplane of ferns and angiosperms. This unique combination of reiterative pathways is interpreted as a derived condition illustrating the structural and developmental complexity achieved by some filicaleans during the first major evolutionary radiation of leptosporangiate ferns.
Checksum-Based Probabilistic Transient-Error Compensation for Linear Digital Systems

In this paper, a probabilistic compensation technique for minimizing the effect of transient errors effect is proposed. The focus is to develop a compensation technique for DSP applications in which exact error compensation is not necessary and end-to-end system level performance is degraded minimally as long as the impact of the ldquonoiserdquo injected into the system by the transient errors is minimized. The proposed technique, called checksum-based probabilistic compensation, uses real-number checksum codes for error detection and partial compensation. Traditional coding techniques need a code of distance three and relatively complex calculations for perfect error correction. Here, it is shown that a distance-two code can be used to perform probabilistic error compensation in linear systems with the objective of improving the signal-to-noise ratio in the presence of random transient errors. The goal is to have a technique with small power and area overhead and to perform compensation in real time with negligible latency. The proposed technique is comprehensive and can handle errors in the combinational circuitry and storage elements. Comparison against a system with no error correction shows that up to 13-dB SNR improvement is possible. The area, power, and timing overheads of the proposed technique are analyzed.
Quality control of ocean temperature and salinity profile data

The objective of data quality control (QC) is to ensure consistency within a single data set or throughout a historical database. This is a vital step to be taken with any data set before scientific analysis can be proceed. A redesign of data quality procedures for temperature and salinity profile data undertaken by the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) during the past year has resulted in new data validation standards and procedures. New data QC and editing software has been developed and is being applied to all new and archived shipboard and aircraft temperature and salinity profile data collected or held by NAVOCEANO. The initial QC effort (Level 1 effort) is in progress. Level 1 effort is an assessment of the approximately 8 million profiles held in the NAVOCEANO archives for outlying and invalid profiles by comparison of profiles from relevant environments. The subsequent Level 2 effort entails more detailed investigations and further analyses for editing the previously flagged profiles. The MATLAB-based data edit programs use Master Oceanographic Observation Data Set (MOODS) 2000, a revised internal standard data file format, which will ease the use and exchange of data. The new file structure also stores numerous data quality flags and histories of collections for incorrect or missing metadata, deviations from climatological statistics, and profile data quality.
A model study of the effects of climatic precipitation changes on ground temperatures

[1] Temperature changes at the Earth surface propagate into the subsurface and leave a thermal signature in the underlying soil and rock. Inversions of subsurface temperature measurements yield reconstructions of ground surface temperature (GST) histories that provide estimates of climatic changes. A question remaining in the interpretation of reconstructed GST histories is the extent to which GST changes reflect changes principally in surface air temperature (SAT), or whether other factors may be significant. Here we use a Land Surface Processes (LSP) model to examine the influence of precipitation changes on GSTand subsurface temperature and moisture fields on annual to decadal timescales. We model soil and vegetation conditions representative of a prairie region in the southern Great Plains of North America and force the model with meteorological data synthesized from a typical year in the region. Model responses are observed after changes in the amount of daily precipitation, the intensity and frequency of daily precipitation, and the diurnal and seasonal timing of precipitation. We show that: (1) increasing daily precipitation cools mean annual GST, (2) increasing the intensity and reducing the frequency of daily precipitation, while holding the annual amount of precipitation constant, cools mean annual GST, and (3) shifting maximum precipitation to occur in the warmest months cools mean annual GST. We compare modeled results to observed precipitation changes during the 20th century and conclude that the observed precipitation changes would cause only small changes to GST within the modeled region, on the order of 0.1 K or less. INDEX TERMS: 3322 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Land/ atmosphere interactions; 1878 Hydrology: Water/energy interactions; 3354 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Precipitation (1854); 1866 Hydrology: Soil moisture; 1875 Hydrology: Unsaturated zone;
Distortion in broad-band gallium arsenide MESFET control and switch circuits

The author analyzes the nonlinear mechanisms of the MESFET in its passive control mode of operation and equations are developed that allow designers to predict second- and third-order harmonic and intermodulation products in the conducting state MESFET. The analytic expressions are verified by experimental data. The discussion is based on a lumped element equivalent circuit model and is limited to applications where the MESFET is operating in its conducting state. In switch circuits, the analysis indicates that distortion may be reduced by the use of MESFETs with pinchoff voltages in the 2-3-V range and with large open channel current capacities. In attenuators, the analysis shows extreme variations in the level of distortion over a relatively narrow range of attenuation levels. Distortion in the case of the reflective attenuator may be reduced by the use of MESFETs with small open channel current capabilities. >
Exchange-rate fluctuations and transaction exposure in the multinational corporation

Exchange-rate fluctuations can cause variations in the economic value of a firm conducting business in more than one currency. The paper examines the problem in a mean-variance framework. Strategies are derived for the preferred instrument of exchange-rate exposure management and the optimal degree of maintained exposure.
Field induced acoustic emission (AE) in ferroelectric ceramics

Electric field induced acoustic emission (AE) in ferroelectric PZT ceramics has been studied. It was shown that the field induced AE originated from where the displacement was induced and ended when the applied field was being reduced during poling. A larger electric field than the previously applied maximum field was required for new AE generation (Kaiser effect). From the AE event rate and the AE signal amplitude distribution, it was assumed that there were two origins of the bipolar field induced AE in the ferroelectric ceramics: deformation related to domain reorientation and piezoelectric deformation without domain reorientation.
The maintenance of the adrenalectomized dog for prolonged periods without recourse to hormonal therapy.

THE study of many problems concerning the role of the adrenal cortex in the animal economy involves the maintenance of adrenalectomized animals without recourse to hormonal therapy. For such purposes the rat maintained on a high salt intake has been widely used, but in many cases, the dog is a much more suitable subject for investigation. Several investigators (Harrop, Soffer, Nicholson and Strauss, 1935; Allers and Kendall, 1937; Nilson, 1937; Cleghorn, Armstrong and Austen, 1939) have reported the maintenance of adrenalectomized dogs on a high sodium, low potassium diet after a preliminary period on hormonal therapy during the immediate post-operative period. However, this procedure which involves the forced-feeding of a specially prepared diet, is difficult to apply, and fails to maintain the animal in a uniform condition. The successful application of intermittent peritoneal lavage for maintaining the bilaterally nephrectomized dog for prolonged periods (Grollraan, Turner, and McLean, 1951) suggested ...
Evidence-based strategies in weight-loss mobile apps.

Background: Physicians have limited time for weight-loss counseling, and there is a lack of resources to which they can refer patients for assistance with weight loss. Weight-loss mobile applications (apps) have the potential to be a helpful tool, but the extent to which they include the behavioral strategies included in evidence-based interventions is unknown. Purpose: The primary aims of the study were to determine the degree to which commercial weightloss mobile apps include the behavioral strategies included in evidence-based weight-loss interventions, and to identify features that enhance behavioral strategies via technology. Methods: Thirty weight-loss mobile apps, available on iPhone and/or Android platforms, were coded for whether they included any of 20 behavioral strategies derived from an evidence-based weight-loss program (i.e., Diabetes Prevention Program). Data on available apps were collected in January 2012; data were analyzed in June 2012. Results: The apps included on average 18.83% (SD¼13.24; range¼0%–65%) of the 20 strategies. Seven of the strategies were not found in any app. The most common technology-enhanced features were barcode scanners (56.7%) and a social network (46.7%). Conclusions: Weight-loss mobile apps typically included only a minority of the behavioral strategies found in evidence-based weight-loss interventions. Behavioral strategies that help improve motivation, reduce stress, and assist with problem solving were missing across apps. Inclusion of additional strategies could make apps more helpful to users who have motivational challenges. (Am J Prev Med 2013;45(5):576–582) & 2013 American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Establishing a Telepsychiatry Consultation Practice in Rural Georgia for Primary Care Physicians A Feasibility Report

Objective. One approach to solving mental health care disparity issues in rural areas is by establishing a telepsychiatry consultation practice for children, in which a psychiatrist sees a child via videoconferencing for a limited number of sessions and then provides a treatment plan to that child’s primary care physician and family. Method. The present study offered a 2-session telepsychiatry consultation clinic, consisting of a psychiatric evaluation session and a recommendation session, with patients located remotely in rural Georgia. Results. Fifteen consultations with children aged 4 to 18 years (M = 9.73, SD = 3.39) with varying diagnoses were completed. Parental satisfaction with the telepsychiatry consultation model was high, overall mean of 4.58 (SD = 0.63) on a 5-point scale (n = 11). Conclusion. Establishing a child telepsychiatry consultation practice is feasible in rural areas. This report describes the benefits and challenges of our telepsychiatry consultation clinic with rural pediatric pat...
DISTRIBUTION OF WINTERING SHOREBIRDS IN COASTAL FLORIDA

We used aerial surveys and reports from experienced birders and biologists to identify potentially important sites for wintering shorebirds in coastal Florida. We visited 273 sites in November and December 1993 to assess use by shorebirds and, based on abundance and number of species, we selected the 60 most important sites. We visited these 60 sites at least 3 times between 16 Dec. 1993 and 1 Mar. 1994 and recorded 25 species among an estimated 30,501 shorebirds wintering at the sites. Dunlin (Calidris alpina), Western Sandpipers (C. mauri), Sanderlings (C. alba), and dowitchers (Limnodromus spp.) were the most commonly observed species. Coastal Florida was winter host to >3% of the estimated North American population of Wilson's Plovers (Charadrius wilsonia), Piping Plovers (C. melodus), and American Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus). Fifty-three of the 60 most important sites were on Florida's west coast. St. George Sound, Tampa Bay, and Florida Bay contained sites with the highest numbers and most species of shorebirds.
Navigating Towards Improved Surgical Safety Using Aviation-Based Strategies

Safety practices in the aviation industry are being increasingly adapted to healthcare in an effort to reduce medical errors and patient harm. However, caution should be applied in embracing these practices because of limited experience in surgical disciplines, lack of rigorous research linking these practices to outcome, and fundamental differences between the two industries. Surgeons should have an in-depth understanding of the principles and data supporting aviation-based safety strategies before routinely adopting them. This paper serves as a review of strategies adapted to improve surgical safety, including the following: implementation of crew resource management in training operative teams; incorporation of simulation in training of technical and nontechnical skills; and analysis of contributory factors to errors using surveys, behavioral marker systems, human factors analysis, and incident reporting. Avenues and challenges for future research are also discussed.
IEEE Foundation Gives Away More Than $300,000

The IEEE Foundation supports a cross-section of programs that seek to foster technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity.
Alcohol use before and during pregnancy in western Washington, 1989-2004: implications for the prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

Objective We examined trends in rates of self-reported pregnancy alcohol use among women in western Washington. Study Design Between 1989 and 2004, we conducted 3 studies in western Washington State on problems that are associated with maternal prenatal alcohol or drug abuse (n = 12,526). To determine study eligibility, we screened hospitalized postpartum women for alcohol and drug use in the month before and during pregnancy. We examined trends in alcohol use rates and identified characteristics that were associated with any drinking and binge drinking (≥ 5 drinks on any occasion). Results We found a substantial decrease in pregnancy alcohol use between 1989 and 2004 (from 30-12%) across almost all demographic categories. Binge drinking in the month before pregnancy increased significantly among all race categories, except Native American. Conclusion Increased prepregnancy binge drinking rates may estimate alcohol use during very early gestation and warrant clinical attention because of the potential for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Meaning of Democracy Around the World: A Thematic and Structural Analysis of Videos Defining Democracy

This study examines thematic and structural features of 120 short films submitted to a worldwide video competition encouraging global dialogue on democracy. Each video is analyzed to identify prominent themes of democracy, such as equal participation and diversity, along with audio and visual structural elements. Authors investigate whether and how thematic and structural aspects of videos differ depending upon the geographical region and political system of the country from which each video is submitted. Implications of the findings are discussed in the context of procedural and substantive democracy.
A New Lossless FMO Removal Scheme for H.264 Videos

This paper describes a lossless scheme to transcode FMO-encoded H.264 videos at the receiver for playback by any H.264 decoder/player. The proposed scheme works in the compressed domain and does not require extended computations or storage. Moreover, it is capable of modifying the slice structure when slices are lost during the transmission and is frame-based which makes it suitable for live video streaming applications. We first describe the FMO removal process at the receiver and then demonstrate, via actual implementation, the tradeoffs in terms of the relative overhead for decoding different FMO types under varying degrees of packet losses. We also present a novel method that accurately predicts the average overheads for storage space considerations on the receiving device. The scheme also allows the reduction of the sizes of videos encoded with several slices once received. Our results show that FMO Type 1 incurs the highest relative overheads and these overheads should be managed carefully, especially in a network environment with high losses.
Achieving Success Through Social Capital: Tapping the Hidden Resources in Your Personal and Business Networks

The article reviews the book ‘Achieving Success Through Social Capital: Tapping the Hidden Resources in Your Personal and Business Networks,’ by Wayne Baker.
Cardiovascular risk in obesity: different activation of inflammation and immune system between obese and morbidly obese subjects.

Abstract Background Both inflammation and immunity are involved in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Obesity is considered a major modifiable cardiovascular risk factor, however, the correlation between increasing degrees of obesity and cardiovascular risk is not clear yet. Aim of our study was to investigate how different degrees of obesity are associated with inflammation and immune system responses. Methods One-hundred healthy individuals were divided into 3 groups according to body mass index (BMI): 22 overweight (OW), 26 obese (O) and 52 morbidly obese (MO). High-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP, immunonephelometry), leptin (radio-immunoassay) and CD4+CD28nullT-lymphocytes (flow-cytometry), a particular subset of T-lymphocytes with pro-atherogenic and plaque-destabilizing properties, were assessed. Results hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in O vs OW (p = 0.036), in MO vs OW (p Conclusions Our study demonstrates that, notwithstanding higher levels of inflammation, MO are characterized by less detrimental immune activation, as shown by the reduced CD4+CD28nullT-cells expansion as compared to OW and O, which might translate in less immune vascular injury. These findings suggest that MO might represent a particular population, in which different pathophysiological mechanisms take part if compared with “classic” obesity.
Hilbert space techniques for modeling and compensation of reactive power in energy processing systems

The paper provides a unified exposition of various definitions of reactive (or inactive) power and of various compensation methods. In particular, it presents a comparative Hilbert space analysis of definitions used in power system studies and in electric drives (the so called instantaneous reactive power). The paper casts several compensation strategies (such as compensation without energy storage and compensation with linear shunt components) in a common framework, and utilizes the concept of orthogonal projections on suitable subspaces as the main analytical and computational tool. Various notions are illustrated on two examples.