cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ENVIRONMENTAL VOLATILITY, SYSTEM ADAPTATION, PLANNING REQUIREMENTS, AND INFORMATION‐PROCESSING STRATEGIES: AN INTEGRATIVE MODEL

As noted in the literature, comparatively little research has examined either descriptive or prescriptive modeling of the planning process. A major reason for this lack of research appears to be the difficulty of comparing and testing planning methods within and across actual organizations. The purpose of this paper is to present a prescriptive planning model based on information-processing research and strategies. This model explicitly considers the linkages among the environment, the organization's adaptation to that environment, the type of planning, and information-processing strategies.
Dynamic operability analysis of a fluidized catalytic cracker

In process design problems, the optimal steady state solution hardly becomes the final solution. Other requirements usually force this solution away from the optimal and create alternatives in meeting different objectives. A critical objective is satisfactory transient operation. A particular process design may adversely affect transient operation of the plant (response to process disturbances as well as start-up and shutdown) due to unforeseen limitations on control variables and/or process limitations such as insufficient or overdesigned units. Therefore, an ideal design strategy considers the dynamics of the plant as early as possible in design stages in order to circumvent potential bottlenecking during the actual operation. Recently, a new design framework has been developed that addresses the issue of process sensitivity to uncertainty emanating from the use of simplified models in controller design. Based on a dynamic operability measure called the robustness index (RI), it is possible to detect potentially sensitive process designs and analyze design alternatives. The use of the RI facilitates the interaction between the economic and dynamic operability decisions and also helps quantify the impact of different controller structures as well as the extent of modeling on the final process design.
Transnational Data Flow Constraints: A New Challenge for Multinational Corporations

This article examines the implications of transnational data flow constraints for international business. The need for a free flow of information across national boundaries—facilitating international business and reducing costs for multinational corporations—is discussed. Although both large and small firms are affected by transnational data constraints, companies that are managed in a decentralized fashion are affected to a lesser degree. Economic protectionism has emerged as a major reason for regulating transnational data flow by nation states.
Analysis of United States Geological Survey spectral library of silicate minerals: implication for remote sensing applications

Hyperspectral imaging is broadly used in the identification of hydroxylated and hydrated silicate minerals, especially at the wavelengths of 1.0 to 2.5 µm. The vibrations of the hydroxyl (OH) molecule, water molecule (H−O−H), and metal−OH bonds, or their combinations, produce prominent absorption features at ∼ 1.40, ∼ 1.91, and 2.20 to 2.40 μm wavelengths. In remote sensing applications, minerals showing one or two of these absorption features are usually categorized as hydroxylated and/or hydrated, and minerals showing all three absorption features are usually categorized as hydrated phyllosilicates. We examine the USGS spectral library of common silicate minerals and find that some showing these absorption features are not hydroxylated and/or hydrated but with slight alteration or impurities. This implies that the identification of hydroxylated and/or hydrated silicate minerals may not be merely based on these absorption features. Rather, incorporation of geological and environmental background is also important. We further calculate the absorption depths and silicate mineral ratios in these absorption features as references for discrimination. This study provides a cautionary perspective on the identification of hydrated phyllosilicate minerals with respect to mineralogical interpretations of Mars and other planets.
Contaminant and nutrient element levels in soft tissues of zebra and quagga mussels from waters of southern Lake Ontario

Abstract The objective of this study was to compare concentrations of toxic and nutrient elements in soft tissues of two dreissenid mussels, Dreissena polymorpha and a new dreissenid species given the working name of “quagga”, collected from the New York waters of Lake Ontario. In general, elemental concentrations were similar between the two mussel types. The only exceptions were concentrations of Cr, Mo and Zn which were significantly (p
INTRAVENTRICULAR HEMORRHAGE A LIMITED PREDICTOR OF OUTCOME IN PREMATURE INFANTS

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) was assessed serially by portable cranial sonography on 137 infants with birthweight (BW) ≤1750 and gestational age (GA)≤34 weeks in 1980 & 1981 and classified according to Papile. 85 infants (62%) had evidence of IVH of whom 55 (65%) survived; 49 (94%) of the 52 infants with normal sonograms survived. 62 of the 137 infants studied were assessed quarterly by neurological evaluation and Bayley Scales of Motor & Mental Development, corrected for prematurity; scores ≥84 were assessed as normal. Mean age at last follow-up was 23.3 months. Mean BW & GA were similar in all groups. (3 infants were shunted for hydrocephalus.) Grade I IVH did not differ significantly from Grade II,and Grade III did not differ from IV; thus they were combined into Minor (II motor handicaps, however, are more common in IVH patients. IVH alone is therefore a poor predictor of outcome in premature infants. Other prenatal and neonatal factors are of major importance.
Detection of two groups of 25.2 MDa Tet M plasmids by polymerase chain reaction of the downstream region.

Forty-four Neisseria gonorrhoeae , 12 N. meningitidis , four Kingella denitrificans and one Eikenella corrodens carrying 25·2 MDa Tet M plasmids were analysed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to the downstream region of the incomplete Tet M transposon. From each isolate, one of two different PCR fragments of approximately 700 or 1600 bp were obtained. The two different sized PCR fragments had ≥90% DNA sequence identity with Ureaplasma urealyticum Tet M downstream sequences. The difference between the large PCR fragment and the smaller PCR fragment was a deletion of over 800 bp in the smaller fragment. Both PCR fragments were found in plasmids isolated from N. gonorrhoeae and K. denitrificans . The smaller PCR fragment was found in N. meningitidis plasmids and the larger PCR fragment was found in the E. corrodens plasmid.
Comparison of Culling Rates, Reasons for Disposal, and Yields for Registered and Grade Holstein Cattle

Abstract Survival of cows was investigated using data from the USDA files for daughters of 199 Holstein sires with at least 500 progeny each. Records included cows that first calved from 1965 to 1980 (n = 1,145,616). A smaller subset of data (n = 199,982) was summarized for age at first and last record, termination codes, Modified contemporary deviations of milk yield, and calving intervals. Grade cows leaving the herd were more likely sold for low production and less likely sold for dairy. Modified contemporary deviations in first lactation averaged 339 kg for grade cows and 331 kg for registered cows. Cows with only one record had lower yields in first lactation by 589 kg (grade) and 506 kg (registered). Compared with cows with more than two lactations, cows with two records had lower yields in first lactation by 199 kg (grade) and 259 kg (registered) and longer first calving intervals by 3.5 d (grade) and 5.0 d (registered). Grade and registered daughters of these sires left herds at different rates and for different reasons.
Integrated building systems: strengthening building security while decreasing operating costs

Purpose – This paper details the benefits that integrated systems offer facility managers and owners who seek to improve security – and overall building performance – despite limited resources. And it provides a general roadmap for making integration a reality.Design/methodology/approach – Combining real‐life examples with general industry knowledge, this paper examines how facility managers and owners can integrate technology like surveillance cameras, access control readers and smart card technology to improve security and the company's bottom line. Additionally, it explains organizational steps needed to successfully integrate these technologies, and tie them into core building functions and enterprise systems.Findings – There is innovative technology emerging in the security market that offers significant improvements for facilities and security managers, as well as end users. But the real power lies within managing these technologies as part of an integrated security and building solution. With an in...
CHLOROPLASTS AS FUNCTIONAL ORGANELLES IN ANIMAL TISSUES

The marine gastropod molluscs Tridachia crispata, Tridachiella diomedea, and Placobranchus ianthobapsus (Sacoglossa, Opisthobranchia) possess free functional chloroplasts within the cells of the digestive diverticula, as determined by observations on ultrastructure, pigment analyses, and experiments on photosynthetic capacity. In the light, the chloroplasts incorporate H(14)CO(3) (-)in situ. Reduced radiocarbon is translocated to various chloroplast-free tissues in the animals. The slugs feed on siphonaceous algae from which the chloroplasts are derived. Pigments from the slugs and from known siphonaceous algae, when separated chromatographically and compared, showed similar components. Absorption spectra of extracts of slugs and algae were very similar. The larvae of the slugs are pigment-free up to the post-veliger stage, suggesting that chloroplasts are acquired de novo. with each new generation.
EARLY DETECTION OF CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS ENTEROTOXIN AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO SENSORY QUALITY OF COOKED CHICKEN

Growth, sporulation, and enterotoxin formation by Clostridium perfringens NCTC 8239 were determined in chicken thigh meat incubated at 45°C for 1.5 h and 37°C for up to 12.5 h. With an inoculum of 106 vegetative cells per g, the cell counts reached mean log 10 7.32/g after 6 h of incubation and remained in that range through 14 h. Heat-resistant spores (log10 2.48/g) were first detected at 4 h, and the number increased to log10 5.19/g at 14 h. Enterotoxin (0.19 μg/g) was first detected after 2 h of incubation (1.5 h at 45°C and 0.5 h at 37°C) in the absence of detectable sporulation, and the enterotoxin concentration increased to 0.76 μg/g after 14 h. Significant differences (p < 0.01) in the odor, color, and texture scores for inoculated versus uninoculated cooked chicken following 2 h incubation correlated with the production of enterotoxin and suggested that these parameters could be used as indices of chicken spoilage by C. perfringens.
Entity relationship modelling of business rules: an Oracle prototype

Business rules are generally developed as an addendum to database development using proprietary techniques. This paper provides an approach to apply the techniques of traditional entity-relationship modelling to structure the business rules as a rule repository for interaction with transactional entity types in a relational database management system. A prototype to model a sample set of business rules into relational database is provided to demonstrate the application of the concept. The paper utilises the Oracle database for illustrating the concepts. The prototype is explained through an application in Oracle's PL/SQL server pages.
Duet® for menstrual protection: a feasibility study in Zimbabwe☆

Abstract Background Managing menses is a challenge for women in developing countries. Duet® is a cervical barrier being developed for contraception and STI prevention. We explored the hypothetical acceptability of using Duet as a menstrual cup, among Zimbabwean women. Study Design A survey and focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted with 43 women aged 18–45 years to gain information about their menstrual practices and attitudes regarding the use of Duet for menstrual protection. Results All 43 women reported that if Duet were available, they would “definitely” try it, and that it was “very important” that Duet is low cost and easy to clean; 86% reported that using it would make a difference in their lives. FGD findings highlighted unhygienic practices due to the lack of affordable options for menstrual management and a genuine interest in Duet, including its potential use for multiple purposes (contraception, disease prevention and menstrual protection). Conclusions Accessing affordable and hygienic menstrual protection was a problem for these Zimbabwean women. Duet appeared acceptable and it would be feasible to conduct a user-acceptability study of Duet as a menstrual cup in Zimbabwe.
A computational analysis of the heating of glass mat thermoplastic (GMT) sheets by dual beam microwave sources

The use of dual beam microwaves to heat glass mat thermoplastic has been investigated numerically using a finite difference technique, known as the alternating difference implicit (ADI) method. The variation in thermophysical properties throughout the GMT has been accounted for using a table look-up procedure, which provides the appropriate thermophysical properties for the thermal conditions at each mesh point. The use of dual beam microwaves has been shown to significantly reduce the heating times under all geometric conditions, material variations, and glass loadings. Sheet thicknesses were varied from 1 to 12 mm, glass loadings from zero to 40 wt% polypropylene, polycarbonate and nylon were all simulated. The computations indicate a clear advantage in heating times when dual beam microwave heating sources are emplyed.
Comparison of physician judgment and decision aids for ordering chest radiographs for pneumonia in outpatients

Study objectives: To compare physician judgment in the use of chest radiographs for diagnosing pneumonia with decision rules developed by Diehr, Singal, Heckerling, and Gennis. Design: Prospective observational investigation with preradiograph survey of physicians' intent to order chest radiographs for patients presenting with respiratory complaints. All patients had uniform clinical data collected, including chest radiographs and sufficient information to retrospectively apply the four clinical prediction rules. Setting: The emergency department and medical outpatient clinic of a major urban teaching hospital. Participants: Adult patients presenting with recent history of acute cough or exacerbation of chronic cough plus either fever, sputum production, or hemoptysis. Results: Of 290 patients, 21 (7%) had pneumonia. The sensitivity of physician judgment (0.86) exceeded that of all four decision rules. The specificity of the Diehr (0.67), Heckerling (0.67), and Gennis (0.76) rules exceeded that of physician judgment (0.58). The accuracy of the Gennis (0.76) and Heckerling (0.68) rules also exceeded that of the physicians (0.60). Discussion: Physicians' diagnostic and therapeutic decisions were characterized by high sensitivity but lower specificity for ordering chest radiographs to diagnose pneumonia. The higher specificity and accuracy of two of the decision rules suggest that they may have a role in patient evaluation.
Cardiac output assessed by non-invasive monitoring is associated with ECG changes in children with critical asthma.

The primary aim of this study was to determine changes in CI and SI, if any, in children hospitalized with status asthmatics during the course of treatment as measured by non-invasive EC monitoring. The secondary aim was to determine if there is an association between Abnormal CI (defined as 95 % tile adjusted for age) and Abnormal ECG (defined as ST waves changes) Non-invasive cardiac output (CO) recordings were obtained daily from admission (Initial) to discharge (Final). Changes in CI and SI measurements were compared using paired t tests or 1-way ANOVA. The association between Abnormal CI on Initial CO recording and Abnormal ECG was analyzed by Fischer’s exact test. Data are presented as mean ± SEM with mean differences reported with 95 % confidence interval; p < 0.05 was considered significant. Thirty-five children with critical asthma were analyzed. CI decreased from 6.2 ± 0.2 to 4.5 ± 0.1 [−1.6 (−0.04 to −0.37)] L/min/m2 during hospitalization. There was no change in SI. There was a significant association between Abnormal Initial CI and Abnormal ECG (p = 0.02). In 11 children requiring prolonged hospitalization CI significantly decreased from 7.2 ± 0.5 to 4.0 ± 0.2 [−3.2 (−4.0 to −2.3)] L/min/m2 and SI decreased from 51.2 ± 3.8 to 40.3 ± 2.0 [−11.0 (−17.6 to −4.4)] ml/beat/m2 There was a significant decrease in CI in all children treated for critical asthma. In children that required a prolonged course of treatment, there was also a significant decrease in SI. Abnormal CI at Initial CO recording was associated with ST waves changes on ECG during hospitalization. Future studies are required to determine whether non-invasive CO monitoring can predict which patients are at risk for developing abnormal ECG.
Mediastinal sarcoma with deviated tracheal anatomy.

A 59-year-old Latin American woman presented with 1 month duration of shortness of breath that worsened with exertion. Patient also complained of intermittent dry cough, with no sputum production, progressive dysphagia to solids, and 20 pound weight loss over last 3 months. She denied orthopnea, or leg swelling, hemoptysis, or contact with persons with tuberculosis. Her medical history was significant for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, depression, and basal cell carcinoma that was excised from the left ala of her nose 3 years previously. Physical examination revealed trachea deviated to right, and distended external jugular veins when in a seated position. Chest auscultation revealed audible stridor. Her laboratory work was unremarkable except for mild anemia. Her chest radiograph was remarkable for a posterior mediastinal mass measuring 17 cm in horizontal dimension, 10 cm in vertical dimension, and 11 cm in anteroposterior dimensions (Figure 1). Computed tomography scan of chest showed a 15.4-cm solid mediastinal mass with punctate calcifications, which was deviating the trachea anterolaterally (Figure 2). Histologic examination of the biopsy and aspirate smears demonstrated a monomorphic population of spindle cells seen in intersecting fascicles (Figure 3). Immunohistochemical stains were positive for Vimentin, confirming the diagnosis of sarcoma. The severely compressed airway was too low to be intubated. Also, the tortuosity of the airway precluded airway stenting. Subsequently, the patient was started on doxorubicin/ifosfamide/mesna chemotherapy. At the time of this report submission she had tolerated two cycles of doxorubicin/ifosfamide/mesna chemotherapy extremely well with repeat computed tomography scan of chest showing no interval increase in the size of the mass. Mediastinal sarcoma comprises 1.4% of sarcomas making it a rare site of occurrence. Forty-one percent of medias-
Voice perception deficits: Neuroanatomical correlates of phonagnosia

Voice perception (recognition of familiar voices and discrimination of unfamiliar voices) was studied in brain-damaged patients and normal controls. Left- and right-brain-damaged subjects were tested on familiar voices (25 famous males) and 26 pairs of unfamiliar voices. Deficits in recognizing familiar voices were significantly correlated with right-hemisphere damage; discrimination of unfamiliar voices was worse in both clinical groups than in normal controls. Computerized tomographic scans indicated that an intact right parietal-lobe was present in all cases of normal voice recognition, while right parietal-lobe damage was significantly correlated with a deficit in voice recognition. Temporal-lobe damage of either hemisphere was associated with a voice discrimination deficit.
Reply to Ley's “dyspneic-fear theory explains hyperventilatory panic attacks”

Abstract In a critique of the study by Carr, Lehrer and Hochron (1992), Ley ( Behaviour Research and Therapy , 32 , 109–111, 1994) attributes the lack of confirmation for his dyspneic-fear theory among panic disorder patients to a basic flaw of that study: S s were selected according to DSM-IIIR criteria. Ley argues that dyspneic-fear theory pertains exclusively to hyperventilatory (characterized by intense dyspnea) panic attacks not to all attacks that come under the classification of DSM-IIIR. We address the premise concerning the selection of S s and argue that cognitive theory continues to offer a more convincing explanation of our study and of more recent findings by others.
Prefrontal DA Transmission at D1 Receptors and the Pathology of Schizophrenia

The current view on the dopamine (DA) hypothesis of schizophrenia postulates a cortical/subcortical imbalance: subcortical mesolimbic DA projections might be hyperactive, resulting in hyperstimulation of D2 receptors and positive symptoms, whereas mesocortical DA projections to the prefrontal cortex might be hypoactive, resulting in hypostimulation of D1 receptors, negative symptoms, and cognitive impairment. Although the subcortical abnormalities are relatively well established now, the evidence for cortical hypodopaminergia is just emerging. This article will review current evidence for prefrontal hypodopaminergia in schizophrenia, with special emphasis on positron emission tomography (PET) studies measuring cortical D1 receptors in schizophrenia. The presentation of the clinical data will be introduced by a brief overview of the function of prefrontal DA systems, both at the cellular and cognitive level. The impact of antipsychotic drugs on prefrontal DA function will also be reviewed. We will conclude with the formulation of several models of altered prefrontal DA transmission at D1 receptors in schizophrenia.
Automatic feature extraction using N-dimension convexity concept in a novel neural network

As we published in the last few years, when the pattern vectors used in the training of a novel neural network satisfy a generalized N-dimension convexity property (or the novel PLI condition we derived), the neural network can learn these patterns very fast in a NONITERATIVE manner. The recognition of any UNTRAINED patterns by using this learned neural network can then reach OPTIMUM ROBUSTNESS if an automatic feature extraction scheme derived from the N-dimension geometry is used in the recognition mode. The simplified physical picture of the high-robustness reached by this novel system is the automatic extraction of the most distinguished parts in all the M training pattern vectors in the N-space such that the volume of the M-dimension parallelepiped spanned by these parts of the vectors reaches a maximum.
Complexation of fullerenes with 5,5'-Biscalix

5,5‘-Biscalix[5]arene, prepared by oxidative coupling of the tetrabenzoyl ester of calix[5]arene (shown by X-ray crystallographic analysis to have a o,u,u,d,u conformation), forms complexes with C60 (Kassoc = 43 M-1) and C70 (Kassoc = 233 M-1). The X-ray crystallographic structure of the C60 complex reveals its clamshell-shaped architecture, presumably the result of a change in the conformation of biscalix[5]arene from anti (uncomplexed) to syn (complexed).
Simulation to develop and test queue approximations: a case study

We use simulation to both develop and test approximation for mulas for the operating charactertistics of a queue that occurs in queuing network models. In this context, the main simula tion issues are design of simulation experiments and evaluation of the difference between approximations and simulation esti mates. The simulation experiments described here have specific goals, use analytic results to reduce the number of factors, and are performed sequentially with initial experiments generating questions to address in later experiments. The difference between simulation estimates and approximations are evaluated by two summary measures: average absolute percentage error and a measure of simulation variability. In addition, another measure is examined: percent of cases where the approximation falls out side a 95% confidence interval computed from simulation esti mates. While this measure is commonly used by others, especially in graphs, work here suggests it is inappropriate.
Effect of 4-Day School District Closure on Influenza-Like Illness Rates Among Students and Household Members - Kentucky, 2013

High rates of absences from influenza-like-illness (ILI) resulted in closure of a Kentucky school district for 4-days during the 2012-2013 influenza season. We calculated average daily rates of household ILI as recalled in paper surveys by parents for the weeks before, during, and after the closure. Average daily rates of ILI in the district that closed were not significantly reduced when compared with rates in 2 surrounding school districts that did not close.
Thiazide Does Not Affect Urine Oxalate Excretion

ABSTRACTPurpose: We assessed the effects of thiazide treatment on urine oxalate excretion in patients with kidney stones.Materials and Methods: Of 537 patients (231 women), 209 (81 women) received thiazide for stone prevention. Urine oxalate was measured in 3, 24-hour urines before treatment, and in 1, 24-hour urine after 6 to 12 weeks of treatment. This was an observational cohort and treatment was not randomized.Results: Urine oxalate increased in general. There was no difference in increase with or without thiazide, whether one considered simple t test comparisons or used ANOVA with pretreatment oxalate excretion as a covariate.Conclusions: Thiazide administration exerts no measurable effect on urine oxalate excretion that can be detected in clinical practice.
Immunoregulation of the anti-bovine serum albumin response by polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies

Abstract Monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies directed toward determinants on limited structures of bovine serum albumin (BSA) (P 505–582 ) were shown to regulate the entire anti-bovine serum albumin (BSA) immune response when passively administered to mice 24 hr prior to immunization. Regulation was observed as suppression of the humoral IgG immune response toward all BSA determinants except those on fragment P 505–582 . By Day 21 suppression of humoral response was most pronounced toward determinants present on the carboxy terminal end of the molecule (N 307–582). These observations demonstrate that monoclonal antibodies directed against a single determinant on a protein molecule have the capacity to regulate the immune response to a multiplicity of determinants present on the same protein. The data lend support to concepts of antibody-induced regulation by induction of suppressor cells or idiotype recognition.
Dynamics of New Product Introduction in Closed Rental Systems

We study a rental system where a fixed number of heterogeneous users rent one product at a time from a collection of reusable products. The online DVD rental firm Netflix provides the motivation. We assume that rental durations of each user are independent and identically distributed with finite mean. We study transient behavior in this system following the introduction of a new product that is desired by all the users. We represent the usage process for this new product in terms of an empirical distribution. This allows us to characterize the asymptotic behavior of the usage process as the number of users increases without bound, via appropriate versions of Glivenko-Cantelli and Donsker's theorems. Analyzing the usage process, we demonstrate that an increase in the variability of the rental duration distribution can actually help the firm by allowing it to set lower capacity levels to provide a desired quality of service. Further, we show that the firm is better off not imposing any deadlines for the return of the product.
On the Embedding of Compact Domains

w 1. Introduction In an earlier paper [4], the author gave necessary and sufficient conditions for a topological left Ore domain to be topologically embeddable in its field of quotients. In w 2, we use the results of [4] to give a new proof of Warner's theorem on open embeddings [7]. In w 3, we prove that a commutative domain A which is a Q-ring with continuous quasi-inversion has a finer non-discrete ring topology in which the multiplicative semigroup A* = A- {0} is embeddable in its quotient group. We also prove that an infinite compact Hausdorff commutative domain has a finer non-discrete ring topology in which it is openly embeddable in its quotient field. These theorems generalize the following theorem of Rothman [5]. Theorem. A compact Hausdorff commutative domain A with identity has a finer non-discrete topology on A* for which A* is embeddable in its group of quotients. For completeness, we state the following result due to Tamari [6]. Theorem T. A commutative cancellative topological semigroup S is embeddable in its group of quotients if and only if its topology is invariantly uniformisable.
Differentiation of cyst-forming stria vascularis tissues in vitro

The marginal cells of the stria vascularis possess distinctive morphological characteristics associated with their role in endolymph production. Interestingly, when stria-derived epithelial cells are grown in association with the underlying mesenchyme, the final differentiation of these cell types does not occur. Beyond the rudimentary polarity that is established, similar to that shown in epithelial monolayers, cells in culture bear only a slight resemblance to their marginal cell counterparts in vivo. The ultrastructural features that typify these epithelia, extensive cytoplasmic invaginations, with an abundance of mitochondria, and darkly stained cytoplasm, are not evident under standard culture conditions. In order to determine whether fluid transport, a key function of the stria vascularis, has an effect on the ultrastructural morphology, we examined de novo stria vascularis tissues that formed a fluid-filled cyst in vitro. We found that only cells associated with the luminal structure demonstrated dark cytoplasmic staining and amplification of the basolateral membrane of the marginal cells. Additionally, other epithelial features, such as mitochondria-rich and microvilli-rich cells, were observed in cyst-forming tissues. The enhancement of the marginal cell specializations was not as robust as that observed in vivo; however, they were clearly more extensive when compared to cells in the same culture that were not associated with a fluid-filled lumen. Thus it appears that fluid transport may be necessary to maximize differentiation of stria vascularis tissues in vitro.
Periplasmic cuticular calcium oxalate crystal deposition in Dracaena sanderiana

• The chemical nature and biological basis for crystal deposition in epidermal subcuticular areas are reported here for the angiosperm Dracaena sanderiana. • Position, development and identification of crystals in adult leaves of D. sanderiana was carried out using X-ray diffraction, crystal morphology and scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques. • Numerous small (< 1–6 µm) calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals were found between the primary epidermal cell wall and the cuticle. Their formation was highly specific and predictable with respect to location and relative timing of development during leaf ontogeny. The crystals were perisplasmic as, at formation, the nascent epidermal cell wall was external to the crystals. Cuticular crystallization of calcium oxalate monohydrate in D. sanderiana occurred in crystal chambers situated between the plasma membrane and the primary cell wall. Crystal deposition did not occur in developing guard cells. • The spatial pattern of calcium oxalate monohydrate within the epidermal cells, orientation of the crystallographic axes and the existence of crystal chambers outside the plasma membrane suggest biologically controlled crystal deposition in D. sanderiana.
Coping strategies and behavioural changes following a genital herpes diagnosis among an urban sample of underserved Midwestern women.

This study focused on understanding the coping strategies and related behavioural changes of women who were recently diagnosed with herpes simplex virus type 2. In particular, we were interested in how coping strategies, condom use, and acyclovir uptake evolve over time. Twenty-eight women screening positive for herpes simplex virus type 2 were recruited through a public health STD clinic and the Indianapolis Community Court. Participants completed three semi-structured interviews with a woman researcher over a six-month period. The interviews focused on coping strategies for dealing with a diagnosis, frequency of condom use, suppressive and episodic acyclovir use, and the utilisation of herpes simplex virus type 2 support groups. Interview data were analysed using content analysis to identify and interpret concepts and themes that emerged from the interviews. Women employed a variety of coping strategies following an herpes simplex virus type 2 diagnosis. Of the women, 32% reported an increase in religio...
Aneuploidy and progression in promoted preneoplastic foci during chemical hepatocarcinogenesis in the rat.

Abstract Since a number of rat hepatocarcinomas are aneuploid, the model DNA content of enzymealtered foci was determined cytospectrophotometrically, to assess if ploidy changes occur before cancer is established. male F344 rats treated with diethylnitrosamine and promoted with a choline-deficient, phenobarbital supplemented diet showed in most enzymealtered foci a multimodal ploidy distribution with diploid, tetraploid and octoploid peaks. A minority of foci, however, exhibited an aneuploid pattern. This change in ploidy reflects irreversible genomic alterations, indicative of tumor progression. Thus, promotion and progression may coexist simultaneously in this model of carcinogenesis, long before hepatomas can be diagnosed.
Developmentally regulated synthesis of an unusually small, basic peptide by Coxiella burnetii.

Summary Coxiella burnetii undergoes a poorly defined developmental cycle within phagolysosomes of eukaryotic host cells. Two distinct developmental forms are part of this cycle: a small-cell variant (SCV) and large-cell variant (LCV). Ultrastructurally, the SCV is distinguished from the LCV by its smaller size and condensed chromatin. At a molecular level, little is known about morphogenesis in C. burnetii, and no proteins specific to the SCV have been identified. Preparative isoelectric focusing was conducted to purify basic proteins possibly involved in SCV chromatin structure. A predominant protein of low Mr was present in the most basic fraction, eluting with a pH of approx. 11. Degenerate deoxyoligonucleotides corresponding to the N-terminal sequence of this protein were used to recover a cosmid clone from a C. burnetii genomic library. Nucleotide sequencing of insert DNA revealed an open reading frame designated scvA (small-cell-variant protein A) with coding potential for a 30 amino acid protein (ScvA) with a predicted Mr of 3610. ScvA is 46% arginine plus 46% glutamine with a predicted pi of 12.6. SDS-PAGE and silver staining of lysates of SCV and LCV purified by caesium chloride-equilibrium density centrifugation revealed a number of proteins unique to each cell type. Immunoblot analysis with ScvA antiserum demonstrated the presence of ScvA only in the SCV. By immunoelectron microscopy, ScvA antiserum labelled only the SCV, with the label concentrated on the condensed nucleoid. In addition, ScvA bound double-stranded DNA in gel mobility-shift assays. A 66% reduction in the mean number of gold particles per Coxiella cell was observed at 12 h post-infection when compared with the starting inoculum. Collectively, these data suggest that synthesis of ScvA is developmentally regulated, and that the protein may serve a structural or functional role as an integral component of the SCV chromatin. Moreover, degradation of this protein may be a necessary prerequisite for morphogenesis from SCV to LCV.
The Effects of Husbandry Training on Stereotypic Pacing in Captive African Wild Dogs (Lycaon pictus)

To examine the effects of operant conditioning on stereotypic pacing in 3 female African wild dogs located at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, this study made recordings of pacing behavior immediately following individual sessions of husbandry training and 2 no-training conditions. The study found significant differences in the percentage of observations spent in stereotypic pacing behaviors for all 3 dogs among the 3 different conditions. The authors discuss the data in terms of the contribution of motivated tasks to the effects and the role of food deprivation in the expression of stereotypic pacing. The study suggests that even short periods of training may improve the African wild dogs' welfare by reducing stereotypic pacing following the conditioning sessions.
Dialectic of control and emancipation in organizing for social change: a multitheoretic study of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh

PIP: Dedicated to helping the poorest of the poor obtain the financial means to become productively self-employed, the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh is founded upon the belief that credit is a fundamental human right and that development should be measured according to the per capita income of the bottom 50% of the population. The bank provides collateral-free loans and social services for the poor, charging 20% interest on capital, all the while maintaining a 99% loan recovery rate. The bank has 1.9 million members, 94% of whom are women, and has successfully organized grassroots microenterprises for productive self-employment and social change. The authors use the coorientation, concertive control, and critical feminist theories to analyze the bank's programs in an effort to explain the dialectic between control and emancipation in organizing for social change. Examining the bank's organizational processes from multiple theoretical perspectives allows insights to be drawn about theory and praxis in organizing for social change. The Grameen Bank has effectively demonstrated that development is an organized process of education, environmentally sound productivity, and improvement in the quality of life for the poorest of the poor.
Importance of terrestrial subsidies for native brook trout in Appalachian intermittent streams

Summary Recent studies of perennial streams have shown that changes in riparian vegetation can reduce terrestrial invertebrate subsidies to streams and can cause trophic cascades through aquatic food webs. Intermittent stream food webs have received less attention but may be even more dependent on terrestrial invertebrate subsidies because of limited aquatic invertebrate resources. The objectives of this research were: (i) to quantify the abundance and biomass of aquatic, adult aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates in and entering two Appalachian intermittent streams to determine how these resources vary with environmental factors such as stream flow and (ii) to determine the effects of experimental reductions in terrestrial invertebrate subsidies on brook trout diet. Stream flow was the main factor driving total invertebrate abundance and biomass, and these resources decreased by 71% as the summer dry season progressed. Terrestrial invertebrates represented only 7% of total resource abundance, but made up 54% of brook trout diet by abundance. Experimental reductions in terrestrial invertebrate subsidies resulted in a 49% decrease in terrestrial invertebrate abundance, which resulted in a 55% decrease in terrestrial invertebrates in brook trout diet samples. In contrast to studies of other salmonids in perennial streams, brook trout in these intermittent streams did not switch to consuming more aquatic invertebrates when terrestrial invertebrates were experimentally reduced. Therefore, land use or vegetation changes that cause reductions in terrestrial invertebrate resources may adversely affect brook trout populations in intermittent streams by reducing caloric intake as fish prepare for autumn spawning.
Partial compensation of large scale discrete systems

This paper addresses the problem of partial state feedback compensation for large scale discrete systems. The eigenvalues of the closed-loop matrix should lie within a designated region of the z-domain to satisfy both stability and damping requirements. The system is to be compensated in such a way that only the eigenvalues that lie outside the desired region are affected. This is achieved through the use of the fast matrix sector function to decompose the system without solving for the eigenvalues. The decomposed system is then controlled using LQR design techniques.
Regulation of the Plasma Membrane Calcium Pump Gene Expression by Two Signal Transduction Pathways

Abstract The modulation of the plasma membrane calcium pump (PMCA) gene expression is not well understood. We now present evidence that PMCA mRNA is induced by various hormones or agonists via multiple second messenger pathways that include protein kinase C-, cAMP-, and Ca 2+ -dependent mechanisms. Among several types of cultured cells examined, endothelial cells from the rat aorta (RAEC) responded to phorbol ester or angiotensin II with an 8- to 20-fold increase in the PMCA messages, while endothelial cells from the brain resistant vessel (RVEC) exhibited minimal (0- to 2-fold) response to these agonists. On the other hand, under the stimulation of cAMP or thapsigargin (a calcium mobilizing agent), the pattern of response is reversed; only RVEC responded but not RAEC. The results suggest that hormone-induced PMCA gene expression is regulated via two distinct pathways; one involves protein kinase C while the other involves Ca 2+ or cAMP. Since the protein kinase A inhibitor (or the calmodulin-dependent kinase inhibitor) was able to block the stimulation elicited by either Ca 2+ or cAMP, we suggest that the Ca 2+ and cAMP signals share a common passage leading to the induction of PMCA mRNA. The possibility of cross-talk between the distinct second messenger pathways is also discussed.
Strategies to address increased demand for colonoscopy: Guidelines in an open endoscopy practice.

Abstract Background & Aims: Since Medicare approval for reimbursement of screening colonoscopies, the number of colonoscopy requests has increased. Physician resources have often been inadequate to meet the demand. We sought to reduce the demand for colonoscopy in an open endoscopy system by using a guideline-based triage system to eliminate inappropriate procedures and to align the timing of surveillance colonoscopies with recommendations made by national organizations. Methods: This was a cohort study with primary care outpatients. From October 2002 to February 2003, 498 consecutive patients on a waiting list of 2400 awaiting colonoscopy for all indications were triaged and are the focus of the study. Selection of patients for appropriate colonoscopy was based on consensus guidelines developed for institutional use by using established published guidelines for appropriate colonoscopy indications. Results: Of the 498 consecutive patients triaged, 139 (28%) were deemed inappropriate. The most common reason was inappropriate referral for surveillance of colorectal polyps. The percentage of inappropriate referrals by the 3 largest referring specialties (internal medicine, family medicine, and gastroenterology) combined was also 28% with no statistically significant differences between specialties. Conclusions: Most referrals for colonoscopy in an open-access endoscopy system were appropriate, although about 1 in 4 were not. Use of triage and further education of physicians regarding colonoscopy may optimize colonoscopy utilization.
Translesion Synthesis past Tamoxifen-derived DNA Adducts by Human DNA Polymerases η and κ

Newly discovered human DNA polymerase (pol) η and κ are highly expressed in the reproductive organs, such as testis, ovary, and uterus, where steroid hormones are produced. Because treatment with estrogen increases the risk of developing breast, ovary, and endometrial cancers, miscoding events occurring at model estrogen-derived DNA adducts were explored using pol η and a truncated form of human pol κ (pol κΔC). These enzymes bypassed N2-[3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-6-yl]-2‘-deoxyguanosine (dG-N2-3MeE) and N6-[3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-6-yl]-2‘-deoxyadenosine (dA-N6-3MeE), which were embedded in site-specifically modified oligodeoxynucleotide templates. Quantitative analysis of base substitutions and deletions occurring at the lesion site showed that pol κΔC was more efficient at incorporating dCMP opposite the dG-N2-3MeE lesion than pol η. Surprisingly, the frequency of translesion synthesis beyond the dC•dG-N2-3MeE pair was 13% of the normal dC•dG pair and was 4 and 6 orders of magnitude higher ...
High-K gate dielectrics

High-K dielectric thin films have been investigated as alternative gate dielectrics. Our results suggest that single-layer sputtered ZrO 2 or HfO 2 thin films deposited directly on Si substrate, without the use of a barrier layer, exhibit excellent electrical and reliability characteristics. Equivalent oxide thickness as thin as 9A with leakage current of about 10 -2 A/cm 2 was achieved. This is the lowest EOT value ever reported for ZrO 2 and HfO 2 thin films. Low charge-trapping, high breakdown field (as well as large t bd and Q bd ), and negligible stress-induced leakage currents have also been obtained.
A kinematically distorted flux rope model for magnetic clouds

[1] Constant-α force-free magnetic flux rope models have proven to be a valuable first step toward understanding the global context of in situ observations of magnetic clouds. However, cylindrical symmetry is necessarily assumed when using such models, and it is apparent from both observations and modeling that magnetic clouds have highly noncircular cross sections. A number of approaches have been adopted to relax the circular cross section approximation: frequently, the cross-sectional shape is allowed to take an arbitrarily chosen shape (usually elliptical), increasing the number of free parameters that are fit between data and model. While a better “fit” may be achieved in terms of reducing the mean square error between the model and observed magnetic field time series, it is not always clear that this translates to a more accurate reconstruction of the global structure of the magnetic cloud. We develop a new, noncircular cross section flux rope model that is constrained by observations of CMEs/ICMEs and knowledge of the physical processes acting on the magnetic cloud: The magnetic cloud is assumed to initially take the form of a force-free flux rope in the low corona but to be subsequently deformed by a combination of axis-centered self-expansion and heliocentric radial expansion. The resulting analytical solution is validated by fitting to artificial time series produced by numerical MHD simulations of magnetic clouds and shown to accurately reproduce the global structure.
Granulocytosis causing sickle-cell crisis

mgikg), or topiramate (25 mg/kg) or a combination of the two by intraperitoneal injection. A control group received vehicle (0.9% saline) alone. An hour later, each animal was given 85 mgkg pentylenetetrazol subcutaneously; the time taken to the first generalised seizure was rec~rded .~ A cut-off point of 15 min was set. Although neither topiramate or lamotrigine exerted an effect, none of the animals pre-treated with the combination experienced a seizure throughout the observation period. It is not possible to be certain that the combination (and not topiramate alone) was the effective strategy in these patients. Nevertheless, although lamotrigine was administered to the limit of tolerability, doses of topiramate remained quite small: add-on regulatory trials with topiramate reported maximum seizure reduction with 400-800 mg daily.’ The study in mice also supports particular efficacy for the combination. This may be a consequence of the drugs’ wide range of mechanisms of action affecting Na’ and Ca” channels, and GABA-mediated inhibition and excitatory aminoacid neurotransmission.