cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
UBV color-magnitude diagrams of galactic clusters

Abstract A catalogue of over 37,000 UBV observations is now available in the form of 165 color-magnitude and color-color plots of galactic globular clusters. A bibliography of references is given and a table of data for 115 clusters summarizing much of the current information concerning globular clusters. The UBV observations are available on tape from the Strasbourg Stellar Data Center.
Interaction of Virion Protein Vpr of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 with Cellular Transcription Factor Sp1 and trans-Activation of Viral Long Terminal Repeat

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a result of replication of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) predominantly in CD4+ T lymphocytes and macrophages. However, most of these cells in vivo are immunologically quiescent, a condition restricting HIV-1 replication. Vpr is an HIV-1 virion protein suspected to enhance HIV-1 replication in vivo. We demonstrate in this report that Vpr specifically activates HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR)-directed transcription. This effect is most pronounced on a minimal promoter from HIV-1 LTR containing the TATA box and binding motifs for the ubiquitous cellular transcription factor Sp1. Evidence is presented that Vpr interacts with Sp1 when Sp1 is bound to the Sp1 motifs within the HIV-1 LTR. Both Vpr-Sp1 interaction and Vpr trans-activation require a central Leu/Ile-rich domain in Vpr. Our findings suggest that Vpr trans-activation through Sp1 is most critical for the immediate early transcription of HIV-1 when other positive regulators, such as NF-κB, are limited or inactive, a condition presumably present in vivo. By interacting with Sp1, Vpr also has the potential to influence cellular gene expression and cellular functions. Thus, therapeutic approaches directed toward blocking the Vpr trans-activation function could prove valuable in treating AIDS.
Abstract 3229: Thermo-responsive double packaged system for localized drug delivery for cancer treatment

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL This research aims at developing a drug delivery system that will provide a plethora of benefits including cost effectiveness, reduction of toxicity and a control over the release of chemotherapeutics in Ovarian Cancer and Brain Tumor patients. We have designed a drug delivery system consisting of non-ionic surfactant vesicles (niosomes) packaged within a biodegradable, temperature and pH sensitive hydrogel (chitosan) network. Optimization of the release rates were accomplished by altering the molecular weight and cross-link density of the chitosan network and the size of the niosomes. Two chemotherapeutics Paclitaxel and Carboplatin were used for encapsulation. The interaction between niosome and chitosan were observed using Attenuated Total Reflectance- Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. The drug delivery system was further investigated in human ovarian (OV2008) and human glioma (U373) cell lines. The concentration of the therapeutics used ranged from 0.04-0.4 µg/ml. Confocal imaging of the cells verified that the activity of the drugs remained intact within the niosome-chitosan drug delivery system and cell's toxicity was observed within two hours confirming cellular delivery of the drug. The effect of the niosome-chitosan without the chemotherapeutic drugs on normal cells was also examined indicating that this system is non-toxic. Our results showed that this route of drug delivery to the cancer cells was effective since microtubule stabilization, fragmentation of the nucleus, and condense morphology were noted. Moreover, the time release of the drugs can be finely controlled by varying the crosslinking ratio in the chitosan network from 3:1 (loose network which translates into high release) to 5:1 (tight network which translates into low release). In addition, this system is a liquid solution at room temperature and undergoes a change of phase to a soft, self-containing gel at physiological conditions. The system therefore, can be injected into a tumor site. The materials used to construct this system are low cost and biocompatible and provides a flexible method for drug delivery with applications to intracavitary ovarian cancer and glioma treatment. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3229. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3229
Plasma processes in microelectronic device manufacturing

Plasma processes are an important part of integrated circuit (IC) fabrication. Their wide use can be attributed to the increased requirements of fabricating the smaller, faster, more powerful circuits of each new product generation. This paper reviews some of the major plasma-assisted processes used in IC fabrication. These processes include plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, plasma-assisted etching, and sputter deposition. These processes are discussed with a focus on process considerations and their limitations. In addition, possible plasma-induced damage from these processes is briefly discussed.
Search advertising placement strategy: Exploring the efficacy of the conventional wisdom

Search advertising is one of the most important forms of electronic commerce. While click-through rates are considered a key measure of search advertising effectiveness by search providers, brand attention can also be a valuable objective. Our paper reports on an experiment that investigated how search advertisement placement affected search users' brand recall and recognition. The results showed that semantically associated search ads generated significantly higher levels of brand attention than contextually associated ones. Significant interaction effects were found among search ad position, keyword association, and search result quality. Implications for decision makers are discussed.
Optical properties of quasicrystalline gold nanoparticle arrays in the visible spectrum

Optical properties of aperiodic arrays of gold cylinders in the visible range are studied experimentally and analytically. Aperiodic samples based on Ammann-Beenker and Danzer tilings were fabricated and illuminated with visible light. The arrays are composed of gold cylinders with a diameter of 175 nm and a height of 50 nm in a fused silica medium. The images of the arrays showed multiple colors. The presence of several colors in the colorimetric pattern of the aperiodic arrays can be explained by the presence of multiple photonic resonances in aperiodic structures. Numeric simulations based on Generalized Mie Method were performed on aperiodic nanosphere arrays which also confirmed the presence multiple photonic resonances.
dc-electric-field dependence of THz radiation induced by femtosecond optical excitation of bulk GaAs.

We report a systematic study of the dc-electric-field dependence of THz radiation from a bulk GaAs sample optically excited by femtosecond pulses. The experimental results reveal that both displacement and transport currents contribute to THz radiation and the relative contributions are shown to be very sensitive to the dc electric field. This observation agrees qualitatively with a simulation based on a fully quantum-mechanical treatment of the transient photoconductive response of GaAs.
Partitioning interrill splash and wash dynamics: a novel laboratory approach

Abstract With an innovative experimental device simultaneous measurement of interrill splash and wash on an Oxisol was made at 4, 9, 18, 27, and 36% slopes under a constant rainfall intensity of 65 mm h−1 in a laboratory setting. The specially designed runoff and sediment collection system provided a means of partitioning total splash into directional components (upslope, downslope, and lateral) and interrill sediment transport into wash and splash components. Results indicate that downslope and lateral splash components increased with slope while the upslope component decreased. Overall there was a linear increase of total splash from the 0.18 m2 plot with increasing slope. A transport-limited regime prevailed in all studied slopes. The wash process dominated sediment transport at low slopes ( 9%) and was best described with a power function model (exponent = 1.3) with a flux ranging from 0.33 g m−2 min−1 at 4% slope to 5.31 g m−2 min−1 at 36% slope. The WEPP interrill erosion model was inadequate in describing total interrill sediment delivery from the Oxisol. The practical implication of this finding was that splash can be an important process of sediment transport in interrill erosion. Failure to include splashed sediment in interrill erosion measurements using the common “runoff-trough” approach may underestimate total soil loss or interrill sediment delivery to rills.
An Experimental Study on the Effects of Wake Interference on the Performances of Wind Turbines Over Complex Terrains

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the interferences of wind turbines sited over hilly terrains in order to elucidate underlying physics to explore/optimize design paradigms of wind turbines sited over complex terrains for higher power yield and better durability. The experiments were conducted in a large wind tunnel with of wind turbine models sited over a flat terrain (baseline case) and a 2D-ridge with non-homogenous atmospheric boundary layer winds. In addition to measuring dynamic wind loads (both forces and moments) and the power outputs of the wind turbine models, a high-resolution digital Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system was used to conduct detailed flow field measurements to quantify the flow characteristics of the surface winds and wake interferences among multiple wind turbines over flat (baseline case) and complex terrains. The detailed flow field measurements were correlated with the wind load measurements and power outputs of the wind turbine models to elucidate the underlying physics associated with turbine power generation and fatigue loads acting on the wind turbines.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Confounded factor effects on battery life in wireless sensor networks

Widely utilized for numerous applications, wireless sensor networks have become a boon to the academia and industrial communities. However, the stringent energy constraints place a hurdle to the continuous functioning of the sensing devices. Clustering a network leads to a lesser number of nodes participating in active transmissions. Data aggregation reduces redundant packet sending. Given that transmission is the primary energy consuming activity for a sensor mote, this paper exploits the joint advantages of clustering and data aggregation in decreasing communication cost. A data centric analysis was performed to justify the use of data aggregation. Experimental results on a realistic platform with MICAz motes running TinyOS embedded system showed 22% energy savings and 13% overhead reduction, confirming the attractive advantages of data aggregation and clustering such as more efficient transmissions.
Early designs for the occlusal anatomy of posterior denture teeth: part III

Part III of this series of articles, like Part II, reviews the pioneering efforts in the 19th century to improve the quality of artificial teeth. The focus of this article, unlike that of Part II, is specifically modifications in the design of the occlusal anatomy of the 19th century denture teeth, along with the theories of mandibular movement that inspired those modifications. This article concludes the introductory phase of this project, which seeks to unravel the confusing history of the development of (posterior) denture teeth.
A search for color encoding in the responses of a class of fly interneurons

Extracellular recordings were obtained from single units in the lobula region of the optic lobe of the blowfly Calliphora phaenicia and housefly Musca domestica. These units responded selectively to the direction of movement of objects in the visual field. Previously it was suggested that these units are part of the neural system that controls flying behavior. The responses of these units were examined with monochromatic light flashes over four log units of intensity. No “opponent” cells were found. The spectral sensitivity was determined directly and found to be similar for all units studied. Responses patterns were investigated with test flashes of equal physiological brightness. It was concluded that color is not encoded by this class of interneurons. It is suggested that the optomotor response is determined by the activities of retinula cells 1–6.
Compulsive Hoarding: Current Research and Theory

Compulsive hoarding has emerged as a treatment refractory and impairing psychological disorder. Although promising research over the past decade has substantially furthered an understanding of hoarding, the etiology, diagnostic status, and associated features of this phenomenon are not yet completely understood. This article reviews current research on hoarding, including comorbidity and diagnostic issues, theoretical models, and treatment approaches. A cognitive–behavioral model of compulsive hoarding (R. O. Frost and G. Steketee, 1998) is presented, including the proposed information-processing deficits, beliefs and cognitions, and excessive emotional attachment to possessions. In addition, existing treatment approaches that target the cognitive and behavioral components of acquisition, difficulty organizing, and avoidance of discarding are described. Future directions for compulsive hoarding research are suggested to improve diagnostic clarity, refine therapeutic techniques, and enhance treatment response.
Primary EFL Teachers’ Technology Use in China: Patterns and Perceptions:

Drawing on survey data, this paper examines the patterns and perceptions of technology use by primary EFL teachers in China. Findings suggest that although Chinese EFL teachers hold positive attitudes toward the value of technology for teaching and learning, they use technology mainly for teacher-centered purposes, such as teaching preparation and instructional delivery, and seldom utilize technology for student-centered activities. Factors constraining student-oriented technological use in early EFL instruction include teacher-center pedagogical practices and lack of effective professional development that focuses on instructional design and technology integration. These findings suggest that China must redirect its effort to promote teacher conceptual and pedagogical change in integrating technology in early EFL instruction and emphasize alignment among technology, curriculum, and pedagogy in EFL teaching.
X-ray scattering combined with coordinate-based analyses for applications in natural and artificial photosynthesis

Advances in X-ray light sources and detectors have created opportunities for advancing our understanding of structure and structural dynamics for supramolecular assemblies in solution by combining X-ray scattering measurement with coordinate-based modeling methods. In this review the foundations for X-ray scattering are discussed and illustrated with selected examples demonstrating the ability to correlate solution X-ray scattering measurements to molecular structure, conformation, and dynamics. These approaches are anticipated to have a broad range of applications in natural and artificial photosynthesis by offering possibilities for structure resolution for dynamic supramolecular assemblies in solution that can not be fully addressed with crystallographic techniques, and for resolving fundamental mechanisms for solar energy conversion by mapping out structure in light-excited reaction states.
Culture of human renal cortex epithelial cells

A procedure is described for the establishment and propagation of epithelial cell rich cultures derived from normal human kidney cortex (NHK-C cells). Cells are harvested from tissue fragments of donor human kidney by progressive enzymatic dissociation. NHK-C cultures are morphologically heterogeneous but exhibit, predominantly, the functional characteristics of cells of the kidney proximal tubule.
The Current Status of Lung Transplantation: A Nursing Perspective

Since the first lung transplantation was attempted in 1963, the use of the procedure has gradually increased. The first successful operation was performed in 1983, and during the past decade the number of lung transplantations and heart-lung transplantations has increased rapidly, with 75% of recipients surviving past the first year. Chronic rejection is the greatest obstacle to long-term survival. In this article, a brief history of lung transplantation is provided. Recipient selection criteria are reviewed, together with the listing process and donor organ criteria. Recommendations for care of patients before and after lung transplantation are outlined, with a description of the postoperative course, including complications, pain control, rehabilitation, discharge procedures, and outpatient treatment.
Fibrin cap disruption: an adjunctive technique for inferior vena cava filter retrieval.

Abstract Various adjunctive techniques have been reported for challenging inferior vena cava (IVC) filter retrievals (1–4). One particularly challenging obstacle to successful IVC filter retrieval is the formation of a radiolucent fibrin cap over the embedded apex of the IVC filter. This obstacle is a result of filter tilting that creates turbulent blood flow, which promotes fibrin cap formation. The aim of this brief report is to depict a novel technique for IVC filter retrieval: guide wire–manipulated disruption of the fibrin cap.
Fluorescence in situ hybridization of 12p in germ cell tumors using a bacterial artificial chromosome clone 12p probe on paraffin-embedded tissue: clinical test validation

Most germ cell tumors have an isochromosome 12p (detected by metaphase cytogenetics), 12p overrepresentation (detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization [FISH]), or both. Although interphase FISH on paraffin-embedded tissue is a sensitive method of detection of 12p anomalies, use of FISH for clinical diagnostic purposes is not well defined. We describe an interphase FISH assay for detection of increased 12p copy number in germ cell tumors using a bacterial artificial chromosome-derived probe localized to 12p12.1 and a commercially available probe for the centromere of chromosome 12. Twenty-four paraffin-embedded blocks from 14 tumor cases (7 malignant mixed germ cell tumors, 2 dysgerminomas, 4 non-germ cell malignancies arising in germ cell tumors, and 1 mediastinal adenocarcinoma) and 18 normal controls were studied. Negative controls included normal lymph node, lung, and mediastinal tissue. The signals for 12p and 12cen were counted, and the ratio of the averaged signals was calculated; a ratio of 1.3 was considered positive. All germ cell tumors and non-germ cell malignancies arising in germ cell tumors were positive for 12p overrepresentation. All control cases were negative. Because germ cell tumors may metastasize with non-germ cell tumor morphology, interphase FISH may be helpful in distinguishing de novo malignancy from germ cell tumor recurrence in its various forms.
Changes in Uterine Expression of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor Gene During Pregnancy and Its Up-Regulation by Prolactin in the Western Spotted Skunk

The multifunctional cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is presumed to participate in preparing the uterus for blastocyst implantation. Increased production of LIF is positively correlated with termination of embryonic diapause and preparation for implantation in the spotted skunk. This study examined changes in the expression, localization, and hormonal regulation of LIF receptor (LIFRβ) gene expression in the uterus of the skunk. Changes in the uterine concentration of LIFRβ mRNA during pregnancy or in response to hormones after ovariectomy were determined by Northern hybridization analysis and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The skunk uterus produces two LIFRβ transcripts, the levels of which increase in concentration when the blastocysts resume their development but then decline somewhat during the latter stage of blastocyst activation. Ovariectomy significantly reduced uterine LIFRβ expression. Estradiol and/or progesterone failed to significantly elevate LIFRβ mRNA levels in ovariectomized animals. Prolactin significantly increased uterine concentrations of LIFRβ mRNA to greater than those of ovariectomized controls, but these levels were not comparable to those observed during preimplantation. The LIFRβ mRNA was predominately localized to stromal cells surrounding the uterine glands and in yolk sac endoderm, syncytiotrophoblast, and cytotrophoblast of postimplantation embryos.
Medium-term results of the Bernese periacetabular osteotomy in the treatment of symptomatic developmental dysplasia of the hip

We studied the medium-term outcome of the Bernese periacetabular osteotomy in 52 patients (58 hips) with symptomatic developmental dysplasia of the hip and a mean age of 37.6 years (13 to 48). The operations were performed between 1993 and 2005 by the senior author with a mean follow-up of 66.7 months (13 to 153). There were 42 women (47 hips) and ten men (11 hips). Of these patients, 24 (30 hips) had an osteotomy on the right side and 22 (28 hips) on the left. Six patients had bilateral operations. The clinical outcome was assessed using the modified Merle d'Aubigne scale, and pre- and post-operative radiological evaluation using the modified Tonnis osteoarthritis score, the centre-edge angle, the acetabular index, the status of Shenton's line, and the cross-over sign. The mean centre-edge angle and the acetabular index were 14 degrees (2 degrees to 34 degrees ) and 23.6 degrees (0 degrees to 40 degrees ) before operation, and 36.6 degrees (16 degrees to 72 degrees ) and 7.9 degrees (0 degrees to 28 degrees ) after, respectively (p < 0.001, analysis of variance (ANOVA)). Shenton's line was intact in 23 hips (39.6%) before operation and in 48 hips (82.8%) after. The cross-over sign was present in 31 hips (53.4%) before and in three hips (5.2%) after operation (p < 0.001, ANOVA). The total Merle d'Aubigne clinical score improved from a mean of 12.6 (9 to 15) to 16.0 (12 to 18) points (p < 0.001, ANOVA). Only four hips required subsequent total hip replacement. Our results indicate that the Bernese periacetabular osteotomy provides good symptomatic relief for patients with little to no arthritis (Tonnis type 0 or 1) with an underlying deformity that can be corrected to a position of a stable, congruent hip joint.
Comparison of blogged and written reflections in two medicine clerkships

Medical Education 2011: 45: 166–175 Context Academic medical centres may adopt new learning technologies with little data on their effectiveness or on how they compare with traditional methodologies. We conducted a comparative study of student reflective writings produced using either an electronic (blog) format or a traditional written (essay) format to assess differences in content, depth of reflection and student preference. Methods Students in internal medicine clerkships at two US medical schools during the 2008–2009 academic year were quasi-randomly assigned to one of two study arms according to which they were asked to either write a traditional reflective essay and subsequently join in faculty-moderated, small-group discussion (n = 45), or post two writings to a faculty-moderated group blog and provide at least one comment on a peer’s posts (n = 50). Examples from a pilot block were used to refine coding methods and determine inter-rater reliability. Writings were coded for theme and level of reflection by two blinded authors; these coding processes reached inter-rater reliabilities of 91% and 80%, respectively. Anonymous pre- and post-clerkship surveys assessed student perceptions and preferences. Results Student writing addressed seven main themes: (i) being humanistic; (ii) professional behaviour; (iii) understanding caregiving relationships; (iv) being a student; (v) clinical learning; (vi) dealing with death and dying, and (vii) the health care system, quality, safety and public health. The distribution of themes was similar across institutions and study arms. The level of reflection did not differ between study arms. Post-clerkship surveys showed that student preferences for blogging or essay writing were predicted by experience, with the majority favouring the method they had used. Conclusions Our study suggests there is no significant difference in themes addressed or levels of reflection achieved when students complete a similar assignment via online blogging or traditional essay writing. Given this, faculty staff should feel comfortable in utilising the blog format for reflective exercises. Faculty members could consider the option of using either format to address different learning styles of students.
Understanding the psychosocial and environmental factors and barriers affecting utilization of maternal healthcare services in Kalomo, Zambia: a qualitative study

This qualitative study aimed to identify psychosocial and environmental factors contributing to low utilization of maternal healthcare services in Kalomo, Zambia. Twelve focus group discussions (n = 141) and 35 in-depth interviews were conducted in six health centre catchment areas. Focus group discussions comprised women of reproductive age (15-45 years), who gave birth within the last year; in-depth interviews comprised traditional leaders, mothers, fathers, community health workers and nurse-midwives. Perspectives on maternal health complications, health-seeking behaviour and barriers to utilization of maternal healthcare were explored. Most women showed insight into maternal health complications. Nevertheless, they started antenatal care visits late and did not complete the recommended schedule. Moreover, most women gave birth at home and did not use postnatal care. The main reasons for the low utilization were the low perceived quality of maternal healthcare services in clinics (negative attitude), negative opinion of important referents (subjective norms), physical and economic barriers such as long distances, high transport and indirect costs including money for baby clothes and other requirements. To improve, our findings suggest need for an integrated intervention to mitigate these barriers. Our findings also suggest need for further research to measure the elicited beliefs and determine their relevance and changeability.
The utility of MRI for the surgical treatment of women with uterine fibroid tumors

Determination of the reasonable treatment options and the appropriate clinical treatment of women with uterine fibroid tumors often depends on the ability of imaging modalities to accurately detect and localize fibroid tumors. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) gives the most complete evaluation (sizes, positions, number) of submucous, intramural, and subserosal myomas and is the most sensitive modality for the detection of small fibroid tumors. MRI allows the evaluation of fibroid tumor proximity to the bladder, rectum, and endometrial cavity, helps define what can be expected at surgery, and may help the gynecologist avoid missing fibroid tumors during surgery. MRI can also make the diagnosis of adenomyosis reliably and may be able to identify uterine sarcoma when present.
A Comparative Study of Alternative Methods of Quantifying Qualitative Survey Responses Using NAPM Data

This article examines the effectiveness of a subjective probability approach to quantify three- category qualitative responses from expectations surveys. Since one cannot make a judgment on the validity of estimated expectations by comparing them with ex post outcomes, we use the National Association of Purchasing Managers survey data on materials buying prices and compare them with the Producer Price Index for intermediate materials and components for manufacturing. We experimented with normal, logistic, and scaled-f distributions and found that the approach could explain approximately 60% of the variation in the monthly series. Marginal improvement in the explanatory power of the procedure was noted when the imperceptible parameter was allowed to be asymmetric and variable over time.
An iterative hillclimbing algorithm for discrete optimization on images: application to joint encoding of image transform coefficients

We develop an iterative, hillclimbing-based assignment algorithm for the approximate solution of discrete-parameter cost minimization problems defined on the pixel sites of an image. While the method is applicable to a number of problems including encoding, decoding, and segmentation, this article focuses on entropy-constrained encoding. For typical statistical image models, the globally optimal solution requires an intractable exhaustive search, while standard greedy methods, though tractable in computation, may be quite suboptimal. Alternatively, our method is guaranteed to perform no worse (and typically performs significantly better) than greedy encoding, yet with manageable increases in complexity. The new approach uses dynamic programming as a local optimization "step," repeatedly applied to the rows (or columns) of the image, until convergence. For a DCT framework, with entropy-constrained TCQ applied to the coefficient sources, the new method gains as much as 0.8 dB over standard greedy encoding.
Estimating Abundances of Interacting Species Using Morphological Traits, Foraging Guilds, and Habitat

We developed a statistical model to estimate the abundances of potentially interacting species encountered while conducting point-count surveys at a set of ecologically relevant locations – as in a metacommunity of species. In the model we assume that abundances of species with similar traits (e.g., body size) are potentially correlated and that these correlations, when present, may exist among all species or only among functionally related species (such as members of the same foraging guild). We also assume that species-specific abundances vary among locations owing to systematic and stochastic sources of heterogeneity. For example, if abundances differ among locations due to differences in habitat, then measures of habitat may be included in the model as covariates. Naturally, the quantitative effects of these covariates are assumed to differ among species. Our model also accounts for the effects of detectability on the observed counts of each species. This aspect of the model is especially important for rare or uncommon species that may be difficult to detect in community-level surveys. Estimating the detectability of each species requires sampling locations to be surveyed repeatedly using different observers or different visits of a single observer. As an illustration, we fitted models to species-specific counts of birds obtained while sampling an avian community during the breeding season. In the analysis we examined whether species abundances appeared to be correlated due to similarities in morphological measures (body mass, beak length, tarsus length, wing length, tail length) and whether these correlations existed among all species or only among species of the same foraging guild. We also used the model to estimate the effects of forested area on species abundances and the effects of sound power output (as measured by body size) on species detection probabilities.
Physical and Genomic Characteristics Identify Chicken Proventricular Necrosis Virus (R11/3 Virus) as a Novel Birnavirus

SUMMARY. Chicken proventricular necrosis virus (CPNV), isolate R11/3, previously was isolated from transmissible viral proventriculitis–affected chickens and was determined to be the likely etiology of this disease. CPNV was identified as a birnavirus on the basis of virion size and morphology (icosahedral, approximately 75 nm in diameter, nonenveloped); buoyant density in cesium chloride (1.32 g/ml); a genome comprising bisegmented, double-stranded RNA (approximately 3.8 and 3.4 kilobase pairs); and nucleotide sequence analyses. Nucleotide sequencing of CPNV RNA, segment B, identified a single large open reading frame that encodes a 903–amino acid protein. The 903–amino acid protein was identified as the putative VP1, the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), on the basis of sequence homologies with other birnavirus VP1 proteins. The CPNV VP1 possessed the unique permuted RdRp sequence motif arrangement characteristic of birnaviruses; however, phylogenetic analyses based on VP1 demonstrated that CPN...
A computational investigation of the role of angiogenic inhibitors in tumor-induced angiogenesis

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting vasculature, is an essential component of tumor growth. Without this, solid tumors are nutrient limited and cannot grow more than 1-2 mm in diameter and the tumor mass cannot contain more than 10/sup 5/-10/sup 6/ cells. The recent discovery of angiogenic inhibitors has revolutionized the field making anti-angiogenic treatment one of the most potent therapies for cancer. Despite this progress, a fundamental understanding of the entire angiogenic process and of the role and function of angiogenic inhibitors, in particular, is still lacking. We have developed a two-dimensional mathematical model, which takes into account the complex interactions between endothelial cells, proteolytic enzymes, tumor angiogenic factors and inhibitors. The model serves as a tool in order to investigate different possible functions of the angiogenic inhibitors as well as the mechanisms leading to experimentally observed phenomena during the angiogenic process.
Electrophysiologic effects of sotalol and amiodarone in patients with sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia

No prospective studies have compared sotalol and amiodarone during electropharmacologic testing. The purpose of this prospective, randomized study was to compare the electrophysiologic effects of sotalol and amiodarone in patients with coronary artery disease and sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT). Patients with coronary artery disease and sustained monomorphic VT inducible by programmed stimulation were randomly assigned to receive either sotalol (n = 17) or amiodarone (n = 17). The sotalol dose was titrated to 240 mg twice daily over 7 days. Amiodarone dosing consisted of 600 mg 3 times daily for 10 days. An electrophysiologic test was performed in the baseline state and at the end of the loading regimen. An adequate response was defined as the inability to induce VT or the ability to induce only relatively slow hemodynamically stable VT. During the follow-up electrophysiologic test, 24% of patients taking sotalol and 41% of those taking amiodarone had an adequate response to therapy (p = 0.30). Amiodarone lengthened the mean VT cycle length to a greater degree than sotalol (28% vs 12%, p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the effects of sotalol and amiodarone on the ventricular effective refractory period. In patients with coronary artery disease, amiodarone and sotalol are similar in efficacy in the treatment of VT as assessed by electropharmacologic testing. The effects of the 2 drugs on ventricular refractoriness are similar, but amiodarone slows VT to a greater extent than sotalol.
Robust modeling in screening studies: Estimation of sensitivity and preclinical sojourn time distribution

In early-detection clinical trials, quantities such as the sensitivity of the screening modality and the preclinical duration of the disease are important to describe the natural history of the disease and its interaction with a screening program. Assume that the schedule of a screening program is periodic and that the sojourn time in the preclinical state has a piecewise density function. Modeling the preclinical sojourn time distribution as a piecewise density function results in robust estimation of the distribution function. Our aim is to estimate the piecewise density function and the examination sensitivity using both generalized least squares and maximum likelihood methods. We carried out extensive simulations to evaluate the performance of the methods of estimation. The different estimation methods provide complimentary tools to obtain the unknown parameters. The methods are applied to three breast cancer early-detection trials.
The polarity protein Baz forms a platform for the centrosome orientation during asymmetric stem cell division in the Drosophila male germline

Many stem cells divide asymmetrically in order to balance self-renewal with differentiation. The essence of asymmetric cell division (ACD) is the polarization of cells and subsequent division, leading to unequal compartmentalization of cellular/extracellular components that confer distinct cell fates to daughter cells. Because precocious cell division before establishing cell polarity would lead to failure in ACD, these two processes must be tightly coupled; however, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. In Drosophila male germline stem cells, ACD is prepared by stereotypical centrosome positioning. The centrosome orientation checkpoint (COC) further serves to ensure ACD by preventing mitosis upon centrosome misorientation. In this study, we show that Bazooka (Baz) provides a platform for the correct centrosome orientation and that Baz-centrosome association is the key event that is monitored by the COC. Our work provides a foundation for understanding how the correct cell polarity may be recognized by the cell to ensure productive ACD.
Use of Hospice in the United States Dialysis Population

Hospice is recognized for providing excellent end-of-life care but may be underused by dialysis patients. Hospice use and related outcomes were measured among dialysis patients, and factors that were associated with hospice use were identified. The 2-yr US Renal Data System dialysis patients who died between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2002, and hospice claims from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services were examined to measure prevalence, factors, and costs that were associated with dialysis withdrawal and hospice use. Of the 115,239 deceased patients, 21.8% withdrew from dialysis and 13.5% used hospice. Of those who withdrew, 41.9% used hospice. Failure to thrive was the most common reason for dialysis withdrawal (42.9%). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, factors that were significantly associated with hospice referral among patients who withdrew from dialysis were age, race, reason for withdrawal, ability to walk or transfer at dialysis initiation, and state of residence. Among patients who withdrew from dialysis and used hospice, median cost of per-patient care during the last week of life was $1858, compared with $4878 for nonhospice patients (P
Discovery of small-molecule inhibitors of the TLR1/TLR2 complex.

The protein complex of toll-like receptor 1 and 2 (TLR1/2) is an important regulator of innate immunity, and therefore provides an attractive target for the treatment of various immune disordres. Here we report a novel compound (CU-CPT22) that can compete with the synthetic triacylated lipoprotein (Pam3CSK4) binding to TLR1/2 with high inhibitory activity and specificity. Repression of downstream signaling from TNF-α and IL-1β has also been observed.
Cancer genome sequencing: a review

A genomic era of cancer studies is developing rapidly, fueled by the emergence of next-generation sequencing technologies that provide exquisite sensitivity and resolution. This article discusses several areas within cancer genomics that are being transformed by the application of new technology, and in the process are dramatically expanding our understanding of this disease. Although, we anticipate that there will be many exciting discoveries in the near future, the ultimate success of these endeavors rests on our ability to translate what is learned into better diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer.
Theory of Multiphoton Ionization

A consistent, quantum-mechanical, many-body theory of multiphoton excitation and ionization is reviewed. The laser pulse is considered to be a classical field consisting of many optical cycles of a single, slowly varying frequency. The results are useful both for numerical calculations and for qualitative interpretation of experiments.
Variation of osteocyte lacunae size within the tetrapod skeleton: Implications for palaeogenomics

Recent studies have emphasized the ability to reconstruct genome sizes (C-values) of extinct organisms such as dinosaurs, using correlations between known genome sizes and bone cell (osteocyte lacunae) volumes. Because of the established positive relationship between cell size and genome size in extant vertebrates, osteocyte lacunae volume is a viable proxy for reconstructing C-values in the absence of any viable genetic material. However, intra-skeletal osteocyte lacunae size variation, which could cause error in genome size estimation, has remained unexplored. Here, 11 skeletal elements of one individual from each of four major clades (Mammalia, Amphibia, Aves, Reptilia) were examined histologically. Skeletal elements in all four clades exhibit significant differences in the average sizes of their lacunae. This variation, however, generally does not cause a significant difference in the estimated genome size when common phylogenetic estimation methods are employed. On the other hand, the spread of the estimations illustrates that this method may not be precise. High variance in genome size estimations remains an outstanding problem. Additionally, a suite of new methods is introduced to further automate the measurement of bone cells and other microstructural features on histological thin sections.
Dynamics of the Planning Solution in the Textbook Model of Labor Market Search and Matching

This paper takes a discrete-time adaptation of the continuous-time matching economy of Pissarides (1990, 2001) discussed in Ljungqvist and Sargent (2000) and computes the solution to the dynamic planning problem. The solution is shown to be completely characterized by a first-order, non-linear map which admits a unique stationary solution that is dynamically unapproachable from an arbitrary set of initial conditions. Oscillatory solutions are possible but there is no possibility of periodic solutions.
Are Foreign-Trained Nurses Perfect Substitutes for U.S.-Trained Nurses?

The authors investigate whether foreign- and U.S.-trained nurses are substitutes by studying the differences in their wages and whether wage differentials respond to relative supplies of foreign- and U.S.-trained nurses. Regression estimates suggest that foreign-trained nurses without a bachelor’s degree enjoy a wage premium of 1 to 3% over similar U.S.-trained nurses after adjusting for demographic, workplace, work type, and geographic differences, but no wage difference remains among those with a bachelor’s degree. For all nurses combined, the wage difference is modest and statistically insignificant. This result suggests that foreign- and U.S.-trained nurses are equally productive and close substitutes. The authors also test explicitly for whether foreign- and U.S.-trained nurses are substitutes and cannot reject the hypothesis that they are.
Abstract 67: Using Patient Activation to Transition Patients from Hospital to Home

Background: The community hospital as a part of a large health care system participates in the Ohio Coverdell Stroke Program. The Coverdell Goals are to improve the quality of patients’ care transitions, reduce avoidable complications, and support the reduction of patients’ unnecessary readmissions. The purpose of the project was to evaluate if the tools, Patient Activation Assessment (PAA), Personal Health Record (PHR), and the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) improve transitions from the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) to home, without patients experiencing an unnecessary readmission. The nurse used the tools to teach patients stroke fundamentals and self-management strategies. Methods: The population consisted of all stroke patients discharged home from the IRF over twelve months (n=177). The intervention was patient stroke education based on the PAM and the PAA scores while utilizing the PHR. The nurse taught stroke fundamentals within the structure of the PAA four pillars directed to the patient and the care advocate. Results: The project goal to transition stroke patients safely from the IRF to home with a decrease in unnecessary readmissions was met. The patients in the project experienced a 50% decrease in readmissions in less than thirty days from patients discharged the previous year (n=172). The team compared stroke patients9 PAM and PAA scores prior to discharge instruction, after instruction, and then prior to discharge to home with a significant improvement in the PAA scores P Conclusions: The initial three month phase of the project demonstrated an improvement in the PAM and PAA scores. There was a trend of increased patients’ activation scores related to discharge disposition, and a decrease in readmission rates. Therefore the use of the PAM, PAA, and PHR was incorporated into the IRF nursing practice for all stroke patients. The nurses focus their stroke teaching on patients with lower activation scores with the goal of increasing the scores and improving patients’ ability to return home and avoid an unnecessary readmission. The results over one year mirror the original three month pilot project.
Incomplete Understanding, Deference, and the Content of Thought

Tyler Burge's influential arguments have convinced most philosophers that a thinker can have a thought involving a particular concept without fully grasping or having mastery of that concept. In Burge's (1979) famous example, a thinker who lacks mastery of the concept of arthritis nonetheless has thoughts involving that concept. It is generally supposed, however, that this phenomenon - incomplete understanding, for short - does not require us to reconsider in a fundamental way what it is for a thought to involve a particular concept. In this paper, I argue that the real significance of incomplete understanding has not been appreciated. To the extent that theorists of content address the phenomenon of thoughts involving incompletely grasped contents at all, they tend to assume that some hand-waving about deference to other thinkers who fully grasp the relevant concepts will take care of the inconvenient cases of incomplete understanding. The main lesson of Burge's arguments is often taken to be that the content of language and thought is socially determined. On this picture, we do not need to change our basic view about what it is to have a concept; we just need to recognize that some thinkers can manage to have a concept by piggybacking on others. In contrast, on the view I defend, taking incomplete understanding seriously forces us to rethink some of our most basic assumptions about the nature of mental content. Deference is a red herring. The role of society in determining the content of thought is not the main lesson, but at most a useful clue as to the nature of mental and linguistic content.
The Development of Contracts: Law in Action

This article explains the history of the materials (long unpublished) that became the contracts casebook: Macaulay et al., Contracts: Law in Action. In the early years we worked closely with Ian Macneil, another pioneer of relational contract thinking. And we contextualized our cases, reflecting a law in action perspective. We identify five themes as providing a structure to the materials: (1) Incorporating UCC Article 2 into the contracts course; (2) Remedies first; (3) Law in Action; (4) Relational contracts; and(5) Contracts are everywhere.
Biology of Sarothromyia Femoralis Var. Simplex Aldrich. (Diptera, Calliphoridae.)

The subfamily Sarcophaginae has an exceedingly interesting life history. Some of the species are parasites while others are scavengers and recently it has been found that some are able to adapt themselves to either environment. The following account concerns the biology of a subspecies belonging to a tropical or subtropical genus in which there has been but one species and one subspecies described. It is herein shown that this genus represents a new subfamily of Calliphoridae. Hither-to nothing has been published upon their habits or biology.