cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reconstruction of Foot Burn Contractures in Children

Burn scar contractures of the foot cause significant morbidity. We reviewed 68 children in regard to number and rates of burn scar contracture recurrence, surgical techniques, and functional and aesthetic results. Two surgical techniques of foot burn scar contracture release have been used. Originally, an incision over the metatarsal heads perpendicular to the line of the metatarsals, which releases the longitudinal arch of the foot was used. More recently, additional releasing incisions parallel to the plane of the metatarsals to release the transverse metatarsal arch have been used. The time between burn injury and primary burn scar contracture release was 4.18 +/- 0.76 years, and the time until the first recurrence was 3.44 +/- 0.46 years. With release of only the longitudinal arch, recurrence of burn scar contractures occurred in 3.5 +/- 0.41 years and in 4.29 +/- 1.27 years in six patients who also received release of the transverse arch. Wound closure at the time of acute burn with split-thickness skin graft expansion ratios of 1:2 and 1:4 had burn scar contractures that required release in 4.21 +/- 0.70 and 2.29 +/- 0.52 years, respectively.
Mechanisms of fatigue damage and fracture in semi-crystalline polymers

Abstract Fatigue crack profiles and fracture surfaces of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), nylon-6,6 (N66), and poly(acetal) (PA) were studied to ascertain the mechanisms of cyclic damage and fatigue crack propagation in semicrystalline polymers. Crack tip damage is believed to begin as small trans-spherulitic and inter-spherulitic tensile crazes. However, compressive yielding within the reverse plastic zone at the crack tip crushes and elongates the spherulites in the direction of crack growth. Consequently, the microstructure of the polymer in advance of the crack front is different from the original morphology of the spherulitic bulk material as evidenced by the resulting fracture surface appearance. When the test temperature is below the glass transition temperature, however, plastic deformation is limited, and fatigue fracture occurs before significant disruption of the spherulitic structure. In this case, the fracture surface morphology reflects the original microstructure of the bulk polymer.
Preparing Permanent Deep Chamber Mounts of Variable Dimensions

A rapid and simple method for the preparation of permanent deep chamber mounts of variable size, shape and depth is described. The chamber sides are made with aluminum wire bent on a form of the proper size and shape. Aluminum wire is nicely adapted for use due to its pliability and clean appearance. It undergoes no apparent change in contact with the mounting medium. Depth of the chambers is determined from the gauge of the wire. Clarite, used as the mounting medium, is prepared as a thick solution in toluol (70-75% of clarite by weight). The resulting preparations are crystal clear, colorless, and according to the work of other investigators, do not become acid with age.
Vibrational Excitation in N 2 by Electron Impact in the 15-35-eV Region

The vibrational cross section by electron impact on ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ exhibits a broad maximum near 22 eV. This maximum can be observed in the first three vibrational states, at all angles of observation. The angular distribution of the electrons having excited nitrogen to the vibrational states $v=1, 2, 3$ is measured. The shape of the angular distribution changes as the incident energy is varied from 20 to 28 eV. We interpret our observations in terms of the possible existence of a number of overlapping compound states above 20 eV.
Induction of sexual receptivity in the female broad-headed skink, Eumeces laticeps, by estradiol-17β

Abstract Sexual receptivity in the female scincid lizard Eumeces laticeps occurs naturally only during the spring breeding season, which is also when maximal follicular development occurs. The presumption that high estrogen levels are coincidentally present and the need for a reliable method of inducing sexual receptivity for behavioral studies prompted tests of the hypothesis that estrogen induces sexual behavior. A series of experiments established that estradiol-17β induces sexual receptivity within 4 days when injected every other day at 2.0 μg in 20 μl peanut oil in intact or ovariectomized females. In behavioral tests conducted during August, all control females (intact or ovariectomized injected with vehicle only) rejected courtship whereas all females receiving estrogen copulated. Estrogen injections also induced a statistically significant change from rejection to receptivity within individuals. Initial attempts to implant estradiol-17β in Silastic tubes killed all females so treated.
Metal Allyl Complexes with Bulky Ligands: Stabilization of Homoleptic Thorium Compounds, [(SiMe3)nC3H5-n]4Th (n = 1, 2)

Unlike the parent (C3H5)4Th that decomposes at 0 °C, homoleptic tetra(allyl)thorium complexes [(SiMe3)nC3H5-n]4Th (n = 1, 2) have been prepared from ThBr4(thf)4 and K[(SiMe3)nC3H5-n] that are stabl...
Radioactive Isotopes as Tracers: A Closer Look at Radium and Radon: Measurement and Application of Radium and Radon Isotopes in Environmental Sciences; Venice, Italy, 7–11 April 2008

The accurate measurement and modeling of certain radium and radon isotopes is important because such radionuclides have become primary tools for determining fluxes of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) into the ocean, rates of mixing of coastal waters, residence times of water in estuaries, and interactions between surface water and groundwater. Fifty-two scientists from 14 countries met for a workshop on radium and radon isotopes, hosted by the Venice office of the U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). These scientists discussed complexities regarding the measurement of radium-223 (223Ra), radium-224 (224Ra), radium-226 (226Ra), radium-228 (228Ra), radon-220 (220Rn), and radon-222 (222Rn), as well as models used to apply the results to environmental questions.
Approximate Methodologies for Proportional Mortality Analyses in Epidemiologic Studies Involving Competing Risks of Death Regardless of their Covariance Structure

The present paper discusses methodologies for proportional mortality analyses in epidemiologic studies in which an individual is exposed simultaneously to several (say M) risks of death which compete for his life. A general situation is considered where nothing is known about the dependence or covariance structure among the risks. The available data consist only of the number of deaths in each stratum of the test population, but not the number of individuals at risk. A general class of approximate simultaneous confidence and prediction intervals are developed which provide overall risk assessment of the competing risk factors in many biomedical and epidemiologic studies. Our paper describes how, under reasonable assumptions, asymptotically precise inferences may be based on proportional mortality analyses in order to estimate the indirectly and the externally standardized cause-specific risk measures RSMRi and RSRRi respectively. The tuberculosis mortality data of Kupper, et al., (1978) and the respiratory cancer mortality data of Enterline and Marsh (1983) are utilized to illustrate the usefulness of our results. Methodologies are presented to construct simultaneous confidence intervals for RSMRi involving SPMRi and simultaneous prediction intervals for RSRRi involving SePMRi. Both Scheffe-and Sidak-Types of simultaneous intervals are constructed for M competing risks of death. As a particular case if M = 1, i.e., if the risks of death may be assumed to be independent, as is usually done in proportional mortality analyses, the Scheffe and Sidak confidence intervals become identical and are narrower than of Kupper et al., (1978). In this sense, our paper generalizes the methodologies of proportional mortality analyses in two directions, first to discuss the situation involving competing risks, and second to obtain narrower confidence intervals.
Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward skin cancer in Maryland youths.

Abstract Purpose: To describe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of 7th-graders in Maryland with respect to sun protection and skin cancer. Methods: Maryland middle school students ages 10 to 16 years (55% girls, estimated 67% white) from 6 counties completed an in-school questionnaire (n = 2775) developed by the Coalition for Skin Cancer Prevention in Maryland in 1999 to assess knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors concerning sun exposure and skin cancer. To evaluate for gender and age differences, mean knowledge and attitude scores were compared using Student's t -tests and the prevalence of behaviors were compared using Chi-square tests. Multiple regression was used to model how age, gender, knowledge, and attitudes predicted the likelihood of being sunburned the previous summer. Results: On average, these youths correctly answered 65% of 13 true/false items and 43% of 7 multiple choice items. Approximately one-third (32%) felt a tan looked healthy and 51% felt a tan looked attractive; on the other hand, 36% agreed/strongly agreed that sun protection was "cool." Attitudes toward skin protection became less favorable with age ( p -for-trend p p p p Conclusions: A substantial proportion of youths were not protecting themselves adequately from sunlight. The overall low levels of knowledge accentuate the need to incorporate basic knowledge of skin cancer and sun protective behaviors in preventive interventions designed for this population. The results particularly emphasize the need to positively impact attitudes toward sun protective behavior early in life to help curb the epidemic of skin cancer.
Withdrawing life-sustaining medical treatment--a physician's personal reflection.

The decision to withhold or withdraw artificially provided hydration and nutrition is one which evolves over time and must be made jointly by the medical team and the patient's family. Although withholding nutrition can be argued to be ethical and appropriate for certain clinical scenarios, it is still a decision which can be difficult to make and, because of different social and legal issues, can be difficult to carry out. This is the story of one physician's journey as he worked with the mother and father of a young child who suffered a severe neurological injury and was left in a persistent vegetative state. MRDD Research Reviews 2003;9:10–15. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Role of Sensory-Motor Information in Object Recognition: Evidence from Category-Specific Visual Agnosia.

The role of sensory-motor representations in object recognition was investigated in experiments involving AD, a patient with mild visual agnosia who was impaired in the recognition of visually presented living as compared to non-living entities. AD named visually presented items for which sensory-motor information was available significantly more reliably than items for which such information was not available; this was true when all items were non-living. Naming of objects from their associated sound was normal. These data suggest that both information about object form computed in the ventral visual system as well as sensory-motor information specifying the manner of manipulation contribute to object recognition.
Totally proper forcing and the Moore-Mrówka problem

We describe a totally proper notion of forcing that can be used to shoot uncountable free sequences through certain countably compact non-compact spaces. This is almost (but not quite!) enough to produce a model of ZFC + CH in which countably tight compact spaces are sequential|we still do not know if the notion of forcing described in the paper can be iterated without adding reals.
FLT3/ITD mutation signaling includes suppression of SHP-1.

Mutations in the FLT3 gene are the most common genetic alteration found in AML patients. FLT3 internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations result in constitutive activation of FLT3 tyrosine kinase activity. The consequences of this activation are an increase in total phosphotyrosine content, persistent downstream signaling, and ultimately transformation of hematopoietic cells to factor-independent growth. The Src homology (SH)2 domain-containing protein-tyrosine phosphatase (SHP)-1 is involved in the down-regulation of a broad range of growth factor and cytokine-driven signaling cascades. Loss-of-function or deficiency of SHP-1 activity results in a hyperproliferative response of myelomonocytic cell populations to growth factor stimulation. In this study, we examined the possible role of SHP-1 in regulating FLT3 signaling. We found that transformation of TF-1 cells with FLT3/ITD mutations suppressed the activity of SHP-1 by ∼3-fold. Suppression was caused by decreased SHP-1 protein expression, as analyzed at both the protein and RNA levels. In contrast, protein levels of SHP-2, a phosphatase that plays a stimulatory role in signaling through a variety of receptors, did not change significantly in FLT3 mutant cells. Suppressed SHP-1 protein levels in TF-1/ITD cells were partially overcome after cells were exposed to CEP-701, a selective FLT3 inhibitor. SHP-1 protein levels also increased in naturally occurring FLT3/ITD expressing AML cell lines and in primary FLT3/ITD AML samples after CEP-701 treatment. Furthermore, a small but reproducible growth/survival advantage was observed in both TF-1 and TF-1/ITD cells when SHP-1 expression was knocked down by RNAi. Taken together, these data provide the first evidence that suppression of SHP-1 by FLT3/ITD signaling may be another mechanism contributing to the transformation by FLT3/ITD mutations.
Improved fermentation of cellobiose, glucose, and xylose to ethanol by Zymomonas anaerobia and a high ethanol tolerant strain of Clostridium saccharolyticum

To improve single step conversion of sugar mixtures containing cellobiose, glucose, and xylose to ethanol by a coculture of Zymomonas anaerobia and Clostridium saccharolyticum, an ethanol tolerant mutant of C. saccharolyticum was obtained. The mutant obtained by the enrichment procedure was able to grow in the presence of 75 g·l-1 ethanol, with improved ability to utilize cellobiose, and little or no change in its ability to convert xylose to ethanol. This mutant in coculture with Zymomonas anaerobia produced over 50 g·l-1 ethanol in media containing 130 g·l-1 total sugars comprising of 60% glucose, 20% cellobiose, and 20% xylose.
Microbial characterization and population changes in nonpotable reclaimed water distribution systems.

Changes in the microbial quality of nonpotable reclaimed water distribution systems in seven metropolitan areas of the southwestern United States were investigated by performing pathogen monitoring and bacterial growth. Water samples were collected from tertiary-treated effluents at point of entry and point of use in the distribution systems. The samples were analyzed for Cryptosporidium oocysts, Giardia cysts, enteroviruses, microbial indicators, and assimilable organic carbon (AOC). Cryptosporidium and Giardia were detected in 16% (12/77) and 43% (33/77) of nonpotable reclaimed water samples, whereas no infectious Cryptosporidium parvum were detected in any of the samples. No infectious enteroviruses were detected in any sample (0/27). At point of entry total coliform and fecal coliforms ranged from 0.7 to 280 and from 0 to 1.9 colonyforming units (cfu)/100 mL, respectively. Increases in the number of coliforms were observed as water passed through the reclaimed water distribution systems. However, no such increase in the number of coliphages was found. The chlorination practices at some utilities were not sufficient to inactivate coliforms and coliphages, but supplemental ultraviolet disinfection resulted in lower numbers of these microbial indicators. AOC levels decreased by 3-fold as water passed through the distribution systems, which inversely correlated with bacterial regrowth.
The auditory neurophonic: basic properties

In anesthetized cats an AC signal or neurophonic can be recorded from the auditory nerve and from the scalp when the cochlea is stimulated with low frequency tones. This study examines some of the basic properties of the auditory neurophonics. The auditory nerve signal, termed the auditory nerve neurophonic (ANN), was differentially recorded with a pair of platinum-iridium ball electrodes placed on either side of the auditory nerve as it exits the internal meatus. The signal recorded from the scalp, termed the frequency following response (FFR), was recorded with silver wire. For purposes of comparison the round window-recorded cochlear microphonic was also examined under identical stimulus conditions. Several measures of the response to acoustic stimulation were taken for each recording configuration. Among these were total response amplitude as a function of stimulus level, spectral component amplitude and phase as a function of stimulus level, fundamental component amplitude as a function of stimulus frequency, response amplitude as a function of time after stimulus onset, response amplitude as a function of forward masker intensity. By all these measures the neurophonic responses are signals that are distinct from the CM and share many of the properties of single units in the auditory nerve. In addition, micro-injections of kainic acid into the cochlear nucleus leave these responses largely unaffected, while tetrodotoxin injections into the cochlea greatly diminish both neurophonic responses, while leaving the CM largely intact. From these results, we conclude that at stimulus levels below 90 dB SPL the ANN is almost entirely neural in origin, while the FFR is certainly largely neural, that is, that both responses are quite distinct from the CM. We also conclude that they represent a spatial summation of neural activity in the auditory nerve, probably arising from the phase-locked response of single units to low frequency stimuli. In addition to demonstrating that the neurophonics are neural responses, we have begun the process of relating their properties to the distributed phase-locked activity in the auditory nerve.
Making money from FX volatility

As FX options become commoditized products, derivatives on the volatility itself, such as FVAs, have emerged allowing the expression of views on volatility without the burden of actively managing complex option portfolios. Stephane Knauf describes how the canny trader may seek to apply familiar trading strategies from other markets.
FDSOI Process Technology for Subthreshold-Operation Ultralow-Power Electronics

Ultralow-power electronics will expand the technological capability of handheld and wireless devices by dramatically improving battery life and portability. In addition to innovative low-power design techniques, a complementary process technology is required to enable the highest performance devices possible while maintaining extremely low power consumption. Transistors optimized for subthreshold operation at 0.3 V may achieve a 97% reduction in switching energy compared to conventional transistors. The process technology described in this article takes advantage of the capacitance and performance benefits of thin-body silicon-on-insulator devices, combined with a workfunction engineered mid-gap metal gate.
A density functional theory study of η2 acyl bonding in fe and Mn carbonyl complexes

The stability of the η 2 -acyl-Fe(CO) 3 X (acyl = CH 3 C(O), C 2 H 5 C(O), C(CH 3 ) 3 C(O); X = H, I, CH 3 ) complexes relative to the respective η 1 -acyl-Fe(CO) 3 X complex and their alkyl isomers has been studied using density functional theory (DFT). The effect of an acetyl versus a propionyl group, and the effect of the nature of the substituent, X, on the stability of various isomers is considered. For the CH 3 substituent the effect of a t-valeryl ((CH 3 ) 3 CC(O)) group was also probed. The η 2 -(CH 3 ) 3 CC(O)Fe(CO) 3 CH 3 complex is the most stable of the iron complexes studied. The effect of the substituents on the energies of the molecular orbitals of the complexes provides insight into the energy ordering of the various isomeric structures. DFT calculations were also performed on the η 2 -CH 3 C(O)Mn(CO) 4 complex and its isomers. Good agreement is achieved with regard to these calculations and available experimental and theoretical data. Predictions are presented for the stability of η 2 -acyl-Cr complexes.
Rapid screening method for cocaine and benzoylecgonine in saliva samples

We are presenting a new method for cocaine and benzoylecgonine analysis in saliva samples based on room temperature phosphorimetry. The determination of the drugs is performed on filter paper, which is a suitable substrate for most saliva collection procedures. Extraction from the solid substrate is not necessary, since both compounds are detected on the paper substrate. Complete analysis can be performed with only a few microliters of saliva, which is an attractive feature in cases of limited sample availability. The limits of detection are estimated at the sub-ng level, which shows the feasibility of detecting cocaine and benzoylecgonine at the cut-off levels stipulated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (300 ng/ml). When compared to the existing methodology, the phosphorimetric method presents several advantages which include simplicity, short analysis time, low cost, and the viability of interfacing it with portable instrumentation for field screening applications.
Determination of hoof mass and centre of mass from morphological measurements.

Summary Determination of net joint moments and powers requires accurate measurements of mass and centre of mass (COM) for the limb segments. The objective of this research was to develop regression equations for calculating mass and COM of the hoof segment that are applicable over a wide range of hoof morphologies. Ninety-one hooves (mean ± s.d. 0.99 ± 0.50 kg) were weighed and the 3-dimensional COM determined using a mass balance technique. Ten morphological variables were measured and used as independent variables in linear regressions with dependent variables of mass and centre of mass. The regression equation for mass was dependent upon coronet circumference, lateral height, solar length, solar width, heel height, toe height and base circumference (r2 = 0.978). Mediolateral COM was dependent only on solar length (r2 = 0.874). Dorsopalmar COM depended only upon solar length (r2 = 0.792) and vertical COM was defined only by lateral height (r2 = 0.377). Midlateral COM, measured at the midhoof wall along the tubules, was found to depend on coronet circumference, lateral height, toe length and toe height (r2 = 0.414). The large sample size and the inclusion of a variety of hoof masses and morphologies allow these results to be generalised to a wide range of the equine population. It was concluded that the mass and COM of the hoof segment can be estimated to a high degree of accuracy based on easily obtained morphological measurements.
Thyrotropin Receptor Autoantibodies Induce Human Thyroid Cell Growth and c-fos Activation*

Graves' disease encompasses hyperthyroidism and a diffuse goiter associated with autoantibodies to the TSH receptor (TRAb). Although the cause of the goiter formation has been attributed to TRAb, the limited growth pattern of human adult thyroid cells in vitro has caused such a conclusion to be based on studies of nonhuman thyroid cell growth. We have recently characterized a predictable and precise technique for the measurement of human thyroid cell proliferation and function using fetal thyroid cells and have used this system to examine the influence of TRAb on human thyroid cell growth. Highly purified human immunoglobulin G (hIgG) preparations from normal individuals (n = 5) had no significant influence on human thyroid cell growth. However, hIgG from patients with detectable TRAb (TRAb-hIgG) (n = 13) induced a dose-related increase in extracellular cAMP (maximum effect at 0.1 mg/ml) and a 3-fold increase in human thyroid cell growth over a 4-day period (maximum effect at 1.5 mg/ml). Under basal thyro...
Investigation of solid solubility and metastable phase in dilute Th-Co alloys

Abstract The solubility of cobalt in α thorium is described by the equation c s (at.% Co) = 10970 exp(−13844/ T ). The heat of solution is −115.2 kJ mol − Co and the terminal solubility at the eutectic temperature 1100 °C is 0.46 at.% Co. A newly identified metastable phase with a plate morphology is present in thorium-rich alloys on quenching from the high (αTh) region. Upon aging for different times at 500 °C and above, this phase transforms to rod-like particles of Th 7 Co 3 .
Investigation of polymers and marine-derived DNA in optoelectronics

Our research in nonlinear optic (NLO) polymer-based electro-optic (EO) modulators has centered on optimizing device performance through the using of polymer cladding layers with higher relative conductivities than the NLO core material. We have demonstrated as much as a 10 times increase in the effective EO coefficient of electrode poled, guest/host NLO polymers, compared to using passive polymer claddings. We have achieved the lowest poling voltage to date for maximum EO coefficient, 300 V, for a two-layer waveguide structure consisting of a 2 μm thick NLO polymer layer and 2 μm thick conductive cladding layer. Optimized polymer cladding materials posessing the desired optical and electromagnetic properties we find need to be balanced with materials processability. In addition to the conventional polymer materials under investigation, a novel material, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), derived from salmon sperm, has shown promise in providing both the desired optical and electromagnetic properties, as well as...
Updates and five-year evaluation of the S.A.F.E. program: a family psychoeducational program for serious mental illness.

This brief report reviews recent updates to the S.A.F.E. Program, a family psychoeducational intervention for serious mental illness created in the Veterans Affairs (VA) system. The improvements and significant content additions to the curriculum are outlined. Further, positive five-year program evaluation data are described, including high levels of participant retention and satisfaction. Program attendance is positively correlated with understanding of mental illness, awareness of VA resources, and ability to engage in self-care activities—and inversely correlated with caregiver distress. This data lays the groundwork for a randomized clinical trial and raises questions about the necessity of diagnostic-specific family programming.
Variations In Task And The Ideal Observer

In most previous studies involving the ideal observer, the task considered has been that of simple detection where it is assumed that there is complete a priori knowledge of the background and of the possible object's shape, amplitude, and position. It is shown that redefining the detection task to include the possibility of an unknown, slowly varying background reduces the importance of the low-frequency components in the image for the ideal observer. More complicated tasks than object detection are also considered, such as determination of an object's position and width and the resolution of two objects. These higher-order tasks further enhance the importance of the high-frequency information content of the image.
High-resolution historical records from Pettaquamscutt River basin sediments: 2. Pb isotopes reveal a potential new stratigraphic marker

A high-resolution record of Pb deposition in Rhode Island over the past 250 yr was constructed using a sediment core from the anoxic Pettaquamscutt River basin. The sedimentary Pb concentration record shows the well-described maximum associated with leaded gasoline usage in the United States. Diminished Pb variability during recorded periods of local industrial activity (1735 to 1847) supports the greater importance of regional atmospheric lead transport vs. local inputs. The Pb isotopic composition at this site shows a clear maximum in anthropogenic 206 Pb/ 207 Pb in the mid-1800s. Similar peaks have also been observed in sediments from Chesapeake Bay and the Great Lakes, suggesting a common source. Possible causes for this event include mining and smelting of Pb ores in the Upper Mississippi Valley district, which accounted for almost all Pb production in the United States in that period. The timing of this event can provide an important stratigraphic marker for sediments deposited in the past 200 yr in the Northeastern United States. The downcore profile of anthropogenic 206 Pb/ 207 Pb provides a classic example of how changes in the mixture of ores for production of tetraethyl lead caused a regional-scale shift in the sedimentary record, and suggests that coal could have played a secondary role in Pb emissions after 1920. Copyright © 2005 Elsevier Ltd
Telomerase activity in benign and malignant thyroid diseases

Abstract Background. Telomerase, an enzyme associated with cellular immortality, is expressed by most malignant cells and is inactive in most normal somatic cells, with the exception of proliferative stem cells, male germ cells, and activated lymphocytes. The measurement of telomerase activity in clinically obtained tissue samples may provide useful information as both a diagnostic and prognostic marker. In this study, we sought to determine whether telomerase activity might prove helpful in the assessment of benign and malignant thyroid tumors. Methods. A modified, semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay was used for detection of telomerase activity in 59 samples obtained at thyroidectomy, including 15 thyroid cancers, 22 benign thyroid diseases, and 22 adjacent normal thyroid tissues. Results. Four of 13 differentiated thyroid carcinomas (30%) and 2 of 2 medullary carcinomas (100%) expressed telomerase activity. Unexpectedly, we also detected activity in 3 of 22 (14%) adjacent normal thyroid tissues and 6 of 22 (28%) benign thyroid diseases. Pathologic review of the telomerase-positive benign specimens revealed that many contained extensive lymphoid infiltrates with germinal centers (six of nine, 67%), as did two of four telomerase-positive papillary carcinomas. Conclusions. In contradistinction to other epithelial carcinomas, telomerase does not appear to be fre quently reactivated in differentiated thyroid carcinomas.
Characterization of carbon nitride films produced by pulsed laser deposition

Carbon Nitride (CN{sub x}) films have been grown by ion-assisted pulsed-laser deposition (IAPLD). Graphite targets were laser ablated while bombarding the substrate with ions from a broad-beam Kaufman-type ion source. Ion voltage, current density, substrate temperature, and feed gas composition (N{sub 2} in Ar) were varied. Resultant films were characterized by Raman. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and Rutherford back scattering (RBS) spectroscopy. Samples with {approximately} 30% N/C ratio have been fabricated. The corresponding Raman and FTIR spectra indicate that nitrogen is incorporated into the samples by insertion into sp{sup 2}-bonded structures. A low level of C{identical_to}N triple bonds is also found. As the ion current and voltage are increased with a pure Ar ion beam, Raman peaks associated with nanocrystalline graphite appear in the spectra. Adding low levels of nitrogen to the ion beam first reduces the Raman intensity in the vicinity of the graphite disorder peak without adding detectable amounts of nitrogen to the films (as measured by RBS). At higher nitrogen levels in the ion beam, significant amounts of nitrogen are incorporated into the samples, and the magnitude of the ``disorder`` peak increases. By increasing the temperature of the substrate during deposition, the broad peak due mainly to sp{sup 2}-bonded C-N in the FTIR spectra is shifted to lower wavenumber. This could be interpreted as evidence of single-bonded C-N; however, it is more likely that the character of the sp{sup 2} bonding is changing.
Coupling of cholesterol-rich lipid phases in asymmetric bilayers.

We showed previously that cholesterol-rich liquid-ordered domains with lipid compositions typically found in the outer leaflet of plasma membranes induce liquid-ordered domains in adjacent regions of asymmetric lipid bilayers with apposed leaflets composed of typical inner leaflet lipid mixtures [Kiessling, V., Crane, J. M., and Tamm, L. K. (2006) Biophys. J. 91, 3313−26]. To further examine the nature of transbilayer couplings in asymmetric cholesterol-rich lipid bilayers, the effects on the lipid phase behavior in asymmetric bilayers of different lipid compositions were investigated. We established systems containing several combinations of natural extracted and synthetic lipids that exhibited coexisting liquid-ordered (lo) and liquid-disordered (ld) domains in a supported bilayer format. We find that lo phase domains are induced in all quaternary inner leaflet combinations composed of PCs, PEs, PSs, and cholesterol. Ternary mixtures of PCs/PEs/Chol, PCs/PSs/Chol also exhibit lo phases adjacent to outer...
Effect of APOE genotype on microvascular basement membrane in Alzheimer's disease.

APOE4 homozygosity has been associated with an increased risk of sporadic Alzheimer's disease through a mechanism, which has yet to be defined. Recent evidence has suggested that microvascular basement membrane injury may be a critical factor in the pathogenesis of AD-related dementia. In previous studies, we have shown that the synaptic organizing protein agrin can be found in neurons, and is a major component of the brain microvascular basement membrane. Here, we compare the basement membrane surface area of cortical microvasculature in AD brains by staining with an anti-agrin antibody. Quantitative morphometric analysis was used to determine the mean basement area (μ2) of prefrontal cortical microvessels. An average of 10 capillaries was measured in each of 35 cases of AD genotyped for APOE status. APOE4,4 homozygotes had smaller capillary basement membrane areas (17.4μ2±6.2) than APOE3,3 homozygotes (26.9μ2±6.5), p<0.001. The capillary basement membrane areas (CBMA) of heterozygotes APOE3,4 did not differ significantly from APOE3,3 or APOE4,4. Braak stage did not contribute significantly to CBMA. However, a preliminary analysis suggests an interaction between APOE4,4 and Braak V–VI producing smaller CBMA, a finding which needs to be confirmed with a larger sample. These data support the hypothesis that APOE4,4 is associated with thinning of the microvascular basement membrane in Alzheimer's disease.
Heparanase and a Synthetic Peptide of Heparan Sulfate-interacting Protein Recognize Common Sites on Cell Surface and Extracellular Matrix Heparan Sulfate

Heparanase is an endo-beta-D-glucuronidase that degrades the glycosaminoglycan chains of heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans at specific sites. Elevated levels of heparanase are associated with the metastatic potential of melanoma and other types of tumor cells. We previously reported heparanase degradation of cell surface HS subpopulations of the human adenocarcinoma cell line RL95. In the present study, heparanase activity was examined on RL95 cell surface HS subpopulations in the presence of a synthetic peptide (CRPKAKAKAKAKDQTK) of heparin/heparan sulfate-interacting protein (HIP; Liu, S., Smith, S. E., Julian, J., Rohde, L. H., Karin, N. J., and Carson, D. D. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 11817-11823). Heparanase digestion generated HS fragments from cell surface- or extracellular matrix-derived HS of approximately 25 and 9 kDa, respectively. In contrast, HS of various size classes isolated from proteoglycans secreted or released by RL95 and endothelial cells in culture were not susceptible to heparanase digestion. Incubation of heparanase-containing melanoma cellular extracts or partially purified heparanase preparations with cell surface- or ECM-derived HS and HIP peptide, but not a scrambled sequence of this peptide or other HS-binding proteins present in ECM, completely inhibited heparanase action. Conversely, predigestion of cell surface HS with either heparanase-containing cellular extracts or with secreted or partially purified heparanase destroyed binding to HIP peptide. Preincubation of HS with HIP peptide prevented subsequent heparanase digestion. Collectively, these data demonstrate that HIP peptide and heparanase recognize specific, common motifs within HS chains at cell surfaces and in ECM and may mutually modulate HS-dependent activities.
Ranking North American accounting scholars publishing accounting education papers: 1966–2011

Abstract This paper ranks accounting’s education authors who teach at institutions located in the United States and Canada. During the 46-year period from 1966 through 2011 that we examined, 13 journals published accounting education papers; the publication period for each journal varies. The data indicate that only 31.4% of accounting’s 4855 doctoral faculty who teach at schools in North America have one or more publications in these 13 journals. For those doctorates still teaching, the research provides rankings of authors by doctoral year and for four periods: 2002–2011 (most recent 10 years), 1992–2001 (next 10-year period), 1966–1991 (last 26 years), and for the entire 46-year period. To acknowledge the contributions of retired and deceased authors, the research lists those authors who would have been included on the overall list had they still been actively teaching. While Urbancic (2009) and Brigham Young University (BYU) provide rankings of authors in accounting education, these rankings are limited in the scope of the journals included – Urbancic includes only six accounting education journals, while BYU includes only Issues in Accounting Education. We found that Urbancic’s (BYU’s) 10-year (20-year) data had a Spearman’s rho of −0.84 (0.39) with our rankings. We believe that data presented herein provides a more comprehensive ranking of accounting’s authors in the area of education.
A model describing soil-plant-water relations for potatoes

A simple steady state model is derived which describes the diurnal water potential fluctuations in leaves and tubers of potatoes. The magnitude of these fluctuations is shown to depend on transpiration rate, hydraulic properties of the soil, rooting depth and density, resistance to flow of water within the plant, and the leaf water potential at which stomatal closure occurs. Model predictions agree quite well with measurements made in the field and in the growth chamber. The model is used to predict the lower limit of readily available moisture for potatoes and shows the important environmental and plant factors.
Safety of Nuclear Plants in the United States

The two large accidents at nuclear plants in different parts of the world in the past decade naturally cause the citizenry and even the technical community to ask just how safe the plants in the United States are. If this answer were a simple and straightforward one that they are or are not safe, I could simply say so, cite the basis, and sit down. Clearly no one expects this. The question and its reply are complex. We are all coming to recognize that safety is a relative concept and not an absolute one. Nothing is totally safe. Alternatives all carry their upside advantages and their downside hazards. Even when one alternative is to do nothing at all, that can be risky. In fact, in a great many cases of alternatives presented to solve some problem, doing nothing turns out to be the worst choice of all. Nuclear reactors have found their most important use in generating electricity in central station power plants. In this application they compete with alternate ways to make electricity through burning such fossil fuels as coal, oil, and natural gas and through hydropower. The sources of risk are completely different for nuclear plants and the competing ways of making electricity through burning fossil fuels. Most of the risk for fossil fueled plants arises during their operation and in the mining and transportation of the fuel. In the case of nuclear plants, those sources of risk are outweighed by those that could accompany a large accident releasing fission products. The limits on releases of radioactive material during operation have been set so low that they cause no appreciable source of risk. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has adopted safety goals that are meant to codify the objectives that have guided regulatory decisions in the past and that will continue to do so in the future. These are, first, that nuclear power plants should not add significantly to the possibility of accidental death of anyone living nearby, and, second, that nuclear power should be a safer way to generate electricity than its alternatives.
AIDS On Parole: Dilemmas In Decision Making

Parole practices and policies with respect to confidentiality, public responsibility, institutional accountability and managerial duty have been placed under new scrutiny as a result of the AIDS pandemic. This paper attempts to articulate some of questions that have arisen, focusing particularly on their moral dimensions, and seeks to provide responses that balance the plural responsibilities that parole officers and policy-makers have to releasees and their families, to other parole officers and to the public.
Exploring the Agency Consequences of Ownership Dispersion Among The Directors of Private Family Firms

Using an agency-theoretic lens and insights drawn from the behavioral economics and family business literatures, we developed hypotheses concerning the effect of dispersion of ownership on the use ...
Misinformation in the conjugate prior for the linear model with implications for free-knot spline modelling.

In the conjugate prior for the normal linear model, the prior variance for the coefficients is a multiple of the error variance parameter. However, if the prior mean for the coefficients is poorly chosen, the posterior distribution of the model can be seriously distorted because of prior dependence between the coefficients and error variance. In particular, the error variance will be overestimated, as will the posterior variance of the coefficients. This occurs because the prior mean, which can be thought of as a weighted pseudo-observation, is an outlier with respect to the real observations. While this situation will be easily noticed and avoided in simple models, in more complicated models, the effect can be easily overlooked. The issue arises in the unit information (UI) prior, a conjugate prior in which the prior contributes information equal to that in one observation. In particular, a successful Bayesian nonparametric regression model — Bayesian Adaptive Regression Splines (BARS) — that relies on the UI prior for its model selection step suffers from this problem, and addressing the problem within the Bayesian paradigm alters the penalty on model dimensionality.
A User Study to Evaluate the Function Model and Function Interaction Model for Concept Generation

Function modeling is often performed during the conceptual design phase to identify what the product must do in a solution independent form. However, function-based design approaches do not adequately enable designers to capture and analyze the non-functional requirements, interactions between the product of interest and other products and interactions between the product of interest and human users. This paper presents the results of a user study to evaluate how two models: (1) traditional function models (FM) and (2) the function interaction model (FIM), relate to functional and non-functional engineering requirements, and how they affect the creation of design solutions. Forty students were divided into two groups and asked to generate solutions for a design problem using either the function model (FM) or the function interaction model (FIM). The concepts were then evaluated in terms of quantity and quality by an external panel. Results from this study indicate that the quantity of solutions generated by the function model (FM) group is greater than the function interaction model (FIM) group. However, the quality of design concepts from the function interaction model (FIM) group is greater than the function model (FM) group. Further, nonfunctional requirements that are important to the design solutions cannot be captured in function model and thus are not reflected in the associated solution concepts.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Mediators of endothelial cell injury in low perfusion conditions

Abstract Introduction: During free tissue transfer operations, endothelial cells (EC) are exposed to a period of ischemia that can affect outcome. We compared gene expression profiles of ECs in normal culture conditions to serum-deprived conditions as an in vitro model of tissue stress. Methods: ECs from multiple body sites were grown in EGM-2MV with 5% fetal bovine serum (FCS). For serum-deprived samples, ECs were switched to EGM-2MV with 0.25% FCS. After 24h, ECs were harvested and mRNA was extracted. Gene expression patterns were compared between the normal and serum-deprived samples using cDNA microarray. Specific gene expression was then confirmed by quantitative PCR. Results: There are 1083 genes that show more than a four fold difference in expression when comparing normal versus serum-deprived growth conditions. ECs exposed to serum deprivation up regulate inflammatory and coagulation factor genes while cell cycle genes are down regulated. Up regulated inflammatory mediators included MCP-1, interferon-alpha, TGF-alpha, colony stimulating factor 2, TNFC, and TNF receptor-associated factor 5. Coagulation factors included thrombin and the thrombin receptor. The down regulated cell cycle genes included cyclin B2 and c-myc binding protein. Conclusions: Our data suggest that serum deprivation induces gene expression of inflammatory mediators and coagulation factors that can lead to poor outcome during tissue transfer. Understanding the mechanism of EC injury may lead to the development of rationally designed therapies aimed at minimizing complications and improving outcomes.
Measuring Factors that Influence the Success of Internet Commerce

Efforts to develop measures of Internet commerce success have been hampered by (1) the rapid development and use of Internet technologies and (2) the lack of conceptual bases necessary to develop success measures. In a recent study, Keeney (1999) proposed two sets of variables labeled asmeans objectives andfundamental objectives that influence Internet shopping. Means objectives, he argues, help businesses achieve what is important for their customers--fundamental objectives. Based on Keeney's work, this paper describes the development of two instruments that together measure the factors that influence Internet commerce success. One instrument measures the means objectives that influence online purchase (e.g., Internet vendor trust) and the other measures the fundamental objectives that customers perceive to be important for Internet commerce (e.g., Internet product value). In phase one of the instrument development process, we generated 125 items for means and fundamental objectives. Using a sample of 199 responses by individuals with Internet shopping experience, these constructs were examined for reliability and validity. The Phase 1 results suggested a 4-factor, 21-item instrument to measure means objectives and a 4-factor, 17-item instrument to measure fundamental objectives. In Phase 2 of the instrument development process, we gathered a sample of 421 responses to further explore the 2 instruments. With minor modifications, the Phase 2 data support the 2 models. The Phase 2 results suggest a 5-factor, 21-item instrument that measures means objectives in terms ofInternet product choice, online payment, Internet vendor trust, shopping travel, andInternet shipping errors. Results also suggest a 4-factor, 16-item instrument that measures fundamental objectives in terms ofInternet shopping convenience, Internet ecology, Internet customer relation, andInternet product value. Evidence of reliability and discriminant, construct, and content validity is presented for the hypothesized measurement models. The paper concludes with discussions on the usefulness of these measures and future research ideas.