cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Corportate Diversification and CEO Compensation: Evidence from the Moderating Effect of Stock Ownership

The article is an attempt to assess whether Stock Ownership moderates the relationship between corporate diversification and CEO compensation. Based on agency theory, we develop the hypothesis of whether when CEOs hold a large fraction of their firms’ outstanding stock, the CEOs are acting more as owners or shareholders than employees. This reduces the principal and agency relationship of agency theory, since CEOs are acting as owners rather than employees; thus the demand for further stock-based compensation is likely to be reduced because the interests of CEOs and shareholders are relatively aligned. For the purposes of this study, a sample of 2,448 CEO compensations across 1,622 firms from 1997 to 2002 was used to test several hypotheses. Corporate diversification was divided into two categories; international diversification and industry diversification. To test the hypotheses, multiple regression analysis was employed to examine stock ownership as a moderator variable on the relationship between international diversification and industry diversification and CEO total compensation with tenure, age, duality, and gender as control variables. The results indicate that stock ownership negatively and significantly influences the relationship between International diversification and CEO compensation. Additionally, the findings also confirm that stock ownership negatively and significantly influences the relationship between industrial diversification and CEO compensation. Our results are consistent with our hypotheses and indicate that firms with lower Stock Ownership produce larger interaction effects to increase international diversification and total compensation pay to CEOs, and firms with lower Stock Ownership, produce larger interaction effects to increase industry diversification and total compensation pay to CEOs.
Endoscopic gastric suturing for weight loss: Techniques and outcomes

Abstract With the growing epidemic of obesity, endoscopic bariatric therapies have evolved to help bridge the treatment divide between behavioral/pharmacologic therapies—which have limited efficacy—and bariatric surgical interventions—which are invasive and contraindicated in those with extensive medical comorbidities. Among endoscopic bariatric therapies, endoscopic suturing procedures focused on gastric remodeling have a promising foothold in the multidisciplinary management of obesity and its comorbidities given their safety, efficacy, and anticipated durability. Predicated on the twin goals of restricting gastric accommodation and delaying gastric emptying—thereby improving satiation and satiety, respectively—endoscopic suturing can facilitate clinically substantive weight loss with minimized risk to patients. Multiple variations of endoscopic suturing systems for management of obesity have been explored; however, the two endoscopic gastric suturing techniques that have demonstrated the greatest traction and promise include the endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, typically created with the Apollo OverStitch (Apollo Endosurgery, Austin, TX), and the Primary Obesity Surgery Endoluminal (POSE) procedure, carried out through the transoral Incisionless Operating Platform (USGI Medical, San Clemente, CA). As such, the bulk of this review will primarily focus on the endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty and POSE procedures, their technical considerations, physiologic underpinnings, clinical and safety outcomes, and we will conclude with a discussion on the future directions of endoscopic suturing, including the POSE2 procedure.
IMPACT OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE ON THE SIX-MONTH READMISSION RATE OF PATIENTS WITH ST-ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: A NATIONWIDE ANALYSIS

Limited data exist regarding the impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on readmission rates and mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Using the 2016 Nationwide Readmission Database, we identified patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of STEMI and
The behaviour of hybrid-reinforced concrete T-beams exposed to the flexural moment

This study deals with the structural response of reinforced concrete T-beams produced from reactive powder concrete (RPC) and conventional concrete (NC) exposed to bending moment. Four beams with the same dimensions and reinforcement, but different in the type of concrete, were tested. One of these beams was cast with fully NC, and the other beam was cast using RPC only. Two hybrid beams consisting of RPC in the web for one beam and the flange for the second beam and the other positions were filled with NC. The results indicated that the concrete type is a considerably effective factor regarding the flexural behaviour of the reinforced concrete beams. Fully NC beam and hybrid beam with NC in the web have wider and less number of cracks compared to beams produced from RPC in full section and the web only.
A Photoresponsive Hydrogel with Enhanced Photoefficiency and the Decoupled Process of Light Activation and Shape Changing for Precise Geometric Control

Traditional shape-morphing hydrogels rely on structural implementation of inhomogeneity inside the material during fabrication to realize predetermined complex shape change upon activation. In recent years, several systems with reprogrammable shape-morphing capabilities have been developed. Among those, the photoresponsive hydrogels offer the best spatial and temporal control. However, for most photoresponsive hydrogels, upon light irradiation, they simultaneously deform, which requires the projection of the light pattern to be continuously adaptive to the deforming gel. It is impractical for complex 3D morphing. In this paper, by incorporating two photodissociable molecules that can form a reactive ion couple upon light activation into one hydrogel, the light irradiation process is decoupled with the morphing process, and the consumption of the reactive ion couple drives the reversible photochemical reaction forward. Consequently, the photochemical reaction efficiency is improved, and the photoresponsive molecules are locked in the activated state until a recovery stimulus is applied. Based on the proposed general scheme, a specific example is given by incorporating the triphenylmethane leucohydroxide and 2-nitrobenzaldehyde molecules into a polyacrylamide hydrogel. The swelling behavior is characterized, and the reprogrammable morphing with precisely controlled geometry is demonstrated.
Preoperative tranexamic acid does not reduce transfusion rates in major oncologic surgery: Results of a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial.

Background and objectives Allogeneic blood transfusions are associated with worse postoperative outcomes in oncologic surgery. The aim of this study was to introduce a preoperative intervention to reduce transfusion rates in this population. Methods Adult patients undergoing major oncologic surgery in five categories with similar transfusion rates were recruited. Enrollees received a single preoperative intravenous dose of placebo or tranexamic acid (1000 mg). The primary outcome measure was perioperative transfusion rate. Secondary outcome measures included: estimated blood loss, thromboembolic events, morbidity, hospital length of stay, and readmission rate. Results Seventy-six patients were enrolled, 39 in the tranexamic acid group and 37 in the placebo group, respectively. Demographics and surgery type were equivalent between groups. The transfusion rates were 8 out of 39 (20.5%) in the tranexamic acid group and 5 out of 37 (13.5%) in the placebo group, respectively (P = .418). Median estimated blood loss was 400 mL (interquartile range [IQR] = 150-600) in the tranexamic acid group compared with 300 mL (IQR = 150-800) in the placebo group (P = .983). There was one pulmonary embolism in each arm and no deep venous thrombosis (P > .999). Conclusion Preoperative administration of tranexamic acid at a 1000 mg intravenous dose does not decrease transfusion rates or estimated blood loss in patients undergoing major oncologic surgery.
A Cross-Sectional Study Examining the Seroprevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Antibodies in a University Student Population.

Abstract Purpose The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies in a university student population. Methods This was a cross-sectional survey study based on the World Health Organization population-based seroepidemiological investigational protocol for SARS-CoV-2 conducted between April 29, 2020, and May 8, 2020, examining SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence among 790 university students in Los Angeles, CA. Participants completed a questionnaire on potential risk factors before blood sampling. Samples were analyzed using the EUROIMMUN Anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA (IgG) for the qualitative detection of IgG class antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in human serum or plasma. Results The estimated prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody was 4.0% (3.0%, 5.1%). Factors associated with having a positive test included history of anosmia and/or loss of taste (95% CI: 1.4–9.6). A history of respiratory symptoms, with or without fever, was not associated with a positive antibody test. Conclusions Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the undergraduate and graduate student university population was similar to community prevalence.
Waveguide-QED with Atomic Matter Waves

We present recent studies of waveguide quantum electrodynamics using ultra-cold atomic matter waves in an optical lattice.
Driving change: Exploring the adoption of multimodal local traffic impact assessment practices

Local governments in the US face growing public demands to reduce automobile dependence in order to forestall climate change, improve road safety, rein in sprawling peripheral land development, increase transportation equity, and enhance urban livability. As a result, many city and county leaders are looking for ways to provide alternatives to driving through the creation of more multimodal-supportive transportation systems and land use patterns. The academic literature has identified conventional traffic impact- assessment (TIA) practices—designed to ensure new developments do not increase automobile traffic congestion—as a barrier to supporting these multimodal efforts. Because of the growing emphasis on multimodality in many national, state, and regional policies and initiatives (e.g., Complete Streets, Vision Zero), we investigate whether and how communities were adapting TIA practices to better accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and other non-car travel modes in the land development process.
Identifying Mobile Health Technology Experiences and Preferences of Low-Income Pregnant Women with Diabetes.

Background:Rapid expansion of mobile technology has resulted in the development of many mobile health (“mHealth”) platforms for health monitoring and support. However, applicability, desirability, ...
Comparative assessment of Fgf's diverse roles in inner ear development: A zebrafish perspective

Progress in understanding mechanisms of inner ear development has been remarkably rapid in recent years. The research community has benefited from the availability of several diverse model organisms, including zebrafish, chick, and mouse. The complexity of the inner ear has proven to be a challenge, and the complexity of the mammalian cochlea in particular has been the subject of intense scrutiny. Zebrafish lack a cochlea and exhibit a number of other differences from amniote species, hence they are sometimes seen as less relevant for inner ear studies. However, accumulating evidence shows that underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are often highly conserved. As a case in point, consideration of the diverse functions of Fgf and its downstream effectors reveals many similarities between vertebrate species, allowing meaningful comparisons the can benefit the entire research community. In this review, I will discuss mechanisms by which Fgf controls key events in early otic development in zebrafish and provide direct comparisons with chick and mouse.
An Implementation of a Dissolution-Based System Employing Theory Links

We have been developing an automated deduction system based on path dissolution, an operation that was first introduced in [7]. Preliminary experimental results are promising. The next major phase in the development of that system will be the inclusion of a “theory-link processor.” In this paper, we describe those experimental results and some of the meta theory required for that next phase.
Calibrating the Ordovician Radiation of marine life: implications for Phanerozoic diversity trends

It has long been suspected that trends in global marine biodiversity calibrated for the Phanerozoic may be affected by sampling problems. However, this possibility has not been evaluated definitively, and raw diversity trends are generally accepted at face value in macroevolutionary investigations. Here, we analyze a global-scale sample of fossil occurrences that allows us to determine directly the effects of sample size on the calibration of what is generally thought to be among the most significant global biodiversity increases in the history of life: the Ordovician Radiation. Utilizing a composite database that includes trilobites, brachiopods, and three classes of molluscs, we conduct rarefaction analyses to demonstrate that the diversification trajectory for the Radiation was considerably different than suggested by raw diversity time-series. Our analyses suggest that a substantial portion of the increase recognized in raw diversity depictions for the last three Ordovician epochs (the Llandeilian, Caradocian, and Ashgillian) is a consequence of increased sample size of the preserved and catalogued fossil record. We also use biometric data for a global sample of Ordovician trilobites, along with methods of measuring morphological diversity that are not biased by sample size, to show that morphological diversification in this major clade had leveled off by the Llanvirnian. The discordance between raw diversity depictions and more robust taxonomic and morphological diversity metrics suggests that sampling effects may strongly influence our perception of biodiversity trends throughout the Phanerozoic.
Reduction of iodate by hydrazine: Application of the iodide ion selective electrode to the uncatalyzed reaction

The reduction of iodate by hydrazine was examined by use of the iodide ion selective electrode. The rate of reduction of iodate at iodide concentrations below 5 × 10−5 M is controlled by the direct reduction by hydrazine. At higher iodide concentrations, the rate of reduction of iodate is controlled by the reduction of iodate by iodide with the subsequent reduction of iodine by hydrazine. Application of the reaction to the determination of μg quantities of iodine is discussed.
Effect of experimental liver disease on the utilization for protein synthesis of orally administered α‐ketoisocaproate

The incorporation of orally administered 1-14C-alpha-ketoisocaproate into the leucine of proteins in rats was compared with the incorporation of [3H]leucine itself administered simultaneously and expressed as a ratio, R. This ratio in whole body protein has been shown to be approximately equal to the nutritional efficiency of alpha-ketoisocaproate as a dietary substitute for leucine. In normal rats on a 14% protein diet, R in whole body protein (0.30 +/- 0.01) and in the protein of various organs was the same whether the isotopes were given by single injection or 6-hr constant infusion. Thus, both techniques yield the same time-independent parameter, R, which measures the relative efficiency of alpha-ketoisocaproate as a substitute for leucine. R varied between organs as follows: liver (0.22 +/- 0.01) less than kidney less than heart less than salivary gland less than brain less than muscle (0.42 +/- 0.01). In rats with galactosamine-induced acute liver failure (Group I), carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhosis (Group II), or portal-systemic shunts (Group III), whole body protein R and R in the protein of organs other than the liver was generally increased compared with controls, as was R in circulating IgG in Group III; R in liver protein was unchanged (Groups II and III) or slightly lower than controls (Group I). Thus, severe liver disease and portal-systemic shunting both increase the utilization of alpha-ketoisocaproate for synthesis of protein in the body as a whole and in most organs. In the liver, however, alpha-ketoisocaproate utilization for protein synthesis is unaffected or slightly reduced.
The influence of statin use on breast density

Objective: To evaluate if 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase reductase inhibitor use (statins) alters mammography measured breast density. Methods: Cohort study of women ages 50 to 80 years with two mammography screenings. Changes in BI-RADS breast density between screenings was compared for nonusers, initiators, discontinuers, continuers, and any users of statins. Results: Statin use was not associated with increases or decreases in breast density compared with nonusers after adjusting for age, body mass index, change in body mass index, hormone therapy use, and time between screenings. Cumulative days of statin use during the year before screening was not associated with changes in breast density in any of the groups of statin users. When hormone therapy users were excluded, any statin use was associated with an increase in breast density compared with nonusers (odds ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-1.5). Conclusions: We found no association between statin use and change in breast density in general, but statin use may be associated with increases in breast density among nonusers of hormone therapy. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(5):1026–9)
L-arginine metabolites regulate DNA synthesis and nitric oxide synthase activity in cultured human dermal microvascular endothelial cells--potential positive and negative regulators of angiogenesis derived from L-arginine.

Human dermal microvascular endothelial cell (HDMVEC) growth and proliferation is important for skin angiogenesis. Our data support the hypothesis that a regulator?, switch from an angiogenic to a nonangiogenic stimulus involves a change in 1-arginine metabolism from polyamines (PAS) to nitric oxide (NO) and, conversely, a change to an angiogenic stimulus is expected to drive I-arginine metabolism in favor of PA synthesis. Current studies with cultured HDMVECs demonstrated that NO inhibited, whereas the PA putrescine stimulated DNA synthesis. The nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor NG-nitro I-arginine methyl ester stimulated DNA synthesis with a signifcant increase from control at 2.5 and 5 mM (p < 0.05); in contrast, the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) inhibitor α-difluoromethyl ornithine (DFMO) inhibited DNA synthesis with a signifcant decrease from control at 19.65, 29.48, and 39.48 μM (p < 0.05). NO donors sodium nitroprusside dihydrate, S-nitroso-N-penicillamine, and l-hydroxy-2-oxo-3(3-aminopropyl)-3...
The effect of pH on growth, protein synthesis, and lipid-rich particles of cultured mammalian cells

A simple procedure has been established for controlling and measuring the pH of media in which the bicarbonate-carbonic acid system is the predominant buffer. The HCO-3 concentration was maintained at 22.5 mM and the H2CO3 concentration was varied by equilibrating the media with 0.5 to 40 per cent CO2 in air. The curve relating extracellular pH to 3 day cell growth was similar for glass-attached HeLa and Chang liver cells. Maximum growth occurred over a pH range of 7.38 to 7.87. Cell growth declined precipitously on the alkaline side and more gradually on the acid side of the optimal pH range. Comparable pH growth curves were also obtained with newly isolated cells from rat liver and skeletal muscle. It was shown that the effect of pH on growth was independent of the CO2 concentration and that the essential nutrients in the medium were stable over the pH range studied. Although alkalosis depressed the 3 day cell population, cells exposed to a pH of 8.0 to 8.2 grew at the maximal rate for the first 12 to 24 hours. Growth then ceased abruptly and the cells entered a steady state with respect to net protein synthesis. This was followed by cytoplasmic retraction and cell death. Increasing the concentrations of calcium or magnesium in the medium failed to prevent the effects of alkalosis. Moreover, the increase in CO-3 concentration of the media and the concomitant decrease in Ca++ ion concentration that occur at high pH were eliminated as determining factors in the growth failure and death. While acidosis had a less pronounced effect on the 3 day cell population, its effect on the growth rate was immediate. The increase in cell generation time was proportional to the H+ ion concentration. In each of the cell lines studied, acidosis was accompanied by a striking increase in the number of cytoplasmic perinuclear granules. These granules which stain supravitally with Janus green are extracted from fixed cells with lipid solvents. They maintain their identity in cell homogenates and may be isolated from the other subcellular structures by differential centrifugation; at 100,000 g they form a distinct layer at the top of the supernatant fraction. On the basis of their physical and chemical properties, these granules have been called lipid-rich particles. The accumulation of lipid-rich particles in acidosis was independent of the growth rate and the CO2 concentration.
The rluC Gene of Escherichia coli Codes for a Pseudouridine Synthase That Is Solely Responsible for Synthesis of Pseudouridine at Positions 955, 2504, and 2580 in 23 S Ribosomal RNA

Escherichia coli ribosomal RNA contains 10 pseudouridines, one in the 16 S RNA and nine in the 23 S RNA. Previously, the gene for the synthase responsible for the 16 S RNA pseudouridine was identified and cloned, as was a gene for a synthase that makes a single pseudouridine in 23 S RNA. The yceCopen reading frame of E. coli is one of a set of genes homologous to these previously identified ribosomal RNA pseudouridine synthases. In this work, the gene was cloned, overexpressed, and shown to code for a pseudouridine synthase able to react with in vitro transcripts of 23 S ribosomal RNA. Deletion of the gene and analysis of the 23 S RNA from the deletion strain for the presence of pseudouridine at its nine known sites revealed that this synthase is solely responsible in vivo for the synthesis of three of the nine pseudouridine residues, at positions 955, 2504, and 2580. Therefore, this gene has been renamed rluC. Despite the absence of one-third of the normal complement of pseudouridines, there was no change in the exponential growth rate in either LB or M-9 medium at temperatures ranging from 24 to 42 °C. From this work and our previous studies, we have now identified three synthases that account for 50% of the pseudouridines in the E. coli ribosome.
Nutrition Support of Obese Hospitalized Patients

Obesity is a chronic disease that affects 33% of the adult population and 30% to 40% of the hospitalized adult population. Obesity can be defined with the use of percent of ideal body weight, but because of a number of problems associated with this method, body mass index has become the accepted measure. Nutrition assessment and selection of route of nutrition support are similar in the obese and normal weight patient. A variety of methods for estimating energy and protein needs in the obese patient are available but become increasingly unreliable as the degree of obesity increases. Measuring energy needs becomes appropriate as obesity becomes more severe. A strategy that uses hypocaloric nutrition support in the obese hospitalized patient is reviewed.
Criteria for unique and multiple steady states for a gas—liquid reaction in an adiabatic CSTR

Abstract Analytical expressions describing the energy balance of an adiabatic two-phase CSTR are derived for three cases: a pseudo first order reaction (liquid species in excess) originating in the “slow” reaction regime and not becoming “instantaneous”; a reaction that is first order with respect to the gaseous species and nth order with respect to the liquid species originating in the “fast” reaction regime and remaining in that regime; and a reaction originating in the “instantaneous” reaction regime. Analytical conditions for uniqueness and possible multiplicity of the steady state are obtained. Where multiple solutions are possible, the ranges of values of the parameters where such multiplicity can occur are shown. It is observed that, under certain conditions, up to five steady states can occur. Results are obtained in both analytical and graphical form.
A beam theory for thin-walled composite beams

Abstract A beam theory is presented that is formulated in terms of the in-plane elastic properties of the panels of the cross-section of a thin-walled composite beam. Shear deformation is accounted for by using a suitable form of the Timoshenko beam theory together with a modified form of the shear coefficient. The theory gives both the bending deflection and the shear deflection of a beam loaded by an applied transverse load. Numerical and graphical results obtained from a computer code show the effects of using different composite material systems and lay-ups in the panels of typical beams.
An extension of Karmarkar projective algorithm for convex quadratic programming

We present an extension of Karmarkar's linear programming algorithm for solving a more general group of optimization problems: convex quadratic programs. This extension is based on the iterated application of the objective augmentation and the projective transformation, followed by optimization over an inscribing ellipsoid centered at the current solution. It creates a sequence of interior feasible points that converge to the optimal feasible solution in O(Ln) iterations; each iteration can be computed in O(Ln3) arithmetic operations, wheren is the number of variables andL is the number of bits in the input. In this paper, we emphasize its convergence property, practical efficiency, and relation to the ellipsoid method.
Calculation of defect concentrations in Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 from stoichiometry

The application of Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) as a highly efficient solar cell absorber material is dependent on the complex behavior of the large variety of intrinsic lattice defects. In this work, a canonical approach is applied to calculate defect concentrations as a function of stoichiometry and temperature during the growth process. The corresponding chemical potentials are then obtained from the defect concentrations, relating stoichiometric conditions to the stability of CZTS compared to secondary phases. Based on this model, it is shown, that ZnS is likely to be present at Cu-poor and Zn-rich conditions, which are known to achieve the highest efficiencies.
Supplemental clinical dissections for freshman gross anatomy.

This paper describes a series of nine short clinically oriented dissection exercises as supplements for freshman gross anatomy courses. These procedures heighten and focus student interest, and they do not extensively lengthen the time required to accomplish the regular dissection assignments. The exercises are: (1) lumbar puncture, (2) anterior approach for shoulder arthroplasty, (3) acromioclavicu-lar dislocation, (4) fenestration of the diaphragm, (5) appendectomy, (6) cholecystectomy, (7) display of the facial nerve as in parotidectomy, (8) posterior approach for hip arthroplasty, and (9) injuries to the knee ligaments and meniscectomy.
Towards improving programming habits to create better computer science course outcomes

We examine a large dataset collected by the Marmoset system in a CS2 course. The dataset gives us a richly detailed portrait of student behavior because it combines automatically collected program snapshots with unit tests that can evaluate the correctness of all snapshots. We find that students who start earlier tend to earn better scores, which is consistent with the findings of other researchers. We also detail the overall work habits exhibited by students. Finally, we evaluate how students use release tokens, a novel mechanism that provides feedback to students without giving away the code for the test cases used for grading, and gives students an incentive to start coding earlier. We find that students seem to use their tokens quite effectively to acquire feedback and improve their project score, though we do not find much evidence suggesting that students start coding particularly early.
Integrated wavelength stabilization of in-plane semiconductor lasers by use of a dual- grating reflector

We summarize a novel integrated wavelength-stabilization scheme for broad stripe surface-emitting lasers. The method is based on two gratings fabricated on opposite sides of a device in which the first grating disperses light through the substrate to the opposite side, where the second surface has a feedback grating that operates under total internal reflection and in the Littrow condition to provide feedback into the gain medium. Experimental results have been obtained for both high power and a narrow linewidth, showing a CW slope of 0.85 W/A.
Characterization of microsatellite loci isolated from the blacktip shark and their utility in requiem and hammerhead sharks

We isolated and characterized 16 microsatellite loci from the blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, and tested cross-species amplification in 11 Carcharhinus species and five additional shark genera. Thirty-six (1.6%) and 180 (48%) colonies were positive for dinucleotide repeat motifs from unenriched and enriched libraries, respectively. Heterozygosities of polymorphic loci ranged from 0.04 to 0.96 with two to 22 alleles per locus. Amplification products were observed at nine to 13 loci (five to 11 of which where polymorphic) in 10 Carcharhinus species. Several loci were also polymorphic in each of the additional genera examined.
Histology of the skin and hair of the adult Chinchilla

Histological investigation of the skin and hair of the adult chinchilla mammal is reported in the article. The Chinchilla is a hystricomorph rodent, native to the Andes of Bolivia, Chile and Peru; its valuable fur has led to more widespread distribution. Samples of biological tissue were fixed in Bouin's solution, embedded in paraffin, sectioned, and stained with haematoxylin and eosin for examination using the light microscope (LM). The general body hair of the chinchilla is uniformly arranged in dense clusters of up to 75 hairs. Each cluster typically consists of a single guard hair and two lateral groups of wool hairs. All the hairs of a single cluster emerge through a common pore. Each hair cluster has a single arrector pili muscle. Guard hairs have their own sebaceous glands, while three or four other glands serve all the hairs of a lateral group. Independent hairs are found only as vibrissae or on tail and pinnae. Follicular layering is found only in the vibrissae. The dense clusters of hairs in the adult chinchilla contrast with the independent hairs in the 105-day fetus. The transition from the fetal state to the adult occurs before the second month after birth.
Calibration of the TonoLab Tonometer in Mice with Spontaneous or Experimental Glaucoma

It is essential to measure intraocular pressure (IOP) accurately in experimental glaucoma research. Mouse models permit genetic manipulations in the elucidation of glaucoma pathogenesis and treatment, but the tiny size of the mouse's eye presents a challenge to accurate tonometry. Various solutions have been devised for IOP measurement in the mouse, including needle cannulation through the cornea, use of existing commercial tonometers such as the pneumatonograph and TonoPen (Reichert, Inc., Depew, NY), and modifications of other commercial tonometers.1–10 The validity of noninvasive tonometry in the mouse eye has been confirmed in several strains under anesthesia.11–14 McKinnon et al.15 concluded: “TonoLab tonometry is technically easier than TonoPen tonometry, and has become the IOP measurement technique of choice” for experimental glaucoma in the mouse. In the DBA/2J mouse, spontaneous increase in IOP occurs, and many experiments have been conducted, often with needle cannulation used for tonometry. It may be preferable not to puncture the cornea repeatedly to monitor IOP, but it has not been shown that tonometry accurately reflects IOP in spontaneous or induced glaucoma in the mouse. Continuous IOP monitoring with implantable devices is under development, but has not been reported for mouse eyes. Sappington et al.16 have recently published a mouse model of glaucoma involving injection of beads into the anterior chamber. We have modified this model by first injecting beads (of 6 μm diameter) followed by viscoelastic injection. In a companion report, we confirm that the mouse eye enlarges significantly with chronic IOP elevation, as was first documented in the DBA/2J mouse. Enlargement of the eye could alter tonometric accuracy. Hence, we performed calibration studies in mouse eyes with bead/viscoelastic experimental glaucoma and their fellow eyes, studying younger and older mice of three different strains, as well as DBA/2J mice after development of spontaneous glaucoma. One previous study compared TonoLab (TioLat, Helsinki, Finland) IOP measures with needle cannulation, but without testing a range of IOP.17 To our knowledge, this is the first extensive calibration study of tonometry in both spontaneous and induced mouse glaucoma.
Sensitivity of Bedside Ultrasound and Supine Anteroposterior Chest Radiographs for the Identification of Pneumothorax After Blunt Trauma

Objectives: Supine anteroposterior (AP) chest radiographs in patients with blunt trauma have poor sensitivity for the identification of pneumothorax. Ultrasound (US) has been proposed as an alternative screening test for pneumothorax in this population. The authors conducted an evidence-based review of the medical literature to compare sensitivity of bedside US and AP chest radiographs in identifying pneumothorax after blunt trauma. Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for trials from 1965 through June 2009 using a search strategy derived from the following PICO formulation of our clinical question: patients included adult (18 + years) emergency department (ED) patients in whom pneumothorax was suspected after blunt trauma. The intervention was thoracic ultrasonography for the detection of pneumothorax. The comparator was the supine AP chest radiograph during the initial evaluation of the patient. The outcome was the diagnostic performance of US in identifying the presence of pneumothorax in the study population. The criterion standard for the presence or absence of pneumothorax was computed tomography (CT) of the chest or a rush of air during thoracostomy tube placement (in unstable patients). Prospective, observational trials of emergency physician (EP)-performed thoracic US were included. Trials in which the exams were performed by radiologists or surgeons, or trials that investigated patients suffering penetrating trauma or with spontaneous or iatrogenic pneumothoraces, were excluded. The methodologic quality of the studies was assessed. Qualitative methods were used to summarize the study results. Data analysis consisted of test performance (sensitivity and specificity, with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) of thoracic US and supine AP chest radiography. Results: Four prospective observational studies were identified, with a total of 606 subjects who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of US for the detection of pneumothorax ranged from 86% to 98% and 97% to 100%, respectively. The sensitivity of supine AP chest radiographs for the detection of pneumothorax ranged from 28% to 75%. The specificity of supine AP chest radiographs was 100% in all included studies. Conclusions: This evidence-based review suggests that bedside thoracic US is a more sensitive screening test than supine AP chest radiography for the detection of pneumothorax in adult patients with blunt chest trauma. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:11–17 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Critical-field measurements in Nb-Ti composition-modulated alloys

We present measurements of the transition temperature and upper parallel critical field, to 15 kG, of layered Nb-Ti alloys for layer wavelengths between 6 and 6250 A.
Treasuring the gaze: Intimate vision in late eighteenth-century eye miniatures

This is a book about ‘eye miniatures’ of the eighteenth century, which are some of the most unusual portraits ever painted in America, England and France. They are tiny likenesses, in which the eye...
Coordinated multi-surface gateway redeployment for enhanced performance in underwater sensor networks

Optimal deployment of multi-surface gateways is a challenging task that has been shown to improve the performance of underwater sensor networks (UWSN). However, the dynamics of both the surface gateways and the underlying sensor deployments can impair the benefits of an initial deployment. In this paper we opt to tackle the dynamics of the underwater environment by adaptive redeployment of the surface gateways. Surface-gateways decide on the timing of the redeployment by keeping track of the transmission power used by nodes during communications. They coordinate their redeployment plan based on the outcome of an optimization algorithm to find the best global solution to minimize the overall transmission power level used by all the nodes in the network. We have used greedy heuristics to solve the optimization problem to cope with processing limitations of UWSN nodes. Our results show that our strategy results in a reduction in the overall energy consumption and the average end to end delay.
Mood Changes in Epilepsy Patients Treated with Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Abstract Epilepsy treatments are often used by psychiatrists for their mood-stabilizing effects. Epilepsy patients treated with vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) have experienced improvements in mood and attentiveness. This anecdotal observation prompted several epileptologists to evaluate whether VNS has a quantifiable effect on mood improvement in epilepsy patients. The studies on mood changes in epilepsy patients are reviewed herein, and their implications regarding mood evaluation in epilepsy, the use of VNS in patients with psychiatric disorders, and the effect of seizure frequency on mood and anxiety are further discussed.
Modeling of Phosphate Ion Transfer to the Surface of Osteoblasts under Normal Gravity and Simulated Microgravity Conditions

: We have modeled the transport and accumulation of phosphate ions at the remodeling site of a trabecular bone consisting of osteoclasts and osteoblasts situated adjacent to each other in straining flows. Two such flows are considered; one corresponds to shear levels representative of trabecular bone conditions at normal gravity, the other corresponds to shear level that is representative of microgravity conditions. The latter is evaluated indirectly using a simulated microgravity environment prevailing in a rotating wall vessel bioreactor (RWV) designed by NASA. By solving the hydrodynamic equations governing the particle motion in a RWV using a direct numerical simulation (DNS) technique, the shear stress values on the surface of the microcarriers are found. In our present species transfer model, osteoclasts release phosphate ions (Pi) among other ions at bone resorption sites. Some of the ions so released are absorbed by the osteoblast, some accumulate at the osteoblast surface, and the remainder are advected away. The consumption of Pi by osteoblasts is assumed to follow Michaelis-Menten (MM) kinetics aided by a NaPi cotransporter system. MM kinetics views the NaPi cotransporter as a system for transporting extracellular Pi into the osteoblast. Our results show, for the conditions investigated here, the net accumulation of phosphate ions at the osteoblast surface under simulated microgravity conditions is higher by as much as a factor of three. Such increased accumulation may lead to enhanced apoptosis and may help explain the increased bone loss observed under microgravity conditions.
Infrared spectra of phase B at high pressures: Hydroxyl bonding under compression

Phase B synthesized from a natural peridotite has been studied to 30.5 (±1.5) GPa on compression and decompression using infrared spectroscopy. The mode shifts of the OH1 (3345 cm−1) and the OH2 (3404 cm−1) vibrations of phase B are extremely small, −0.8 cm−1/GPa and 0.9 cm−1/Gpa, respectively, indicating that the hydrogen bonding in this phase is extremely insensitive to pressure. The opposite signs of the two mode shifts indicate that the OH1 hydrogen bond becomes stronger on compression, while the OH2 hydrogen bond weakens. Because both hydroxyl units are hydrogen bound to the same oxygen, this behavior may reflect hydrogen-hydrogen repulsion in these sites as the lattice undergoes pressure induced compaction. Our results indicate that the environment surrounding the hydroxyl units in this phase is significantly more rigid than that present in a range of other hydrous magnesian silicate phases. Systematics of vibrational spectra among hydrous phases in the MgO-SiO2-H2O system indicate that pressure enhances hydrogen bonding through polymorphic transitions; yet, as illustrated by our results, the effect of pressure on hydrogen bonding within any single phase is small. Therefore, variations in hydrogen bonding may play a primary role in the notable polymorphism of hydrous phases at high pressures.
Calcineurin—the missing link in cardiac hypertrophy

Transgenic mice that overexpress calcineurin develop cardiac hypertrophy, which can be prevented by treatment with immunosuppressive drugs that inhibit calcineurin.
Influence of certain clinical variables on black preschoolers' nonstandard phonological and grammatical performance

The influence of socioeconomic background, sex, and clinicians' race on the frequency of implementation of nonstandard phonological and grammatical structures was examined in 72 black preschoolers. In order to generalize findings to typical clinical settings, language samples were elicited by 3 black and 3 white clinicians using spontaneous, paragraph completion, and sentence repetition procedures. Results showed that socioeconomic status and sex had a strong effect on black children's usage of nonstandard phonological and grammatical forms. More striking, data suggested that the beginnings of a bidialectal capability were identifiable in the clinical setting in four- and five-year-old black children. Discriminant analysis detailed those nonstandard phonological and grammatical forms which contributed to dialect differences between lower and middle-socioeconomic black children.
Impacts of vegetation dynamics on the identification of land-cover change in a biologically complex community in North Carolina, USA

Abstract A land-cover (LC) change detection experiment was performed in the biologically complex landscape of the Neuse River Basin (NRB), North Carolina using Landsat 5 and 7 imagery collected in May of 1993 and 2000. Methods included pixel-wise Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Multiband Image Difference (MID) techniques. The NDVI method utilized non-normalized (raw) imagery data, while the MID method required normalized imagery. Image normalization techniques included both automatic scattergram-controlled regression (ASCR) and localized relative radiometric normalization (LRRN) techniques. Change/no-change thresholds for each method were optimized using calibration curves developed from reference data and a series of method-specific binary change masks. Cover class-specific thresholds were derived for each of the four methods using a previously developed NRB-LC classification (1998–1999) to support data stratification. An independent set of accuracy assessment points was selected using a disproportionate stratified sampling strategy to support the development of error matrices. Area-weighted conditional probability accuracy statistics were calculated based on the areal extent of change and no change for each cover class. All methods tested exhibited acceptable accuracies, ranging between 80% and 91%. However, change omission errors for woody cover types were unacceptably high, with values ranging between 60% and 79%. Overall commission errors in the change category were also high (42–51%) and strongly affected by the agriculture class. There were no significant differences in the Kappa coefficient between the NDVI, MID ASCR, and LRRN normalization methods. The MID non-normalized method was inferior to both the NDVI and MID ASCR methods. Stratification by major LC type had no effect on overall accuracies, regardless of method.
Conceptualizing and measuring life stress: Problems, principles, procedures, progress

Life stress has long been a popular explanation for physical and mental disorders. Despite the intuitive appeal of the premise that adverse circumstances predispose to disease, stress research has been hindered by problems in defining and measuring the construct. In the present article these shortcomings are outlined and examples are provided to illustrate many of the basic principles involved. It is suggested that the complexity of human lives and the multifaceted nature of life stress pose ambitious demands in the assessment of life stress. Advantages and disadvantages of currently available procedures are discussed. Finally, recent advances in theory and practice based upon these procedures are outlined. Through such approaches, the assessment of life stress may more closely approximate the complexity inherent in the ongoing lives of people, without sacrificing the rigor required for a scientific understanding of the concept and its consequences.
The effect of biological and synthetic meshes on vaginal smooth muscle cell proliferation.

Aims To compare the effects of polypropylene mesh or porcine dermal acellular collagen matrix mesh with and without estradiol supplementation on vaginal smooth muscle cells (VaSMC) proliferation. Results Under in vitro culture conditions, VaSMC proliferation was significantly higher in the porcine dermal acellular collagen matrix mesh exposed cells compared to the type I polypropylene mesh exposed cells (relative cell number, mean ± SD, 0.27 ± 0.03 vs. 0.21 ± 0.01, P = 0.03). Under estradiol supplementation cell proliferation in the porcine mesh exposed cells remained significantly higher compared to the polypropylene mesh exposed cells (relative cell number, mean ± SD, 0.27 ± 0.04 vs. 0.15 ± 0.03, P < 0.01). Conclusion The decreased rate of erosion found with the utilization of biological absorbable mesh in vaginal reconstructive surgery may partially be explained by the significantly increased VaSMC proliferation with porcine dermal acellular collagen mesh compared to polypropylene mesh. Neurourol. Urodynam. 30:435–437, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Ceftizoxime Use In Trauma Celiotomy: Pharmacokinetics and Patient Outcomes

Seriously injured patients undergo vigorous resuscitation upon arrival at the emergency department and through the immediate perioperative period. Although resuscitation leads to volume loading and fluid shifts, drug dosing and dosing intervals are often not altered to account for changes in total body volume or circulatory volume. To address this, a prospective study of pharmacokinetics of ceftizoxime in 53 injured adults who underwent emergency celiotomy was conducted. Further, the relationship between serum ceftizoxime concentrations and infectious outcomes was evaluated. Per protocol, injured adults undergoing emergency celiotomy received prophylactic ceftizoxime treatment according to standard dosing regimens. Of the patients, 6 (11.5%) experienced postoperative infections and had lower peak serum ceftizoxime levels in the recovery room than patients not experiencing infection. For severely injured adults with extensive blood loss or undergoing lengthy operations requiring rigorous volume resuscitation, doses of ceftizoxime, and indeed all antibiotics, may need to be increased beyond conventional standards to minimize infectious complications.