cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coyote Removal, Understory Cover, and Survival of White-Tailed Deer Neonates

Predation by coyotes (Canis latrans) on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) neonates has led to reduced recruitment in many deer populations in southeastern North America. This low recruitment combined with liberal antlerless deer harvest has resulted in declines in some deer populations, and consequently, increased interest in coyote population control. We investigated whether neonate survival increased after coyote removal, whether coyote predation on neonates was additive to other mortality sources, and whether understory vegetation density affected neonate survival. We monitored neonate survival for 4 years prior to (2006–2009) and 3 years during (2010–2012) intensive coyote removal on 3 32-km2 units on the United States Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site, South Carolina. We removed 474 coyotes (1.63 coyotes/km2 per unit per year), reducing coyote abundance by 78% from pre-removal levels. The best model (wi = 0.927) describing survival probability among 216 radio-collared neonates included a within-year quadratic time trend variable, date of birth, removal treatment, and a varying removal year effect. Under this model, survival differed between pre-treatment and removal periods and it differed among years during the removal period, being >100% greater than pre-treatment survival (0.228) during the first removal year (0.513), similar to pre-treatment survival during the second removalmore » year (0.202), and intermediate during the third removal year (0.431). Despite an initial increase, the overall effect of coyote removal on neonate survival was modest. Mortality rate attributable to coyote predation was lowest during the first removal year (0.357) when survival was greatest, but the mortality rate from all other causes did not differ between the pretreatment period and any year during removals, indicating that coyote predation acted as an additive source of mortality. Survival probability was not related to vegetation cover, either directly or in interaction with coyote abundance. When the objective is to increase the recruitment of white-tailed deer, we conclude that neither coyote control nor vegetation management appear effective. Reduction of the antlerless harvest may be necessary to meet this objective, but this harvest strategy warrants additional research in Southeastern deer populations.« less
Cassini’s Laws

The rotational motion of the moon is in a state of double resonance: the mean motion of the orbital motion is equal to that of the rotational motion and the precessional motion of the orbital plane is equal to that of the moon’s equatorial plane. After eliminating short periodic terms, the rotational motion of the moon becomes a system of two degrees of freedom with two critical arguments. From the condition that such a system has a stationary solution, the relationship between the obliquity of the moon’s equator to the ecliptic and the moon’s gravitational coefficients is derived. The effects on the obliquity due to the higher degree harmonics (n ≥ 3), the sun, and the motion of the ecliptic will be discussed.
Auction-based Incentive Mechanisms for Dynamic Mobile Ad-Hoc Crowd Service

We investigate a type of emerging user-assisted mobile applications or services, referred to as Dynamic Mobile Ad-hoc Crowd Service (DMACS), such as collaborative streaming via smartphones or location privacy protection through a crowd of smartphone users. Such services are provided and consumed by users carrying smart mobile devices (e.g., smartphones) who are in close proximity of each other (e.g., within Bluetooth range). Users in a DMACS system dynamically arrive and depart over time, and are divided into multiple possibly overlapping groups according to radio range constraints. Crucial to the success of such systems is a mechanism that incentivizes users' participation and ensures fair trading. In this paper, we design a multi-market, dynamic double auction mechanism, referred to as M-CHAIN, and show that it is truthful, feasible, individual-rational, no-deficit, and computationally efficient. The novelty and significance of M-CHAIN is that it addresses and solves the fair trading problem in a multi-group or multi-market dynamic double auction problem which naturally occurs in a mobile wireless environment. We demonstrate its efficiency via simulations based on generated user patterns (stochastic arrivals, random market clustering of users) and real-world traces.
In vivo investigation of restricted diffusion in the human brain with optimized oscillating diffusion gradient encoding.

Purpose Previous studies in phantoms and animals using animal MR systems have shown promising results in using oscillating gradient spin echo (OGSE) diffusion acquisition to depict microstructure information. The OGSE approach has also been shown to be a sensitive biomarker of tumor treatment response and white matter-related diseases. Translating these studies to a human MR scanner faces multiple challenges due to the much weaker gradient system. The goals of the current study are to optimize the OGSE acquisition for a human MR system and investigate its applicability in the in vivo human brain.
The mimetic finite difference method for elliptic and parabolic problems with a staggered discretization of diffusion coefficient

Numerical schemes for nonlinear parabolic equations based on the harmonic averaging of cell-centered diffusion coefficients break down when some of these coefficients go to zero or their ratio grows. To tackle this problem, we propose new mimetic finite difference schemes that use a staggered discretization of the diffusion coefficient. The primary mimetic operator approximates div ( k ? ) ; the derived (dual) mimetic operator approximates - ? ( ? ) . The new mimetic schemes preserve symmetry and positive-definiteness of the continuum problem which allows us to use algebraic solvers with optimal complexity. We perform detailed numerical analysis of the new schemes for linear elliptic problems and a specially designed linear parabolic problem that has solution dynamics typical for nonlinear problems. We show that the new schemes are competitive with the state-of-the-art schemes for steady-state problems but provide much more accurate solution dynamics for the transient problem.
Think Tank—Back to the Future: A NanoGold Standard Proposal

Gold and other precious metals have acted as a medium for economic exchange for millennia, and currencies based on gold have always had a certain attraction. Because gold is an exhaustible, nonrenewable resource, however, many economists view the gold standard, where the prices of currencies are fixed in terms of a specified amount of gold, as a recipe for economic depression in the long term. An exploration of a proposal to return to a gold standard based on NanoGold examines the practical implications of backing paper currency with minute quantities of gold. Advances in digital technology make it possible for NanoGold particles to serve as a viable medium of exchange—provided people can measure it accurately, validate its tangibility in transactions, and accept it as a new social norm. The undesirable effects of the private holding of gold flooding the economy can be avoided if central banks can enforce a minting monopoly on NanoGold particles. If these conditions are met, it might be possible that paper money will have a true backing and monetary policy can generate price stability and postpone deflation to an infinitely distant future. ©2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Automated Generation of Work Spaces Required by Construction Activities

To provide a safe and productive environment, project managers need to plan for the work spaces required by construction activities. Work space planning involves representing various types of spaces required by construction activities in three dimensions and across time. Since a construction schedule consists of hundreds of activities requiring multiple types of spaces, it is practically impossible to expect project managers to specify manually the spatiotemporal data necessary to represent work spaces in four dimensions. This paper presents mechanisms that automatically generate project-specific work spaces from a generic work space ontology and a project-specific IFC (industry foundation class) based 4D production model. The generation of these work spaces leads to a space-loaded production model. Within this model, work spaces are represented as being related to the relevant construction activities and methods and as having attributes that describe when, where, and how long they exist, and how much volume they occupy. These space-loaded production models enable richer 4D CAD simulations, time-space conflict analysis, and proactive work space planning prior to construction.
Corticotropin-releasing factor-induced production of cyclic AMP by human peripheral blood immunocytes.

Abstract The immunomodulating properties of a neuropeptide hormone, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), led us to investigate its effect on cAMP production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC). In response to stimulation with CRF (100 nM), a statistically significant (P = 0.019) increase occurred in the amount of cAMP produced by MNC. Purified monocytes, but not lymphocytes, also displayed a significant (P = 0.01) increase (8- to 10-fold) in intracellular cAMP after treatment with CRF (100 nM). The antagonist α-helical CRF9–41 (100 nM) counteracted the cAMP increase induced by CRF (100 nM). The CRF-induced cAMP production was augmented by pretreatment of MNC with a cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) peptide inhibitor (PI20), but was virtually unaffected by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor H7, suggesting a role for cAMP signalling. Moreover, the CRF-stimulated cAMP level was reduced to baseline by intracellular Ca2+ antagonist HA1004, indicating a role for Ca2+-signalling. Based on these findings, it is concluded that cAMP and/or Ca2+ play a second messenger role in the CRF signal transduction pathway.
Militarization, Military Regimes, and the General Quality of Life in the Third World:

The purpose of this article is to reexamine the debate concerning the military/civilian regime and socioeconomic performance from the perspective of comparative budgetary processes. Specifically, do budgetary patterns differ between Third World military and civilian governments? If so, do they differ to the extent that military expenditures have a regime-distinctive impact on socioeconomic expenditures and therefore on the quality of life? The main finding is that a consistent set of socioeconomic differences exists between Third World military and civilian regimes. These differences result not only from differences in budgetary priorities but, almost as importantly, from the manner in which governments mobilize resources for military purposes.
Educating the second generation: Determinants of academic achievement among children of immigrants in the United States

Abstract This article examines patterns of educational achievement among immigrant second‐generation youths on the basis of a national sample of the American student population. Three hypotheses are tested in relation to the predicted effects of human capital, social capital, and modes of incorporation of immigrant groups. These effects are examined for the second generation in general and four of its principal national components on the basis of multivariate regressions and hierarchical modelling. The latter method allows an examination of the extent to which school contexts affect second‐generation academic achievement and explains resilient inter‐group differences. Results point to the strong influence of parental socioeconomic status and other human capital factors and to the significant, but much weaker, effects of social capital indicators. Controlling for this array of variables does not eliminate the effect of nationality differences, pointing to the resilient influence of modes of incorporation i...
Orbital Schwannoma and Neurofibroma: Role of Imaging

Schwannomas are well-circumscribed ovoid masses that most commonly present in the superior orbit. Although it may be difficult to differentiate these benign masses from other orbital tumors on radiologic imaging, the CT and, in particular, the MR imaging characteristics can sometimes point to the diagnosis of a nerve sheath tumor. A definitive diagnosis can be made through correlation with histopathologic findings, however. In most cases, schwannomas have low malignant potential, and with total excision, recurrence is rare.
Semi-blind collision resolution in random access wireless ad hoc networks

A new signal processing based collision resolution technique for random access wireless ad hoc networks is proposed. Without assuming the knowledge of the propagation channels and signal waveforms, the proposed algorithm is capable of separating colliding packets by exploiting channel diversities and known symbols embedded in data packets. Compared with training-based methods, the proposed algorithm requires considerably fewer known symbols. This algorithm can be applied to various spread spectrum and narrowband systems along with existing medium access control protocols.
A principle of incarnation in Derrida's ("Theologische?) Jugendschriften" : towards a confessional theology

In pursuing the question of incarnation, it must be noted from the beginning that what is at stake is Platonism. More specifically, my concern will be the relationship of Christian theology to Platonism. In this paper, I contest contemporary readings which suggest that Socrates offers an “incarnational” paradigm and construe Derrida as a “Platonist” more traditionally understood. Instead, I will argue that latent in Derrida’s earlier accounts of language, particularly in Speech and Phenomena, one finds an incarnational account of language which is precisely the basis for his critique of Platonic metaphysics.
Air bag-related ocular trauma

Automobile air bags have recently gained acceptance as an effective measure to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with motor vehicle accidents. This report describes 11 cases of air bag-related ocular trauma and reviews cases previously reported in the literature, for a total of 32 patients and 39 eyes. This is the first comprehensive report on various types of ocular trauma related directly to air bag deployment. The most common type of ocular injuries seen are to the eyelids (23 patients, 28 eyes), conjunctiva (21 patients, 25 eyes), and cornea (23 patients, 28 eyes). Hyphema was frequently seen (10 patients, 11 eyes). Several serious cases of vision-threatening injuries, including retinal detachment, retinal dialysis, scleral rupture, and dislocated lens, were also reported. The following patterns were found: 55% of patients were male and 45% female; ages ranged from 2 to 81 years with a mean age of 36 years; the right eye was involved in 35% of cases, the left in 38%, and 27% were bilateral. Based on these findings, it is recommended that all patients who present with air bag-related ocular trauma undergo a complete ophthalmologic examination because the high-velocity blunt trauma causes ocular injuries that may be more serious than they initially appear. Further refinements in design and deployment need to be made to reduce the frequency and severity of air bag-related ocular injuries.
A porous media model for sprinkler wetting: Ceramic fiberboard validation

Abstract A one-dimensional porous media model has been developed to investigate water based fire suppression. The model is for heat and mass transfer in porous materials subjected to external water sprays and radiant heating. In the model, heat transfer inside the material occurs by conduction, convection, and phase change. Mass transfer occurs by gas phase diffusion and convection in the liquid and gas phases. Convective mass fluxes are driven by pressure gradients according to Darcy's Law. Boundary conditions that are appropriate for a range of cases are presented. Experiments were conducted to validate the model and investigate two scenarios relevant to water based suppression: spray wetting and radiant heating. Both of these scenarios represent a novel application of a porous media model. Ceramic fiberboard samples were used as a test material. For the wetting tests, the model is shown to be able to reasonably predict the rate of water absorption into the samples. Radiant heating tests were conducted in the cone calorimeter with pre-wetted samples. For the heating tests, the model is shown to reasonably predict the drying behavior that would directly precede an ignition event.
Predictors of short-term and long-term memory of sensory and affective dimensions of pain.

The purpose of this investigation was to establish predictors of the dimensions of pain intensity and pain unpleasantness recalled at 1 week and 18 months after an invasive therapeutic procedure, root canal therapy (RCT). Pretreatment measures of mood state and RCT-related expectations of sensory and affective dimensions of pain by using a visual analog scale (VAS) format were obtained. VAS measures of experienced pain intensity and unpleasantness were obtained immediately after treatment. Patients[apos ] memory of their RCT-related pain intensity and unpleasantness was assessed by phone call. Regression analysis showed that after controlling for age, experienced pain intensity predicts 1-week memory of pain intensity (adjusted R(2) [equals].34, P [lt ].01), whereas patients[apos ] pretreatment affective state predicts the memory of pain intensity at 18 months (adjusted R(2) [equals].24, P [lt ].01) and the memory of pain unpleasantness at 1 week (adjusted R(2) [equals].40, P [lt ].01) and 18 months (adjusted R(2) [equals].62, P [lt ].01). These findings point to the contribution of preexisting affective state to the sensory and affective dimensions of pain recollection and illustrate the importance of anxiety management for minimizing patient[apos ]s long-term recollection of the aversiveness of outpatient medical and dental procedures.
Modeling and simulation of nano quantum FPGAs (abstract only)

As CMOS technology reaches its limitations during the next decade, novel nano electronic devices like Carbon Nano Tubes, Single Electron Transistors, Quantum Cellular Automata, and Spin Transistors are being explored as future alternatives to CMOS devices. This research focuses on Quantum Cellular Automata (QCA) as a viable technology for future FPGA devices. Small device size, ultra low power consumption, and extremely high device operation speeds are some of the outstanding features of QCA which makes it attractive. In this research paper, modeling, implementation, and successful simulation of a CLB slice for a nano quantum FPGA in QCA technology is discussed. The design is modeled using standard QCA cells with multiple layers for reliable interconnect crossovers. The designs are implemented and simulated using the QCA Designer software tool.
“This story is right on”: The impact of regulatory fit on narrative engagement and persuasion

When people read a story, feelings of rightness from regulatory fit (consistency between regulatory state and strategic means) could suggest that the story is “right on” relative to feelings of wrongness from regulatory nonfit. Under these conditions, individuals who are experiencing feelings of rightness should engage more with the narrative and be more persuaded by its implicit messages. Results from two experiments supported these hypotheses. Participants in Experiment 1 were more mentally engaged (transported) by the story when they experienced regulatory fit. We replicated this effect in Experiment 2 and extended it to endorsement of story-consistent beliefs, an indicator of persuasion via narratives. Additionally, we found that drawing participants' attention to an earlier event as a source of feelings of rightness eliminated the regulatory fit effects on transportation and persuasion, suggesting attribution of feelings of regulatory fit/nonfit to the plausibility of the narrative world. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Epigenetics and sex differences in the brain: A genome-wide comparison of histone-3 lysine-4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) in male and female mice☆

Many neurological and psychiatric disorders exhibit gender disparities, and sex differences in the brain likely explain some of these effects. Recent work in rodents points to a role for epigenetics in the development or maintenance of neural sex differences, although genome-wide studies have so far been lacking. Here we review the existing literature on epigenetics and brain sexual differentiation and present preliminary analyses on the genome-wide distribution of histone-3 lysine-4 trimethylation in a sexually dimorphic brain region in male and female mice. H3K4me3 is a histone mark primarily organized as 'peaks' surrounding the transcription start site of active genes. We microdissected the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and preoptic area (BNST/POA) in adult male and female mice and used ChIP-Seq to compare the distribution of H3K4me3 throughout the genome. We found 248 genes and loci with a significant sex difference in H3K4me3. Of these, the majority (71%) had larger H3K4me3 peaks in females. Comparisons with existing databases indicate that genes and loci with increased H3K4me3 in females are associated with synaptic function and with expression atlases from related brain areas. Based on RT-PCR, only a minority of genes with a sex difference in H3K4me3 has detectable sex differences in expression at baseline conditions. Together with previous findings, our data suggest that there may be sex biases in the use of epigenetic marks. Such biases could underlie sex differences in vulnerabilities to drugs or diseases that disrupt specific epigenetic processes.
Poly[4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl-alt-2,1,3- benzoselenadiazole-4,7-diyl], a New Low Band Gap Polymer in Polymer Solar Cells

A low band gap polymer named as poly[4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl-alt-2,1,3-benzoselenadiazole-4,7-diyl], PCPDTBSe, was designed and synthesized. The band gap of PCPDTBSe is 1.35 eV, which is 0.1 eV lower than that of poly[4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b′]dithiophene-2.6-diyl-alt-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole-4,7-diyl], PCPDTBT. In the visible range, the PCPDTBSe film exhibits weaker absorption than that of PCPDTBT, making PCPDTBSe a promising candidate as a low band gap material for tandem cells. Polymer solar cell (PSC) devices using PCPDTBSe as the electron donor material and 6,6-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC70BM) as the electron acceptor material were fabricated and characterized to investigate the photovoltaic properties of PCPDTBSe. The external quantum efficiency spectrum indicates that the response range reaches 1000 nm. Under AM 1.5 G, 100 mW/cm2 illumination, a PCE of 0.89% was recorded, with a short circuit current of 5.0 mA/cm2, an open circ...
Sleep-disordered breathing and adverse pregnancy outcomes: Pamidi et al

See related article, page 52 leep-disordered breathing (SDB) is S marked by breathing pauses, microarousals, and hemodynamic changes. In the general population, the ailment is associated with multiple adverse cardiac and metabolic outcomes, including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and altered glucose metabolism. Pregnant women frequently have SDBrelated symptoms, which can be triggered by weight gain, airway edema, and hormonal changes. These tend to worsen as the pregnancy progresses. While studies have examined possible links between SDB and adverse pregnancy outcomes, the results have been conflicting. This month, Journal Club members discussed a new study by Pamidi and colleagues that looked for a relationship between SDB in pregnancy and gestational hypertension/ preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and low birthweight.
A novel cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-responsive element involved in the transcriptional regulation of the lutropin receptor gene in granulosa cells.

The induction of the lutropin receptor (LHR) in granulosa cells by FSH is mediated, at least in part, by cAMP. However, the classic cAMP-responsive element (CRE) is not present in the 5′-flanking region of the rat LHR gene. Previous studies from our laboratory had shown that three Sp1 sites within the promoter region of the rat LHR (rLHR) bind Sp1 and Sp3 and are involved in the basal and cAMP-mediated transcription of the rLHR gene. In the present studies we show that the rLHR promoter region forms a complex (designated complex A) with nuclear extracts from rat granulosa cells, and the abundance of complex A is markedly increased when using cells that had been pretreated with 8-bromo (Br)-cAMP. We have localized the binding of the protein(s) in complex A to a DNA sequence immediately upstream and partially overlapping with the Sp1c binding site. The core site (designated SAS for Sp1c adjacent sequence) is localized to nucleotide (nt) −146 to −142 and contains the sequence GGGGG. The consensus sequence fo...
Teachers' use and children's preferences of rewards in elementary school

This study examined teacher reports of reward use and students' preferences for rewards across elementary school grades. Forty-eight urban elementary school teachers indicated which of four basic categories of rewards (edible, tangible, activity, and social rewards) they use in their classrooms and their evaluation of the effectiveness of these rewards for their age group of students. Ninety-eight second through fifth graders randomly selected to represent the students assigned to these teachers were individually administered a reward preference survey. Findings revealed high reward use by teachers. Children reported a wide variety of reward preferences, with no significant gender or age differences found. Additionally, there was no clear relationship between teacher use and children's preferences. Implications for intervention programming are discussed.
Synthesis of 1-(2-aminopropyl)benzimidazoles, structurally related to the TIBO derivative R82150, with activity against human immunodeficiency virus.

A number of 1-(2-aminopropyl)-2-mercaptobenzimidazoles related to the TIBO derivative R82150 have been prepared and tested for their activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-l). These compounds were all modest inhibitors of the cytopathic effects of HIV-lin vitro, but only very weak inhibitors of HIV- 1 reverse transcriptase (RT). Treatment of infection by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-l), the causative agent of AIDS? is currently limited to the nucleoside analogs 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT, zidovudine), 2',3'-dideoxy- inosine (DDI. didanosine), and most recently 2',3'-dideoxycytidine @DC, zalcitabme). These drugs suffer from a number of limitations, including toxic side effects3 and the emergence of drug-resistant strains of the viru~.~ Recently, non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-l reverse transcriptase (RT) have been reported, including the TIBO analog R82150 (1)5, nevirapine,b several 2-pyridinones,' a series of uracil derivatives,* and some bis heteroarylpiperazines.9 Several of these non-nucleosides are active against HIV-l (but not HIV-2) in the nanomolar range in vitro. This structurally diverse group of compounds have a similar antiviral profile, and inhibit HIV-l RT via binding at an allosteric site, in contrast to active site inhibitors such as AZT.l" The structure-activity relationships of the TIBO series of compounds have been well investigated," but all modifications have conserved the tricyclic ring system. We were interested in studying whether the diazepine ring was necessary in order to maintain activity against HIV-l. Either removal of the C-7 carbon, or scission of the C-7 to C-7a bond in the diazepine ring of the TIBO derivative 1, would lead to the 2- mercaptobenzimidazole derivatives 2c and 3c, respectively, which may be able to assume a TIBO-like conform- ation in the active site. In the present report, we describe the synthesis, cytotoxicity, and anti-HIV activity of several conformationally unrestrained TIBO analogs.
A Guide to Using Color Effectively in Business Communication

As colorprinters drop in price, business communicators will have an increas ing ability to use color. Judicious use of color can make documents attractive, professional, and effective. Unfortunately, poorly used color can seriously detractfrom a document. To prevent such problems, this essay introduces busi ness communication instructors to the principles of effectively using color. Among topics discussed are general uses of color, color used with text, spot color, color in oral presentations, and color in resumes.
MINERALS: THEIR CONSTITUTION AND ORIGIN: by Hans-Rudolf Wenk and Andrei G. Bulakh. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K., 2004. 646 pp., 526 ill + 16 plates. U.S. $70.00 paperback.

This unusually titled book is a collaboration between two highly accomplished mineralogists who have introduced to the textbook market a new style of book. The book provides an alternative to other texts as it emphasizes concepts and integrates geological processes and applications with the systematic descriptions of mineral groups. As a teacher I have been attempting to change mineralogical instruction from the traditional sequence of crystal chemistry, symmetry, crystallography, followed by a systematic survey of minerals from native elements to tectosilicates. Students tend to find the latter part dry and without geological context, and therefore boring. This textbook supports my efforts to add broader context to mineralogical instruction, context that builds links to other courses and underscores the importance and relevance of mineralogy in the geological sciences. The book is divided into five parts, each comprising multiple chapters. The parts are: I. Structural features of minerals; II. Physical investigation of minerals; III. Variety of minerals and mineral-forming processes; IV. A systematic look at mineral groups; V. …
Cardiac and renal cell lineage derived from stem cells: Implication for organ regeneration

The use of embryonic stem cells to regenerate damaged organs is proposed as an exciting therapeutic alternative. Basement membranes are composed of large glycoproteins such as type IV collagen, laminin, heparin sulfate proteoglycan, and nidogen/entactin. In the recent years, tissue-specific variants/isoforms of type IV collagen, laminin, and others have been identified, leading to the proposal of a new concept that "not all basement membranes are created equal." This immediately raises the question as to the role of these specific basement membranes in the regulation of cellular behavior tailored to the need to a given tissue. In the laboratory we have now isolated several tissue specific basement membranes and performed in vitro self-assembly studies. Our laboratory is engaged in research to evaluate the role of matrix and basement membrane molecules in the culture and propagation of stem cells. In this presentation, we will discuss how stem cells can be used to generate cardiomyocytes and also renal epithelial cells. Additionally, the use of stem cells in the context of acute and chronic renal injury will be discussed.
Sketching Sparse Matrices, Covariances, and Graphs via Tensor Products

This paper considers the problem of recovering an unknown sparse p×p matrix X from an m×m matrix Y=AXB T , where A and B are known m×p matrices with m≪p. The main result shows that there exist constructions of the sketching matrices A and B so that even if X has O(p) nonzeros, it can be recovered exactly and efficiently using a convex program as long as these nonzeros are not concentrated in any single row/column of X. Furthermore, it suffices for the size of Y (the sketch dimension) to scale as m = O(√(# nonzeros in X) × log p). The results also show that the recovery is robust and stable in the sense that if X is equal to a sparse matrix plus a perturbation, then the convex program we propose produces an approximation with accuracy proportional to the size of the perturbation. Unlike traditional results on sparse recovery, where the sensing matrix produces independent measurements, our sensing operator is highly constrained (it assumes a tensor product structure). Therefore, proving recovery guarantees require nonstandard techniques. Indeed, our approach relies on a novel result concerning tensor products of bipartite graphs, which may be of independent interest. This problem is motivated by the following application, among others. Consider a p×n data matrix D, consisting of n observations of p variables. Assume that the correlation matrix X:=DD T is (approximately) sparse in the sense that each of the p variables is significantly correlated with only a few others. Our results show that these significant correlations can be detected even if we have access to only a sketch of the data S=AD with A ∈ R m×p .
FireWire finally comes home

The article discusses the IEEE 1394 networking standard, otherwise known as FireWire. FireWire was designed to link personal computers, digital cameras, televisions, DVD players, printers, and other home electronics equipment. At the time FireWire seemed like a perfect idea whose time had come, but there was one small problem: a competing technology, called Universal Serial Bus (USB), promised to do nearly the same thing. Like FireWire, USB can connect multiple peripherals to a single port on the back of our computers. But USB is designed to be a simpler, slower interface that is less expensive to manufacture. Because both technologies arrived at about the same time, hardware and software vendors had to make a choice as to which technology to develop and support. USB got the nod in the Wintel world-with Windows driver support for USB peripherals as early as October 1996-but it wasn't until Windows 98 that consumers got full OS support for USB. Early support on the Wintel platform, however, could account for the large number of USB components that have been popping up over the past two years, such as speakers, joysticks, printers, video cameras, and the like, all of which have made it to market much more quickly than FireWire based technologies. The prospect of the increasing use of FireWire is discussed.
Chicken lens crystallin DNA sequences show at least two δ -crystallin genes

Restriction analysis of chicken DNA using probes derived from a cloned cDNA and analysis of cloned genomic DNA fragments containing δ-crystallin gene sequences have indicated the presence of at least two non-allelic genes for δ-crystallin, the first and principal crystallin synthesised in the embryonic chicken lens. Electron microscopic analyses of three cloned genomic fragments revealed that the δ-crystallin mRNA gene sequences are interrupted at least 14 times in one of the δ-crystallin genes.
Identification of Products Containing −COOH, −OH, and −C=O in Atmospheric Oxidation of Hydrocarbons

Atmospheric oxidation of hydrocarbons by hydroxyl radicals and ozone leads to products containing −COOH, −OH, and −C=O functional groups. The high polarity of such compounds precludes direct GC−MS analysis. In addition, many such compounds often exist in a single sample at trace levels. An analytical method has been developed to identify compounds containing one or more functional groups of carbonyl, carboxy, and hydroxy in atmospheric samples. In the method, −C=O groups are derivatized using O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl) hydroxy amine (PFBHA), and −COOH and −OH groups are derivatized using a silylation reagent N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)-trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA). The derivatives are easily resolved by a GC column. The chemical ionization mass spectra of these derivatives exhibit several pseudomolecular ions, allowing unambiguous determination of molecular weights. Functional group identification is accomplished by monitoring the ions in the electron ionization mass spectra that are characteristic of each functional group derivative: m/z 181 for carbonyl and m/z 73 and 75 for carboxyl and hydroxy groups. The method is used to identify products in laboratory studies of ozone oxidation of α-pinene and Δ^3-carene. Among products from ozone oxidation of α-pinene, we have detected pinonaldehyde, norpinonaldehyde, pinonic acid, norpinonic acid, C_(10) hydroxy dicarbonyls, pinic acid, 2,2-dimethyl-3-(formylmethyl)-cyclobutane-formic acid, and a product that has a molecular weight of 156 and contains a CO and a COOH/OH group. The latter two products have not been reported previously. Δ^3-Carene is structurally analogous to α-pinene in that both have an internal unsaturated bond where ozone oxidation takes place. We have also identified the corresponding analogous products, of which all but caronaldehyde are reported for the first time.
Quality academy: Quality management education in a multifacility health care organization

Health care reform efforts are focusing on the responsibility of clinicians and administrators to combine controlling costs with improving the quality of health care. This article describes how Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has approached this responsibility to provide cost-effective and quality health care services to veterans. To reduce the difficulties arising from the wide geographic distribution of VHA facilities and the limited funds for system-wide training, the Quality Management Institute and Education Center (QMI) located at the Veteran Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, created the Quality Academy, a distance learning experience. A brief summary of the process and progress of the Quality Academy is included.
Gall, Gallantry, and the Gallows Capital Punishment and the Social Construction of Gender, 1840-1920

In this article, the authors examine how the debate over women's executions during the nineteenth and early twentieth century funneled and in various ways processed the contrary demands of gender and capital justice. They show how encounters with capital punishment both reflected and reinforced dominant interpretations of womanhood and as such contributed to the intricate web of normative strictures that affected all women at the time. At the same time, however, the often heated debates that accompanied such cases pried open some of the contradictions inherent in the dominant interpretations and, as a result, came to challenge the boundaries that separated not only women from men but also women from each other. Rather than viewing gender as a unidirectional influence on capital punishment, the authors argue that gender is best approached as an evolving social category that gets reconstructed, modified, and transformed whenever it is implicated in social practices and public debates.
Ab Initio Study of the Lowest Energy Conformers and IR Spectra of Poly(amidoamine)-G0 Dendrimers

A systematic sequential procedure is implemented to find local minimum conformers corresponding to the lowest generation (G0), −NH2- and −OH-terminated, poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers, and their IR vibrational spectra using ab initio (Hartree−Fock and density functional theory) techniques. It is found that the most stable conformations of PAMAM-G0 dendrimers in the gas phase have all their secondary amide groups in the trans conformation. Interbranch interactions including intramolecular H-bonds play a definite role in providing structural stability. The calculated electronic density spatial distribution reveals the existence of three regions where appropriate environments would attract either an ion or a metal atom: the core, the amide, and the terminal group (NH2 or OH) sites. A detailed analysis of the IR spectra for the lowest energy conformers of PAMAM-NH2 and PAMAM-OH is thoroughly analyzed and compared with experimental data when available.
Reclaiming rare listening as a means of organizational re‐enchantment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to a reclaiming of the potency of Rogerian listening in organizations. The paper views listening after Rogers, the father of active listening, as a process with potential to re‐enchant organizations and the people who comprise them, in a move away from the popular view and professional training that fosters instrumentalized listening that deadens organizations and crushes the spirit of individuals.Design/methodology/approach – The study employs a text analysis using iterative coding processes and constant comparison. A total of 12 web sites focused on “active listening” in business contexts were analyzed for overlap and divergence with Rogers' descriptors and essential conditions for active listening.Findings – Rogers is almost completely disassociated from his original multi‐sensory conception of listening, which is now reduced to a set of instrumental tips and techniques that help the listener gather data in the interest of achieving preconceived goal...
Spontaneous cerebrospinal otorrhea after ear canal irrigation : Incidental diagnosis of Mondini's dysplasia

Mondini’s dysplasia is a developmental anomaly of the otic capsule characterized by cochlear malformation with dilation of the vestibular aqueduct, vestibule, and ampullated ends of the semicircular canals. The diagnosis of Mondini’s dysplasia is usually made when the patient presents to the otologist with severe sensorineural hearing loss, history of perilymph fistulas, spontaneous cerebrospinal (CSF) otorrhea, or recurrent meningitis. We report a case of a l&week-old infant who was evaluated for a febrile illness at a local acute care facility and subsequently underwent ear canal irrigation for cerumen removal. The next day, the patient was observed to have copious clear otorrhea draining from the ear canal, and further work-up showed unilateral deafness and Mondini’s deformity. Surgical exploration showed a stapes footplate defect. To our knowledge, this is the first
Effect of edema on segmental vascular resistance in isolated perfused rat lungs.

We have determined the effect of hydrostatic edema on total and segmental vascular resistances in the rat lung. Lungs of 12 adult rats, body weight 515±42 g, were isolated and perfused with blood. To investigate the role of vasoactivity on edema effects, we studied two groups of lungs; group I (n=6) were untreated and group II (n=6) were treated with papaverine hydrochloride to paralyze the vasculature. Initially blood flow was adjusted to keep pulmonary artery pressure ∼15 cmH2O, left atrial and airway pressures being 8 and 7 cmH2O, respectively, and then kept unchanged thereafter (18±3 ml/kg/min). Hydrostatic edema was induced by raising venous pressure and pulmonary artery pressure measured continuously. In 4 lungs from each group, during baseline and after the development of severe edema, we partitioned the pulmonary circulation into arteries, microvessels, and veins by measuring pressures in 20–50µm diameter subpleural arterioles and venules with the micropipette-Servonull method. Baseline total vascular resistance was similar in the two groups. Interstitial and early alveolar edema did not affect pulmonary vascular pressures. With severe edema (W/D ratio: 17±2), pressures in pulmonary artery and arterioles increased significantly in both groups; venular pressures did not change. Total resistance increased by 250% in group I and by 224% in group II lungs. Arterial resistance increased 3–5-fold in both groups, as did microvascular resistance. Venous resistances also increased in both groups, although to a lesser extent. The increase in total and segmental vascular resistances was not significantly different in the two groups of lungs. We conclude that in isolated rat lungs only severe edema results in an increase in total vascular resistance, mainly due to an increase in arterial and microvascular resistances, with a smaller increase in venous resistance. This appears to be a mechanical effect of edema on the vasculature and not a result of active vasomotion.
Energy deposition and dynamic response of materials

We are exploring new applications of the technology of energy deposition and dynamic response. Early studies involved analytical solutions of the coupled thermal and elastic response of materials to pulsed energy deposition. Experiments designed to test the theory led to determinations of thermal pressure coefficients for a variety of materials and an understanding of the effects of the time dependence of the energy source on dynamic response. Subsequent experiments at higher deposited energies required analysis by an energy deposition-wave propagation code to explain the observed elastic-plastic behavior. Instrumentation included laser interferometry and holographic interferometry for multi- dimensional response. A possible application of this technology to Biomedical Science is a technique to measure ion transport in biological material. It requires a combination of holographic interferometry and spectroscopy, namely, Resonant Holographic Interferometry Spectroscopy (RHIS). The technique involves the absorption and refraction of light near absorption lines. Stress waves arising from the absorbed light can be assessed with the energy deposition-wave propagation code. Such calculations will require the inclusion of appropriate biomaterial properties.
A manpower calculus: the implications of SUO fellowship expansion on oncologic surgeon case volumes.

Abstract Introduction Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO)-accredited fellowship programs have undergone substantial expansion. This study developed a mathematical model to estimate future changes in urologic oncologic surgeon (UOS) manpower and analyzed the effect of those changes on per-UOS case volumes. Materials and methods SUO fellowship program directors were queried as to the number of positions available on an annual basis. Current US UOS manpower was estimated from the SUO membership list. Future manpower was estimated on an annual basis by linear senescence of existing manpower combined with linear growth of newly trained surgeons. Case-volume estimates for the 4 surgical disease sites (prostate, kidney/renal pelvis, bladder, and testes) were obtained from the literature. The future number of major cases was determined from current volumes based upon the US population growth rates and the historic average annual change in disease incidence. Two models were used to predict future per-UOS major case volumes. Model 1 assumed the current distribution of cases between nononcologic surgeons and UOS would continue. Model 2 assumed a progressive redistribution of cases over time such that in 2043 100% of major urologic cancer cases would be performed by UOSs. Results Over the 30-year period to “manpower steady-state” SUO-accredited UOSs practicing in the United States have the potential to increase from approximately 600 currently to 1,650 in 2043. During this interval, case volumes are predicted to change 0.97-, 2.4-, 1.1-, and 1.5-fold for prostatectomy, nephrectomy, cystectomy, and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, respectively. The ratio of future to current total annual case volumes is predicted to be 0.47 and 0.9 for models 1 and 2, respectively. The number of annual US practicing graduates necessary to achieve a future to current case-volume ratio greater than 1 is 25 and 49 in models 1 and 2, respectively. Conclusions The current number of SUO fellowship trainees has the potential to decrease future per-UOS case volumes relative to current levels. Redistribution of existing case volume or a decrease in the annual number of trainees or both would be required to insure sufficient surgical volumes for skill maintenance and optimal patient outcomes.