cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Leveraging customer competency in service firms

Integrates perspectives across operations, marketing, human resources, and organizational theory in a conceptualization of the theoretical relationships between customer competency and marketing and operations practices in service firms. Suggests service firm strategies to leverage customer competency by managing process variation in an industry through service firm co‐operation when altering process structure does not support or achieve a differentiated market position for individual firms; by using market segmentation on the basis of customer productcore competency to develop new service offerings; by balancing the mix of customers at different competency levels with the firm’s productive capacity; and by optimizing socialization of four types of new customers: “Virgin Newcomers”, “Virtual Newcomers”, “Value Switchers” and “Vagabond Switchers” who have different levels of experience with competing firms and expectations for competency fit with new firms.
The Influence of Synchrony and Sensory Modality on the Person Perception Process in Computer‐Mediated Groups

This study examined the effects of synchrony and the number of cues on the person perception process in computer-mediated communication. One hundred and forty-two participants in groups of three or four engaged in collaboration over five weeks to develop oral reports, using alternate versions of communication systems or meeting face-to-face. Consistent with the hyperpersonal model, those using low cue media felt their partners were more credible, and reported more social attraction, less uncertainty, and more involvement in the interaction than those using high cue media. People interacting with synchronous media felt increased social attraction, self-reported involvement, and certainty. They also felt that their conversations were more effective, although this effect appeared mainly in low cue groups. Results of an exploratory path analysis suggest that future research should focus on causal chains rather than direct effects, and that intervening variables (such as involvement) may be central to our understanding of the effects of communication technology systems.
Cretaceous avian crops reveal dietary secrets and pose evolutionary questions.

Among the most striking avian anatomical divergences from the typical tetrapod pattern is the reduction of the cephalic alimentary canal to a bare minimum required for food procurement, generally believed to be an adaptation for lightening the avian body for flight (1). Much of this anatomical modification involved jettisoning teeth concomitantly with the acquisition of a horny beak, the reduction of complex jaw musculature, great reduction of the tongue, and the development of a highly kinetic skull. The food processing normally accomplished by the teeth and masticatory apparatus was thus relegated to the lower digestive system, functioning in storage, disassembling, and digestion (2). Until now we knew virtually nothing of the timing of the origin of the anterior food canal, but in PNAS (3) Xiaoting Zheng of Linyi University in Shandong, China, and colleagues from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing and the University of Kansas, reveal the discovery of avian crops in two distinctive lineages of Early Cretaceous birds, providing significant insight into this remarkably unique avian anatomical innovation, as well as early avian diet.
Variable source areas and storm-flow generation: An update of the concept and a simulation effort

Abstract The variable source area concept of streamflow and storm-flow generation proposes that the area of land yielding surface water to streamflow varies with time and that, for vegetated basins, subsurface flow not only sustains baseflow but is also a major component of storm flow. Results from a growing number of trench and tracer studies strongly support the concept. VSAS2 is a deterministic storm-flow simulator for small forested basins based on the variable source area concept. Basins are divided into a number of sub-basins or segments. In each segment, subsurface flow is reduced to a two-dimensional flow problem while the third dimension is represented by segment convergence or divergence to the stream. The irregular, time-varying grid attempts sensitive representation of the variable channel system, while keeping grid size within computational feasibility. Mathematical stability of the explicit solution is secured by proper combinations of time and space increments. The performance of VSAS2 on a 24 ha Georgia Piedmont basin is poor for large winter storms and small summer storms. Discrepancies are traced to inadequate representation of both micro-relief and soil-water properties.
Ureteric complications following type 3–4 radical hysterectomy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer

In order to assess the incidence, and factors influencing the risk of ureteric complications in patients with stage IB-IIA>4 cm, IIB, II, III cervical cancer who underwent type 3–4 radical hysterectomy following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, data from 157 consecutive patients were analyzed. Among these, 90 patients entered a randomized study aimed to assess the efficacy of a ureteric stent in preventing ureteric complications. In these patients one ureter, randomly chosen, was stented before surgery, the surgeon being unaware of which. Ureteric dissection consisted in the isolation of the ureter from the superficial and deep layer of the vesico-uterine ligament and cutting of the ligament 1 cm from (type 3) or at bladder insertion (type 4). To prevent the distal ureter from being immersed in pelvic dead space, a protecting wall approximating the stumps of the anterior and posterior parametria was performed. Ureteric fistula was observed in 11 (7%) patients of the whole series of 157 patients and stricture in three (2%) patients. The incidence of fistula declined from 13% of the first 31 patients to 0% of the last 36 patients. Chi-square analysis showed that ureteric stenting, cumulative surgical experience expressed as date of surgery, age and the construction of the protecting wall significantly affected the risk for fistula formation (P<0.05). Mild ureteric dilatation was observed in 53% of ureters not stented. Spontaneous resolution was observed in all patients at 6–12 months. Fistula was the most striking ureteric complication following type 3–4 radical hysterectomy. Increased skill of the operating team may explain the reduced frequency of ureteric damage over time, since this made it possible to actually respect the periureteric plexus which is the only vessel to the distal ureter after cutting the ureteric blood supply from the hypogastric artery. Although the ability of a ureteric stent to prevent fistula formation was shown, stent-induced morbidity and the importance of surgical skill in preventing ureteric damage suggest that routine stent utilization be avoided.
When the Bounding Basque met the Brown Bomber: race and ethnicity in world boxing before the Second World War

The 1935 fight between Paulino Uzcudun and Joe Louis merits closer scrutiny than it has traditionally received from historians. The contest occurred at an interesting nexus of racial and ethnic identities involving not only black and white Americans but also Spanish-Americans. An analysis of newspaper coverage of the fight shows that the press, whether aimed at a white, black or Spanish readership, carefully constructed positive images of the fighters. The white press hoped to build interest in the fight through the creation of an interesting storyline built on the particular strengths of each boxer. Both the African-American and Spanish newspapers constructed images of their fighter that reflected the values and characteristics of the community as whole. Yet, despite the national and international context promoting racial and ethnic tensions, each community celebrated its favourite son without resorting to demeaning characterizations of his opponent.
Methods of teaching stapedectomy.

Objectives: Establish a better method of teaching residents stapes surgery, with the goal of improving surgical outcome. Study Design: A stapes surgery teaching module was developed with specific criteria to evaluate resident performance. A prospective study of stapes surgery performed by teaching module trained residents was compared with a retrospective review of stapes surgery performed by non-teaching module trained residents. Methods: Four residents naive to stapes surgery were assigned to a stapes surgery teaching module. Stapedectomy of 20 temporal bones per resident, with six 3-hour laboratory sessions, was performed. Laser (C02 and argon) as well as mechanical techniques were used. Specific scoring criteria were applied to measure performance. Results of actual stapes surgery of teaching module trained residents were compared with those of a comparable group of non-teaching module trained residents. Results: Laser techniques in the laboratory resulted in statistically significantly better scores by defined criteria than mechanical techniques. Results of actual stapes surgery performed by teaching module trained residents demonstrated a trend toward better surgical results, although this was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Graded operative experience and standard temporal bone surgery courses may not adequately prepare residents for stapes surgery. A teaching module with criteria to evaluate performance better prepares residents for this delicate procedure. Lasers provide a significant advantage in the laboratory model and should be used by residents at surgery. Residents not wishing to perform stapes surgery because of career pathway should be encouraged to turn over their cases to fellow residents.
Survival and patterns of recurrence in cervical cancer metastatic to periaortic lymph nodes: A Gynecologic Oncology Group study

Ninety-eight of 621 evaluable patients (16%) with cervical cancer enrolled into Gynecologic Oncology Group protocols were found to have periaortic lymph node metastases at staging laparotomy or at exploration for definitive operative management. As expected there was a progressive increase in the prevalence of periaortic metastases including 5% of 150 patients with Stage IB, 16% of 222 patients with Stage II, and 25% of 135 patients with Stage III. Periaortic lymph node metastases in the absence of pelvic lymph node metastases was an infrequent occurrence in patients so evaluated. The median survival of patients with periaortic metastases was 15.2 months with a survival probability of 25% at 3 years. The median duration of survival following recurrence was only 5 months. Recurrences were divided approximately equally between the pelvis and distant sites.
An integrated approach to shift-starting time selection and tour-schedule construction

A common practice in personnel tour scheduling is to limit the number of permissible daily shift starting times. Accordingly, an important subproblem that arises in tour-scheduling problems is the selection of those starting times that are conducive to efficient satisfaction of labour requirements. A previously published heuristic for this problem is sequential in nature, whereby a subset of starting times is selected in the first stage and tours are constructed using the chosen starting times in the second stage. We propose an integrative procedure that overcomes many of the limitations inherent in the sequential approach. Our procedure, which uses tabu search for starting time selection and a cutting plane method for tour construction, was compared to integer programming and the previously published heuristic in two experiments using test conditions from the airport staffing literature. Although all methods performed well when the labour requirement patterns were consistent across days of the week, the new procedure yielded the best performance when such patterns were inconsistent.
Regulation of PTEN Stability and Activity by Plk3

By studying primary isogenic murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), we have shown that PLK3 null MEFs contain a reduced level of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and increased Akt1 activation coupled with decreased GSK3β activation under normoxia and hypoxia. Purified recombinant Plk3, but not a kinase-defective mutant, efficiently phosphorylates PTEN in vitro. Mass spectrometry identifies threonine 366 and serine 370 as two putative residues that are phosphorylated by Plk3. Immunoblotting using a phosphospecific antibody confirms these sites as Plk3 phosphorylation sites. Moreover, treatment of MEFs with LiCl, an inhibitor of GSK3β and CK2, only partially suppresses the phosphorylation, suggesting Plk3 as an additional kinase that phosphorylates these sites in vivo. Plk3-targeting mutants of PTEN are expressed at a reduced level in comparison with the wild-type counterpart, which is associated with an enhanced activity of PDK1, an upstream activator of Akt1. Furthermore, the reduced level of PTEN in PLK3 null MEFs is stabilized by treatment with MG132, a proteosome inhibitor. Combined, our study identifies Plk3 as a new player in the regulation of the PI3K/PDK1/Akt signaling axis by phosphorylation and stabilization of PTEN.
Comparison of extended colectomy and limited resection in patients with Lynch syndrome.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine the advantages and disadvantages of prophylactic/extended colectomy (subtotal colectomy) in patients with Lynch syndrome who manifest colorectal cancer. METHODS: A retrospective cohort using Creighton University's hereditary cancer database was used to identify cases and controls. Cases are patients who underwent subtotal colectomy, either with no colorectal cancer diagnosis (prophylactic) or at diagnosis of first colorectal cancer; controls for these 2 types of cases were, respectively, patients who underwent no colon surgery or those having limited resection at time of diagnosis of first colorectal cancer. The Kaplan-Meier and proportional hazard regression models from the Statistical Analysis Software program was used to calculate the difference in survival, time to subsequent colorectal cancer, and subsequent abdominal surgery between cases and controls. RESULTS: The event-free survival of our study did not reach 50%, so we used the event-free survival at 5 years as our parameter to compare the 2 groups. The event-free survival for subsequent colorectal cancer, subsequent abdominal surgery, and death was 94%, 84%, and 93%, respectively, for cases and 74%, 63%, and 88%, respectively, for controls. Times to subsequent colorectal cancer and subsequent abdominal surgery were significantly shorter in the control group (P < .006 and P < .04, respectively). No significant difference was identified with respect to survival time between the cases and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Even though no survival benefit was identified between the cases and controls the increased incidence of metachronous colorectal cancer and increased abdominal surgeries among controls warrant the recommendation of subtotal colectomy in patients with Lynch syndrome.
One-year prospective prediction of drug use from stress-related variables.

Six stress-related variables, gender, age, and ethnicity were investigated as concurrent and prospective predictors of three types of drug use (cigarettes, alcohol, and illicit drug use) among 875 “high risk” adolescents. The stress-related variables were socioeconomic status, “missing” one's parent(s), family conflict, victimization, perceived stress, and stress-drug beliefs. In general, concurrent regression models indicated that those who were lower in socioeconomic status, held stress-drug beliefs favorable toward drug use, and who had been victimized in the last year were more likely to be cigarette, alcohol, or illicit drug users. Prospective regression models indicated that those who had used drugs at baseline and had been victimized in the last year were relatively likely to use drugs the next year. Significant predictors in the multivariable models accounted for between 56 and 85% of those subjects who were above the median on later drug use. Victimization is apparently a relatively important sou...
Bending of circular plates of hardening material

Bending of circular plates of hardening material analyzed for axisymmetrical loading and support
A Greener Revolution in the Making?: Environmental Governance in the 21st Century

(2007). A Greener Revolution in the Making?: Environmental Governance in the 21st Century. Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development: Vol. 49, No. 5, pp. 36-45.
Coping with a breakup: Negative mood regulation expectancies and depression following the end of a romantic relationship.

Three studies assessed the impact of generalized expectancies for negative mood regulation on the severity of depression individuals experience following the end of a romantic relationship. The Negative Mood Regulation Scale (NMR) measured these expectancies. In Study 1 (n = 583), the NMR predicted college students' reports of initial depression in the first week after the relationship ended. Study 2 (n = 114) demonstrated that subjects with higher expectancies used active coping strategies more than those with lower expectancies. Study 3 (n = 78) provided prospective data that showed subjects' NMR scores to predict initial depression in the first week after a relationship ended--when that relationship ended subsequent to their taking the NMR. Results support the importance of expectancies for negative mood regulation as determinants of emotional reactions to distressing events, and they support the validity of the NMR.
The analytic wavefunctions of the interacting boson model

Abstract The analytic U(5) and O(6) wavefunction of the interacting boson model in terms of the building blocks ( s † , s , d † , d ) are derived. It is shown that there exist very simple diagrammatic representations for both of these limits. An example of the usage of these wavefunctions is given.
Transformations of aberrations in optical systems

The general transformation properties of aberrations in cylindrically symmetric optical systems are described using matrix analysis. The aberrations in an optical system can change with any change in the position of the aperture stop, or when the system operates at new conjugates even if the relative positions of the refractive surfaces and their powers are fixed. Expanding the wavefront aberration function in terms of aberration coefficients allows the new aberration coefficients to be written as linear combinations of the old aberration coefficients for every order. A pattern is established by which higher-order aberration transformations can be calculated.
On a problem connected with quadratic regression

E(Y) = flo +/3lE(X) + ... +4kE(Xk). (1.2) If k 2 and f2 t 0 (k = 1 and Ih1 + 0) then we speak of quadratic (linear) regression. If k = 0, that is if E( YjX) = E( Y) almost everywhere, then we say that Y has constant regression on X. The coefficients ,80, ,l1, . . , Ak are called the regression coefficients. Let X1, X2, .. ., Xn be a sample of size n (independently and identically distributed random variables) from a population with distribution function F(x). We write
Simulation of high fluence N implantation into Fe

A computer code was developed to calculate final ion implantation profiles considering the effects of radiation induced transport and precipitation. The formalism accounts for the possibility of second phase precipitation occurring during the implantation process. These processes are modeled simultaneously with the implantation and radiation induced transport. The results are compared with experimentally measured concentration-versus-depth profiles for N implanted into Fe.
Electrostrictive Properties of Poly(vinylidenefluoride- trifluoroethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene)

Terpolymers of vinylidene fluoride (VDF), trifluoroethylene (TrFE), and chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) were synthesized as potential materials for electromechanical transduction. These terpolymers had relatively high molecular weights (∼30 kg/mol) and CTFE levels in the range of 5−10 mol %. The presence of the bulky CTFE units disrupts the sequence length of the crystal, which lowers both the melting and Curie transitions; however, the degree of crystallinity remains high. The formation of smaller, more mobile polar domains gives rise to good electromechanical response. At low electric fields (7 MV/m), longitudinal strains as high as 0.5% are attained. This is significantly higher than the strains achieved with the same terpolymer obtained by bulk polymerization. The present materials exhibit a low mechanical modulus (ca. 0.2 GPa) relative to other VDF−TrFE copolymers. This might limit their use, depending on the application.
Spermatogenesis in Klinefelter's syndrome.

Two patients with clinical evidence of Klinefelter's syndrome, positive sex chromatin and a karyotype of 47/XXY are presented. Testicular biopsy revealed a histological picture characteristic of Klinefelter's syndrome, but, in addition to this, small areas of spermatogenesis were encountered in a few tubules. The theoretical implications of this finding are discussed briefly.
An iterative strategy combining biophysical criteria and duration hidden Markov models for structural predictions of Chlamydia trachomatis σ66 promoters

Promoter identification is a first step in the quest to explain gene regulation in bacteria. It has been demonstrated that the initiation of bacterial transcription depends upon the stability and topology of DNA in the promoter region as well as the binding affinity between the RNA polymerase σ-factor and promoter. However, promoter prediction algorithms to date have not explicitly used an ensemble of these factors as predictors. In addition, most promoter models have been trained on data from Escherichia coli. Although it has been shown that transcriptional mechanisms are similar among various bacteria, it is quite possible that the differences between Escherichia coli and Chlamydia trachomatis are large enough to recommend an organism-specific modeling effort. Here we present an iterative stochastic model building procedure that combines such biophysical metrics as DNA stability, curvature, twist and stress-induced DNA duplex destabilization along with duration hidden Markov model parameters to model Chlamydia trachomatis σ66 promoters from 29 experimentally verified sequences. Initially, iterative duration hidden Markov modeling of the training set sequences provides a scoring algorithm for Chlamydia trachomatis RNA polymerase σ66/DNA binding. Subsequently, an iterative application of Stepwise Binary Logistic Regression selects multiple promoter predictors and deletes/replaces training set sequences to determine an optimal training set. The resulting model predicts the final training set with a high degree of accuracy and provides insights into the structure of the promoter region. Model based genome-wide predictions are provided so that optimal promoter candidates can be experimentally evaluated, and refined models developed. Co-predictions with three other algorithms are also supplied to enhance reliability. This strategy and resulting model support the conjecture that DNA biophysical properties, along with RNA polymerase σ-factor/DNA binding collaboratively, contribute to a sequence's ability to promote transcription. This work provides a baseline model that can evolve as new Chlamydia trachomatis σ66 promoters are identified with assistance from the provided genome-wide predictions. The proposed methodology is ideal for organisms with few identified promoters and relatively small genomes.
Promising Parties: Can Parties in Government still Deliver?

The ability of political parties in advanced industrial democracies to maintain the traditional linkage between voters and their governments by making and attempting to fulfill policy promises is potentially being challenged by emerging social, political, and economic forces of the 21st century. Parties may become less meaningful to the electorate as they deal with the cross-pressures created by the forces of Europeanization, globalization, localism, and the increasing independence of central banks. These factors have the potential to make parties in government, at the national-level, marginally less able to fulfill the promises they make to voters. The review of literature presented here regarding these challenges indicates that although the risks to parties are very real, the effects of these emerging forces have yet to substantially diminish the primary roles and functioning of national parties in government. Those most at risk of being affected in the future are parties who rely strongly on economic appeals and promises.
Compressive list-support recovery for colluder identification

One of the main computational challenges in digital fingerprinting systems is the complexity of colluder identification. Inspired by compressive sensing approaches for support recovery of sparse vectors, we propose a novel list-decoding approach for partial colluder identification. We also derive formulas for the minimum codelength required for identifying a nonzero fraction of colluders based on noiseless and noisy measurements, using simple single-step correlation maximization techniques.
Detection of a novel truncated WT1 transcript in human neoplasia.

Background: The Wilms’ tumor 1 (WT1) gene encodes a transcription factor critical in urogenital development. Using a new model of prostate cancer progression that permits comparison of the cellular and molecular properties of increasingly aggressive sublines of simian virus 40 large T-antigen—immortalized human prostate epithelial cells within the same lineage, the role of WT1 in tumorigenesis was investigated. Method and Results: Using RT-PCR and northern blotting, we identified a novel truncated WT1 transcript in these prostate cancer cell lines. This 2.1-kb transcript consisted of the coding region of the zinc-finger domain of WT1, together with a portion of intron 5 at the 5′ end of the transcript. Furthermore, two peptides were detected by western blotting using antibodies to epitopes of the COOH terminus of WT1. Using RT-PCR, the 2.1-kb transcript was also detected in leukemia cell line K562, breast cancer cell line MCF7, and blood samples from patients with acute leukemia. Conclusion: These novel findings in both cell lines and patient-derived specimens suggest this new WT1 gene alteration has a potential role in the development of new diagnostic assays for some human malignancies.
Induction of in vivo DNA adducts by 4 industrial by-products in the rat-lung-cell system

Abstract Benz[ a ]anthracene (BA), dibenz[ a , h ]anthracene (DBA), dibenzo[ a , i ]pyrene (DBP), and dibenz[ a , h ]acridine (DBAC) are by-products found in many industrial wastes and emissions. Workers in the related occupational settings are potentially exposed to these substances through inhalation. In the present study, induction of DNA adducts in vivo by these chemicals was investigated using 32 P-postlabeling analysis in the rat-lung-cell system. The potency of DNA-adduct inducing activity was also compared to that of two cytogenetic endpoints i.e., sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) and micronucleus formation. Via intratracheal instillation, male CD rats (6/group) were dosed 3 times with BA, DBA, DBP or DBAC in a 24-h interval. Lung cells were enzymatically separated and used to determine the frequency of DNA adducts, SCE and micronuclei. Results show that all 4 test compounds induced DNA adducts, SCEs, and micronuclei in the rat-lung cell in vivo and that the postlabeling DNA adduct assay detected genotoxic activity at lower dose levels than the two cytogenetic assays. These findings suggest that BA, DBA, DBP or DBAC are rat pulmonary genetoxicants and the DNA-adduct assay is more sensitive than SCE or micronucleus assays for detecting the pulmonary genotoxicity of these industrial PAHs in the in vivo rat-lung-cell system.
Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 1-aryl-4-substituted-1,4-dihydro-5H-tetrazol-5-ones, a novel class of pre- and post-emergence herbicides

L-Aryl-4-substituted-1,4-dihydro-5H-tetrazol-5-ones (I) represent a new class of herbicides, which, when applied pre- or post-emergence in the presence of light, control several agriculturally important weed species. Forty-eight analogues have been synthesized and their herbicidal activities determined in order to study structure-activity relationships. In general, these compounds demonstrated: (l) optimum herbicidal activity when the 4- substituent on the tetrazole ring was – CH2CH2CH2F, and the aryl group 2- fluoro-4-chloro-5-substituted phenyl; (2) optimum herbicidal activity over a broad spectrum of grass and broad leaf weeds, with marginal crop selectivity when the C5 substituent on the phenyl group was – OCH2CCH; and (3) a high degree of selectivity on several major crops and primarily broadleaf weed control when this substituent was – NHSO2CH2CH3.
Live seawater experience in Japan with hollow fiber permeators

Abstract In view of the increasing necessity to save energy, the desalination of sea water by the reverse osmosis (R.O.) method, is becoming very important. With escalating importance of R.O., as a desalination process, the “Water Re-use Promotion Center” in Japan is carrying out development work on the actual application of R.O. to the desalination of sea water. This work is sponsored by the Industrial Water Section of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in Japan. This report will show that satisfactory results were obtained with the B-10 module, for sea water desalination under actual test conditions at the Chigasaki Laboratory of the “Water Re-use Promotion Center” in Japan. The experimental facility uses DuPont Hollow-Fiber type B-1O Permasep Permeators, which have been developed for single pass desalination of sea water. Sasakura Engineering Company Ltd., designed and fabricated the pre-treatment and R.O. facility for the test by the “Water Re-use Promotion Center.”
LOX vaporization in high-pressure, hydrogen-rich gas

LOX droplet vaporization in high-pressure hydrogen-rich gas is analyzed, with special attention to thermodynamic effects which compel the surface to heat to the critical state and to supercritical vaporization processes on heating to criticality. Subcritical vaporization is modeled using a quasi-steady diffusion-controlled gas-phase transport formulation coupled to an effective-conductivity internal-energy-transport model accounting for circulation effects. It is demonstrated how the droplet surface might heat to the critical state, for ambient pressures slightly greater than the critical pressure of oxygen, such that the bulk of propellant within the droplet remains substantially below the critical mixing temperature.
APPLICATION OF SECONDARY PRODUCTION METHODS TO ESTIMATES OF NET ABOVEGROUND PRIMARY PRODUCTION OF EMERGENT AQUATIC MACROPHYTES

Abstract Four methods commonly used for estimating secondary production of invertebrates were applied to clonal emergent aquatic macrophytes as a means of estimating net annual aboveground production (NAAP). Results from these techniques were then compared with those from two traditional methods of estimating NAAP, the summed shoot maximum and the aboveground maximum biomass methods. The three cohort-based methods (Allen curve, increment summation, and instantaneous growth) yielded higher estimates than aboveground maximum biomass values, but were lower than those of the summed shoot maximum method. However, corrective modifications must be made in all three cohort methods because of continuous emergence of new shoots. The size frequency method for non-cohort populations was used to estimate NAAP of asynchronous emergent macrophytes. This method accounts for new individuals that emerge continuously because production is calculated from the change in numbers and individual biomass between size classes, and not between sampling dates of cohort methods. Therefore, this method is more responsive to continuous growth characteristics of most aquatic plants than the others. The size-frequency method is valid for estimating NAAP, and its use in field estimates may simplify evaluations by reducing labor-intensive sampling of individual shoots from emergence to senescence that are required in other methods.
Raf1, Aurora-A/STK15 and E-cadherin biomarkers expression in patients with pTa/pT1 urothelial bladder carcinoma; a retrospective TMA study of 246 patients with long-term follow-up.

AIMS: The study was designed to evaluate Raf1, Aurora-A/STK15 and E-cadherin (E-CD) protein expression and their prognostic value in patients with pTa/pT1 tumours. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A tissue microarray of 105 pTa, and 141 pT1 tumours was constructed and sections were immunostained with these three antibodies. RESULTS: There were significant associations between Raf1 overexpression and tumour grade (p = 0.03), between Aurora-A overexpression/alterations of E-CD and tumour grade and stage (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). In multiple Cox regression analysis, moderate/strong expression of E-CD seemed to be an independent factor in predicting slower tumour progression (p = 0.003) and Aurora-A overexpression (p = 0.022) displays an independent value in predicting tumour recurrences. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of E-CD and Aurora-A expressions in tissue of patients with pTa/pT1 UC have been proven to be useful in predicting tumours behavior and Raf1 protein expression seemed to have no potential use in this regard.
Examining the Communication Audit: Assessment and Modification

The authors discuss criticisms of the ICA Communication Audit and present a modified version of the survey instrument, retitled Survey of Organizational Communication (SOC). The researchers present...
How Fast can Vorticity Stretch itself

Abstract We review some examples of computing or bounding the long-time growth of vorticity in Euler flows under various assump- tions. Estimates for axisymmetric flow without swirl, obtained under constraints on vorticity volume and and kinetic energy, are discussed. Axisymmetric flow with swirl is treated under a truncation equivalent to an axisymmetric ‘stretched’ version of the Taylor-Green problem. The close relation of flows with swirl to 2D Boussinesq convection is used to give some examples of peri- odic flows developing arbitrarily large vorticity in a bounded domain. Finally, a moving line problem is introduced which produces finite time singularities. It is noted that locally 2D vortex structures of the kind obtained in the growth estimates without swirl motion could be consistent with the equations of motion of the line, but no computable examples of this are known.
Extensions to the spiral model to support joint development of complex software systems

Complex problems are increasingly being addressed by joint development teams representing multiple commercial software companies. These efforts often require competitors to work side-by-side to develop a software product. The existing software development processes do not fully model these efforts. Through analysis of the risks of jointly developing a product, the spiral model has been extended to model development in this environment.
Low-dose prophylactic craniospinal radiotherapy for intracranial germinoma

Purpose: To report outcomes of patients with localized intracranial germinoma treated with low-dose craniospinal irradiation (CSI) followed by a boost to the ventricular system and primary site. Methods and Materials: Thirty-one patients had pathologically confirmed intracranial germinoma and no spine metastases. Low-dose CSI was administered in 29 patients: usually 21 Gy of CSI, 9.0 Gy of ventricular boost, and a 19.5-Gy tumor boost, all at 1.5 Gy per fraction. Our neuroradiologist recorded three-dimensional tumor size on magnetic resonance images before, during, and after radiotherapy. Results: With a median follow-up of 7.0 years, 29 of 31 patients (94%) are disease free. One failure had nongerminomatous histology; the initial diagnosis was a sampling error. Of 3 patients who did not receive CSI, 1 died. No patient developed myelopathy, visual deficits, dementia, or skeletal growth problems. In locally controlled patients, tumor response according to magnetic resonance scan was nearly complete within 6 months after radiotherapy. Conclusions: Radiotherapy alone with low-dose prophylactic CSI cures almost all patients with localized intracranial germinoma. Complications are rare when the daily dose of radiotherapy is limited to 1.5 Gy and the total CSI dose to 21 Gy. Patients without a near-complete response to radiotherapy should undergo resection to rule out a nongerminomatous element.
On the Large Sample Distributions of Modified Sample Biserial Correlation Coefficients.

The asymptotic distributions of Brogden's and Lord's modified sample biserial correlation coefficients are derived. The asymptotic variances of these estimators are evaluated for bivariate normal populations and compared to the asymptotic variance of the maximum likelihood estimator.
Misspecified maximum likelihood estimates and generalised linear mixed models

SUMMARY We investigate the impact of model violations on the estimate of a regression coefficient in a generalised linear mixed model. Specifically, we evaluate the asymptotic relative bias that results from incorrect assumptions regarding the random effects. We compare the impact of model violation for two parameterisations of the regression model. Substantial bias in the conditionally specified regression point estimators can result from using a simple random intercepts model when either the random effects distribution depends on measured covariates or there are autoregressive random effects. A marginally specified regression structure that is estimated using maximum likelihood is much less susceptible to bias resulting from random effects model misspecification.
Arias-Stella reaction of the cervix: The enduring diagnostic challenge.

Background The Arias-Stella reaction is a hormone-related atypical endometrial change characterized by hypertrophy and vacuolization of glandular epithelial cells, associated with marked nuclear pleomorphism, enlargement, and hyperchromasia. When presenting in extra-uterine sites, the differentiation of Arias-Stella changes from other more ominous clear cell lesions may pose significant difficulties. Case report We report a case of an endocervical clear cell lesion incidentally discovered during a prenatal visit of a young pregnant woman. Interpretation of the pathological findings was complicated by the small size and fragmentation of the specimen. Conclusions Recognition of Arias-Stella reaction in extra-uterine sites, especially in young women, is critical to avoid misdiagnosis of this innocuous lesion as clear cell adenocarcinoma. Attention to cellular and nuclear detail, as well as careful consideration of the clinical scenario, is crucial for establishment of the correct diagnosis.
Use of selenite, selenide, and selenocysteine for the synthesis of formate dehydrogenase by a cysteine-requiring mutant ofEscherichia coli K-12.

The forms of Se in the Se-dependent enzyme formate dehydrogenase is known to be selenocysteine, but the way this amino acid enters the polypeptide chain has not been established. Through the use of a cysteine-requiring mutant ofEscherichia coli K-12 that could also grow in the presence of glutathione, we were able to study the effect of selenite, selenide, andl-selenocysteine, each at a concentration of 0.1 μM, on the synthesis of formate dehydrogenase. The three forms of Se served equally well for inducing formate dehydrogenase activity, measured by dichlorophenol-indophenol reduction mediated by phenazine methosulfate. It is known that selenite can be reduced to selenide by the action of glutathione reductase, present inE. coli, and that selenocysteine is converted to elemental Se by the action of selenocysteine lyase, also present in the mutant. Elemental Se is then reduced nonenzymatically to hydrogen selenide. The conversion of both selenite and selenocysteine to selenide and the ability of each form of Se to induce the synthesis of equal levels of formate dehydrogenase suggest that the incorporation of Se into formate dehydrogenase is accomplished by a posttranslational mechanism.
Supervised Manifold Distance Segmentation

We present a simple and robust method for image and volume data segmentation based on manifold distance metrics. This is done by treating the image as a function that maps the 2D (image) or 3D (volume) to a 2D or 3D manifold in a higher dimensional feature space. We explore a range of possible feature spaces, including value, gradient, and probabilistic measures, and examine the consequences of including these measures in the feature space. The time and space computational complexity of our segmentation algorithm is O(N), which allows interactive, user-centric segmentation even for large data sets. We show that this method, given appropriate choice of feature vector, produces results both qualitatively and quantitatively similar to Level Sets, Random Walkers, and others. We validate the robustness of this segmentation scheme with comparisons to standard ground-truth models and sensitivity analysis of the algorithm.
1 GeV electron beams from a laser-driven channel-guided accelerator

GeV-class electron beams generated from laser wakefield accelerator with 40 TW laser pulses using a 33 mm hydrogen-based capillary discharge waveguide. Stable 0.5 GeV e-beams can produce bright radiation from THz to X-rays.
Incorporating miRNA target sites in protein-coding RNA

MicroRNAs are small regulatory RNAs that play an important role in diverse biological processes, by post-transcriptionally regulating the expression of messenger RNAs. Recent advances in genome synthesis technology allow for manipulation of existing genes and the creation of novel genomic sequences to specification, with a tremendous number of applications. Incorporation of miRNA sites in synthetic mRNA sequences allows for enhanced expression control, enables tissue specificity and facilitates dynamic regulatory network interactions. We designed a dynamic programming algorithm to align an miRNA target site with all possible encodings of a protein, allowing for synonymous and/or missense mutations. Our algorithm shares the same asymptotic time and space complexity with string alignment, performing efficiently in practice and identifying potential target miRNA sites when sufficient tolerable amino acid substitutions are available.
Comment on "Effect of collisional broadening on Monte Carlo simulations of high-field transport in semiconductor devices"

Recent Monte Carlo simulations of high-field transport in GaAs have been subject to controversy. A clarification of the aims of the validity range of this calculation is given.
Parallel total weight crossing number algorithm for channel routing on a linear array with a reconfigurable pipelined bus system

In the channel routing problem, terminals between cells are interconnected completely while reducing channel routing area. The crossing number, the number of crossings between two wires in the channel, is related to the channel routing area. In this paper, we present a parallel algorithm finding a weighted total crossing number in the channel by using LARPBS model (Linear Array with a Reconfigurable Pipelined Bus System), which is based on the advanced fiber optic technology. The parallel total weight crossing number algorithm on the LARPBS model runs in O(n*log(/spl radic/n)) time using O(n) number of processors, where n is the number of nets in a channel.
Cache augmented database management systems

Cache Augmented Database Management Systems, CADBMSs, enhance the velocity of simple operations that read and write a small amount of data from big data. They are most suitable for those applications with workloads that exhibit a high read to write ratio, e.g., interactive social networking actions. This study surveys state of the art with CADBMSs and presents physical data independence as the next step in their evolution. We detail the requirements of this evolution, technological trends and software practices, and our research efforts in this area.
HOPS Initiates Vacuole Docking by Tethering Membranes before trans-SNARE Complex Assembly

Vacuole homotypic fusion has been reconstituted with all purified components: vacuolar lipids, four soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins, Sec17p, Sec18p, the Rab Ypt7p, and the hexameric homotypic fusion and vacuole protein sorting complex (HOPS). HOPS is a Rab-effector with direct affinity for SNAREs (presumably via its Sec1-Munc18 homologous subunit Vps33p) and for certain vacuolar lipids. Each of these pure vacuolar proteins was required for optimal proteoliposome clustering, raising the question of which was most directly involved. We now present model subreactions of clustering and fusion that reveal that HOPS is the direct agent of tethering. The Rab and vacuole lipids contribute to tethering by supporting the membrane association of HOPS. HOPS indirectly facilitates trans-SNARE complex formation by tethering membranes, because the synthetic liposome tethering factor polyethylene glycol can also stimulate trans-SNARE complex formation and fusion. SNAREs further stabilize the associations of HOPS-tethered membranes. HOPS then protects newly formed trans-SNARE complexes from disassembly by Sec17p/Sec18p.
VARIABILITY AND DYNAMICS OF A DESERT STREAM COMMUNITY

Communities can be highly variable over a few years, but remain fairly constant over the long term. Evaluating measures and examining the variability associated with long-term change is useful because it increases our understanding of and our ability to predict responses to disturbances. We used long-term fish community data from Aravaipa Creek, Arizona, USA, a Sonoran Desert stream, to determine whether there had been long-term changes in the community composition, what measures best describe these shifts, and what environmental factors are correlated with the changes. Aravaipa Creek is an intrinsically variable system and one of the few remaining desert streams to support its complete historical assemblage of native fishes. Multivariate analyses illustrated important changes in composition of the native fish community that were not described by traditional measures of persistence and stability. In the early 1980s, changes in community composition were correlated with alterations in base flow, while more recent changes are likely associated with the presence of exotic species. Changes in stream morphology, hydrology, and climate have decreased flow variability, thereby increasing the likelihood of exotic establishment, and may have increased the downstream connection between Aravaipa Creek and the San Pedro River thus increasing the likelihood of repeated invasions by nonnative species. These results support previous research in intrinsically variable desert systems, which conclude that retention of high flow variability is important to conservation of the native fish community. In addition, although connectivity in aquatic lotic systems is important, isolation from large river systems teaming with exotics may be important in preserving these remnant native fish assemblages.