cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Impact of the Exchange Rate on the Resources Allocation, Individual Welfare, and Government Revenues: A Case Study of Cereal Crops أثر سعر الصرف على منطقة الموارد ورفاهية الأفراد وعوائد الحکومة :دراسة حالة محاصيل الحبوب

The Central Bank’s decision in November 2016 was liberalizing the exchange rate for the Egyptian pound which had an impact on the agricultural sector in general and cereal crops in particular, The research problem was increasing the prices of agricultural products, whether they were local or imports due to the increase in energy prices and the increase in the electricity tariff as a result of the increase in the exchange rate. The research aimed to estimate the effect of changes in the exchange rate on the government returns, the resource allocation and welfare (producer and consumer surplus) and net social loss, The following results were reached: (1) The net economic loss as a result of exporting the rice crop was the lowest of about 2.2 billion pounds in 2014, and the maximum amounted to about 44.6 billion pounds in 2016 due to the significant decrease in government revenues in 2016, which amounted to about 48.2 billion pounds. (2) The values of the index of net economic gains in wheat consumption achieved significant increases during the study period, ranging from about 202.1 million pounds in 2014 to about 241 million pounds in 2016 due to the increase in local prices, local consumption and the exchange rate. (3) The loss in the foreign exchange of the maize crop achieved negative values during the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 due to the decrease in the export of corn abroad, where the maximum decrease reached about 253.5 million dollars in 2014.
Gap junctions amplify spatial variations in cell volume in proliferating tumor spheroids

Sustained proliferation is a significant driver of cancer progression. Cell-cycle advancement is coupled with cell size, but it remains unclear how multiple cells interact to control their volume in 3D clusters. In this study, we propose a mechano-osmotic model to investigate the evolution of volume dynamics within multicellular systems. Volume control depends on an interplay between multiple cellular constituents, including gap junctions, mechanosensitive ion channels, energy-consuming ion pumps, and the actomyosin cortex, that coordinate to manipulate cellular osmolarity. In connected cells, we show that mechanical loading leads to the emergence of osmotic pressure gradients between cells with consequent increases in cellular ion concentrations driving swelling. We identify how gap junctions can amplify spatial variations in cell volume within multicellular spheroids and, further, describe how the process depends on proliferation-induced solid stress. Our model may provide new insight into the role of gap junctions in breast cancer progression.
Profiling immune cells in the kidney using tissue cytometry and machine learning

The immune system governs key functions that maintain renal homeostasis through various effector cells that reside in or infiltrate the kidney. These immune cells play an important role in shaping adaptive or maladaptive responses to local or systemic stress and injury. We increasingly recognize that microenvironments within the kidney are characterized by unique distribution of immune cells, the function of which depends on this unique spatial localization. Therefore, quantitative profiling of immune cells in intact kidney tissue becomes essential, particularly at a scale and resolution that allow the detection of differences between the various "nephro-ecosystems" in health and disease. In this review, we discuss advancements in tissue cytometry of the kidney, performed through multiplexed confocal imaging and analysis using the Volumetric tissue exploration and analysis (VTEA) software. We highlight how this tool has improved our understanding of the role of the immune system in the kidney and its relevance in pathobiology of renal disease. We also discuss how the field is increasingly incorporating machine learning to enhance the analytical potential of the imaging data and provide unbiased methods to explore and visualize multidimensional data. Such novel analytical methods could be particularly relevant when applied to profiling immune cells. Furthermore, machine learning approaches applied to cytometry could present venues for non-exhaustive exploration and classifications of cells from existing data and improving tissue economy. Therefore, tissue cytometry is transforming what used to be a qualitative assessment of the kidney into a highly quantitative imaging-based "omics" assessment that compliments other advanced molecular interrogation technologies.
Healthcare Disparities Add Insult to Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract The authors describe the disparities and increased risk of traumatic spinal cord injury Black Americans face as a result of violence. The manuscript should serve as a realization of these inequities and as a call to action to improve the equity of rehabilitation services in this population to improve outcomes.
Expression of cell-adhesion molecules in E. coli: a high-throughput method to identify paracellular modulators

Abstract Cell-adhesion molecules (CAM) are membrane proteins responsible for cell-cell interactions or cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Among these proteins, claudins (CLDN), occludin (OCLN), and junctional adhesion molecules (JAM) are components of the tight junction (TJ), the single proteic structure tasked with safeguarding the paracellular space. The TJ is responsible for controlled permeability of blood-tissue barriers, regulating the passage of molecule passage by size and charge. Currently there is no translational solution to manipulate the TJ with the exception of Focused Ultra-sound (FUS) and Micro bubbling (MB) techniques, still in clinical trials. Here we describe the expression of TJ proteins in the outer membrane of E. coli and report its consequences. When expression is induced, the unicellular behavior of E. coli is replaced with multicellular aggregations that can be quantified using Flow Cytometry (FC). The adhesion properties of the aggregates are representative of the individual membrane proteins expressed. This method, called iCLASP (inspection of cell-adhesion molecules aggregation through FC protocols), allows the high-throughput interrogation of small-molecules influence on paracellular permeability, enabling for the first time the discovery of its modulators for therapeutic strategies.
Feasibility of preemptive pharmacogenetic testing in colorectal cancer patients within a community oncology setting

IntroductionPharmacogenetics, in hand with precision medicine in oncology, represents an opportunity to holistically tailor a patient’s treatment regimen using both somatic and germline variants to...
Coming face to face with implicit bias, microagressions, and macroaggressions: Understanding the influence of structural racism and misogyny on physician wellness.

Abstract Implicit bias, microaggressions, and macroaggressions have a negative impact on physician and trainee wellness. In this article, we describe how structural racism, misogyny, and other social constructs have shaped the medical landscape. Increasing awareness in medical education, patient care, and research can help to dismantle the effects.
Development and validation of the Gynecologic Oncology Predictor Of Postoperative opioid use (GO-POP) model

Objectives: With increasing use of minimally invasive surgical techniques and same-day discharges, the need to predict pain medication use on the day of surgery is critical to post-operative pain control, patient satisfaction and public health concerns. Our goal was to develop and externally validate a statistical model for predicting postoperative opioid use following gynecologic surgery in an increasingly minimally invasive surgical population, incorporating patient-reported surgical concerns. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 382 women scheduled for abdominal surgeries (including laparotomies and minimally invasive approaches [MIS]) in an academic gynecologic-oncology practice to a study to develop and validate a predictor of outpatient opioid pill use. Negative binomial, zero-inflated negative binomial, and ordinal regression models were developed using an initial cohort of 216 women enrolled from February 2018-March 2019 and followed for 6 weeks postoperatively. A total of 39 candidate predictors were considered, including preoperative assessments of anxiety and anticipated pain as well as intra-operative factors. The primary model outcome was the number of opioid pills used postoperatively. After fitting models using best predictors, all models were internally validated with 1000 bootstrap samples to obtain bias-corrected accuracy using ordinal concordance index and calibration curves. All models’ predictions were then externally validated using a second cohort (n=166) enrolled from May 2019-February 2020. The best model (GO-POP) was updated by combining cohorts and an online calculator and nomogram were created. GO-POP included 7 predictors: age, total operating time, patient's self-reported pre-operative anticipated need for pain medication, whether pregabalin was administered preoperatively, patient educational attainment, smoking history and patients’ self-reported preoperative anxiety. Results: Most surgeries were performed using MIS approaches (276; 72.3%) while 52 (13.6%) patients underwent planned laparotomies and 14.1% had planned MIS approaches converted to laparotomies. Median total number of opioid pills was 7 in the combined cohort. Nearly 40% of subjects used 0 pills after hospital discharge. After external validation, an updated combined model had the best fit, with ordinal concordance of 0.646 (95% CI:0.615, 0.679). Over 1/3rd of patients were either not planning to dispose of unused opioids or had not yet decided how to handle unused pills. A nomogram was created to facilitate clinical use of the model. Download : Download high-res image (71KB) Download : Download full-size image Conclusions: A prospectively constructed and validated model accurately estimates the number of opioid pills used by women after gynecologic surgery. Use of the GO-POP nomogram enables providers to tailor prescriptions using information available immediately following surgery. More work is needing to educate patients on the importance of disposal of unused opioids post-operatively to protect our communities.
Hodgkin lymphoma survivor perspectives on their engagement in treatment decision-making and discussion of late effects.

Hodgkin lymphoma has a bimodal age distribution with the first peak occurring within young adulthood and the second, among older adults. Although current therapy provides excellent disease control, survivors are at risk of developing treatment-related late effects (LEs). We sought to understand how survivors in active survivorship care perceived their role in treatment decision-making and when they acquired an understanding of LEs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted until saturation was reached. Themes were identified through direct content analysis and consensus coding by a multidisciplinary team of coders, including hematology/oncology providers, patient navigators, and survivor stakeholders. Seventeen interviews were conducted. Role in initial treatment decision-making fluctuated between passive and active engagement with providers identified as being crucial to this process. Half of interviewees (53%) expressed unmet information needs. Survivors reported having learned about LEs at multiple time points, spanning from before treatment commenced through when a LE was diagnosed. The majority (71%) expressed a desire to have learned about LEs before initial treatment ended. The impact of cancer and fertility discussions were also disclosed. Participants highlighted the importance of discussions on LEs early in the care continuum. These preliminary data will be incorporated in a planned treatment decision-making tool that incorporates information on potential LEs. Patient-centered communication approaches should be embraced to assist in treatment decision-making, while considering long-term health consequences. Survivors must be educated on their risk of LEs and encouraged to disclose their perspectives and preferences with their providers to optimize outcomes.
Suicide in Japan and in the West

A recent study by Mamuro Iga relies upon psychological and attitudinal survey data to argue that contemporary Japan displays high levels of altruistic, fatalistic, and anomic suicide. We try to corroborate Iga using 1980 ecological data from the 47 prefectures of Japan. Our findings are that the relationships between Japanese suicide rates and indicators of social integration-migration, percent religious, percent married, and the divorce rate-are generally reversed from similar relationships found in the West. These results are consistent with altruistic-fatalistic suicide. Per capita income is related to suicide in a way similar to that found in the West, consistent with Iga's view that the Japanese are subject to anomic suicide due to unregulated aspirations. There are substantial differences between the correlates of male and female suicide rates. Implications for theory and research are discussed.
Staining Characteristics of the Gastrin Cell

Utilizing fluorescein-labeled antibodies to human gastrin I the antral mucosal gastrin cells from man, hog, rat, and rabbit were identified and characterized. In addition, an assortment of nonimmunological staining techniques were applied to the study of antral gastrin cells from each of these species: these included the application of several staining techniques which we had previously applied only in our extensive study of porcine antral gastrin cells. Several of these staining methods had been concluded by other groups of investigators to stain and identify gastrin cells, including those of human antral mucosa. The results of this study indicated that none of the nonimmunofluorescent staining procedures identified the gastrin cell in any of the species, including man; however, an autofluorescent nongastrin cell population(s) was stained by several of these techniques. These results emphasize the caution which must be exercised in interpreting the presence of gastrin content by cells based on general morphological cell characteristics, distribution, or nonspecific tinctorial reactions. Positive identification of the gastrin cell by standard light microscopy, excluding immunological techniques, remains to be accomplished.
Survival and plant-prey finding by Neoseiulus fallacis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on soil substrates after aerial dispersal.

In a greenhouse and in an open field, aspects of aerial and ambulatory dispersal of the phytoseiid mite, Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman) were studied with a focus on events that would occur after aerially dispersing mites had landed on soil or associated substrates. We measured recovery of predators on lima bean plants (Phaseolus lunatus L.) that were infested with the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. Factors thought to affect movement and colonization were distance to a receiver unit from a release (landing) point, intervening soil surfaces such as clods, gravel, fine soil and grass, and management of soil surfaces such as mulching, watering or both. In the field, the effect of distance (0.11–1.76 m) from a landing point to a receiver unit was significant, with a negative log-linear relationship. Soil surfaces such as clods and management actions such as watering with mulching allowed for more capture of predators on bean plants with prey than did other treatments. Environmental conditions greatly affected survival of N. fallacis.Predators in the field that were present on bare soil suffered high mortality (ca. 90%) at fluctuating daytime conditions of 26.4 ± 4.8°C and 56 ± 13.4% RH. Predators only suffered 10% mortality in the greenhouse under the same setting, but under more controlled and favorable environmental conditions. Effects of environmental conditions, mode of dispersal and implications to biological control are discussed.
Comparison of extracellular DNase‐ and protease‐producing spoilage bacteria isolated from Delaware pond‐sourced and retail channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

BACKGROUND Spoilage of fishery products begins immediately following filleting due to microbial growth that degrades fish tissue quality prior to consumption. Extensive research has been conducted to identify such bacterial populations. A better understanding of the mechanisms involved in fish spoilage is necessary as a novel remedy for microbial spoilage inhibition has yet to be established for fish tissue. The present study identified, for the first time, bacterial populations that produce extracellular DNase and protease from Delaware and local retail distributed channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fillets. RESULTS A clear trend was identified between bacteria derived from catfish filleted under aseptic conditions where Pseudomonas was the dominant genus. Bacteria isolated from retail catfish contained high quantities of DNase-producing isolates, in contrast to aseptic-filleted catfish tissue which had none. Both types of catfish sample maintained high populations of protease-producing bacterial colonies throughout the duration of the study. Most bacteria isolated from catfish intestines exhibited DNase production with no protease production. CONCLUSION Specific spoilage organism populations were significantly higher on retail-derived catfish in comparison to lab-filleted Delaware cultured catfish tissue. It is suggested that DNase production and protease production contribute to the spoilage of fish tissue as a result of mishandling and septic filleting being the major cause of rapid catfish tissue spoilage. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
The MODIS Aerosol Algorithm: Critical Evaluation and Plans for Collection 6

For ten years the MODIS aerosol algorithm has been applied to measured MODIS radiances to produce a continuous set of aerosol products, over land and ocean. The MODIS aerosol products are widely used by the scientific and applied science communities for variety of purposes that span operational air quality forecasting in estimates o[ clear-sky direct radiative effects over ocean and aerosol-cloud interactions. The products undergo continual evaluation, including self-consistency checks and comparisons with highly accurate ground-based instruments. The result of these evaluation exercises is a quantitative understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the retrieval, where and when the products are accurate and the situations where and when accuracy degrades. We intend 10 present results of the most recent critical evaluations including the first comparison of the over ocean products against the shipboard aerosol optical depth measurements of the Marine Aerosol Network (MAN), the demonstration of the lack of sensitivity to size parameter in the over land products and identification of residual problems and regional issues. While the current data set is undergoing evaluation, we are preparing for the next data processing, labeled Collection 6. Collection 6 will include transparent Quality Flags, a 3 km aerosol product and the 500m resolution cloud mask used within the aerosol n:bicvu|. These new products and adjustments to algorithm assumptions should provide users with more options and greater control, as they adapt the product for their own purposes.
Introduction to the telemedicine minitrack

As a new discipline, primarily driven by technology, telemedicine is still searching for a coherent research framework. The number of papers submitted for this year's minitrack has significantly increased from last year. However, the quality of submitted work has yet to be improved. Data gathered for submitted papers oftentimes remain unclear and inconclusive. Technology surveyed in some papers has already been outdated. And the evaluation framework proposed by some other papers lacks some adaptation to the new reality of healthcare via telemedicine technology. The three accepted papers has nonetheless proved that telemedicine research could reach a quality equal to that of other disciplines despite of the newness of the field.
Molecular structure of (CH3)3PF2: An electron diffraction study of an analogue of ArF2

Abstract The molecule (CH 3 ) 3 PF 2 is a trigonal bipyramid with freely rotating methyl groups at the equatorial sites. The principal structural parameters and estimated standard deviations are r g (PF) = 1.685(1) A, r g (PC) = 1.813(1) A, and r (CH) = 1.114(6) A. Amplitudes of vibration were also determined. This investigation completes a study of the series (CH 3 ) n PF 5- n 0 ⩽ n ⩽ 3, and (CH 3 ) 3 PF 2 corresponds to the hypothetical molecule ArF 2 in the closely related series PF 5 , SF 4 , ClF 3 and ArF 2 . The stereochemistries and trends in structure parameters in both series are well accounted for by the Gillespie-Nyholm theory. A linear extrapolation suggests a bond length of 1.76 A for argon difluoride.
Mammary-specific targeting of the murine BRCA2 breast cancer susceptibility gene in mice

Abstract : BRCA2 hereditary gene mutations confer a profound predisposition to breast cancer in women. We have generated mice carrying a Cre-loxP conditional Erca2 mutated allele by flanking exon 27 with loxP sites and we predict that this will disrupt basic functions of Brca2 in DNA repair. The mammary- specific removal of Brca2 exon 27 by Cre-mediated recombination in vivo was performed by crossing the homozygous floxed Brca2 mice with MMTV-Cre transgenic mice. The effect of-this mutation on the formation of mammary gland tumors and alterations in mammary gland morphogenesis is currently being examined for both untreated and radiation-treated animals. Mice with a homozygous germline deletion of Brca2 exon 27 have also been created by transiently electroporating embryonic stem cells carrying the floxed Brca2 allele with a Cre-expression plasmid. These studies have generated the first completely viable germline homozygous Erca2 knockout mice. Female mice with this homozygous Brce2 disruption display an inhibition of ductal morphogenesis in the mammary gland by six months of age, which may be an early biological marker for cancer susceptibility. Parallel studies using these two distinct animal models for Brca2 inactivation should provide valuable insights into the functional role of Brca2 in the breast ahd throughout the body.
Basic phenomena in low pressure plasma processing discharges

Summary form only given. Reactive plasma processes have been and are being developed in many labs worldwide for a wide range of industrial applications. Although the design of these processes is guided by some knowledge of the chemistry involved, process development has been largely empirical due to uncertainties associated with the nonequilibrium nature of low pressure discharges. As the use of plasma processing becomes more and more entrenched in manufacturing there is a strong incentive to elevate the state of understanding of fundamental phenomena that govern these processes, through the development and use of appropriate diagnostic and modeling tools. Because of the collaborative contributions of researchers from a wide range of backgrounds and its extensive infrastructure, the Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Plasma-Aided Manufacturing at UW-Madison is particularly well-suited to address questions about fundamental phenomena in processing plasmas, as well as sensor development. For example, we have successfully combined optical spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, Langmuir probes and modeling to make several important discoveries about process chemistry in low pressure, "high density" fluorocarbon discharges used in the selective etching of silicon dioxide over silicon. These studies have demonstrated both the importance of reactions on chamber walls to the gas phase chemistry and the chemical role of ions in substrate surface reactions responsible for selectivity. An overview of ERC activities in etching and deposition will be presented, with an emphasis on studies of basic processes.
FDA Responds to Institute of Medicine Drug Safety Recommendations—In Part

THE WITHDRAWAL OF ROFECOXIB IN SEPTEMBER 2004 and the reports of health risks associated with several other drugs have raised questions about the integrity of the US drug safety system. In response, and at the request of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a comprehensive review and set of recommendations for reforms. The FDA has taken the unusual step of providing a detailed, public response. The FDA’s new initiatives and its responsiveness to the IOM report represent incremental progress that offers insights into FDA’s culture and perhaps glimpses at the future of drug safety.
Analytical/numerical solution of heat conduction in a rectangular rod subjected to an N-cascade wall temperature

Abstract An analytical/numerical method is employed to obtain the solutions for the steady state heat conduction in a rectangular homogeneous rod of infinite length. The rod is composed of an isentropic heat conducting material and is subjected to a multi-cascade wall condition with no heat source or heat sink. By using the Fourier integral transform, the temperature field in the rectangular rod is obtained either analytically or numerically, using an eigenvalue subroutine or a Runge-Kutta subroutine, respectively. In the case of a single cascade, the temperature variations in the trasverse direction are plotted at various longitudinal sections along with the temperature variations for various points in the transverse coordinate. Also, for the same wall temperature condition, the generating lines of axisymmetric isothermal surfaces are plotted. The wall heat flux variation along the longitudinal direction is obtained and plotted against the longitudinal coordinate. To represent the total heat flow, a dimensionless heat flow coefficient at the cross-section corresponding to the wall temperature discontinuity is defined and its value is calculated. The expressions of the temperature field and heat flow for a rectangular rod subjected to a multi-cascade wall temperature case are obtained, and the significance of each is also discussed in detail.
Quantitation of pressure-sensitive film using digital image scanning

An experimental technique is presented for measurement of contact stress distribution using Fuji Pressensor film. The development of packets of Pressensor disks for use in small areas or surfaces of complex curvature is explained. A digital-image-scanning procedure has been developed to substantially increase the spatial resolution with which stress distributions can be constructed from stained Fuji Pressensor film. The technique is developed for small, discrete disks as well as for larger, continuous sheets of Pressensor. As an illustration, sealed packets of small Pressensor disks are used to measure the stress distribution across a cadaveric juvenile femoral head under load.
A simple device for eliciting tail pinch induced behavior in the rat

Abstract The device described is an inexpensive reliable means for eliciting tail pinch behaviors. As an improvement over previous methods it allows a wide range of stimulus parameters with minimal restriction of movement or distraction of the animal.
Large-scale preparation of synaptosomes from bovine brain using a zonal rotor technique.

A zonal rotor technique for the preparation of synaptosomes in bulk from bovine brain frontal cortex based on an empirical transformation of a small-volume discontinuous surcrose density gradient arrangement is presented in detail. The procedure yields new information concerning synaptosomes prepared in sucrose gradients. Cerebroside analysis and electron microscopy show myelin contamination to be restricted to the leading, less dense edge of the synaptosomal profile, free mitochondria to the trailing, more dense edge. Exclusion of fringe areas yields a highly purified synaptosome preparation which entirely enters the next dense layer beyond the 0.8∶1.2 M sucrose interface. This interface collects most of the oubain-sensitive (Na+, K+) adenosine triphosphatase activity. The purified synaptosomes display very high intrinsic sialidase activity and are rich in di-, tri-, and tetrasialogangliosides, the preferred substrates for the enzyme. Up to 90% of the cholinesterase activity in the zonal rotor synaptosome preparation is specific acetylcholinesterase.
Evaluation of an integrated supplier‐buyer quality‐control system

In this article, a quality-control design framework that employs information for the supplier-buyer system is modeled. Significant operational savings may be obtained by using the integrated plans developed under this framework. This is especially true when the cost of a defective is high, and the variable sampling and rework costs are low. Analysis of the interaction of defective, rework, and variable sampling costs reveals that the savings are the result of a shift of control effort from the process-control to the lot-acceptance stage, which is the consequence of tradeoffs involving both stages. The managerial impact of adopting integrated plans is discussed.
Balance scheduling: weighting branch tradeoffs in superblocks

Since there is generally insufficient instruction level parallelism within a single basic block, higher performance is achieved by speculatively scheduling operations in superblocks. This is difficult in general because each branch competes for the processor's limited resources. Previous work manages the performance tradeoffs that exist between branches only indirectly. We show here that dependence and resource constraints can be used to gather explicit knowledge about scheduling tradeoffs between branches. The first contribution of this paper is a set of new, tighter lower bounds on the execution times of superblocks that specifically accounts for the dependence and resource conflicts between pairs of branches. The second contribution of this paper is a novel superblock scheduling heuristic that finds high performance schedules by determining the operations that each branch needs to be scheduled early and selecting branches with compatible needs that favor beneficial branch tradeoffs. Performance evaluations for superblocks from SPECint95 indicate that our bounds are very tight and that our scheduling heuristic outperforms well known superblock scheduling algorithms.
Linear Processing of Interaural Level Difference Underlies Spatial Tuning in the Nucleus of the Brachium of the Inferior Colliculus

The spatial location of sounds is an important aspect of auditory perception, but the ways in which space is represented are not fully understood. No space map has been found within the primary auditory pathway. However, a space map has been found in the nucleus of the brachium of the inferior colliculus (BIN), which provides a major auditory projection to the superior colliculus. We measured the spectral processing underlying auditory spatial tuning in the BIN of unanesthetized marmoset monkeys. Because neurons in the BIN respond poorly to tones and are broadly tuned, we used a broadband stimulus with random spectral shapes (RSSs) from which both spatial receptive fields and frequency sensitivity can be derived. Responses to virtual space (VS) stimuli, based on the animal9s own ear acoustics, were compared with the predictions of a weight-function model of responses to the RSS stimuli. First-order (linear) weight functions had broad spectral tuning (approximately three octaves) and were excitatory in the contralateral ear, inhibitory in the ipsilateral ear, and biased toward high frequencies. Responses to interaural time differences and spectral cues were relatively weak. In cross-validation tests, the first-order RSS model accurately predicted the measured VS tuning curves in the majority of neurons, but was inaccurate in 25% of neurons. In some cases, second-order weighting functions led to significant improvements. Finally, we found a significant correlation between the degree of binaural weight asymmetry and the best azimuth. Overall, the results suggest that linear processing of interaural level difference underlies spatial tuning in the BIN.
Pyrometric measurement of the temperature of shocked molybdenum

Measurements of the temperature of Mo shocked to $\ensuremath{\sim}60\text{ }\text{GPa}$ and then released to $\ensuremath{\sim}28\text{ }\text{GPa}$ were previously attempted by using high explosive driven flyer plates and pyrometry. The analysis of the radiance traces at different wavelengths indicates that the temporal evolution of the radiance can be explained by a contribution from the LiF window to the measured thermal radiation. By fitting the radiance traces with a simple model, which is supported by continuum dynamics studies, which were able to relate structures in the radiance history to hydrodynamic events in the experiment, the contribution of the window, and hence the temperature of the Mo sample, was obtained. The shock and release temperature obtained in the Mo was $762\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}40\text{ }\text{K}$, which is consistent with calculations taking the contribution of plastic work to the heating into account. The radiance obtained for the LiF window shows a nonthermal distribution that can be described by a bulk temperature of $624\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}112\text{ }\text{K}$ and hot spots (less than 0.5% in total volume) within the window at a temperature of about 2000 K.
Designing an enterprise social tool for cross-boundary communication, coordination, and information sharing

This paper discusses the design of a social tool for cross-boundary communication, coordination, and information sharing in a large organization. Based on insights and requirements gathered in qualitative and quantitative studies conducted within the organization, the Live Corkboard, a virtual message board system enhanced with community features and text/history search is proposed as a tool to enhance communication, group awareness, and information sharing and reuse. We describe the requirements for our tool as well as how they influenced our design. The research was conducted in a large IT services delivery company which has recently changed its organizational structure from a customer-centered to a competency-centered model. Focus group evaluation results suggest that the tool will be useful to the employees in the organization.
Treatment Methods for Pain in the Osteoarthritic Patient

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common clinical problems for which pet owners seek veterinary consultation. Proper management of osteoarthritis is rewarding to the patient, client, and veterinarian alike. The foundation for treatment of osteoarthritis is weight control, exercise moderation, and administration of antiinflammatory agents. This section of the text addresses clinically important mechanisms of osteoarthritis and the use of anti-inflammatory agents targeted to reduce pain and inflammation associated with the disease.
Surgical management of carcinoid tumors metastatic to the spine: Report of three cases.

Abstract Background Carcinoid tumors are rare, slow-growing neuroendocrine tumors that most frequently arise from the gastrointestinal tract or the lungs. Common sites of carcinoid metastases include lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and bone, with rare metastasis to the spine. We report three patients who presented with spinal cord compression secondary to carcinoid metastases to the spine. Methods Three patients presented with symptoms characteristic of spinal cord compression, including neck pain, radiculopathy, thoracic pain, weakness and numbness. All three patients underwent radiographic work-up and surgical treatment. Results One patient continued to have decreased strength in her right upper extremity, but was able to participate in physical therapy; another patient's numbness eventually resolved after completion of physical therapy; and the third patient's pain dramatically improved after surgery. One patient died more than two years post-surgery due to widespread metastasis; the other two remain alive more than two years post-surgery. Conclusions Carcinoid tumor metastases rarely cause spinal cord compression, but should be considered when patients present with neurological symptoms consistent with cord compression. Work-up should include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) of the spine, and perhaps CT-guided biopsy. Surgery is indicated for symptomatic spinal cord compression in patients with carcinoid tumors.
Measuring Parental Treatment Adherence in a Multimodal Treatment Program for Children with ADHD: A Preliminary Investigation.

This study evaluated the clinical significance of measuring between session parental adherence on child and parent outcomes for 51 children (age 4 to 8.5 years) with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a multimodal group training program. Three group treatment conditions: (a) child-only treatment (C1), (c) child and parent training (C2), and (c) C2 + Parent Adherence Measure [PAM (C3)] were compared to assess the clinical significance of measuring parental adherence on child behavioral problems, socialization skills, and parental efficacy. Parents administered the PAM (C3) displayed, in general, better outcomes on child and parent measures than the other two conditions. Results suggest that a multimodal group training program for young children with ADHD is favorable to child group training only. This study offers preliminary support for the clinical utility of measuring parental adherence in a child ADHD multimodal group training program.
The BMP Ligand Gbb Gates the Expression of Synaptic Homeostasis Independent of Synaptic Growth Control

Inhibition of postsynaptic glutamate receptors at the Drosophila NMJ initiates a compensatory increase in presynaptic release termed synaptic homeostasis. BMP signaling is necessary for normal synaptic growth and stability. It remains unknown whether BMPs have a specific role during synaptic homeostasis and, if so, whether BMP signaling functions as an instructive retrograde signal that directly modulates presynaptic transmitter release. Here, we demonstrate that the BMP receptor (Wit) and ligand (Gbb) are necessary for the rapid induction of synaptic homeostasis. We also provide evidence that both Wit and Gbb have functions during synaptic homeostasis that are separable from NMJ growth. However, further genetic experiments demonstrate that Gbb does not function as an instructive retrograde signal during synaptic homeostasis. Rather, our data indicate that Wit and Gbb function via the downstream transcription factor Mad and that Mad-mediated signaling is continuously required during development to confer competence of motoneurons to express synaptic homeostasis.
Sport: An Ethos Based on Values and Servant Leadership

Concluding remarks for this special issue of the Journal of Intercollegiate Sport on Ethical Leadership in Intercollegiate Sport note the numerous breaches of ethical and moral behavior in a physical and personal space that have the potential to develop character, moral development, self-efficacy, respect, and personal honorable significance. While it is easier to speak from higher ground, regarding ethical behavior in intercollegiate athletics, the implementation of such is a problem held by many of those associated with this level of sport. The challenges are many in this area and the actions are met with resistance when massification and commodification are considered regarding sport in the educational setting. The direction of this paper is to educate those who are or will be in roles affiliated with intercollegiate sport by developing an ethical awareness of their moral values and creating a legacy of action based on servant leadership.
REMARKS ON THE SATURATION OF EQUAL-TIME COMMUTATORS AND PHYSICAL SUM RULES

Identities relating continuations of physical amplitudes to equal-time commutators are considered. These identities, combined with fairly innocuous and justifiable approximations on the physical amplitudes, are shown to yield useful results. Some of these results look as if they emerged from a higher symmetry.
Application of high-performance liquid chromatography for analysis and isolation of sesquiterpene lactones

Abstract The capacity of a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic system using Ultrasphere-ODS columns and a gradient of acetonitrile—water to separate sesquiterpene lactones has been studied. Retention times and capacity factors of 33 compounds of the pseudoguaianolide and xanthanolide skeletal types occurring in Parthenium (Asteraceae) are reported. Crude extracts of Parthenium schottii containing a mixture of sesquiterpene lactones have been analyzed and separated using the high-performance liquid chromatographic system.
Rebuilding Soils on Mined Land for Native Forests in Appalachia

The eastern U.S. Appalachian region supports the world’s most extensive temperate forests, but surface mining for coal has caused forest loss. New reclamation methods are being employed with the intent of restoring native forest on Appalachian mined lands. Mine soil construction is essential to the reforestation process. Here, we review scientific literature concerning selection of mining materials for mine soil construction where forest ecosystem restoration is the reclamation goal. Successful establishment and productive growth of native Appalachian trees has been documented on mine soils with coarse fragment contents as great as 60% but with low soluble salt levels and slightly to moderately acidic pHs, properties characteristic of the region’s native soils. Native tree productivity on some Appalachian mined lands where weathered rock spoils were used to reconstruct soils was found comparable to productivity on native forest sites. Weathered rock spoils, however, are lower in bioavailable N and P than native Appalachian soils and they lack live seed banks which native soils contain. The body of scientific research suggests use of salvaged native soils for mine soil construction when forest ecosystem restoration is the reclamation goal, and that weathered rock spoils are generally superior to unweathered rock spoils when constructing mine soils for this purpose.
Systolic and diastolic function after patch reconstruction of left ventricular aneurysms

Left ventricular function after patch reconstruction for postinfarction left ventricular aneurysms is largely unknown. In this study, 16 patients with an anteroseptal-lateral left ventricular aneurysm were treated by reconstruction of the left ventricle using a Dacron patch. Coronary artery bypass grafting was performed concomitantly in 9 patients. The size of the patch used was 57% ± 19% of the resected myocardial scar area, including the sewing cuff area to be sutured. In these patients, the ejection fraction increased significantly from 0.28 ± 0.12 to 0.39 ± 0.12 ( p = 0.007) at rest and from 0.32 ± 0.14 to 0.41 ± 0.10 ( p = 0.008) during exercise. The left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and left ventricular end-diastolic volume index were reduced significantly from 14 ± 7.0 to 8 ± 3.2 mm Hg ( p = 0.032), and from 178 ± 116 to 92 ± 21 mL/m 2 ( p = 0.016). The peak filling rate was improved significantly from 1.2 ± 0.47 to 1.8 ± 0.6/s ( p = 0.048) postoperatively. The ratio of the peak flow velocity during the atrial kick phase to the peak flow velocity in the rapid filling phase, at the level of the mitral valve, improved ( p = 0.016) after operation and remained improved up to 16 to 24 months after operation. Patch reconstruction of the left ventricle resulted in the recovery of systolic and diastolic function soon after operation, which has persisted into the late postoperative period.
A demonstration of the cost benefits of case management services for discharged mental patients.

The authors report on a demonstration of the cost benefits of case management for hospitalized mental patients discharged from a New York State Community Mental Health Center to community living in a rural cachement area. Case managers promoted social rehabilitation and maximized time spent in the community. Comparison of the treatment group with matched controls on frequency and duration of rehospitalization during the 15 month intervention period shows a benefit conservatively estimated as 2.03 to 2.72, depending on size of case load.
Age has a similar influence on the susceptibility to NMDA antagonist-induced neurodegeneration in most brain regions

NMDA antagonists are of potential therapeutic benefit for several conditions. However, their ability to produce neurotoxicity and psychosis has hampered their clinical use. A better understanding of these side effects and the mechanism underlying them could result in their safer use and in improving our understanding of psychotic illnesses. By disinhibiting certain multisynaptic circuits, moderate doses of NMDA antagonists produce reversible neurotoxicity in the retrosplenial cortex in rats older than 1 month. Higher doses of these same agents result in the death of neurons in the retrosplenial cortex and several other brain regions. It is unknown whether susceptibility to this irreversible neurodegeneration has a similar age dependency profile. We, therefore, examined the sensitivity of rats of various ages (PND20-60) to the irreversible neurodegenerative effect of the selective NMDA antagonist, MK-801. Quantification of the severity of neurodegeneration with stereology revealed that the retrosplenial cortex, induseum griseum, and dentate gyrus had decreasing amounts of damage with decreasing age and onset of sensitivity around PND30. The piriform cortex also displayed a decreased amount of degeneration in younger age groups. However, a low level of degeneration continued to occur in the posterior piriform cortex in the PND20-25 animals. The stage of degeneration appeared to be more advanced, suggesting that these neurons were dying by a different mechanism. We conclude that for most neuronal populations, susceptibility to the irreversible and reversible neurodegenerative effects of NMDA antagonists has a similar age dependency profile, consistent with the proposal that the same disinhibitory mechanism underlies both neurotoxicities.
Interpreting Deep Structures of Information Systems Security

Confidentiality, integrity and availability, while being key requirements for ensuring security, have had limitations in providing an integral security model that incorporates the benefits of all predominant designs. Heeding to the call that security models cater to unique operational characteristics of individual firms, this paper presents a deep structure framework of information systems (ISs) security. The framework incorporates three models—representational model, which identifies subsystems within an organization; state-tracking model, which ensures that different states trace IS security in the real world;nd the decomposition model, which defines specific external events that are a stimuli to changes in internal events. In a final synthesis, the paper presents a deep structure-based conceptual clarity that manifests the meaning of dynamic, custom-fit and flexible IS security solutions.
Bombay Efficient Lighting Large-Scale Experiment (Belle): Blueprint for improving energy efficiency and reducing peak electric demand in a developing country

This paper presents the Bombay Efficient Lighting Large-Scale Experiment, a practical approach to the problem of simultaneously meeting development and environment goals through increasing electric end-use efficiency. The major elements of the project are described, together with an exposition of the barriers to implementation that they are designed to address. The discussion illustrates the potential benefits, as well as the difficulties, of increasing energy efficiency in developing countries.