cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The spectral theory of second order two-point differential operators: I. A priori estimates for the eigenvalues and completeness

This paper is the first part in a four-part series which develops the spectral theory for a two-point differential operator L in L 2 [0, 1] determined by a second order formal differential operator l = −D 2 + pD + q and by independent boundary values B 1 , B 2 . The differential operator L is classified as belonging to one of five cases, Cases 1–5, according to conditions satisfied by the coefficients of B 1 , B 2 . For Cases 1–4 it is shown that if λ = ρ 2 is any eigenvalue of L with ∣ρ∣ sufficiently large, then ρ lies in the interior of a horizontal strip (Cases 1–3) or the interior of a logarithmic strip (Case 4), and in each of these cases the generalised eigenfunctions of L are complete in L 2 [0, 1].
Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy: a brief retrospective

The electromagnetic theory of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), despite its simplicity, can account for all major SERS observations, including: the need for a nanostructured material as the SERS-active system; the observation that some metals form good SERS-active systems while others do not; the observation that strongly interacting metal nanoparticles result in very much more effective SERS-active systems; the observed polarization sensitivity shown by nanoparticle aggregates; and the optical behavior of nanostructured metals in the absence of a molecular adsorbate. By extending the ideas inherent in the electromagnetic model one can also understand the seminal features reported for single-molecule SERS, including the puzzling observation that only a few silver ‘particles’ in an ensemble are ‘hot’ (they are appropriately structured nanoparticle clusters) and that for a hot particle, once one is able to observe SERS, adding more adsorbate does not significantly alter the intensity (once the electromagnetic hot spot is occupied, adding adsorbate to other sites on the nanoparticle cluster will not add greatly to the observed intensity). However, the electromagnetic model does not account for all that is learned through SERS. Molecular resonances, charge-transfer transitions and other processes such as ballistic electrons transiently probing the region where the molecule resides and then modulating electronic processes of the metal as a result certainly contribute to the rich information SERS reports; and by virtue of the fact that these contributions will vary from molecule to molecule, they will constitute the most interesting aspects reported by SERS. But, the overall reason why SERS produces such inordinate enhancements is largely an electromagnetic property of nanostructures. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
KINETIC BEHAVIOR OF AMINOPOLYCARBOXYLATE LIGANDS IN SUBSTITUTION REACTIONS OF Zn(II) COMPLEXES

Abstract Kinetic results are reported for reactions of hexa-aquozinc(II) ion and several zinc(II) complexes with aminopoly-carboxylate ligands and some bidentate ligands. Factors which alter “normal” kinetic behavior in these systems are demonstrated and discussed: the effect of complex geometry, of proton transfer, and of six-membered ring closure. Other features of these reactions and mechanisms are also discussed. Differences in kinetic behavior observed for reaction of maleonitriledithiolate (mnt2-) with Zn(NTA)− and for similar reactions with Cu(NTA)− and Ni(NTA)− suggest differences in structure for the respective NTA complexes (NTA3-=nitrilotriacetate). Proton transfer from NTAH2- is believed to control the rates of reaction with Zn(H2O)6 2+ and Zn(dto)2 2- (dto2-=dithiooxalate). The behavior of EDTA in reaction with zinc complexes is compared with that of two analogues that form six-membered chelate rings.
Comparative molecular modeling analysis of-5-amidinoindole and benzamidine binding to thrombin and trypsin: specific H-bond formation contributes to high 5-amidinoindole potency and selectivity for thrombin and factor Xa.

The coagulation cascade enzymes thrombin and factor Xa are known to have specificity pockets very similar to those of trypsin and plasmin. However, comparative molecular modeling analysis of the crystal structures of benzamidine–thrombin and benzamidine–trypsin, in conjunction with a docking analysis of 5-amidinoindole and related inhibitors in both enzymes reveals subtle differences between the specificity sites of the two types of enzymes. Specifically, thrombin and factor Xa, which have an alanine residue at position 190, exhibit increased activities for the rigid and more bulky bicyclic derivatives of benzamidine (e.g. amidinobenzofuran, amidinothiophene and amidinoindole), because of additional hydrophobic and H-bond interactions between the inhibitors and the specificity sites, whereas enzymes with a serine residue at position 190, like trypsin and plasmin, exhibit little difference in activity among the same set of compounds because of the orientational restriction imposed on the inhibitors by Ser190, which forms an additional H-bond with the amidino group of the inhibitors. Enzymes of both groups show similar responses to the flexible aminobenzamidine since the smaller size and the rotatable anilino group of the inhibitor would allow the inhibitor to achieve favorable electrostatic interactions with both groups of enzymes. 5-Amidinoindole is the most dramatic example of the rigid bicyclic type inhibitor. Based on our docking analysis, we propose that a selective H-bond with the hydroxyl group of the catalytic Ser195 and the subtle differences in steric fit imposed by Ala/Ser at position 190 explain the high potency and selectivity of 5-amidinoindole for thrombin and factor Xa. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Insulin-like growth factors I and II and their binding proteins in rat milk.

ABSTRACT: IGF-I and -II are peptide growth factors that may be important contributors to the growth-promoting properties associated with milk. IGF in extracellular fluids, including serum and milk, are carried by specific high-affinity binding proteins (IGFBP). In this study, the levels of IGF-I and -II in rat serum and milk were quantified by specific RIA, and the IGFBP were characterized using Western ligand blotting and autoradiography throughout lactation. The levels of IGF-I in both milk and maternal serum decreased during lactation. Serum IGF-I decreased from 743 ± 187 μg/L on d 1 to 391 ± 106 (mean ± SD) on d 21 of lactation, and milk IGF-I levels fell from 30 ± 10 to 13 ± 8 μg/L. Levels of IGF-II in serum and milk were much lower than IGF-I, and were unaffected by lactation. In maternal serum, several IGFBP were identified: IGFBP-3, which migrates as four glycosylated bands with apparent M, from 38 to 42 kD and one to two nonglycosylated bands with apparent M, of 28 to 29 kD, and an IGFBP with an apparent M, of 24 kD. In milk, IGFBP-3, the 24-kD binding protein, and a third IGFBP with an apparent M, of 29 kD were identified. Treatment of milk and serum with Endoglycosidase F reduced the four glycosylated IGFBP-3 bands (38–42 kD) to two bands with apparent M, of 35 and 32 kD. In rat milk, but not adult rat serum, the IGFBP with an apparent M, of 29 kD was immunoprecipitable by an antibody that recognizes IGFBP-2. These results demonstrate that in adult rat serum and milk both IGF-I and IGF-II are present, with IGF-I being predominant. IGFBP are present in rat milk; the presence of IGFBP-2 in rat milk, but not in maternal serum, indicates that IGFBP may be synthesized within the mammary gland.
A Comparison of Conjoint Analysis Response Formats

A split-sample design is used to cvnluatc the convergent validity of three rcsponsc formats used in conjoint analysis experiments. WC investigate whether recoding rating data to rankings and chooscone formats. and recoding rranking data to choose one. result in structural models and welfare estimates that arc statistically indistinguishalde from estimates based on ranking or C~OOSC-one questions. Our results indicate that convergent validity of ratings, ranks, and choose one is not established. in addition, WC: find that people frequently use “ties” in rcsponscs to rating questions. and that the option not to choose any of the alternatives (“opt-out”) affects some prefcrcnce cstimales.
Semiperipheral industrialization in the global economy: Transition in the South African automobile industry

Abstract Industrialization in semiperipheral countries is closely linked to restructuring of the global economy. During the postwar period, sweeping changes in the labor process, production technologies, and the spatial organization of production have significantly affected economic activities in these countries. While general trends in semiperipheral industrialization can be identified, individual countries have advanced along somewhat diverse paths, depending on their socio-economic and political geographies. This paper analyzes semiperipheral industrialization in the global economy through a case study of the South African automobile industry. It is argued that internal and external constraints in South Africa have affected the development of this industry: relatively low wages among the majority black population have restricted mass consumption while global recessions, sanctions, and disinvestment have contributed to a near-crisis situation in the automobile sector. The conclusion states that existing social and economic inequalities under apartheid must be lifted if South Africa is to attain its full industrial potential.
Constraints on field theoretical models for variation of the fine structure constant

Recent theoretical ideas and observational claims suggest that the fine structure constant $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ may be variable. We examine a spectrum of models in which $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ is a function of a scalar field. Specifically, we consider three scenarios: oscillating $\ensuremath{\alpha}$, monotonic time variation of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$, and time-independent $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ that is spatially varying. We examine the constraints imposed upon these theories by cosmological observations, particle detector experiments, and ``fifth force'' experiments. These constraints are very strong on models involving oscillation but cannot compete with bounds from the Oklo subnuclear reactor on models with monotonic timelike variation of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$. One particular model with spatial variation is consistent with all current experimental and observational measurements, including those from two seemingly conflicting measurements of the fine structure constant using the many multiplet method on absorption lines.
Mechanistic studies on the formation of trifluoromethyl sulfur pentafluoride, SF5CF3--a greenhouse gas.

The formation of SF 5 CF 3 (X 1 A'), through the radical-radical recombination of SF 5 (X 2 A 1 ) and CF 3 (X 2 A 1 ), was observed for the first time in low-temperature sulfur hexafluoride-carbon tetrafluoride matrices at 12 K via infrared spectroscopy upon irradiation of the ices with energetic electrons. The v 1 fundamentals of the SF 5 (X 2 A 1 ) and CF 3 (X 2 A 1 ) radicals were monitored at 857 and 1110 cm -1 , respectively; the newly formed trifluoromethyl sulfur pentafluoride molecule, SF 5 CF 3 (X 1 A'), was detected via its absorptions at 846 and 1160 cm -1 . This formation mechanism suggests that a source for this potentially dangerous greenhouse gas might be the recombination of SF 5 (X 2 A 1 ) and CF 3 (X 2 A 1 ) radicals on aerosol particles in the terrestrial atmosphere.
Abstract 1132: Regulation of the glutamine-to-lipid pathway by HIF: Reductive TCA cycle is a metabolic signature of VHL deficiency

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Cancer cells undergo fundamental changes in glucose and glutamine metabolism to support anabolic processes. Acetyl-CoA is a central precursor for lipid synthesis, being generated from glucose-derived citrate in well oxygenated cells. Cells exposed to hypoxia divert glucose to lactate, raising the question of how TCA cycle is maintained to support lipogenesis. We recently showed that, under hypoxia conditions, cancer cells primarily utilize glutamine for lipid synthesis through reductive TCA cycle (redTCA). To investigate the regulation of this metabolic switch, we studied the role of Hypoxia Inducible Factors (HIF1s) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines that are deficient in the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene. These cells exhibit constitutive HIF activity irrespective of oxygen availability. Here, we show that loss-of-VHL engages RCC cells in redTCA even under normoxia conditions in a HIF-dependent manner. Reintroduction of VHL restores the glucose-to-lipid flux. Inactivation of HIF regulatory subunits dramatically attenuates redTCA in RCC cell lines. Inversely, exogenous expression of a VHL-insensitive HIF2α mutant (P564toA) in VHL proficient cell lines is sufficient to stimulate redTCA cycle and lipogenesis from glutamine, under conditions of normoxia. Importantly, loss of VHL rendered RCC cells sensitive to glutamine restriction. VHL-deficient RCC cells grow less than their VHL-replete isogenic counterparts when cultured under conditions of low glutamine availability. Our results elucidate the metabolic control of lipogenesis by the VHL-HIF signaling pathway and highlight novel therapeutic targets for RCC and HIF-overexpressing tumors. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1132. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1132
Telehealth in the trenches: reporting back from the frontlines in rural America.

Access to appropriate healthcare services continues to be a major challenge in rural America. Telehealth technologies offer an opportunity to bridge gaps in health services in rural and remote areas and possibly support rural economic development. Lack of access to healthcare services to a growing population may create barriers to recruitment of businesses and economic growth. Several rural-oriented programs have attempted to leverage these emerging distance technologies, but success has varied despite the application of considerable federal, state governmental, and private resources. Barriers to adoption and sustainability of rural telehealth embody several factors that must be considered when planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating a rural telehealth program. New Mexico, the fifth largest state in the United States, represents many of the issues related to the potential benefits and challenges in developing a telehealth system to serve its rural communities. The Center for Telehealth at the U...
Angiotensin II metabolism by tissues from developing rats.

Summary: Asp1-125I-Tyr4-angiotensin II (125I-AII) was degraded during incubation with rat plasma or homogenates of liver or kidney. The electrophoretic profile of peptide fragments revealed that the disappearance of 125I-AII was first order and was accompanied by an accumulation of 125I-tyrosine in the incubation medium. The only other metabolites of angiotensin AII detectable by peptide mapping were the amino-terminus tetrapeptide and the carboxy-terminus hexapeptide. The appearance of these fragments was highly variable, suggesting that endopeptidases did not constitute the ultimate cleavage of angiotensin II hydrolysis. The half-life of 125-AII in plasma or liver homogenates did not change with age (approximately 8 to 12 and 6 to 9 min, respectively). In contrast, the rate of disappearance of 125I-AII in homogenates of rat kidney depended upon the age of the rat from which the tissue was obtained. The half-life of 125AII decreased three-fold (from approximately 8.3 to 2.8 min) between 2 wk after birth and adult (approximately 8 wk). This increase in the rate of metabolism of 125I-AII was accompanied by a concomitant two-fold, age-related increase in the rate of appearance of 125I-tyrosine in the reaction mixture containing renal tissue. Speculation: Age-related differences in the activities of angiotensinase enzymes may be of considerable importance in regulating the concentration of angiotensin II in plasma and tissues of developing animals. When viewed in context of changes in renin and converting enzyme activities in rats, the increase in the rate of metabolism of angiotensin II is the only available evidence consistent with the decrease in plasma angiotensin II concentration between 6 and 8 wk of age.
Response of blood flow entering the heart to dissynchronous ventricular recoil

To account for mechanical suction at the initiation of the cardiac filling process, we have previously modeled transmitral blood flow driven by synchronous ventricular recoil in terms of a one-dimensional simple harmonic oscillator (SHO) in the Parametrized Diastolic Filling (PDF) formalism. PDF model predictions of blood flow velocity have shown excellent agreement with the diastolic Doppler velocity profile (DVP), the echocardiographically measured blood flow velocity of filling. However, dissynchrony of the cardiac recoil process, defined by the early or late recoil of one region relative to the rest of the ventricle, is known to exist in-vitro and has been observed in-vivo. To model dissynchronous recoil and mathematically explore the range of model predicted blood flow velocity responses, we have developed a new model. Our two-dimensional model utilizes two second order constant coefficient linear differential equations, whose solutions combine to form v(t), the new model's prediction of blood flow velocity. The differential equations are solved as initial value problems with zero initial velocities, unknown initial displacements and unknown damping and spring constants. For a given data set (DVP) we solve the 'inverse problem' and determine initial oscillator displacements and parameters iteratively by graphical comparison of v(t) to the DVP contour. We discuss the kinematic features of this refined model, its testable predictions, and provide evidence for its validity by comparison of v(t) to the clinical DVP in a case of known dissynchrony. We comment on the benefits and limitations of this modeling approach.
Fluoride and environmental health: a review

The relationship between environmental fluoride and human health has been studied for over 100 years by researchers from a wide variety of disciplines. Most scientists believe that small amounts of fluoride in the diet can help prevent dental caries and strengthen bones, but there are a number of adverse affects that chronic ingestion at high doses can have on human health, including dental fluorosis, skeletal fluorosis, increased rates of bone fractures, decreased birth rates, increased rates of urolithiasis (kidney stones), impaired thyroid function, and lower intelligence in children. Chronic occupational exposure to fluoride dust and gas is associated with higher rates of bladder cancer and variety of respiratory ailments. Acute fluoride toxicity and even death from the ingestion of sodium fluoride pesticides and dental products have also been reported. The distribution of fluoride in the natural environment is very uneven, largely a result of the geochemical behavior of this element. Fluorine is preferentially enriched in highly evolved magmas and hydrothermal solutions, which explains why high concentrations are often found in syenites, granitoid plutonic rocks, alkaline volcanic, and hydrothermal deposits. Fluoride can also occur in sedimentary formations that contain fluoride-bearing minerals derived from the parent rock, fluoride-rich clays, or fluorapatite. Dissolved fluoride levels are usually controlled by the solubility of fluorite (CaF2); thus, high concentrations are often associated with soft, alkaline, and calcium-deficient waters. Although much is known about the occurrence and health effects of fluoride, problems persist in Third World countries, where populations have little choice in the source of their drinking water and food. However, even in developed nations, fluoride ingestion can exceed the recommended dose when sources other than drinking water are ignored.
An elementary discussion of propellant flame geometry

Abstract We examine the geometry of diffusion flames generated by the burning of a heterogeneous solid propellant, using a simple model designed to provide qualitative insights. In the fast chemistry limit a strategy is used which has its roots in Burke and Schumann’s 1928 study of diffusion flames, albeit with different boundary conditions. This shows that the stoichiometric level surface (SLS) intersects the propellant surface at a point displaced from the fuel/oxidizer interface, and the variations of this displacement with Peclet number are discussed. We show that for model sandwich propellants, or their axisymmetric counterpart, the geometry of the SLS when the core is oxidizer is quite different from the geometry of the SLS when the core is fuel. Also, it is much easier to quench the flame on an oxidizer core, by reducing the Peclet number, than it is to quench the flame on a fuel core. When finite chemistry effects are accounted for, the flame only occupies a portion of the SLS, and there is a leading edge structure in which premixing plays a role. Enhancement of the burning rate due to premixing is identified, but a well-defined tribrachial structure is not observed. We show how a sharp reduction in pressure can lead to a detachment of the flame from the SLS, with subsequent quenching as it is swept downstream.
An Arabic Slot Grammar Parser

We describe a Slot Grammar (SG) parser for Arabic, ASG, and new features of SG designed to accommodate Arabic as well as the European languages for which SGs have been built. We focus on the integration of BAMA with ASG, and on a new, expressive SG grammar formalism, SGF, and illustrate how SGF is used to advantage in ASG.
BLOOD-TYPING OF INDIAN WATER BUFFALOES WITH REAGENTS FOR ANTIGENIC FACTORS OF CATTLE.

MORE than eighty heritable antigenic factors have been detected on the erythrocytes (cells) of cattle by their reactions with blood-grouping reagents; the reagent being an antibody population made relatively specific for a particular factor by appropriate absorptions1. Using cattle reagents, it has been shown that at least nine genetic blood-group systems of cattle have their homologues in American bison, Bison bison2–4, and Polish aurochs, Bison bonasus5. Water buffalo cells elicit antibodies in cattle which detect antigenic factors of three of the cattle blood-group systems6; suggesting a homology between the antigenic factors of cattle and water buffaloes. Naturally occurring agglutinins in the sera of cattle have been used to classify cells of Indian water buffaloes (Bos bubalis) into four types7.
Tribute: Dr. Jackson Kirk Felsman

This special issue of Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies recognizes important gains made in the field of child protection research. Included in this issue are three recent studies conducted in l...
Gate size dependence of the radiation-produced changes in threshold voltage, mobility, and interface state density in bulk CMOS

It has been observed that radiation-induced threshold voltage shifts, interface trap densities, and channel mobility reductions are dependent on the drawn or coded geometrical sizes of transistors in one radiation-hardened VLSI CMOS technology. In another technology, no such dependencies were found. The authors suggest physical mechanisms responsible for the observed size dependencies, and warn that large-area transistors and capacitors for total dose evaluations may not always be suitable. Stress measurements indicate that the radiation-induced changes are correlated with higher tensile stress levels. >
The Enhancement of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Osteogenic Differentiation with Nano-Fibrous Scaffolding

Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) hold great promise as a cell source for tissue engineering since they possess the ability to differentiate into any cell type within the body. However, much work must still be done to control the differentiation of the hESC to the desired lineage. In this study, we examined the effects of the nanofibrous (NF) architecture in both two-dimensional (2-D) poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) thin matrices and 3-D PLLA scaffolds in vitro to assess their affect on the osteogenic differentiation of hESC in vitro compared to more traditional solid films and solid-walled (SW) scaffolds. In 2-D culture, hESC on NF thin matrices were found to express collagen type 1, Runx2, and osteocalcin mRNA of higher levels than the hESC on the solid films after 1 week of culture and increased mineralization was observed on the NF matrices compared to the solid films after 3 weeks of culture. After 6 weeks of 3-D culture, the hESC on the NF scaffolds expressed significantly more osteocalcin mRNA compared to these on the SW scaffolds. The data indicates that the NF architecture enhances the osteogenic differentiation of the hESC compared to more traditional scaffolding architecture.
Rat adrenal cortical activity during exposure to a high (34°C) ambient temperature

A highly significant (P<.01) elevation of plasma corticosterone concentration was observed in rats exposed to heat (34°C) for periods ranging from 6 hours to 12 days. The highest level of plasma glucocorticoid (corticosterone) was attained at the end of the first day of exposure. At all exposure times with the exception of the animal groups at 30 hours and 13 days, the values were significantly higher than the 28°C average control values. These data suggested the occurrence of a transient rise in adrenocortical activity at 24 hours, followed by an under-compensation at 30 and 48 hours with some continued elevation of activity for most of the remainder of this exposure period. The increase in plasma corticosterone, a calorigenic hormone, may serve as a precursor for increased aldosterone production during acclimation to heat.
Sequence dependence of the length of the B to Z junctions in DNA

The Raman spectra of several duplexes of self-complementary oligodeoxynucleotides such as d[TTCGCGCGCGAA] have been taken under various conditions of salt concentration and temperature. It is shown how to determine the number of CG base pairs in the Z form and how many in the junction between the B and Z forms in these oligomers. The intensities of the guanine-backbone bands at 680 cm'' and 625 cm'' are used. As noted by M. Tsuboi Y. Nishimura G. J. Thomas Jr. and their coworkers the former frequency is the marker band for the B form or the disordered form while the latter frequency is the marker band for the Z form. The marker bands of the AT base pairs previously determined by Taillandier and Liquier can be used to rule out the occurrence of the Z form in the AT portion of the duplex. From these measurements the structure of the double helical duplex in concentrated salt solutions can be described as having four of the six interior CG base pairs in Z form flanked by two CG base pairs in the junction and the two AT base pairs in a short B form segment. Similar measurements on a large number of oligomers shows that both single B-Z and double B-Z-B junctions may be present both in the solution and in single crystals.
Collecting single and multichannel seismic-reflection data in shallow water near Aberdeen Proving Ground, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland

In August and September 1994, single- and multi-channel seismic-reflection data were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), to support a regional hydrogeologic framework study at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Maryland. Data were collected in Chesapeake Bay, as well as in the Bush, Gunpowder, and Sassafras Rivers, which are tributaries to Chesapeake Bay. Data were collected along the shoreline in very shallow water, usually less than 1 m. Approximately 100 km of single-channel seismic-reflection data were collected using a water gun and an electromechanical plate as sound sources; about 50 percent of these data contained usable geologic information. A prominent channel in the Quaternary sediments at a depth of 61 m is clearly evident, and the depth to bedrock ranges from approximately 184 to 223 m. Approximately 14 km of multi-channel data were collected in the Gunpowder and Bush Rivers and in Chesapeake Bay; about 40 percent of these data showed subsurface reflectors, often in small, discontinuous segments. Data were processed using established processing techniques. Numerous reflectors were present in the data that were continuous over long distances. The multi-channel data contained more detail and significantlymore » less noise than the single-channel data. The quality and continuity of the single- and multi-channel data were best in shallow water (less than 1 m) where the presence of gassing organic sediments was at a minimum.« less
The ethical implications of the straight-commission compensation system — An agency perspective

This paper examines the role of the straight-commissioned salesperson in the context of agency theory and asserts that because the agent acts to benefit two principals, potential conflicts of interest arise. Temporal differences in receipt of rewards create a major conflict, while the firm's exhibition of both espoused and actual behaviors and information asymmetries intensify this conflict. Finally, in light of these inconsistencies, the ethical implications of the straight-commission compensation system are examined.
Visual processing of contour patterns under conditions of inattentional blindness

An inattentional blindness paradigm was adapted to measure ERPs elicited by visual contour patterns that were or were not consciously perceived. In the first phase of the experiment, subjects performed an attentionally demanding task while task-irrelevant line segments formed square-shaped patterns or random configurations. After the square patterns had been presented 240 times, subjects' awareness of these patterns was assessed. More than half of all subjects, when queried, failed to notice the square patterns and were thus considered inattentionally blind during this first phase. In the second phase of the experiment, the task and stimuli were the same, but following this phase, all of the subjects reported having seen the patterns. ERPs recorded over the occipital pole differed in amplitude from 220 to 260 msec for the pattern stimuli compared with the random arrays regardless of whether subjects were aware of the patterns. At subsequent latencies (300-340 msec) however, ERPs over bilateral occipital-parietal areas differed between patterns and random arrays only when subjects were aware of the patterns. Finally, in a third phase of the experiment, subjects viewed the same stimuli, but the task was altered so that the patterns became task relevant. Here, the same two difference components were evident but were followed by a series of additional components that were absent in the first two phases of the experiment. We hypothesize that the ERP difference at 220-260 msec reflects neural activity associated with automatic contour integration whereas the difference at 300-340 msec reflects visual awareness, both of which are dissociable from task-related postperceptual processing.
Impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgical resection on node-negative T3 and T4 non-small cell lung cancer.

Objective This study examined the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and concurrent high-dose radiation therapy on survival in patients with node-negative T3 and T4 non–small cell lung cancer. Methods A total of 110 consecutive patients underwent surgical resection for invasive T3N0M0 (94 patients) and T4N0M0 (16 patients) non–small cell lung cancer between 1979 and 2008. Forty-seven patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and concurrent high-dose (5940 cGy) radiation therapy before resection (Chemo-RT group). Sixty-three patients underwent surgical resection without receiving induction chemoradiotherapy (Surg group), of whom 21 received neoadjuvant radiation, 19 received adjuvant radiation, 17 received surgery alone, 2 received adjuvant chemotherapy, 2 received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy, and 2 received brachytherapy. Survival of the Chemo-RT and Surg groups was compared using both crude and adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. Results The 5-year, 10-year, and median survivals were 61%, 50%, and 90 months, respectively, in the Chemo-RT group versus 22%, 14%, and 22 months, respectively, in the Surg group. Subjects in the Surg group had an increased risk of death (hazard ratio, 2.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.62–4.18; P = .0001) compared with the Chemo-RT group. After adjustment for potential confounding variables of age, sex, tumor size, tumor location, type of operation, and decade of care, subjects in the Surg group remained at increased risk of death (hazard ratio, 2.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.45–5.44, P = .002) compared with the Chemo-RT group. Conclusions Aggressive treatment of node-negative invasive T3 and T4 NSCLC with induction chemoradiotherapy may significantly prolong survival. This approach should be evaluated in a prospective multicenter national trial.
Operations Research Advances Cancer Therapeutics

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), the world's oldest private cancer center, seeks next-generation cancer treatment advances to enhance its ability to treat patients effectively by improving care and reducing costs. Using operations research approaches, our team has devised sophisticated optimization modeling and computational techniques for real-time (intraoperative) treatment of prostate cancer using brachytherapy (the placement of radioactive “seeds” inside a tumor). The resulting system offers significantly safer and more reliable treatment outcomes. In addition, it eliminates the need for preoperative simulation and postimplant dosimetric analysis, resulting in savings of hundreds of millions of dollars per year in the United States alone. Posttreatment quality of life is improved through drastic reduction (up to 45--60 percent) of complications. The reason for this is twofold: (a) treatment plans thus devised deliver less radiation to adjacent healthy structures, and (b) the ability to perform midimplant replanning eliminates the unavoidable discrepancies between planned and actual seed placement in the target. This has a profound impact on the cost of managing treatment-associated morbidity. The procedure uses approximately 20--30 percent fewer seeds and 15 percent fewer needles (used to place seeds inside the prostate gland). As a result, the operating-room time is shortened, and the entire procedure is less invasive. The system has the potential to establish standards and guidelines for cancer treatment quality control and quality assurance of the implantable plan. Wide distribution of our system should allow consistent treatment planning across different clinics and significantly reduce variability in treatment plan quality. The next phase of this effort will expand the applicability of our system to other forms of brachytherapy, such as treatment of breast, cervix, esophagus, biliary tract, pancreas, head and neck, and eye.
Designing pictorial stimuli for perceptual experiments

The effects of design decisions in the development of systems that generate images for human consumption, such as cameras and displays, are often evaluated using real-world images. However, human observers can react differently to complex pictorial stimuli over the course of a lengthy experiment. This study was conducted to develop understanding of the optimal design of pictorial stimuli for effective and efficient perceptual experiments. The goals were to understand the impact of image content on visual attention and consistency of experimental results and apply this understanding to develop guidelines for pictorial target design for perceptual image comparison experiments. The efficacy of the proposed guidelines was evaluated. While the fixation consistency results were generally as expected, fixation consistency did not always equate to experimental response consistency. Along with scene complexity, the image modifications and the difficulty of the image equivalency decisions played a role in the experimental response.
Scheduling superblocks with bound-based branch trade-offs

Since instruction level parallelism in basic blocks is often limited, compilers increase performance by creating superblocks that allow operations to be issued speculatively. This is difficult in general because each branch competes for the processor's limited resources. Previous work manages the performance trade-offs that exist between branches only indirectly. We show here that dependence and resource constraints can be used to gather explicit knowledge about scheduling trade-offs between branches. This paper's first contribution is a set of new, tighter lower bounds on the execution times of superblocks that specifically account for the dependence and resource conflicts between pairs of branches. This paper's second contribution 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 trade-offs. Performance evaluations for superblocks from SPECint95 indicate that our bounds are very tight and that our scheduling heuristic outperforms well-known superblock scheduling algorithms.
Trends and correlates of post-retirement employment, 1977-2009

The stereotypical retirement experience – the abrupt ceasing of all paid work and commencement of a life of leisure – is the experience of only half of all workers. Yet, despite the prevalence of combining work and retirement in the US and the implications this work-retirement behavior may have for organizations and individual workers, post-retirement employment behavior is understudied. In this article, we add to the growing literature on retirement and late-life employment processes by examining the trends and correlates of post-retirement employment in the US from 1977 to 2009. We find a modest curvilinear trend in post-retirement employment for both males and females over the last 33 years. However, the modest upward trends in post-retirement employment obscure the countervailing influences of significant changes in behavior and in the macro-level demographic and economic forces that are significant determinants of post-retirement employment.
THE FUNCTIONS AND REGULATION OF GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASES IN PLANTS.

▪ Abstract Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play roles in both normal cellular metabolism as well as in the detoxification of a wide variety of xenobiotic compounds, and they have been intensively studied with regard to herbicide detoxification in plants. A newly discovered plant GST subclass has been implicated in numerous stress responses, including those arising from pathogen attack, oxidative stress, and heavy-metal toxicity. In addition, plant GSTs play a role in the cellular response to auxins and during the normal metabolism of plant secondary products like anthocyanins and cinnamic acid. This review presents the current knowledge about the functions of GSTs in regard to both herbicides and endogenous substrates. The catalytic mechanism of GST activity as well as the fate of glutathione S-conjugates are reviewed. Finally, a summary of what is known about the gene structure and regulation of plant GSTs is presented.
Malignant transformation of conus medullaris ganglioglioma: case report

Intramedullary gangliogliomas are indolent tumors of the spine with rare cases of malignant transformation. Conus medullaris gangliogliomas are extremely rare but are usually associated with good clinical outcome after gross total resection. We describe the first reported case of a ganglioglioma of the conus medullaris that progressed to glioblastoma multiforme 1 year after subtotal resection and radiotherapy. The paraplegic patient lacked neurological function below the level of the lesion and thus was treated with cordectomy caudal to the root entry zones of the T10 sensory roots.
Layout optimization by pattern modification

This paper introduces a new and practical approach to several layout optimization problems. A novel two-dimensional pattern generator, in connection with a set of routing and placement transformations, is employed to efficiently solve problems ranging from Wire Crossing Minimization and Topological Via Minimization to Minimum Steiner Tree Optimization and IO Alignment. The expected running time is O(nlogn) and the space requirement is O(n), where n is the number of layout objects. The system is fully coded and tested, and excellent results in both laboratory and real-life examples have been achieved.
ECTOMYCORRHIZAS AFFECT IONIC BALANCE DURING AMMONIUM UPTAKE BY DOUGLAS-FIR ROOTS

SUMMARY Mycorrhizas have been shown to alter ion fluxes for many nutrients. Experiments were done to determine the extent to which ectomycorrhizas alter the ionic balance of roots of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings mycorrhizal with Hebeloma crustuliniforme (Bull, ex St. Amans) Quel. exposed to solutions containing either 16N ammonium sulphate or 16N ammonium chloride. Net fluxes of ammonium, hydrogen, potassium, calcium, sodium, bicarbonate, sulphate and chloride were measured. The mycorrhizal association altered ion fluxes, primarily decreasing sodium uptake and potassium release rates (both anion treatments) and increasing bicarbonate release during exposure to ammonium chloride. Rates of carboxylate accumulation in the tissue were inferred from the net flux data; mycorrhizal seedlings may produce more cation-carboxylate complexes compared with nonmycorrhizal seedlings. When compared with agricultural plants exposed to ammonium, Douglas-fir took up a considerably greater number of cations for each ammonium ion absorbed, which may account for the greater number of carboxylate anions also produced by Douglas-fir. These findings were discussed in terms of ecological significance for growth of Douglas-fir.
Anti-Jamming Schedules for Wireless Data Broadcast Systems

Modern society is heavily dependent on wireless networks for providing voice and data communications. Wireless data broadcast has recently emerged as an attractive way to disseminate dynamic data to a large number of clients. In data broadcast systems, the server proactively transmits the information on a downlink channel; the clients access the data by listening to the channel. Wireless data broadcast systems can serve a large number of heterogeneous clients, minimizing power consumption as well as protecting the privacy of the clients' locations. The availability and relatively low cost of antennas resulted in a number of potential threats to the integrity of the wireless infrastructure. In particular, the data broadcast systems are vulnerable to jamming, i.e., the use of active signals to prevent data broadcast. The goal of jammers is to cause disruption, resulting in long waiting times and excessive power consumption. In this paper we investigate efficient schedules for wireless data broadcast that perform well in the presence of a jammer. We show that the waiting time of client can be reduced by adding redundancy to the schedule and establish upper and lower bounds on the achievable minimum waiting time under different requirements on the staleness of the transmitted data.
How Knowledge of Extenuating Circumstances Influences Community Reactions toward Suicide Victims and their Bereaved Families

Since suicide is self-determined, the circumstances of the victim's life may influence people's responses. To assess this possibility, 180 undergraduate volunteers read a fictitious newspaper artic...
Monitoring delayed-onset pulmonary hypersensitivity in guinea pigs.

To assess the total pulmonary sensitizing potency of an industrial chemical, consideration must be given to its ability to induce both immediate-onset and delayed-onset respiratory hypersensitivity reactions. An animal model system to evaluate immediate-onset responses has been described (Karol et al., 1980). Measurement of delayed-onset sensitivity in animals may require continuous 48-hr monitoring of respirations. For this purpose a barometric chamber was employed for plethysmography. Delayed sensitivity was produced in guinea pigs by injection of Freund's complete adjuvant, a material classically used to induce delayed immunologic responses. Inhalation challenge of animals with purified tuberculin protein resulted in increased respiratory rate (X = 46% increase, p < 0.001) 9–12 hr following challenge. Respirations remained elevated for several hours before returning to preexposure levels. Control animals showed no increase. Histologic examination of pulmonary tissue revealed extensive mononuclear cell infiltration consistent with delayed hypersensitivity reactions. This system for measurement of delayed-onset responses has application for assessment of pulmonary sensitizing properties of industrial chemicals as well as testing the efficacy of drugs used for treatment of hypersensitivity reactions.
Value Capture and Value Networks in Open Source Vendor Strategies

Firms involved in open source software face inherent limits on their ability to appropriate returns from technological innovation. Here the author examines the business models used by IT vendors given the limited appropriability available for open source software. The author shows how firms capture value through complementary assets, while creating value and positive network effect through an inherent openness that attracts complementors, users and rivals to their corresponding value network. From this, this article offers suggestions for future research on complementary assets and value capture in business models
An inverse method to estimate stem surface heat flux in wildland fires

Models of wildland fire-induced stem heating and tissue necrosis require accurate estimates of inward heat flux at the bark surface. Thermocouple probes or heat flux sensors placed at a stem surface do not mimic the thermal response of tree bark to flames. We show that data from thin thermocouple probes inserted just below the bark can be used, by means of a one-dimensional inverse heat conduction method, to estimate net heat flux (inward minus outward heat flow) and temperature at the bark surface. Further, we estimate outward heat flux from emitted water vapor and bark surface re-radiation. Estimates of surface heat flux and temperature made by the inverse method confirm that surface-mounted heat flux sensors and thermocouple probes overestimate surface heat flux and temperature. As a demonstration of the utility of the method, we characterized uneven stem heating, due to leeward, flame-driven vortices, in a prescribed surface fire. Advantages of using an inverse method include lower cost, ease of multipoint measurements and negligible effects on the target stem. Drawbacks of the simple inverse model described herein include inability to estimate heat flux in very moist bark and uncertainty in estimates when extensive charring occurs.