cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Google Searches for “Cheap Cigarettes” Spike at Tax Increases: Evidence from an Algorithm to Detect Spikes in Time Series Data

Introduction Online cigarette dealers have lower prices than brick-and-mortar retailers and advertise tax-free status.1-8 Previous studies show smokers search out these online alternatives at the time of a cigarette tax increase.9,10 However, these studies rely upon researchers' decision to consider a specific date and preclude the possibility that researchers focus on the wrong date. The purpose of this study is to introduce an unbiased methodology to the field of observing search patterns and to use this methodology to determine whether smokers search Google for "cheap cigarettes" at cigarette tax increases and, if so, whether the increased level of searches persists. Methods Publicly available data from Google Trends is used to observe standardized search volumes for the term, "cheap cigarettes". Seasonal Hybrid Extreme Studentized Deviate and E-Divisive with Means tests were performed to observe spikes and mean level shifts in search volume. Results Of the twelve cigarette tax increases studied, ten showed spikes in searches for "cheap cigarettes" within two weeks of the tax increase. However, the mean level shifts did not occur for any cigarette tax increase. Conclusion Searches for "cheap cigarettes" spike around the time of a cigarette tax increase, but the mean level of searches does not shift in response to a tax increase. The SHESD and EDM tests are unbiased methodologies that can be used to identify spikes and mean level shifts in time series data without an a priori date to be studied. SHESD and EDM affirm spikes in interest are related to tax increases. Implications • Applies improved statistical techniques (SHESD and EDM) to Google search data related to cigarettes, reducing bias and increasing power • Contributes to the body of evidence that state and federal tax increases are associated with spikes in searches for cheap cigarettes and may be good dates for increased online health messaging related to tobacco.
[15] Expression and purification of G protein βγ subunits using baculovirus expression system

It is possible to obtain reasonable quantities of purified G protein βγ subunits of defined composition from Sf9 cells infected with recombinant baculoviruses expressing the desired β and γ subunits. The recombinant βγ dimers contain the known posttranslational modifications of their native counterparts and have been shown to be functional by a variety of criteria. In spite of the complexity of the baculovirus expression system, this is currently the only feasible method of producing reasonable quantities of βγ dimers of defined subunit composition.
Total Synthesis of (+)-Pleuromutilin

An 18-step synthesis of the antibiotic (+)-pleuromutilin is disclosed. The key steps of the synthesis include a highly stereoselective SmI2-mediated cyclization to establish the eight-membered ring and a stereospecific transannular [1,5]-hydrogen atom transfer to set the C10 stereocenter. This strategy was also used to prepare (+)-12-epi-pleuromutilin. The chemistry described here will enable efforts to prepare new mutilin antibiotics.
Writing impressionism into the Musée du Luxembourg’s history of nineteenth-century art

Published in 1895, Leonce Benedite’s Le Musee du Luxembourg interceded in debates around Caillebotte Bequest, by elevating Impressionism as a style critical to the French state’s official history o...
Wheat In Canadian History 1

The principal differentia of the Canadian economy are familiar. Because of the nature of her resources and her situation, Canada depends chiefly upon the production in quantity of a few staple commodities for export to those regions having less specialized resources and more diversified economies. Canada is thus subjected, willy-nilly, to a violent alternation of boom and depression by the fluctuation of demand in her foreign markets. Geography, moreover, has afflicted Canada with a transportation problem, which has two phases: in time of boom, the problem is how to obtain quickly more and cheaper transportation; in time of depression, how to pay out of her shrunken national income the heavy fixed costs incurred by the construction of transportation facilities.
You've covered: designing for in-shift handoffs in medical practice

Handoffs are moments of critical transition in which clinicians engage to maintain continuous coverage of patient care. This paper reports on an observational study of continuous coverage in an Emergency Department (ED), where three types of handoffs that occur during the same shift were identified: lunch breaks, ad hoc breaks and high workloads. The findings show these "in-shift handoffs" are managed not only through temporal linear coordination, but also through the local coordination among nurses working nearby. In-shift handoffs are crucial to maintaining continuous coverage in hospital settings. However, insufficient understanding of in-shift handoffs in Electronic Medical System (EMR) design may lead to a separation of information and responsibility, and an illusion of communication in patient care. The findings of this study call for attention to in-shift handoffs in future system design and for improving the traditional handoff process through the coordination of local awareness during ED work.
Harnessing Network Coding in Wireless Systems

Publisher Summary Wireless networks suffer from a variety of unique problems including low throughput, dead spots, and interference. However, their characteristics, such as the broadcast nature of the medium, spatial diversity, and significant data redundancy provide opportunities for new design principles to address these problems. This chapter describes advances in employing network coding to improve the throughput and reliability of wireless networks. Wireless networks have been designed using the wired network as the blueprint. The design abstracts the wireless channel as a point-to-point link and grafts wired network protocols onto the wireless environment. The wireless medium is fundamentally different. While wired networks have reliable and predictable links, wireless links have high bit error rate, and their characteristics could vary over short time scales. Transmissions in a wired network do not interfere with each other, whereas interference is a common case for the wireless medium. Network coding enables more efficient, scalable, and reliable wireless networks. These opportunities come with a need for rethinking the media access control (MAC), routing, and transport protocols. Recent years have seen significant successes in integrating network coding into wireless systems and the emergence of practical implementations with significant throughput and reliability gains.
Compressed-leaf bounding volume hierarchies

We propose and evaluate what we call Compressed-Leaf Bounding Volume Hierarchies (CLBVH), which strike a balance between compressed and non-compressed BVH layouts. Our CLBVH layout introduces dedicated compressed multi-leaf nodes where most effective at reducing memory use, and uses regular BVH nodes for inner nodes and small, isolated leaves. We show that when implemented within the Embree ray tracing framework, this approach achieves roughly the same memory savings as Embree's compressed BVH layout, while maintaining almost the full performance of its fastest non-compressed BVH.
Legionella pneumophila inhibits immune signalling via MavC-mediated transglutaminase-induced ubiquitination of UBE2N

The bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila modulates host immunity using effectors translocated by its Dot/Icm transporter to facilitate its intracellular replication. A number of these effectors employ diverse mechanisms to interfere with protein ubiquitination, a post-translational modification essential for immunity. Here, we have found that L. pneumophila induces monoubiquitination of the E2 enzyme UBE2N by its Dot/Icm substrate MavC(Lpg2147). We demonstrate that MavC is a transglutaminase that catalyses covalent linkage of ubiquitin to Lys92 and Lys94 of UBE2N via Gln40. Similar to canonical transglutaminases, MavC possess deamidase activity that targets ubiquitin at Gln40. We identified Cys74 as the catalytic residue for both ubiquitination and deamidation activities. Furthermore, ubiquitination of UBE2N by MavC abolishes its activity in the formation of K63-type polyubiquitin chains, which dampens NF-κB signalling in the initial phase of bacterial infection. Our results reveal an unprecedented mechanism of modulating host immunity by modifying a key ubiquitination enzyme by ubiquitin transglutamination.
A GDF11/myostatin inhibitor, GDF11 propeptide-Fc, increases skeletal muscle mass and improves muscle strength in dystrophic mdx mice

Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) is a member of the transforming growth factor β superfamily. The GDF11 propeptide, which is derived from the GDF11 precursor protein, blocks the activity of GDF11 and its homolog, myostatin, which are both potent inhibitors of muscle growth. Thus, treatment with GDF11 propeptide may be a potential therapeutic strategy for diseases associated with muscle atrophy like sarcopenia and the muscular dystrophies. Here, we evaluate the impact of GDF11 propeptide-Fc (GDF11PRO-Fc) gene delivery on skeletal muscle in normal and dystrophic adult mice. A pull-down assay was used to obtain physical confirmation of a protein-protein interaction between GDF11PRO-Fc and GDF11 or myostatin. Next, differentiated C2C12 myotubes were treated with AAV6-GDF11PRO-Fc and challenged with GDF11 or myostatin to determine if GDF11PRO-Fc could block GDF11/myostatin-induced myotube atrophy. Localized expression of GDF11PRO-Fc was evaluated via a unilateral intramuscular injection of AAV9-GDF11PRO-Fc into the hindlimb of C57BL/6J mice. In mdx mice, intravenous injection of AAV9-GDF11PRO-Fc was used to achieve systemic expression. The impact of GDF11PRO-Fc on muscle mass, function, and pathological features were assessed. GDF11PRO-Fc was observed to bind both GDF11 and myostatin. In C2C12 myotubes, expression of GDF11PRO-Fc was able to mitigate GDF11/myostatin-induced atrophy. Following intramuscular injection in C57BL/6J mice, increased grip strength and localized muscle hypertrophy were observed in the injected hindlimb after 10 weeks. In mdx mice, systemic expression of GDF11PRO-Fc resulted in skeletal muscle hypertrophy without a significant change in cardiac mass after 12 weeks. In addition, grip strength and rotarod latency time were improved. Intramuscular fibrosis was also reduced in treated mdx mice; however, there was no change seen in central nucleation, membrane permeability to serum IgG or serum creatine kinase levels. GDF11PRO-Fc induces skeletal muscle hypertrophy and improvements in muscle strength via inhibition of GDF11/myostatin signaling. However, GDF11PRO-Fc does not significantly improve the dystrophic pathology in mdx mice.
A Method to Control the Environmental Wind Profile in Idealized Simulations of Deep Convection with Surface Friction

AbstractIn idealized, horizontally homogeneous, cloud model simulations of convective storms, the action of surface friction can substantially modify the near-ground environmental wind profile over...
Cooperation of cerium oxide nanoparticles and soluble molecular catalysts for alcohol oxidation

Cerium oxide (ceria, CeO2−x) has been traditionally used as a catalyst support functionalized with metal nanoparticles or synthesized with metal dopants for a variety of applications ranging from catalytic converters to solid oxide fuel cells. In a departure from these typical heterogeneous motifs, we explore the interactions of nano-CeO2−x systems with organometallic oxidation catalysts in organic solvents. Ceria is used here both as an organically-capped colloid and as an uncapped insoluble nanopowder. Both the colloid and nanopowder act as terminal oxidants by accepting hydrogen atoms from a ruthenium Noyori–Ikariya hydride complex. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that CeO2−x can oxidize an organometallic hydride. Building on this concept, we show the uncapped CeO2−x powder also acts as the terminal acceptor in catalytic alcohol dehydrogenation reactions, utilizing iridium pyridine sulfonamide catalysts under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. The coupling of homogeneous oxidation catalysts with cerium oxide demonstrates the versatility of CeO2−x and a bridging of concepts in homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis.
Role of optical coherence tomography angiography in the characterization of vascular network patterns of ocular surface squamous neoplasia.

Abstract Purpose To visualize and quantify vascular networks in individuals with ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) through optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Method Cross-sectional study of OSSN patients. Vascular networks were measured by OCTA in the epithelium and sub-epithelial space in the tumors, adjacent tissue, and in the contralateral eye. Vessel area density (VAD, percent of blood vessels within 2.14 mm2), was calculated for each location. Total tumor density (TTD, percent of blood vessels within the entire tumor) was calculated. VAD was assessed separately for corneal and conjunctival locations and compared. Results Fifteen patients with OSSN were included. The mean age was 61 ± 12 years and the majority were male (80%). The mean tumor area, volume, depth, and TTD were 28.0 ± 9.0 mm2 (range, 10.9–39.7), 9.1 ± 4.1 mm3 (range, 3.4–18.8), 334 ± 125 μm (range, 177–571), and 33.2% ± 11.0% (range, 18.7–58.8), respectively. The VAD was highest within the tumor (28.9% ± 8.7%) followed by the adjacent sub-epithelial tissue and the tissue underneath the conjunctival component of tumor. These densities were higher than the VAD in the tissues of the non-involved eye (all P Conclusions OCTA imaging allowed for visualization and quantification of vessel structure and density within, under, and surrounding OSSN.
The conundrum of self-neglect.

Most clinicians will encounter cases of self-neglect during their career, which will vary from mild presentations to really disturbing cases where the self-neglect becomes extreme. Often it is difficult to comprehend how people would choose to live in such dreadful circumstances, but trying to resolve this feels like a series of insurmountable obstacles. What drives such behaviour and how do we manage it? Literature and history contain many references to behaviours that appear to be self-neglect and give us an insight into possible underlying motivations. For centuries, self-purification through neglect has been a recognised pathway for those striving to be nearer to the divine, and can been seen in the life histories of many sanctified individuals in key world religions. With hindsight, histories such as that of St. Simeon Stylites, who took refuge upon a pillar and stood there for …
Global Aspects of Sexual and Reproductive Health

Widespread discussion of sexual and reproductive health is a relatively recent development. Despite positive trends in the ways in which many people think about sexual health, the international organizations that determine the global heath agenda often lag behind, leaving crucial problems unaddressed. That the World Health Organization did not decide to remove homosexuality from its International Classification of Diseases until 1990 is only one example of this gap between health needs and response.
When is It Prudent to Polarize

The middle position between two extremes is not always the right position to take. This sounds un-Aristotelian, because Aristotle’s doctrine of the mean is familiar to us; that is, the rule of thum...
Recent Advances in Natural Materials for Corneal Tissue Engineering

Given the incidence of corneal dysfunctions and diseases worldwide and the limited availability of healthy, human donors, investigators are working to generate engineered cellular and acellular therapeutic approaches as alternatives to corneal transplants from human cadavers. These engineered strategies aim to address existing complications with human corneal transplants, including graft rejection, infection, and complications resulting from surgical methodologies. The main goals of these research endeavors are to (1) determine ideal mechanical properties, (2) devise methodologies to improve the efficacy of engineered corneal grafts and cell-based therapies, and (3) optimize transplantation of engineered tissue structures in the eye. Thus, recent innovations have sought to address these challenges through both in vitro and in vivo studies. This review covers recent work aimed at evaluating engineered materials, potential therapeutic cells, and the resulting cell-material interactions that lead to optimal corneal graft properties. Furthermore, we discuss promising strategies in corneal tissue engineering techniques and in vivo studies in animal models.
Endometrial cancer, obesity, and estrogenic excretion in women

Abstract Fifty-two women were injected with estradiol-17β-16-C 14 and the radioactivity of their urine determined at 72 hours. They excreted 28 to 92 per cent. Twenty-two women weighing 150 pounds or less excreted an average of 68 per cent of the injected radioactive carbon in 72 hours. Thirty obese women, 150 to 240 pounds in weight, excreted an average of 56 per cent in 72 hours. There seemed to be a statistically significant correlation between weight and percentage excretion; the thinner the patient, the higher the rate of excretion. In 2 patients, 15 and 18 hours after intramuscular injection, considerable quantities of radioactivity were found in the fat. The theory is propounded that cancer of the endometrium, if it is due to chronic estrogenic stimulation, may occur in obese women frequently because these individuals store estrogens in their fat and possibly thereby prolong the effect of their own hormones on their own endometria.
Size effects in capped ceramic underwater sound projectors

Cymbal transducers are small, thin Class V flextensional transducers. A single cymbal element consists of a piezoelectric disk sandwiched between two metal cymbal-shaped endcaps which serve as mechanical transformers, converting the low impedance, small extensional motion of the ceramic into high impedance, large flextensional motion of the endcap. A cymbal transducer element is very small, with a thin profile. A single element is characterized by high Q, low efficiency, and medium power capability. When comparing cymbals to other transducers, the designer should consider their use in large flexible, low cost arrays. This paper represents the work of eight researchers over a period of several years. The effects of changes in materials and dimensions on the cymbal-type flextensional transducers, in-air and water-loaded, were examined experimentally and through finite-element-analysis (FEA). Experimental and FEA calculated results matched quite well. After gaining experience and confidence in the FEA models, extensive parametric studies were performed using FEA to investigate the size and material effects on cymbal transducer characteristics. The scaling factor (i.e., overall size), endcap stiffness, and cavity design have the strongest influence on resonance frequency. Adjusting the dimensions and materials used for drivers and endcaps provides a range in the fundamental flexural frequency from about 5 to 150 kHz in water. These results also indicate trends that can be used to extend the ranges further. The scaling factor, cavity depth, and PZT thickness had the strongest effects on the projector/receiver performance (TVR/FFVS). Investigations are underway to combine and optimize some of these parameters for potentially significant improvements in bandwidth and efficiency.
The MVDR beamformer for circular arrays

The problem of space-time adaptive processing (STAP) using a circular array is considered. A key part of STAP is the estimation of the space-time covariance matrix of the received data. The conventional method of doing this can be shown to cause performance degradation at short ranges. We present a method based on steering vector interpolation to remedy this problem. The method applied linear transformations to the data from adjacent range cells. the transformed data are then used to form the sample covariance matrix. Numerical examples illustrate significant performance improvement when using the transformed rather than the original data.
A Polarimetric Hyperspectral Imaging Sensor

This paper reports recent field test results of a Polarimetrie hyperspectral imaging prototype sensor using a noncollinear acousto-optic tunable filter as a wavelength sorter and a polarizing beam splitter. The objective of this work is to evaluate the AOTF-PHI technology for a variety of remote sensing applications.
The Hookworm Platelet Inhibitor Blocks Fibrinogen Binding to the Platelet Integrin GPIIb/IIIa (α IIb β 3 )

The Hookworm Platelet Inhibitor Blocks Fibrinogen Binding to the Platelet Integrin GPIIb/IIIa (α IIb β 3 )
Immunochemical Detection and Isolation of DNA from Metabolically Active Bacteria

Most techniques used to assay the growth of microbes in natural communities provide no information on the relationship between microbial productivity and community structure. To identify actively growing bacteria, we adapted a technique from immunocytochemistry to detect and selectively isolate DNA from bacteria incorporating bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), a thymidine analog. In addition, we developed an immunocytochemical protocol to visualize BrdU-labeled microbial cells. Cultured bacteria and natural populations of aquatic bacterioplankton were pulse-labeled with exogenously supplied BrdU. Incorporation of BrdU into microbial DNA was demonstrated in DNA dot blots probed with anti-BrdU monoclonal antibodies and either peroxidase- or Texas red-conjugated secondary antibodies. BrdU-containing DNA was physically separated from unlabeled DNA by using antibody-coated paramagnetic beads, and the identities of bacteria contributing to both purified, BrdU-containing fractions and unfractionated, starting-material DNAs were determined by length heterogeneity PCR (LH-PCR) analysis. BrdU-containing DNA purified from a mixture of DNAs from labeled and unlabeled cultures showed >90-fold enrichment for the labeled bacterial taxon. The LH-PCR profile for BrdU-containing DNA from a labeled, natural microbial community differed from the profile for the community as a whole, demonstrating that BrdU was incorporated by a taxonomic subset of the community. Immunocytochemical detection of cells with BrdU-labeled DNA was accomplished by in situ probing with anti-BrdU monoclonal antibodies and Texas red-labeled secondary antibodies. Using this suite of techniques, microbial cells incorporating BrdU into their newly synthesized DNA can be quantified and the identities of these actively growing cells can be compared to the composition of the microbial community as a whole. Since not all strains tested could incorporate BrdU, these methods may be most useful when used to gain an understanding of the activities of specific species in the context of their microbial community.
Velocity Field Induced in a Liquid by a Rotating Cone.

Flow patterns observed and torque and angular velocity measured to study velocity field induced in Newtonian liquid by rotating cone
A novel body-worn RF sensor for deep tissue imaging

We present a novel body-worn sensor for continuous real-time imaging of deep human tissues. The sensor operates at 40 MHz, and consists of a set of transmitting and receiving probes placed around the human body. Preliminary results show that the sensor can provide 16-pixel images of the underlying cross-section with accuracy better than 5%. Remarkably, this is the first time that tissues deep into the body can be imaged pixel-by-pixel using a portable body-worn approach. Overall, the proposed sensor brings forward a new approach for real-time deep-tissue monitoring to be used in a wide range of applications (e.g., prevention of cardiovascular diseases, tumor growth monitoring, etc.).
Genomic data-sharing: what will be our legacy?

Prior to 1974, the Tuskegee Syphilis experiments, expansive use of the HeLa cells, and other blatant instances of research abuse pervaded the medical research field. Discussion today about these challenges have caused the general public to develop a reluctance and distrust for medical research. This has significant implications for the advancement of genomic science, and the public's perception of genomic research.
Direct method for solving optimal control problems with kinks

In this paper, we introduce a direct solution concept applicable to a slightly restricted class of optimal control problems with kinks. The method treats the optimal trajectory when it lies on a kink for an interval of time (a kink arc) in a special manner. The nonkink arc must satisfy the classical set of necessary conditions of the maximum principle, excluding from that set terminal equations on the kink terminal (the junction between this nonkink arc and a kink arc). At this junction, certain conditions, which compensate for the missing terminal conditions, have to be satisfied. In this paper, the method is applied to solve a fairly realistic model for an important inventory problem, namely, the problem of scheduling the production of a commodity.
In Vitro Autoradiographic Localization of 5-HT1A Receptor-Activated G-Proteins in the Rat Brain

Abstract Serotonin 5-HT 1A receptors belong to the superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors. Receptor activation of G-proteins can be determined by agonist-stimulated [ 35 S]GTP γ S binding in the presence of excess GDP, and in vitro autoradiographic adaptation of this technique allows visualization of receptor-activated G-proteins in tissue sections. The present study was performed to examine 5-HT 1A receptor activation of G-proteins using 8-OH-DPAT-stimulated [ 35 S]GTP γ S binding in membranes and brain sections. In hippocampal membranes, 8-OH-DPAT stimulated [ 35 S]GTP γ S binding by twofold, with an ED 50 value of 25 nM. 5-HT 1 antagonists, but not 5-HT 2 antagonists, increased the ED 50 of 8-OH-DPAT in a manner consistent with competitive antagonists. Scatchard analysis of [ 35 S]GTP γ S binding showed that 8-OH-DPAT induced the formation of high affinity [ 35 S]GTP γ S binding sites with a K D for GTP γ S of 3.2 nM. [ 35 S]GTP γ S autoradiography, performed in brain sections with the 5-HT 1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT, revealed high levels of 5-HT 1A -stimulated [ 35 S]GTP γ S binding in the hippocampus, lateral septum, prelimbic cortex, entorhinal cortex, and dorsal raphe nucleus. 5-HT 1A -stimulated [ 35 S]GTP γ S binding in sections was blocked by the addition of the 5-HT 1 antagonist methiothepin. These results show that the use of agonist-stimulated [ 35 S]GTP γ S autoradiography for the 5-HT 1A receptor system should provide new information regarding signal transduction in specific brain regions.
The evaluation of insulin as a metabolic signal influencing behavior via the brain

The intent of this paper is to evaluate decreases of food intake and body weight that occur when a peptide is administered to an animal. Using the pancreatic hormone insulin as an example, the case is made that endogenous insulin is normally secreted in response to circulating nutrients as well as in proportion to the degree of adiposity. Hence, its levels in the blood are a reliable indicator of adiposity. A further case is then made demonstrating that insulin is transported through the blood-brain barrier into the brain, where it gains access to neurons containing specific insulin receptors that are important in the control of feeding and metabolism. Finally, experimentally-induced changes of insulin in the brain cause predictable changes of food intake and body weight. Given these observations, the question is then asked: since endogenous insulin, acting within the brain, appears to decrease food intake, can a decrease of food intake caused by exogenous insulin administered into the same area of the brain be ascribed to the same, naturally-occurring response system, or should it be attributed to malaise or a non-specific depression of behavior? Arguments are presented supporting the former position that exogenous insulin, when administered in small quantities directly into the brain, taps into the natural caloric/metabolic system and hence influences food intake and body weight.
Sensitivity to interaural intensitive disparities: listeners' use of potential cues

Thresholds for interaural intensitive disparities (IIDs) for a 500-Hz tone were measured in several stimulus conditions including those in which the use of intracranial position as a cue was effectively eliminated by roving the interaural temporal disparity of the stimuli. Removing position as a cue resulted in substantial degradation of sensitivity to IID. The overall patterning of the data suggests that threshold-IIDs measured in standard binaural paradigms that yield fused intracranial images reflect the use of changes in intracranial position. That is, comparisons among the data suggest that listeners’ judgments depend upon binaural spatial cues and not on comparisons of the concomitant monaural increments and decrements in level, per se, that inevitably result from the imposition of IIDs.
Who put the cog in infant cognition ? Is rich interpretation too costly ?

Abstract The basic topic of my address today concerns how much of cognition is in the head of the infant and how much in the mind of the theoretician. My general stance is that we are being treated to an interpretive flavor of infant behavior that is much too rich.
Evaluate the sales force as a business

Abstract High interest rates are posing serious problems for all business organizations and impact more heavily on those in the industrial sector. Cash flow difficulties result directly from high interest rates, which in turn produce pressure on the sales force: credit terms are tightened; customers are pushed to pay their bills more promptly; and, shipments are delayed because of reduced inventories. This set of difficult circumstances, however, provides an opportunity for management to achieve a long desired objective—making the efforts of the sales force more congruent with the profit and ROI goals of the enterprise. This article outlines the structure of a training program, consisting of seven sessions, that introduces business performance criteria to sales territory management.
Regulation of ribosomal RNA cistron number in a strain of Neurospora crassa with a duplication of the nucleolus organizer region

Abstract Some progeny from a cross of the translocation mutant T(VL→IVL)AR33 with wild-type Neurospora crassa are double nucleolus organizer (DNO) strains, usually displaying two distinct nucleolus organizer regions. The DNO strain is sterile but displays the same growth response as normal laboratory strains of Neurospora . We used DNA-DNA hybridization techniques to quantify the number of rRNA cistrons in the DNO mutant and its vegetative progeny. Comparisons of the rate of hybridization of genomic DNA from the parental AR33 strain and from the DNO strain showed that hybridization was more rapid for the DNO strain than for the parental strain. Successive vegetative progeny of the DNO strain displayed hybridization rates intermediate to those of the original DNO strain and the parental single nucleolus strain, indicating that the number of rRNA cistrons had decreased during vegetative propagation. Estimates of rRNA cistron number obtained from comparisons of the amount of single copy DNA and rDNA hybridized to genomic DNO and AR33 DNA at saturation indicate that the parental AR33 strain contains 225 copies of the rRNA repeat unit, while the DNO strain has approx. 440 copies. The number of rRNA cistrons decreases gradually in the successive vegetative progeny, approximating the parental haploid value by the eleventh vegetative transfer.
Pseudolumen Size and Perimeter in Prostate Cancer: Correlation with Patient Outcome

We demonstrated in 2011 that 61&#x25; of men with postoperative PSA failure had some cribriform pattern of prostate cancer, versus 16&#x25; of nonfailures ( OR=5.89, 𝑃l.0001). That study used digitized radical prostatectomy slides from 153 men, 76 failures (&#x2265;0.2&#x2009;ng/mL) matched to 77 nonfailures. The current study's hypothesis: pseudolumen size and shape variability could stratify outcome within histologic patterns (single separate acini, separate acini with undulating lumens, fused small acini, papillary, cribriform). Pseudolumens were filled digitally on image captures from previously annotated specimens. Among all 5 patterns, pseudolumen spaces averaged smaller in failures than nonfailures. After multivariate analysis controlling for stage, age, margin, cancer amount, prostate volume, and presence of individual cells (grade 5), this retained significance only for the undulating-lumens and papillary patterns. In undulating-lumens pattern, PSA failures had smaller mean pseudolumen space sizes (𝑃=.03) but larger perimeters (𝑃=.04), implying more pseudolumen irregularity. In papillary pattern, the number of pseudolumen spaces was higher in failures (𝑃=.015), space size was smaller (𝑃=.11), perimeters were smaller (𝑃=.04), and perimeter/size ratio was higher (𝑃=.02). In conclusion, digitally measured pseudolumen size and shape may associate with outcome.
Subduction factory 1. Theoretical mineralogy, densities, seismic wave speeds, and H 2 O contents

[1] We present a new compilation of physical properties of minerals relevant to subduction zones and new phase diagrams for mid-ocean ridge basalt, lherzolite, depleted lherzolite, harzburgite, and serpentinite. We use these data to calculate H2O content, density and seismic wave speeds of subduction zone rocks. These calculations provide a new basis for evaluating the subduction factory, including (1) the presence of hydrous phases and the distribution of H2O within a subduction zone; (2) the densification of the subducting slab and resultant effects on measured gravity and slab shape; and (3) the variations in seismic wave speeds resulting from thermal and metamorphic processes at depth. In considering specific examples, we find that for ocean basins worldwide the lower oceanic crust is partially hydrated (<1.3 wt % H2O), and the uppermost mantle ranges from unhydrated to � 20% serpentinized (� 2.4 wt % H2O). Anhydrous eclogite cannot be distinguished from harzburgite on the basis of wave speeds, but its � 6% greater density may render it detectable through gravity measurements. Subducted hydrous crust in cold slabs can persist to several gigapascals at seismic velocities that are several percent slower than the surrounding mantle. Seismic velocities and VP/VS ratios indicate that mantle wedges locally reach 60–80% hydration. INDEX TERMS: 3040 Marine Geology and Geophysics: Plate tectonics (8150, 8155, 8157, 8158); 3660 Mineralogy and Petrology: Metamorphic petrology; 3919 Mineral Physics: Equations of state; 5199 Physical Properties of Rocks: General or miscellaneous; 8123 Tectonophysics: Dynamics, seismotectonics; KEYWORDS: subduction, seismic velocities, mineral physics, H2O
Gastric ulcers differ from duodenal ulcers. Evaluation of basal acid output.

Patients with pyloric channel and prepyloric gastric ulcers are often considered to have an ulcer diathesis similar to patients with duodenal ulcers, while patients with more proximal gastric ulcers (ie, fundus, body, antrum) are excluded. To evaluate possible differences in basal acid outputs with regard to gastric ulcer location, basal acid outputs were determined by nasogastric suction in 80 patients with endoscopically documented benign active gastric ulcers. The results were compared to 65 normal subjects and 155 patients with endoscopically documented duodenal ulcers. There were no significant differences in basal acid outputs among the 80 patients with gastric ulcers with regard to location (ie, fundus-body, antrum, prepyloric, channel), and no significant differences compared to the 65 normal subjects. However, basal acid output for the 155 patients with duodenal ulcers was significantly different from the 80 patients with gastric ulcers (P<0.05) and the 65 normal subjects (P<0.05). Basal acid outputs tended to be higher and there was more gastric acid hypersecretion when gastric ulcers were located near the pylorus. However, irrespective of gastric ulcer location, basal acid outputs were higher in patients with duodenal ulcers. Seventy-one of the 80 patients with gastric ulcers were treated for eight weeks with standard doses of antisecretory medications, and endoscopic healing or nonhealing was documented. In 60 patients their gastric ulcers completely healed, while 11 patients had nonhealed gastric ulcers. There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to gender, mean age, or basal acid output. The gastric acid secretory profiles determined in this study do not appear to support the view that prepyloric and pyloric channel gastric ulcers are similar to duodenal ulcers.
PAN AIR - A higher order panel method for predicting subsonic or supersonic linear potential flows about arbitrary configurations

PAN AIR is a computer program for predicting subsonic or supersonic linear potential flow about arbitrary configurations. It uses linear source and quadratic doublet strength distributions. These higher-order distributions have been implemented in a manner that greatly reduces the numerical stability problems that have plagued earlier attempts to make surface paneling methods work successfully for supersonic flow. PAN AIR's problem-solving capability, numerical approach, modeling features, and program architecture are described. Numerical results are presented for a variety of geometries at supersonic Mach numbers.
Square acrylamide gel columns and a novel gel slicer

The resolution of protein mixtures obtainable by the use of the disc electrophoresis technique (1, 2) often exceeds the recording capabilities of photometric densitometers (3). Accurate recording of the stained protein bands in the cylindrical gels is impeded by spherical aberration (4). Multiple longitudinal gel slices (5) for radioautography, enzyme assays, or staining comparisons must of necessity be varying widths when cylindrical gels are used. Some of these difficulties can be overcome by making the gel in square tubing, as described in this report. The substitution of square gels provides the advantage of a flat optical plane which simplifies both photographic and scanning procedures (6). The flat surface also allows uniform longitudinal gel slices to be cut. In addition, we are describing a simple device that yields 1 mm uniform sequential slices normal to the longitudinal axis of the gel column, and the destaining of gel columns in devices designed for destaining gel slabs (7). An apparatus similar to that described by Davis (2) was used to perform the electrophoresis. Glass tubes 6 mm square and 112 mm long were used as gel f0rms.l The square tubes were heated at one end and molded till the cross section of the tube was round for a distance of 7 mm from one end in order to provide a tight seal when inserted into the round hole in the upper buffer chamber grommets. The square ends were plugged with sleeved small serum bottle stoppers. The gel columns were then prepared by the normal procedure (2). Round and “square” gels were prepared and run at the same time under the same conditions. Comparable resolution (Fig. 1) was obtained, but the “square” gels photograph with sharper edges. The gels can be removed after electrophoresis by rimming with a water jet from a 2 in. #26 hypodermic needle connected to a wash bottle. Gel removal is facilitated by using tubes coated with a 10%
BARGAINING WITHOUT A COMMON PRIOR¿AN IMMEDIATE AGREEMENT THEOREM

In sequential bargaining models without outside options, each player's bargaining power is ultimately determined by which player will make an offer and when. This paper analyzes a sequential bargaining model in which players may hold different beliefs about which player will make an offer and when. Excessive optimism about making offers in the future can cause delays in agreement. The main result states that, despite this, if players will remain sufficiently optimistic for a sufficiently long future, then in equilibrium they will agree immediately. This result is also extended to other canonical models of optimism.
Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis in Renal Transplants

This is a study of the incidence and clinicopathological significance of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSG) in 154 renal allografts (22 biopsies, 128 nephrectomies and four necropsies) from 137 cadaveric and 17 living-related donors. FSG was identified in 18 grafts (11.7%) from 16 patients: six as recurrent FSG in four patients (two developed FSG in two consecutive transplants) and 12 as de novo FSG. The incidence of recurrent FSG in patients who had FSG as their original kidney disease was 30.8% whereas that of de novo FSG in patients who had renal diseases other than FSG was 8.7%. Histologically, recurrent FSG was characterized by mild degrees of obliterative arteriopathy of rejection and preferential involvement of the juxtamedullary glomeruli. Whereas, in de novo FSG, the occlusive vascular changes of rejection were severe and the glomeruli in the outer cortical region were mostly involved. Clinically, however, the differences between them were less clear, although nephrotic syndrome tends to occur more often and earlier in patients with recurrent FSG. Obliterative arteriopathy of chronic rejection and consequent glomerular ischemia appeared to be of major importance in the pathogenesis of de novo FSG in renal allografts.
Sensorless control of inverter-fed induction motor drives

Abstract Sensorless control is considered to be a lower cost alternative than the position or speed encoder-based control of induction motors. Two popular sensorless control methods, namely, the model reference adaptive system (MRAS) and the Luenberger observer (LO) methods are compared for speed and torque control characteristics. They are also compared against the well-known vector control principle. For the drive system simulated, the torque and speed obtained from sensorless control are almost identical to those obtained from the vector control method. However, the torque ripple for the sensorless methods is observed to be higher than vector control-based method. The MRAS method introduces higher torque ripple when compared to the Luenberger observer. In addition, speed estimation methods employed in sensorless control are more sensitive to motor parameter variations.
Verification of a High-Resolution Model Forecast Using Airborne Doppler Radar Analysis during the Rapid Intensification of Hurricane Guillermo

Abstract The NOAA Hurricane Research Division (HRD) P-3 aircraft provided airborne radar observations during the period of rapid intensification of Hurricane Guillermo on 2 August 1997. The inner core structure and evolution of Hurricane Guillermo (1997) over a 120 km by 120 km square area, centered on the storm, was observed by the P-3 aircraft during 10 flight legs at half-hour intervals during a 6-h period from 1800 UTC 2 August to 0000 UTC 3 August 1997. A high-resolution short-term model forecast initialized at 1800 UTC 2 August 1997 was made using the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–NCAR nonhydrostatic, two-way interactive, movable, triply nested grid Mesoscale Model (MM5). The weak vortex at the initial time in the NCEP analysis was replaced by a tropical storm–like vortex generated by a 4D variational data assimilation (4D-Var) vortex initialization experiment. The modeled Guillermo followed the observed track with less than a 12-km track error at any time during the 6-h forecast pe...
Three-dimensional geologic map of the Hayward fault, northern California: Correlation of rock units with variations in seismicity, creep rate, and fault dip

In order to better understand mechanisms of active faults, we studied relationships between fault behavior and rock units along the Hayward fault using a three-dimensional geologic map. The three-dimensional map—constructed from hypocenters, potential field data, and surface map data—provided a geologic map of each fault surface, showing rock units on either side of the fault truncated by the fault. The two fault-surface maps were superimposed to create a rock-rock juxtaposition map. The three maps were compared with seismicity, including aseismic patches, surface creep, and fault dip along the fault, by using visualization software to explore three-dimensional relationships. Fault behavior appears to be correlated to the fault-surface maps, but not to the rock-rock juxtaposition map, suggesting that properties of individual wall-rock units, including rock strength, play an important role in fault behavior. Although preliminary, these results suggest that any attempt to understand the detailed distribution of earthquakes or creep along a fault should include consideration of the rock types that abut the fault surface, including the incorporation of observations of physical properties of the rock bodies that intersect the fault at depth.
Effect of mesangial cell lysis and proliferation on glomerular hemodynamics in the rat

Effect of mesangial cell lysis and proliferation on glomerular hemodynamics in the rat. To elucidate an involvement of mesangial cells in the regulation of glomerular hemodynamics, renal micropuncture techniques and glomerular morphometry were employed in Munich-Wistar rats with mesangial cell lytic or proliferative lesions induced by administration of an antibody reactive with Thy-1.1-like antigens on the mesangial cell surface. The antibody-induced mesangial cell lysis at day 1 resulted in a significant decrease in glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient, leading to reduction in single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) in spite of a significant increase in both glomerular hydrostatic pressure and single nephron plasma flow (SNPF). During the antibody-induced proliferative lesion at day 6, glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient and SNGFR remained reduced; however, SNPF was now decreased. Morphometric analysis showed the enlargement of capillary luminal volume and the development of new open space in the mesan-gium accessible for blood flow in the mesangial cell-lytic glomeruli at day 1. An increase in mesangial cell volume was found in the proliferative glomeruli at day 6. The total area of peripheral glomerular basement membrane, presumed as the probable filtration area, was unchanged in these glomeruli. These results indicate that mesangial lesions decrease glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient, and suggest that mesangial cells participate in regulation of glomerular filtration rate.
Diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of blunt carotid arterial injuries

Abstract Background: Blunt carotid injuries are rare, and present late with devastating strokes. A sizeable single-institution descriptive report could help characterize the injury and its diagnosis and treatment. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of blunt carotid artery injuries from May 1988 to December 1997 at a level I trauma center. Chart review consisted of demographics, mechanism of injury, associated injuries, diagnostic modalities, initial neurologic status, treatment, and outcome. Discharge outcome was classified as “good” (normal-mild deficit), “fair” (needing daily assistance), “poor” (institutionalized), or “dead.” Results: During the study period 16 patients sustained a carotid artery injury. Mean age was 35 years and 63% were female. Vehicular trauma was the most common mechanism of injury (81%), followed by assaults (13%). Dissection was the most common injury (75%), with one quarter having an associated pseudoaneurysm. Initial neurologic presentation was normal in 31% and Glasgow Coma Score was Conclusions: These uncommon injuries should be suspected in the presence of head and/or chest injuries, basilar skull fracture, or coma (particularly if the computed tomography scan is unremarkable). Presentation may be varied, but most patients eventually develop hemispheric symptoms. Duplex ultrasound detects many of these injuries, but this study does not demonstrate its utility as a screening tool. Anticoagulant therapy appears to be associated with a better outcome than expectant or occlusive therapy.