cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Whistleblowing in the Catholic Church: The Role of Wrongdoing Characteristics and Ethical Climate

This paper explores the relationship between organizational characteristics and their relationship to whistleblowing in the Catholic Church. It aims to examine the role of ethical climate and wrong...
THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE 2,3-BUTYLENE GLYCOL FERMENTATION.

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the development on fermentation production of 2, 3-butylene glycol. The earliest report of the production of 2, 3-butylene glycol by bacterial fermentation was that of Harden and Walpole using cultures of Aerobucter aerogenes. In context to production of 2, 3-butylene glycol, Bacillus polymyxa and Aerobacter aerogenes are potentially of industrial importance. This species is actively diastatic and fermentations can be run using starchy raw materials, such as corn or wheat, as well as the common sugar-containing substrates. Aerobacter aerogenes, however, is not diastatic and can ferment only sugars. It is noted that the economics of the glycol fermentation limit the carbohydrate sources to the various types of molasses, the cereal grains, or industrial waste liquors. Purified carbohydrates such as lactose, glucose, and sucrose are readily fermentable and are too costly for this use. The major factors that govern the selection of a raw material is the comparative cost of the material and the value of the final fermentation product.
Buy, Don't Borrow: Bibliographers' Analysis of Academic Library Collection Development through Interlibrary Loan Requests

In 2000, the Purdue University Libraries implemented a Books on Demand program. Instead of borrowing books requested through Interlibrary Loan, staff purchased selected titles and added them to the collection after patron use. After two years, five subject bibliographers analyzed 800 titles acquired through the program in their subject areas and compared them with titles acquired during the same time period through normal selection. The bibliographers concluded that the patron-driven Books on Demand program is a valuable complementary collection development tool. It consistently adds a very high percentage of relevant scholarly titles to the collection which provides input from patrons who do not ordinarily have a voice in collection development decisions and fills in gaps in interdisciplinary areas.
The learning mentor manual, by Stephanie George

As an occasional amateur mechanic, the first thought that came to mind as I finished reading The learning mentor manual was that it is as good as any ‘Haynes Manual’ that I have ever utilised. In f...
Intertemporal Speculation Under Uncertain Future Demand: Experimental Results

This paper explores a market in which a subset of agents acting independently without direct communication can purchase commodities to carry forward in time in the face of uncertain future demand. The hypothesis that the equilibrating properties of markets will coordinate decentralized decisions to speculate as if all information was public gives no theory about the mechanism through which such information transfer might take place. The results provide general support for the validity of the equilibration suggestion. The mechanisms of information transfer seem to be located in the local nature of the price formation and carry-forward decisions coupled with a tendency for traders to specialize their activities.
Physical map of the Myxococcus xanthus chromosome.

Abstract The genome of Myxococcus xanthus, which is 9,454 kbp, is one of the largest bacterial genomes. The organization of the DNA and the distribution of genes encoding social and developmental behaviors were examined by using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Intact genomic DNA was digested with AseI into 16 restriction fragments, which were separated by contour-clamped homogeneous electric field electrophoresis, purified, and radiolabeled. Each AseI fragment was hybridized to SpeI-digested DNA and to an M. xanthus genomic library contained in yeast artificial chromosomes. Some SpeI restriction fragments and yeast artificial chromosome clones contained AseI sites and hybridized with two different AseI restriction fragments, providing evidence for the juxtaposition of these AseI restriction fragments in the chromosome. The deduced AseI physical map is circular, suggesting that this bacterium contains a single, circular chromosome. Transposable elements shown by transduction to be in or near genes of interest were located on specific AseI restriction fragments by restriction analysis and Southern hybridization. Most AseI restriction fragments contained genes involved in social and developmental behaviors.
Perceptions of Organizational Politics: An Investigation of Antecedents and Consequences

Factor analyses of data from an organizational climate survey suggest that organizational politics is an important dimension of peoples’ perceptions of the work environment. These data were used to examine antecedents and consequences of politics perceptions using the framework suggested by Fandt Russ and Fandt (1989). Measures of perceived intergroup cooperation, clarity of roles and responsibilities, and fairness of rewards/recognition were most predictive of politics perceptions. Minority status was the only personal characteristic that predicted politics perceptions. when controlling for its antecedents, perceptions of organizational politics were only related to perceived innovation. Analyses using structural equation modeling indicated that the relationships between politics and its antecedents were not influenced by an overall affective response to the work environment.
Functional test generation of digital LSI/VLSI systems using machine symbolic execution technique

This paper presents a new algorithm for functional test generation of digital LSI/VLSI systems. First, a register-transfer (RT)-level fault model is developed based on a well-defined register-transfer-language (RTL). The analysis and collapsing of faults in RT-level fault model were performed. Then, the RT-level symbolic execution technique is employed. The major problems encountered are defined, analyzed and solved. Finally, an explicit algorithmic test generation algorithm is developed. This practical algorithm applies software skills in hardware testing. It is easy to be automated and hence provides a promising solution for future testing problems of digital LSI/VLSI systems.
The tri-frame model

Abstract The tri-frame model gives mathematical expression to the transcription and translation processes, and considers all three reading frames (RFs). RNA polymerases transcribe DNA in single nucleotide increments, but ribosomes translate mRNA in pairings of three (triplets or codons). The set of triplets in the mRNA, starting with the initiation codon (usually AUG) defines the open reading frame (ORF). Since ribosomes do not always translocate three nucleotide positions, two additional RFs are accessible. The −1 RF and the +1 RF are triplet pairings of the mRNA, which are accessed by shifting one nucleotide position in the 5′ and 3′ directions, respectively. Transcription is modeled as a linear operator that maps the initial codons in all three frames into other codon sets to account for possible transcriptional errors. Translational errors (missense errors) originate from misacylation of tRNAs and misreading of aa-tRNAs by the ribosome. Translation is modeled as a linear mapping from codons into aa-tRNA species, which includes misreading errors. A final transformation from aa-tRNA species into amino acids provides the probability distributions of possible amino acids into which the codons in all three frames could be translated. An important element of the tri-frame model is the ribosomal occupancy probability. It is a vector in R 3 that gives the probability to find the ribosome in the ORF, −1 or +1 RF at each codon position. The sequence of vectors, from the first to the final codon position, gives a history of ribosome frameshifting. The model is powerful: it provides explicit expressions for (1) yield of error-free protein, (2) fraction of prematurely terminated polypeptides, (3) number of transcription errors, (4) number of translation errors and (5) mutations due to frameshifting. The theory is demonstrated for the three genes rpsU , dnaG and rpoD of Escherichia coli , which lie on the same operon, as well as for the prfB gene.
A Population Study by Proteins from the Nucleus of Bluefin Tuna Eye Lens

Abstract Soluble proteins from the eye lens nucleus of bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus, were studied by electrophoresis. Polymorphism in proteins that migrated toward cathodal and anodal portions of the electropherograms is attributed to simple and complex genetic bases, respectively. Results suggest that bluefin in the California fishery belong to a single population which exhibits local genetic differentiation on the fishing grounds.
Campaigning on Less Than a Shoe-String: An Ancient Egyptian Parallel to Abram's ‘Oath’ in Genesis 14.22–23

This article compares Abram's unusual oath to the king of Sodom in Gen. 14.22–23 with material from ancient Egypt. There, similar language is found in soldiers’ pledging to refrain from seizing ‘ev...
Neurologic course, endocrine dysfunction and triplet repeat size in spinal bulbar muscular atrophy.

Objectif: Etudier le role du diabete, de la gynecomastie et de la taille de l'expansion des repetitions du triplet CAG comme facteurs modifiant l'expression neurologique de l'amyotrophie bulbo-spinale (AMBS, maladie de Kennedy). Methodes: Les dossiers de vingt patients non apparentes, atteints d'AMBS dont le diagnostic avait ete confirme par un test genetique, ont ete revises, Le tableau neurologique a ete evalue et massifie, soit bulbaire, asymetrique, proximal, distal, moteur ou sensitif, Des examens neurologiques quantifies successifs ont servi a calculer le taux de progression de la maladie. Le tableau neurologique et l'evolution ont ete correles a la presence de diabete et de gynecomastie et a la taille de l'expansion du triplet CAG. Resultats: Le diabete ou l'intolerance au glucose etait present chez neuf patients et la gynecomastie chez 11. Le tableau neurologique, le taux de progression ou la taille de l'expansion du triplet CAG n'etaient pas correles a ces maladies endocriniennes. Il existait une correlation entre le nombre de repetitions CAG et l'âge de debut de la faiblesse musculaire (r = -0,53; r2 = 29 %; p = 0,01). Conclusions: L'effet neurotoxique specifique de l'expansion CAG semble limite a l'âge de debut de la faiblesse musculaire dans l'AMBS. Bien que significatif, seulement 29 % de la variabilite de l'âge de debut pouvait etre attribuee a la taille de la polyglutamine, ce qui suggere que d'autres facteurs non encore identifies sont importants. Dans notre serie de patients, le diabete ou l'intolerance au glucose etait plus frequent que ce qui a ete rapporte anterieurement et il n'existait pas de correlation entre la presence de ces pathologies ou de la gynecomastie et le nombre de repetitions CAG, la severite ou le tableau neurologique. Nous suggerons qu'il existe des facteurs modificateurs autres que le diabete, la gynecomastie ou le nombre de repetitions CAG qui influencent l'expression de la maladie.
Sexual selection and natural selection in bird speciation

The role of sexual selection in speciation is investigated, addressing two main issues. First, how do sexually selected traits become species recognition traits? Theory and empirical evidence suggest that female preferences often do not evolve as a correlated response to evolution of male traits. This implies that, contrary to runaway (Fisherian) models of sexual selection, premating isolation will not arise as an automatic side effect of divergence between populations in sexually selected traits. I evaluate premating isolating mechanisms in one group, the birds. In this group premating isolation is often a consequence of sexual imprinting, whereby young birds learn features of their parents and use these features in mate choice. Song, morphology and plumage are known recognition cues. I conclude that perhaps the main role for sexual selection in speciation is in generating differences between populations in traits. Sexual imprinting then leads to these traits being used as species recognition mechanisms. The second issue addressed in this paper is the role of sexual selection in adaptive radiation, again concentrating on birds. Ecological differences between species include large differences in size, which may in themselves be sufficient for species recognition, and differences in habitat, which seem to evolve frequently and at all stages of an adaptive radiation. Differences in habitat often cause song and plumage patterns to evolve as a result of sexual selection for efficient communication. Therefore sexual selection is likely to have an important role in generating premating isolating mechanisms throughout an adaptive radiation. It is also possible that sexual selection, by creating more allopatric species, creates more opportunity for ecological divergence to occur. The limited available evidence does not support this idea. A role for sexual selection in accelerating ecological diversification has yet to be demonstrated.
Earth Observation of Global Change: The Role of Satellite Remote Sensing in Monitoring the Global Environment

The use of remote sensing data for the study of global change is increasing as satellite observations extend over longer periods of time and as a growing array of sensors and measurements provides more and more information about the Earth. National and international agencies are producing greater volumes of remote sensing data directed toward observing global change. Computational processing is also evolving to facilitate more efficient processing and more effective translation of these large data sets into useful information.
SYNTHESIS OF SERUM HAPTOGLOBIN BY THE ISOLATED PERFUSED RAT LIVER.

Abstract Following perfusion of the isolated rat liver with blood containing either [14C]leucine or [14C]galactose, the haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex (Hp-Hb) isolated from the circulating blood was found to be radioactive. Hydrolysis of the Hp-Hb obtained after perfusion with [14C]galactose revealed the presence of radioactivity in galactose and mannose. Negligible radioactivity was present in the crude α2-globulin fraction obtained from control perfusions without the liver in the circuit. It is concluded that the liver is a site of synthesis of both the protein and the carbohydrate moieties of serum haptoglobin.
A Possible Link between Root Initiation and Anthocyanin Formation

IN an examination of the rooting of cuttings from Acer rubrum L. and Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. seedlings the unexpected observation was made that the rooting response of Acer rubrum cuttings appeared to be related more closely to the amount of antho-cyanin formed in the leaves during the experimental period than to the treatments under investigation.
Pain and morbidity of transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy: a prospective randomized trial of 6 versus 12 cores.

Purpose:: An increasing number of studies suggest that 6-sector transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy of the prostate provides insufficient material to detect all clinically important prostate cancers and more cores may improve detection rates. We performed a prospective, randomized study to determine the effect of increasing the number of cores from 6 to 12 on pain and other morbidity associated with the biopsy procedure.Materials and Methods:: A total of 160 men (44 black, 28%) with a mean age plus or minus standard deviation of 65 ± 8 years who had serum prostate specific antigen between 2.5 and 20.0 ng./ml. and/or digital rectal examination findings suspicious for cancer were prospectively randomized to undergo 6 or 12-core biopsy. Patients completed a self-administered questionnaire addressing pain and other morbidity before, and immediately and 2 and 4 weeks after biopsy.Results:: There was no difference between groups in mean pain scale with time for abdominal and rectal pain. For probe insertion, n...
Cyclooxygenase activity contributes to the monoaminergic damage caused by serial exposure to stress and methamphetamine

Methamphetamine (Meth) is a widely abused psychostimulant that causes long-term dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) depletions. Stress and Meth abuse are comorbid events in society and stress exacerbates Meth-induced monoaminergic terminal damage. Stress is also known to produce neuroinflammation. This study examined the role of the neuroinflammatory mediator, cyclooxygenase (COX), in the depletions of monoamines caused by serial exposure to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) and Meth. CUS produced an increase in COX-2 protein expression and enhanced Meth-induced monoaminergic depletions in the striatum and hippocampus. The enhanced DA and 5-HT depletions in the striatum, but not the hippocampus, were prevented by pretreatment with COX inhibitor, ketoprofen, during stress or during Meth; however, ketoprofen did not attenuate the monoaminergic damage caused by Meth alone. The COX-dependent enhancement by stress of Meth-induced monoaminergic depletions was independent of hyperthermia, as ketoprofen did not attenuate Meth-induced hyperthermia. In addition, the EP1 receptor antagonist, SC-51089, did not attenuate DA or 5-HT depletions caused by stress and Meth. These findings illustrate that COX activity, but not activation of the EP1 receptor, is responsible for the potentiation of Meth-induced damage to striatal monoamine terminals by stress and suggests the use of anti-inflammatory drugs for mitigating the neurotoxic effects associated with the combination of stress and Meth.
BACTERIAL POLYSACCHARIDE IMMUNE GLOBULIN (BPIG) PROTECTS INFANT RATS WITH S. PNEUMONIAE (SP) PNEUMONIA FROM BACTEREMIA, MENINGITIS AND DEATH. • 1092

We challenged 4 day old Sprague-Dawley infant rats with SP serotypes 6B, 14, or 19 using an intrapulmonary injection model which produces histologic evidence of pneumonia. 1 day prior to challenge, treated animals were given low or high doses of subcutaneous (SC) BPIG (10 or 50 μg), while control animals received SC saline. Just prior to bacterial challenge, blood was obtained for measurement of serum antibody concentrations. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid were obtained for culture daily for 3 days; lung homogenate was cultured in a subset of animals. Mortality was monitored for 7 days. Mean serum anti-SP IgG concentrations for low and high dose BPIG were approximately 2.0 and 10.0 μg/mL, respectively, for types 6B and 19. Representative data for S. pneumoniae serotype 6B are:Table (*Denominators reduced after animals sacrificed for lung culture and histology). Lung homogenate culture were positive forS. pneumoniae. Similar data were obtained using serotypes 14 and 19. Preliminary conclusions are that anticapsular antibodies of 2-20 μg/mL provide 80-90% protection against lung challenge, independent of inoculum from 3 to 300 cfu.
Individual differences in men’s and women’s warmth and disclosure differentially moderate couples’ reciprocity in conversational disclosure

Abstract Romantic couples often reciprocate each other’s disclosure during conversation, but to what extent do gender and individual differences in disclosure and warmth moderate the strength of disclosure reciprocity? We sought to answer this question by having 62 heterosexual dating couples discuss personal topics in the laboratory. Couples’ conversations were videotaped and rated for their level of disclosure by two coders. Participants also reported their own level of disclosure and their partner’s disclosure and warmth during the conversation. A series of multilevel models revealed that women’s—but not men’s—reports of their own and their partner’s disclosure increased disclosure reciprocity. In contrast, men’s—but not women’s—reports of their partner’s warmth decreased disclosure reciprocity.
Potential effect of different radiologist reporting methods on studies showing benefit of CAD.

Rationale and Objectives To investigate the effect of different reporting methods and performance measures on the assessment of the benefit of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) in characterizing malignant and benign breast lesions on mammography and sonography. Materials and Methods In a previous study, 10 observers provided three types of reporting data (probability of malignancy [PM] estimates, Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System [BI-RADS] ratings, and biopsy decisions), both without and with CAD. The current study compares alternative performance measures computed from the three types of reporting data. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was computed from both the PM estimates and the BI-RADS ratings, whereas sensitivity and specificity were computed from all three data types. Sensitivity and specificity values calculated from either the PM estimates or the BI-RADS ratings were determined by setting both constant and user-dependent thresholds. Student’s t -tests were used to evaluate the statistical significance of the differences in the performance measures without and with CAD. Results The average AUC values of the 10 observers calculated from either PM estimates or BI-RADS ratings demonstrated statistically significant improvements in performance with CAD, increasing from 0.87 to 0.92 or 0.93, respectively. However, the statistical significance of improvements in sensitivity or specificity depended on the type of reporting data used. Conclusions Use of different types of reporting data in the computation of sensitivity and specificity may result in different conclusions concerning the benefit of CAD. Meaningful determination of sensitivity and specificity from PM estimates require the use of user-dependent thresholds.
Hypothermia for hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy

Moderate to severe hypoxic-ischemic injury in newborn infants, manifested as encephalopathy immediately or within hours after birth, is associated with a high risk of either death or a lifetime with disability. In recent multicenter clinical trials, hypothermia initiated within the first 6 postnatal hours has emerged as a therapy that reduces the risk of death or impairment among infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Prior to hypothermia, no therapies directly targeting neonatal encephalopathy secondary to hypoxic-ischemic injury had convincing evidence of efficacy. Hypothermia therapy is now becoming increasingly available at tertiary centers. Despite the deserved enthusiasm for hypothermia, obstetric and neonatology caregivers, as well as society at large, must be reminded that in the clinical trials more than 40% of cooled infants died or survived with impairment. Although hypothermia is an evidence-based therapy, additional discoveries are needed to further improve outcome after HIE. In this article, we briefly present the epidemiology of neonatal encephalopathy due to hypoxic-ischemic injury, describe the rationale for the use of hypothermia therapy for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, and present results of the clinical trials that have demonstrated the efficacy of hypothermia. We also present findings noted during and after these trials that will guide care and direct research for this devastating problem.
Deep cup forming by superplastic punch stretching of friction stir processed 7075 Al alloy

Abstract Multiple overlapping passes of friction stir processing (FSP) were used to cover 80 mm wide region for punch stretching of 7075 Al alloy plate. The forming experiments were performed at 723 K. While a maximum depth of 52 mm (depth/punch diameter ∼ 2.7) could be achieved by punch stretching at a slow strain rate of 10 −3 s −1 , the maximum depth obtained at a higher strain rate of 10 −2 s −1 was 40.4 mm. However, tolerable variations in thickness can be maintained up to a depth of 18.5 mm which is nearly equal to the punch diameter. FEM simulation closely predicts the load and thickness variation till the point of initiation of cavities and instabilities.
Working together: a corrections‐academic partnership that works

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a corrections–academic partnership that works, the essential factors that influence its success and productivity, and how this partnership builds the capacity to conduct research on corrections issues.Design/methodology/approach – A case study design was used. The corrections–academic partnership has been in existence for five years.Findings – Over the five years, the partnership has yielded over a dozen peer‐reviewed publications and another half dozen under review, five policy reports, and over $3 million in external funding by the academic partner and over $6 million by the corrections partner. By working together, partners develop parallel procedures for conducting and facilitating research, strategic networks and resources that foster research, and the ability to write competitive applications for external funding.Research limitations/implications – Findings are based on a single partnership but they are consistent with the broader literature on prac...
BIOMIMETIC AND SYNTHETIC APPROACHES TO MARINE SPONGE ALKALOIDS DERIVED FROM BIS-PYRIDINE MACROCYCLES. A REVIEW

(1998). BIOMIMETIC AND SYNTHETIC APPROACHES TO MARINE SPONGE ALKALOIDS DERIVED FROM BIS-PYRIDINE MACROCYCLES. A REVIEW. Organic Preparations and Procedures International: Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 1-51.
Intrinsic noise properties of atomic point contact displacement detectors.

We measure the noise added by an atomic point contact operated as a displacement detector. With a microwave technique, we increase the measurement speed of atomic point contacts by a factor of 500. The measurement is then fast enough to detect the resonant motion of a nanomechanical beam at frequencies up to 60 MHz and sensitive enough to observe the random thermal motion of the beam at 250 mK. We demonstrate a shot-noise limited imprecision of $2.3\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{fm}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ and observe a $78\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{aN}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ backaction force, yielding a total uncertainty in the beam's displacement that is 42 times the standard-quantum limit.
Stability and transient response enhancement techniques for low-dropout regulators

Low-dropout regulators (LDOs) are one of the most important power management modules for providing clean supply voltages in all portable devices. This tutorial first describes the limitations of a generic CMOS LDO on the stability and the load transient response. Then, stability of the state-ofthe-art LDOs with intermediate driver stages is discussed. Finally, a LDO design example using impedance attenuation (BIA) technique is presented. The BIA technique is able to reduce the number of low-frequency poles of the LDO without using any low-frequency zero, thereby improving the stability and the load transient response simultaneously.
Handedness in a sample of volunteer twins.

Self-report handedness data collected from 1687 pairs of volunteer twins were analyzed with biometrical genetic methods. Using a threshold model of liability, approximate maximum-likelihood parameters imply sex differences in either threshold values or genetic components of variation. Low heritabilities are observed for direction of preference, particularly in males. Point-biserial correlations of handedness with age indicate a slight increase in the incidence of right-handedness with age. Correlations of age with intrapair differences in handedness suggest a secular trend toward reduced social pressure on males to be right-handed.
7-cis- and 7,9-dicis-3-dehydroretinal. Hindered isomers of vitamin A2 aldehyde☆

Successful synthesis of the hindered 7-cis and 7,9-dicis isomers of 3-dehydroretinal from β-ionone is reported. The procedure, involving introduction of the hindered 7-cis geometry prior to the 3,4-double bond, should be applicable to preparation of other unknown isomers of Vitamin A2 aldehyde.
The structure of a pre-mRNA molecule in solution determined with a site directed cross-linking reagent

We describe the use of site specific psoralen (SSP) to determine the solution structure of a segment of the human beta globin pre-mRNA. In these experiments, SSP is first delivered as monoadducts to specific nucleotides in the pre-mRNA and subsequently used to form intramolecular RNA-RNA cross-links. The use of this reagent greatly decreases the number of the cross-linked products as compared to generalized psoralen cross-linking. The experiments confirm the locations of previously determined aminomethyltrimethylpsoralen (AMT) cross-links in the human precursor mRNA. In addition, new cross-links consistent with an alternative secondary structure and a small number of cross-links that represent higher order interactions have been determined. Altogether, 42 of 47 cross-links identified in this analysis can be accounted for in a small number of alternative secondary structures and higher order interactions. The site directed cross-linking technique will be useful for the precise determination of RNA secondary and tertiary structures under a variety of experimental conditions.
Pharmacologic Treatment of Pediatric Headaches: A Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of prophylactic headache treatment in children and adolescents. DATA SOURCES PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Clinical Trials, and bibliography of retrieved articles through August 11, 2012. STUDY SELECTION Randomized trials of headache treatment among children and adolescents (<18 years old). INTERVENTION Any placebo-controlled trial or comparisons between 2 or more active medications. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Number of headaches per month. RESULTS Among 21 included trials, there were 13 placebo-controlled and 10 active comparator trials (2 also included placebo). Twenty trials focused on episodic migraines and 1 on chronic daily headaches. Drugs more effective than placebo for episodic migraines (<15 headaches per month) included topiramate (difference in headaches per month, -0.71; 95% CI, -1.19 to -0.24) and trazodone (-0.60; 95% CI, -1.09 to -0.11). Ineffective drugs included clonidine, flunarizine, pizotifen, propranolol, and valproate. A single trial of fluoxetine for chronic daily headaches found it ineffective. Patients given placebo experienced a significant (P = .03) decline in headaches, from 5.6 (95% CI, 4.52-6.77; Q = 8.14 [Cochran Q is a measure of the heterogeneity of the included studies]) to 2.9 headaches per month (95% CI, 1.66-4.08; Q = 4.72). Among the 10 active comparator trials, flunarizine was more effective than piracetam (difference in headaches per month, -2.20; 95% CI, -3.93 to -0.47) but no better than aspirin, dihydroergotamine, or propranolol. Propranolol was compared with valproate as well as behavioral treatment, and 2 studies compared different doses of topiramate; none of these trials showed significant differences. CONCLUSIONS Topiramate and trazodone have limited evidence supporting efficacy for episodic migraines. Placebo was effective in reducing headaches. Other commonly used drugs have no evidence supporting their use in children and adolescents. More research is needed.
Confirmation of brain death in the emergency department

When a patient is brought to the emergency department with profound coma, absent brain stem reflexes, and apnea, the possibility of brain death should be considered. If this condition is irreversible, the patient meets the clinical criteria and may be declared dead. Prompt confirmation is important: valuable resources can be redirected to living patients, the decedent’s family can be given ministry, and transplantation of donor organs to needy patients can be facilitated. Although brain death is a clinical diagnosis, confirmation by additional testing is often required by local practice standards or local law. This article discusses the role of the radiologist in this situation and the examinations used for this purpose.
Abstract 3735: Preclinical studies of salinomycin as a therapeutic agent for pediatric high-grade glioma cancer stem cells.

Brain tumors are the most prevalent childhood solid tumors. In the low-grade astrocytomas complete surgical resection has achieved over 90% five-year survival rate. In contrast, the aggressive anaplastic astrocytoma high-grade 3 and the fast growing glioblastoma multiforme high-grade 4 are often refractory to standard therapies; the majority of these patients at presentation are beyond cure by surgery and or radiotherapy. Emerging data substantiate the idea that a small pool of post-therapy residual cells within a tumor displaying stem-like properties is responsible for relapse. Therefore, selectively targeting these cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) may lead to advances in the treatment of these tumors. Salinomycin, an antibiotic potassium ionophore, has been shown to be highly effective against breast cancer stem cells and other malignancies; however, its potential use has not been studied in childhood astrocytomas. Recent studies indicate that salinomycin exerts its effect on components of the Wnt signaling cascade. In this study, we undertook in vitro and in vivo analyses on the effect of salinomycin on four pediatric high-grade astrocytoma cell lines, UW479 (provided by Dr. John Silber, University of Washington), SF188 (from Dr. Daphne Haas-Kogan, UCSF), SJ-GBM2, and CHLA-200 (COG Cell Culture and Xenograft Repository). Our results indicated that salinomycin was able to inhibit cellular viability in a dose-dependent manner. The soft-agar anchorage independent growth assay showed salinomycin inhibition of colony formation in 3 of the 4 cell lines tested. A decrease in the number of cycling cells (S-phase) was observed in cells treated with salinomycin. Notably, a 95% reduction in the glioma stem cells, read-out as CD133+, and impairment in the ability to form spheres (read-out as self-renewal) was observed. A xenograft mouse model was used to determine the effect of salinomycin on tumor growth in vivo and is ongoing. Salinomycin9s modulation of Wnt targets measured by qRT-PCR, western blot analysis, and Bio-Plex protein assays, is in progress. Our data suggest that salinomycin could be exploited for the treatment of the aggressive form of pediatric gliomas. Citation Format: Emily S. Moses, Judy C. Chang, Jaclyn Y. Hung. Preclinical studies of salinomycin as a therapeutic agent for pediatric high-grade glioma cancer stem cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3735. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3735
Solar flare theory and light curves

Abstract During the last few years several models have been developed to explain the onset and energy release in large, eruptive solar flares. Although there is no consensus yet about the precise mechanism which triggers the onset of an eruption, there is a consensus that the mechanism involves the release of magnetic energy stored in the solar corona. Several of the proposed models use an ideal-MHD loss of equilibrium to trigger the eruption, but these models still require magnetic reconnection to extract the bulk of the magnetic energy. Coupling the ideal loss-of-equilibrium process with the non-ideal reconnection processes, and incorporating thermal conduction, chromospheric evaporation, and radiative cooling, shows great promise as a way to account for the light curves of both solar and stellar flares.
Immunolocalization of CD44 in the Dystrophic Rat Retina

The distribution of the cell surface adhesion/receptor molecule CD44 was studied in retinas of the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat which exhibits an inherited retinal dystrophy. In this animal model, the retinal pigment epithelium fails to phagocytize shed photoreceptor outer segment material, a membranous debris layer accumulates in the subretinal space and the photoreceptor cells degenerate. Using immunoperoxidase and immunogold labeling, CD44 was localized to Muller cell apical microvilli in normal rat retinas, as noted in other species. For the RCS rat, immunoperoxidase labeling of 18 day and 1 month retinas showed the typical microvillar labeling pattern. At 2 months postnatal, following degeneration of most of the photoreceptors, a more condensed band of microvillar label was observed. At 3 months, when photoreceptor degeneration was virtually complete, only distinct regions of dense label remained between the neural retina and debris zone. Upon ultrastructural and immunogold analysis, these regions were found to contain closely packed Muller cell microvilli. At all ages studied, labeling for CD44 in the inner retina did not increase, as it does in other forms of retinal degeneration which lack a debris zone. However, by 3 months the debris zone was labeled for CD44 indicating that CD44 molecules remain on Muller cell microvilli and processes which have extended into and become part of the debris zone. This may be caused by an altered distribution of still undetermined ligands for CD44 which are present within the interphotoreceptor matrix of the RCS rat retina.
The immediate postoperative adjustment of sutures in strabismus surgery with comaintenance of anesthesia using propofol and midazolam.

Purpose: Adjustable suture techniques are used to reduce the reoperation rate in strabismus surgery, but traditionally require that final adjustments be made between 1 to 24 hours after surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new anesthetic technique that would allow immediate postoperative adjustment of sutures in strabismus surgery, thereby improving patient convenience and comfort. Methods: This was a prospective study of strabismus patients who were judged to be appropriate candidates for adjustable sutures. Comaintenance of anesthesia was accomplished using a stepped-down infusion of propofol with midazolam. Final suture adjustments were performed in the operating room immediately upon completion of strabismus surgery. Patient satisfaction was assessed 24 hours later. Patients were followed for 6 weeks postoperatively. Results: A total of 16 patients were studied, with 8 patients having horizontal muscle surgery, 7 patients with vertical muscle surgery, and 1 patient undergoing both horizontal and vertical muscle surgery. The change in deviation after 6 weeks of follow-up was 8 PD or less horizontally in all patients and 4 PD or less vertically in 87% of patients when compared with the alignment in the operating room. Diplopia, if present, resolved in 85% of patients. One patient (6.7%) required a second surgery. The mean drift at 2 weeks horizontally was 1.87 PD esotropic (range, 6 PD exophoric to 18 PD esotropic) and vertically 0.94 PD (range, 4 PD hypotropic to 4 PD hypertropic). The mean drift at 6 weeks horizontally was 0.27 PD exotropic (range, 8 PD exophoric to 8 PD esotropic) and vertically 0.6 PD (range, 6 PD hypotropic to 10 PD hypertropic). Conclusion: The immediate postoperative adjustment of sutures in strabismus surgery may be accurately performed using this new anesthetic technique. (J AAPOS 2002;6:241-5)
A Case for Surfacing Theories of Change for Purposeful Organisational Capacity Development

What are the capacities of an effective social change organisation (SCO)? Some SCOs may value strategic planning capacities, while others financial accountability to donors, improved teamwork, or networking capacities. But do the different capacities that SCOs seek purposefully support meaningful social change? How much of what SCOs deem as ‘worth strengthening’ is based on linear thinking, or unhealthy power interests, or what donors want them to want, or a combination of these? This article argues that the capacities that different organisations value are conditioned by a mix of individual, organisational and societal worldviews, including deeply held assumptions on the nature of change and one's roles in affecting change. It posits that the processes SCOs use to attempt to intentionally ‘build’ their capacities should surface these worldviews in order to find more purposeful and systemic relationships between its internal processes, systems and capacities and the complex change that an organisation seeks to support.
Biomedical informatics training at Stanford in the 21st century

The Stanford Biomedical Informatics training program began with a focus on clinical informatics, and has now evolved into a general program of biomedical informatics training, including clinical informatics, bioinformatics and imaging informatics. The program offers PhD, MS, distance MS, certificate programs, and is now affiliated with an undergraduate major in biomedical computation. Current dynamics include (1) increased activity in informatics within other training programs in biology and the information sciences (2) increased desire among informatics students to gain laboratory experience, (3) increased demand for computational collaboration among biomedical researchers, and (4) interaction with the newly formed Department of Bioengineering at Stanford University. The core focus on research training-the development and application of novel informatics methods for biomedical research-keeps the program centered in the midst of this period of growth and diversification.
Gamma-Ray and Multiwavelength Emission from Blazars

Blazars are now well understood as approaching relativistic jets aligned with the line of sight. The long-time uncertainty about the demographics of blazars is starting to become clearer: since the Fermi blazar sample includes a larger fraction of high-frequency peaked blazars (like the typical X-ray-selected blazars in, say, the Einstein Slew Survey sample) than did the higher-flux-limit EGRET blazar sample, these low-luminosity sources must be more common than their higher luminosity, low-frequency-peaked cousins. Blazar spectral energy distributions have a characteristic two-component form, with synchrotron radiation at radio through optical (UV, X-ray) frequencies and gamma-rays from X-ray through GeV (TeV) energies. Multiwavelength monitoring has suggested that gamma-ray flares can result from acceleration of electrons at shocks in the jet, and there appears to be an association between the creation of outflowing superluminal radio components in VLBI maps and the gamma-ray flares. In many cases, the gamma-ray emission is produced by inverse Compton upscattering of ambient optical-UV photons, although the contribution from energetic hadrons cannot be ruled out. The next few years of coordinated gamma-ray, X-ray, UV, optical, infrared and radio monitoring of blazars will be important for characterizing jet content, structure, and total power.
Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer: The universal beam combiner

The Large Binocular Telescope with its single mount design and adaptive optics integrated into the secondary mirrors, provides a unique platform for mid-infrared interferometry. The Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer is designed to take advantage of this platform, specifically for extrasolar planet detection in preparation for the Terrestrial Planet Finder mission. The instrument consists of three components: a general purpose or Universal Beam Combiner (UBC) which preserves the sine condition of the array, a nulling interferometer for the LBT (NIL) to overlap the two beams and sense phase variations, and a nulling-optimized mid-infrared camera (NOMIC) for detection of the final images. Here we focus on the design and tolerancing of the UBC. The components of the system are currently being fabricated and the instrument is planned to be integrated with the LBT in 2006.
Application of interpattern association to gray-level neural net

A gray level discrete associative memory (GLDAM) neural network using interpattern association (IPA) model is presented. By decomposing a gray level pattern into bipolar/binary modes of subpatterns, a GLDAM can be constructed. Although GLDAM improves the information capacity of the neural net, the decomposition process introduces sparse allocation in memory matrix, which affects the performance of the neural net. Computer simulated results for the Hopfield and the IPA models are provided, in which we have shown that the IPA GLDAM performs better.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Vacancy out-diffusion in nitrogen-doped silicon

In nitrogen-doped silicon a strong anneal-induced resistivity increase was reported – but has remained not fully understood. It is now shown that the complicated evolution of the resistivity depth profiles can be reproduced by a relatively simple model based on the out-diffusion of vacancies and of nitrogen trimers N3. Both these species are produced by dissociation of VN3 defects that originate from grown-in neutral vacancy-nitrogen defects. The major deep donors are attributed to N3 defects. The deduced effective vacancy diffusivity DV at 1000 °C is almost coincident with the value extrapolated from low-temperature data by Watkins. At 900 °C DV is remarkably smaller due to trapping of vacancies by dimeric nitrogen, N2, that is pronounced at lower T. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Frenchness, Jewishness, and ‘integration’ in Karin Albou’s La Petite Jérusalem

Karin Albou’s film La Petite Jerusalem (2005) stages the inner dilemmas of Laura, a 19-year-old Jewish woman of Tunisian origin who lives in Sarcelles, a Parisian suburb with a large Jewish population. This article examines the ways in which, through Laura’s rejection of Jewish traditions and her complicated love affair with an illegal Muslim-Algerian immigrant, Albou subverts notions of ‘Frenchness’, ‘Jewishness’ and territoriality in the ‘banlieues’, while challenging the French Republican model of integration and pointing to France’s failure to foster an environment that acknowledges and promotes diversity.
Habitat capacity for cougar recolonization in the Upper Great Lakes region.

Background Recent findings indicate that cougars (Puma concolor) are expanding their range into the midwestern United States. Confirmed reports of cougar in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have increased dramatically in frequency during the last five years, leading to speculation that cougars may re-establish in the Upper Great Lakes (UGL) region, USA. Recent work showed favorable cougar habitat in northeastern Minnesota, suggesting that the northern forested regions of Michigan and Wisconsin may have similar potential. Recolonization of cougars in the UGL states would have important ecological, social, and political impacts that will require effective management. Methodology/Principal Findings Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), we extended a cougar habitat model to Michigan and Wisconsin and incorporated primary prey densities to estimate the capacity of the region to support cougars. Results suggest that approximately 39% (>58,000 km2) of the study area could support cougars, and that there is potential for a population of approximately 500 or more animals. An exploratory validation of this habitat model revealed strong association with 58 verified cougar locations occurring in the study area between 2008 and 2013. Conclusions/Significance Spatially explicit information derived from this study could potentially lead to estimation of a viable population, delineation of possible cougar-human conflict areas, and the targeting of site locations for current monitoring. Understanding predator-prey interactions, interspecific competition, and human-wildlife relationships is becoming increasingly critical as top carnivores continue to recolonize the UGL region.