cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Retailer Promotion Policy Model Considering Promotion Signal Sensitivity

Recent research suggests that the signal e.g., sign or marker with a point of purchase promotion will stimulate a significant sales increase, regardless of whether or not that signal is accompanied by a price cut. This paper develops a model of retailer profitability that incorporates this "promotion signal sensitivity." In a field test, the profitability of the promotion policy prescribed by this model is compared to the profitability of two other promotion policy-setting paradigms: a model-based policy that does not consider promotion signal sensitivity and one prescribed by industry experts. The test results support the proposed model. Its policy generates 11% more category profit per unit than the model-based policy and 12% more than the industry experts. Implications for retailers and future research are discussed.
Storage and retrieval of optical pulses using a two-color optical memory

The complete waveforms of 1.4 mus optical signal pulses are delayed and stored using a coherently prepared warm Rb vapor, and then recovered up to 500 mus later (with a factor of 2 temporal pulse broadening). Mediated by four-wave mixing, frequency-shifted idler pulses are generated, and then stored and retrieved simultaneously with the signal pulses. The intensities of the retrieved pulses depend linearly on the intensity of the retrieving coupling beam.
Using Change Point Detection for Monitoring the Quality of Aggregate Data

Introduction: Data consisting of counts or indicators aggregated from multiple sources pose particular problems for data quality monitoring when the users of the aggregate data are blind to the individual sources. This arises when agencies wish to share data but for privacy or contractual reasons are only able to share data at an aggregate level. If the aggregators of the data are unable to guarantee the quality of either the sources of the data or the aggregation process then the quality of the aggregate data may be compromised. This situation arose in the Distribute surveillance system (1). Distribute was a national emergency department syndromic surveillance project developed by the International Society for Disease Surveillance for influenza-like-illness (ILI) that integrated data from existing state and local public health department surveillance systems, and operated from 2006 until mid 2012. Distribute was designed to work solely with aggregated data, with sites providing data aggregated from sources within their jurisdiction, and for which detailed information on the un-aggregated ‘raw’ data was unavailable. Previous work (2) on Distribute data quality identified several issues caused in part by the nature of the system: transient problems due to inconsistent uploads, problems associated with transient or long-term changes in the source make up of the reporting sites and lack of data timeliness due to individual site data accruing over time rather than in batch. Data timeliness was addressed using prediction intervals to assess the reliability of the partially accrued data (3). The types of data quality issues present in the Distribute data are likely to appear to some extent in any aggregate data surveillance system where direct control over the quality of the source data is not possible. In this work we present methods for detecting both transient and long-term changes in the source data makeup.
Do metropolitan areas mean anything? A research note.

In this brief study I ask the most elementary question about the coherence of [U.S.] central cities and suburbs: are their population changes correlated in any simple way?...Specifically I ask the following question: suppose one knows the national population growth rate whether an SMSA component is the central city (cities) or suburbs and the region in which the SMSA is located then would the ability to explain the components population growth rate be improved by knowing which SMSA the component is in?...The conclusion is that there appears to be an SMSA effect on population growth. (EXCERPT)
The 1978 survey of training of therapeutic radiologists in the united states

Abstract The 1982 survey confirms a decline in the growth of training programs and significant trends. The proportion of female residents and of foreign medical graduates is smaller than in 1980.
M theory on AdSp×S11−p and superconformal field theories

We study the large N limit of the interacting superconformal field theories associated with N M5 branes or M2 branes using the recently proposed relation between these theories and M theory on AdS spaces. We first analyze the spectrum of chiral operators of the 6d (0, 2) theory associated with M5 branes in flat space, and find full agreement with earlier results obtained using its DLCQ description as quantum mechanics on a moduli space of instantons. We then perform a similar analysis for the D{sub N} type 6d (0, 2) theories associated with M5 branes at an R{sup 5}/Z{sub 2} singularity, and for the 3d N = 8 superconformal field theories associated with M2 branes in flat space and at an R{sup 8}/Z{sub 2} singularity respectively. Little is known about these three theories, and our study yields for the first time their spectrum of chiral operators (in the large N limit).
Performance bounds for coded free-space optical communications through atmospheric turbulence channels

Error-control codes can help to mitigate atmospheric turbulence-induced signal fading in free-space optical communication links using intensity modulation/direct detection (IM/DD). Error performance bound analysis can yield simple analytical upper bounds or approximations to the bit-error probability. We first derive an upper bound on the pairwise codeword-error probability for transmission through channels with correlated turbulence-induced fading, which involves complicated multidimensional integration. To simplify the computations, we derive an approximate upper bound under the assumption of weak turbulence. The accuracy of this approximation under weak turbulence is verified by numerical simulation. Its invalidity when applied to strong turbulence is also shown. This simple approximate upper bound to the pairwise codeword-error probability is then applied to derive an upper bound to the bit-error probability for block codes, convolutional codes, and turbo codes for free-space optical communication through weak atmospheric turbulence channels. We also discuss the choice of interleaver length in block codes and turbo codes based on numerical evaluation of our performance bounds.
Feature Learning Using Bayesian Linear Regression Model

Data representation plays a key role in many machine learning tasks. Specific domain knowledge can help design some features, but it often needs a long time to handcraft them. On the other hand, unsupervised learning can automatically learn a good representation of either labeled or unlabeled data. Currently one of the dominant approaches is the restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM). In this paper, we investigate an alternative approach for feature learning, which is based on Bayesian linear regression model. This model can also be denoted as Factor analysis, which is a statistical method for modeling the covariance structure of high dimensional data, but has not been used for feature learning. We will compare the proposed framework with RBM on different kinds of computer vision applications. Experiment results on different datasets are reported to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed feature learning framework.
Hitting time analysis for a class of random packet forwarding schemes in ad hoc networks

In this paper, we study the problem of searching for a node or a piece of data in an ad hoc network using random packet forwarding. In particular, we examine three different methods. The first is a random direction forwarding scheme where the query packet is forwarded along a randomly chosen direction (following an approximate straight line) till it either hits the destination node (the target) or the boundary. It bounces off the boundary in the latter case and the process continues till the target is found. In the second approach, in addition to query packet traversing the network, the target releases an advertisement packet that propagates along a randomly chosen direction so that all nodes visited by the advertisement packet obtain and store the target location information. In the third method the query packet is assumed to follow a random walk type of forwarding. Our primary interest is in comparing the average hitting time under these methods and the memory required to store location information. In particular, we show that under the random direction forwarding the target hitting time is @Qa^2b, where a and b denote the size/radii of the network and the target area, assumed to be circular in shape, respectively. The hitting time is @Q(a) with target advertisement, and @Qa^2logab under the random walk type of forwarding. We further show that the target advertisement method achieves mean hitting time on the same order as greedy forwarding schemes with less memory requirement. We compare this class of schemes with the family of Levy walks and provide simulation results on their performance under more realistic settings.
Zopiclone and sleepwalking.

Sleepwalking is a disorder of arousal in which the subject arises from deep sleep displaying short and simple behaviour or longer complex behaviour, including leaving the bed and walking, with amnesia of the event. Indeed, complex behaviours such as cooking, eating and drinking, playing a musical instrument and driving a car may occur during sleepwalking (Plazzi et al., 2005). It has been proposed that mechanisms of disordered arousal, typically from slow-wave sleep (SWS), are the causes of this disorder (Szelenberger et al., 2005). Sleepwalking has been reported to worsen upon sleep deprivation, fever and stress; it has also been associated with psychological distress, panic disorder, phobias and suicidal thoughts and it may be induced …
Passive shared media systems

A passive shared media space-division photonic switching architecture with the potential for extremely high dimensionality is presented. The architecture, which resembles a collapsed network, eliminates the restrictions 2*2 switching elements impose in classical space-division switching architectures by providing a dedicated path for all input- and output-port connections on a common transmission medium. Switching between two input ports and three output ports of a space-division time-multiplexed photonic switch with 120*120 input/output port capacity was demonstrated. The aggregate throughput was 12 Gb/s. >
Impact of Acinetobacter Infection on the Mortality of Burn Patients

Background Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex (Acb) is recognized as an important cause of nosocomial infections. Although Acb can be associated with multidrug resistance, its impact on mortality in burn patients has not been fully elucidated. Study design In a retrospective cohort study assessing medical records and microbiology laboratory data at a US military tertiary care burn center, we evaluated all patients admitted to the burn center between January 2003 and November 2005. Data collected included age, severity of burn, comorbidities, length of stay, and survival to hospital discharge. In addition, microbiology data were reviewed to determine which patients were infected with Acb during this time frame. These data were then used to compare patients infected with Acb to patients not infected. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression was performed to determine which patient characteristics were associated with increased mortality. Results There were 802 patients included in the study. Fifty-nine patients met the case definition for infection. An additional 52 patients were found to be colonized with Acb. Patients with Acb infection had more severe burns and comorbidities, and had longer lengths of stay compared with patients without Acb or those with Acb colonization. Mortality in infected patients was higher compared with those without infection (relative risk=2.86, p=0.001). On multivariate analysis, infection with Acb was not statistically associated with mortality. Conclusions Multidrug-resistant Acb is a common cause of nosocomial infection in the burn patient population. Despite this, it does not independently affect mortality.
MEF2C transcription factor controls chondrocyte hypertrophy and bone development

Chondrocyte hypertrophy is essential for endochondral bone development. Unexpectedly, we discovered that MEF2C, a transcription factor that regulates muscle and cardiovascular development, controls bone development by activating the gene program for chondrocyte hypertrophy. Genetic deletion of Mef2c or expression of a dominant-negative MEF2C mutant in endochondral cartilage impairs hypertrophy, cartilage angiogenesis, ossification, and longitudinal bone growth in mice. Conversely, a superactivating form of MEF2C causes precocious chondrocyte hypertrophy, ossification of growth plates, and dwarfism. Endochondral bone formation is exquisitely sensitive to the balance between MEF2C and the corepressor histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4), such that bone deficiency of Mef2c mutant mice can be rescued by an Hdac4 mutation, and ectopic ossification in Hdac4 null mice can be diminished by a heterozygous Mef2c mutation. These findings reveal unexpected commonalities in the mechanisms governing muscle, cardiovascular, and bone development with respect to their regulation by MEF2 and class II HDACs.
Serotonin plays an early role in the metamorphosis of the hydrozoan Phialidium gregarium

Hydrozoan larvae normally metamorphose in response to an obligate external environmental cue. Application of certain artificial chemical stimuli will also induce metamorphosis. These chemicals and their inhibitors have been used to define and order some of the signal transduction events involved in this process. Results from this study show that exogenous application of serotonin (5-HT) will induce metamorphosis and that 5-HT immunoreactive cells are present in larvae when they are competent to metamorphose. The 5-HT inhibitors ketanserin, clozapine, and 5,7-DHT prevent metamorphosis from occurring as a response to a natural inducing stimulus. Additionally, 5-HT signaling occurs prior to both an influx of external Ca2+ from seawater and activation of protein kinase C, two other steps in the metamorphic signal transduction pathway. The neuropeptide LWamide, previously shown to induce metamorphosis in a related hydrozoan, Hydractinia echinata, also induced metamorphosis in Phialidium. When larvae were cotreated with LWamide and the 5-HT antagonist ketanserin, settlement occurred but was not followed by polyp morphogenesis. These results are used to present a model for the action of 5-HT during metamorphosis in Phialidium gregarium.
The Related Adhesion Focal Tyrosine Kinase Differentially Phosphorylates p130Cas and the Cas-like Protein, p105HEF1

Abstract The related adhesion focal tyrosine kinase (RAFTK) is tyrosine-phosphorylated following β1 integrin or B cell antigen receptor stimulation in human B cells. Two substrates that are tyrosine-phosphorylated following integrin ligation in B cells are p130Cas and the Cas family member human enhancer of filamentation 1 (HEF1), both of which can associate with RAFTK. In this report we observed that RAFTK was involved in the phosphorylation of these two proteins. While a catalytically active RAFTK was required for both p130Cas and HEF1, phosphorylation of p130Cas, but not of HEF1, was dependent on an intact autophosphorylation site (Tyr402) on RAFTK. To determine if RAFTK phosphorylated p130Cas and HEF1 directly or through an intermediate, we assayed the ability of RAFTK and of a Tyr402 mutant to phosphorylate purified HEF1 and p130Cas domains. RAFTK was able to phosphorylate the substrate domains of both p130Cas and HEF1, but only the C-terminal domain of p130Cas. Furthermore, Tyr402, which mediates the binding of RAFTK to c-Src kinase, was required for the phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of p130Cas. These data suggest that RAFTK itself is sufficient for HEF1 phosphorylation, whereas a cooperation between RAFTK and Src kinases is required for the complete phosphorylation of p130Cas.
Controlling traffic flow near the transition to the synchronous flow phase

Abstract For constant incoming flow far upstream of a freeway on-ramp, the flow downstream (throughput) and the rate of merging are studied with simulations using a generalized optimal velocity model. For large enough merge rates, a transition to synchronous flow occurs and the throughput is reduced by 0.5–0.7 vehicle on average for each vehicle that merges. For smaller merge rates there is free flow on the freeway and the throughput is the sum of the merge rate and the flow upstream of the on-ramp. Thus, there is an optimum merge rate that maximizes the throughput for a given incoming flow rate. These results hold for a wide range of initial vehicle position and velocity profiles and for single- as well as double-lane freeways. The results show that the transition to synchronous flow is due to the dynamics of the merge process, rather than to a limitation on the capacity of the downstream portion of the freeway. As a consequence, a new on-ramp metering algorithm, which controls the merge rate to prevent the transition to synchronous flow and concomitantly to maximize flow, has been developed.
Human DNA mismatch repair: coupling of mismatch recognition to strand-specific excision

Eukaryotic mismatch-repair (MMR) proteins MutSalpha and MutLalpha couple recognition of base mismatches to strand-specific excision, initiated in vivo at growing 3' ends and 5' Okazaki-fragment ends or, in human nuclear extracts, at nicks in exogenous circular substrates. We addressed five biochemical questions relevant to coupling models. Excision remained fully efficient at DNA:MutSalpha ratios of nearly 1 to 1 at various mismatch-nick distances, suggesting a requirement for only one MutSalpha molecule per substrate. As the mismatch-nick DNA contour distance D in exogenous substrates increased from 0.26 to 0.98 kbp, initiation of excision in extracts decreased as D(-0.43) rather than the D(-1) to D(-2) predicted by some translocation or diffusion models. Virtually all excision was along the shorter (3'-5') nick-mismatch, even when the other (5'-3') path was less than twice as long. These observations argue against stochastically directed translocating/diffusing recognition complexes. The failure of mismatched DNA in trans to provoke excision of separate nicked homoduplexes argues against one-stage (concerted) triggering of excision initiation by recognition complexes acting through space. However, proteins associated with gapped DNA did appear to compete in trans with those in cis to mismatch-associated proteins. Thus, as in Escherichia coli, eukaryotic MMR may involve distinct initial-activation and excision-path-commitment stages.
Primary versus Delayed Tracheoesophageal Puncture for Laryngopharyngectomy with Free Flap Reconstruction

Objectives: To determine whether postoperative complication rates and speech outcomes differ between patients undergoing primary versus secondary tracheoesophageal puncture following total laryngectomy with free flap reconstruction. Study Design: Retrospective clinical study in a tertiary academic center. Methods: Between November 2004 and June 2010, 137 patients underwent total laryngectomy or laryngopharyngectomy with pharyngeal free flap reconstruction for malignant disease. Data was collected on patient and operative demographics, early postoperative complications, speech outcomes, and predictive factors for tracheoesophageal puncture failure. Results: Thirty patients (22%) had a primary tracheoesophageal puncture performed at the time of laryngectomy, 27 patients (20%) received secondary punctures (>3 months postlaryngectomy), and 80 patients (58%) never received a puncture. Patient and operative demographics were similar between groups (P < .05), apart from proportionately more hypopharyngeal tumors in the “no puncture” group (P < .002). Similar numbers of patients in primary and secondary puncture groups achieved intelligible speech (67% vs. 71%, P = .82) and both groups reported good patient-perceived voice-related quality of life. Salvage surgery and nonpatch radial forearm free flap reconstruction both trended toward increased early postoperative complication rates (P = .09). Conclusions: There is no difference in the early postoperative complication rate for primary versus secondary tracheoesophageal puncture following total laryngectomy with concurrent free flap reconstruction. Radial forearm patch free flap reconstruction achieves good speech outcomes.
Gaussian quadrature formulas for triangles

Several formulas are presented for the numerical integration of a function over a triangular area. The formulas are of the Gaussian type and are fully symmetric with respect to the three vertices of the triangle.
Connectivity and Latency in Large-Scale Wireless Networks with Unreliable Links

We study connectivity and transmission latency in wireless networks with unreliable links from a percolation-based perspective. We first examine static models, where each link of the network is functional (active) with some probability, independently of all other links, where the probability may depend on the distance between the two nodes. We obtain analytical upper and lower bounds on the critical density for phase transition in this model. We then examine dynamic models, where each link is active or inactive according to a Markov on- off process. We show that a phase transition also exists in such dynamic networks, and the critical density for this model is the same as the one for static networks under some mild conditions. Furthermore, due to the dynamic behavior of links, a delay is incurred for any transmission even when propagation delay is ignored. We study the behavior of this transmission delay and show that the delay scales linearly with the Euclidean distance between the sender and the receiver when the network is in the subcritical phase, and the delay scales sub-linearly with the distance if the network is in the supercritical phase.
Detection, localization, and estimation of edges

A method to detect, locate, and estimate edges in a one-dimensional signal is presented. It is inherently more accurate than all previous schemes as it explicitly models and corrects interaction between nearby edges. The method is iterative with initial estimation of edges provided by the zero crossings of the signal convolved with Laplacian of Gaussian (LoG) filter. The necessary computations necessitate knowledge of this convolved output only in a neighborhood around each zero crossing and in most cases, could be performed locally by independent parallel processors. Results on one-dimensional slices extracted from real images, and on images which have been proposed independently in the row and column directions are shown. An analysis of the method is provided including issues of complexity and convergence, and directions of future research are outlined. >
D2 dopamine receptor occupancy: a crossover comparison of risperidone with clozapine therapy in schizophrenic patients.

The atypical antipsychotic agents, clozapine and risperidone, have a similar pharmacological profile of D 2 dopamine receptor affinity, α 2 , and serotonin 2 antagonism. 1 Despite this similarity, the clinical profile of these 2 drugs are quite different. For instance, risperidone produces dose-dependent extrapyramidal side effects, whereas clozapine does not. 2 Moreover, there may be differences in the antipsychotic efficacy of these 2 drugs n treatment-resistant patients. One possibility for this difference in clinical profile is that these drugs produce different levels of D 2 receptor occupancy. Previous estimates of D 2 receptor occupancy of these atypical agents have examined different individuals and do not account for interindividual variation. 3, 4 We are, therefore, conducting a double-blind, randomized, crossover sodium iodide I123-benzamide—single photon emission computed tomographic study with schizophrenic patients treated with fixed doses of clozapine and risperidone to investigate the degree of D 2 receptor occupancy by these drugs. To date, we
Fibromyalgia: Novel Therapeutic Aspects

SUMMARYObjectives: This paper focuses on nonpharmacologic approaches to fibromyalgia treatment. Descriptions of the most well researched strategies, such as exercise, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and multidisciplinary treatment using multiple treatment components, along with novel treatments for which evidence is beginning to emerge, are compared and evaluated.Findings: Evidence for the pain reduction benefits of moderate intensity exercise is strong. Both cognitive-behavioral therapy as a stand-alone treatment and multicomponent strategies that incorporate exercise and cognitive-behavioral or education strategies have significant benefits to patients mainly in enhanced self-efficacy and physical capacity and decreased pain. Novel therapies such as acupuncture, biofeedback, balneotherapy, therapeutic massage, movement therapy, vegetarian diets and supplements, and magnets all demonstrate therapeutic benefits in small clinical trials. There is some evidence that discernible characteristics may differentia...
Processing Streams in Auditory Cortex

The main functions of hearing are to (a) to identify sounds, much of it for the purpose of auditory communication, and to (b) localize sounds in space, mostly for the purpose of tracking and navigation. The brain seems to solve these two tasks in largely segregated cortical processing streams, a ventral and a dorsal stream. Besides processing of space and motion, the dorsal stream also participates in other important forms of audio-motor behavior, including sensorimotor control and integration for speech and music in humans.
The National Research Council's Plan to Strengthen Forensic Science: Does the Path forward Run through the Courts?

According to the National Research Council’s (NRC) report on forensic science, courts have been “utterly ineffective” in screening problematic forensic testimony from criminal juries. This article discusses the NRC’s implicit critique of the courts and assesses future prospects for judicial gatekeeping in the area of forensic science. It argues that the NRC report may itself help turn the tide of judicial opinion against the admissibility of individualization testimony by practitioners of pattern-matching disciplines and that this development, if it occurs, will help generate political support for the NRC’s ambitious agenda of legislative and regulatory reforms.
Congress and the Foundations in the Twentieth Century

(1965). Congress and the Foundations in the Twentieth Century. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 36, No. 8, pp. 476-478.
Molecular dynamics simulation of the unfolding of individual bacteriorhodopsin helices in sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles.

We report molecular dynamics simulations of the trends in the changes in secondary structure of the seven individual helices of bacteriorhodopsin when inserted into sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles, and their dependence on the amino acid sequence. The results indicate that the partitioning of the helices in the micelles and their stability are dependent on the hydrophobicity of the transmembrane segments. Helices A, B, and E are stable and retain their initial secondary structure throughout the 100 ns simulation time. In contrast, helices C, D, F, and G show structural perturbations within the first 10 ns. The instabilities are localized near charged residues within the transmembrane segments. The overall structural instability of the helix is correlated with its partitioning to the surface of the micelle and its interaction with polar groups there. The in silico experiments were performed to complement the in vitro experiments that examined the partial denaturation of bacteriorhodopsin in SDS descri...
The Sales Territory as a Fixed Asset

The sales territory or district should be viewed as a decentralized unit of the firm managed to produce a profit on the assets employed therein. This profit center view usually stresses profits but...
Neutrophils accumulate and contribute to skeletal muscle dysfunction after ischemia-reperfusion

Skeletal muscles subjected to ischemia and then reperfusion develop contractile dysfunction for reasons that are unclear. We found that rats pretreated with vinblastine 4 days before study had decreased numbers of blood neutrophils and increased gastrocnemius muscle function after ischemia (3h) and reperfusion (4 h) compared with untreated rats or rats treated 4 days before study with saline. By comparison, rats pretreated with vinblastine or saline 1 day before study had increased blood neutrophils and decreased gastrocnemius muscle contractile function after ischemia-reperfusion compared with untreated rats. In addition, numbers of neutrophils in gastrocnemius muscles paralleled numbers of blood neutrophils and correlated with gastrocnemius muscle edema and contractile function after ischemia and reperfusion. The results indicate that neutrophils accumulate and may play an important role in the genesis of skeletal muscle contractile dysfunction after ischemia-reperfusion.
Crystal structure of 2-diazo-imidazole-4,5-dicarbo-nitrile.

In the title compound, C5N6, all the atoms are approximately coplanar. In the crystal, mol­ecules are packed with short contact distances of 2.885 (2) (between the diazo N atom connected to the ring and a cyano N atom on a neighboring mol­ecule) and 3.012 (2) A (between the terminal diazo N atom and an N atom of a neighboring imidazole ring).
The symbolic economy of drugs

This essay reviews four recent studies representing a new direction in the history of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical science. To this end, it introduces the notion of a symbolic economy of drugs, defined as the production, circulation, and reception of signs that convey information about drugs and establish trust in them. Each of the studies under review focuses on one key signifier in this symbolic economy, namely the brand, the patent, the clinical trial, and the drug itself. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu's theory of the economy of symbolic goods, I conceptualize these signifiers as symbolic assets, that is, as instruments of communication and credit, delivering knowledge, carrying value, and producing authority. The notion of a symbolic economy is offered with a threefold intention. First, I introduce it in order to highlight the implications of historical and anthropological work for a broader theory of the economy of drugs, thus suggesting a language for interdisciplinary conversations in the study of pharmaceuticals. Second, I deploy it in an attempt to emphasize the contributions of the recent scholarship on drugs to a critical understanding of our own contemporary ways of organizing access to drugs and information about drugs. Finally, I suggest ways in which it might be of use to scholars of other commodities and technologies.
Conservation: Geniuses of place

Ethan Carr traces the arc of influence in landscape creation and preservation from 'Capability' Brown to Frederick Law Olmsted and the US National Park Service.
Performance Appraisal: Who Knows Best?

Performance management is one of the most important managerial activities that occur in the workplace. A key element in the process is the annual formal performance appraisal. Managers are often reluctant to differentiate among the performance ratings they assign to their employees and are frequently influenced by personal factors well beyond performance standards. This paper provides an exercise that allows employees to evaluate and reward a group of employees. By engaging in this exercise, students should gain a greater awareness of the difficulties faced by managers when evaluating their employees. It highlights the use of peer feedback, the complications that result from personal relationships between managers and their employees, and asks employees to determine “how much is enough” when rewarding employees who exceed performance standards.
Photoreceptor Cells Produce Inflammatory Mediators That Contribute to Endothelial Cell Death in Diabetes.

Purpose Recent studies suggest that photoreceptor cells regulate local inflammation in the retina in diabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine if photoreceptor cells themselves produce inflammatory proteins in diabetes and if soluble factors released by photoreceptors in elevated glucose induce inflammatory changes in nearby cells. Methods Laser capture microdissection was used to isolate the outer retina (photoreceptors) from the inner retina in nondiabetic and diabetic mice. Diabetes-induced changes in the expression of inflammatory targets were assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Cell culture experiments were carried out to determine if photoreceptors in vitro and ex vivo release soluble mediators that can stimulate nearby cells. Photoreceptor contribution to leukocyte-mediated endothelial cell death was tested using coculture models. Results Messenger ribonucleic acid and protein expression levels for inflammatory proteins intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) were increased in photoreceptors cells in diabetes. In vitro and ex vivo studies show that photoreceptor cells in elevated glucose release mediators that can induce tumor necrosis factor-α in leukocytes and endothelial cells, but not in glia. The soluble mediators released by photoreceptor cells in elevated glucose are regulated by transforming growth factor β-activated kinase 1 and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH oxidase) signaling. In contrast to enhanced leukocyte-mediated killing of endothelial cells by leukocytes from wild-type diabetic mice, leukocytes from diabetic mice lacking photoreceptor cells (opsin-/-) did not kill endothelial cells. Conclusions These data indicate that photoreceptor cells are a source of inflammatory proteins in diabetes, and their release of soluble mediators can contribute to the death of retinal capillaries in diabetes.
Induction of Bim Facilitates Apoptosis in Leukemia Cells Treated with HDAC Inhibitors.

Abstract Lymphoblastic leukemias containing chromosomal translocations involving the Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL, HRX, ALL-1) gene, as well as most acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs) have relatively poor clinical prognoses due in part to intrinsic drug resistance. Therefore, new avenues are being explored for treatment of MLL-rearranged ALL and AMLs. One possible new therapeutic class currently being investigated is the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. We utilized the histone deacetylase inhibitor NVP-LAQ824 (Novartis, Basel, Switzerland) and analyzed its effects on MLL rearranged and other myeloid leukemias. We also made use of an MLL-AF9 expressing myeloid leukemia cell line (AKLG) derived from purified murine leukemia stem cells to perform gene expression analysis on NVP-LAQ824 treated cells in order to further understand the mechanism of action of HDAC inhibitors, and to potentially identify cooperating therapeutics. NVP-LAQ824 inhibits cell growth at similar concentrations for all cell lines and primary patient samples tested (~25–50nM) as determined by MTT assay 48 hours after treatment. NVP-LAQ824 does not appear to induce apoptosis solely through inhibition of the HSP90/FLT3-ITD complex as cell lines possessing FLT3-ITD (a HSP90-chaperoned protein) and cells without this mutation have similar drug sensitivities. In fact, in cells overexpressing FLT3-ITD that are treated with NVP-LAQ824, phospho-FLT3-ITD levels do not diminish. Microarray data indicated that NVP-LAQ824 induces the BH3-only family member bim. This finding was verified by Western blotting in all cell lines and patient samples tested. Further, shRNA-mediated knockdown of Bim induced relative resistance of cells to NVP-LAQ824. The expression profile also showed similarities to gene expression patterns of dexamethasone treated cells, namely, increased bim levels and decreased expression of c-myc, raising the possibility of synergy between the two drugs. Using MTT assays, we discovered that NVP-LAQ824 in low doses (25nM) induces sensitivity to dexamethasone in glucocorticoid resistant cell lines in a glucocorticoid receptor (GR) dependent manner. Therefore, our data indicate that NVP-LAQ824 may reverse glucocorticoid resistance and may provide insight into glucocorticoid resistance in MLL rearranged leukemias. The biochemistry behind HDAC inhibitors merits further study.
Antiferromagnetic spin current rectifier

It is shown theoretically, that an antiferromagnetic dielectric with bi-axial anisotropy, such as NiO, can be used for the rectification of linearly-polarized AC spin current. The AC spin current excites two evanescent modes in the antiferromagnet, which, in turn, create DC spin current flowing back through the antiferromagnetic surface. Spin diode based on this effect can be used in future spintronic devices as direct detector of spin current in the millimeter- and submillimeter-wave bands. The sensitivity of such a spin diode is comparable to the sensitivity of modern electric Schottky diodes and lies in the range 102-103 V/W for 30×30 nm2 structure.
Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for Robust Stability with Structured Time-Invariant Perturbations

We consider the problem of robust stability for uncertain systems described in terms of multiple scalar structured time-invariant perturbations, which are norm bounded. The issue we address is the role that the type of perturbation norm plays in the robust stability conditions. To this end, the L p -induced norm (for 1 ≤ p ≤ ∞) on the perturbations are considered, and it is shown that the structured singular value is the necessary and sufficient condition for robust stability for all these norms.
Ronald Reagan, George Shultz, and Caspar Weinberger: Winding Down the Cold War, 1984–1988

This chapter examines the primary factors, both personal and environmental, that were responsible for the transformation of President Ronald Reagan’s approach to the Soviet Union, which culminated in the end of the Cold War.
A case of massive hemoptysis following transesophageal echocardiogram.

Abstract Introduction Tracheal intubation leading to injury of the airway is a rare complication of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Tracheal trauma is not a described complication of TEE, and safety literature for this procedure remains silent on the matter. We describe the case of a patient on systemic anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy who underwent TEE and suffered massive hemoptysis requiring bronchial artery embolization (BAE). Case presentation An elderly patient was admitted to the hospital with recently diagnosed atrial fibrillation and shortness of breath. The patient underwent a TEE with successful synchronized cardioversion on hospital day #2. Later that day the patient experienced respiratory distress and hemoptysis and was intubated. Oropharyngeal and gastrointestinal sources of bleeding were excluded. A bronchoscopy revealed active bleeding from an ulceration in the bronchus intermedius (BI) of the right lung. A 7 French Arndt endobronchial blocker (Cook Medical, Bloomington, Indiana) was placed and anticoagulation reversed. Bleeding stopped for two days, but then returned on hospital day #5, requiring BAE to the right bronchial artery. The procedure was successful, the patient was successfully extubated, and was discharged over the next 10 days. Discussion Massive hemoptysis and respiratory compromise as a result of tracheal trauma is not described in the TEE literature. This patient proved to be a difficult esophageal intubation secondary to a newly discovered Zenker's diverticulum. The risk for bleeding in this patient was higher secondary to anticoagulation with warfarin and antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor. As in all cases of massive hemoptysis, key aspects of care in this case involved localization of bleeding, reversal of anticoagulation, and definitive management such as BAE. Conclusions Tracheal trauma is not a described complication of TEE, but clinicians should be mindful of this possible complication in patients receiving anticoagulation. Typical management for massive hemoptysis was successful in this patient.
Autoregressive Moving Average (ARMA) Models of Neuromuscular System

Abstract In developing mathematical models of systems from a given input-output data sequence, the choice of the sampling interval and the selection of the order of the model in time-series analysis pose difficult problems. Bandlimited (up to 15 Hz) random torque perturbations were applied to the human ankle joint. The applied torque input, the angular rotation output, and the electromyographic activity using surface electrodes from the extensor and flexor muscles of the ankle joint were recorded. Autoregressive moving average models were developed. A parameter constraining technique is applied to develop more reliable models. It is shown that the asymptotic behavior of the system must be taken into account during parameter optimization to develop predictive models.
Scaling Up the Self, Scaling Down the World: Self-objectification and the Politics of Carbon Offsets and Personalised Genomics

Two global initiatives, the Genographic Project and the Carbon Lottery, share an ambition to make abstract, global processes—human evolution and climate change—comprehensible and engaging to non-specialists. Despite their differences, they both do so by means of self-objectifications that scale up the selves of participants and scale down complex, spatio-temporal models of human–world relations. The author’s auto-ethnographic experiences in both initiatives illustrate how carbon calculators and personalised genomics involve a pragmatics of scale that evaluates and compares users on the basis of their relative expression of, or deviation from, a standard. Furthermore, this is not based on actual resources that participants do or do not possess, but on forms of capitalist exchange that underwrite carbon trading and population genomics, as experts and corporations make intellectual property derived from purportedly rare DNA and sustainable practices, which are typically indigenous and non-western. In fact, t...
ASPECTS, Large Vessel Occlusion, and Time of Symptom Onset: Estimation of Eligibility for Endovascular Therapy

Background Understanding how many patients are eligible for endovascular therapy can help develop more effective stroke systems of care. Objective To determine the proportion of patients eligible for endovascular therapy. Methods In this single center retrospective cohort study, we identified patients with acute ischemic stroke from large vessel occlusion (LVO) from January 2014 to December 2015. Selection criteria including LVO location, Alberta stroke program early computed tomography score (ASPECTS) range, hospital arrival time, and the use of intravenous thrombolysis were applied to calculate proportions of patients eligible for endovascular therapy. Results Of 989 patients with acute ischemic stroke, LVO was identified in 224 (23%) cases. Eighty-four percent of patients admitted within 6 h, 75% of patients admitted within 6 to 12 h, and 77% of patients with M1 and internal carotid artery occlusions admitted within 12 to 24 h had favorable ASPECTS for thrombectomy, defined as ASPECTS ≥ 6. Severity of NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) was predictive of favorable ASPECTS (odds ratio [OR] 0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04-0.74; P = .014 for NIHSS > 10 and OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.12-0.80; P = .014 for NIHSS > 20), whereas time of hospital arrival was not (OR 1.73, 95% CI 0.76-4.03; P = .26). Using all class I, Level of Evidence A American Heart Association guidelines criteria, 4% of patients with acute ischemic stroke were eligible for endovascular therapy. Up to 20% of patients were eligible for endovascular therapy with less restrictive criteria (Class IIb; Level of Evidence C). Conclusion Depending on the sets of selection criteria, between 4% (the most restrictive criteria) and 20% (the least restrictive criteria) of patients with LVO are potentially eligible for endovascular therapy.
Process-induced fiber matrix separation in long fiber-reinforced thermoplastics

Abstract This work explores the fiber migration during injection molding of long glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene. It was found that the simplified assumption of uniform fiber concentration distribution is inaccurate, and the process causes substantial variations in the fiber concentration along the flow path and through the thickness of injection molded parts. This was tested for a simple plate geometry molded at varying nominal fiber concentrations. The fiber concentration was measured by pyrolysis to obtain a global concentration, and using micro computed-tomography for a through-thickness analysis. Additionally, the fiber concentration at the melt front of partially filled moldings was investigated. A new measurement protocol using micro computed-tomography and digital image processing is proposed to calculate the through-thickness fiber concentration. The results of this study show substantial heterogeneity of the fiber concentration throughout the molded plates. Fibers agglomerated in the core layer with volume fractions up to 1.5 times the nominal fiber concentration.
Growth Inhibition and DNA Damage Induced by X-Phenols in Yeast: A Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship Study.

Phenolic compounds and their derivatives are ubiquitous constituents of numerous synthetic and natural chemicals that exist in the environment. Their toxicity is mostly attributed to their hydrophobicity and/or the formation of free radicals. In a continuation of the study of phenolic toxicity in a systematic manner, we have examined the biological responses of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to a series of mostly monosubstituted phenols utilizing a quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) approach. The biological end points included a growth assay that determines the levels of growth inhibition induced by the phenols as well as a yeast deletion (DEL) assay that assesses the ability of X-phenols to induce DNA damage or DNA breaks. The QSAR analysis of cell growth patterns determined by IC50 and IC80 values indicates that toxicity is delineated by a hydrophobic, parabolic model. The DEL assay was then utilized to detect genomic deletions in yeast. The increase in the genotoxicity was enhanced by the el...
Quartz grainsize evolution during dynamic recrystallization across a natural shear zone boundary

Abstract Although it is widely accepted that grainsize reduction by dynamic recrystallization can lead to strain localization, the details of the grainsize evolution during dynamic recrystallization remain unclear. We investigated the bulge size and grainsizes of quartz at approximately the initiation and the completion stages of bulging recrystallization across the upper boundary of a 500 m thick mylonite zone above the Vincent fault in the San Gabriel Mountains, southern California. Within uncertainty, the average bulge size of quartz, 4.7 ± 1.5 μm, is the same as the recrystallized grainsize, 4.5 ± 1.5 μm, at the incipient stage of dynamic recrystallization, and also the same within uncertainties as the recrystallized grainsize when dynamic recrystallization is largely complete, 4.7 ± 1.3 μm. These observations indicate that the recrystallized grainsize is controlled by the nucleation process and does not change afterwards. It is also consistent with the experimental finding that the quartz recrystallized grainsize paleopiezometer is independent of temperature.
Does Greater Trochanter Decortication Affect Suture Anchor Pullout Strength in Abductor Tendon Repairs? A Biomechanical Study.

Background:Greater trochanter decortication is frequently performed at the time of abductor tendon repair to theoretically increase healing potential. No previous studies have determined the effect...