cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Micro patterning processes for thin film nitinol endografts and evaluation of endothelialization in swine model

Micro features were created in thin film nitinol using a novel lift-off process to create an endovascular biomedical device. This manuscript describes fabrication problems with wet etching and introduces an effective way, named "Lift-off" process to solve undercut and non-uniform pattern issues. Two lift-off processes (i.e., lift-off I and II) are discussed. Lift-off I process has fracture issues and the film peels off the substrate due to high aspect ratio post structures. Lift-off II process use the film on the top of the Si substrate to fabricate various shape patterns (i.e., ellipse, diamond, circle, square, etc.) in the range of 5~60μm. The lift-off II process shows smooth and well aligned micro patterns in thin film nitinol. In-vivo tests in swine were performed to evaluate the endothelial tissue growth through fabricated micro patterns. Angiography and SEM images show patency of the artery and a uniform endothelial layer covering the device without thromobosis.
On the possible and stable psychophysical laws

Abstract Axiomatic measurement theory in psychology has been developed to clarify the characteristics of possible forms of psychophysical laws. Concurrently structural stability theory in mathematics has been established to elucidate the stability of a map describing a certain phenomenon under unknown small perturbations accompanying every observation. Until now, these two theories have been developed independently. The main objective of this paper is to introduce structural stability theory into axiomatic measuement theory in order to clarify the characteristics of “possible and stable” laws in psychophysics. In particular, the theory mathematically explains the experimental data that the exponents in Stevens' power laws are restricted to a certain set of numerical values. The theory may be applied with special care to other fields in science also.
Perspectives on the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) 2004–2005

SYNOPSIS: This commentary reflects my experiences with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) during the academic year 2000/2001 (Academic Fellow) and the two calendar years 2004–2005 (Deputy Chief Accountant [Professional Practice]). These comments reflect only my thoughts without citations in support of or contrary to those thoughts and resulting opinions. The topics covered in this commentary include: (1) early staff relations between the PCAOB and SEC in their respective roles of audit standard setter and oversight agency; (2) the PCAOB decision to act as the sole audit standard setter for registered public companies displacing the AICPA in this role; (3) the PCAOB's approach to “revising” the interim audit standards through Rule 3101, Certain Terms Used in Auditing and Related Professional Practice Standards; (4) Audit Standard 3 (AS3), Audit Documentation; and (5) Audit Standard 2 (AS2), An Audit of Internal Control over Financial Reporting Performed in Conjunction With an Audit of Finan...
EXPLANATORY STYLE AND ITS FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP TO JOB SATISFACTION FOR EMPLOYED WOMEN AGE FORTY AND OVER

Summary.-An assessment of the relationship between explanatory style and perceived general job satisfaction is presented for 135 employed women age 40 and over who were asked to complete the Attributional Style Questionnaire and the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. Although a forced-order multiple regression analysis did not yield a significant correlation between explanatory style and perceived general job satisfaction, several interesting factors emerged. The vulnerability of older women to the negative labeling of society and the effects of ageism (Bengston, 1973) may be manifested through the psychological reactions of learned helplessness and depression. These reactions may result in reduced feelings of self-worth and self-efficacy (Myers, 1990), characteristics that can be detected through one's explanatory style (Seligman, 1990). Many older women in society need to balance work and family commitments within a framework of professional opportunities and changing social climates. Many older women seeking employment face formidable challenges if they have internalized the stereotypical view that it is undesirable to be old (Myers, 1990). The tendency to perceive oneself as devalued and the reluctance to accept oneself as an aged person is often accompanied by depression and lowered self-esteem. Based on the foregoing discussion, it appears that the problem of learned helplessness may affect the population of aging women, especially as it relates to older women seeking employment. Therefore, a study was conducted to assess whether there is a significant relationship between explanatory style and perceived general job satisfaction by older women who are employed. It was predicted that, among older employed women, optimism as measured by satisfaction with employment would correlate with positive explanatory style. Pessimism as measured by lack of such satisfaction would correspondingly correlate with negative explanatory style. By measuring explanatory style among older women who were preparing to enter or reenter the workforce, those with a pessimistic explanatory style could be readily identified. For older women who desired to change pessimism to optimism, identification of pessimistic explanatory style could be beneficial in ultimately enhancing job satisfaction.
The Effects of Identical Versus Varied Advertising and Publicity Messages on Consumer Response

Advertising academics and practitioners frequently strategize about different ways of enhancing advertising effectiveness by incorporating publicity into campaigns. This research examined the effects of identical versus varied advertising and publicity messages on consumers' perceived information diagnosticity and purchase intentions. This study argues that varying messages in advertising and publicity about a product or service intelligently could be an effective technique in integrated marketing communications. In a rapidly changing media environment where consumers may obtain product information from a variety of sources (sometimes simultaneously), the results suggest that individuals are in fact more likely to purchase a product when advertising is linked to publicity converted into a credible third‐party endorsement.
Continuing Bonds Through After-Death Spiritual Experiences in Individuals Bereaved by Suicide

Bereaved persons sometimes report after-death spiritual experiences with loved ones who have died, which may represent continuing bonds, though little research exists regarding this phenomenon among those bereaved by suicide. This study sought to examine the frequency and correlates of these experiences among survivors of suicide loss. A majority of respondents experienced continuing bonds through after-death spiritual experiences, which take the form of dreams or feeling the presence of the person, among others. Generally, these experiences are regarded as positive and are often discussed with others. Implications suggest that these experiences likely represent continuing bonds with the deceased.
Assessment of effects of ethanol self-administration on social interactions in alcoholics.

Five volunteer chronic alcoholics participated in an experiment in which the availability or non-availability of a daily ration of 12 ounces (360 ml) of 95-proof ethanol (133.68 g ethanol) was randomly determined. For all subjects, rates of social interaction were significantly higher on ethanol days than non-ethanol days. The study demonstrates the feasibility of using complex molar units of human behavior as dependent variables in behavioral pharmacology research.
A MIXED‐FREQUENCY MODEL OF REGIONAL OUTPUT*

. This paper proposes a new method for estimating a monthly regional production model. The technique involves treating the region's monthly industrial output as a latent variable, which is in turn a function of capital (prosed by energy usage) and labor inputs. Annual observations on regional value added correspond to the summation of the unobservable monthly series over the 12 months, while changes in the national Industrial Production index help infer the series' month-to-month fluctuations. The model is estimated using the Kalman filter and the method of maximum likelihood. The estimates are used to compute monthly indices of regional value added for 15 individual 2-digit industries, and for the aggregate manufacturing sector in the Seventh Federal Reserve District. In a comparison of out-of-sample forecasting accuracy, the mixed-frequency model outperforms both the traditional parametric Cobb-Douglas and nonparametric Atlanta methods over the 1988–89 forecasting horizon.
Expanding horizons: Adapting manual-based treatments for anxious children with comorbid diagnoses

Children presenting for treatment at specialized anxiety clinics rarely present with a single diagnosis. Rather, anxious children present with complex diagnostic profiles typically consisting of comorbid anxiety, mood, and behavior disorders. These complex profiles can challenge the therapist's ability to creatively and flexibly apply a manual-based treatment. This article presents several cases of children with anxiety and comorbid conditions seen at the Child and Adolescent Anxiety Disorders Clinic (CAADC) at Temple University, Philadelphia. In presenting these cases, we provide examples of and suggestions about the flexible adaptation of the Coping Cat program (manual; Kendall, 1992 ) in the case of comorbid ADHD, depression, selective mutism, and physical and developmental disabilities.
Phi-pseudo-monotonicity and approximation-solvability of nonlinear equations

Abstract We generalize the results on the approximation-solvability of nonlinear functional equations to the case of Φ-pseudo-monotone mappings—a new and rather general class of mappings. An application is considered.
Quantitative fir absorptivity measurements of metals with dual non-resonant cavities

Abstract We have refined and extended an approximate analysis of multimode cavities by Lamb to extract absolute quantitative values for the frequency-dependent far-infrared absorptivity of metals from dual cavity measurements.
An Examination of General, Nondestination-Specific Versus Destination-Specific Motivational Factors

This article examines the impacts of general, nondestination-specific motivational factors and destination-specific motivational factors on travelers' decisions to visit a destination. Data for this study was collected from visitors to four key cultural heritage attractions in Tampa, Florida during 2006 through personal interviews. Using structural equation modeling, data was analyzed to identify the motivational factors that were likely to influence travelers' cultural heritage visitation pattern. Findings suggest that 3 of 7 motivational factors examined in this study are likely to have significant influences on cultural heritage site visitation patterns. Both interest in historic sites and interest in culture are found to have a positive impact, while relaxation is found to have a negative impact. Findings also suggest that climate, shopping, fun and sand, and outdoor and leisure do not have any significant impact on cultural heritage site visitation patterns of travelers.
Capital budgeting in hospital management using the analytic hierarchy process.

Abstract In recent years, the health care industry has been experiencing change to a degree unprecedented since the inception of the Medicare program. With traditional in-hospital care on the decline, hospitals are being forced to compete for business. They must identify within their own systems feasible alternatives for dealing with these changes and then determine which ones will best accomplish the goals of the organization. This paper offers a procedure that utilizes the analytic hierarchy process—a multicriteria decision-making tool that helps arrange the possible alternatives in hierarchical order given the priorities of relevant decision makers. An application of the method to a mid-sized hospital is presented. Although the procedure is structured, it is flexible enough to be updated for the realities of any health care institution.
It's a Dirty Job: Mental Health Consultation and the Challenges of Treating Encopresis in a Preadolescent

This case study details limitations encountered while providing indirect and direct clinical services to children in applied settings through a behavioral mental health consultation model. Specifically, the case of AB, a 13-year-old male residing at a foster care facility, who demonstrates oppositional and defiant behavior problems and symptoms of both retentive encopresis and posttraumatic stress, is presented to illustrate potential pitfalls faced by a consultant providing multiple forms of intervention in applied settings. Although the provision of supportive, individual psychotherapy is reviewed, an emphasis is placed on the difficulties of implementing a behavior modification plan to treat AB's encopresis at his residential foster care facility. The challenges associated with providing individual psychotherapy to AB while serving as the behavioral consultant at his residence are highlighted. Finally, recommendations are presented regarding how mental health consultants can work with applied service a...
Early modern OCR project (eMOP) at Texas A&M University: using Aletheia to train Tesseract

Great effort is being made to collect and preserve historic manuscripts from the early modern and eighteenth-century periods; unfortunately, searching the Early English Books Online (EEBO) and Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO) collections can be extremely difficult for researchers because current Optical Character Recognition (OCR) engines struggle to read and recognize various historic fonts, especially in manuscripts of declining quality. To address this problem, the Early Modern OCR Project (eMOP) at the Initiative for the Digital Humanities, Media, and Culture (IDHMC) at Texas A&M University seeks to train OCR engines to read historic documents more effectively in order to make the entirety of these collections accessible to searching. The first step in this project involves using Aletheia Desktop Tool, developed by PRImA Research Lab at the University of Salford, to use documents from the EEBO and ECCO collections to create training sets to aid OCR engines, such as Google's Tesseract, in recognizing the special characters such as ligatures, italics, and blackletter found within early modern fonts. In the year that the Aletheia team has been working to create these font training libraries, we have overcome several problems, including learning how to select, extract, and deliver the data that best suits Tesseract training requirements. This work with Aletheia is part of a larger scholarly project that endeavors to not only make the EEBO and ECCO collections more accessible for data mining purposes for researchers, but also seeks to make available to the public the methodologies, workflow, and digital tools developed during the eMOP project to aid libraries, museums, and scholars in other fields in their efforts to preserve and study our combined cultural history.
The chemical characterization of silicon-germanium thermoelectric alloys

Abstract The performance of thermoelectric devices is sensitive to the chemical composition, the dopant concentration and the uniformity of the semiconductor materials used in their fabrication. Analytical methods for the determination of silicon, germanium, boron, and phosphorus in SiGe thermoelectric materials are described. These methods were developed because of the fragmentary data available in the literature regarding their chemical characterization. The methods are rapid, accurate, and, with the exception of boron, require a minimum of expensive apparatus. Germanium was determined acidimetrically by means of the mannitol complex after ion-exchange separation on Amberlite XE-243, silica by the conventional gravimetric method, phosphorus colorimetrically as the vanadomolybdophosphate, and boron by emission spectroscopy.
Factors affecting fish diversity on a temperate reef: the fish assemblage of Palos Verdes Point, 1974–1981

We conducted underwater fish assemblage surveys, benthic quinaldine sampling, and ichthyoplankton collections over high and low relief reefs at Palos Verdes Point, California from 1974 through 1981. Seventy-three species (adults and larvae) were collected or observed at Palos Verdes. Of the 24 most abundant species, 8 showed significant abundance trends correlated with changes in sea surface temperatures; four increasing, and four decreasing. Two taxa occurred predominantly in the kelp canopy, while seven others were distributed at least 20% of the time between the canopy and the bottom. There was little significant change in the Palos Verdes benthic fish assemblage with development of the kelp bed. Only the kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus, showed a significant increase in abundance that correlated with the kelp bed formation. Similarly, we did not note an increase in juvenile fish during this period. In general, we suggest that the presence or absence of kelp has little effect on the abundance of most fish species in a high relief environment. Analysis of our data and that of other studies indicate that kelp bed fish assemblages within the Southern California Bight vary in a south-north direction. The Palos Verdes Point kelp bed appears to be more productive than those nearer the limit of the Bight, but was consistently lower in both fish abundance and diversity then the nearby breakwater at King Harbor. This difference has been maintained even though changes in the species structure at King Harbor has altered sufficiently since 1976 for the two formerly distinct assemblages to be significantly concordant.
A tender sinus does not always mean rhinosinusitis

Background: Sinus tenderness has not been quantitatively assessed. Objective: We sought to compare sinus and systemic tenderness in rhinosinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and healthy (non-CFS) groups. Methods: Cutaneous pressures (kg/cm2) causing pain at 5 sinus and 18 systemic sites were measured in acute and chronic rhinosinusitis, active allergic rhinitis, healthy non-CFS/no rhinosinusitis, and CFS subjects. Results: Sinus thresholds differed significantly (P ≤ 10−11, ANOVA) between non-CFS/no rhinosinusitis (1.59 ± 0.14 kg/cm2, mean ± 95% CI, n = 117), allergic rhinitis (1.19 ± 0.31, n = 30), exacerbations of chronic rhinosinusitis (1.25 ± 0.26, n = 25), non-CFS/chronic rhinosinusitis (1.23 ± 0.27, n = 23), acute rhinosinusitis (1.10 ± 0.20, n = 22), CFS/no rhinosinusitis (0.98 ± 0.15, n = 70), and CFS/chronic rhinosinusitis (0.78 ± 0.12, n = 56). Systemic pressure thresholds were lower for CFS (1.46 ± 0.15) than for non-CFS (2.67 ± 0.22, P ≤ 10−11). Conclusions: The lower sinus thresholds of rhinosinusitis groups validated the sign of sinus tenderness. Sinus and systemic thresholds were both 44% lower in CFS than in non-CFS subjects, suggesting that systemic hyperalgesia contributed to CFS sinus tenderness and “rhinosinusitis” complaints. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002;127:387-97.)
New insights into ocular albinism type 1 (OA1): Mutations and polymorphisms of the OA1 gene

Albinism ocular type 1 (OA1) is an X-linked type of albinism that mainly effects pigment production in the eye, resulting in hypopigmentation of the retina, nystagmus, strabismus, foveal hypoplasia, abnormal crossing of the optic fibers, and reduced visual acuity. The OA1 gene is located on chromosome Xp22.32 and the coding sequence is divided into nine exons. The protein is an integral transmembrane protein that has weak similarities to G protein-coupled receptors. A total of 25 missense, two nonsense, nine frameshift, and five splicing mutations have been reported in the OA1 gene associated with OA1. There are also several deletions of some or all exons of the OA1 gene with deletions of exon 2 resulting from unequal crossing-over, due to flanking Alu repeats. Mutation and polymorphism data on this gene is available from the International Albinism Center - Albinism Database web site (http://www.cbc.umn.edu/tad).
The Absorption of Slow π − Mesons in Deuterium

The possible mechanisms for absorption of ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ mesons in deuterium are considered. A phenomenological treatment of the simple "neutron absorption" enables one to calculate the competition between the processes independently of the value of the ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ nucleon coupling constant. It is found that various meson theories for the charged meson lead to markedly different predictions for the fraction of events leading to gamma-ray emission. The results are compared with experiment and lead to the conclusion that the charged meson is either pseudoscalar or pseudovector. Comparison with the (${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}:\ensuremath{\gamma}$) ratio from the absorption in hydrogen indicates that if the charged meson is pseudoscalar the neutral meson is also pseudoscalar.
A toy model for gauge-mediation in intersecting brane models

We discuss the phenomenology of a toy intersecting brane model where supersymmetry is dynamically broken in an open-string hidden sector and gauge-mediated to the visible sector. Scalar masses $\ensuremath{\sim}\mathrm{TeV}$ are easily realizable, and $R$-symmetry is broken. These ideas are easily generalizable to other intersecting brane models.
Kinetics of Indentation Cracking in Glass

The propagation of indentation radial cracks in soda—lime silicate glass is measured as a function of time after indentation. Rapid lift-off of the indenter from the specimen surface causes a step-function perturbation in the radial crack mechanical energy release rate, thus providing access to a large range of observable crack velocities in the indentation stress field. Analysis of the data shows distinct threshold, reaction-limited, and transport-limited behavior in the crack velocity responses, in agreement with measurements made using macroscopic crack geometries. Atomistic models of fracture kinetics in reactive environments are fit to the data and are deconvoluted to yield the underlying atomic-scale, bond-rupture parameters. These latter are used to calculate potential functions for activated fracture and predict crack velocity responses as a function of temperature and pressure.
There is no more important task than transforming education by design

For education we are already in the next century. Whatever we offer in our schools today will define the creative capacity, the competence, and the character of the generation which will shape the society of the 21st century. But many of us share a realization that today's schools are far from being able to do justice to the education of future generations. There is a growing awareness that our current design of education is out-of-sync with the new realities of the information/knowledge era. Those who are willing to face these new realities understand that: Rather thanextend education we shouldtranscend it; rather thanrevising it, we shouldre-vision it; and rather thenre-forming it, we shouldtrans-form it by design.
Hydrophobic Core Mutations in CI2 Globally Perturb Fast Side-Chain Dynamics Similarly without Regard to Position

Protein dynamics is currently an area of intense research because of its importance as complementary information to the huge quantity of available data relating protein structure and function. Because it is usually the influence of dynamics on function that is studied, the physical determinants of the distribution of flexibility in proteins have not been explored as thoroughly. In the present NMR study, an expanded suite of five 2H relaxation experiments was used to characterize the picosecond-to-nanosecond side-chain dynamics of chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 (CI2) and five hydrophobic core mutants, some of which are members of the folding nucleus. Because CI2 is a homologue of the serine protease inhibitor eglin c, which has already been extensively characterized in terms of its dynamics, it was possible to compare not only side-chain dynamics but also the responses of these dynamics to analogous mutations. Remarkably, each of the five core mutations in CI2 led to similar and reproducible increases in side-ch...
Gravitational circulation in the upper mantle: implications for crustal and mantle evolution

Abstract Officer and Drake (1983) have given an quantitative description of upper mantle convection and related plate dynamics in which the principal driving force is the longitudinal density gradient within the upper mantle between the spreading ridge and the subduction zone. The principal objective, here, is to consider an additional component of flow in the upper mantle between the warmer and less dense spreading ridge and the cooler and more dense deep continental regions.
AP2 transcription factors regulate expression of CRABPII in hormone responsive breast carcinoma.

Background The AP2 transcription factor family is a set of developmentally regulated, retinoic acid (RA) inducible genes, which regulate expression of estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα) in breast carcinoma. We hypothesized that AP2 factors regulate a set of genes characteristic of the hormone responsive breast cancer phenotype. To better understand the role of AP2 factors in hormone responsive breast cancer, we sought to identify AP2-target genes in breast epithelial cells. Materials and methods Overexpression of AP2 factors was achieved in human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs) using adenoviral vectors. AP2 target genes were identified by comparative hybridization to cDNA microarrays containing 30,000 human genes. Expression patterns were confirmed by Northern and Western blot and by elimination of AP2 using siRNA. Potential regulatory elements in promoters of target genes were identified by DNase I hypersensitive site mapping. Results Comparative cDNA microarray hybridization identified a set of genes induced by overexpression of AP2α and AP2γ in HMECs. The up-regulation of cellular retinoic acid-binding protein 2 (CRABPII), EST-1, and ECM1 was induced by overexpression of AP2α, AP2γ, or a chimeric AP2 factor in which the activation domain of AP2α was replaced by the activation domain of herpesvirus VP16. Interestingly, hormone unresponsive MDA-MB-231 cells were resistant to CRABPII induction by any of the AP2 factors. Elimination of AP2γ in MCF7 cells resulted in a significant reduction in CRABPII expression. AP2α induced DNase I hypersensitive sites in the promoter of the CRABPII gene at −5000 bp, which corresponds to the site of action of RAR/RXR factors. Conclusions AP2 factors regulate CRABPII expression in HMECs and breast cancer cells and accounts for the associated expression of ERα and CRABPII in hormone responsive breast cancer. Because CRABPII mediates growth suppressive effects of RA in breast cancer, the data suggest that AP2 factors have the ability to mediate RA responsiveness through the regulation of CRABP II expression.
The Use of Importance-Performance Analysis for Improving the Quality of Marketing Education: Interpreting Faculty-Course Evaluations

The article focuses on demonstrating how importance-performance analysis can serve as an easily applied technique for reducing the difficulties in translating faculty-course performance results into meaningful actions. A specific faculty-course evaluation example which uses an extended version of the technique is offered. Important insights are presented regarding the modified technique's impact on making strategic quality improvement1 decisions for marketing education.
Mitochondrial DNA Sequence Variation in a Sea Star (Leptasteriasspp.) Species Complex

Abstract A 551-bp region of a PCR product containing the putative mitochondrial control region and flanking sequences was analyzed for sequence variation among 19 sea stars representing 10 previously described PCR–RFLP haplotypes within a cryptic species complex ( Leptasterias spp.). Most (97%) of the sequence variation was interhaplotypic rather than intrahaplotypic, which greatly reduced the utility of sequence polymorphisms in this mtDNA region as markers of intrahaplotypic population structure and gene flow. The estimated number of transition and transversion substitutions per nucleotide site, corrected for multiple hits, was 0.0364 and 0.0158, respectively. Most of the sequence variation occurred in the first half of the putative control region. Phylogenetic analysis (both maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood) revealed three well-supported clades, but the position of two PCR-RFLP haplotypes was not completely resolved. Low intraspecific mtDNA sequence divergence over large geographic distances may be a general pattern for echinoderm species.
Design, implementation and migration of security systems as an extreme project

Decision Trees, algorithms, software code, risk management, reports, plans, drawings, change control, presentations, and analysis- all useful tools and efforts but time consuming, resource intensive, and potentially costly for projects that have absolute schedule and budget constraints.
Alpha-emitting nuclides as absolute efficiency calibration sources for germanium detectors

Abstract Absolute intensities of γ-rays and K X-rays in the decays of 249Cf and 243Am−239Np have been measured with high-resolution Ge detectors. Because of their long half-lives and ease of standardization by accurate alpha counting, these nuclides are recommended as standards for efficiency calibration of germanium detectors.
Absence of postsynaptic DA2 dopamine receptors in the dog renal vasculature.

Abstract In experiments designed to look for functional postsynaptic DA 2 dopamine receptors in the dog renal vasculature, the vascular effects of two selective DA 2 receptor agonists, bromocriptine and quinpirole, were studied in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs. Intra-arterial (i.a.) injections of bromocriptine reduced renal blood flow before and after blockade of α-adrenoceptors. I.a. quinpirole produced dose-related increases in renal blood flow which were not altered by blockade of α- or β-adrenoceptors or Da) dopamine receptors. Neither of the selective DA 2 dopamine receptor antagonists, domperidone or YM 09151-2, altered the renal vascular effects of quinpirole, but these were reduced by combined H 1 and H 2 histamine receptor blockade. The results of these experiments do not support the existence of postsynaptic DA 2 dopamine receptors mediating vasodilation in the canine renal vasculature.
Clothing and Human Behavior from a Social Cognitive Framework Part I: Theoretical Perspectives:

This paper represents Part I of a two-part paper which integrates theory and research in social cognition with research in clothing and human behavior. Part I addresses theoretical perspectives of social cognition including social perception, categorization, attribution theory, and impression formation. Issues from these theoretical perspectives are used to interpret existing clothing and human behavior research and to suggest possible future research.
Coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy utilizing phase mismatched cascaded quadratic optical interactions in nonlinear crystals

We experimentally investigated the nonlinear optical interaction between the instantaneous four-wave mixing and the cascaded quadratic frequency conversion in commonly used nonlinear optical KTP and LiNbO3 with the aim of a possible background suppression of the non-resonant background in coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering. The possibility of background-free heterodyne coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microspectroscopy is investigated at the interface formed by a liquid (isopropyl alcohol) and a nonlinear crystal (LiNbO3).
SEMI-AUTOMATIC TRANSFER OF VOLATILE LIQUIDS TO PAPER CHROMATOGRAMS.

THE recent publication of a device for applying liquids to paper chromatograms1 prompts this report of a simple arrangement for the reproducible transfer of small volumes which is in routine use in this laboratory for the application of steroid standards to paper chromatograms. It consists of a lambda pipette clamped in the vertical position with the pipette tip firmly against the surface of the chromatography paper which is supported on a perforated metal disk. A stream of compressed air for drying passes through holes in the metal disk against the lower surface of the paper (Fig. 1). In practice the pipette is filled with solvent and positioned while keeping a finger over the upper orifice to prevent leakage. Gradual transfer of solvent to paper begins when the finger is released. A Medtec Spotting Device was employed, but a simpler device for support of the paper and delivery of a gas stream would serve the purpose.
New synthesis and reactions of perfluoro-tert-butyl chloroformate

Abstract A new synthesis of perfluoro-tert-butyl chloroformate (perfluoro-tert- butoxycarbonyl chloride) is based on the reaction of potassium perfluoro- tert-butoxide with one equivalent of phosgene in xylene or mesitylene. Perfluoro-tert-butyl chloroformate reacts readily with hydroxy, sulfhydryl and amino compounds to give the corresponding perfluoro-tert-butyl alkyl carbonates, thiolcarbonates or carbamates, respectively. Dialkyl carbonates, diaryl carbonates, and symmetrically substituted ureas are formed as by-products and, with some compounds, as exclusive products. Primary amines form isocyanates.
Determination of the binding epitope of lidocaine with AGP: minimizing the effects of nonspecific binding in saturation transfer difference experiments.

The ligand epitope map and the effect of nonspecific binding is assessed for lidocaine binding to α1-acid glycoprotein using the saturation transfer difference nuclear magnetic resonance experiment performed as a function of the ligand/protein ratio. The experimental design tested two different approaches for preparing solutions with various ligand/protein ratios; holding the protein concentration constant and increasing the ligand concentration; and holding the ligand concentration constant while decreasing the protein concentration. Nonspecific binding effects were more prevalent in experiments in which the ligand concentration was increased, although spectra with higher signal-to-noise ratios were obtained under these conditions. The epitope map determined for achiral lidocaine is compared with previously determined results for the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of propranolol. The weaker binding affinity of lidocaine may be partially attributed to steric hindrance by the lidocaine N-ethyl groups which may prevent close contact of the lidocaine amine with the negatively charged amino acids at the apex of the protein binding pocket.
Simultaneous determination of nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen by thermal neutron prompt γ-ray spectrometry

Abstract Thermal neutron prompt γ-ray spectrometry is applied to the determination of nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen in environmental materials. Useful, simultaneous, nondestructive analyses with 1-g samples can be achieved at concentrations greater than 500 ppm, 10% and 5 ppm, respectively.
Outcome of secondary open surgical procedure in patients who failed primary endopyelotomy.

Summary— Endopyelotomy is an effective method for treating pelviureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction; however, up to 28% of patients fail endoscopic treatment and require a secondary open surgical procedure. Six patients underwent secondary open surgical procedures following failed endopyelotomy for primary PUJ obstruction at this institution. One patient had impaired renal function in the affected kidney prior to endopyelotomy and postoperative evaluation indicated further deterioration; nephrectomy was performed for chronic obstruction and pain. The remaining 5 patients underwent secondary open pyeloplasty. In 4 patients the operation was difficult and lengthy because of extensive periureteric fibrosis. Difficult dissection was associated with a repeat endoscopic attempt to repair the PUJ obstruction, urinoma formation or stent occlusion requiring intervention. A mean follow-up of 1.7 years demonstrated no radiographic or clinical evidence of recurrent obstruction in the 5 patients undergoing secondary open pyeloplasty; all 6 patients are currently asymptomatic.
Fluorescence Confocal Mosaicing Microscopy of Basal Cell Carcinomas Ex Vivo: Demonstration of Rapid Surgical Pathology with High Sensitivity and Specificity

Mohs surgery, for the precise removal of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), consists of a series of excisions guided by the surgeon's examination of the frozen histology of the previous excision. The histology reveals atypical nuclear morphology, identifying cancer. The preparation of frozen histology is accurate but labor-intensive and slow. Nuclear pathology can be achieved by staining with acridine orange (1 mM, 20 s) BCCs in Mohs surgical skin excisions within 5-9 minutes, compared to 20-45 for frozen histology. For clinical utility, images must have high contrast and high resolution. We report tumor contrast of 10-100 fold over the background dermis and submicron (diffraction limited) resolution over a cm field of view. BCCs were detected with an overall sensitivity of 96.6%, specificity of 89.2%, positive predictive value of 93.0% and negative predictive value of 94.7%. The technique was therefore accurate for normal tissue as well as tumor. We conclude that fluorescence confocal mosaicing serves as a sensitive and rapid pathological tool. Beyond Mohs surgery, this technology may be extended to suit other pathological needs with the development of new contrast agents. The technique reported here accurately detects all subtypes of BCC in skin excisions, including the large nodular, small micronodular, and tiny sclerodermaform tumors. However, this technique may be applicable to imaging tissue that is larger, more irregular and of various mechanical compliances with further engineering of the tissue mounting and staging mechanisms.
Female sexual pain disorders and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Female sexual pain disorders are prevalent and have a deleterious effect on women's well-being. Because there are psychological elements to this pain, cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) may be a viable treatment alternative, particularly when compared to more physically invasive treatments such as surgery or medication. This article provides a critical analysis of research studies in this area by evaluating each study in detail, identifying gaps in the research base, and providing directions for future study. For the most part, all of the studies reviewed in this article found CBT to be effective. However, CBT modalities with minimal therapist direction or interaction were found to be problematic. In addition, there may be other noninvasive treatment types that are equally or more effective, such as biofeedback or supportive psychotherapy.
A model for the recurrent flares in EXO 2030 + 375

It is shown that nonsteady hydrodynamical flows associated with mass and angular momentum capture by a neutron star during a mass ejection phase from a Be star can produce flares with remarkable resemblance to those observed during an outburst from the X-ray transient pulsar EXO 2030 + 375. To reproduce the recurrent time scale of the flares, the velocity of the outflowing matter is estimated to be about 550 km/s. Since the theoretical model requires that a transient disk circulating in one direction is followed by a transient disk circulating in the opposite direction, the time derivative of the pulse period is expected to change sign after each flare event.
Gender differences in acute response to trauma-hemorrhage.

To understand the pathogenesis of a disease, experimental models are needed. A good experimental model is the one that simulates responses observed in the clinical setting. In recent years, clinical studies have indicatedthat gender might be a factor that plays a significant role in the outcome of patients with shock, trauma, and sepsis. These observations are now being evaluated in experimental setting. Studies performed in a rodent model of trauma-hemorrhage have concluded that alterations in immune and cardiac functions after trauma-hemorrhage are more markedly depressed in adult males, and ovariectomized and aged females. However, both are maintained in castrated males and in proestrus females. Moreover, the survival rate of proestrus females subjected to sepsis after trauma-hemorrhage is significantly higher than age-matched males or ovariectomized females. Although these observations suggest gender-specific response after trauma-hemorrhage, the mechanisms responsible for gender specificity remain largely unknown. Furthermore, in other injuries such as bum, experimental studies dealing with sexual dimorphism are limited. Therefore, more studies in clinical and experimental settings are required to determine whether gender-specific responses are global across the injuries or are observed in specific injury situations. Studies are also needed to delineate underlying mechanisms responsible for differences between males and females after trauma-hemorrhage. The information gained from the experimental studies will help in designing innovative therapeutic approaches for the treatment of trauma patients.
Derivation of surface topography and terrain parameters from single satellite image using shape-from-shading technique

This paper evaluates and compares two area-based shape-from-shading algorithms for deriving detailed surface topography and terrain parameters. A Fourier transform-based linear algorithm and an iterative minimization algorithm with integrability constraint are devised and implemented using C++ programming language, and applied to a SPOT panchromatic image. The relative height measurements from the shape-from-shading technique are calibrated into an absolute elevation model using a parametric least-squares adjustment procedure based on a number of ground control points. Surface slope, orientation, and structural lines are also calculated based on the digital elevation model derived from the shape-from-shading technique. The comparative advantages of the two algorithms are discussed, and the combination of two algorithms is also explored. The fundamental requirement for the shape-from-shading algorithms is that the terrain surface under investigation has a relatively homogenous land cover. Source codes in C++ and test data sets are available.
Lack of health insurance limits the benefits of hepatitis C virus screening: insights from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Hepatitis C follow-up study.

Lack of Health Insurance Limits the Benefits of Hepatitis C Virus Screening: Insights from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Hepatitis C Follow-Up Study
Examination of incentive based demand response in western connection reduced model

In this paper, an incentive base demand response (DR) program is proposed that has advantages for smaller residential consumers. In this model, a Load Serving Entity (LSE) needs to determine desired load reduction and an adequate incentive payment for their customers through the DR program. The program should be simple to implement for both the customer and LSE while achieving savings. Two different thresholds above market variable price aredered as the trigger for the proposed DR program: constant and a variable optimum threshold that is found by the optimization proposed in this paper. In this optimization framework, the savings for the LSE and customer is considered as well as the client convenience based on the number of requests for load change in each day and season under the DR program. Results show a constant threshold has more impact on locational marginal price (LMP) average and volatility in the high load season but a variable threshold can achieve benefits throughout the year.
Optimal parametrization of tomographic models

SUMMARY The spacing of interpolation supports in the Earth can be optimized to fit local resolution by connecting natural neighbours with springs of length equal to the local resolving length and minimizing the potential energy of the system. A triangulation scheme for the starting configuration of the grid is implemented to avoid that the optimization converges to an unacceptable local minimum in the energy.
Estimating displacement vectors from an image sequence

Estimating the displacement, or velocity, vectors for points in an image plane is an important step in image-sequence analysis. An algorithm to determine the displacement vectors, based on the image-flow approach, is presented. The image-flow approach relates the intensity temporal gradient to the component of the displacement vector along the intensity spatial gradient. Pointwise results computed from this approach are known to be noisy. By formulating the estimation process as an ill-posed inverse problem, it is shown that the estimator cannot have arbitrarily high accuracy and the capability to resolve arbitrarily close displacement vectors simultaneously. Since not all the noise originates from the input data, satisfactory results cannot be obtained merely by smoothing the images or the estimated gradients. After a number of points in a neighborhood are observed and a set of overdetermined linear equations is formed, the total-least-squares method is used to estimate the displacement vector for that neighborhood. The rank-deficient case of this procedure corresponds to the ideal-edge-aperture problem. The performance of the algorithm is verified by experimental results obtained from both synthesized data and real image-sequence data.
Emerging haemostatic agents and patient blood management

The transfusion of allogeneic blood products has been considered as a life-saving procedure for patients suffering from major traumatic injury and those who are undergoing major surgery. The safety of blood products has improved in terms of infectious complications over the last three decades due to advanced donor screening procedures and tests. Nevertheless, non-infectious complications including a blood-type mismatch, volume overload and immunologic and non-immunologic reactions to blood products can adversely affect clinical outcomes. It is thus important to implement a patient-specific strategy in diagnosing bleeding cause(s) and optimising haemostatic therapy. This strategy is an integral part of patient blood management applicable to many perioperative patients. Recent advances in the haemostatic management and transfusion include better understanding of the pathomechanisms of coagulopathy, availability of point-of-care coagulation monitoring and introductions of pathogen-inactivated plasma and factor concentrates as well as recombinant coagulation factors. Understanding the indications and limitations of conventional haemostatic therapy, and potential indications and complications relating to emerging haemostatic agents, is important for perioperative physicians. In this article, we discuss current issues related to allogeneic plasma products and emerging biological haemostatic agents and techniques. Further, we review the mechanisms of action and available preclinical or clinical data for each therapeutic agent.