cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Suppression of Apoptotic Cell Death by Hepatitis C Virus Core Protein

We have previously demonstrated the role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein in the transcriptional regulation of cellular and unrelated viral promoters. Furthermore, the core protein in cooperation with H-ras oncogene transforms primary rat embryo fibroblast cells to the tumorigenic phenotype. In the present study, the functional role of HCV core protein was investigated to determine its potential to inhibit the onset of apoptotic cell death. Expression of HCV core protein inhibited cisplatin mediated apoptosis in human cervical epithelial cells, and apoptosis induced by the overexpression of c-myc in Chinese hamster ovarian cells. Results from these studies suggest that the core protein may have a biological implication in the pathogenesis of HCV infection.
Short-term DTI predictors of cognitive dysfunction in mild traumatic brain injury

Primary objective: To explore whether baseline diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics are predictive of cognitive functioning 6 months post-injury in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI).Research design: Seventeen patients with MTBI and 29 sex- and age-matched healthy controls were studied.Methods and procedures: Participants underwent an MRI protocol including DTI, at an average of 4.0 (range: 1–10) days post-injury. Mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were measured in the following white matter (WM) regions: centra semiovale, the genu and the splenium of the corpus callosum and the posterior limb of the internal capsule. Participants underwent neuropsychological (NP) testing at baseline and at 6-month follow-up. Least squares regression analysis was used to evaluate the association of MD and FA with each NP test score at baseline and follow-up.Main outcomes and results: Compared to controls, average MD was significantly higher (p= 0.02) and average FA significantly lower (p=...
A New Foliicolous Didymium from Northern California

Optical microscopy of median sections through mature asci has revealed some interesting details regarding orientation of the ascospores. As seen in FIG. 3, the longitudinal ridges of adjacent ascospores touch each other at their edges. This results in a distinctive symmetrical configuration of the ascospores within the ascus which is also evident in asci observed in situ (FIG. 4). At the point of contact, the ridges of adjacent ascospores are slightly curved outwards at the edge, and thus appear fitted together in a mitered fashion (FIG. 5). The symmetrical arrangement of the ascospores with respect to outer-wall ornamentation suggests that the ascospores are spatially defined within the ascus. This spatial definition would be n-ade apparent in this species due to the nature of the spore-wall ornamentation. The data presented here do not indicate at what point in ascus development the ascospores are spatially defined. If the position of the ascospores is determined by spore-wall ornamentation then the ascospore arrangement is actually random, cytologically. If the position of the ascospores is a result of ordered nuclear relationships during the meiotic process, then the positioning of the ascospores is not random, but may be as well regulated as in cylindrical asci. Cytological studies at the ultrastructural and light levels of the entire sequence of events associated with ascospore and ascus development are in progress to determine which hypothesis is most probable.
Small-angle X-ray study of particulate reinforced composites☆

Abstract Small-angle X-ray scattering technique can be used to quantify the microvoids structure within a particulate reinforced composite. An expression for the correlation function of three-phase systems has been derived in terms of the correlation function of the individual phases. By using this expression and the scattered intensities from the damaged and the undamaged composites; it has been show that the volume fraction and the chord length of the microvoids can be obtained, provided no damage occurs to the reinforcement particles. In cases where the microvoids are preferentially oriented within the composites, an approximation scheme based on a linear transformation method has also been developed to measure the aspect ratio of the microvoids provided the volume fraction of these microvoids is much smaller than the other two phases.
Improving Dental Visits for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders through an Understanding of Sensory Processing

The increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) suggests that dental practices will be seeing patients with this diagnosis more frequently. Although patients with ASD have similar dental needs to other patients, the symptoms of the disorder may influence the ability of dental practitioners to provide necessary care. Dental professionals may be unaware of the difficulties with sensory processing common to patients with ASD. However, awareness of sensory processing issues and knowledge of strategies to improve the sensory experience for individuals with ASD may improve dental visits for these patients and allow for enhanced dental care provision.
Adsorption of mixed vapors on solids—I Graphon☆

Abstract The adsorption isotherms for ethanol-cyclohexane, ethanol-benzene, and benzene-cyclohexane vapor mixtures on Graphon at 20,30 and 40°C were measured at constant total pressure. The adsorption isotherms for the pure components were also obtained. Isosteric heats of adsorption were calculated for the pure adsorbates on Graphon. The binary vapor adsorption isotherms were compared to the pure component isotherms. The adsorbate-vapor composition diagrams for benzene-cyclohexane mixtures on Graphon all contained adsorption azeotropes. Very little selective adsorption of either component occurred. In general, benzene and cyclohexane were selectively adsorbed from benzene-ethanol and cyclohexane-ethanol mixtures on Graphon. The temperature dependence of the selectivity for the systems studied followed no consistent trend. Comparison of the binary vapor adsorption isotherms with the solution adsorption isotherms indicated that selectivity is generally higher in adsorption from solution. The experimental binary vapor adsorption isotherms compared favorably with those calculated from the pure vapor adsorption isotherms using the ideal adsorbed solution model. It was found that the adsorbed solutions were slightly non-ideal for benzene-cyclohexane mixtures on Graphon. The non-ideal behaviour observed for benzene-ethanol and cyclohexane-ethanol mixtures on Graphon was attributed to the presence of benzene or cyclohexane disrupting the hydrogen-bonded structure of ethanol on the Graphon surface.
Fine structure in Ca ii on the solar disc

High-dispersion spectra of the core of the K line of Ca ii as seen at the center of the solar disc have been reduced. Resolution on the spectra approach 1 arc sec. Line profiles of individual elements are very asymmetric and often are peaked on only one side of the line center. Variations of the line profiles and the emission peaks are discussed. The doubly reversed mean profile of the K line is explained as a spatial average of individual profiles, and it is suggested that single peaks may be caused by Doppler-shifted discrete elements in the chromosphere.
Bonding Patterns in Benzene Triradicals from Structural, Spectroscopic, and Thermochemical Perspectives

Bonding patterns in tridehydrobenzenes are studied by electronic structure calculations. In all three isomers, the unpaired electrons form partial bonds between the radical centers. The strength of these bonds varies from a rather weak (but stabilizing) interaction of about 0.5 kcal/mol up to 32 kcal/mol, which is one-third of a typical chemical bond energy. The structural signature of these bonds is shorter distances between the radical centers relative to the closed-shell precursor. A doublet ground state is another manifestation of stabilizing interactions of unpaired electrons.
Mosses influence phosphorus cycling in rich fens by driving redox conditions in shallow soils.

Mosses play an integral role in the hydrologic regimes of ecosystems where they cover the soil surface, and thus affect biogeochemical cycling of elements influenced by soil oxidation–reduction (redox) reactions, including the plant growth-limiting nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus (P). In rich fens where P often limits plant growth, we hypothesized that feedbacks between mosses and redox conditions would determine P availability to shallow-rooted forb species that constitute much of these wetlands’ unusually high plant species diversity. In a moss removal experiment in three fens, forb tissue P and microbial P were greater while anion exchange membrane (AEM) resin P was lower where mosses occurred than where they were removed, suggesting both higher availability and greater demand for P in moss-covered soils. Coupled physicochemical and biological mechanisms drove moss effects on P cycling, ultimately through effects on soil oxygenation or reduction: higher redox potential underlying mosses corresponded to greater microbial activity, phosphatase enzyme activity, and colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), all of which can promote greater P availability to plants. These more oxidized soils stimulated: (1) greater microbial activity and root vigor; (2) correspondingly greater P demand via microbial uptake, forb uptake, and iron (Fe)-P reactions; and (3) greater P supply through soil and root phosphatase activity and AMF colonization. This work demonstrates that mosses improve vascular plant P acquisition by alleviating stresses caused by reducing conditions that would otherwise prevail in shallow underlying soils, thus providing a mechanism by which mosses facilitate plant species diversity in rich fens.
Snowmelt-driven macropore flow and soil saturation in a semiarid forest

Lateral subsurface flow is generally assumed to occur as a result of the development of a saturated zone above a low-permeability interface such as at the soil–bedrock contact, and it is often augmented by macropore flow. Our objective was to evaluate the development of lateral subsurface flow and soil saturation at a semiarid ponderosa pine forest in New Mexico with respect to the conceptual model of saturation building above the soil–bedrock contact. At this site, we have long-term observations of the water budget components, including lateral flow. A 1·5 m deep by 7 m long trench was constructed to observe lateral subsurface flow and development of saturation directly. Our observations are based on flow resulting from a melting snowdrift. The edge of the drift was about 7 m upslope from the trench. Lateral subsurface flow only occurred from root macropores in the Bt soil horizon. Saturation developed and grew outward from flowing root macropores, rather than growing upward from the soil–bedrock interface. This macropore-centred saturation resulted in a highly heterogeneous distribution of water content until enough macropores began flowing and individual macropore saturated zones grew large enough to coalesce and saturate large volumes of the soil. Our observations are based on one snowmelt event and a relatively short hillslope flow path, and thus do not represent a full range of hydrologic conditions. Nevertheless, the observed behaviour did not conform to the traditional model of soil–bedrock control of saturation and lateral flow. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cross-Bridge Kinetics in Papillary Muscle Fibers from Transgenic Mice Expressing the Aspargine-47 to Lysine (N47K) Mutation in Myosin Regulatory Light Chain

The current study aimed at investigating the isometric tension, stiffness and elementary steps of the cross-bridge (XBr) cycle in skinned papillary muscle fibers from transgenic mice expressing familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC) associated mutation N47K. This mutation, located at the Ca2+ binding site of myosin regulatory light chain (RLC), is associated with a rapidly progressing late onset of the disease with mid-ventricular and papillary muscle hypertrophy. We studied the effect of the N47K mutation on the stiffness and the kinetic constants using skinned muscle strips subjected to increasing concentrations of MgATP, phosphate (Pi), and Ca2+ at 200 mM ionic strength, pH 7.0, and 20°C. The kinetic constants of the XBr cycle and their distribution over 6 states were deduced from the sinusoidal analysis. We found that active tension was higher in N47K fibers compared with WT. No mutation-mediated significant changes were observed in the Ca2+ sensitivity (pCa50) or cooperativity (nH). The apparent rate constants 2πb and 2πc were smaller in N47K fibers compared with WT. The rate constant of XBr detachment step (k2) was smaller while the equilibrium constant of force generation (K4) was larger in N47K fibers. The stiffness of the standard activation and the number of the strongly attached XBr were larger in N47K than in WT.These results suggest that the higher tension in N47K fibers may be related to a larger number of strongly attached XBr. We conclude that the N47K mutation may initiate a hypertrophic response through changes in myosin XBr kinetics leading to increased force during the systole, which eventually results in a pathologic phenotype in patients carrying this FHC-linked RLC mutation. Supported by NIH-HL070041 (MK), NIH-HL071778 and HL090786 (DSC) and AHA 10POST3420009 (PM).
Review article: modern technology in the diagnosis of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease – Bilitec, intraluminal impedance and Bravo capsule pH monitoring

Summary Ambulatory pH monitoring detects abnormal levels of acid reflux in the oesophagus and can be used to correlate patients’ symptoms with oesophageal acid exposure. Catheter-based pH testing has several limitations, including issues of sensitivity, specificity, tolerability and the inability to record non-acid reflux events. In an effort to improve upon these drawbacks, several devices have been introduced, including the Bilitec system for measuring duodenogastro-oesophageal reflux; intraluminal impedance monitoring, which detects the distribution, composition and clearing of both acid and non-acid oesophageal reflux; and a wireless pH monitoring device, the Bravo capsule. Initial investigations using the Bilitec system demonstrated that duodenogastro-oesophageal reflux tracked very closely with acid reflux and decreased with proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy, casting doubt on the clinical utility of Bilitec monitoring. Recent evidence revealed a possible role for duodenogastro-oesophageal reflux in a subset of patients who continue to report reflux symptoms in the setting of normalized oesophageal acid exposure on high-dose PPI therapy. When combined with pH monitoring, impedance monitoring enhances the detection and characterization of gastro-oesophageal reflux and may have a role in the evaluation of certain specific gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms that persist despite acid suppression therapy. The utility of the Bravo wireless technology for GERD diagnosis has been validated in several studies, with improvements over catheter-based pH monitoring in tolerability, accuracy and sensitivity, as well as the ability to record periods both off and on PPI therapy in a single study. All three diagnostic modalities have advanced the understanding of GERD pathogenesis, but their impact on the clinical management of GERD is still the focus of active investigation.
Strength, toughness and R-curve behaviour of SiC whisker-reinforced composite Si3N4 with reference to monolithic Si3N4

The flexural strength and fracture toughness of 30 vol% SiC whisker-reinforced Si3N4 material were determined as a function of temperature from 25 to 1400°C in an air environment. It was found that both strength and toughness of the composite material were almost the same as those of the monolithic counterpart. The room-temperature strength was retained up to 1100°C; however, appreciable strength degradation started at 1200°C and reached a maximum at 1400°C due to stable crack growth. In contrast, the fracture toughness of the two materials was independent of temperature with an average value of 5.66 MPam1/2. It was also observed that the composite material exhibited no rising R-curve behaviour at room temperature, as was the case for the monolithic material. These results indicate that SiC whisker addition to the Si3N4 matrix did not provide any favourable effects on strength, toughness and R-curve behaviour.
Computations and applications of linear hypergeometric transformations

Linear transformations are well-known in the theory of hypergeometric functions. In this note, it is indicated, both by analyses and by supporting numerical experiments, how these transformations can be applied to the computation of Legendre's functions, the incomplete Beta function, and the variance-ratio probability distribution function. It is shown that a simple transformation can in many cases cause dramatic improvement in computation.
Globe 6: A multiregion interactive world simulation

Battelle Memorial Institute has initiated a research program to develop an improved set of systematic methods for assisting decision-makers in the identi fication and solution of socioeconomic prob...
Studies on Pasteurized and Commercially Sterilized Poultry Meat Bologna. Effects of Nitrite Addition and Vacuum Cutting

Turkey bologna was prepared from mixed light and dark turkey meat and heat processed in cans under simulated commercial pasteurizing and sterilizing conditions. The bologna was prepared with and without added sodium nitrite and chopped in air or under vacuum. Nitrite and vacuum chopping had no effect on shear value, texture evaluation, pH, fat layer, soluble protein, residue or salt soluble protein. Nitrite addition increased cooking loss and protein sol. Vacuum chopping increased cooking loss and decreased the amount of protein sol. The pasteurized bologna had firmer texture and lower cooking losses than bologna processed to commercial sterility.
Platelet Function Testing in Contemporary Clinical and Interventional Practice

Dual antiplatelet therapy with a combination of aspirin and an inhibitor of the ADP P2Y12 receptor is the recommended treatment for patients with acute coronary syndrome or who are undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, patients may continue to have ischemic recurrences, including stent thrombosis, which have been linked with the well-known variability in individual response to antiplatelet therapy, and clopidogrel in particular. There are currently several assays available to measure platelet reactivity, and platelet function testing has been shown to be a valuable tool to assess the pharmacodynamic efficacy of antiplatelet drugs. Moreover, platelet reactivity has important prognostic implications, as several studies have shown an association with thrombotic and bleeding events in patients with high and low platelet reactivity, respectively. Consequently, over the past years there has been a plethora of studies investigating the optimal range of platelet reactivity associated with the highest protection against ischemic complications and the lowest risk of bleeding. Given the correlation between on-treatment platelet reactivity and outcomes, the use of platelet function testing has also been advocated to create personalized antiplatelet therapy. Several studies have been conducted in this field, but major clinical trials have failed to demonstrate a benefit of such a strategy in improving clinical outcomes. Indeed, inherent limitations of these trials may have contributed to their failure. The present manuscript provides an overview on the role of platelet function testing in contemporary clinical and interventional practice.
Phacoemulsification after Retinal Detachment Surgery

Purpose: Previous studies have documented a 3% to 15.5% risk of retinal redetachment in eyes with prior scleral buckling procedures that later undergo intracapsular or extracapsular cataract extraction. The authors reviewed the records of patients with a history of retinal detachment (RD) surgery and subsequent phacoemulsification to assess the risk of retinal redetachment and the visual outcomes. Methods: Forty-seven eyes of 44 patients with a history of scleral buckling surgery who subsequently underwent phacoemulsification were identified. Features found before, during, and after surgery were reviewed. Results: No retinal redetachments occurred on a mean follow-up of 2.3 years. Eyes with RD repair were more myopic than fellow eyes ( P = P = 0.001), had steeper keratometry readings ( P = 0.03), and had larger differences in K readings between principal meridians ( P = 0.01). Postoperative visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 72.3% of eyes and 20/80 or worse in 6.4% of eyes. Preexisting macular pathology was responsible for poor outcomes. Conclusion: The risk of redetachment after phacoemulsification in eyes with previous RD surgery is low. Despite retinal and cataract surgery, these eyes can achieve useful vision.
Axiomatic operational quantum mechanics

Abstract The operational approach to quantum mechanics is developed using only the concepts of states and mixtures. In this general framework, effects, operations, observables, instruments, conditional expectations and the various topologies arise in a natural way. The existence of conditional expectations is proved for a large class of instruments. It is shown that if there are sufficiently many effects to separate states, then the present framework reduces to the standard operational approach.
On the Formation of Inorganic Colloid Particles

A qualitative model for the formation of inorganic colloidal particles is presented. The model is based on the symmetry of the complexes in solution and on the symmetry of distribution, i.e., position and orientation of the binding sites of the complexes. These factors determine the final particle shape when particles grow by crystallization, while in the case of additional secondary aggregation, it is controlled also by the factors which determine crystal habit and stability of colloidal particles. In addition, kinetic factors have to be considered also because the systems are normally driven through various phases far from themodynamic equilibrium.
Metabolism of adrenochrome in experimental animals.

Abstract Crystalline adrenochrome, adrenolutin, and 5:6-dihydroxy-N-methylindole (DHMI) were administered to rats. Three metabolites were found in the urine after administration of adrenochrome; these have been shown to be conjugates of DHMI and adrenolutin. One metabolite, a yellow fluorescent product, is a sulfate conjugate of adrenolutin; another is a sulfate conjugate of DHMI. The third metabolite also appears to be a conjugate of DHMI. The evidence suggests that adrenochrome is metabolized via two pathways, one involving adrenolutin, the other DHMI. The same metabolites were excreted by mice, rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits.
Micromachined capacitors based on automated multilayer electroplating

A new type of capacitor, based on a high-aspect-ratio 3-dimensional micromachining process, is presented. Submicron layers of alternating metals are deposited by an automated robotic electroplating system. Selective etching of one of the two metals leaves a highly laminated structure with large surface area. To demonstrate the increased surface area, this structure is used as one electrode of a capacitor. A dielectric layer is added by atomic layer deposition (ALD) of alumina. A liquid electrolyte is added and vacuum-infiltrated to form the second electrode. 1.5 nF/mm2 capacitance density is produced with a 10-layer structure.
Decontamination of Bacillus anthracis on Gruinard Island

In experiments on Gruinard Island 40 years ago small bombs containing spores of Bacillus anthracis were suspended from a gantry and detonated, producing widespread contamination of the island's surface. Recently, analysis of soil samples has shown that the area where the spores can now be detected is small enough to be considered for decontamination1. We investigated the effect of treating the soil with sporicidal chemicals, namely, potassium permanganate, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, Cidex (‘activated’ glutaraldehyde, Surgikos), dodecylamine and peracetic acid.
Molecular cloning of a murine type III sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporter (Pit-2) gene promoter

Abstract We report the novel cloning and preliminary characterization of a murine type III sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporter (Pit-2) gene promoter. Five promoter/luciferase reporter gene constructs, −1816/+61, −1620/+61, −1223/+61, −600/+61 and −225/+61, showed significant luciferase activity (6–14-fold over background) when transfected into human colon carcinoma (Caco-2) and opossum kidney (OKP) cells.
Chromosome cytology and taxonomy of the red goblet-flowered species of Clidemia (Melastomataceae: Miconieae) in Central and South America

Clidemia clandestina (Melastomataceae) of Costa Rica and Panama is newly described as part of a review of the goblet-flowered species from tropical America. This natural group of three species, including C. garciabarrigae and C. utleyana, is characterized by 5-merous flowers that are goblet-shaped in profile view with erect red petals that are connivent and cucullate at anthesis, minute anther thecae with wide ventrally inclined apical pores, and a completely inferior 3-locular ovary. An original chromosome count of n = 17 is reported for C. utleyana, and a count of n = 23 is reported for C. clandestina and C. garciabarrigae. The significance of these chromosome numbers is evaluated in the context of previous reports for the tribe Miconieae together with a diagnostic key, descriptions, illustrations, new distributional information, phenological notes, and citations of representative
Engineered carbon nanotubes and graphene for nano-electronics and nanomechanics

We are exploring nanoelectronic engineering areas based on low dimensional materials, including carbon nanotubes and graphene. Our primary research focus is investigating carbon nanotube and graphene architectures for field emission applications, energy harvesting and sensing. In a second effort, we are developing a high-throughput desktop nanolithography process. Lastly, we are studying nanomechanical actuators and associated nanoscale measurement techniques for re-configurable arrayed nanostructures with applications in antennas, remote detectors, and biomedical nanorobots. The devices we fabricate, assemble, manipulate, and characterize potentially have a wide range of applications including those that emerge as sensors, detectors, system-on-a-chip, system-in-a-package, programmable logic controls, energy storage systems, and all-electronic systems.
Weak-scatterer generalization of the K-density function with application to laser scattering in atmospheric turbulence

The complex amplitude of scattered radiation at a point is modeled as a superposition of random amplitude, random phases, and random number of multipaths (or correlation areas) [see Eq. (2.1)]. When the phases have uniform probability density (strong-scatterer regime) and the multipaths are governed by a negative binomial distribution, then Jakeman and Pusey [ Phys. Rev. Lett.40, 546 ( 1978); IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag.AP-24, 806 ( 1976)] and associates have shown that the probability density of the intensity of the scattered radiation becomes K distributed as the average number of multipaths tends to infinity. This density function has the property that its normalized second moment is always greater than two. However, field measurements by Parry [ Opt. Acta28, 715 ( 1981)] and Phillips and Andrews [ J. Opt. Soc. Am.71, 1440 ( 1981); J. Opt. Soc. Am.72, 864 ( 1982)] show that the normalized second moment can lie below two but must be greater than or equal to unity. The present paper is devoted to a generalization in which the phases are nonuniformly distributed (weak-scatterer regime) but the multipaths are still governed by the negative binomial distribution. In the limiting case, in which the average number of multipaths tends to infinity, the probability density of the scattered intensity is shown to be a generalization of the K-density function. This density function has the property that its second moment is greater than or equal to unity. Section 5 is devoted to the fit between this model and the Phillips–Andrews experimental data. Finally, the moments of the scattered intensity are evaluated when the average number of multipaths is finite.
1.2.3 Role of Flow-Down Approach and Orthogonal Arrays in System Design and Testing

Design of systems to perform their intended functions is a creative and challenging activity because many requirements need to be satisfied under all customer usage conditions. In order to perform their intended functions over wide range of usage conditions, the systems must be designed in robust manner with a systematic flow-down of requirements at various levels of the design process. After completing the design they must be tested in various usage conditions and studying all possible main effects and interactions. This type of testing enables customers to have a robust product, which will avoid incidences of functional failures. In this paper we used axiomatic design's zig-zag approach for requirements flow-down and orthogonal arrays for testing the system's performance. Since software design is a good example of system design, we describe use of these techniques in system design by considering software design as an example.
THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN MODELS OF ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS.

Abstract Technology has been depicted, in recent years, as an important causal variable in some theoretical formulations of organizational structure and behavior. Studies conducted to investigate the relationships between technology and other organizational variables have not provided, thus far, a conclusive picture of the role of technology in a parsimonious model of organizational behavior. Much of the difficulty in studying technology can be traced to the problem of obtaining a satisfactory operational definition of technology. A related problem is that of establishing the appropriate unit of analysis within which to study technology variance. An operational definition of technology is developed and applied in this study, building from a typology of technologies proposed by J. D. Thompson. Analysis was conducted on 297 organization units (departments, devisions) from within a diverse sample of 17 business and industrial firms. The organization units were classified among three varieties of technology, specified as long-linked, mediating and intensive technology respectively (following the J. D. Thompson typology). The organization units were also described in terms of several dimensions of organizational behavior developed in earlier research. Direct and indirect relationships involving technology, 14 dimensions of organizational behavior, and organization unit effectiveness, were investigated in several analyses. The findings from these analyses support the hypothesis that the criteria of effectiveness of an organization unit vary with the nature of the technology of the unit. The nature of the intra-technology models of organizational effectiveness are generally supportive of the variation expected from the Thompson theoretical analysis. No direct technology—organizational effectiveness relationship was observed, a finding which is in keeping with the expectations of the researchers. The models of organizational effectiveness observed within each of the three technology categories are described and the implications of their differences and similarities are discussed.
A General framework for local interpolation

We present a general framework for the construction of local interpolation methods with a given approximation order. Some applications to multivariate spline spaces are presented.
Analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase and insulin transcripts in human neuroendocrine tissues.

Abstract We have previously shown that the mRNA for human tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) exists in one of 4 forms as a result of alternative splicing of intron 1. In order to determine the tissue-specific expression of the multiple human transcripts we have utilized specifically primed polymerase chain reactions (PCR) in combination with reverse-transcribed RNA. Using PCR analysis we determined that many human neuronal tissues express all 4 forms of human TH (hTH-1–4); however, hTH-3 and -4 are generally expressed at less than 1% of the other two. Of all tissues examined, only pancreatic β-islet cells expressed a single form of human TH mRNA (hTH-2). The mRNA for rat TH is present in only one form, the equivalent of hTH-1. Since we have shown that the human genes for TH and insulin are only 2.7 kb apart and several groups have reported insulin-like expression in neuronal tissues, we looked for insulin transcription in the same central and peripheral nervous system samples. Insulin mRNA was not present within the limits of detection.
Combining Service Learning with Graduate Education

The Department of Civil Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology recently modified its Master of Science program in environmental engineering. The thesis requirement has been replaced with a structured design course with real-world projects that are primarily for nonprofit organizations. The design course was modeled after the undergraduate senior design course within the department. In addition to a quality design experience, students now perform a service for the community. This paper emphasizes the service-learning aspects of the course using a case study of a completed project.
Ex-ante measures for evaluating forecasting models

Abstract There is a natural concern with the comparative performance of alternative forecasting methods in particular situations. Unfortunately, the statistical properties of forecast errors and hence the comparative measures of performance have received too little attention in the literature. Ignoring these properties can easily produce erroneous conclusions about forecast performance. Therefore, this paper provides a discussion of these properties and then critically reviews some frequently employed measures of comparative accuracy.
Rapid Detection of Campylobacter Antigen by Enzyme Immunoassay Leads to Increased Positivity Rates

ABSTRACT Campylobacter antigen detection by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) provides rapid results compared to traditional culture. However, concern exists regarding specificity. Verification studies of an EIA compared to culture revealed a positive predictive value (PPV) of 91%, whereas PPV fell to 42% during routine diagnostic testing. We suggest all positive EIA results be confirmed via culture.
Provocative Behavior: Agency and Feuds in Southwest China

Enthusiasm for agency in accounting for assertive, provocative behavior may lead to complacent analyses, distracting us from the hard work of confronting anomalous behaviors that challenge received wisdom. Drawing on feud narratives extracted from life history interviews with the Nuosu, an ethnic group in China's southwest, my analysis looks beyond feuding to other institutions in “old” Nuosu society that enabled or fostered a high degree of individual autonomy, evidence for more fluid social relations and far less authoritarianism than the orthodox portrayals of the Nuosu in Chinese ethnology. The Nuosu case may enlighten our understanding of other feuding societies, where the obstreperous personalities attributed to individuals are too often disconnected from descriptions of the smooth unfolding of the feud as lineage solidarity and indigenous leadership come into play.
Clathrin uncoating: Auxilin comes to life

The DnaJ protein auxilin has been extensively studied in vitro as a cofactor for uncoating clathrin-coated vesicles by the chaperone Hsc70. Recent studies provide the first evidence that auxilin plays this role in vivo, and work on a new mammalian auxilin suggests the protein may have more complex cellular functions.
Temperature Trends at the South Pole and McMurdo Sound

Abstract A detailed analysis of atmospheric temperatures at the South Pole and McMurdo Sound is presented. Missing data are common, especially in the stratosphere, and the usual practice of computing monthly means as an average of all available observations produces unreliable results because the annual cycle is aliased onto the interannual variations and longer term trends. A methodology to rectify this involves computation of the smoothed mean annual cycle for each day of the year and then subsequently analyzing the anomalies. The persistence of the anomalies within each month reveals that regular observations about every three days are required to produce a reliable climate record throughout the troposphere and lower stratosphere. A comparison of station data with lower stratospheric analyzed values from the National Meteorological Center (NMC) reveals big discrepancies at times arising mainly from methods used to produce the NMC analyses. The mean annual cycle of temperature features the coreless wint...
Non-Wilms' renal tumors in children

Renal tumors other than Wilms' tumor are infrequent in childhood. Wilms' tumors account for 6% to 7% of childhood cancer, whereas the remaining renal tumors account for less than 1%. 27 The most common non–Wilms' tumors are clear cell sarcoma of the kidney, rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (both formerly considered unfavorable Wilms' tumor variants but now considered separate tumors), renal cell carcinoma, mesoblastic nephroma, and multilocular cystic nephroma. Collectively, these tumors account for less than 10% of the primary renal neoplasms in childhood.
Computing multiple roots of inexact polynomials

We present a combination of two algorithms that accurately calculate multiple roots of general polynomials. Algorithm I transforms the singular root-finding into a regular nonlinear least squares problem on a pejorative manifold, and it calculates multiple roots simultaneously from a given multiplicity structure and initial root approximations. To fulfill the input requirement of Algorithm I, we develop a numerical GCD-finder containing a successive singular value updating and an iterative GCD refinement as the main engine of Algorithm II that calculates the multiplicity structure and the initial root approximation. While limitations exist in certain situations, the combined method calculates multiple roots with high accuracy and consistency in practice without using multiprecision arithmetic, even if the coefficients are inexact. This is perhaps the first blackbox-type root-finder with such capabilities. To measure the sensitivity of the multiple roots, a structure-preserving condition number is proposed and error bounds are established. According to our computational experiments and error analysis, a polynomial being ill-conditioned in the conventional sense can be well conditioned with the multiplicity structure being preserved, and its multiple roots can be computed with high accuracy.
Analysis of the potential for delay propagation in passenger airline networks

The paper analyzes the potential for delays to propagate in passenger airline networks. The aim is to better understand the relationship between the scheduling of aircraft and crew, and the operational performance of such schedules. In particular, when carriers decide how to schedule costly resources, the focus is primarily on achieving high levels of utilization. The resulting plans, however, often have little slack, limiting the schedule's ability to absorb disruption; instead, initial flight delays may propagate to delay subsequent flights as well. Understanding the relationship between planned schedules and delay propagation is a requisite precursor to developing tools for building more robust airline plans. This relationship is investigated using the flight data provided by two major US carriers, one traditional hub-and-spoke and one low-fare carrier operating a predominantly point-to-point network.
Genetics of childhood disorders: XXXVII. News flash: a gene for expressive language.

The ability to speak is uniquely human. Although other species are capable of communicating with each other, the use of speech is a distinguishing feature of Homo sapiens. Is it possible that this trait is determined by specific genes? This question has been debated by linguists for many decades, and both sides of the argument have vocal supporters. The recent isolation of a gene that appears to be critical for the normal acquisition of language is a remarkable achievement and important to clinicians and researchers alike. The researchers’ overall strategy is instructive because a similar strategy is likely to prove successful with other childhood psychiatric disorders including autism and Tourette syndrome. Each of the component steps in this process have been reviewed in prior columns: identifying an extended family for study, using linkage or karyotyping techniques to pinpoint the chromosomal location of the gene, pulling out the mutated gene, and determining the normal function of the encoded protein. Approximately 5% of children are significantly impaired in acquiring expressive and/or receptive language despite the absence of any detectable deficits in hearing, intelligence, or socioeconomic status. Twin studies have established that genetic factors play a significant role in certain developmental language disorders such as expressive language disorder without articulation difficulties, which is the most frequent expressive lanGenetics of Childhood Disorders: XXXVII. News Flash: A Gene for Expressive Language
Generation of waves in the concurrent flow of air and a liquid

If air flows concurrently with a liquid, there are critical air velocities above which two-dimensional and three-dimensional waves appear at the interface. The physical process responsible for these transitions is as follows: The disturbance in the velocity field in the air caused by these waves gives rise to pressure and shear stress variations over the wavy surface. Pressure variations in phase with the wave slope and shear stress variations in phase with the wave height transmit energy from the air flow to the liquid film. If the rate at which energy is transmitted to the waves by these mechanisms is not larger than the rate of viscous dissipation in the liquid, the waves will decay. The model of the gas flow proposed by Miles and Benjamin is used to calculate shear stress and pressure variations over the wavy surface. The agreement between predicted and measured critical air velocities, wave lengths, and wave velocities is good.
Using Weber’s Rechtssoziologie to Explain Western Punishment: A Typological Framework

An interdisciplinary comparative-historical framework is proposed to map the relationship between legal institutional differences and the use of incarceration. The oft-cited empirical trend that Western countries cluster on an assortment of social, political, and economic outcomes is incorporated with Weberian sociology of law. Incarceration levels vary, in descending order, as a function of the institutional possibilities within the common, Roman, and Nordic law families. A country’s legal origin supports certain legal institutional frameworks and historical trajectories that are consequential for punishment decisions. The historical record of each legal family demonstrates particular types of legal thinking that foster unique institutional frameworks that are more or less likely to support punitive, bureaucratic, or collective crime control mechanisms.
Is "your only hope" medical treatment choice really a choice?

An elderly gentleman, from Scandinavia, Mr K. R. Plunk, with a soon-to-be lethal disease, has come to see you because you are the world's expert in complex aneurysm surgery and his is a case for the books. He has multiple comorbidities; the most concerning is his cardiopulmonary functioning. You have only operated on a few patients who are at this level of risk. He has been told repeatedly you are his only hope, which is literally true. A cure would pair one of the "biggest operations" with one of the frailest patients. You have been on an invincible roll and have decided to give it a shot, if he agrees. What is the most ethical informed consent in this case? A.Standard informed consent is appropriate. B.Ethically adequate informed consent cannot be given in this case. C.Informed consent must include the possible long-term intensive care unit fears. D.Consult your risk management group. E.Emphasize realism and futility in informed consent.
Staged approach to combined repair of pectus excavatum and lesions of the heart

The combined repair of severe pectus excavatum and cardiac lesions remains technically difficult. We report our experience with a patient undergoing such a combined repair of pectus and implantation of an aortic valved conduit in the setting of the Marfan syndrome. The procedure was staged such that the dissection and bony mobilization was done at the first procedure before heparin administration in combination with a sternal split and subsequent aortic repair. The second stage of sternal repositioning and cartilage resection was completed several days later with excellent cardiopulmonary and cosmetic results. The technique and a review of the literature are included.
Synthesis of 1,4-(1,1′-ferrocenediyl)-1,3-butadiene: A dieno-ferrocenophane.

Abstract Excess sodium borohydride in methanol quantitatively reduces 1, 4-(1, 1′-ferrocenediyl)-1, 4-butanedione to 1, 4-(1, 1′-ferrocenediyl)-1, 4-butanediol which in dilute benzene undergoes tandem dehydration catalyzed by p -toluenesulfonic acid to 1, 4-(1, 1′-ferrocenediyl)-1, 3-butadiene in a 61% yield. X-ray crystal structures of 1, 4-(1, 1′-ferrocenediyl)-1, 3-butadiene and 1, 4-(1, 1′-ferrocenediyl)-1, 4-butanedione are compared.
Word Order and Prosodic‐Structure Constraints in Tagalog

This paper is concerned with two apparently unrelated word-order facts in Tagalog: In interrogative sentences, fronted wh-phrases follow the complementizer (Comp–WhP order), and in both interrogative and noninterrogative sentences, the subject follows the verb (verb-initial order). It is argued that neither of these word orders reflects a word order that is expected on the basis of the syntactic structure alone. Instead, a unified explanation for these word orders is proposed, according to which they arise as the result of a lowering operation that applies at Phonological Form (PF) and is prosodically driven. Specifically, lowering applies in order to satisfy a prosodic-structure constraint, Weak Start, which requires elements that are relatively high on the prosodic hierarchy to be preceded by elements that are equal to or lower than them on the prosodic hierarchy. The word orders discussed herein therefore involve a mismatch between syntax and phonology, and lowering provides a means by which syntactic principles as well as principles relating to prosodic-structure can be simultaneously upheld.
Neurobiology of exercise

Voluntary physical activity and exercise training can favorably influence brain plasticity by facilitating neurogenerative, neuroadaptive, and neuroprotective processes. At least some of the processes are mediated by neurotrophic factors. Motor skill training and regular exercise enhance executive functions of cognition and some types of learning, including motor learning in the spinal cord. These adaptations in the central nervous system have implications for the prevention and treatment of obesity, cancer, depression, the decline in cognition associated with aging, and neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's dementia, ischemic stroke, and head and spinal cord injury. Chronic voluntary physical activity also attenuates neural responses to stress in brain circuits responsible for regulating peripheral sympathetic activity, suggesting constraint on sympathetic responses to stress that could plausibly contribute to reductions in clinical disorders such as hypertension, heart failure, oxidative stress, and suppression of immunity. Mechanisms explaining these adaptations are not as yet known, but metabolic and neurochemical pathways among skeletal muscle, the spinal cord, and the brain offer plausible, testable mechanisms that might help explain effects of physical activity and exercise on the central nervous system.