cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Overexpression of RKIP and its cross-talk with several regulatory gene products in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal plasma-cell neoplastic disorder arising from an indolent premalignant disease known as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). MM is a biologically complex heterogeneous disease reflected by its variable clinical responses of patients receiving the same treatment. Therefore, a molecular identification of stage-specific biomarkers will support a more individualized precise diagnostic/prognostic approach, an effective therapeutic regime, and will assist in the identification of novel therapeutic molecular targets. The metastatic suppressor/anti-resistance factor Raf-1 kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) is poorly expressed in the majority of cancers and is often almost absent in metastatic tumors. RKIP inhibits the Raf/MEK/ERK1/2 and the NF-κB pathways. Whereby all tumors examined exhibited low levels of RKIP, in contrast, our recent findings demonstrated that RKIP is overexpressed primarily in its inactive phosphorylated form in MM cell lines and patient-derived tumor tissues. The underlying mechanism of RKIP overexpression in MM, in contrast to other tumors, is not known. We examined transcriptomic datasets on Oncomine platform (Life Technologies) for the co-expression of RKIP and other gene products in both pre-MM and MM. The transcription of several gene products was found to be either commonly overexpressed (i.e., RKIP, Bcl-2, and DR5) or underexpressed (i.e., Bcl-6 and TNFR2) in both pre-MM and MM. Noteworthy, a significant inverse correlation of differentially expressed pro-apoptotic genes was observed in pre-MM: overexpression of Fas and TNF-α and underexpression of YY1 versus expression of anti-apoptotic genes in MM: overexpression of YY1 and underexpression of Fas and TNF-α. Based on the analysis on mRNA levels and reported studies on protein levels of the above various genes, we have constructed various schemes that illustrate the possible cross-talks between RKIP (active/inactive) and the identified gene products that underlie the mechanism of RKIP overexpression in MM. Clearly, such cross-talks would need to be experimentally validated in both MM cell lines and patient-derived tumor tissues. If validated, the differential molecular signatures between pre-MM and MM might lead to a more precise diagnosis/prognosis of the disease and disease stages and will also identify novel molecular therapeutic targets for pre-MM and MM.
Design-Based School Improvement: A Practical Guide for Educational Leaders

Design-Based School Improvement offers a unique alternative to traditional school improvement literature by introducing design thinking to the school improvement process. This book is an exceptional and practical guide for educational leaders whose goals center on generating equity-informed solutions to persistent problems of practice. This innovative process frames a conversation differently about leading improvement, not only change, in today’s schools. Grounded in organizational change research, the book is a welcome roadmap for a systemic improvement process that engages a variety of constituents. It challenges leadership teams to identify “wicked” and persistent problems of practice, those with potential for resolution within a specific timeframe. Anyone who has engaged in the implementation of a paradigmatically different process would attest to that being easier said than done. Mintrop’s groundbreaking approach provides concrete support for transformative leaders who want to use such a significant and innovative approach to improve schools, addressing the core challenges of equity and resulting in improved learning outcomes for every student.
Development of the Self-Efficacy for Sleep Hygiene Inventory.

Background and purpose Few studies have examined how self-efficacy is related to sleep behaviors in young adults. The purpose of this study was to develop and test an instrument specifically designed to measure self-efficacy for sleep hygiene in young adults. Methods The Self-Efficacy for Sleep Hygiene Inventory (SESHI) was developed in three phases using principal components analysis. The 30-item scale was pilot tested with a sample of 305 young adults. A second study with a sample of 96 young adults confirmed reliability. Results A 24-item three-factor solution: time management, disruptive influences, and sleep influences. Cronbach's alphas were 0.83 (total SESHI), 0.87 (time management), 0.69 (disruptive influences), and 0.73 (sleep influences). Conclusions Initial psychometric testing indicated the SESHI may be a reliable measure of self-efficacy for sleep hygiene in this population.
Nourish the soul or damage the body? Belief in the connection between Christian moral failure and diminished health:

Scholars have increasingly noted mechanisms by which religion may be detrimental to one’s health, but few have explored how individuals understand linkages between religious involvement and adverse...
Fludarabine therapy in macroglobulinemic lymphoma

Fludarabine, a fluorinated analogue of adenine, was given to 11 patients with macroglobulinemic lymphoma, all but one having failed prior standard chemotherapy. Five patients (45%) responded with more than a 50% reduction of immunoglobulin M (IgM) tumor mass for a projected median duration of longer than 1 year. The onset of remission was usually slow, with a median tumor halving time of 5.2 months in responding patients, emphasizing the importance of repeated courses of treatment. Fludarabine is an important new agent effective against macroglobulinemic lymphoma, and should be evaluated further in combination with other active modalities.
An Application of Probability to Nonlinear Analysis

The Martin boundary theory allows to describe all positive solutions of a linear elliptic equation in an arbitrary domain E of a Euclidean space R. Our goal is to describe all positive solutions of a semilinear equation Lu = ψ(u). As a result of efforts of probabilists and analysts since early 1990s, now we have a solution of this problem for the equation ∆u = u with 1 < α ≤ 2 in a bounded smooth domain E. The present article contains an exposition of the theory developed to obtain this solution. 1 The central role is played by the boundary trace theory. A survey of this theory is given in Part One. In Part Two we outline the principal steps needed to construct an arbitrary positive solution starting from its trace. Our main probabilistic tool is (L,ψ)-superdiffusions.
Immunotherapy for Glioma: Promises and Challenges

Novel immunotherapeutic modalities are being pursed in the treatment of high-grade gliomas. This article explains how tumors suppress immune function in the brain. It specifically describes the ways in which tumors limit effective communication with immune cells, secrete immune-inhibitory cytokines and molecules, and express molecules that induce apoptosis of immune cells. It also defines 3 different immunotherapeutic approaches to counteract this tumor-associated immunosuppression: cytokine therapy, passive immunotherapy (either serotherapy or adoptive immunotherapy), and active immunotherapy. Although immunotherapeutic approaches have met with mixed success so far, immunotherapy continues to be actively pursued because of its potential to attack infiltrating high-grade gliomas.
Church Participation: A Social Space Analysis in a Community of Black In-Migrants.

The religious life of any people is profoundly social. Vital religious devotion, or worship, is a personal experience, but even when a person is alone, his religious behavior rests upon values and sentiments shared with other people, i.e., significant symbols. Religious beliefs and actions are largely a product of a process of learning from significant others, which are influenced by past experiences. For a large segment of the black population, religion represents a significant symbolic form that is used to organize a self-concept and to guide relationships with others in the environment. It is believed that planners have not taken advantage of this symbolic form in planning for the black community. Based upon the unique situation that black in-migrants have faced, the church, relative to other social institutions, has offered and continues to offer certain unique amenities. Historians have shown the importance of the church within
Impacts of nitrogen application timing and cover crop inclusion on subsurface drainage water quality

Abstract Significant reductions in nitrogen loading from sub-surface drainage fields of the Upper Mississippi River Basin to the Gulf of Mexico will most likely be achieved from the mass adoption of nutrient loss reduction strategies at a watershed scale. Few studies have quantified the efficacy of cover crops to reduce NO3-N loading in nitrogen fertilizer management systems, where the dominant portion of the N rate is applied in the spring or fall, both of which are common practices in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. In this experiment we quantified the impact of N application timing and cover crop inclusion on NO3-N loss (leaching) from agricultural sub-surface drainage within five nitrogen management scenarios: a zero control, applying the dominant portion of the N rate in the spring, applying the dominant portion of the N rate in the fall, augmenting the a spring and Fall N application system with cover crop. Each of the five nitrogen management scenarios was replicated three times on individually monitored sub-surface drainage plots established in Lexington, IL. During the experiment, a cereal rye (Secale cereal L.) and radish (Raphanus sativus L.) blend was interseeded within both corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.). Fertilizer N application timing did not affect cover crop growth or N uptake. The inclusion of cover crop resulted in more consistent and greater NO3-N loss reductions relative to adjusting fertilizer N application timing from fall to spring. Cover crop reduced the flow-weighted NO3-N concentrations by 39% and 38% and the N load by 40% and 47% when added to spring and fall fertilizer N management systems, respectively. Cover crop proved to be effective in reducing NO3-N loss through sub-surface drainage across the spectrum of N fertilizer management systems common to the Upper Mississippi River Basin.
Outdoor Time, Screen Time, and Connection to Nature: Troubling Trends Among Rural Youth?:

Evidence suggests that contemporary children are spending less time outdoors than their predecessors. Concurrent reports also highlight the rise of electronic media use in the lives of youth. We ex...
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and exogenous glutathione mitigate coal fly ash (CFA)-induced phytotoxicity in CFA-contaminated soil.

Coal fly ash (CFA) makes a bulk of the coal combustion wastes generated from coal-fired power plants. There are several environmental mishaps due to coal ash spills around the world and in the United States. Management of CFA-polluted sites has proven inefficient resulting in soil infiltration, leaching, and phytotoxicity. This study assessed the mitigation strategies for CFA-induced phytotoxicity using biological [arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)] and chemical [exogenous glutathione (GSH)] agents. Indices of phytotoxicity include seed germination, plant morphometrics, lipid peroxidation and genomic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) in switchgrass plant (Panicum virgatum). Experiments include laboratory screening (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% w/w CFA/soil) and greenhouse pot study (0, 7.5 and 15% w/w CFA/soil) culturing switchgrass plant in Armour silt loam soil co-applied with AMF (Rhizophagus clarus) and GSH. Experiments showed that CFA exposure caused a concentration-dependent increase in seed germination. 10% CFA increased seedling growth while 15 and 20% CFA decreased seedling growth and induced leaf chlorosis. Furthermore, CFA (7.5 and 15%) in the 90-d pot study significantly (p < 0.05) impaired plant growth, induced lipid peroxidation and reduced genomic dsDNA. However, the incorporation of AMF or GSH enhanced seed germination, plant growth, and/or genomic dsDNA, reduced lipid peroxidation and prevented leaf chlorosis in CFA-exposed switchgrass plant. This study demonstrates that AMF and GSH have the potential to mitigate CFA-induced phytotoxicity. These biological and chemical strategies could be further harnessed for efficient utilization of switchgrass plant in the phytoremediation of CFA contaminated soil environment while simultaneously limiting CFA-induced phytotoxicity.
Nondiffracting Beams with Azimuthal Orbital Angular Momentum Modulation for High Date Rate Communication Systems

A new method of high data rate communications using orbital angular momentum (OAM) and Airy beams is developed for GHz and mm-wave applications. While the nondiffracting Airy beam allows for significantly improved power reception, compared to a conventional antenna or array, and preserving information in the main lobe, the OAM modulation provides an additional degree of freedom to the beam and enables high data rate transmission at a given channel/frequency. A flat phase plate with cubic phase distribution is designed to generate a nondiffracting Airy beam for a propagation distance of a few hundreds of meters to few KM in the frequency range 1–100 GHz. Propagation of the nondiffracting Airy beam is simulated using a Fourier beam propagation method. OAM modulation of the Airy beam is achieved by employing a flat phase plate with azimuthal spiral phase distribution placed in front of the cubic phase plate. Numerical simulation results for plane wave and Gaussian beam excitations are presented. For demonstration of high data rate secure transmission OAM phase plates that produce $\mathbf{L}=1,2,3$ & 4 angular momenta are designed and fabricated using Teflon material, which in combination with the cubic phase plate produces nondiffracting beams. FDTD Numerical results show noise free clean OAM modes.
3.7 – Anaerobic Process

This chapter is devoted to covering the anaerobic treatment processes used for sludge stabilization and wastewater treatment with the purpose of chemical oxygen demand removal. It discusses the advantages and disadvantages of anaerobic treatment compared with other biological processes. It covers the fundamentals of anaerobic treatment processes, the microbiology and growth kinetics. It also introduces anaerobic digestion processes, different bioreactor configurations that are widely used for sludge stabilization, and the numerous factors affecting the performance of anaerobic treatment systems.
The Importance of Unbound Ligand in Nanocrystal Superlattice Formation.

Significant experimental and theoretical work has been devoted to understanding why colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) self-assemble into such a diverse array of structures. Previous research has focused...
Overcoming an Irrational Fear of Falling: A Case Study:

Irrational fear of falling is defined by the high degree of psychological fear a person has of falling when in reality, that person is at low physiological risk of falling. It is a significant prob...
Abstract PO-001: Heterogeneous overexpression of HES6 promotes the growth of uterine leiomyomas

Introduction: Uterine leiomyomas are a common cause of infertility, pelvic pain and irregular vaginal bleeding. Robust evidence suggests that leiomyomas arise from a distinct population of myometrial-specific stem cells (mSC). However, the mechanisms responsible for driving the mal-differentiation of mSC and subsequent leiomyoma growth remain poorly understood. Here, we explore the role of HES6, a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) co-factor critical for promoting myogenic differentiation, in uterine leiomyomas. Methods: After obtaining IRB approval, real time PCR (qPCR) and Western blot were used to evaluate patterns of HES6 expression using RNA and protein prepared from matched specimens of myometrium, leiomyoma and uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS). Primary cultures were generated as previously described. HES6-specific siRNAs were used to target gene expression in vitro. Standardized assays were used to measure proliferation (CellTiter-Glo, Promega) and apoptosis (Caspase 3/7 assay). A commercially available antibody specific for HES6 was used to localize HES6 expression in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue specimens by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Patterns of gene expression and splicing were profiled by Next Generation Sequencing. Student’s t-test was used to assess statistical significance. Results: We found that, on average, levels of HES6 transcript were >15-fold higher when specimens of leiomyomas were compared to adjacent normal myometrium (p 4-fold lower in specimens of uLMS (n=6) than proliferative or secretory phase myometrium (p Citation Format: Joie Z. Guner, Venkata A. Jonnalagadda, Ninad A. Patel, Ramya P. Masand, Cecilia Valdes, Williams E. Gibbons, Matthew L. Anderson. Heterogeneous overexpression of HES6 promotes the growth of uterine leiomyomas [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Tumor Heterogeneity: From Single Cells to Clinical Impact; 2020 Sep 17-18. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(21 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-001.
Cross comparison of AmpFire HPV genotyping assay and Roche human papillomavirus (HPV) linear array for HPV genotyping of anal swab samples.

Abstract Although anal cancers represent just 0.5 % of all new cancer cases in U.S., rates have increased markedly, with highest rates in HIV-infected MSM. American Cancer Society estimates there will be ∼9090 new cases and ∼1420 deaths in 2021. We compared Roche Linear Array HPV Genotyping (Roche) and AmpFire HPV Genotyping (AmpFire) assays for concordance and agreement to detect 15 hr-HPV types from 151 anal specimens. Within run precision of AmpFire was assessed on 50 anal specimens. Specimens with Roche Combo-positive and HPV33, HPV35 and/or HPV58-positive results were further tested using HPV52-specific TaqMan assay. AmpFire generated valid results on 149/151 (98.7 %) specimens; 135/149 (90.6 %) and 134/149 (89.9 %) had detectable HR-HPV DNA by AmpFire or Roche, respectively. Overall concordance was 89.8 % (2007/2235, κ = 0.65). HPV16 showed highest overall concordance at 93.3 % (139/149, κ = 0.84). HPV68 had lowest overall concordance at 77.2 % (115/149, κ = 0.28). Kappa values were interpreted as being moderate or good for all other HR-HPV types. Within run precision generated 744/750 concordant results; R2 value = 0.97 (p
High power densities from high-temperature material interactions

Thermionic energy conversion (TEC) and metallic-fluid heat pipes (MFHPs), offering unique advantages in terrestrial and space energy processing by virtue of operating on working-fluid vaporization/condensation cycles that accept great thermal power densities at high temperatures, share complex materials problems. Simplified equations are presented that verify and solve such problems, suggesting the possibility of cost-effective applications in the near term for TEC and MFHP devices. Among the problems discussed are: the limitation of alkali-metal corrosion, protection against hot external gases, external and internal vaporization, interfacial reactions and diffusion, expansion coefficient matching, and creep deformation.
Trajectories of and disparities in HIV prevalence among Black, White, and Hispanic/Latino High Risk Heterosexuals in 89 U.S. Metropolitan statistical areas, 1992-2013.

ABSTRACT Purpose Estimates of HIV prevalence, and how it changes over time, are needed to inform action (e.g., resource allocation) to improve HIV-related public health. However, creating adequate estimates of (diagnosed and undiagnosed) HIV prevalence is challenging due to biases in samples receiving HIV testing and due to difficulties enumerating key risk populations. To our knowledge, estimates of HIV prevalence among high risk heterosexuals in the United States produced for geographic areas smaller than the entire nation have to date been only for single years and/or for single cities (or other single geographic locations). Methods The present study addresses these gaps by using multilevel modeling on multiple data series, in combination with previous estimates of HIV prevalence among heterosexuals from the extant literature, to produce annual estimates of HIV prevalence among high risk heterosexuals for each of 89 metropolitan statistical areas, from 1992 to 2013. It also produces estimates for these MSAs and years by racial/ethnic subgroup to allow for an examination of change over time in racial/ethnic disparities in HIV prevalence among high risk heterosexuals. Results The resulting estimates suggest that HIV prevalence among high risk heterosexuals has decreased steadily, on average, from 1992 to 2013. Examination of these estimates by racial/ ethnic subgroup suggests that this trend is primarily due to decreases among Black and Hispanic/Latino high risk heterosexuals. HIV prevalence among white high risk heterosexuals remained steady over time at around 1% during the study period. Although HIV prevalence among Black and Hispanic/Latino high risk heterosexuals was much higher (approximately 3.5% and 3.3%, respectively) than that among whites in 1992, over time these differences decreased as HIV prevalence decreased over time among these subgroups. By 2013, HIV prevalence among Hispanic/Latino high risk heterosexuals was estimated to be very similar to that among white high risk heterosexuals (approximately 1%), with prevalence among Black high risk heterosexuals still estimated to be almost twice as high. Conclusions It is likely that as HIV incidence has decreased among heterosexuals from 1992 to 2013, mortality due to all causes has remained disparately high among racial/ethnic minorities, thereby outpacing new HIV cases. Future research should aim to empirically examine this by comparing changes over time in estimated HIV incidence among heterosexuals to changes over time in mortality and causes of death among HIV-positive heterosexuals, by racial/ethnic subgroup.
Bureaucracies as Innovative Organizations

Bureaucracies create rules and routines that are an important source of organizational capabilities. But these rules and routines also, for a number of reasons, become difficult to change and inhibit organizational innovation. We discuss how an organization in Denver local government, Peak Academy, encourages frontline civil servants to develop innovations. We present the background and content of innovations that have been developed and present an account of how bureaucracies can be innovative, and of what distinguishes innovations by bureaucracies. Many of the innovations we observed are mundane process innovations rather than more dramatic changes in features of programs. We call these “microinnovations.” We urge scholars interested in government innovation to give more attention to such innovations, which have hitherto been ignored in the literature.
Die Messung der relativen kognitiven Befähigung: Der IQ

Manche Menschen behalten von einem Lied den Text, andere die Melodie, wieder andere beides oder weder das eine noch das andere. Den einen macht Rechnen Spas, den anderen graut davor. Einen kaputten Automotor zu reparieren, davor haben Sie vielleicht Respekt, oder Sie mogen so etwas als hinderlich empfinden. Kurz, die Menschen unterscheiden sich in psychologischer Hinsicht, nicht nur in physischer. Doch gibt es fur solche Unterschiede Grenzen. Es ist unwahrscheinlich, das Sie einem Mitmenschen begegnen, dessen Seelenleben sich von dem Ihren so sehr unterscheidet, wie das eines Schimpansen, geschweige denn das einer Spinne. Verglichen mit solchen Lebewesen ist uns das Seelenleben unserer Zeitgenossen zum Verwechseln ahnlich.
Census monographs on community growth and change

Why did the editor of Demography choose to package these three 1980 census monographs together? Two of the books, Rural and Small Town America and Regional and Metropolitan Growth and Decline in the United States, represent opposite sides of the same coin; both deal with American communities, small and large, rural and urban. The third, Migration and Residential Mobility in the United States, represents the main demographic process that reshaped those communities. So, in his wisdom, the editor created a substantively coherent set of books. The books were written as part of the census monograph series, sponsored by three foundations in collaboration with the U. S. Bureau of the Census. The series was administered by The National Committee for Research on the 1980 Census, and each monograph, in turn, had an advisory panel. All of the authors are established arid esteemed demographic researchers in their respective fields. That they were well qualified and wisely chosen for these projects is shown by the (appropriate) prominence of their own previous publications in the bibliographies of these new monographs: each of these authors built upon his previous demographic research. Fuguitt, Brown, and Beale describe their intended audience, and perhaps their description speaks for the other authors as well: . . . "Interested nonprofessionals, public officials, planners and others working in public and private agencies, and professional social scientists" (p. 3). These are definitely technical volumes, and are not appropriate for undergraduates or general readers. Frey and Speare, in their introduction to Regional and Metropolitan Growth and Decline in the United States, set forth a major goal: "Our main objective is to interpret the redistribution patterns of the 1970s and early 1980s in light of the changing social and economic contexts for redistribution that emerged during this period" (p. 6). Their units of analysis are regions and metropolitan areas. However, as they examine the metropolitan population, they often compare it with the nonmetropolitan population, which, in turn, becomes an object of investigation. Frey and Speare divide their book into two major sections. Part 1 views the nation as a whole, divided into regions and into metropolitan and
The Bott–Borel–Weil Theorem for direct limit groups

We show how highest weight representations of certain infinite dimensional Lie groups can be realized on cohomology spaces of holomorphic vector bundles. This extends the classical Bott–Borel–Weil Theorem for finite– dimensional compact and complex Lie groups. Our approach is geometric in nature, in the spirit of Bott’s original generalization of the Borel–Weil Theorem. The groups for which we prove this theorem are strict direct limits of compact Lie groups, or their complexifications. We previously proved that such groups have an analytic structure. Our result applies to most of the familiar examples of direct limits of classical groups. We also introduce new examples involving iterated embeddings of the classical groups and see exactly how our results hold in those cases. One of the technical problems here is that, in general, the limit Lie algebras will have root systems but need not have root spaces, so we need to develop machinery to handle this somewhat delicate situation.
Procaine allergy in dental patients: diagnosis and management; a preliminary report.

Abstract 1. 1. A clinical procedure for testing a patient's sensitivity to procaine is suggested. 2. 2. Ten patients suspected of being allergic to procaine (experimental group) reacted positively to the intradermal test when procaine was used, and negatively when tested with Xylocaine. Five patients (control group) reacted negatively to both local anesthetics. 3. 3. Xylocaine has been used for a year on the procaine-sensitive patients with no untoward clinical reactions. 4. 4. A possible explanation for the difference in reaction to procaine and Xylocaine in experimental groups is given.
New, Faster Algorithms for Supervised Competitive Learning: Counterpropagation and Adaptive-Resonance Functionality

Hecht-Nielsen‘s counterpropagation networks often learn to associate input and output patterns more quickly than backpropagation networks. But simple competitive learning cannot separate closely spaced input patterns without adaptive-resonance-like (ART) functionality which prevents neighboring patterns from ’stealing‘ each other‘s templates. We demonstrate ’pseudo-ART‘ functionality with a new, simple, and very fast algorithm which requires no pattern normalization at all. Competition can be based on either Euclidean or L1-norm matching. In the latter case, the new algorithm emulates fuzzy ART. We apply the pseudo-ART scheme to several new types of counterpropagation networks, including one based on competition among combined input/output patterns, and discuss application with and without noise.
SybilInfer: Detecting Sybil Nodes using Social Networks.

SybilInfer is an algorithm for labelling nodes in a social network as honest users or Sybils controlled by an adversary. At the heart of SybilInfer lies a probabilistic model of honest social networks, and an inference engine that returns potential regions of dishonest nodes. The Bayesian inference approach to Sybil detection comes with the advantage label has an assigned probability, indicating its degree of certainty. We prove through analytical results as well as experiments on simulated and real-world network topologies that, given standard constraints on the adversary, SybilInfer is secure, in that it successfully distinguishes between honest and dishonest nodes and is not susceptible to manipulation by the adversary. Furthermore, our results show that SybilInfer outperforms state of the art algorithms, both in being more widely applicable, as well as providing vastly more accurate results.
A Segmentation Study of Beach Rental-by-Owner Online Inquiring Customers

In recent years, with the movement of vacation planning to the online setting, a segment that has emerged is the vacation rental-by-owner lodging market. Vacation property owners are now often renting their property on their own through the virtual marketplace. Accordingly, this study proposes analyzing the inquiring record data for one beach property in a cluster analysis to determine different types of destination inquirers. Key variables to examine include inquiry lead time, length of stay, size of party, vacation season, pet friendliness, and the region of country. A major potential contribution of a study of this nature is the ability to identify several vacationer types for this destination property and region.
Cenozoic deformation of the Tarim plate and the implications for mountain building in the Tibetan Plateau and the Tian Shan

[1] The Tarim basin in NW China developed as a complex foreland basin in the Cenozoic in association with mountain building in the Tibetan Plateau to the south and the Tian Shan orogen to the north. We reconstructed the Cenozoic deformation history of the Tarim basement by backstripping the sedimentary rocks. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional finite element models are then used to simulate the flexural deformation of the Tarim basement in response to the sedimentary loads and additional tectonic loads associated with overthrusting of the surrounding mountain belts. The results suggest that uplift of both the western Kunlun Shan and the Tian Shan orogens started during or before Oligocene. Since the Miocene, mountain building accelerated in the western Kunlun Shan but showed segmented development in the Tian Shan. The results also indicate reduced tectonic load along the Altyn Tagh fault since late Miocene, consistent with geological and geophysical evidence of the fault cutting the entire lithosphere and migrating southward during its cause of the Cenozoic evolution.
Kauffman Firm Survey (KFS) Baseline Methodology Report

Although entrepreneurial activity is an important part of a capitalist economy, only a small amount of data is available about U.S. businesses in their first years of operation. As part of an effort to gather more data on new businesses in the United States, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation sponsored the Kauffman Firm Survey (KFS), a panel study of new businesses founded in 2004 and tracked over their early years of operation. The Foundation contracted with Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR) to conduct the KFS, which collects data about the nature of new business formation activity; characteristics of the strategy, offerings, and employment patterns; the nature of the financial and organizational arrangements of these businesses; and the characteristics of their founders.
Desgin Issues for Object-Based Concurrency

We examine the design space for object-based concurrent programming, emphasizing high-level design alternatives in the areas of process structure, internal process concurrency, synchronization, and inter-process communication. We consider the role of abstraction, distribution, and synchronization in determining the granularity of modules, and introduce the notion of“relative persistence” of operations and data for functions, objects, and transactions. Our primary goal is to present design alternatives rather than to draw strong conclusions about how concurrent object-oriented systems should be designed. This work derives from [15] and complements work on fundamental models of concurrency such as [1, 4, 12, 17].
Cognition and Reason: Rethinking Kelsen in the Context of Contract and Business Law

This is a reconsideration of Hans Kelsen’s pure theory of law from the standpoint of a long-time business lawyer, contract theoretician, and Kant-influenced epistemologist. The essay: (a) reconsiders the pure theory in the context of contract and business law (i) in light of how legal reasoning operates (something the pure theory accurately characterizes) in contract and business law (as, for example, in the classic consideration/promissory estoppel case, Allegheny College), and (ii) with a more faithful or more satisfying account than Kelsen provided of the kind of knowledge we obtain if we are going to think of contract and business law as a kind of science, whether descriptive or normative, under Kantian conceptions of cognition and reason; and (b) considers the practical and theoretical implications of the foregoing somewhat obscure and arcane distinction, if not for the contract and business lawyers who actually do the practicing, then at least for those who teach them. Facing reality before deciding on a course of action is often the hardest task for lawyers and their clients. I am thus skeptical of a legal “science” that seeks an ironically and paradoxically abstract positive law of contracts, an ideally coherent doctrine that exists somewhere “out there,” removed from its application to real world experience.
Handicraft and Manufactured Cotton Textiles in China, 1871–1910

The most important household handicraft in rural China was, however, the spinning and weaving of cotton. From the yuan dynasty onward, cotton culture and manufacture had spread rapidly in china, cotton cloth becoming the principal daily article of clothing for all except the very wealthy. While imported machine-spun yarn was becoming cheaper, the price of Chinese raw cotton was rising. The most obvious consequence of the increasing inflow of foreign yarn was thus a geographical dispersion of the handicraft weaving industry. For many peasant households in those areas where cotton spinning had been important, who were unable either to find urban employment for some of their family members or to increase their production and marketing of cash crops, an always precarious equilibrium between income and expenditure was profoundly shaken by the decline in handicraft spinning which the author described and attempted to measure. Keywords: cash crops; foreign yarn; household handicraft; peasant households; precarious equilibrium; raw cotton; rural China
Nanodiamond-Polymer Composite Fibers and Coatings

While nanocrystalline diamond is quickly becoming one of the most widely studied nanomaterials, achieving a large fraction of diamond nanoparticles in a polymer coating has been an unresolved problem. In this work, polymer nano- and microfibers containing high loadings of 5 nm diamond particles (up to 80 wt % in polyacrylonitrile and 40% in polyamide 11) have been demonstrated using electrospun nanofibers as a delivery vehicle. The electrospun nanofibers with a high load of nanodiamond in the polymers were fused into thin transparent films, which had high mechanical properties; an improvement of 4 times for the Young's modulus and 2 times for the hardness was observed already at 20% nanodiamond in polyamide 11. These films can provide UV protection and scratch resistance to a variety of surfaces, especially in applications where a combination of mechanical, thermal, and dielectric properties is required.
Rapid changes in left ventricular dimensions and mass in response to physical conditioning and deconditioning.

Abstract To determine the influence of training and detraining on left ventricular dimensions, echocardiographic estimates of left ventricular indexes were undertaken in two groups of young healthy subjects. The training group consisted of eight competitive swimmers who were studied serially for 9 weeks. Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension in this group increased from the pretraining value of 48.7 ± 1.7 (mean ± standard error) to 53 ± 0.2 mm by the 1st week and to 52 ± 1.7 mm by the 9th week of training (P The results indicate that (1) exercise training-induced adaptive changes in left ventricular dimensions occur rapidly and mimic the pattern of chronic volume overload; and (2) modest degrees of exercise-induced left ventricular enlargement are reversible after cessation of training.
Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for orthopedic surgery

Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA) is gaining rapid acceptance in orthopedic surgery. Use of a single vertebral interspace for the technique was first described in orthopedic patients. In Europe, CSEA has been for more than 10 years. The procedure for which it has been used more than all others is total hip arthroplasty. This is in contrast to the United States where CSEA has been used predominately for obstetrics. CSEA offers advantages of spinal anesthesia combined with continuous epidural anesthesia. Effective postoperative analgesia with the epidural catheter can be easily provided. To date, CSEA has not been associated with any unique complications such as the cauda equina syndrome associated with microcatheter continuous spinal anesthesia. The use of CSEA in orthopedics is certain to increase in years to come.
UNUSUAL PHOTOLUMINESCENCE BEHAVIOR OF C70

Well-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectra of C[sub 70] and [sup 13]C[sub 70] in a glassy methylcyclohexane matrix have been obtained over the range 10,000-16,000 cm[sup [minus]1] at temperatures between 4 and 77 K. The PL spectrum consists of a short-lived, red fluorescence system extending from 14 000 to 15 500 cm[sup [minus]1] and a longer-lived, IR phosphorescence system extending from 10,000 to 12,500 cm[sup [minus]1]. The PL spectrum is unusual in several aspects: the line widths are nearly 10-fold narrower than those of catacondensed hydrocarbons under similar conditions, and the temperature dependence suggests the presence of multiple emitting states (of the same spin multiplicity) or several emitting species in the highly dilute glassy matrix. To better understand the photophysical behavior of C[sub 70], we have attempted to correlate vibrational frequencies in the IR and Raman spectra of C[sub 70] and [sup 13]C[sub 70] with the vibronic intervals observed in the PL spectra. The study of [sup 13]C[sub 70] enabled a more detailed analysis of the vibronic structure of the fluorescence and phosphorescence spectra. 38 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.
Conventional four-field pelvic radiotherapy technique without computed tomography-treatment planning in cancer of the cervix: Potential geographic miss and its impact on pelvic control

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the impact of inadequate margins on pelvic control using the conventional four-field pelvic portals without computed tomography (CT)-treatment planning. Methods and Materials: Between 1986 and 1991, 34 patients with invasive cancer of the cervix were eligible for outcome study of conventional four-field radiation therapy (10 Stage I, 16 Stage II, 8 Stage II). The eligibility for this study includes four-field pelvic technique, definitive radiation therapy, and diagnostic CT scan of the pelvis. For this study, an inadequate margin is arbitrarily defined as ≤ 1.0 cm of normal tissue around the CT-defined tumor volume. Results: All 34 patients had adequate margins for anterio-posterior/porterio-anterior portals. However, 19 patients had an inadequate margin at the posterior border (S2-S3 interspace) and/or custom-shaped rectal block for lateral pelvic uterus. With a median follow-up of 36 months, pelvic control for adequate margins and inadequate margins was 100% and 71% for Stage IB disease and 88% and 50% for Stage IIB disease, respectively. However, pelvic control for Stage IIIB disease was 50% for both groups. There was no difference in total dose to point A or point B between the two groups. Conclusion: Our preliminary data show higher local failure in patients with an inadequate margin. For four-field pelvic radiation therapy, we strongly recommend CT-treatment planning. Otherwise, anterio-porterior/posterio-anterior pelvic therapy is the most reliable for cancer of the uterine cervix.
A software product line approach for end user development of smart spaces

Several End User Development (EUD) tools have been proposed that enable end users to create software applications for smart spaces. Even though most of the tools focus on architecture and usability they don't take into account the end user background. For instance some end users are domain experts, experienced software developers, and others have very limited computer skills. Furthermore current EUD approaches do not address reuse. In this paper we present XANA, an EUD framework that extends existing EUD tools with Software Product Line (SPL) concepts. The framework targets two types of users: the application designers and the end users. Application designers create the SPL for end users. End users select SPL features and derive applications for their smart spaces. XANA promotes reuse by allowing end users to reuse features and components to create applications. We illustrate its use with examples in a smart home setting.
MRI of Sports Injuries in Children and Adolescents: What’s Different from Adults

As the pediatric population continues to increase its participation in organized athletics, there has been a corresponding increase in associated injuries. The lower extremity is the most frequently involved site in individuals age 5–18, representing about 60 % of all injuries. Children and adolescents are susceptible to injuries that differ from adults. The pelvis, knee, and ankle all present unique diagnostic challenges to the physician. MR can be helpful in the young athlete, as it can better demonstrate apophyseal, physeal, or soft tissue injury that might otherwise be unapparent or underestimated.
Involvement of cAMP and cAMP-dependent protein kinase in the initiation of DNA synthesis by rat liver cells.

Abstract Addition of calcium to calcium-deprived cultures of T51B rat liver cells caused brief bursts of cAMP production and cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity which were followed almost immediately by a stimulation of DNA synthesis. PKInh, a specific polypeptide inhibitor of the catalytic subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinases, inhibited the DNA-synthetic response to calcium addition without stopping the preceding cAMP surge. Addition of cAMP to the calciumdeprived cultures increased protein kinase activity and stimulated DNA synthesis, both of which were inhibited by PKInh. DNA synthesis in these cultures was not stimulated by adding type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase holoenzyme to the calcium-deficient medium, but it was stimulated by type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase holoenzyme or the catalytic subunit from either type I or type II holoenzyme. The stimulatory actions of the type II holoenzyme or the catalytic subunits were inhibited by PKInh. Thus, a burst of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity was ultimately responsible for the stimulation of DNA synthesis in calcium-deprived T51B cells by calcium or cAMP and it might also be involved in the events leading to initiation of DNA synthesis in many, if not all, normally cycling cells.
Using Appreciative Learning in Executive Education

This paper reports the use of appreciative learning in a non-credit executive education program during a five-day intensive Leadership Impact Lab™ (LIL™). Appreciative learning is explained as a positive instructional method that is based upon appreciative inquiry, an Organizational Development (OD) methodology. The entire program is described as context for the use of appreciative learning with upper middle and senior level managers. The specific use of the method is described and discussed. Learner reaction is presented. Future use and alternative applications are suggested.
Analysis of Gas-Dynamic Effects in Explosively Actuated Valves

A quasi-one-dimensional model is formulated to assess unsteady gas dynamics occurring within axisymmetric explosively actuated valves. The model accounts for pressure-dependent explosive burn within an actuator, compressible product-gas flow through a narrow port connecting the actuator to a gas expansion chamber, and piston motion due to the combined effects of gas-dynamic forces within the expansion chamber and structural deformation forces between the piston and valve bore. The initial boundary-value problem is posed in terms of generalized coordinates to facilitate numerical computations on a domain that volumetrically expands due to combustionandpistonmotion.Predictionsforabaselineconfigurationthatisrepresentative ofaconventionalvalve indicate that gas-dynamic waves do not result in irregular operation, implying that spatially homogeneous models may be adequate for describing its performance. However, small changes in valve geometry and explosive mass can produce large variations in gas-dynamic fields that significantly affect both the magnitude and frequency of the pyrotechnic shock transmitted to the valve’s supporting structure. Port diameter is shown to control the rates of explosive energy release andacoustic energy transport, which can significantly affect pistonmotion andstroke time.
The effect of homemaker's employment status on children's time allocation in single- and two-parent families

This study compares the effect of homemaker's employment status on children's time allocation in single- and two-parent families. Specifically under investigation is the effect of living in a family in which the mother is employed professionally, employed non-professionally, or not employed outside the home on older child's time allocated to household work, school work, and recreation in single- and two-parent families. Age and sex of older children and constraints on their time, such as school attendance, are controlled for in the analysis. The data are from a California study. A two-step multiple regression procedure is used. The effect of homemaker's employment status on older child's time allocated to household work, school work, and recreation is not found to differ by family structure. Homemaker's employment status does not explain a significant amount of variance in older child's time allocation.
The growing prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes in migrant Asian populations and its implications for Asia

Abstract Many of the prevalence studies of diabetes in Asian populations are reviewed. When compared to Whites, Asians have an even greater predominance of non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM) over insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM). Diabetes prevalence is higher among migrant Asians than in their homelands, and is often higher than in the majority population of their new homes. It is hypothesized that when a vulnerable population experiences environmental influences accompanying ‘westernization’, insulin resistance and eventually glucose intolerance develop. Asians are postulated to be a vulnerable ethnic group. Since many portions of Asia are also becoming westernized, it is postulated that insulin resistance and glucose intolerance will become more common in Asia. If this prediction is correct, then NIDDM will be a major health problem in Asia in the near future.