cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What corporate america wants in entrylevel accountants: Some methodological concerns

Abstract In September 1993, the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) and the Financial Executives Institute (FEI) commissioned the Gary Siegel Organization (hereafter GSO) to carry out a study that was ultimately titled, “What Corporate America Wants in Entry-level Accountants.” The GSO employed a research approach that included focus group interviews, telephone interviews, and mail questionnaires. Central to the GSO study is an assessment of accounting knowledge and skills areas (AKSAs). AKSAs are 15 broad accounting knowledge and skills areas selected from the content specifications of professional accounting examinations and from major topic areas taught in college accounting courses. The research results were reported at the Annual Meeting of the American Accounting Association in August, 1994, and published as a monograph as well as in Management Accounting . According to a joint IMA/FEI position statement, “The results show that Corporate America believes universities are doing a less than adequate job of preparing people for entrylevel work in management accounting” (p. 25). Consistent with these conclusions, the IMA/FEI position statement continues, “University accounting programs must be restructured to respond to the needs of the corporate customer.” (p. 25). As a way of measuring the service quality gap with respect to the AKSAs, the GSO apparently tried to adapt a perceptions-minus-expectations research methodology used to measure service quality referred to as SERVQUAL. Unfortunately, the GSO study contains serious methodological flaws. These methodological flaws call into question the conclusions drawn from the study. Accounting educators and administrators need to exercise caution in using the GSO study results as the basis for wholesale restructuring of the accounting curriculum. At the least, additional studies ought to be made to either confirm or disconfirm the results reported by the GSO study. In this paper, we outline a more acceptable method for using the SERVQUAL perceptions-minus-expectations framework.
Genomic Promoter Analysis Predicts Functional Transcription Factor Binding

Background. The computational identification of functional transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) remains a major challenge of computational biology. Results. We have analyzed the conserved promoter sequences for the complete set of human RefSeq genes using our conserved transcription factor binding site (CONFAC) software. CONFAC identified 16296 human-mouse ortholog gene pairs, and of those pairs, 9107 genes contained conserved TFBS in the 3 kb proximal promoter and first intron. To attempt to predict in vivo occupancy of transcription factor binding sites, we developed a novel marginal effect isolator algorithm that builds upon Bayesian methods for multigroup TFBS filtering and predicted the in vivo occupancy of two transcription factors with an overall accuracy of 84%. Conclusion. Our analyses show that integration of chromatin immunoprecipitation data with conserved TFBS analysis can be used to generate accurate predictions of functional TFBS. They also show that TFBS cooccurrence can be used to predict transcription factor binding to promoters in vivo.
The road to cooperative supply‐chain environmental management: trust and uncertainty among pro‐active firms

The pressures on firms to improve their environmental performance have caused them to look outside their boundaries towards their supply chains. In such approaches, firms work with vendors to develop the environmental profile of supplied materials (for example) by reducing materials' toxicity or the amount of packaging used. While large firms can mandate that their suppliers comply with such initiatives, more cooperative approaches are generally likely to be more fruitful. This article presents the results from an exploratory, two phase study of the conditions under which firms engage in cooperative supply-chain environmental management. First, the authors conducted interviews with 14 leading-edge firms. In the second phase, the authors conducted a theoretical-sample survey to examine a model of the antecedents of cooperative supply-chain environmental management. The results suggest that inter-firm trust, uncertainty and pro-active environmental management most directly affect the extent to which firms engage in cooperative supply-chain environmental management. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Investigating chelating sulfonamides and their use in metalloproteinase inhibitors

Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors (MMPi) utilize zinc-binding groups (ZBGs) to chelate the catalytic Zn(II) ion resulting in enzyme inhibition. Adapting findings from the literature of Zn(II) ion sensors, we previously reported chelating sulfonamide inhibitors of MMP-2, some of which showed excellent selectivity over other gelatinases (MMP-9). Herein, we greatly expand our investigation of chelating sulfonamides as MMP inhibitors (MMPi) with the synthesis and screening of several new libraries consisting of 2-phenyl-7-sulfonamidobenzimidazole, 2-phenyl-7-sulfonamidobenzoxazole, 7-sulfonamidobenzimidazole, 7-sulfonamidobenzoxazole, and 2-(2-sulfonamidophenyl)-quinoline ZBG derivatives. A novel microwave irradiation synthetic procedure was utilized to rapidly and efficiently prepare these molecules. To better understand the coordination chemistry underlying these ZBGs, crystal structures of representative molecules with several first row transition metals were determined and differences in coordination preferences were considered. Surprisingly, only compounds with the 2-phenyl-7-sulfonamidobenzimidazole ZBG showed inhibition of MMP-2, suggesting that the specific structure of the ZBG can have a pronounced effect of inhibitory activity.
Pragmatic and Semantic Development in Young Children with Impaired Hearing.

The purpose of the study was to characterize the early pragmatic-semantic communicative development of young hearing-impaired children learning spoken English as a first language. Twelve children with impaired hearing, ranging in age from 22 months to 60 months, were videotaped. Approximately 13 hours of videotaped data from four different communicative settings were analyzed. The pragmatic and semantic categories used by these children varied across age groups. Results are discussed with regard to age, expressive modality, mean length of utterance (MLU), and hearing loss. There was much variation among these parameters in communicative development across children.
Decomposition techniques for multistage scheduling problems using mixed-integer and constraint programming methods

In this paper two strategies are presented to reduce the combinatorial complexity when solving single stage and multistage optimization scheduling problems that involve cost minimization and due dates. These problems can naturally be decomposed into assignment and sequencing subproblems. The proposed strategies rely on either combining mixed-integer programming (MILP) to model the assignment part and constraint programming (CP) for modeling the sequencing part, or else combining MILP models for both parts. The subproblems are solved sequentially by adding integer cuts to the first MILP to generate new assignments. Results are presented for both single and multistage systems.
Adrenal dysfunction in hemodynamically unstable patients in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVE Adrenal failure, a treatable condition, can have catastrophic consequences if unrecognized in critically ill ED patients. The authors' objective was to prospectively study adrenal function in a case series of hemodynamically unstable (high-risk) patients from a large, urban ED over a 12-month period. METHODS In a prospective manner, critically ill adult patients presenting to the ED were enrolled when presenting with a mean arterial blood pressure < or =60 mm Hg requiring vasopressor therapy for more than one hour after receiving fluid resuscitation (central venous pressure of 12-15 mm Hg or a minimum of 40 mL/kg of crystalloid). Patients were excluded if presenting with hemorrhage, trauma, or AIDS, or if steroids were used within the previous six months. An adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test was performed and serum cortisol was measured. Treatment for adrenal insufficiency was not instituted. RESULTS A total of 57 consecutive patients were studied. Of these, eight (14%) had baseline serum cortisol concentrations of <20 microg/dL (<552 nmol/L), which was considered adrenal insufficiency (AI). Three additional patients (5%) had subnormal 60-minute post-ACTH-stimulation cortisol responses (<30 microg/dL) and a delta cortisol < or =9 microg/dL, which is the difference between the baseline and 60-minute levels. This is functional hypoadrenalism (FH). There were no laboratory abnormalities that distinguished patients with AI or FH from those with preserved adrenal function (PAF). Rates of survival to discharge did not differ between the AI group (7 of 8) and PAF patients (21 of 46; p = 0.052). CONCLUSIONS Adrenal dysfunction is common in high-risk ED patients. Overall, it has a frequency of 19% among a homogeneous population of hemodynamically unstable vasopressor-dependent patients. The effect of physiologic glucocorticoid replacement in this setting remains to be determined.
Fermion particle production in semiclassical Boltzmann-Vlasov transport theory

We present numerical solutions of the semiclassical Boltzmann-Vlasov equation for fermion particle-antiparticle production by strong electric fields in boost-invariant coordinates in ($1+1$) and ($3+1$) dimensional QED. We compare the Boltzmann-Vlasov results with those of recent quantum field theory calculations and find good agreement. We conclude that extending the Boltzmann-Vlasov approach to the case of QCD should allow us to do a thorough investigation of how backreaction affects recent results on the dependence of the transverse momentum distribution of quarks and antiquarks on a second Casimir invariant of color SU(3).
International Regimes and Democratic Governance: Political Equality and Influence in Global Institutions

Proponents of cosmopolitan democracy rely primarily on institutional design to make their case for the feasibility of democratic governance at this level. Another strategy seems more plausible: proposing a ‘non-ideal’ theory in Rawls’s sense that examines the social forces and conditions currently promoting democracy at the international level. The strongest forces operating now are various transnational associations that help to produce and monitor regime formation and compliance. Such a highly decentralized form of governance suggests that democratization is thereby promoted by a dense network of associations in international civil society, a global public sphere, and responsive political organizations. However much these forces disperse power through the normative principle of equal access to political influence, they could also fall well short of realizing desirable ideals such as free and open deliberation. In order not to devolve into an interest group pluralism, the decentralized strategy requires that a richer democracy be realized through the legal institutionalization of free and equal access to the global public sphere.
The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from the mitochondrial fraction of Neurospora crassa.

Abstract The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Neurospora crassa has been isolated from the mitochondrial fraction and shown to have a sedimentation velocity ( S 20, w ) of 85. The activity of the purified pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) has an absolute dependence on coenzyme A and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. The K m values for these two compounds were determined to be 1.1 × 10 −5 m and 1.5 × 10 −4 m , respectively. PDC activity is enhanced by the addition of thiamine pyrophosphate. Both pyruvate and α-ketobutyrate were demonstrated to be substrates for the complex, and K m values for these two compounds were determined to be 2.6 × 10 −4 m and 8.2 × 10 −4 m , respectively. The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activity is inhibited by several compounds, including NADH, acetyl-S-CoA, ATP, citrate, acetaldehyde, and α-ketoisovaleric acid. The inhibition by NADH is competitive with NAD + ( K i = 3.4 × 10 −5 M), and the inhibition by acetyl-S-CoA is competitive with CoASH ( K i = 1.8 × 10 −5 M). The purified complex catalyzes the synthesis of α-acetolactate with pyruvate as substrate and the synthesis of acetoin from pyruvate plus acetaldehyde. The purified complex from an iv -3 mutant, which requires isoleucine and valine for growth, was also found to form α-acetolactate. Electron micrographs of the Neurospora PDC particle show it to have extreme diameters of 300–350 A and to resemble in gross appearance the mammalian PDC particle.
Characteristics distinguishing high-growth ventures

Abstract The purpose of this study is to define characteristics that distinguish high-growth from low-growth companies. In this examination, particular emphasis is focused on characteristics that lend themselves to objective evalnation. In previous studies, great emphasis has been placed upon characteristics related to the personal capabilities of entrepreneurs. Although such characteristics are widely accepted as being of great importance, they are subjective and evaluated only with great difficulty. Two pools of companies were examined in the course of this study. Each company responded to a comprehensive questionnaire and provided longitudinal data related to a wide variety of operating characteristics. The first pool of companies—the “Reynolds data base”—consisted of relatively young, small companies. The second pool—Price Waterhouse clients—included companies that were generally larger and more mature than those in the Reynolds data base. The distinction between the samples permitted us to consider how the set of growth characteristics varies at different stages in a company's development. Discriminant analysis of both samples yielded the following insights. 1. In both pools, it was important that management have substantial industry experience. No other characteristic related to the experience or capability of the entrepreneur or entrepreneurial team was identified as distinguishing between high- and low-growth. 2. An interesting strategic profile became apparent based upon the examination of the two groups. In the Reynolds sample, the high-growth companies were more focused than their low-growth counterparts, with more revenue being generated by a single product. Conversely, in the Price Waterhouse sample, the high-growth companies displayed a greater propensity for market and product diversification than did the slow-growth companies in that pool. These results seem logical in that smaller companies have fewer resources and therefore may perform better by focusing their effort. Conversely, more mature companies need to expand growth prospects and hedge against overreliance on any particular opportunity. 3. Growth companies in the Reynolds data base ran leaner than the low-growth companies in that sample, with fewer managers, slimmer payrolls (as a percentage of sales), and more productive uses of assets. Growth companies in the Price Waterhouse sample were more likely to have balanced management teams than the Price Waterhouse slow-growers. Leanness was not a discriminating variable in this group. As one might expect, more mature companies would require a broader array of talents and would be better able to afford balanced teams. 4. Rapid market growth and the ability to develop close customer contacts were identified as discriminating characteristics in the Price Waterhouse sample. Neither were identified in the Reynolds data base. Companies in the Reynolds data base were not asked to report on market growth and were probably too young to have established much in the way of customer relationships. These companies did, however, report a greater utilization of advanced technology.
Weighting scheme for regression analysis using pH data from acid—base titrations

Abstract A general weighting scheme is proposed for use in least-squares fits of pH data. The scheme assigns lower weight to pH measurements in end-point regions and regions of ph 11 than for buffer and intermediate regions. The weighting scheme is evaluated with nearly 1200 pH measurements (pH 1.6–12.4), in 16 separate acid—base titrations of ethylenediamine done with a computerized titrator. The weighting scheme yields near-random distributions of residuals, and the slope (0.96) and intercept (−0.05) of an Abrahams—Keve normal probability plot approach the expected values of 1.0 and 0.00.
Psychiatric Assessment and Screening for the Elderly in Primary Care: Design, Implementation, and Preliminary Results

Introduction. We describe the design and implementation of a psychiatric collaborative care model in a university-based geriatric primary care practice. Initial results of screening for anxiety and depression are reported. Methods and Materials. Screens for anxiety and depression were administered to practice patients. A mental health team, consisting of a psychiatrist, mental health nurse practitioner, and social worker, identified patients who on review of screening and chart data warranted evaluation or treatment. Referrals for mental health interventions were directed to members of the mental health team, primary care physicians at the practice, or community providers. Results. Subjects ( ) comprised 38.2% of the 3940 unique patients seen at the practice during the 4-year study period. 37.1% ( ) screened positive for depression, 26.9% ( ) for anxiety, and 322 (21.4%) screened positive for both. Any positive score was associated with age ( ), female gender ( ), and a nonsignificant trend toward living alone ( ). 8.87% had suicidal thoughts. Conclusions. Screening captured the most affectively symptomatic patients, including those with suicidal ideation, for intervention. The partnering of mental health professionals and primary care physicians offers a workable model for addressing the scarcity of expertise in geriatric psychiatry.
Behavior of pollutant-degrading microorganisms in aquifers: predictions for genetically engineered organisms.

Bioremediation via environmental introductions of degradative microorganisms requires that the microbes survive in substantial numbers and effect an increase in the rate and extent of pollutant removal. Combined field and microcosm studies were used to assess these abilities for laboratory-grown bacteria. Following introduction into a contaminated aquifer, viable cells of Pseudomonas sp. B13 were present in the contaminant plume for 447 days; die-off was rapid in pristine areas. In aquifer microcosms, survival of B13 and FR120, a genetically engineered derivative of B13 having enhanced catabolic capabilities for substituted aromatics, was comparable to B13 field results; both bacteria degraded target pollutants in microcosms made with aquifer samples from the aerobic zone of the pollutant plume. Results suggest that field studies with nonrecombinant microorganisms may be coupled to laboratory studies with derivative strains to estimate their bioremediative efficacy. Furthermore, laboratory strains of bacteria can survive for extended periods of time in nature and thus may have important bioremediative applications. 33 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.
Vasopressin: a therapeutic target in congestive heart failure?

The benefit of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (ACEI) and 13-adrenergic blockade in chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) attests to the importance of neuroendocrine imbalances in the pathophysiology of this syndrome. Clearly, excessive angiotensin II (A-II) and 13-adrenergic stimulation are harmful to chronically damaged hearts. The success of neuroendocrine inhibition targeted to the renin-angiotensin system and /3-adrenergic receptors raises the obvious question as to whether additional neuroendocrine-directed therapy might be of benefit. A number of potential targets exist: most recently, there has been interest surrounding endothelin, but significant questions remain concerning whether selective endothelin A (ETA) or combined ETA and endothelin B (ETB) receptor antagonism would be preferable, and whether current antagonists can be administered safely to patients. Another neuroendocrine approach, which may have great merit, is to promote the activity of the natriuretic peptide system, which may be a beneficial neuroendocrine response in early heart failure. At present, however, only limited data are available for new compounds based on preventing the degradation of these peptides. Large-scale trials are just in the planning phases. Somewhat neglected until just recently has been the potential impact of excessive arginine vasopressin (AVP) in CHF. That AVP levels are increased in heart failure (inappropriately so for the prevailing osmolality) has been known for some time (1-5). Data from the Studies of Left Ventricular Dysfunction (SOLVD) neuroendocrine substudy indicated that AVP levels were
Ultrathin metal films on W(111) : morphology and faceting reconstruction

Abstract The structure and morphology of Rh, Ir, Ti, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag and Gd ultrathin films on W(111) have been investigated by means of Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and temperature programmed desorption (TPD). Upon annealing to 700 K, Rh and Ir overlayers with a critical coverage of at least one physical monolayer, as well as chemisorbed S, induce reconstruction of the W(111) substrate to form pyramidal facets with {211} orientation. In contrast, for overlayers of Ti, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag and Gd on W(111), no evidence for metal film induced faceting of the substrate has been observed for any coverage or annealing temperature. A comprehensive analysis of the physical, chemical and electronic properties of both metal and non-metal overlayers strongly suggests that the electronic structure plays a dominant role in causing surface instability of W(111).
Technical aspects of aortoiliac interventions

Just as preparation is integral to the success of any job, so is having the proper tools. It is fruitless to attempt an interventional procedure without the proper equipment. It is impossible to predict reliably the equipment necessary to complete an intervention for every patient; a broad range of catheters and guide wires must be available. If traversal of a chronically occluded artery, or any maneuver for that matter, becomes frustrating, another tool is probably needed for the job. It is simply a matter of figuring out which one, often through trial and error. Familiarity with the physical properties associated with various angioplasty balloons and stents, in addition to catheters and guide wires, is a prerequisite of expert vascular intervention. There are many options to chose from, but usually there is one best option. Knowledge of pharmacology is required for procedural success. There are many pitfalls associated with stent deployment, which are discussed.
An Antarctic circumpolar wave in surface pressure, wind, temperature and sea-ice extent

THE Southern Ocean is the only oceanic domain encircling the globe. It contains the strong eastward flow of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, and is the unifying link for exchanges of water masses at all depths between the world's major ocean basins1. As these exchanges are an important control on mean global climate, the Southern Ocean is expected to play an important role in transmitting climate anomalies around the globe. Interannual variability has been often observed at high southern latitudes, and observations of sea-ice extent suggest that such features propagate eastwards around the Southern Ocean2,3. Here we use data from a variety of observational techniques to identify significant interannual variations in the atmospheric pressure at sea level, wind stress, sea surface temperature and sea-ice extent over the Southern Ocean. These anomalies propagate eastward with the circumpolar flow, with a period of 4–5 years and taking 8–10 years to encircle the pole. This system of coupled anomalies, which we call the Antarctic Circumpolar Wave, is likely to play an important role in climate regulation and dynamics both within and beyond the Southern Ocean.
Lens Galaxy Properties of SBS 1520+530: Insights from Keck Spectroscopy and AO Imaging

We report on an investigation of the SBS 1520+530 gravitational lens system. We have used archival Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging, Keck spectroscopic data, and Keck adaptive optics (AO) imaging to study the lensing galaxy and its environment. The AO imaging has allowed us to fix the lens galaxy properties with a high degree of accuracy when performing the lens modeling, and the data indicate that the lens has an elliptical morphology and perhaps a disk. The new spectroscopic data suggest that previous determinations of the lens redshift may be incorrect, and we report an updated, although inconclusive, value z(lens) = 0.761. We have also spectroscopically confirmed the existence of several galaxy groups at approximately the redshift of the lens system. We create new models of the lens system that explicitly account for the environment of the lens, and we also include improved constraints on the lensing galaxy from our AO imaging. Lens models created with these new data can be well fit with a steeper than isothermal mass slope (α = 2.29, where ρ propto r−α) if H_0 is fixed at 72 km s^(-1) Mpc^(-1); isothermal models require H_0 similar to 50 km s^(-1) Mpc^(-1). The steepened profile may indicate that the lens is in a transient perturbed state caused by interactions with a nearby galaxy.
Comparative effects of early postnatal ibuprofen and indomethacin on VEGF, IGF-I, and GH during rat ocular development.

PURPOSE. Ibuprofen and indomethacin are nonselective prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors that have been shown to improve oxygen-induced retinopathy in mice. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, and growth hormone (GH) are potent growth factors involved in retinal development. This study was conducted to examine and compare the effects of early postnatal ibuprofen and indomethacin on ocular and systemic VEGF, IGF-I, and GH during rat ocular development. METHODS. Newborn rats were treated with intraperitoneal injections of low and high doses of ibuprofen or indomethacin at birth (postnatal day [P]1) and on P2 and P3. A control group received equivalent volumes of saline. At P14, vitreous fluid, retinal homogenates, and serum were analyzed for VEGF, IGF-I, and GH protein levels. Retinal mRNA expression of VEGF splice variants (VEGF 188 , VEGF 164 , VEGF 120 ), VEGF receptors (VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, Npn-1, Npn-2), and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) were also examined. RESULTS. Animals treated with high-dose ibuprofen had significantly lower somatic growth and higher serum and vitreous IGF-I levels. High-dose ibuprofen decreased retinal VEGF levels and retinal VEGF 164 , VEGF 120 , and VEGFR-2 transcripts, resulting in a significant increase in the cecal period in 87% of rats at P14. Both indomethacin doses suppressed retinal VEGF 164 transcripts without affecting VEGF receptors. CONCLUSIONS. Ibuprofen may be more effective than indomethacin for suppression of retinal VEGF signaling, suggesting a possible therapy for retinal neovascularization. However, deficits in somatic growth concurrent with higher systemic IGF-I levels suggests decreased IGF-I bioactivity. These adverse effects should be considered.
A method for the flash vacuum thermolysis of non-volatile compounds

Abstract A method for evaporation of non-volatile compounds is described. Examples are given of the application of this method to flash vacuum thermolysis of organic compounds.
Uncertainty in projecting GHG emissions from bioenergy

The definition of baselines is a major step in determining the greenhouse-gas emissions of bioenergy systems. Accounting frameworks with a planning objective might require different baseline attributes and designs than those with a monitoring objective.
Unique Playa Scraper and Furrow Near McKittrick, California: ABSTRACT

An unusual occurrence of a well-defined playa scraper and furrow in a small playa-like area was observed near McKittrick, California. A 20-foot fill, made during construction of California Highway 30, blocked a broad drainage channel in the low hills End_Page 482------------------------------ south of McKittrick. Small, flat, mud-cracked clay surfaces much like the familiar desert dry lakes developed on either side of the highway fill. The playa-like area east of the highway, where the occurrence was noted, is approximately 230 feet wide and 300 feet long. The playa scraper, which was part of the fill material, is a crudely ellipsoidal boulder of quartz conglomerate weighing about 175 pounds. Movement was from close to the fill embankment along a slightly arcuate path for a distance of 99.2 feet toward the outer margin of the dense clay surface. The playa furrow developed on the still-moist surface is 20 inches wide, its edges having been raised ½ inch above the level of the surrounding area. Depth of the trail increased from 2 inches at the starting point to 2½ inches at the terminus. Mud pushed by the moving boulder was left as a low mound of dry clay in front of the scraper. Movement of the scraper by wind does not seem to be a feasible explanation. Not only is the area sheltered from air currents, but the direction of movement is nearly at right angles to, and away from, the protective embankment. Transportation by ice floes is equally difficult to defend because the McKittrick area is one of rare freezes and it is doubtful that, even if freezing did occur, the thickness of ice formed would be sufficient to move a 175-pound boulder. Hydraulic action promoted by a drain beneath the fill is suggested as the possible motivating force for the McKittrick scraper. A similar occurrence at the Racetrack Playa in Death Valley, California, supports this supposition. End_of_Article - Last_Page 483------------
Multigamma-ray calibration sources

Abstract We have calibrated a self-consistent set of multigamma-ray standards using the automated multi-spectrometer γ-ray counting facility at LLNL's Nuclear Chemistry Division. Pure sources of long-lived activity were produced by mass separation and,or, chemical purification. The sources were counted individually and in combination on several different calibrated spectrometer systems. These systems utilize various detectors ranging from small (x-ray) detectors to large volume high-purity Ge detectors. This has allowed the use of the most ideal individual detector-efficiency characteristics for the determination of the relative γ-ray intensities. Precise energy measurements, reported earlier (Meyer, 1976) have been performed by an independent method. Both the energy and γ-ray-emission probabilities we determine compare well with independently established values such as the recent ICRM intercomparison of 152 Eu. We discuss our investigations aimed at resolving the shape of the efficiency response function up to 10 MeV for large volume Ge(Li) and high-purity Ge detectors. Recent results on the γ-ray-emission probabilities per decay for 149 Gd and 168 Tm multigamma-ray sources are discussed. For 168 Tm, we deduce a 0.01% β − branch to the 87.73-keV level in 168 Yb rather than the previous value which was a factor of 200 greater. In addition, we describe current cooperative efforts aimed at establishing a consistent set of data for short-lived fission products. Included are recent measurements on the bromine fission products with γ rays up to 7 MeV.
The Putative “Switch 2” Domain of the Ras-related GTPase, Rab1B, Plays an Essential Role in the Interaction with Rab Escort Protein

Posttranslational modification of Rab proteins by geranylgeranyltransferase type II requires that they first bind to Rab escort protein (REP). Following prenylation, REP is postulated to accompany the modified GTPase to its specific target membrane. REP binds preferentially to Rab proteins that are in the GDP state, but the specific structural domains involved in this interaction have not been defined. In p21 Ras, the α2 helix of the Switch 2 domain undergoes a major conformational change upon GTP hydrolysis. Therefore, we hypothesized that the corresponding region in Rab1B might play a key role in the interaction with REP. Introduction of amino acid substitutions (I73N, Y78D, and A81D) into the putative α2 helix of Myc-tagged Rab1B prevented prenylation of the recombinant protein in cell-free assays, whereas mutations in the α3 and α4 helices did not. Additionally, upon transient expression in transfected HEK-293 cells, the Myc-Rab1B α2 helix mutants were not efficiently prenylated as determined by incorporation of [3H]mevalonate. Metabolic labeling studies using [32P]orthophosphate indicated that the poor prenylation of the Rab1B α2 helix mutants was not directly correlated with major disruptions in guanine nucleotide binding or intrinsic GTPase activity. Finally, gel filtration analysis of cytosolic fractions from 293 cells that were coexpressing T7 epitope-tagged REP with various Myc-Rab1B constructs revealed that mutations in the α2 helix of Rab1B prevented the association of nascent (i.e., nonprenylated) Rab1B with REP. These data indicate that the Switch 2 domain of Rab1B is a key structural determinant for REP interaction and that nucleotide-dependent conformational changes in this region are largely responsible for the selective interaction of REP with the GDP-bound form of the Rab substrate.
Chemical genetic control of protein levels: selective in vivo targeted degradation.

Genetic loss of function analysis is a powerful method for the study of protein function. However, some cell biological questions are difficult to address using traditional genetic strategies often due to the lack of appropriate genetic model systems. Here, we present a general strategy for the design and syntheses of molecules capable of inducing the degradation of selected proteins in vivo via the ubiquitin−proteasome pathway. Western blot and fluorometric analyses indicated the loss of two different targets: green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused with FK506 binding protein (FKBP12) and GFP fused with the androgen receptor (AR), after treatment with PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeric moleculeS (PROTACS) incorporating a FKBP12 ligand and dihydrotestosterone, respectively. These are the first in vivo examples of direct small molecule-induced recruitment of target proteins to the proteasome for degradation upon addition to cultured cells. Moreover, PROTAC-mediated protein degradation offers a general strategy ...
Further Evidence of Global-Scale 5-Day Pressure Waves

Abstract Cross spectra between long time series (5–10 years) of pressure data from 27 stations and that from Canton Island show peaks in the coherence squares near 5-day periods. Phase angles indicate that these peaks are manifestations of a westward propagating, zonal wavenumber 1 disturbance. Sea-level pressures and 500-mb heights recorded during the IGY are filtered in time and harmonically analyzed in space revealing the westward propagating 5-day waves. A composite wave based on the IGY sea-level pressure data suggests that the amplitude of the disturbance increases with increasing latitude. The observed characteristics of the 5-day pressure wave are shown to he not inconsistent with those of a planetary wave, or wave mode of the second class, theoretically predicted by Laplace's tidal equations.
Changing patterns in World Bank investments in vocational education and training: Implications for secondary vocational schools

Abstract The economic efficiency of vocational secondary schools in improving the employment prospects for graduates has been questioned, leading to policy recommendations in favor of enterprise-based training and training in non-formal training centers. The role of secondary education would be to impart basic skills, perhaps through reformed curricula that, while falling short of vocationalism, better prepare graduates for adult life. This paper examines trends in World Bank investments in vocational education and training for the period 1963–86 to answer three questions. Is there evidence to suggest that educational authorities in developing countries, as well as in the World Bank, have moved away from investments in secondary vocational schools? What does the record suggest about the patterns through which alternative training systems evolve in developing countries? Is there any evidence that a ‘new educational vision’ is emerging for secondary education? The paper concludes that investment in secondary vocational schools has declined substantially in favor of non-formal training systems. Nine characteristics of effective non-formal systems are identified. Diversified secondary schools, as one model of a ‘new vision,’ have not succeeded, raising important questions regarding possible directions for improved secondary education.
η and η′ Physics at MAMI

Decays of the η and the η′ represent a significant portion of the scientific program with the Crystal Ball at MAMI. This review summarizes the current status of the program and discusses some recent results, such as the slope parameter of the η → 3π0 Dalitz plot, the matrix element of η → π0γγ and the invariant mass of e + e −γ from the η → e + e −γ Dalitz decay. Possible future measurements are discussed.
Trends in Scientific Interest in Head and Neck Surgery

Results: A total of 582 articles were reviewed with a mean of 18 articles per year. Within the domain of anatomy, statistically significant changes include an increase of articles related to the nasopharynx (p= 0.009) and a decrease in articles related to skin and facial nerve (p=0.001). In the domain of treatment modalities, an overall decline of surgery-related publications was noted whereas articles related to radiation therapy increased significantly (p values= 0.003, 0.04, respectively). Free flap reconstructive surgery increased significantly in the percentage of publications (p value=0.04), while the percentage of papers relating to pedicled flaps decreased significantly (p value<0.001). Within the etiology domain, there is a significant increase in cancer-related publications (p value=0.001), whereas non-cancer topics (benign tumors, trauma, etc.) decreased in frequency. The general subject domain showed significant increase in basic science, carcinogenesis, and treatment complications. The p values are 0.001, 0.001, and 0.03, respectively.
Is a virtual trajectory necessary in reaching movements

The mass-spring model of limb control was extended to two-joint arm movements in the horizontal plane and tested against kinematic data from human subjects. Two versions of the model were compared in order to test the idea that the equilibrium position of the hand moves along a "virtual" trajectory as demonstrated in single-joint arm movements (Bizzi et al. 1982, 1984; Latash and Gottlieb 1991). In the peripheral version, the equilibrium position was shifted abruptly, while the torques generated at the joints are gated by rise-time functions. In the central version, the equilibrium position was updated gradually according to a predefined trajectory. The paths and tangential velocity profiles of the hand generated by these two versions were compared to Morasso's (1981) experimental data. The central version generally performed better throughout the workspace except in certain special directions. Moreover, its paths exhibited more stability as the movement speed was varied.
The Mark of the Cognitive

It is easy to give a list of cognitive processes. They are things like learning, memory, concept formation, reasoning, maybe emotion, and so on. It is not easy to say, of these things that are called cognitive, what makes them so? Knowing the answer is one very important reason to be interested in the mark of the cognitive. In this paper, consider some answers that we think do not work and then offer one of our own which ties cognition to actions explained via the having of reasons.
149 ELEVATED PLASMA CARNITINE (C) IN PATIENTS WITH IDIOPATHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY

In patients with dilated cardiomyopathies, plasma C has been reported to be both below and above the normal range. Others have postulated that elevated plasma C reflects increased C synthesis. Renal excretion is the only route for C loss. We hypothesized that elevated plasma C might be related to impaired renal function. We measured plasma C and creatinine clearance in 15 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, aged 19 to 64 yrs. Plasma C and creatinlne clearance were negatively correlated (Fig, r=-.59, p 200 uM (nl 35-65 uM) occurred in a 7 day period accompanying an increase In creatinine from 1.0 to 5.0 mg%. Two patients demonstrated significant decreases in plasma C (250.6 to 61.2 and 89.9 to 42.1 CHF and elevated normal. Seven out of 8 patients with elevated plasma C (>65 uM) had creatinine clearances below 35 ml/min (Fig). The results indicate that in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, elevated plasma C reflects compromised renal function rather than increased C synthesis.
Ferrohydrodynamic pumping in spatially uniform sinusoidally time-varying magnetic fields

Past work has analyzed ferrofluid pumping in a planar duct driven by spatially non-uniform traveling wave magnetic fields. Here we examine a much simpler case where the applied magnetic fields along and transverse to the duct axis are spatially uniform and varying sinusoidally with time. In the uniform magnetic field the magnetization characteristic depends on particle spin but does not depend on fluid velocity. The magnetization force density along the duct axis is zero while the magnetic torque density is non-zero as M and H are not collinear due to a magnetic relaxation time constant as well as due to spatially varying particle spin. The governing linear and angular momentum conservation equations are numerically integrated to solve for flow and spin velocity distributions for zero and non-zero spin viscosities as a function of magnetic field strength, phase, frequency, and direction along and transverse to the duct axis, and as a function of pressure gradient along the duct, vortex viscosity, dynamic viscosity, and ferrofluid magnetic susceptibility. Analytical solutions for simple limiting cases are also given including an effective viscosity that depends on magnetic field strength which can be made zero or negative.
Formulas for the number of trees in certain incomplete graphs

Abstract A concise summary is given of the standardized incomplete graphs denoted as the r, p, m and s series. Bercovici’s recent general formula for the number of trees in the m series is considered and the corresponding general formula for the s series is given.
Specular Reflection From The Surface Of The Retina

Specular reflections from the inner limiting membrane of the retina of ,llonkeys and from the posterior surface of intraocular silicone oil in patients were studied by the non-invasive technique of imaging fundus reflectometry. Small area of each reflex were measured and the compo ent of reflectance due to the reflex alone was isolated by subtracting the reflectance of a nearby reflex-free area. The reflexes are interpreted as specular reflections at a sillooth boundary between two dielectric media of differing refractive indexes. The reflectances obtained are consistent with the generally accepted refractive indexes of 1.336 for vitreous and 1.36 for retina.
Unique contrast patterns from resonance-enhanced chiral SHG of cell membranes.

Chirality can produce novel nonlinear optical effects that may form the basis for new imaging contrast agents. In this paper, we developed a new chiral chromophore 2, which is the dimer of a known voltage sensitive dye, monomer 1, with the chirality originating from the twisted orientation between two subunits. Racemic dimer and monomer 1 were used as the references to study the effect of chirality in SHG microscopy of live cells. All these dyes selectively stain the outer leaflets of cell membranes, producing strong resonance-enhanced SHG images. At the symmetric junction between two adherent cells, monomer or racemic dimer SHG is forbidden due to centrosymmetry, and indeed little SHG was observed (10 ± 1% relative to nonjunction). When stained with the chiral dimer, the junction is no longer centrosymmetric and much stronger SHG was observed (39 ± 4% relative to nonjunction). Plane polarized light produces highly polarized images of spherical cells stained with racemic dye, but for the chiral dye, the p...
A geometric interpretation of the roughening transition in Ising models

Progress in the area of the Ising model roughening transition has previously been limited by the lack of a good definition for the interface separating the pure phases. In the present work, a graphical definition is introduced and it is shown that roughening occurs precisely when this interface fluctuates to infinity.
Metastatic inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor imaged by PET/CT

Abstract: We describe a case using PET/CT to image a metastatic inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT). IMTs are a collection of uncommon tumors that contain myofibroblasts and inflammatory cells, as the name suggests. Before the PET/CT scan, the patient had a left pneumonectomy and a partial resection of the occipital lobe for IMTs. The PET/CT scan with FDG demonstrated foci of intense activity in the proximal jejunum and body of the pancreas. Disease above the diaphragm still persisted as supraclavicular adenopathy. The scan showed no evidence for local recurrence in the brain or left hemithorax.
Contemporary development forces in the nonmetropolitan west: new insights from rapidly growing communities

Abstract Nonmetropolitan areas in the western United States have experienced rapid growth rates measured in both economic and demographic terms. Macrolevel studies have found that a variety of forces are at work driving these regional patterns of growth including quality of life migrants, expansion of service industries, and nonearnings sources of income. While these macrolevel studies provide important insights into the processes of regional change, very little is known of the significance of these contemporary development forces at the micro, or community, level. This paper reports the results of four community case studies in rapidly growing rural communities within the western United States to provide a better understanding of economic and social change at the community level. Interviews with key players in each case study community provide the empirical evidence for this paper, and the data demonstrate community development processes to be complex. Resource-dependent industrial activities remain an important component for community economies. Furthermore, extractive activity is being supplemented (not supplanted) by various combinations of the factors reported in macrolevel studies including niche manufacturing, Lone Eagles, quality of life migrants, and retirees. The case studies also highlight a high degree of volatility in growing areas and potential problems with assimilation, fractioning, and planning associated with rapid growth in these small places.
Nonlinear current-induced forces in Si atomic wires

We report first-principles calculations of current-induced forces in Si atomic wires as a function of bias and wire length. We find that these forces are strongly nonlinear as a function of bias due to the competition between the force originating from the scattering states and the force due to bound states. We also find that the shorter the wire, the larger the average force in the wire, suggesting that the wires are more difficult to break under current flow with increasing length. The last finding is in agreement with recent experimental data.