cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Voluntary Turnover, Social Capital, and Organizational Performance

We propose a supplemental perspective, based on organizational social capital, for examining the voluntary turnover-organizational performance relationship. We view existing organizational-level theories as those focusing on cost or human capital issues or, rarely, on a balance among these factors. But rapid changes in the nature of work, organizational structures, and interorganizational competitiveness increase the importance of studying the role of social capital in the voluntary turnover-organizational performance relationship. We highlight areas of correspondence and divergence among the various perspectives, discuss implications for various performance measures, and outline several research directions.
A spreadsheet interface for visualization exploration

As the size and complexity of data sets continues to increase, the development of user interfaces and interaction techniques that expedite the process of exploring that data must receive new attention. Regardless of the speed of rendering, it is important to coherently organize the visual process of exploration: this information both grants insights about the data to a user and can be used by collaborators to understand the results. To fulfil these needs, we present a spreadsheet-like interface to data exploration. The interface displays a 2-dimensional window into visualization parameter space which users manipulate as they search for desired results. Through tabular organization and a clear correspondence between parameters and results, the interface eases the discovery, comparison and analysis of the underlying data. Users can utilize operators and the integrated interpreter to further explore and automate the visualization process; using a method introduced in this paper, these operations can be applied to cells in different stacks of the interface. Via illustrations using a variety of data sets, we demonstrate the efficacy of this novel interface.
Rapid visual feedback processing in single-aiming movements.

A major line of behavioral support for motor-program theory derives from evidence indicating that feedback does not influence the execution and control of limited duration movements. Since feedback cannot be utilized, the motor-program is assumed to act as the controlling agent. In a classic study, Keele and Posner observed that visual feedback had no effect on the accuracy of 190-msec single-aiming movements. Therefore visual feedback processing time is greater than 190 msec, and, more importantly, limited duration movements are governed by motor programs. In the present paper, we observed that visual feedback can affect the spatial accuracy of movements with durations much less than 190 msec. We hypothesize that visual feedback can aid motor control via processes not associated with intermittent error corrections.
Reply to Callen

To the Editor:In our recent article in the Journal (Yang et al. 1997xMolecular analysis of deletion (17)(p11.2p11.2) in a family segregating a 17p paracentric inversion: implications for carriers of paracentric inversions. Yang, SP, Bidichandani, SI, Figuera, LE, Juyal, RC, Saxon, PJ, Baldini, A, and Patel, PI. Am J Hum Genet. 1997; 60: 1184–1193PubMedSee all ReferencesYang et al. 1997), we showed that an interstitial deletion of 17p11.2 had arisen after meiotic recombination in a carrier of an apparently balanced paracentric inversion (PAI; with breakpoints at 17p11.2 and 17p13.3). Considering all the cytogenetic and molecular evidence, especially the facts that (a) the breakpoints of the proband's interstitial deletion “flanked” the proximal breakpoint of the paternal PAI (the proximal Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) markers were deleted in spite of not being inverted), (b) some markers involved in the PAI were not deleted (the PMP22 locus), and (c) the position of the recombination in paternal meiosis was mapped within the immediate vicinity of the resulting deletion, we proposed a model of unequal crossing-over at the base of an inversion loop.In response to our article, Callen has raised an interesting point. He proposes an alternate explanation, wherein pairing at meiosis, followed by recombination between an insertion-bearing and the normal chromosome 17 homologue could result in the interstitial chromosomal deletion observed in the proband. We agree that a within-arm direct or inverted insertion is an important differential diagnosis in cases of suspected paracentric inversions, given the significantly enhanced risk of chromosomal imbalance associated with the former. However, although within-arm insertions (direct or inverted) can result in deletion or duplication of the inserted sequence (Gardner and Sutherland 1996xGardner, RJM and Sutherland (eds), GR. See all ReferencesGardner and Sutherland 1996), they cannot result in a concurrent deletion of noninserted sequences (proximal SMS markers) and sparing of inserted sequences (PMP22 markers).Taken together, the data seem to favor our hypothesis of an unequal crossing-over at meiosis, as proposed in our article. However, it should be noted that we have yet to formally exclude Callen's proposal—or even the possibility that the deletion arose de novo as a result of a slightly more proximal (unequal) recombination in 17p11.2.
Accurate Measurement of Noise Parameters in Ultra-Low Noise Opto-Feedback Spectrometer Systems

The accurate measurement of the basic noise parameters of ultra-low noise spectrometer systems has been developed in the frequency domain by spectrum analysis. This method overcomes some of the difficulties experienced in using cmventional techniques. An analytic and experimental comparison between 'time' and frequency domain techniques is carried out and the use of the latter as a method to develop extremely low-noise detector and FET packages is demonstrated. The origin of the remaining noise in high quality systems is traced to surface and gate junction generation through traps in the FET.
Schoenberg as Performer of His Own Music

Five recordings of Schoenberg conducting his own music have been preserved: Verklarte Nacht, “Lied der Waldtaube,” Pierrot Lunaire, Suite Op. 29, and Von Heute auf Morgen. These offer a valuable resource, showing many aspects of Schoenberg's own approach to interpretation. Although produced between 1927 and 1940, the recordings reveal that Schoenberg adhered closely to the late–Romantic tradition of performing that was typical at the turn of the century. Most striking is Schoenberg's pervasive use of rubato as well as his frequent deviations from his own metronomic markings. The recordings—in conjunction with his published and rehearsal scores—also give evidence of Schoenberg's detailed attention to dynamic and articulative nuances, and provide a model for Schoenberg's use of Sprechstimme. In his writings, Schoenberg expressed firm convictions concerning a composer's rights, which were, as he said, confined to an adherence to the notes and rhythms. To the performer, on the other hand, he accorded a number...
A Scale for Assessing Attitudes toward Environmental Quality

Summary The dimensionality of attitudes toward environmental quality was investigated in three separate studies of 660 undergraduates and adult citizens, 207 middle-class housewives, and 51 members of environmental groups. A three-dimensional scale was developed, representing concerns for environmental degradation, environmental action, and overpopulation. Members of environmental action organizations were found to have significantly higher scores for each of the three dimensions than middle-class citizens. Global attitudinal concern for environmental degradation and for environmental action were typically found to be better predictors of general levels of behavioral involvement in action than of single activities.
Low-dose corticosteroids and avascular necrosis of the hip and knee.

Background Although high-dose corticosteroid use constitutes a well-known risk factor for avascular necrosis (AVN), the risk of AVN with low-dose corticosteroids is not well established. Objective To assess AVN risk for high-dose and low-dose oral corticosteroid exposure compared to baseline risk. Methods We employed a nested case-control study design. AVN of the hip and knee was determined from coded diagnoses and full text record review. Corticosteroid exposure was ascertained through outpatient automated pharmacy dispensing files. Results Thirty-one cases occurred during approximately 720,000 person years. Eleven of 22 cases that met all eligibility criteria received oral corticosteroids during the 3 years before diagnosis. There was a cumulative dose-related corticosteroid effect from no excess risk (relative risk=0.95% Confidence Interval=0–5) for doses 1–430 mg, to a relative risk of 6 (95% CI 1–43) for doses of 440–1290 mg, and an undefined relative risk (95% Lower CI 26) for doses greater than 1290 mg. Conclusions Systemic corticosteroids were strongly associated with AVN, however, the effect was not clearly evident at 3-year cumulative doses ⩽430 mg. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
AN ANALYSIS OF FACTORS AFFECTING THE DIFFICULTY OF DIALOGUE ITEMS IN TOEFL LISTENING COMPREHENSION

One of the item types in the Listening Comprehension Section of the TOEFL® test is the Dialogue. Because the Dialogue item pool needs to have an appropriate balance of items at a range of difficulty levels, test developers have examined items at various difficulty levels in an attempt to identify their features. In this study, the authors created a classification system for certain item features, classified a sample of the current Dialogue item pool, and conducted data analyses in an attempt to characterize the features of easy and difficult Dialogue items. They results of the analyses indicate that, of the features studied, five were significant: the presence of infrequent oral vocabulary, the sentence pattern of the utterances in the stimulus, the presence of negatives in the stimulus, the necessity of making an inference to answer the item, and the roles of the speakers in the stimulus.
A population-based study of coarctation of the aorta: comparisons of infants with and without associated ventricular septal defect.

Background Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a congenital cardiovascular malformation (CCVM) sometimes associated with ventricular septal defect (VSD). Although the phenotypic association is well documented, little research exists on the epidemiological features distinguishing CoA with and without VSD. Methods The Baltimore–Washington Infant Study (1981–1989), a population-based study of CCVM, evaluated 126 infants with “pure” CoA (free of associated cardiac defects) and 67 infants with CoA and VSD (COA/VSD) in comparison to 3,572 controls. Results The proportion of infants with associated extracardiac anomalies was greater among CoA/VSD than among pure CoA (31% versus 11%). Infants with CoA/VSD were twice as likely as those with pure CoA to be born small for gestational age (23% versus 12%, respectively, compared with 6% of controls). All-cause mortality during the first year of life was higher in CoA/VSD than in pure CoA (21% vs. 7%). Multiple logistic regression models revealed that family history of CCVM was associated with pure CoA (adjusted case-control odds ratio [OR] = 4.6; 99% confidence interval [CI] = 1.5–13.9) and with CoA/VSD (OR = 5.9, CI = 1.2–23.5); maternal history of organic solvent exposures early in pregnancy was also associated with pure CoA (OR = 3.2, CI = 1.0–10.2) and with CoA/VSD (OR = 3.7, CI 0.9–14.9). Additional risk factors, including maternal epilepsy (OR = 5.3, CI = 0.9–30.6), and use of macrodantin (OR = 6.7, CI = 1.4–31.8) were associated only with pure CoA. Conclusions These findings highlight possible genetic and environmental differences between pure CoA and CoA/VSD and may stimulate further investigations of the etiology of CoA. Teratology 64:229–236, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Progress in physical modeling for wind engineering

Physical modeling has and continues to be the primary source of information for wind-engineering applications. The capability of boundary-layer wind tunnels to simulate essential features of the atmospheric boundary layer makes this possible. Recent efforts to simulate special aspects of natural winds by modifications to conventional boundary-layer wind tunnels and new types of flow facilities are described. Several instrumentation developments are presented that extend the capability to measure fluctuations of various quantities for studies of air pollutant concentrations and wind loads and pressures on buildings and other structures.
Two Frodo/Dapper homologs are expressed in the developing brain and mesoderm of zebrafish

Members of the Wnt family of extracellular proteins play essential roles during many phases of vertebrate embryonic development. The molecular mechanism of their action involves a complex cascade of intracellular signaling events, which remains to be understood completely. Recently, two novel cytoplasmic modulators of Wnt signaling, Frodo and Dapper, were identified in Xenopus. We report isolation of their homologs in zebrafish, and show that these genes, frd1 and frd2, are expressed in restricted domains during embryogenesis. Both genes are expressed during early gastrulation in the future mesendoderm, and continue to be expressed in distinct patterns in the forming neurectoderm and mesoderm. Comparative sequence analysis and similar expression patterns argue that frd1 is the zebrafish ortholog of Frodo and Dapper, whereas frd2 is a more divergent member of the same family. Our data suggest important roles for zebrafish frd1 and frd2 in patterning the neural plate and several mesodermal derivatives.
Angular Distributions of the D(d, n)He 3 Reaction for 5- to 12-Mev Deuterons

The absolute differential cross section for production of monoenergetic neutrons by the $\mathrm{D}(d, n){\mathrm{He}}^{3}$ reaction has been measured with 5.0-, 7.6-, 9.6-, and 12.2-Mev deuterons. A proton recoil counter telescope was used to detect the neutrons and to separate neutrons from the $\mathrm{D}(d, np)\mathrm{D}$ breakup reaction. The angular distributions at all energies are very peaked in the forward direction, with a first minimum around 30 to 40 degrees and a subsequent smaller maximum. The angular distributions, transformed to the center-of-mass system, have been fitted with the exchange stripping theory of Owen and Madansky, in which stripping from both incident and target deuterons is formally included. Excellent fits were obtained, but it was necessary to monotonically decrease the interaction radius, ${R}_{0}$, with incident deuteron energy. The variation was considerable, from ${R}_{0}=8.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2$ fermi at 5.0 Mev to ${R}_{0}=5.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2$ fermi at 12.2 Mev. An isotropic contribution of about 3 mb/sr was added to each distribution to obtain the best fit.
Ultraviolet Absorption Spectra of Active and Inactive Yeast

SummaryThe ultraviolet absorption spectrum of the yeast, Saccharomyces ellipsoideus, exhibits a maximum of 2650 A. The extinction coefficient for the maximum decreases for inactive cells, thus revealing a secondary maximum at 2800 A. Agreement with the theory of Caspersson on nucleic acid metabolism as a function of division rate is obtained.
Effects of Dietary NaF on Dairy Cows. II. Effects on Milk Production

Summary A study of the tolerance of lactating cows to added dietary increments of a soluble fluoride (NaF) over a 5 1/2-yr. period has been made. The results indicate that under adequate nutritional and husbandry conditions, levels of 50 p.p.m. of fluorine fed as NaF produced no direct deleterious effect upon milk secretion. Sustained fluorine ingestion, with average intake levels of 1.5, and peak intakes of 1.7 or more, mg. of F/kg body weight, led to a reduction of milk and butterfat production in certain cows, as the result of anorexia toward NaF-containing feed, which was accompanied by excessive weight loss and stiffness in the legs. These results indicate further that the effect of fluorine fed in the form of NaF on milk production was a secondary effect conditioned by a curtailed feed intake. The cows in this study tolerated 30 p.p.m. fluorine in their ration, whereas 40 p.p.m. was apparently near the marginal zone of tolerance and 50 p.p.m. in the ration resulted in the development of fluorine toxicosis. The addition of calcium reduced the toxicity of the added NaF. A latent period of from 2 to 5 yr. elapsed between the time the fluorine effects were first noticed on the incisor teeth and the development of other physiologic effects, including the inhibition of milk production. Thus, these studies contribute further evidence to show that the development of fluorine toxicosis is a function of the duration of exposure (time), as well as of level of ingestion. Prolonged dry periods allowed sufficient recovery from debilitating fluorosis for subsequent normal lactation and milk production.
Exploiting similarity-aware grouping in decision support systems

Decision Support Systems (DSS) are information systems that support decision making processes. In many scenarios these systems are built on top of data managed by DBMSs and make extensive use of its underlying grouping and aggregation capabilities, i.e., Group-by operation. Unfortunately, the standard grouping operator has the inherent limitation of being based only on equality, i.e., all the tuples in a group share the same values of the grouping attributes. Similarity-based Group-by (SGB) has been recently proposed as an extension aimed to overcome this limitation. SGB allows fast formation of groups with similar objects under different grouping strategies and the pipelining of results for further processing. This demonstration presents how SGB can be effectively used to build useful DSSs. The presented DSS has been built around the data model and queries of the TPC-H benchmark intending to be representative of complex business analysis applications. The system provides intuitive dashboards that exploit similarity aggregation queries to analyze: (1) customer clustering, (2) profit and revenue, (3) marketing campaigns, and (4) discounts. The presented DSS runs on top of PostgreSQL whose query engine is extended with similarity grouping operators.
Specific Inhibition of Anti-D Antibody by Colominic Acid

IN ref. 1 it is reported that certain nucleotides specifically inhibited anti-Rh antibodies, and in ref. 2 that there is specific inhibition by certain monosaccharides and substances such as rutinose and streptomycin. Although some differences in the effect of these substances on anti-C, anti-D and anti-E were observed by both groups of workers, in general a substance that inhibited one auti-Rh serum also inhibited the others. More recently, Dodd, Bigley and Geyer3 have reported that N-acetyl neuraminic acid and certain related compounds inhibit anti-D but not anti-C or anti-E ; this is a greater degree of specificity than that claimed in the first two reports.
Structural optimization of shell structures

Abstract The objective of the present work was the structural optimization of thin shell structures that are subjected to stress and displacement constraints. In order to accomplish this, the structural optimization computer program DESAP1 was modified and improved. In the static analysis part of the DESAP1 computer program the torsional spring elements, which are used to analyze thin, shallow shell structures, were eliminated by modifying the membrane stiffness matrix of the triangular elements in the local coordinate system and adding a fictitious rotational stiffness matrix. This simplified the DESAP1 program input, improved the accuracy of the analysis, and saved computation time. In the optimization part of the DESAP1 program the stress ratio formula, which redesigns the thickness of each finite element of the structure, was solved by an analytical method. This scheme replaced the iterative solution that was previously used in the DESAP1 program, thus increasing the accuracy and speed of the redesign. The modified program was used to design a thin, cylindrical shell structure with optimum weight, and the results are reported in this paper.
Intrapulmonary shunting during deliberate hypotension with nifedipine, diltiazem and labetalol in dogs

Pulmonary shunt (Qs/Qt) was calculated in 49 mongrel dogs weighing 18–20 kg during mechanical ventilation, before and during deliberate hypotension with either nifedipine (group N), diltiazem (group D), labetalol (group L), or ethyl alcohol and polyethylene glycol (group E). A 30 per cent decrease in mean arterial blood pressure occurred after two minutes of nifedipine infusion, two minutes after diltiazem, and three minutes after labetalol; these effects lasted two hours after nifedipine administration, 90 minutes after diltiazem and three hours after labetalol. There was an accompanying significant decrease in systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance.
SU-FF-T-257: Gamma Knife Absolute Dose Rate Calibration Using the AAPM TG-51 Protocol and Comparison with the AAPM TG-21 Protocol

Purpose: In 1999 the American Association of Physicists in Medicine published a new calibration protocol for high energyphoton and electron dosimetry, the Task Group 51 protocol, which has, for the most part, replaced the former Task Group 21 protocol. However, the AAPM Task Group 21 protocol continues to be widely used for the absolute dose calibration of Gamma Knife units. The TG‐51 protocol is based on an absorbed dose calibration factor, whereas the TG‐21 protocol is based on an air kerma factor. The purpose of this study is to compare the TG‐51 and TG‐21 protocols for absorbed dose calibration of the Leksell Gamma Knife. Method and Materials: An ionization chamber was placed in the center of a spherical water phantom of 10 cm in diameter and measurements necessary for application of the TG‐51 protocol were taken. This data was used, following TG‐51 Worksheet A, to calculate the dose rate to water at 5 cm depth. A dose rate measurement was also performed following the TG‐21 protocol using the standard Elekta polystyrene phantom. Results: The dose rate measured using the TG‐21 protocol was 2.412 Gy/min at 8 cm depth and, using an exponential attenuation approximation (μ = 0.0063 mm−1)5 for the attenuation of the pencil beam radiation from the Gamma Knife, the dose rate measured at 5 cm using the TG‐51 protocol equates to a value of 2.435 Gy/min at 8 cm depth. Conclusion: The ratio of dose rate calculated using the TG‐51 protocol to that measured using the TG‐21 protocol was 1.01. The estimated overall uncertainty in each calibration result is less than 2%. Since the same ion chamber was used in both calibrations, the uncertainty in the comparison between the two calibration results is estimated to be 1%.
On Johnson's two-machine flow shop with random processing times

A set of n jobs is to be processed by two machines in series that are separated by an infinite waiting room; each job requires a known fixed amount of processing from each machine. In a classic paper, Johnson gave a simple rule for ordering of the set of jobs to minimize the time until the system becomes empty, i.e., the makespan. This paper studies a stochastic generalization of this problem in which job processing times are independent random variables. Our main result is a sufficient condition on the processing time distributions that implies that the makespan becomes stochastically smaller when two adjacent jobs in a given job sequence are interchanged. We also give an extension of the main result to job shops.
A survey of eutectoid decomposition in ten Ti-X systems

The mechanism of eutectoid decomposition in ten Ti-X binary systems, wherein X was successively Bi, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Pd and Pt, has been investigated. In hypo-eutectoid alloys, the bainite reaction (defined in the present context as a nonlamellar dispersion of intermetallic compound particles amongst proeutectoid a) predominated in all alloys studied but Ti-Cu, where both bainite and pear lite were formed. In alloys of near eutectoid composition pearlite was the dominant product in some systems and bainite was in others. These results are essentially independent of reaction temperature. They are quite different from analogous ones in Fe-C alloys, where pearlite is the principal eutectoid structure formed at high temperatures and bainite plays this role at low tem-peratures. The difference between the Ti-X and Fe-C behaviors was explained in terms of the much more pronounced tendency for proeutectoid α plate formation in Ti-X than in Fe-C alloys and, on a theory due to Hillert, of the need for disordered interphase boundaries in order to develop the cooperative growth mode that leads to the evolution of pearlite.
Quadrupole states and the interacting boson approximation

A schematic shell model calculation is used to analyze the adequacy of the interacting boson approximation as a function of the quadrupole interaction strength $V$. It is found that an interacting boson basis truncation approximation provides a good description of the nuclear ground state, but a poor one of moderately high angular momentum states, for all values of $V$. An alternate basis truncation scheme is proposed.NUCLEAR STRUCTURE Interacting boson approximation, shell model diagonalization.
Cajal-Retzius neurons in developing monkey neocortex show immunoreactivity for calcium binding proteins

Immunoreactivity for two calcium binding proteins, 28 kDa calbindin and parvalbumin, was used to label cells morphologically identical to Cajal-Retzius neurons in the developing visual, prefrontal, sensory-motor and temporal cortex of Old World monkeys. At all fetal ages examined (E110–E155), Cajal-Retzius neurons throughout the cortex were immunoreactive for calbindin as well as being acetylcholinesterase positive. Between E130 and E150, the calbindin-immunoreactive Cajal-Retzius cells in the visual cortex, and a few in other cortical areas, also showed parvalbumin immunoreactivity. A reduced population of immunoreactive Cajal-Retzius cells was detected at birth, and none could be visualized by immunocytochemistry or histochemistry at later postnatal ages. Calbindin and parvalbumin immunoreactivity represents a potentially useful marker for this developmentally regulated population of neurons, and the varied expression of the two proteins suggests that Cajal-Retzius neurons may represent a neurochemically heterogeneous cell population.
Margin Assessment of AP1000 Loss of Flow Transient

The Reactor Coolant System (RCS) of the AP1000 plant consists of two circulating loops. Each loop contains two canned motor Reactor Coolant (RC) pumps that have a rotating inertia to provide RCS flow coastdown if power to the pumps is lost. Westinghouse analysis of the complete loss of flow (CLOF) accident in support of the AP1000 design certification was based on the USNRC-approved traditional methodology applied to operating plants. The RCS response during the transient was predicted using the LOFTRAN code based on a reactivity insertion curve highly skewed to the bottom of the reactor core, but the calculation of Departure from Nucleate Boiling Ratio (DNBR) was performed assuming a top-skewed axial power profile. A more realistic margin assessment can be made by using an improved method similar to Westinghouse RAVE methodology recently approved by the USNRC. The improved method uses the three-dimensional kinetic nodal code SPNOVA coupled with the reactor core thermal-hydraulic code VIPRE-W for predicting the reactor core response during the CLOF transient. The improved method significantly improves margin predictions by generating core power distributions consistent with the trip reactivity changes for the DNBR calculation. The margin assessment showed that the improved method resulted in a 19% DNBR increase as compared to the traditional method for the AP1000 CLOF transient.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Work and growth: A review of research on the impact of work experience on adolescent development.

Work has not been extensively studied as a context for adolescent development, even though increased work experience has been widely recommended as a means of improving the transition of adolescents to adulthood. Studies of the impact of work experience on adolescent socialization, defined broadly, suggest that work has beneficial results that persist over time. Developmental theorists and critics of conventional patterns of workplace organization remind us, however, that current knowledge is inadequate to specify optimal types and amounts of work experience for adolescents. Studies of narrower outcomes of work experience — career knowledge and plans, job-related attitudes, behavior, and skills — are less persuasive. An ecological strategy is recommended for future research. Such research should consider the varying effects of different kinds of work experience on different adolescents and should seek those effects in settings other than the workplace and over long periods.
Arterial Occlusion Complicating Treatment of Gynecologic Cancer: A Case Series

The objective in this paper is to describe the severity and outcome of arterial occlusion complicating treatment of women with gynecologic cancer. A series of six patients who underwent amputation were identified. Acute arterial occlusions were seen in three patients. One patient suffered extensive thrombosis of the hand and wrist resulting in amputation 3 weeks after cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy for Fallopian tube cancer. She had a history of pulmonary embolism and deep-vein thrombosis. This patient was thought to have thrombophilia. One elderly patient with known arteriosclerosis developed sepsis following radical deep excision and groin dissection for vulvar cancer and lost two digits presumably due to microemboli. One patient developed thrombosis of the femoral artery on the second day following cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer. She responded to anticoagulation therapy; however, necrosis remained in portions of the heel and toes. Three patients underwent amputation of a lower extremity when they developed chronic arterial insufficiency after pelvic radiotherapy. The patients were irradiated at the ages of 28, 30, and 35 years for cervix cancer in two patients and a low-grade retroperitoneal sarcoma in one patient. Two received neutron beam therapy and one received conventional photon beam therapy. All three had extensive late radiation morbidity to the bladder and rectum and had multiple prior surgeries. The amputations occurred at the ages of 48, 48, and 55 due to accelerated arteriosclerosis. Two patients died as a result of this complication. Acute and chronic arterial occlusions are rare yet dramatic complications of therapy for gynecologic cancer. This series illustrates the predisposing factors, presentation, and management of these unusual events.
Does testicular mass always require orchiectomy

Abstract Surgical exploration of a testicular mass should follow the basic principles of cancer surgery, including an inguinal approach, occlusion of the spermatic vessels, opening of the tunica vaginalis, and careful exploration of the testicle, epididymis, paratesticular structures, and spermatic cord. In a very few patients, when intratesticular lesion is small and moveable and can be seen through the tunica albuginea, and if there is a long history of scrotal mass, then the tunica albuginea should be opened and intratesticular exploration performed. The opening of the tunica albuginea does not violate the principles of cancer surgery, and for a few selected cases can prevent unnecessary orchiectomy. The incision of the tunica albuginea should no longer represent a surgical taboo to the urologist. Six cases of rare, benign intratesticular tumors are presented along with a rare indication for intratesticular exploration and testicle-preserving surgery.
Phase change and mechanical properties of ZrO2-Y2O3 solid electrolyte after ageing

Abstract For the system ZrO 2 Y 2 O 3 containing from 4.5 to 8.0 mole% Y 2 O 3 , the crystal structure, mechanical properties, electrical conductivity, and performance as solid electrolyte were investigated before and after ageing at low temperature. For the partially stabilized Y 2 O 3 ZrO 2 alloys (Y-PSZ) containing from 4.5 to 6.0 mole% Y 2 O 3 , the amount of monoclinic ZrO 2 increases slightly while the electrical conductivity decreases slightly. The bending strength and thermal shock resistance, however, retain their high value (a factor of two or three higher than that of a fully stabilized Y 2 O 3 ZrO 2 (Y-FSZ) of 8 mole% Y 2 O 3 ) without change after ageing.
Stilbazulenyl nitrone, a novel antioxidant, is highly neuroprotective in focal ischemia.

Azulenyl nitrones are novel chain-breaking antioxidants with low oxidation potentials and high lipophilicity—properties favoring their efficacy as neuroprotectants. We tested the second-generation azulenyl nitrone, stilbazunenlyl nitrone (STAZN), in focal ischemic stroke. Physiologically monitored rats received 2 hours of middle cerebral artery occlusion by intraluminal suture, resulting in substantial cortical and striatal infarcation. Neurobehavior was quantified on a standard battery, and brains were perfusion-fixed for quantitative histopathology at 3 days. In 3 independent series, rats were treated at either 2h + 4h, or 2h + 4h + 24h + 48h, after onset of ischemia; vehicle-treated rats received dimethylsulfoxide or saline. All animals (n = 52) developed high-grade neurological deficits (score 11 of 12) during ischemia, which improved, in STAZN-treated rats, within 1–1.5 h of the initial dose and fell to a median score of 3 at 72 h, compared to 8 in vehicle rats. STAZN treatment reduced mean cortical infarct volume by 64–97%, and total infarct volume by 42–72%. In over one-half of STAZN-treated animals, cortical infarction was virtually abolished. Regression analysis predicted that STAZN would confer ∼50% cortical neuroprotection even in the most severely affected cases. The potency of STAZN was orders-of-magnitude greater than other nitrones such as NXY-059. These results suggest that STAZN has great promise for ischemic stroke. Ann Neurol 2003
The structure of an immunoglobulin light chain fragment in mouse myeloma cells.

An immunoglobulin light chain fragment, which forms a relatively large proportion of the radioactivity associated with intracellular immunologically precipitable immunoglobulin after short incubations with radioactively labeled amino acid, has been described in mouse myeloma cells ( Schubert & Cohn, 1970 ). A detailed characterization of this fragment from S176 and J558 mouse myeloma cells has been undertaken, including purification and subsequent peptide mapping, in order to determine the possible significance of this fragment in the biosynthesis of the complete light chain. The purified material appears rather heterogeneous in length on 15% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, with a modal molecular weight of 15,500. Peptide mapping of [ 3 H]leucine-labeled material, with homologous light chain carrier, demonstrated that both variable and constant region peptides were present. These data, and the pattern of specific activity derived from the maps, were more compatible with the fragment being a collection of nascent chains and/or proteolytic fragments than a discrete variable region piece.
Uniqueness criteria of the steady state in automotive catalysis

Abstract For the automotive catalytic reaction system, uniqueness criteria for the steady state are obtained by use of the contraction mapping principle and the Hammerstein uniqueness theorem. Both criteria show that if φ(1 + σ) is appropriately small, where φ is the Thiele modulus and σ is the adsorption parameter, there is only one steady state. Numerical results are also given to predict the particle geometry effect on the uniqueness criteria.
Visual acuity and its meridional variations in children aged 7–60 months

A new operant procedure was used to assess grating acuity in children aged 7-60 months. The procedure was successful for 95% of the children sampled and had high test-retest reliability. Visual acuity for main axis (horizontal and vertical) gratings improved from 6/15 at 12 months to 6/6 at 60 months. For the 7-16 month age group, preferential-looking estimates of acuity agreed well with operant estimates. Acuity for oblique gratings was approximately 1/4 octave lower than main axis acuity throughout the age range. The results suggest that the human visual system continues to develop throughout the first 5 years of life.
Shadowing and internal chain transitivity

The main result of this paper is that a map f : X → X which has shadowing and for which the space of ω-limits sets is closed in the Hausdorff topology has the property that a set A ⊆ X is an ω-limit set if and only if it is closed and internally chain transitive. Moreover, a map which has the property that every closed internally chain transitive set is an ω-limit set must also have the property that the space of ω-limit sets is closed. As consequences of this result, we show that interval maps with shadowing have the property that every internally chain transitive set is an ω-limit set of a point, and we also show that topologically hyperbolic maps and certain quadratic Julia sets have a closed space of ω-limit sets
Sm-Nd isotopic evolution of chondrites

The ^(143)Nd/^(144)Nd and ^(147)Sm/^(144)Nd ratios have been measured in five chondrites and the Juvinas achondrite. The range in ^(143)Nd/^(144)Nd for the analyzed meteorite samples is 5.3 e-units (0.511673–0.511944) normalized to ^(150)Nd/^(142)Nd= 0.2096. This is correlated with the variation of 4.2% in ^(147)Sm/^(144)Nd (0.1920–0.2000). Much of this spread is due to small-scale heterogeneities in the chondrites and does not appear to reflect the large-scale volumetric averages. It is shown that none of the samples deviate more than 0.5 e-units from a 4.6-AE reference isochron and define an initial ^(143)Nd/^(144)Nd ratio at 4.6 AE of 0.505828 ± 9. Insofar as there is a range of values of ^(147)Sm/^(144)Nd there is no unique way of picking solar or average chondritic values. From these data we have selected a new set of self-consistent present-day reference values for CHUR (“chondritic uniform reservoir”) of (^(143)Nd/^(144)Nd)_(CHUR)^0 = 0.511836 and (^(147)Sm/^(144)Nd)_(CHUR)^0 = 0.1967. The new ^(147)Sm/^(144)Nd value is 1.6% higher than the previous value assigned to CHUR using the Juvinas data of Lugmair. This will cause a small but significant change in the CHUR evolution curve. Some terrestrial samples of Archean age show clear deviations from the new CHUR curve. If the CHUR curve is representative of undifferentiated mantle then it demonstrates that depleted sources were also tapped early in the Archean. Such a depleted layer may represent the early evolution of the source of present-day mid-ocean ridge basalts. There exists a variety of discrepancies with most earlier meteorite data which includes determination of all Nd isotopes and Sm/Nd ratios. These discrepancies require clarification in order to permit reliable interlaboratory comparisons. The new CHUR curve implies substantial changes in model ages for lunar rocks and thus also in the interpretation of early lunar chronology.
The use of MRI in the pre-surgical evaluation of patients with androgen insensitivity syndrome.

Abstract Background Patients diagnosed with androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) need bilateral gonadectomy (orchiectomy) for malignancy risk reduction. Imaging of the gonads (testicles) prior to surgery is recommended. Ultrasonography has typically been used. However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides better localization of the gonads and pre-surgical planning. Cases In this case series, we describe how MRI was utilized in planning surgical gonadectomy in 3 patients with complete AIS and to review the literature regarding MRI and AIS. Summary and Conclusions MRI prior to surgery was helpful in localizing and planning for removal of the gonads while preventing injury to other structures. Surgical specialists with experience with inguinal dissection were appropriately consulted when an inguinal dissection was likely to be needed to complete the gonadectomy.
Pseudo super-resolution for improved calcification characterization for Cone Beam Breast CT (CBBCT)

Cone Beam Breast CT imaging (CBBCT) is a promising tool for diagnosis of breast tumors and calcifications. However, as the sizes of calcifications in early stages are very small, it is not easy to distinguish them from background tissues because of the relatively high noise level. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance the visualization of calcifications for accurate detection. In this work, the Papoulis-Gerchberg (PG) method was introduced and modified to improve calcification characterization. PG method is an iterative algorithm of signal extrapolation and has been demonstrated to be very effective in image restoration like super-resolution (SR) and inpainting. The projection images were zoomed by bicubic interpolation method, then the modified PG method were applied to improve the image quality. The reconstruction from processed projection images showed that this approach can effectively improve the image quality by improving the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) with a limited increase in noise level. As a result, the detectability of calcifications was improved in CBBCT images.
Effects of incentive contracts in research and development: a preliminary research report

Five research and development contracts that were converted from a cost reimbursement basis to a form of cost incentive contract were studied by interviews with government and contractor personnel associated with the projects. The analyses of these contracts indicate that during negotiations for incentive conversions, contractors avoid risk by some combination of stalling and allowing time to reduce technical uncertainty or by refusing to negotiate agreements that contain cost sharing possibilities. Little evidence was found that would support the theoretical assertion that contractors would alter their behavior to seek the improved profits possible under R&D incentive contracts. However, the evidence does indicate that losses on incentive contracts are highly motivating and may even lead to harmful shortcutting and work stoppage threats.
Turbulent wake/shock interaction at Mach 6

The paper presents measurements of mean pitot, static pressure and total temperature profiles for a two-dimensional turbulent wake in the vicinity and downstream of intersection with a shock/expansion wave system. The wake centerline Mach number, velocity, and total temperature distributions indicated that the shock increased turbulent mixing, while the expansion field that followed the shock decreased mixing. The overall effect of the shock/expansion wave interaction was to increase mixing for shock angles 15 deg and less for the shock generator geometry used in the present study. Wake growth rates determined from the total temperature profiles confirmed the increased turbulent mixing effect of the shock. These data could be used to validate nonquilibrium turbulence modeling and numerical solution of the time-averaged Navier-Stokes equations.
High resolution infrared spectrum and the molecular structure of sulfur trioxide

Abstract The 2v 2 3 ( E' ) band of sulfur trioxide has been measured with a resolution of 0.03 cm −1 . The analysis of this band yields a set of rotational constants which fit the data to within a standard deviation of 0.003 cm −1 (which is the expected error limit). From the rotational constant B o = 0.34857 ±0.00006 cm −1 the S-O bond distance is found to be r 0 = 1.4198±0.0002 A. This value is in agreement with earlier infrared measurements, but represents a considerable improvement in accuracy.
Expanding the Use of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Hypertension

For patients with hypertension and their physicians who care for them, assessment of blood pressure (BP) over 24 hours with an automated monitor has considerable appeal. When done properly, ambulatory BP recordings yield far more reproducible values over fairly long periods of time compared with the doctor’s office BP.1 Because ambulatory BP monitoring yields multiple readings during all of a patient’s activities, including the sleeping period and time at work, this method gives a more comprehensive representation of the vascular burden of hypertension than a small number of BP readings in the office of a clinician.2,3 In fact, recent analyses of cohorts of patients with both untreated and treated hypertension followed for up to a decade have typically shown that ambulatory BP has better predictive values for future cardiovascular events than clinical measurements of BP.4,5 When the usefulness of ambulatory BP monitoring became recognized early on by hypertension specialists, the focus of its use was for the evaluation of white-coat hypertension. Unfortunately, the definition of white-coat hypertension has varied a great deal in the medical literature because of arbitrary differences between clinical measurements and various components of the ambulatory BP, such as 24-hour mean, daytime, or awake periods.6 The variability of the definition of white-coat hypertension in the prognostic studies and the duration of follow-up for cardiovascular outcomes has made direct comparisons among these studies difficult, if …
An Activating Mutation in sos-1 Identifies Its Dbl Domain as a Critical Inhibitor of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Pathway during Caenorhabditis elegans Vulval Development

Proper regulation of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)-Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways is critical for normal development and the prevention of cancer. SOS is a dual-function guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) that catalyzes exchange on Ras and Rac. Although the physiologic role of SOS and its CDC25 domain in RTK-mediated Ras activation is well established, the in vivo function of its Dbl Rac GEF domain is less clear. We have identified a novel gain-of-function missense mutation in the Dbl domain of Caenorhabditis elegans SOS-1 that promotes epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in vivo. Our data indicate that a major developmental function of the Dbl domain is to inhibit EGF-dependent MAPK activation. The amount of inhibition conferred by the Dbl domain is equal to that of established trans-acting inhibitors of the EGFR pathway, including c-Cbl and RasGAP, and more than that of MAPK phosphatase. In conjunction with molecular modeling, our data suggest that the C. elegans mutation, as well as an equivalent mutation in human SOS1, activates the MAPK pathway by disrupting an autoinhibitory function of the Dbl domain on Ras activation. Our work suggests that functionally similar point mutations in humans could directly contribute to disease.
Designing Comparative Effectiveness Research On Prescription Drugs: Lessons From The Clinical Trial Literature

As comparative effectiveness research becomes a more prominent feature of clinical medicine, investigators and policy makers would do well to seek lessons from prior examples of this type of research. Our analysis of previous examples reveals lessons in three key areas: choice of comparison treatments, time frame of study, and widespread applicability of study results. Based on our observations, we offer suggestions for increasing the clinical applicability of comparative effectiveness research, such as employing surrogate endpoints that meet a specific threshold of validity. Future trials that address these areas of concern hold the greatest promise for improving patients’ outcomes.