cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Iatrogenic vertebrobasilar insufficiency after surgery of the subclavian or brachial artery: review of three cases.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Vertebrobasilar insufficiency resulting from disease of the subclavian artery is well recognized. Usually, this occurs as the subclavian steal syndrome in the context of chronic subclavian stenosis and is consequently well tolerated because of collateralization. Acute disruption of the hemodynamics of the aortic arch vessels, however, can produce disastrous sequelae. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: We present three cases of iatrogenic vertebrobasilar insufficiency sustained as complications of surgery of the left subclavian artery or its distal continuation. The cases were chosen from a review of approximately 400 emergency neurosurgery consultations requested at the Los Angeles County Hospital between November 1995 and February 1996. INTERVENTION: The first patient underwent repair of a traumatic brachial artery occlusion and awoke postoperatively with bilateral cortical blindness, right hemiparesis, and multiple cranial nerve deficits that were most likely caused by acute subclavian steal. The second underwent removal of a subclavian embolus and developed bilateral cerebellar infarction leading to persistent coma, possibly from inadvertent embolization of the vertebral artery during surgery. The third underwent resection and bypass grafting of a subclavian aneurysm. Good backflow was reported when the vertebral artery was disarticulated from the subclavian artery, and this vessel was not reimplanted into the graft. The patient suffered massive cerebellar infarction leading rapidly to brain death. CONCLUSION: There are myriad ways in which the inherent redundancy of the vertebrobasilar system may be jeopardized, and when this protective mechanism fails, the results can be disastrous. Flow through the vertebral arteries may be compromised by thrombosis, embolization, dissection, inappropriate ligation, excessive head rotation, hypotension, vasospasm, or acute subclavian steal. These examples illustrate the importance of understanding the complex physiology of posterior fossa circulation as the basis of pre-, intra-, and postoperative management of patients undergoing surgery of the subclavian artery.
Fibronectin Expression Modulates Mammary Epithelial Cell Proliferation during Acinar Differentiation

The mammary gland consists of a polarized epithelium surrounded by a basement membrane matrix that forms a series of branching ducts ending in hollow, sphere-like acini. Essential roles for the epithelial basement membrane during acinar differentiation, in particular laminin and its integrin receptors, have been identified using mammary epithelial cells cultured on a reconstituted basement membrane. Contributions from fibronectin, which is abundant in the mammary gland during development and tumorigenesis, have not been fully examined. Here, we show that fibronectin expression by mammary epithelial cells is dynamically regulated during the morphogenic process. Experiments with synthetic polyacrylamide gel substrates implicate both specific extracellular matrix components, including fibronectin itself, and matrix rigidity in this regulation. Alterations in fibronectin levels perturbed acinar organization. During acinar development, increased fibronectin levels resulted in overproliferation of mammary epithelial cells and increased acinar size. Addition of fibronectin to differentiated acini stimulated proliferation and reversed growth arrest of mammary epithelial cells negatively affecting maintenance of proper acinar morphology. These results show that expression of fibronectin creates a permissive environment for cell growth that antagonizes the differentiation signals from the basement membrane. These effects suggest a link between fibronectin expression and epithelial cell growth during development and oncogenesis in the mammary gland. [Cancer Res 2008;68(9):3185–92]
Construction and analysis of simulated Venera and Magellan images of Venus

The 1-3 km resolution Venera 15 and 16 images of Venus and the expected 120-300 m resolution Magellan mission image data are presently simulated through a digital processing of Seasat radar images covering a desert dune complex in the Gran Desierto of Sonora, accreted terranes in the central interior of Alaska, and the Appalachian Valley and Ridge Province. The simulations suggest that the nature and extent of terrain modification on Venus by such exogenic processes as atmosphere-surface weathering, erosion, and deposition, will remain uncertain, since the length scale of features indicative of such processes may be too small to be discerned from Venera data; Magellan data may provide this critical fine-scale morphological data, however, and thereby allow the testing of the two competing resurfacing scenarios.
Identification of the proteins in direct contact with duck globin mRNA.

Abstract Proteins in direct contact with translationally active and repressed duck globin mRNA were determined by irradiating blood or lysates with ultraviolet light. Cross-linked proteins from polyribosomes and free mRNP particles were 14C-labeled by reductive methylation and identified on SDS-polyacrylamide gels upon autoradiography. Results indicate that ten cross-linked proteins are common to both polysomal and free mRNP, however, a 44 kDa protein appears to be specific for repressed mRNP particles. Furthermore, the notable lack of cross-linked proteins in the 20–30 kDa range in free mRNP supports the view that the characteristic low molecular mass ‘prosomal’ proteins, previously found associated with translationally repressed duck globin free mRNP [(1984) EMBO J. 3, 29–34], do not interact directly with the mRNA molecule.
Dynamic processing of recombinant dentin sialoprotein-phosphophoryn protein

Dentin sialoprotein (DSP) and phosphophoryn (PP) are the two noncollagenous proteins classically linked to dentin but more recently found in bone, kidney, and salivary glands. These two proteins are derived from a single copy DSP-PP gene. Although this suggests that the DSP-PP gene is first transcribed into DSP-PP mRNAs, which later undergo processing to yield the DSP and PP proteins, this mechanism has not yet been demonstrated because of the inability to identify a DSP-PP precursor protein from any cell or tissue sample. To study this problem, we utilized a baculovirus expression system to produce recombinant DSP-PP precursor proteins from a DSP-PP240 cDNA, which represents one of several endogenous DSP-PP transcripts that influence various tooth mineralization phases. Our in vitro results demonstrate that DSP-PP240 precursor proteins are produced by this system and are capable of self-processing to yield both DSP and PP proteins. We further demonstrated that purified recombinant DSP-PP240, purified recombinant PP240, and the native highly phosphorylated protein (equivalent to the PP523 isoform) have proteolytic activity. These newly identified tissue proteases may play key roles in tissue modeling during organogenesis.
Characterization and testing of materials using multichannel fiber sensor systems

and testing of materials using multichannel fiber sensor systemsK. A. Murphy, M. F. Gunther, M. de Vries, and R. 0. ClausFiber & Electro•Optics Research Center, Bradley Department of Electrical Engineering,Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State Univ., Blacksburg, VA 24061ABSTRACTThis paper describes initial results of two fiber optic sensor multiplexing techniquesincorporating extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (EFPI) sensors and applications ofthese sensors. The first multiplexing technique described is based upon path-matchingtechniques and the second is based upon optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR).1. INTRODUC11ONThis paper describes multiplexing techniques and applications of extrinsic Fabry—Perotinterferometnc (EFPI) sensors. A detailed drawing describing the construction of theextrinsic FP interferometer can be seen in Figure 1. A single mode fiber (A0 =
Experiential personal construct therapeutic artistry: The therapy relationship and the timing of interventions

Abstract Experiential personal construct psychotherapy focuses on the intimate, interconnected, and evolving relationship between the therapist and the client as vital to therapeutic growth. Great creativity is demanded of the therapist who aspires to connect with clients in life‐changing psychotherapy. This article first describes the essential nature of the therapy relationship with its implicit and explicit demands for therapist creativity. These principles then are illustrated through a discussion of the critical issue of timing therapeutic interventions.
LIST OF PARTICLE-ACCELERATOR INSTALLATIONS: ADDENDA AND ERRATA

Abstract Communications received by the author after recent publication of a list of particle-accelerator installations operating throughout the world have yielded additional information and pointed out certain errata. The addenda and corrected information are given below.
Potential Approaches to Enhance the Effects of Estrogen on Senescent Blood Vessels and Postmenopausal Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is more common in postmenopausal than premenopausal women, suggesting vascular protective effects of estrogen. Vascular estrogen receptors ERalpha, ERbeta and a transmembrane estrogen-binding protein GPR30 have been described. Also, experimental studies have demonstrated vasodilator effects of estrogen on the endothelium, vascular smooth muscle and extracellular matrix. However, randomized clinical trials have not supported vascular benefits of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), possibly due to the subjects' advanced age and age-related changes in estrogen synthesis and metabolic pathways, the vascular ERs number, distribution and integrity, and the post-ER vascular signaling pathways. Current MHT includes natural estrogens such as conjugated equine estrogen, as well as synthetic and semi-synthetic estrogens. New estrogenic formulations and hormone combinations have been developed. Phytoestrogens is being promoted as an alternative MHT. Specific ER modulators (SERMs), and selective agonists for ERalpha such as PPT, ERbeta such as DPN, and GPR30 such as G1 are being evaluated. In order to enhance the vascular effectiveness of MHT, its type, dose, route of administration and timing may need to be customized depending on the subject's age and pre-existing CVD. Also, the potential interaction of estrogen with progesterone and testosterone on vascular function may need to be considered in order to maximize the vascular benefits of MHT on senescent blood vessels and postmenopausal CVD.
Turnover of lymphocytes in rat peritoneal fluid

Zellkinetische Untersuchungen an Ratten nach Injektion von H3-Thymidin ergaben eine rasche Markierung der grossen mononuklearen Zellen innerhalb von 20 Min und eine langsaniere Markierung der kleinen Lymphozyten, fur welche eine Turnover-Zeit von 23,4 Tagen errechnet wurde. Stundlich gelangen ca. 105 kleine Lymphozyten in die Bauchhohlenflussigkeit.
In vitro stimulation of glucose oxidation in thyroid by serotonin.

Serotonin stimulates the oxidation of glucose-1 and 6-C14 to C14O2 in thyroid slices. Tryptamine and 5-methoxy tryptamine also stimulate the oxidation of glucose- 1-C14 to C14O2. Analogues in which the amino group is acetylated are inactive. In a cell free system fortified with TPNH, serotonin stimulates and acts by augmenting the oxidation ofTPNHtoTPN.
Fertility in males with cystic fibrosis.

Abstract Two unrelated males with cystic fibrosis had normal sperm counts and volume of ejaculate, and one of them fathered two children. Detailed chemical and morphologic analyses of the semen from the first patient were normal. These findings are in contrast to the aspermia and abnormal chemical values in semen previously reported for patients with cystic fibrosis. In a survey of 105 cystic-fibrosis centers, 78 responded to a questionnaire and reported fertility data on 117 males; two (those reported in this paper) were fertile, and another six were believed to have fathered children but their semen was not studied. Normal fertility occurs in a small but appreciable number of males (in the range of 2 to 3 per cent) with this disease. The finding of such fertile males has genetic, social, and psychologic implications and makes it mandatory to evaluate the semen (at a minimum, sperm count and ejaculate volume measurement) in all postpubescent males with this disease before counseling.
Peptide conformation and protein folding

Abstract During the past year, there have been a number of important developments that advance our understanding of the behavior of peptide fragments of proteins in aqueous solution and its relevance to the initial steps of protein folding. Extensive work, both theoretical and experimental, has been published on the characterization of secondary-structure formation in peptides, and some new techniques have emerged for its detection. Several extensive studies aimed at elucidating protein-folding initiation sites by dissecting whole proteins have been published, and the folding of a dimeric protein from peptide fragments has been demonstrated. The stabilization of transient structures in peptides has received a great deal of attention, and the role of hydrophobic interactions has been an emerging theme.
Content area reading pedagogy and domain knowledge: a Bourdieusian analysis

The twofold purpose of this study was to trace prospective and practicing mathematics teachers’ understandings of content area reading instruction in relation to domain knowledge in mathematics, and to examine the extent to which online pedagogical mentoring supported the integration of such instruction and knowledge. The design called for two pairs of prospective and practicing mathematics teachers to develop, implement, and reflectively evaluate four lessons. A multilevel mentoring approach was used to leverage the valuing of domain knowledge in mathematics. Course materials, lesson plans, teacher reflections, mentors’ feedback, interviews, and case reports were analysed using Bourdieu’s concepts of cultural capital, field, and misrecognition. Results indicate that despite the study’s focus on prioritising domain knowledge through pedagogical mentoring, the instances in which such knowledge were integrated effectively with reading instruction varied in relation to a mentor’s expertise in mathematics. If reading teacher educators are to support prospective and practicing mathematics teachers in content area reading instruction, additional sources of mathematics cultural capital are needed.
Effect of multileaf collimator-defined segment size on Sc

Purpose: Tertiary multileaf collimators(MLCs) in certain linear accelerators have been found to influence the factor S c . This effect on S c is often ignored at the time of commissioning and beam data collection since the scatter/output factors are usually measured with the MLCs retracted. This may be a negligible effect for majority of conventional radiotherapy portals since the jaws are set to conform with MLCs as closely as possible. In the case of IMRT treatments, however, the jaw is often set at a fixed size, and the MLCs form the segments, or control points, of each beam, thus the difference between MLC and jaw settings may be significant. Methods: The authors quantified the magnitude of this scatter difference for various field sizes defined by MLCs and jaws and characterized the variation in this scatter with MLC and jaw settings. They measured S c and S c , p factors for square fields (apertures) of different sizes for jaw settings from 10 × 10 to 36 × 36 cm 2 . Results: The data indicate that the larger the difference between MLC-defined aperture and jaw settings, the more significant the difference between the output factors. The authors fitted curves to the MLC output factors for any given jaw size in order to parametrize this aperture effect as a function of jaw and MLC setting. Conclusions: The quantification of the change in the output factor due to MLCs may be important for better modeling of dose in IMRT deliveries and other applications such asin vivodosimetry.
Similarity as a foundation for possibility

A semantics for possibilistic evidential reasoning is presented based on similarity with paradigmatic examples. The acquisition of evidence generates a pseudo-metric on the universe of discourse. It is shown that every possibility distribution can be realized as an embedding in a pseudo-metric space with the possibility values determined by the distance from distinguished elements in that space. Determining support based on similarity captures the fundamental characteristics of possibilistic analysis: optimistic and independent evaluation of the alternatives. The similarity semantics distinguishes possibility from classical approaches to classification and diagnosis problems based on probabilistic techniques.
How will warming affect the salt marsh foundation species Spartina patens and its ecological role

Foundation species structure environments and create refuge from environmental stress. In New England high salt marsh, the grass Spartina patens is a foundation species that reduces salinity, anoxia, desiccation, and thermal stresses through canopy shading and root proliferation. In a factorial S. patens-removal and warming field experiment, foundation species removal strongly impacted every aspect of the community, reiterating the important role of the foundation species S. patens in the high marsh. Given this central role, we hypothesized that facilitation by the foundation species would be even more important under warmer conditions by ameliorating more severe thermal stress. However, the ecological role of S. patens was unaffected by experimental warming, and, independent of the presence of the foundation species, warming had only weak effects on the salt marsh ecological community. Only the foundation species itself responded strongly to warming, by significantly increasing aboveground production in warmed plots. Apparently, amelioration of thermal stress is not as important for salt marsh ecosystem function as S. patens' moderation of salinity and desiccation stresses. From these experimental results, we anticipate that climate change-associated thermal stress will not greatly affect S. patens-dominated high marsh communities. In contrast, foundation species loss, an emergent conservation issue in Atlantic salt marshes, represents a critical threat to salt marsh ecosystem function.
Cognitive function in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis: anyone out there listening?

Background Preliminary data suggests the APC protein is critical for dependent pathways in the cochlea and may be important in cognition. Abnormal audiometries have been documented in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP). We studied cognitive function among patients with FAP. Methods FAP patients were recruited for an IRB (Institutional Review Board) approved study assessing intelligence using the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT-2), which provides Verbal, Nonverbal and Composite IQs. The KBIT-2 was administered and scored by individuals experienced in administration of psychometric measures. Mean scores were analyzed and compared to standard normal ranges. Results 44 subjects from 42 families (22 men), mean age of 42 years were included. KBIT-2 Composite IQ score was 98.4 ± 12.4, (95% CI (confidence interval) 94.5-102.3) which is within the average range of 90-109. 27 % of patients scored below average (less than 90) and 15% scored above average (greater than 109), not a significant imbalance (sign test p=0.33). Nonverbal IQ scores show no difference from average, mean=100.5; 24% scored below and 27% scored above average. Verbal scores were 95.5 ± 12.0 (95% CI 91.7 -99.2) significantly lower than average (one-sample T-test p=0.020). There is an imbalance among patients with 27% below and 7% above the average range and a tendency toward lower than average scores (sign test P=0.06). The mean number of points by which Nonverbal IQ exceeded Verbal IQ was 5.0 ± 12.5 (95% CI 1.1 -9.0), (one-sample T-test p=0.013). The non-verbal score exceeded the verbal score for 27 patients (65.9%), while the verbal score was larger for only 10 patients (24.4%) (Sign test p=0.008). Conclusion Composite IQ scores suggest that FAP patients do not have lower IQ from the general population. However the verbal scores of FAP patients which are dependent on hearing are significantly lower than average and may reflect abnormal audiometries or other effects of the APC mutation on cognitive function.
Exceptional Paper---ADVISOR 2: Modeling the Marketing Mix Decision for Industrial Products

This paper reports the results of the ADVISOR 2 study, aimed at providing an understanding of and guidance for marketing mix decisions for industrial products. The study involved 22 companies and 131 products. Although cross-sectional in nature, justification is presented for using the descriptive results as guidelines for marketing mix decisions. Models are presented for advertising expenditures, marketing expenditures, marketing budget allocations, year-to-year changes in advertising spending and for selection of distribution channels. The level of marketing expenditures and the split of marketing into advertising and personal setting are shown to be affected by a few, general product and market characteristics of which product sales and the number of customers are key. It is shown that it is fruitful to study the advertising budget as advertising = advertising/marketing × marketing; i.e., a marketing budget is set and then a split of that budget into personal and impersonal communications is made. This two-stage view clarifies the role of different product and market characteristics in the models. The change in advertising spending is related to changes in market share, changes in product plans and changes in the number of competitors modified by the number of customers, their concentration and the size of the advertising budget. The decision to use a direct channel of distribution primarily salesforce is affected by the size of the firm, the size of an average order, the stage in the product's life cycle, the complexity of the product, the fraction of the product's sales made-to-order and the purchase frequency of the product. A discussion of the use of the ADVISOR models both for marketing decision making and for marketing researchers and model builders is included.
Molecular dynamics modeling of stishovite

A Morse-stretch potential charge equilibrium force field for silica system has been employed to simulate the thermodynamics of stishovite with the molecular dynamics (MD) method. The equation of state, thermal expansivity and melting curve of stishovite have been obtained. This simple force field yielded results in accordance with the static and dynamic experiments. The stishovite melting simulation appears to validate the interpretation of superheating of the solid along the Hugoniot in the shock melting experiments. MD simulations show that the thermal expansivity of stishovite at lowermost mantle conditions is a weak function of temperature. The phase diagram of silica up to the mega bar regime is proposed based on the experimental and theoretical studies. The related physical and geophysical implications are addressed. 5 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Unusually high soil nitrogen oxide emissions influence air quality in a high-temperature agricultural region

Fertilized soils have large potential for production of soil nitrogen oxide (NOx=NO+NO2), however these emissions are difficult to predict in high-temperature environments. Understanding these emissions may improve air quality modelling as NOx contributes to formation of tropospheric ozone (O3), a powerful air pollutant. Here we identify the environmental and management factors that regulate soil NOx emissions in a high-temperature agricultural region of California. We also investigate whether soil NOx emissions are capable of influencing regional air quality. We report some of the highest soil NOx emissions ever observed. Emissions vary nonlinearly with fertilization, temperature and soil moisture. We find that a regional air chemistry model often underestimates soil NOx emissions and NOx at the surface and in the troposphere. Adjusting the model to match NOx observations leads to elevated tropospheric O3. Our results suggest management can greatly reduce soil NOx emissions, thereby improving air quality.
Antibiotics for the Treatment of Hepatic Encephalopathy

The treatment of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is complex and therapeutic regimens vary according to the acuity of presentation and the goals of therapy. Most treatments for HE rely on manipulating the intestinal milieu and therefore antibiotics that act on the gut form a key treatment strategy. Prominent antibiotics studied in HE are neomycin, metronidazole, vancomycin and rifaximin. For the management of the acute episode, all antibiotics have been tested. However the limited numbers studied, adverse effects (neomycin oto- and nephrotoxicity, metronidazole neurotoxicity) and potential for resistance emergence (vancomycin-resistant enterococcus) has limited the use of most antibiotics, apart from rifaximin which has the greatest evidence base. Rifaximin has also demonstrated, in conjunction with lactulose, to prevent overt HE recurrence in a multi-center, randomized trial. Despite its cost in the US, rifaximin may prove cost-saving by preventing hospitalizations for overt HE. In minimal/covert HE, rifaximin is the only systematically studied antibiotic. Rifaximin showed improvement in cognition, inflammation, quality-of-life and driving simulator performance but cost-analysis does not favor its use at the current time. Antibiotics, especially rifaximin, have a definite role in the management across the spectrum of HE.
Pinpointing connectivity despite hidden nodes within stimulus-driven networks

The effects of hidden nodes can lead to erroneous identification of connections among measured nodes in a network. For example, common input from a hidden node may cause correlations among a pair of measured nodes that could be misinterpreted as arising from a direct connection between the measured nodes. We present an approach to control for effects of hidden nodes in networks driven by a repeated stimulus. We demonstrate the promise of this approach via simulations of small networks of neurons driven by a visual stimulus.
Self‐with‐Other Representations and a Taxonomy of Motives: Two Approaches to Studying Persons

This article discusses two approaches to studying persons. Part 1 describes data gathering procedures that lead to an integrated visual display of particular self-representations of an individual in various spheres of life. "Self-with-other representation" is introduced as a central unit of analysis in this research. This concept is integrated into a method that is exemplified in this article by a description of how life can be injected into static trait characterization of a person. In the context of a case study, it is shown that the method provides information about how traits are organized in terms of self-with-other working models and the conditions under which a particular working model is likely to prevail. Part 2 presents a new taxonomy of motives. This taxonomy is a product of having dipped into the area of operant conditioning and reformulating behavioral consequences into motivational causes. This intrusion into reinforcement theory has resulted in a two-dimensional classification system (referred to as PACK) that accounts for motives to keep or acquire positive experiences, and to cure or prevent negative experiences. After the taxonomy is described, it is used to organize motivational concepts in the area of goal-directed behaviors, and it is applied to purpose statements of individuals in different age groups.
Expression and function of the Scn5a-encoded voltage-gated sodium channel NaV 1.5 in the rat jejunum.

Background The SCN5A-encoded voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.5 is expressed in human jejunum and colon. Mutations in NaV1.5 are associated with gastrointestinal motility disorders. The rat gastrointestinal tract expresses voltage-gated sodium channels, but their molecular identity and role in rat gastrointestinal electrophysiology are unknown. Methods The presence and distribution of Scn5a-encoded NaV1.5 was examined by PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry in rat jejunum. Freshly dissociated smooth muscle cells were examined by whole cell electrophysiology. Zinc finger nuclease was used to target Scn5a in rats. Lentiviral-mediated transduction with shRNA was used to target Scn5a in rat jejunum smooth muscle organotypic cultures. Organotypic cultures were examined by sharp electrode electrophysiology and RT-PCR. Key Results We found NaV1.5 in rat jejunum and colon smooth muscle by Western blot. Immunohistochemistry using two other antibodies of different portions of NaV1.5 revealed the presence of the ion channel in rat jejunum. Whole cell voltage-clamp in dissociated smooth muscle cells from rat jejunum showed fast activating and inactivating voltage-dependent inward current that was eliminated by Na+ replacement by NMDG+. Constitutive rat Scn5a knockout resulted in death in utero. NaV1.5 shRNA delivered by lentivirus into rat jejunum smooth muscle organotypic culture resulted in 57% loss of Scn5a mRNA and several significant changes in slow waves, namely 40% decrease in peak amplitude, 30% decrease in half-width, and 7 mV hyperpolarization of the membrane potential at peak amplitude. Conclusions & Inferences Scn5a-encoded NaV1.5 is expressed in rat gastrointestinal smooth muscle and it contributes to smooth muscle electrophysiology.
Integration of weed management and tillage practices in spring dry pea production

Abstract Spring barley can be used to diversify and intensify winter wheat-based production systems in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. The objective of this study was to describe the effects of tillage system and weed management level (WML) on weed control and spring barley grain yield when grown in a winter wheat-spring barley-spring dry pea rotation. A long-term integrated pest management field study examined the effects of three WMLs (minimum, moderate, and maximum) and two tillage systems (conservation and conventional) on weed control and barley grain yield. Total weed biomass at harvest was 8.0 and 59.7 g m−2 for the maximum and minimum WMLs, respectively, in the conservation tillage system, but was similar and averaged 12.2 g m−2 for all three WMLs in the conventional tillage system. Despite greater weed biomass with minimum weed management in the conservation tillage system, barley grain yields averaged 5,060 and 4,780 kg ha−1 for the conservation tillage and conventional tillage systems, respectively...
Protecting health information on mobile devices

Mobile applications running on devices such as smart phones and tablets will be increasingly used to provide convenient access to health information to health professionals and patients. Also, patients will use these devices to transmit health information captured by sensing devices in settings like the home to remote repositories. As mobile devices become targets of security threats, we must address the problem of protecting sensitive health information on them. We explore key threats to data on mobile devices and develop a security framework that can help protect it against such threats. We implemented this framework in the Android operating system and augmented it with user consent detection to enhance user awareness and control over the use of health information.Our framework can be used to enforce security policies that govern access to sensitive health data on mobile devices. Physicians and patients using our framework can install third-party healthcare applications with the guarantee that sensitive medical information will not be sent without their knowledge even when these applications are compromised. We describe the key mechanisms implemented by our framework and how they can enforce a security policy. We also discuss our early experience with the framework.
Physical Activity and Late Effects in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Long-Term Survivors

In the present study the authors evaluated therapy-related long-term adverse effects and physical activity in a cohort of long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), diagnosed in their center between March 1991 and August 2000, treated according to the AIEOP (Associazione Italiana di Ematologia e Oncologia Pediatrica) ALL 91 or 95 study protocol and regularly seen in the authors' long-term follow-up unit. The authors analyzed the long-term sequelae of major body systems in this cohort of subjects and administered an "ad hoc" questionnaire concerning sport. The authors found that 70 patients out of 102 (68.5%) showed no late effects, 10% presented only instrumental or neuropsychological test abnormalities, and 21.5% had 1 or more clinical late sequelae. None of the evidenced late effects represented a contraindication to do physical activity. Sixty-one percent of survivors do physical activity, most of them regularly. Sixty-one percent of males and 18.5% of females (P < .005) do competitive sport (sports rates are similar to those of the general age-matched population). Nearly all subjects spontaneously choose to do sport and think physical exercise is an important and useful resource for their health. The authors conclude that the more recent therapy regimens for leukemia treatment, excluding bone marrow transplantation, do not seem to cause such late effects as to prevent survivors from doing sport. Therefore, in the care of ALL survivors, physical activity is not only not contraindicated, but should also be promoted as much as possible. The development of specific educational programs is warranted as part of the care of cancer survivors.
Thermal And Mechanical Properties Of Low K Polymers

Low dielectric constant polymers offer many advantages in circuit performance, such as power dissipation, crosstalk and RC delay, when used as inter-layer dielectrics (ILDs). Silicon dioxide, a material commonly used as an ILD has a dielectric constant of 4.0. Organic polymers that have dielectric constant values ranging from 2.0 to 3.0 offer attractive alternatives to SiO2. However, it has been a great challenge to find organic polymers with thermal stability up to 450 °C. We have characterized thermal properties of polymers using thermal desorption analysis. isothermal TGA and FTIR to identify weak functional groups. In addition, we have measured the hardnesses and moduli of these polymers and found that the values are much lower than those of SiO2.Stress distributions in the interconnect system were analyzed using finite element modeling in order to understand potential reliability problems.
Unconceived alternatives and conservatism in science: the impact of professionalization, peer-review, and Big Science

Scientific realists have suggested that changes in our scientific communities over the course of their history have rendered those communities progressively less vulnerable to the problem of unconcieved alternatives over time. I argue in response not only that the most fundamental historical transformations of the scientific enterprise have generated steadily mounting obstacles to revolutionary, transformative, or unorthodox scientific theorizing, but also that we have substantial independent evidence that the institutional apparatus of contemporary scientific inquiry fosters an exceedingly and increasingly theoretically conservative form of that inquiry. I conclude that contemporary scientific communities are actually more vulnerable to the problem of unconceived alternatives than their historical predecessors, and I briefly suggest how we might seek to pursue scientific inquiry in a less theoretically conservative way.
Liver Kinase B1 Suppresses Lipopolysaccharide-induced Nuclear Factor κB (NF-κB) Activation in Macrophages

Liver kinase B1 (LKB1), a serine/threonine kinase, is a tumor suppressor and metabolic regulator. Recent data suggest that LKB1 is essential in regulating homeostasis of hematopoietic cells and immune responses. However, its role in macrophages and innate immune system remains unclear. Here we report that macrophage LKB1 inhibits pro-inflammatory signaling in response to LPS. LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and pro-inflammatory enzymes were monitored in bone marrow-derived macrophages isolated from myeloid cell-specific LKB1 knock out mice and their wild type littermate control mice. LPS induced higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and pro-inflammatory enzymes in bone marrow-derived macrophages from LKB1 KO than those from wild type mice. Consistently, LPS induced higher levels of NF-κB activation in LKB1-deficient macrophages than those in wild type. Further, LPS stimulation significantly increased LKB1 phosphorylation at serine 428, which promoted its binding to IκB kinaseβ (IKKβ), resulting in the inhibition of NF-κB. Finally, LPS injection caused higher levels of cytokine release and more severe tissue injury in the lung tissues of LKB1 KO mice than in those of control mice. We conclude that LKB1 inhibits LPS-induced NF-κB activation in macrophages.
Single-inductor fuel cell-Li ion charger-supply IC with nested hysteretic control

Microsystems must conform to microscale dimensions, store sufficient energy to last extended periods, and supply enough power to sustain, among others, wireless and sensor functions. Because batteries source moderate power with low energy densities, miniaturized devices benefit from deriving energy from fuel cells (FCs) and power from Li ions, rather than relying on one source and over-sizing it to offset its deficiency. This article presents a single-inductor, dual-input, dual-output (SIDIDO) charger-supply 0.5-μm CMOS IC with a nested hysteretic-control scheme that draws energy from a FC and conditions power to charge a Li ion and supply a 1---V, 1-mA load. The IC dynamically adjusts to the load, charging the Li ion with excess power from the FC during light loads and supplying power from both the FC and Li ion otherwise. The fabricated prototype regulated its output to 1 V within 2.5% and responded to rising and falling 0.1---1-mA load dumps within 30 μs and 50 mV. The efficiency peaked at 32% because the load was low and the converter operated in continuous (rather than in discontinuous) conduction and sensed its inductor current via lossy sense resistors (instead of sense FETs) to manage risk and validate functionality.
The Success and Survival of Cautious Optimism Legal Rules and Endogenous Perceptions in Pre -Trial Settlement Negotiations

Litigants are unrealistically optimistic with regard to the probability of prevailing at trial. This systematic bias is well documented, and has been often invoked to explain breakdowns in pre -trial settlement negotiations. Contrary to existing models that allow for optimism as an exogenous assumption, the present study derives this cognitive bias endogenously. It thus provides a theoretical foundation for optimism in litigation. Quasi-evolutionary forces - market pressure (in the market for legal services) and imitation processes – are shown to favor cautiously optimistic litigants. Moreover, the endogenous optimism model enables an examination of the factors that determine the magnitude of the optimism bias. In particular, it is shown that the legal environment influences the equilibrium level of optimism. Focusing on rules for the allocation of litigation costs, the American rule induces a higher level of optimism, as compared to the British rule. This finding qualifies the conventional wisdom regarding the advantage of the American rule in fostering settlements. Finally, the present analysis is offered as an illustration of a broader theme, that the law can play an important role in determining the types and magnitudes of prevailing cognitive biases. The identification, characterization and analysis of this perceptionshaping role of legal institutions are a novelty of the present study. Behavioral law and economics is revealed as a two-way, rather than a one-way street. Not only do cognitive biases affect the operation of lega l rules, but also the legal rules themselves influence the types and magnitudes of observed biases.
Religion Is Not a Preference

The resurgence of religion around the globe poses a challenge for both empirical and normative social scientists. For the former, the question is whether the terms at their disposal are adequate to comprehend religious self-understanding and, therefore, human motivation and conduct. For the latter, the question is whether those terms confuse or clarify the way in which religion may be brought into public dialogue without violating the tenets of pluralism or toleration. How, then, do social scientists of both persuasions currently understand religion? I begin by distinguishing religious experience from other sorts of experience, with a view to demonstrating, first, that the two preeminent terms adopted by social scientists today—“preference” and “choice”—cannot comprehend religious experience. To do this, I provide a brief exposition of what I call the “fable of liberalism,” in order to explain why the terms “preference” and “choice” have achieved the currency that they have and what problems their invocat...
Modulation of the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 by fatty acids mediated through Toll-like receptor 4-derived signaling pathways

Genetic evidence that Toll-like receptor 4 (Tlr4) is the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor and biochemical evidence that Tlr4 confers LPS responsiveness as determined by activation of NF-κB and expression of inducible cyclooxygenase 2 have been demonstrated. Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) acylated in lipid A moiety of LPS are essential for biological activities of LPS. It is now demonstrated that SFAs, but not unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), induce NF-κB activation and expression of COX-2 and other inflammatory markers in macrophages. UFAs inhibit COX-2 expression induced by SFAs and LPS. Additional evidence suggests that both SFA-induced COX-2 expression and its inhibition by UFAs are mediated through a common signaling pathway derived from Tlr4. These results represent a novel mechanism by which fatty acids modulate signaling pathways and target gene expression. Whether fatty acids also modulate signaling pathways and target gene expression derived from the activation of other Tlrs remains to be determine...
Corporate social responsibility and social capital

Abstract When corporations make an effort to be socially responsible beyond what is required by the law, this effort is often described as strategic—made mainly for the shareholders’ or managers’ benefit. A large body of literature corroborates this belief. But, could the incentives for corporate social responsibility (CSR) come from an altruistic inclination fostered by the social capital of the region in which the firm is headquartered? We investigate whether this phenomenon exists by examining the association between the social capital in the region and the firm’s CSR. We find that a firm from a high social capital region exhibits higher CSR. This result suggests that the self-interest of shareholders or mangers does not explain all of the firm’s CSR, but the altruistic inclination from the region might also play a role.
Model Predictive Control for Helicopter Shipboard Operations in the Ship Airwakes

This study investigates the model predictive control design for helicopter shipboard operations in the presence of ship airwakes and rough seas. A control oriented helicopter model that captures the essential dynamics of a generic helicopter, including fuselage dynamics, blade flapping and lead-lagging, and main rotor inflow in the implicit nonlinear ordinary differential equations form, is used for model predictive control design and evaluation. The control equivalent turbulence inputs model and the computational fluid dynamics data of the airwake are incorporated into the nonlinear helicopter model to simulate the airwake’s effects on the helicopter. The feasibility of the model predictive control design is investigated using two case studies: automatic deck landing on a moving ship in sea state 5 with the control equivalent turbulence inputs airwake model, and lateral reposition toward the ship in different wind-over-deck conditions extracted from the computational fluid dynamics airwake data. To impro...
In Your Own Words: Toward a More Perfect Union of Patient Care and Education

Communication with patients and their families is a challenge for busy trainees. It is essential, however, that these trainees learn effective communication skills to create rapport with their patients, to add to their own satisfaction in caring for these patients and to use these conversations to constantly reassess their plans for treating their patients. Reflecting on the plans for and the outcomes of the care of their patients will also significantly enhance the educational value of the participation of trainees in this patient care, while simultaneously improving the care of both their current and their future patients. Finally, gaining facility in elaborating on their plans for and the delivery of patient care will help trainees become more articulate and thoughtful practitioners.
NMR/MS Translator for the Enhanced Simultaneous Analysis of Metabolomics Mixtures by NMR Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry: Application to Human Urine

A novel metabolite identification strategy is presented for the combined NMR/MS analysis of complex metabolite mixtures. The approach first identifies metabolite candidates from 1D or 2D NMR spectra by NMR database query, which is followed by the determination of the masses (m/z) of their possible ions, adducts, fragments, and characteristic isotope distributions. The expected m/z ratios are then compared with the MS1 spectrum for the direct assignment of those signals of the mass spectrum that contain information about the same metabolites as the NMR spectra. In this way, the mass spectrum can be assigned with very high confidence, and it provides at the same time validation of the NMR-derived metabolites. The method was first demonstrated on a model mixture, and it was then applied to human urine collected from a pool of healthy individuals. A number of metabolites could be detected that had not been reported previously, further extending the list of known urine metabolites. The new analysis approach, w...
Sketching and learning: A planning support system field study

One of the important bottlenecks to the wider adoption of planning support systems is a lack of evidence about whether they improve planning processes. In addition, existing research does not inclu...
Comparing Experiment of Size and Growth Rate Probability Distributions of Listed Companies in China

Non-system variables(trade,nature of economy) and system variables(inflation,policy cycles) are introduced into this comparing experiment to eliminate the influence of these 4 variables separately.A series of experimental panel are established to carry on the fitting of probability density distributions of the sizes and growth rates.Then the experimental panels are compared with the sample panel in which the influence of variables hasn't been evaluated.All the results prove that the sizes and growth rates of listed companies in China do separately submit to Normal(Distribution) and Laplace(Distribution) and they won't be affected by the factors such as nature of enterprises or external environment condition,etc.In that case,the quality of all listed companies should be comprehensively improved to increase their growth rates.