cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Great Lakes coastal wetland habitat use by seven turtle species: influences of wetland type, vegetation, and abiotic conditions

Great Lakes coastal wetlands are important habitats for turtles but few studies have looked at factors driving community structure in these systems. We evaluated the effects of wetland type, vegetation, and abiotic conditions on turtle communities for 56 wetlands in Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior with data collected during the summers of 2000–2008. Overall, 1,366 turtles representing seven species were captured using fyke nets. For the majority of species, catches were highest in drowned river mouth wetlands In addition, turtles tended to be more abundant in water lilies, submersed aquatic vegetation, and cattails compared to bulrush. We also found positive correlations between catches of four of the species as well as total turtle catch and turtle species richness with a human disturbance gradient. These correlations suggest that turtles may be able to utilize coastal wetland areas that are inhospitable to fish because of hypoxic conditions. Our results show the importance Great Lakes coastal wetlands to turtles, and stress the need for managers to take into account turtle populations when preparing conservation and restoration strategies.
an essay on climate dynamics

Following a general survey of the evidence for climatic variation, the dynamical basis of climate and the modeling of climatic change are briefly reviewed. The ability of general circulation models and of climate models employing a greater degree of averaging or statistical representation to simulate climatic changes is limited by our incomplete knowledge of the physical system and by the models' computational demands. Future research in climate dynamics is seen to involve a mixture of modeling approaches in an expanded program of experimentation and analysis.
Language, Authority, and Indigenous History in the Comentarios reales de los Incas

Preface 1. Introduction 2. Language and history: Renaissance humanism and the philologic tradition 3. Language and history in the Comentarios reales 4. Philology, translation, and hermeneutics in the Comentarios reales 5. Contexts and intertexts: the discourse on the nature of the American Indian and the Comentarios reales 6. 'Nowhere' is somewhere: the Comentarios reales and the Utopian model 7. Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index.
Numerical study of solid-fuel combustion under supersonic crossflows

The combustion of solid fuels under supersonic crossflows has been studied using a comprehensive numerical analysis. The formulation is based on the time-dependent multidimensional compressible Navier-Stokes equations and species transport equations. Features of this approach include consideration of finite-rate chemical kinetics and variable properties. Turbulence closure is achieved using the Baldwin-Lomax algebraic model. The governing equations are solved numerically using a flux-vector splitting lower-upper symmetric successive overrelaxation technique that treats source terms implicitly. The effects of various operating conditions on the combustion behavior of the hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene-based solid-fuel samples are treated in detail. Results indicate that both inlet temperature and pressure have strong influences on the burning rate of the fuel sample. For the operating range considered, an optimum pressure is required to maximize the burning rate. The sample burns increasingly faster with pressure from 1 to 4 atm. However, at a higher pressure, the energy released by combustion is not sufficient to further raise the temperature of the crossflow. This results in a decrease in heat feedback to the fuel sample, consequently causing a slight reversal of the burning rate trend with pressure.
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate suppresses hippocampal recurrent inhibition and synchronizes neuronal activity to theta rhythm

Several neurosteroids have proconvulsant and memory-enhancing properties and are potent modulators of the gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) receptor/chloride-ionophore complex. The effects of in situ microelectrophoretic application of the natural sulfate ester of the neurosteroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) on evoked field responses and single-unit activity were evaluated in the dentate gyrus and CA1 hippocampal subfield of halothane-anesthetized rats. The effects of endogenous stimulation of DHEAS by in situ micropressure application of Trilostane ((4 alpha, 5 alpha, 17 beta)-4,5-epoxy-3,17-dihydroxyandrost-2-ene-2- carbonitrile (WIN24540)), an inhibitor of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase (3 beta-HSD), the enzyme that metabolizes DHEAS, on evoked responses and cellular activity in the hippocampus were also investigated. In situ microelectrophoretic application of DHEAS or micropressure application of Trilostane into CA1 markedly increased population excitatory postsynaptic potential (pEPSP) slopes and population spike (PS) amplitudes. Neither DHEAS nor Trilostane altered dentate pEPSP slopes or PS amplitudes, but both increased the amplitude of a late component of the pEPSP. Both DHEAS and Trilostane abolished GABA-mediated paired-pulse inhibition in both the dentate and CA1. In addition, both DHEAS and Trilostane markedly increased the spontaneous firing rate of dentate hilar interneurons (INTs: 256% and 185%), CA1 pyramidal cells (PCs: 95% and 105%), and CA1 oriens/alveus (O/A) interneurons (179% and 85%) and synchronized their firing to hippocampal theta rhythm induced by tail-pinch. These findings indicate that exogenous application and endogenous stimulation of DHEAS modulates hippocampal GABA inhibition in a physiologically relevant manner possibly by entraining hippocampal neurons to theta rhythm.
Teacher socialization: Review and conceptualization

This essay presents a conceptual model of the teacher socialization process, reviews empirical research on the process of teacher socialization of elementary and secondary school teachers throughout the preservice and inservice phases, and offers a conceptualization of the teacher socialization process from a communication perspective.
A Sensor Network Architecture for Tsunami Detection and Response

In this paper, we propose a sense and response system for tsunami detection and mitigation. We use the directed diffusion routing protocol as a baseline network protocol and develop several communication mechanisms to improve its performance. These include an efficient flooding technique, a route repair algorithm, and distributed services framework. We summarize the analysis mechanism used to predict tsunami propagation and briefly discuss the results of this algorithm. Finally, we describe potential barrier mechanisms and the real-time communication protocol that supports time-critical response of the system.
Does habitat disturbance increase infectious disease risk for primates

Many studies have suggested that ecosystem conservation protects human and wildlife populations against infectious disease. We tested this hypothesis using data on primates and their parasites. First, we tested for relationships between species' resilience to human disturbance and their parasite richness, prevalence and immune defences, but found no associations. We then conducted a meta-analysis of the effects of disturbance on parasite prevalence, which revealed no overall effect, but a positive effect for one of four types of parasites (indirectly transmitted parasites). Finally, we conducted intraspecific analyses of malaria prevalence as a function of mammalian species richness in chimpanzees and gorillas, and an interspecific analysis of geographic overlap and parasite species richness, finding that higher levels of host richness favoured greater parasite risk. These results suggest that anthropogenic effects on disease transmission are complex, and highlight the need to define the conditions under which environmental change will increase or decrease disease transmission.
Redox Reactions Of Polyhydride Complexes of Rhenium: electrochemistry and Reactions With Alkyl Isocyanides

The dark red octahydride complex of dirhenium, Re2H8(PPh3)4, undergoes a reversible one-electron oxidation to the blue mono-cation [Re2H8(PPh3)4]+ (Ebuit;12 −0.24 V vs. SCE by cyclic voltammetry). The X-band ESR spectrum of a dichloromethane glass (−160°C) containing the monocation is in accord with the HOMO being a delocalized metal-based orbital. Treatment of the heptahydrides ReH7(PR3)2 (PR3 = PPh3 or PEtPh2) with C6H11NC or Me3CNC in the presence of KPF6 leads to the elimination of hydrogen and the formation of [Re(CNR)4(PR3)2]PF6. Electrochemical oxidation of ReH5(PPh3)2L (L = PPh3, PEt2Ph, pyridine, piperidine or cyclohexylamine) activities these molecules to attack by RNC to afford rhenium(I) species
Recursive estimator for linear and nonlinear systems with uncertain observations

Abstract The state estimation problem with observations which may or may not contain a signal at any sample time is considered from a covariance assignment viewpoint. The closed form solution for directly assigning steady state estimation error covariances and their assignability conditions are derived for the linear case. For the nonlinear case, upper bounds on the estimation error covariance are assigned. Examples are given for illustration in which the robustness of the proposed schemes are assessed.
Pancreatic necrosectomy using covered esophageal stents: a novel approach.

Background: Endoscopic necrosectomy for necrotizing pancreatitishas been increasingly used as an alternative to surgical or percu-taneous interventions. The use of fully covered esophageal self-expandable metallic stents may provide a safer and more eﬃcientroute for internal drainage. The aim of this study was to evaluatethe safety and eﬃcacy of endoscopic treatment of pancreaticnecrosis with these stents.Methods: A retrospective study at 2 US academic hospitalsincluded patients with infected pancreatic necrosis from July 2009to November 2012. These patients underwent transgastric place-ment of fully covered esophageal metallic stents draining thenecrosis. After necrosectomy, patients underwent regular sessionsof endoscopic irrigation and debridement of cystic contents.The eﬃcacy endpoint was successful resolution of infected pan-creatic necrosis without the need for surgical or percutaneousinterventions.Results: Seventeen patients were included with the mean age of41±12 years. A mean of 5.3±3.4 sessions were required forcomplete drainage and the follow-up period was 237.6±165 days.Etiology included gallstone pancreatitis (6), alcohol abuse (6), s/pdistal pancreatectomy (2), postendoscopic retrograde chol-angiopancreatography pancreatitis (1), medication-induced pan-creatitis (1), and hyperlipidemia (1). Mean size of the necrosis was14.8cm (SD 5.6cm), ranging from 8 to 19cm. Two patientsfailed endoscopic intervention and required surgery. The onlycomplication was a perforation during tract dilation, which wasmanaged conservatively. Fifteen patients (88%) achieved completeresolution.Conclusions: Endoscopic necrosectomy with covered esophagealmetal stents is a safe and successful treatment option for infectedpancreatic necrosis.Key Words: pancreatic necrosectomy, stent, CSEMS, endoscopy
Effects of mindfulness‐based stress reduction on emotional experience and expression: a randomized controlled trial

Objectives: Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been found to reduce psychological distress and improve psychological adjustment in medical, psychiatric, and nonclinical samples. We examined its effects on several processes, attitudes, and behavior patterns related to emotion regulation. Design: Fifty-six adults were randomly assigned to MBSR or to a waiting list (WL). Results: Compared with WL completers (n = 21), MBSR completers (n = 20) reported significantly greater increases in trait mindfulness and decreases in absent-mindedness, greater increases in self-compassion, and decreases in fear of emotions, suppression of anger, aggressive anger expression, worry, and difficulties regulating emotions. The WL group subsequently received MBSR, and the two groups combined showed significant changes on all of these variables from pre-MBSR to post-MBSR, and on all except the 2 anger variables from pre-test to 2-month follow-up, as well as significant reductions in rumination. Conclusion: An 8-week mindfulness training program might increase mindful awareness in daily life and have beneficial impact on clinically relevant emotion regulation processes. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 68:1–15, 2011.
DNA diagnostics in the fifty-year retrospect

(2003). DNA diagnostics in the fifty-year retrospect. Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics: Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 121-124.
Water-Based Scintillators for Large-Scale Liquid Calorimetry

We have investigated primary and secondary solvent intermediates in search of a recipe to create a bulk liquid scintillator with water as the bulk solvent and common fluors as the solutes. As we are not concerned with energy resolution below 1 MeV in large-scale experiments, light-output at the 10% level of high-quality organic solvent based scintillators is acceptable. We have found encouraging performance from industrial surfactants as primary solvents for PPO and POPOP. This technique may allow economical and environmentally safe bulk scintillator for kiloton-sized high energy calorimetry.
Development, Dissemination, and Preimplementation Evaluation of Food Safety Educational Materials for Secondary Education

With the persistence of microbiological foodborne illness and anticipated future shortage of scientists with agricultural and food science expertise in the United States, it is imperative to educate youth on microbiological food safety and enhance their awareness of opportunities to become engaged in finding solutions to food safety challenges. To help integrate food science education across the high school curriculum, new educational materials on microbiological food safety were developed and then disseminated to and evaluated by educators of secondary basic and applied sciences. The materials present food safety concepts in the context of foodborne illness outbreaks to introduce basic concepts of food microbiology, epidemiology, and food safety strategies as well as their broad impact on economics, communication, and regulations. The ready-to-implement educational materials support educational content standards and various learning styles and encourage critical thinking skills. The materials include a presentation on food microbiology and foodborne illness surveillance, case studies on foodborne illness outbreaks, a video on the laboratory investigation of foodborne illness, interactive web-based activities, and supporting materials for teachers and classroom display. Exposure to the materials in a 1-d workshop positively impacted educator familiarity with general microbiology, food safety strategies, regulatory requirements, and associated terminology as measured by a test administered prior to and after use of the materials. Teachers of biology, chemistry, family and consumer sciences, and related sciences rated the materials favorably on applicability, anticipated ease of implementation, and anticipated reception by students.
Dictionary Learning for Hyperspectral Video Compressive Sensing

The proposed approach is capable of efﬁciently reconstructing large hyperspectral datacubes, including hyperspectral video. Comparisons are made between the proposed algorithm and other techniques employed in compressive sensing, dictionary learning and matrix factorization.
Is the median voter decisive? Evidence from referenda voting patterns

Abstract This paper examines whether the voter with the median income is decisive in local spending decisions. Previous tests have relied on cross-sectional data while we make use of a pair of California referenda to estimate a first difference specification. The referenda proposed to lower the required vote share for passing local educational bonding initiatives from 67 to 50% and 67 to 55%, respectively. We find that voters rationally consider future public service decisions when deciding how to vote on voting rules. However, the empirical evidence strongly suggests that an income percentile below the median is decisive for majority voting rules, especially in communities that have a large share of high-income voters with attributes that suggest low demand for public services. Based on a model that explicitly recognizes that each community contains voters with both high and low demand for public school spending, we also find that an increase in the share of low demand voters is associated with a lower decisive voter income percentile for the high demand group. This two type model implies that our low demand types (individuals over age 45 with no children) have demands that are 45% lower than other voters. Collectively, these findings are consistent with high-income voters with weak preferences for public educational services voting with the poor against increases in public spending on education.
Effect of hypoxia and body size on the energy metabolism of lungless tadpoles, Bufo woodhousei, and air-breathing anuran larvae

Unlike most anuran larvae, tadpoles of Bufo woodhousei (toads) lack lungs. To investigate the consequences of lunglessness and its interaction with the body size of larvae, resting and active tadpoles were exposed to hypoxia. In resting larvae, rates of O2 consumption () were proportional to aquatic PO2, even though larvae increased buccopharyngeal ventilation considerably in hypoxia. Whole body lactate concentrations increased only in severe hypoxia. Hypoxia also depressed the of active larvae, which accumulated lactate even in normoxic water. Air- and water-breathing tadpoles (Rana berlandieri and Xenopus laevis) can maintain greater routine in hypoxia than can Bufo tadpoles. However, Bufo tadpoles can extract more O2 from hypoxic water than can Rana and Xenopus tadpoles, when all are breathing only water. The critical Po2 of active larvae and the gill ventilatory frequency of resting larvae were proportional to body size. By contrast, large and small Bufo tadpoles were similar in routine in hypoxia, the ration max: routine, and tolerance of hypoxia. Also, small tadpoles accumulated more lactate than large tadpoles when swimming at similar absolute velocities for the same times. Thus, lunglessness apparently does not limit the size of Bufo tadpoles by forcing reliance upon cutaneous gas exchange.
Novel dynamical mode in a tilted smectic liquid-crystal film.

We report on light-scattering experiments in the smectic-C phase of a two-dimensional, freely suspended liquid-crystal film at wave vectors intermediate between pure bend and splay director fluctuations. The dynamic signal reveals the presence of two diffusive modes, one of which is the usual hydrodynamic mode for in-plane director fluctuations and one of which has not been previously reported. The wave-vector dependence of the scattered intensity for the new mode is well described by the selection rules for out-of-plane fluctuations (undulations) of the film. However, the overdamped dynamics reveal a nonhydrodynamic and extremely slow decay, in contrast to the usual picture for smectic layer undulations. Near the smectic-C to smectic-I (hexatic) transition, the elastic moduli and decay constants associated with the two modes show a remarkably similar temperature dependence.
Organized Labor's Contribution to the Human Services: Lessons from the Past and Strategies for the Future

This article examines labor's contribution to the human services, locating the discussion within a historical and contemporary context. Workforce trends affecting labor and the human services are analyzed, and strategies to strengthen labor and human services partnerships are presented. The article suggests that union priorities that address professional concerns, and speak to the interests of an older, female, and diverse workforce, are likely to be the most relevant for human service employees. The article concludes that labor unions and human services organizations share many common goals, yet partnerships are inherently tenuous, requiring ongoing negotiation and mediation to sustain them.
Research Priorities for Data Collection and Management Within Global Acute and Emergency Care Systems

Barriers to global emergency care development include a critical lack of data in several areas, including limited documentation of the acute disease burden, lack of agreement on essential components of acute care systems, and a lack of consensus on key analytic elements, such as diagnostic classification schemes and regionally appropriate metrics for impact evaluation. These data gaps obscure the profound health effects of lack of emergency care access in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). As part of the Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference "Global Health and Emergency Care: A Research Agenda," a breakout group sought to develop a priority research agenda for data collection and management within global emergency care systems.
Neutral Hydrogen in the Polar Ring Galaxy UGC 9796

We have used the Very Large Array to observe the polar ring galaxy UGC 9796 (II Zw 73; PRC A-06) in the 21 cm line of neutral hydrogen. All the neutral gas in this galaxy is associated with the polar ring. Our observations show that 5 × 109 M⊙ of H I rotates in a plane projected about 25° from perpendicular to the equatorial plane of the early-type host galaxy, consistent with earlier observations in the Hα line. The outermost gas appears to bend away from the minor axis of the host system, in the same sense as the stellar ring. UGC 9796 is in a very gas-rich environment: our 21 cm images show five gas-rich companion galaxies in the same field within 100 km s-1, with a total of 2 × 1010 M⊙ between them. However, we see no H I streamers connecting the systems or any other evidence for an ongoing interaction between UGC 9796 and its companions.
The subunit structure of human breast cancer progesterone receptors: characterization by chromatography and photoaffinity labeling.

We have partially purified the progesterone receptors (PR) from T47D human breast cancer cells and show that they consist of at least two hormone-binding proteins of dissimilar size and unequal DNA-binding forms with electrophoretic properties analogous to the A and B subunits of chick oviduct PR. Cytosols were labeled with the progestin [3H]R5020 in the presence or absence of unlabeled R5020, and samples of the parallel incubations were chromatographed on DEAE-cellulose. A large heterogeneous peak of specific R5020 binding eluted between 0.1 and 0.2 M KCl. Pooled fractions of this peak were resolved on phosphocellulose into two peaks: an acidic moiety eluting at 0.15 M KCl, and a more basic one eluting at 0.2 M KCl. Both sediment at approximately 4.1S on sucrose density gradients. To test DNA binding capacity, two studies were performed. First, ammonium sulfate-precipitated receptors were applied to DNA-cellulose; approximately half of the specific radioactivity was retained. Second, separate DNA-cellulo...
Computation of rheological properties of suspensions of rigid rods: stress growth after inception of steady shear flow

Abstract The orientation distribution and stress growth for a suspension of rigid rods (or dumbbells) in a Newtonian solvent are calculated for inception of steady shear flow. Galerkin's method, with spherical harmonics as trial functions, is used in the spatial coordinates to obtain a system of ordinary differential equations in time which is solved by the spectral method. The method is applicable over a wide range of dimensionless shear rates (Peclet numbers) and has been coded with standard system-solvent and eigensystem packages. For sufficiently large Peclet numbers, the results give the well known rigid-dumbbell prediction of an overshoot in the shear viscosity and normal stress differences. This overshoot is then followed by an undershoot. An explicit analytical approximation for the fluid stresses is presented which is reasonably accurate for Peclet numbers less than unity.
Regulation of sulfotransferase gene expression by glucocorticoid hormones and xenobiotics in primary rat hepatocyte culture

In the rat liver, hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase-a (HST-a) and aryl sulfotransferase IV (ASTIV) represent two major rat hepatic sulfotransferases that are important to xenobiotic metabolism. Prototypic CYP1A1 and CYP2B/3A inducers regulate rat hepatic sulfotransferase gene expression although not necessarily in a coordinate direction. It has been previously reported that in vivo treatment with CYP1A1 inducer 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) suppresses rat hepatic HST-a mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, HST-a and ASTIV mRNA levels become suppressed or induced, respectively, following in vivo treatment with phenobarbital (PB)-like CYP2B/3A inducers or prototypic CYP3A inducers such as glucocorticoid hormones. In the whole animal, sulfotransferase gene expression is modulated by members of the hypothalamic/pituitary-adrenal gonadal hormone axis. However, studies in primary rat hepatocyte culture suggest that prototypic P450 inducers regulate HST-a and ASTIV gene expression directly at the level of the hepatocyte. Glucocorticoid-mediated sulfotransferase expression was compared with the regulation of tyrosine amino transferase (TAT), a gene that is transcriptionally regulated by ligand bound glucocorticoid receptor. It was found that lower doses of dexamethasone (DEX, 10(-7) M) produced concomitant increases in ASTIV and TAT mRNA expression, whereas HST-a mRNA expression continued to rise as the DEX dose was increased through 10(-5) M. When hepatocytes were co-incubated with DEX and antiglucocorticoid/antiprogestin RU-486, DEX-stimulated HST-a mRNA expression was not significantly inhibited by RU-486, but ASTIV and TAT mRNA expression were inhibited to a similar extent. The results suggested that ASTIV, like TAT, is likely regulated by a classical glucocorticoid receptor mediated mechanism, whereas HST-a is probably regulated by glucocorticoids via an alternative mechanism. In contrast to the positive effects of glucocorticoid hormones, HST-a and ASTIV mRNA expression was negatively regulated by xenobiotics such as PB-like CYP2B/3A inducers or aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist CYP1A1 inducers. Incubation of primary cultured rat hepatocytes with PB or structurally dissimilar PB-like inducers clotrimazole, diphenylhydantoin, heptachlor, gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane or 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl suppressed HST-a and ASTIV mRNA levels. Also, incubation of primary cultured rat hepatocytes with CYP1A1 inducer beta-naphthoflavone or with archetypic AhR agonist, 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-p-dioxin (TCDD) markedly suppressed HST-a and ASTIV mRNA expression. These data suggest that the rat HST-a and ASTIV genes are positively regulated by glucocorticoid hormones and negatively regulated by xenobiotics as a result of molecular and cellular mechanisms that act directly on the hepatocyte.
Diversifying selection in plant breeding.

Natural variation rather than genetic modification - is this the way to achieve global food security?
A detailed assessment of the human coronary venous system using contrast computed tomography of perfusion-fixed specimens.

Background Access to the coronary venous system is required for the delivery of several cardiac therapies including cardiac resynchronization therapy, coronary sinus ablation, and coronary drug delivery. Therefore, characterization of the coronary venous anatomy will provide insights to gain improved access to these vessels and subsequently improved therapies. For example, cardiac resynchronization therapy has a 30% nonresponder rate, partially due to suboptimal lead placement within the coronary veins. Objective To understand the implications of coronary venous anatomy for the development of devices deployed within these vessels. Methods We cannulated the coronary sinus of 121 perfusion-fixed human hearts with a venogram balloon catheter and injected contrast into the venous system while obtaining computed tomographic images. For each major coronary vein, distance to the coronary sinus, branching angle, arc length, tortuosity, number of branches, and ostial diameter were assessed from the reconstructed anatomy. Results Twenty-nine percent (35/121) specimens did not have a venous branch overlying the inferolateral side of the heart large enough to fit a 5F pacing lead. No significant differences in anatomy were found between subgroups with varying cardiac medical histories. Conclusion The anatomical approach employed in this study has allowed for the development of a unique database of human coronary venous anatomy that can be used for the optimization of design and delivery of cardiac devices.
Tensile properties of CaCO3‐filled polyethylenes

Tensile stress–strain behavior and dilatation behavior of CaCO3-filled linear polyethylenes with differing molecular weight was found to be dependent upon filler content, polymer filler interface, and polymer molecular weight. Electron microscopy of samples undergoing deformation revealed the presence of craze type deformation.
Repair of congenital tricuspid valve abnormalities with artificial chordae tendineae

Abstract Background . Congenital abnormalities of the tricuspid valve, including Ebstein's malformation, dysplasia, straddling, and those found in pulmonary atresia with intact septum and congenitally corrected transposition, are an uncommon cause of tricuspid regurgitation. Congenital tricuspid valve anomalies are found as a spectrum of disease in which both the leaflets and the subvalvar apparatus are often involved. Tricuspid valve repair is complicated in such patients because the chordae tendineae are often abnormally short and thick. Replacement or augmentation of chordae tendineae has proved to be a useful component of mitral valve repair. In the present report, we describe the techniques and results of chordal augmentation in the repair of congenital tricuspid valve abnormalities. Methods . Since July 1992, tricuspid valve repair has been performed in 5 children with severe tricuspid regurgitation secondary to congenital abnormalities of the tricuspid valve with significant chordal pathology. As a component of the repair, chordal replacement or augmentation was performed using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene suture. Results . Intraoperative and postoperative echocardiographic assessment showed good mobility of the tricuspid valve leaflets and trivial to mild tricuspid regurgitation. There were no complications and no early or late mortality. At follow-up of 34 to 60 months (median, 49 months), tricuspid valve function has remained excellent in 4 of the 5 patients. In the remaining patient, progressive regurgitation of the right ventricle to pulmonary artery allograft conduit has led to right ventricular dilatation, with a secondary increase in tricuspid regurgitation from trivial to moderate. Conclusions . Chordal replacement or augmentation with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene suture is a useful technique in the repair of congenitally dysplastic tricuspid valves with abnormal chordal structures.
Critical appraisal of management of rectal injury during radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVES To critically evaluate the perioperative management of rectal injury during radical prostatectomy. METHODS Rectal injuries were identified from the departmental morbidity and mortality records and radical prostatectomy databases. The electronic patient records were reviewed for management and outcomes. RESULTS From January 1997 to August 2007, 11 452 men underwent radical prostatectomy. Of these men, 10 183 underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) and 1269, laparoscopic retropubic prostatectomy (LRP) with or without robotic assistance. Rectal injury occurred in 18 men-12 in the RRP group (0.12%) and 6 in the LRP group (0.47%). Of these rectal injuries, 16 were recognized intraoperatively and primarily repaired in multiple layers without a diverting colostomy. A pedicle of omentum was used as an interposing layer in 4 of these cases. Despite primary repair, 2 patients without omental interposition developed a rectourethral fistula. In 1 man in the RRP group, the fistula closed with prolonged catheterization (9 weeks). In the other patient, in the LRP group, the fistula persisted; thus, a diverting colostomy was performed. Eventually, a transrectal advancement flap was required. Two rectal injuries (1 each in the RRP and LRP groups) were unrecognized during radical prostatectomy but were discovered within 4 days. Despite conservative management, the rectourethral fistulas persisted in both men, requiring subsequent repair with a transrectal advancement flap. CONCLUSIONS Rectal injury is an infrequent complication of radical prostatectomy. When recognized intraoperatively and primarily repaired, rectourethral fistula was prevented in 87.5% of men. Primary repair performed with vascularized tissue interposition prevented rectourethral fistula development. In men with unrecognized rectal injury, the rectourethral fistula tended to persist and eventually required delayed surgical repair.
Surface reactivity of supported gold: I. Oxygen transfer between CO and CO2

The rate of redistribution of isotopic carbon between CO and CO2 has been studied on Au supported on MgO in the temperature range 300 to 400 °C, Pco2Pco ratios 0.1 to 1.2 and total pressure of 50 Torr. A few experiments were also carried out on supported Ru and Pt. The effect of Au concentration, temperature, and catalyst preparation method have been selected for investigation. In addition, determinations of the particle size of Au have been carried out by X-ray to illustrate the effect of the temperature of reduction and decomposition of the Au salt upon the particle size of the metal in the supported catalyst. Chemical reduction of the Au salt at low temperature (< 100 °C) produced Au particles with diameters ≤ 150 A, while particles with diameters 20 times larger were obtained by thermal decomposition (≤ 350 °C) of the Au salt. Since particle growth may occur by direct addition of the decomposing salt and/or by sintering among metal particles, it is suggested that the latter process cannot readily occur at temperatures ⩽ 0.3 Tm. The implications of these findings for separate control of the degree of dispersion and of the support coverage by the metal are pointed out. Kinetic observations have been employed to study the thermodynamic and kinetic factors contributing to the activity of Au surfaces in the oxygen transfer step between gas and surface phases. Au activity was found to decrease with increasing Pco2Pco ratio, indicating that reduced surface species (metal atoms) play a dominant role in the reactivity of the surface. A similar trend was found for Ru and Pt at low ratios Pco2Pco. For Pt at higher Pco2Pco ratios, a reactivity inversion was found. Under similar conditions of gas composition, temperature and support, the affinity of the Au surface for oxygen increased with decreasing particle size. The degree of dispersion of Au was found to influence the rate of the catalytic reaction. The effect has been interpreted in terms of a relation between metal particle size and gas mean free path. The usefulness of these studies for developing criteria for control of oxidation depth and selectivity behavior in catalytic oxidations through optimization of size, size distribution of metal particles, and their morphological connection with the supporting agent is emphasized.
Inhibitory effects of nitric oxide on invasion of human cancer cells.

Abstract Hypoxia increased the ability of two human cancer cell lines, PC-3M and T24, to invade through Matrigel, while sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, strongly inhibited this invasion, along with down-regulating HIF-1α. SNP also inhibited the function of mitochondria in PC-3M cells, and mitochondrion-specific inhibitors reduced the invasion of these cells. Furthermore, knocking down either Rieske iron–sulfur protein (Fe–S) of mitochondrial complex III or HIF-1β in these cells decreased their invasive potential. Our findings suggest that NO inhibits invasion of cancer cells via both inhibition of HIF-1, and impairment of mitochondria.
Homeotic transformation of legs to mouthparts by proboscipedia expression in Drosophila imaginal discs

Abstract The Drosophila homeotic gene proboscipedia (pb) specifies labial identity and directs formation of the adult distiproboscis from the labial imaginal discs. pb null alleles result in the homeotic transformation of the distiproboscis into prothoracic (T1) legs [ Kaufman (1978) Genetics 90, 579–596 ; Pultz et al. (1988) Genes Dev. 2, 901–920 ]. Homology with other transcription factors, localization to the nucleus, and restricted embryonic and imaginal expression implicate the pb protein (PB) as a transcription factor. In order to examine the possible roles that PB may play in the specification of adult mouthparts, we have expressed PB in cells of wing, leg and eye-antennal imaginal discs and assayed for effects on the development of adult structures. We report here that the ectopic expression of PB in the imaginal discs under the control of the inducible GAL4 system [ Brand and Perrimon (1993) Development 118, 401–415 ] alters the developmental program of adult legs into maxillary or labial palps. These homeotic transformations have an equal effect on all three sets of legs, indicating an activity that is not solely dependent upon the unique combinations of other homeotic genes present in each of the leg discs. Segment polarity genes required for establishing the AP compartment boundary were found to be undisturbed by ectopic PB. Furthermore, normal patterns of apoptosis are observed in animals expressing ectopic PB, indicating that PB does not alter or affect cell death. These results suggest that molecular events occurring downstream of the establishment of the compartment boundary are affected by ectopic PB expression in imaginal discs and point to a general role in ‘palp’ formation in addition to the specification of labial identity.
Coherent optical scanning analog processor

The design of a new type of coherent optical processor is presented. The image is scanned with a small collimated beam in order to reduce the diameter of the optics and to reduce artifacts caused by coherent light. If the shape of the beam is Gaussian, the scan line pattern will not appear on the recording film. Use of an optical circulator allows simultaneous propagation of the input and output beams of the processor in the same space. By using a mirror adjacent to the transparency, the film gamma can be set equal to 1 rather than 2.
Using the Minnesota Child Development Inventory as a Measure of Developmental Progress with Handicapped Children

The reliability and concurrent validity of the Minnesota Child Development Inventory (MCDI) as a measure of developmental functioning with handicapped children was investigated with a sample of 72 moderately to severely handicapped children, aged 38 to 77 months. Although the MCDI is not as strong psychometrically as other standardized measures of developmental functioning typically used with this population, results were moderately encouraging, given the ease and economy with which MCDI can be administered. Suggestions for further research and validation are made.
The Provocations of Neoliberalism: Contesting the Nation and Liberation after Apartheid

Abstract: This paper is part of an ongoing effort to make sense of the turbulent forces at play in South Africa in relation to other parts of the world. Engaging debates over neoliberalism from a South African vantage point, I show how currently influential theories cast in terms of class project, governmentality, and hegemony are at best partial. A more adequate understanding is not just a matter of combining these different dimensions into a more encompassing model of “neoliberalism in general”. The challenge, rather, is coming to grips with how identifiably neoliberal projects and practices operate on terrains that always exceed them. A crucially important dimension of what is going on in South Africa is that escalating struggles over the material conditions of life and livelihood are simultaneously struggles over the meaning of the nation and liberation, as well as expressions of profound betrayal. These processes underscore the analytical and political stakes in attending to interconnected historical geographies of specifically racialized forms of dispossession, and how they feature in the present. The paper concludes with a call for a properly post-colonial frame of understanding that builds on the synergies and complementarities between a Gramscian reading of Fanon and relational conceptions of the production of space set forth by Lefebvre.
Getting personal about treating HIV.

Genetic variants have been identified that may predict the response to HIV treatment (pages 413–420).
Diffusion Chamber Studies of Rat Peripheral Leucocytes in the Presence of Phytohaemagglutinin

SUMMARY Rat peripheral leucocytes have been cultured in diffusion chambers in an effort to achieve greater consistency in the response of lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutinin. The diffusion chamber was found to provide an in vivo environment which obviates drastic changes in pH and eliminates other factors that act as major deterrents to successful and optimal responses of lymphocytes to this mitogen in vifro. The system shows reliability and consistency in maintaining excellent cytologic and morphologic integrity of the cells in culture.
Spatial variabilities and their relationships of the trends of temperature, water vapor, and precipitation in the North American Regional Reanalysis

[1] Spatial variabilities and their relationships of the trends of temperature, water vapor, and precipitation in the North American Regional Reanalysis are examined for each season from March 1979 to February 2007. Results show that warming dominates the domain in the troposphere from the surface to 300 hPa. Water vapor increases at lower levels but does not change much at mid-upper levels. Because of the large increase of water vapor holding capacity of the air at all levels due to the warming, relative humidity has a decreasing trend at all levels. The decrease is small at the surface and largest at midlevels. Precipitation, which corresponds well to ascending motion in trends, both increases and decreases in about half of the domain. Statistical analysis from the very large spatial samples indicates that the precipitation trend positively relates to both specific humidity trend and relative humidity trend. However, temperature trend positively relates to specific humidity trend but negatively relates to relative humidity trend. So, in strong warming places, whether precipitation increases or not depends on whether the decrease of relative humidity becomes a limiting factor; small decrease of relative humidity may still allow precipitation to increase, but large decrease of relative humidity may make precipitation decrease. The uncertain relationship between the trends of precipitation and temperature can also be understood from the nonlinear characteristics of the atmospheric processes.
Methane Production in Dairy Cows

Abstract The relationship among diet composition, intake, and methane production was investigated with data during 404 total energy balance trials with Holstein cows. Methane production in all trial was measure in open circuit respiration chambers. The most useful predictor of total methane productin was amounts of soluble residue, hemicellulose, and cellulose that apparently were digested. The regression was methane (Mcal) = .439 + .273 ± .015 kg digestible soluble residue + .512 ± .078 kg digestible hemicellulose + 1.393 ± .097 kg digestible cellulose.
Matching With Multiple Controls to Estimate Treatment Effects in Observational Studies

Matching to control for covariates in the estimation of treatment effects is not common in sociology, where multivariate data are most often analyzed using multiple regression and its generalizations. Matching can be a useful way to estimate these effects, especially when the treatment condition is comparatively rare in a population, and controls are numerous but mostly unlike the treatment cases. Matching on numerous covariates is abetted by the estimation of propensity scores, or functions of the probability that cases are treatments rather than controls. This procedure is illustrated in the estimation of the effects of an organizational innovation on Medicare mortality within hospitals; the data set is very large, but innovative hospitals few, and many of the remaining hospitals are quite unlike the hospitals constituting the treatment subsample. Results are based on a variance-components model that is extended to consider the effects of an additional covariate. They show effects of the organizational innovation comparable to those estimated via multiple regression models but with substantially reduced standard errors.
Addition of a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist and exogenous gonadotropins to unstimulated in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles: physiologic observations and preliminary experience.

Purpose To describe our preliminary experience with the addition of a GnRH antagonist (Nal-Glu) and exogenous gonadotropins (follicle stimulating hormone; FSH) to unstimulated IVF cycles.
Differentiation of Microorganisms Based on Pyrolysis-Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry Using Chemical Ionization

The ability to differentiate microorganisms using pyrolysis-ion trap mass spectrometry was demonstrated for five Gram-negative disease-causing organisms: Brucella melitensis, Brucella suis, Vibrio cholera, Yersinia pestis, and Francisella tularensis. Bacterial profiles were generated for γ-irradiated bacterial samples using pyrolytic methylation and compared for electron ionization and chemical ionization using several liquid reagents with increasing proton affinities. Electron ionization combined with pyrolysis caused extensive fragmentation, resulting in a high abundance of lower mass ions and diminishing the diagnostic value of the technique for compound identification and bacterial profiling. Chemical ionization reduced the amount of fragmentation due to ionization while enhancing the molecular ion region of the fatty acids. As the proton affinity of the reagent increased, the protonated molecular ions of the fatty acids became the predominant ions observed in the mass spectrum. As a result, chemical...
Evaluating the Imperative of Intraorganizational Collaboration A School Improvement Perspective

“Collaboration” is a ubiquitously championed concept and widely recognized across the public and private sectors as the foundation on which the capacity for addressing complex issues is predicated. For those invested in organizational improvement, high-quality collaboration has become no less than an imperative. However, evaluators and program stakeholders often struggle to assess the quality of collaborative dynamics and the merits of collaborative structures. In this article, the authors describe an approach to demystifying and assessing interpersonal collaboration and use their consultancy work with school improvement stakeholders to illustrate a multistage collaboration evaluation process. Evaluators in a wide range of organizational settings are encouraged to utilize collaboration theory and the evaluation strategies presented herein to cultivate stakeholder capacity to understand, examine, and capitalize on the power of collaboration.