cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Delay in Care Among Patients Requiring Intravitreal Injections.

Purpose To examine the effect of delay in care on visual acuity (VA) in patients requiring intravitreal injections (IVIs). Design Retrospective cohort study. Participants Patients 18 years of age or older with diabetic macular edema (DME), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), or both; neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD); or retinal vein occlusion (RVO) scheduled to see a retina specialist during the mandated lockdown period (March 14 - May 4, 2020 [the coronavirus disease 2019 period]) and who had received an IVI in the 12 weeks prior. Methods Chart review was performed and demographics, diagnoses, procedures, and VA were recorded. Main Outcome Measures VA in patients who completed, canceled, and no-showed for the scheduled visit. Results Of the 1041 total patients, 620 (60%) completed the scheduled visit, whereas 376 (36%) canceled and 45 (4%) no-showed. In patients who missed the visit, the average delay in care was 5.34 weeks. In those who missed a visit, VA was assessed at the subsequent visit. Patients who canceled a visit were older, and patients who no-showed had lower baseline vision (mean Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters ± standard error [SE]: no-show, 53.27 ± 3.21 letters; canceled, 60.79 ± 1.11 letters; and completed, 62.81 ± 0.84 letters; P = 0.0101) and were more likely to have DME, PDR, or both (no-show, 13 patients [29%]; canceled, 56 patients [16%]; completed, 81 patients [13%]; P = 0.0456). Patients who missed a visit lost vision as compared with the patients who completed one (no-show, –5.024 ± 1.88 letters; canceled, –1.633 ± 0.65 letters; completed, 0.373 ± 0.50 letters; P = 0.0028). Patients with DME, PDR, or both (–3.48 ± 1.95 letters vs. 2.71 ± 1.75 letters; P = 0.0203), with RVO (–3.22 ± 1.41 letters vs. 0.95 ± 1.23 letters; P = 0.0230), and, to lesser degree, with nAMD (–1.23 ± 0.70 letters vs. –0.24 ± 0.56 letters; P = 0.2679) lost vision compared with patients with same diagnoses who completed the scheduled visit. Conclusions In patients requiring IVIs, a delay in care of 5.34 weeks resulted in vision loss. It was seen in all patients, but was more prominent in patients with DME, PDR or both and RVO. Further studies are necessary to examine whether these vision changes persist over a longer duration.
Pricing Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas Production

Nearly a quarter of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are covered by GHG pricing initiatives. However, few methane emissions are priced, even though methane is a significant driver of current warming. To reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production, comprehensive policies and regulations are critical. Price-based policy instruments offer several attractive features to manage these emissions. They offer firms flexibility in terms of who mitigates, when and how. On its own, emissions pricing can enable and encourage some reductions. When combined with direct regulations, such as technology standards and mandated leak detection and repair programs (LDAR), pricing can support even deeper reductions. However, price-based policies have so far not been extensively used to address methane emissions from fossil fuel production. The main argument against pricing methane emissions from oil and gas production has been that these emissions are difficult to measure cheaply, frequently, and with precision and accuracy. Direct regulations to address oil and gas methane emissions typically do not require emissions measurements, though they also will be even more effective with better data. While methane emissions from this sector remain difficult to measure on a comprehensive and frequent basis, emissions pricing policies can still be effective complements to existing regulations – especially if well designed. Furthermore, methane emissions measurement technologies, including satellite instruments, continue to advance and provide new opportunities for monitoring and enforcement. This brief provides a preliminary assessment of how a well-designed price on methane emissions from oil and gas production could be implemented in addition to existing regulations in a way that incentivizes oil and gas companies to increase their mitigation efforts and improve their methane detection and measurement practices.
Vibronic transitions and spin-orbit coupling of three-membered metallacycles formed by lanthanide-mediated dehydrogenation of dimethylamine.

Metal-mediated N–H and C–H bond activation of aliphatic amines is an effective strategy for synthesizing biologically important molecules. Ln (Ln = La and Ce) atom reactions with dimethylamine are carried out in a pulsed-laser vaporization supersonic molecular beam source. A series of dehydrogenation species are observed with time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and the dehydrogenated Ln-containing species in the formula Ln(CH2NCH3) are characterized by single-photon mass-analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. The theoretical calculations include density functional theory for both Ln species and multiconfiguration self-consistent field and quasi-degenerate perturbation theory for the Ce species. The MATI spectrum of La(CH2NCH3) consists of a single vibronic band system, which is assigned to the ionization of the doublet ground state of N-methyl-lanthanaaziridine. The MATI spectrum of Ce(CH2NCH3) displays two vibronic band systems, which are attributed to the ionization of two-pair lowest-energy spin–orbit coupling states of N-methyl-ceraaziridine. Both metallaaziridines are three-membered metallacycles and formed by the thermodynamically and kinetically favorable concerted dehydrogenation of the amino group and one of the methyl groups.
Association of Subjective Social Status With Life's Simple 7s Cardiovascular Health Index Among Hispanic/Latino People: Results From the HCHS/SOL.

Background Evidence suggests that subjective (perceived) social status (SSS) may predict health outcomes more strongly than objective social status, but little is known about the relationship between SSS and cardiovascular health (CVH). This study focuses on this relationship among diverse Hispanic/Latino adults because while poor CVH profiles are prevalent in this population, immigration complicates attempts to measure their social status. Methods and Results We analyzed baseline HCHS/SOL (Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos) data on 15 374 Hispanic/Latino adults aged 18 to 74 years in 2008 to 2011. SSS was assessed using the McArthur Scale, a 10-rung "social ladder." CVH was based on levels of 7 metrics defined by the American Heart Association. Linear and logistic regressions were used to examine cross-sectional associations of SSS with CVH (overall and single metrics) after adjusting for objective social status, demographic, and health factors. Less than half of the population (46%) had Ideal scores in ≥4 metrics of CVH. In multivariable-adjusted models, an increase in SSS was associated with a higher overall CVH score (β=0.04; 95% CI, 0.01-0.06) and greater likelihood of Ideal levels of body mass index, physical activity, and fasting blood glucose levels. Nativity and time in the United States modified the association between SSS and Ideal smoking. Conclusions Subjective measures of social status can enhance an understanding of CVH among Hispanic/Latino people. Future studies should explore the stability of SSS over time in comparison with objective social status and the mechanisms through which SSS may influence CVH.
Human bocavirus-1 screening in infants with acute lower respiratory tract infection.

BackgroundRecent studies have reported associations between, human bocavirus (HBoV), and respiratory tract diseases in children. However, there is limited information on the epidemiology of HBoV in...
Holistic Deep Learning.

There is much interest in deep learning to solve challenges that arise in applying neural network models in real-world environments. In particular, three areas have received considerable attention: adversarial robustness, parameter sparsity, and output stability. Despite numerous attempts on solving these problems independently, there is very little work addressing the challenges simultaneously. In this paper, we address this problem of constructing holistic deep learning models by proposing a novel formulation that solves these issues in combination. Real-world experiments on both tabular and MNIST dataset show that our formulation is able to simultaneously improve the accuracy, robustness, stability, and sparsity over traditional deep learning models among many others.
Acceptance Probabilities for Sampling Plans Where the Proportion Defective Has a Beta Distribution

The acceptance probabilities of sampling plans where the proportion defective, p, in the lots being submitted follows a beta distribution is discussed. A formula to compute the probabilities of lot acceptance once the distribution has been estimated is ..
Relative Susceptibility of Cultivars of Flowering Crabapples, Lindens, and Roses to Defoliation by Japanese Beetles

Abstract Relative resistance to defoliation by Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica Newman) was compared among 28 cultivars of flowering crabapples (Malus spp.), 8 species and cultivars of lindens (...
Visual binary separations as functions of primary types, ages, and locations

We studied samples from the Bright Star Catalogue of B1–B7, F3–G2, and KM dwarfs for frequencies of visual companions and their separations. The frequency of detected companions does not vary significantly along the Main Sequence. But the most frequent separations and the limiting separations vary markedly along the main sequence: the limiting separations are 42000 AU for the B stars to 800 AU for the M dwarfs. This confirms results found by Opik in 1924. Stars off the Main Sequence (giants, white dwarfs) show consistent results, as do members of Trapezium systems, hierarchical multiple-star systems, the widest known cataloged binaries, and binaries in a moving cluster (Ursa Major Stream).
Structural differences in the nucleic acids of some tobacco mosaic virus strains. I. Monopyrimidine nucleotides in ribonuclease digests.

Abstract The nucleic acids obtained from four strains of tobacco mosaic virus were digested with crystalline pancreatic ribonuclease at 23° for 12 hours at pH 7.6. The monopyrimidine nucleotides, uridylic acid and cytidylic acid, were isolated from such digests and estimated. Significantly greater quantities of pyrimidine mononucleotides were released from the nucleic acid of M strain than from those of strains, TMV, HR and YA. From this result it was concluded that the intramolecular distribution of pyrimidine nucleotides in the nucleic acid of M strain differs from those of strains, TMV, HR and YA.
Boundary Work in an Era of Transformation: Television, Taste and Distinction in Turkey

This article examines Turkish television’s “woman’s voice” talk-show format, finding that it opens up a forum where women of rural backgrounds, who were formerly invisible in the Turkish public sphere, are able to voice firsthand the injustices they face in their family lives. Audience reception analysis of woman’s voice programs reveals that whereas urban viewers reject the shows as vulgar and unimportant, rural-urban migrants celebrate the programs as indicative of women’s status and thus potentially political. The article investigates the underlying causes of this difference. It argues that viewers attempt to negotiate their class position through cultural consumption, ultimately keeping the women’s rights issues that woman’s voice programs raise off the political agenda.
Radar Remote Sensing of Irregular Stratified Layers

A variational full-wave approach to electromagnetic scattering from irregular stratified media with multiple scale features is presented. Since the scales of the irregular features, such as surface roughness, are often a continuum from very large to very small compared to the wavelength, a two-scale unified full-wave approach is applied. The method used to smoothly decompose the random medium fluctuations into larger-scale and smaller-scale fluctuations is illustrated for random media characterized by Gaussian and Pearson–Moskowitz-type spectral density functions. The variational parameter is related to the two-scale subdivision of the random features of media. It is shown that the total scatter cross section of the irregular stratified media is stationary over a very broad range of the variational parameter. Thus the full-wave solutions, which are expressed as weighted sums of two cross sections, are practically insensitive to the precise decomposition into two-scale features. Keywords: remote sensing; rough-surface scattering; unified two-scale method; variational technique; stationary solutions
"Look at me, but don't!"--Revisiting the narcissistic dilemma in clinical pastoral supervision.

Clinical Pastoral Education is a shame-sensitive endeavor. This article discusses the impact of shame in supervision by considering students’ experiences of shame as well as the supervisor’s shame and their resulting dilemmas. Exploring the paradox of shame from a psychological and theological perspective, the author suggests that shame can serve students’ self-discovery, if it is engaged through pastoral confirmation and transformative interventions. Empathic attunement and humor are highlighted as effective means in such interventions.
Insecticide transfer efficiency and lethal load in Argentine ants

Abstract Trophallaxis between individual worker ants and the toxicant load in dead and live Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) in colonies exposed to fipronil and hydramethylnon experimental baits were examined using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). About 50% of the content of the crop containing trace levels of 14C-sucrose, 14C-hydramethylnon, and 14C-fipronil was shared between single donor and recipient ants. Dead workers and queens contained significantly more hydramethylnon (122.7 and 22.4 amol/μg ant, respectively) than did live workers and queens (96.3 and 10.4 amol/μg ant, respectively). Dead workers had significantly more fipronil (420.3 amol/μg ant) than did live workers (208.5 amol/μg ant), but dead and live queens had equal fipronil levels (59.5 and 54.3 amol/μg ant, respectively). The distribution of fipronil differed within the bodies of dead and live queens; the highest amounts of fipronil were recovered in the thorax of dead queens whereas live queens had the highest levels in the head. Resurgence of polygynous ant colonies treated with hydramethylnon baits may be explained by queen survival resulting from sublethal doses due to a slowing of trophallaxis throughout the colony. Bait strategies and dose levels for controlling insect pests need to be based on the specific toxicant properties and trophic strategies for targeting the entire colony.
Akt1 interacts with epidermal growth factor receptors and Hedgehog signaling to increase stem/transit amplifying cells in the embryonic mouse cortex

A subset of precursors in the embryonic mouse cortex and in neurospheres expresses a higher level of the serine/threonine kinase Akt1 than neighboring precursors. We reported previously that the functional significance of high Akt1 expression was enhanced Akt1 activity, resulting in an increase in survival, proliferation, and self-renewal of multipotent stem/transit amplifying cells. Akt1 can interact with a number of signaling pathways, but the extrinsic factors that are required for specific effects of elevated Akt1 expression have not been identified. In this study we addressed the contributions of signaling via epidermal growth factor (EGF) and hedgehog (Hh) receptors. In EGF receptor-null precursors or following transient inhibition of EGF receptor tyrosine kinase activity, elevating Akt1 by retroviral transduction could still increase survival and proliferation but could not increase self-renewal. We also found that elevated Akt1 expression induced the expression of EGF receptors (EGFRs) in wild-type precursors. Several extrinsic factors, including Shh, can induce EGFR expression by cortical precursors, and we found that elevating Akt1 allowed them to respond to a subthreshold concentration of Shh to induce EGFRs. In precursors that lack the Hh receptor smoothened, however, elevating Akt1 did not increase EGFR expression or self-renewal, though it could still stimulate proliferation. These findings suggest that a subset of precursors in the embryonic cortex that express an elevated level of Akt1 can respond to lower concentrations of Shh than neighboring precursors, resulting in an increase in their expression of EGFRs. Signaling via EGFRs is required for their self-renewal.
ALLOSTERIC CONTROL OF CTP SYNTHETASE IN VIVO: 4

It has long been appreciated that CTP synthetase is an allosteric enzyme that is inhibited by its endproduct, CTP. The isolation and characterization of mutant murine T lymphblasts with a genetically altered CTP synthetase activity which is refractory to inhibition by CTP have allowed an in situ determination of the essential regulatory factors governing pyrimidine synthesis and pyrimdine pool balance in a mammalian cell line. Metabolic flux and nucleotide pool measurements in unperturbed cycling cells and in cells in which the cellular pools have been exogenously manipulated indicated that the regulation of flux through CTP synthetase in situ occurs mainly by allosteric inhibition by CTP. Metabolic flux through CTP synthetase was arrested by imperceptible perturbations in CTP pools in wildtype cells but not in the mutant cells. Small changes in the levels of either ATP or GTP, a substrate and activator of the enzyme, respectively, had little influence on the in situ activity of CTP synthetase. The rates of pyrimidine synthesis are regulated in a similar fashion by uridylate nucleotides in wildtype but not in mutant cells. Thus, uridylate nucleotides govern the rates of de novo pyrimidine synthesis, while CTP modulates the balance between uridylate and cytidylate nucleotides.
The epistemological illusion

I argue against the mentalist view that commonsense psychology (CSP) is about the intrinsic properties of the mind, and in particular against the notion that the evidence privately or publicly available to the CS psychologists confirms the mentalist view. I suggest that the internal phenomenology of mental attitudes merely provides access to a body of procedural knowledge, and that the propositional forms of the attitudes normally summarize extensive units of procedural knowledge.
Efficacy of Shunt Surgert for Refractory Low Flow Priapism: A Report on the Incidence of Failed Detumescence and Erectile Dysfunction

ABSTRACTPurpose: The reported success rate for surgical cavernosa-to-spongiosum shunts in patients with refractory low flow priapism is variable and yet it is reported to be as high as 100% in terms of achieving detumescence. The long-term potency rate after the introduction of the shunt procedure is also as high as 50%. We reviewed the efficacy of various shunts in terms of achieving detumescence and we clarified the rate of erectile dysfunction at long-term followup.Materials and Methods: Patients were included in the analysis if they had painful low flow priapism more than 4 hours in duration that was refractory to conservative management, ultimately requiring a surgical shunt. Data, including etiology, duration and initial treatment measures, were retrospectively compiled in the last 12 years and the type of surgical shunts performed were recorded. Followup erectile function was assessed by clinical notes and a telephone survey using the International Index of Erectile Function.Results: Of the 28 cons...
The Quest for “Magnalux” Redefining Technological Success and Failure at RCA, 1951-1956

In September 1951, Radio Corporation of America chairman David Sarnoff celebrated his 45th year in the electronics industry by publicly challenging his research staff to develop three new technologies in time for his golden anniversary dinner 5 years later. This article considers the fate of one of these items, the “Magnalux” light amplifier, to explore how scientists, manufacturing personnel, and managers viewed the significance of fundamental research to technological innovation. Following a discussion of the content and context of Sarnoff’s request, the article focuses on the creation of two prototype light amplifiers to emphasize the contingency of technological success and failure and the centrality of commercial considerations in defining those categories. This case study reaffirms the value of historical methodologies to the social study of corporate science.
Note on the visual hull of a set

Abstract The concept of “visual hull” of a set S in a linear topological space L (previously introduced by Meisters and Ulam) is discussed. The visual hull of a set S is the largest set containing S having the same projections as S on given subspaces of L A “pathological” example is constructed showing that the visual hull of S less S itself is not necessarily topologically connected to S. Transfinite induction is used in the construction.
Small structural ensembles for a 17‐nucleotide mimic of the tRNA TΨC‐loop via fitting dipolar relaxation rates with the quadratic programming algorithm

Solution structures are typically average structures determined with the help of nmr-derived distance and torsion angle information. However, when a biomolecule populates significantly different conformations, the average structure might be prone to artifacts, and other refinement strategies are necessary. For example, when experimental restraints are used in molecular dynamics simulations in a time-averaged fashion (MDtar), the experimental structural information does no longer need to be satisfied at each step of the simulation; instead, the whole trajectory must agree with the restraints. However, the resulting structural ensembles are large and not unique and it is not trivial to extract the essential dynamic features for a system. Here we demonstrate that large MDtar ensembles can be simplified substantially by reducing the number of members to just a few on the basis of adjusting the individual probabilities of the members with the PDQPRO program [N. B. Ulyanov et al. Biophysical Journal (1995), Vol. 68, p. 13]. This algorithm finds the global minimum for a search function that represents the best match of a given ensemble with the experimental dipolar interproton relaxation rates. We have applied this strategy to a 17-residue RNA hairpin, whose loop exhibited considerable flexibility evident from nmr data. This 17mer is a mimic of the TΨC-loop of tRNA, where nucleotide 54 is usually a ribosylthymidine. The methylation of U54, which is completely buried in transfer ribonucleic acid, is administered by tRNA (m5U54)-methyltransferase (RUMT). Since the 17mer is a good substrate for RUMT, we previously concluded that the flexibility of the 17mer's loop is a key to how RUMT gains access to the methylation site [L. J. Yao et al. Journal of Biomolecular NMR (1996) Vol. 9, p. 229]. Application of the PDQPRO algorithm to the previously acquired MDtar trajectories allowed us to reduce the number of conformations from several hundred to one major and five or six minor conformations with individual populations from ∼ 5% to ∼ 50% without any deterioration in the match with the experimental data. The major conformation exhibits a continuation of A-form helicity through part of the loop, involving C60 and U59. In this and most other conformations the methylation site in U54 is no longer buried. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 46: 329–342, 1998
PAX8 expression reliably distinguishes pancreatic well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors from ileal and pulmonary well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors and pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma

PAX (paired box) genes encode a family of transcription factors that regulate organogenesis in a variety of organs. Very little is known about the role of PAX8 in endocrine cell development and the expression of PAX8 in neuroendocrine tumors. The purpose of this study was to analyze PAX8 immunohistochemical expression in gastroenteropancreatic and pulmonary well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors to determine whether PAX8 can reliably distinguish pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors from neuroendocrine tumors of other anatomic sites and other pancreatic non-ductal neoplasms. In total, 221 well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors were evaluated: 174 primary neuroendocrine tumors (66 pancreatic, 31 ileal, 21 pulmonary, 20 gastric, 17 rectal, 11 appendiceal, and 8 duodenal) and 47 neuroendocrine tumors metastatic to the liver (31 pancreatic, 11 ileal, 2 pulmonary, 2 duodenal, and 1 rectal). Fifteen solid-pseudopapillary neoplasms and six acinar cell carcinomas of the pancreas were also evaluated. PAX8 was positive in 49/66 (74%) primary pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. PAX8 expression did not correlate with World Health Organization categorization, grade, size, functional status, or the presence of liver or lymph node metastasis. PAX8 expression was identified in 0/31 (0%) ileal, 0/21 (0%) pulmonary, 2/20 (10%) gastric, 5/17 (29%) rectal, 1/11 (9%) appendiceal, and 6/8 (75%) duodenal neuroendocrine tumors. PAX8 was positive in 4/15 (27%) solid-pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas, whereas all acinar cell carcinomas (0/6) lacked immunoreactivity. Among liver metastases, only pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (20/31, 65%) were PAX8 positive, whereas no cases of ileal (0/11), pulmonary (0/2), duodenal (0/2), and rectal (0/1) neuroendocrine tumor metastases were PAX8 positive. PAX8 is expressed in primary and metastatic pancreatic well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors, and its expression can reliably distinguish pancreatic from ileal and pulmonary well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors. Duodenal neuroendocrine tumors and a subset of rectal, gastric, and appendiceal neuroendocrine tumors may also express PAX8. PAX8 expression can distinguish pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors from acinar cell carcinomas, but its utility in distinguishing neuroendocrine tumors from solid-pseudopapillary neoplasms is limited.
The reaction of lithium with carbon dioxide studied by photoelectron spectroscopy

Abstract The interaction of CO 2 with clean Li at 120–320 K was studied using photoelectron spectroscopy. To assist in the interpretation of the spectra, the C 1s and O 1s core-level binding energies of various Li cluster compounds were calculated using an ab initio SCF method. To further understand the reaction pathway, we also studied the reaction of CO 2 with an O 2 pre-dosed Li surface, and the adsorption of CO on clean Li. The principal reactions occurring between CO 2 (1–30 L) and Li at 120–320 K are: CO 2 ⇒[CO 2 ] ads , 2[CO 2 ] ads ⇒CO 2− 3 +CO ads , probably via an oxalate, [C 2 O 4 ] ads , intermediate, and: CO ads ⇒C+O 2− , CO 2 +O 2− ⇒CO 2− 3 . The relative rates of these reactions are temperature dependent. At 120 K, the main products are CO 2− 3 , CO ads , and [CO 2 ] ads , whereas at 320 K the main products are O 2− and elemental carbon with a relatively small amount of CO 2− 3 . The reactions are similar to those on the other alkali metals, Na, K and Cs, with the important exception being the much stronger interaction with CO, leading to dissociation and carbon formation.
Velocity Distributions of SiF and SiF2 in an SiF4 Plasma Molecular Beam

Our imaging of radicals interacting with surfaces (IRIS) technique has been used to measure the velocity distributions of SiF and SiF2 molecules in an effusive SiF4 plasma molecular beam as a function of applied rf power. Modeling the kinetic data yields the corresponding translational temperatures ϑT. The translational temperatures of both SiF and SiF2 increase with radio frequency (rf) power, from 571 ± 180 K at 80 W to 869 ± 54 K at 200 W for SiF, and from 427 ± 65 K at 80 W to 557 ± 31 K at 200 W for SiF2. These differences in ϑT for SiF and SiF2 indicate that the SiF4 plasma is not in full thermal equilibrium. Possible mechanisms for the trend of increasing ϑT with rf power are discussed by correlating SiF and SiF2 velocities with relative gas-phase densities. In addition, the effects of ϑT on the surface scatter coefficients for each molecule have also been addressed.
The effects of accumulated timing jitter on some sine wave measurements

This paper investigates the effects of accumulated timing jitter on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and on the phase angle measurement of real sine waves. These measurements are done via the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) method. Accumulated timing jitter occurs when the sine wave is sampled by an unstable clock where the clock periods are randomly changing. Also, accumulated jitter is a problem in ramp-type bases that were often used in sampling oscilloscopes. Expressions for an estimate of the signal-to-noise ratio [SNR/sub (est.)/] and phase variance in terms of the jitter distribution parameters and the number of FFT points (N) are derived. The derived expressions are verified through computer simulations. Finally, a comparison between independent and accumulated jitter is presented. >
Interpreting pronouns and demonstratives in Finnish: Evidence for a form-specific approach to reference resolution

Two Finnish language comprehension experiments are presented which suggest that the referential properties of pronouns and demonstratives cannot be reduced straightforwardly to the salience level of the antecedent. The findings, from a sentence completion study and visual world eye-tracking study, reveal an asymmetry in which features of the antecedent Finnish pronouns and demonstratives are most sensitive to, both in terms of their final interpretations and during real-time processing. In particular, the syntactic role and linear position of the antecedent, two factors which have been claimed to influence referent salience, have different effects on the interpretation of pronouns and demonstratives. Contrary to what is commonly assumed, pronouns and demonstratives cannot be mapped onto a unified salience hierarchy, because they exhibit different degrees of sensitivity to syntactic role and word order. We offer an alternative approach to anaphor resolution, the form-specific multiple-constraints approach.
Pharmacological mobilization of endogenous stem cells significantly promotes skin regeneration after full-thickness excision: the synergistic activity of AMD3100 and tacrolimus

Stem cell therapy has shown promise in treating a variety of pathologies including skin wounds, but practical applications remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that endogenous stem cell mobilization produced by AMD3100 and low-dose tacrolimus is able to reduce by 25% the time of complete healing of full-thickness wounds created by surgical excision. Equally important, healing was accompanied by reduced scar formation and regeneration of hair follicles. Searching for mechanisms, we found that AMD3100 combined with low-dose tacrolimus mobilized increased number of lineage-negative c-Kit+, CD34+, and CD133+ stem cells. Low-dose tacrolimus also increased the number of SDF-1-bearing macrophages in the wound sites amplifying the "pull" of mobilized stem cells into the wound. Lineage tracing demonstrated the critical role of CD133 stem cells in enhanced capillary and hair follicle neogenesis, contributing to more rapid and perfect healing. Our findings offer a significant therapeutic approach to wound healing and tissue regeneration.
Effect of cerebral embolization on regional autoregulation during cardiopulmonary bypass in dogs.

Abstract Background . Embolization during cardiopulmonary bypass probably alters cerebral autoregulation. Therefore, using laser Doppler flowmetry we investigated the cerebral blood flow velocity changes in response to changes in arterial pressure, before and after embolization in a canine bypass model. Methods . After Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approval, 8 anesthetized dogs had a laser Doppler flow probe positioned over the temporoparietal dura. During 37° C cardiopulmonary bypass, the cerebral blood flow velocity response to changing mean arterial pressure (40 to 85 mm Hg in random order) was assessed before and after systemic embolization of 100 mg of 97-μm latex microspheres. Results . Before embolization, cerebral blood flow velocity increased 39% as mean arterial pressure increased from 40 to 85 mm Hg. Following embolization, a 94% increase in cerebral blood flow velocity was demonstrated over the same mean arterial pressure range. The slopes of the curves relating cerebral blood flow velocity to mean arterial pressure were 0.21 ± 0.74 and 1.31 ± 0.87, before and after embolization ( p = 0.016) respectively. Conclusions . Regional cerebral blood flow autoregulation may be impaired by microembolization known to occur during cardiopulmonary bypass, increasing the dependence of cerebral blood flow on mean arterial pressure.
A Few Steps Forward in the Process of Looking Back: Setting parameters for a self-study of administrative and program development work over 18 years

Many self-studies focus on an individual or several teacher educators. Although there have been self-studies undertaken by teacher education administrators, there is relatively little research that focuses specifically on an administrator's program development work in teacher education. This self-study examines one teacher education administrator's program development work over a period of 18 years and in two institutions. Data come from entries from a professional journal kept during those years. A framework consisting of emergent categories and sub-categories was developed for analysis. Initial findings suggest there are both a complexity of roles and multiple roles that are influenced by outside forces. The scale and complexity of undertaking a long-term self-study surfaced in understanding the scope of the work, deciding on a framework for data analysis, allowing time and place for making personal connections and meaning, and sharing the work with others. Next steps are discussed for this study and fo...
Optimal interfraction interval to minimize small bowel radiation injury in treatment regimens with two fractions per day: an experimental study in a rat model

Abstract Background : Normal tissue damage in fractionated radiotherapy is influenced by a number of factors including sublethal damage repair and cellular proliferation. The therapeutic benefit of regimens with multiple fractions per day may thus be offset by increased normal tissue injury if there is insufficient time between daily fractions. We examined the influence of interfraction interval on radiation injury of the intestine, an organ at significant risk during treatment of abdominal and pelvic tumors. Methods : A total of 150 male rats were orchiectomized, and a functionally intact loop of small bowel was sutured to the inside of the scrotum. The intestine within this ‘artificial hernia' was irradiated twice daily for 9 days with 2.8 Gy fractions at intervals of 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 h. Animals were observed for development of radiation-induced intestinal complications and euthanized at either 2 weeks and 26 weeks for subsequent histopathologic examination of irradiated and shielded intestine. Results : Increasing the interfraction interval from 0 to 6 h was associated with a statistically significant reduction in intestinal complications (from 53% to 0%, P P Conclusion : An interfraction interval of 6 h minimizes the risk of chronic radiation enteropathy in this rat model.
Interactions between Gravity Waves and Planetary-Scale Flow Simulated by the GFDL “SKYHI” General Circulation Model

Abstract In order to study interactions between gravity waves and planetary flow in the middle atmosphere, a 3° latitude by 3.6° longitude version of the 40-level GFDL “SKYHI” general circulation model is analyzed using bihourly sampled output data. It is shown by a space-time spectral analysis that gravity waves in the mean zonal westerlies (easterlies) mainly consist of westward- (eastward-) moving components, and carry easterly (westerly) momentum upward, and decelerate the mean zonal westerlies (easterlies) in the mesosphere. Zonal momentum flux convergence due to gravity waves accounts for nearly all of the Eliassen–Palm (E–P) flux divergence in the summer mesosphere. This convergence accounts for 30%–50% of that in the winter upper mesosphere. However, this percentage is probably an underestimate since the convergence is significantly enhanced in a high resolution (1° × 1.2°) model currently being integrated. Vertical propagation of gravity waves is affected not only by the, mean zonal wind but also...
Tricritical and critical-end-point behavior of interfacial tensions in fluid mixtures.

Interfacial tensions $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ in the tricritical region of mixtures of ethane with higher alkanes were measured by surface light scattering. At each of the two critical end points $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ for the noncritical interface shows the predicted behavior: $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ and $\frac{d\ensuremath{\sigma}}{\mathrm{dT}}$ appear continuous while $\frac{{d}^{2}\ensuremath{\sigma}}{d{T}^{2}}$ changes sign. Results for the $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ interface suggest high adsorption. The tricritical exponent for $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ varies across the three-phase region and appropriate ratios of $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ do not approach unity, in disagreement with a van der Waals-type theory of interfaces.
Supercritical Carbon Dioxide in Microelectronics Manufacturing: Marginal Cradle-to-grave Emissions☆

This paper presents and discusses the marginal cradle-to-grave environmental impacts of using VLSI grade supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as a rinsing agent in place of ultrapure water (UPW) in semiconductor fabrication. Impacts are estimated using a consequential life cycle assessment framework for recovered CO2. Upon factoring the cumulative yields of the CO2 recovery and purification processes, compressor energy use (566 kJ/kg CO2 output) together with refrigeration (540 kJ/kg CO2 output) accounts for about 90% of total on-site electricity use. Upstream emissions from production of propylene carbonate co-solvent contribute to more than 50% of the life cycle impacts of scCO2-based wafer cleaning. Overall impacts of scCO2-wafer cleaning, particularly water and energy use, are found to be significantly lower than UPW.
Novel masking effects of light are revealed in Drosophila by skeleton photoperiods

Here, we show that in a skeleton photoperiod where all midday light is removed from a standard laboratory 12:12 LD photoperiod, a large diurnal peak of activity is revealed that is continuous with the E peak seen in constant dark (DD). We further show that the circadian clock gene tim regulates light-dependent masking of daytime activity, but the clock gene per does not. Finally, relative to wild-type flies, mutants for both of these clock genes showed increased nighttime activity in the skeleton photoperiod but not in the standard photoperiod. This result suggests that nighttime activity is suppressed by the intact circadian clock, and in its absence, by exposure to a standard photoperiod. These results support and extend the literature addressing the complex interactions between masking and clock-controlled components of overt circadian rhythms.
Listening to your customers: The impact of perceived salesperson listening behavior on relationship outcomes

A thorough understanding of how businesses gain and maintain long-term relationships with clients is critical in today’s environment. This study develops a scale for salesperson listening behavior and investigates the impact of customers’ perceptions of salespeople’s listening behavior on trust, satisfaction, and anticipation of future interaction. A structural equations model is developed and empirically tested using a sample of new car buyers. The research results suggest that listening is a higher-order construct composed of three dimensions: (a) sensing, (b) evaluating, and (c) responding. When customers perceive a high level of listening behavior by a salesperson, it enhances their trust in the salesperson and leads to greater anticipation of future interaction. Implications and future research issues are discussed.
5,5′-Diphenylhydantoin Decreases Specific 3,5,3′-Triiodothyronine (T3) Binding by Rat Hepatic NuclearT3 Receptors

The influence of 5,5′-diphenylhydantoin (DPH) on specific T3 binding by rat hepatic nuclear T3 receptors was determined in tissue obtained from euthyroid and athyreotic rats. Nuclear binding of [125I]T3 was determined in isolated liver nuclei 60 min after the injection of DPH (20 mg/100 g BW) or vehicle (V). Mean specific nuclear T3 binding was decreased 14% (P < 0.01) and 24% (P < 0.02) from the control value in two experiments with nuclei from euthyroid rats and 23% (P < 0.02) in nuclei from athyreotic rats. These findings in athyreotic rats and the observation that endogenous nuclear T3 was not increased in euthyroid rats after DPH injection suggested that the observed decrease in specific T3 binding after DPH injection did not result from displacement of endogenous T3 from plasma proteins or other binding sites into the nucleus. Further studies employing isolated nuclei revealed that the DPH-induced decrease in specific nuclear T3 binding appeared independent of duration of incubation up to 90 min and...
Effects of pH on weak and positive control mutagens in the Ames Salmonella plate assay.

Abstract The effects of pH on the mutagenic activity of several chemicals were evaluated in the standard Ames Salmonella typhimurium plate-incorporation assay. The pH of the base agar was varied between 6.0 and 8.0. The positive control compounds routinely used in this laboratory, 2-aminoanthracene, 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine, sodium azide and nitrofurantoin, showed increasing mutagenic activity as the pH was decreased to 6.0. However, the activity of two weakly mutagenic cosmetic ingredients, 2,2′,4,4′-tetrahydroxybenzophenone and trans-4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one, was completely eliminated at pH levels near 6.0. It is concluded that plates poured with agar with pH levels below 7.0 can result in strong responses for the positive control chemicals but give negative results for some mutagens.
Control of centromere localization of the MEI-S332 cohesion protection protein.

Abstract In mitosis and meiosis, cohesion is maintained at the centromere until sister-chromatid separation. Drosophila MEI-S332 is essential for centromeric cohesion in meiosis and contributes to, though is not absolutely required for, cohesion in mitosis. It localizes specifically to centromeres in prometaphase and delocalizes at the metaphase-anaphase transition [1, 2]. In mei-S332 mutants, centromeric sister-chromatid cohesion is lost at anaphase I, giving meiosis II missegregation [3–5]. MEI-S332 is the founding member of a family of proteins important for chromosome segregation. One likely activity of these proteins is to protect the cohesin subunit Rec8 from cleavage at the metaphase I-anaphase I transition [6–9]. Although the family members do not show high sequence identity, there are two short stretches of homology, and mutations in conserved residues affect protein function [2, 6]. Here we analyze the cis - and trans -acting factors required for MEI-S332 localization. We find a striking correlation between domains necessary for MEI-S332 centromere localization and conserved regions within the protein family. Drosophila MEI-S332 expressed in human cells localizes to mitotic centromeres, further highlighting this functional conservation. MEI-S332 can localize independently of cohesin, assembling even onto unreplicated chromatids. However, the separase pathway that regulates cohesin dissociation is needed for MEI-S332 delocalization at anaphase.
The Estrogen-Regulated Transcription Factor PITX1 Coordinates Gene-Specific Regulation by Estrogen Receptor-Alpha in Breast Cancer Cells

The estrogen receptor α (ERα) is a master regulator of gene expression and works along with cooperating transcription factors in mediating the actions of the hormone estradiol (E2) in ER-positive tissues and breast tumors. Here, we report that expression of paired-like homeodomain transcription factor (PITX1), a tumor suppressor and member of the homeobox family of transcription factors, is robustly up-regulated by E2 in several ERα-positive breast cancer cell lines via ERα-dependent interaction between the proximal promoter and an enhancer region 5′ upstream of the PITX1 gene. Overexpression of PITX1 selectively inhibited the transcriptional activity of ERα and ERβ, while enhancing the activities of the glucocorticoid receptor and progesterone receptor. Reduction of PITX1 by small interfering RNA enhanced ERα-dependent transcriptional regulation of a subset of ERα target genes. The consensus PITX1 binding motif was found to be present in 28% of genome-wide ERα binding sites and was in close proximity to estrogen response elements in a subset of ERα binding sites, and E2 treatment enhanced PITX1 as well as ERα recruitment to these binding sites. These studies identify PITX1 as a new ERα transcriptional target that acts as a repressor to coordinate and fine tune target-specific, ERα-mediated transcriptional activity in human breast cancer cells.
High sensitivity Si:P and Ge:Be infrared detectors for low photon background astronomy.

Highly sensitive extrinsic infrared detectors for infrared astronomy in space have been developed at Battelle-Institut e.V., Frankfurt am Main, on behalf of the West German Government (BMFT) and the European Space Agency (ESA). In this paper we will discuss the present status of the performance data of our Si:P and Ge:Be detectors, which feature maximum sensitivity in the wavelength interval from 25 μm to 50 μm. Application of these detectors in the GIRL project (German Infrared Laboratory, to be launched on Spacelab) is being considered. The noise equivalent power (NEP) test data at the photon background flux density expected for this application (≈108 phot/cm2s) are NEP (40 μm, 10 Hz, 3 K) = 8x10-17 W/√Hz (Ge:Be) and NEP (26 μm, 10 Hz, 10 K) = 4x10-17 W/√Hz (Si:P). The cryogenic preamplification will also be discussed briefly.
Novel stage in the oligodendrocyte lineage defined by reactivity of progenitors with R‐mAb prior to O1 anti‐galactocerebroside

The developmentally regulated appearance of surface immuno-reactivity of proligodendroblasts [oligodendrocyte progenitors reacting with monoclonal antibodies A007 and O4, but not anti-galactocerebroside (GalC), i.e., A007/O4+ GalC−] to monoclonal antibodies R-mAb and O1 was studied both in culture and in vivo. In both cases staining with R-mAb shortly preceded that with O1; that is, a transient population of R-mAb+ O1− cells was observed. R-mAb− O1+ cells were not detected. Differential staining with R-mAb and O1 was also noted at the subcellular level. In younger cultures in which R-mAb+ cells were first acquiring O1 immunoreactivity, many of these cells were stained by O1 only on the cell bodies and proximal portions of the processes, whereas in contrast R-mAb stained the whole cell, including the distal portions of the processes. Only in older, more mature R-mAb+ cells did O1 also stain the distal portions of processes. The expression of reactivity to R-mAb and O1 was compared to the proliferative capacity of the cells. Proliferation [assessed by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation] of both R-mAb+ and O1+ cells was negligible both in culture and in vivo. However, treatment of cells in culture with 10 ng/ml basic fibroblast growth factor resulted in an enhancement of proliferation of the R-mAb+ cells. Within the proliferating R-mAb+BrdU+ population, 80% of the cells were O1− (i.e., anti-galactocerebroside negative). These events occur during a critical period of development when A007/O4+ proligodendroblasts begin to become post-mitotic and express surface galactocerebroside. The data demonstrate that the use of R-mAb as an “anti-GalC” must be interpreted with caution, and indicate the utility of dual staining with R-mAb and O1 to (1) further subdivide the oligodendrocyte lineage, thus identifying an additional, GalC− developmental compartment, and (2) observe the distribution of R-mAb and O1 immunoreactivity at a subcellular level. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.