cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Capturing the Technological Dimensions of IT Infrastructure Change: A Model and Empirical Evidence

Information systems (IS) researchers have developed a substantial base of theoretical and empirical research for investigating phenomena associated with information technology (IT) infrastructure and IS implementation. The majority of prior studies have focused on perceptions of IS use, usefulness, support, and similar organizational and human aspects of implementation; however, recent empirical results suggest the importance of technical issues in IS implementation. As a first step toward providing more empirical research on the impact of technological issues in IS implementation, this paper reports on the development and test of a model that captures the dimensions of technological changes in IT infrastructure. Using a survey of 302 individuals who recently participated in a software upgrade, evidence is provided on the content validity, construct validity, and reliability of an instrument measuring four dimensions of perceived technological change in IS
Lethal progression of a fetal intracranial arteriovenous malformation.

Fetal intracranial vascular tumors present unique clinical challenges. Accurate diagnosis of the lesion, as well as an understanding of the local and systemic impacts, will guide the antenatal surveillance and the treatment plan and will determine the prognosis. Management will be altered by and dependent on intrauterine progression, gestational age, and fetal condition at birth. In addition, large vascular tumors can lead to the development of the Kasabach-Merritt sequence in the fetus and to either fetal or maternal hemodynamic impairment. Vascular tumors are either malformations or neoplasms.' Color and pulsed wave Doppler sonography are useful for the identification of vascular lesions and help narrow the differential diagnosis. 2 Once a vascular malformation is identified, a comprehensive anatomic survey is mandatory to determine whether there are coexistent malformations that impact either the diagnosis or prognosis. These lesions can have local mass effects, systemic hemodynamic effects, or both. Therefore, longitudinal assessment of the fetus is focused on the detection of lesion progression and on any fetal or maternal status changes. We report the prenatal diagnosis of an intracranial arteriovenous malformation (AVM) with a dramatic progression affecting both mother and fetus.
A Review of “The Quest for Citizenship: African American and Native American Education in Kansas”

Kim Cary Warren's The Quest for Citizenship: African American and Native American Education in Kansas, 1880–1935 analyzes the similarities and differences between the schooling journeys of these tw...
A minimum-error entropy criterion with self-adjusting step-size (MEE-SAS)

In this paper, we propose a minimum-error entropy with self-adjusting step -size (MEE-SAS) as an alternative to the minimum-error entropy (MEE) algorithm for training adaptive systems. MEE-SAS has faster speed of convergence as compared to MEE algorithm for the same misadjustment. We attribute the self-adjusting step-size property of MEE-SAS to its changing curvature as opposed to MEE which has a constant curvature. Analysis of the curvature shows that MEE-SAS converges faster in noisy scenarios than noise-free scenario, thus making it more suitable for practical applications as shown in our simulations. Finally, in case of non-stationary environment, MEE-SAS loses its tracking ability due to the ''flatness'' of the curvature near the optimal solution. We overcome this problem by proposing a switching scheme between MEE and MEE-SAS algorithms for non-stationary scenario, which effectively combines the speed of MEE-SAS when far from the optimal solution with the tracking ability of MEE when near the solution. We demonstrate the performance of the switching algorithm in system identification in non-stationary environment.
Tag Return Estimation of Annual and Semiannual Survival Rates of Adult Female Blue Crabs

Abstract Stock status of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus in Chesapeake Bay is determined by comparing current estimates of fishing mortality with biological reference points. Given the recent focus on blue crab conservation, there is a need to obtain reliable estimates of survival to compare with the biological reference points. A tagging program was initiated on the terminally molted, mature female component of the Chesapeake Bay blue crab stock to estimate annual and semiannual survival rates. Crabs were obtained from fishery-independent research surveys throughout the bay and were measured, tagged, and released on-site. Tagging was conducted twice per year (winter and summer) from November 2001 to March 2005. Annual survival and tag recovery rates were estimated independently for the winter and summer tagging data using Brownie models. The two independent estimates of annual survival based on winter tagging (mean ± SE = 0.081 ± 0.031) and summer tagging (0.080 ± 0.024) data were virtually identical a...
Relaxation kinetics of the helix-coil transition of a self-complementary ribo-oligonucleotide: A7U7.

Abstract Relaxation measurements on the kinetics of the double helix to coil transition for the self-complementary ribo-oligonucleotide A7U7 are reported over a concentration range of 6.9 μM to 19.6 μM in single strand in 1 M NaCl. The rate constants for helix formation are about 2 × 106 M−1 s−1 and decrease with increasing temperature yielding an activation enthalpy of −6 kcal mole . The rate constants for helix dissociation range from 3 to 250 s−1 and increase with increasing temperature yielding an activation enthalpy of +45 kcal mole . The kinetic data reported here for 1 M NaCl is compared with previously published results obtained at lower salt concentrations. These data are discussed in terms of the quantitative effect of ionic strength on the kinetics of helix-coil transitions in oligo- and polynucleotides.
Sibling Incest: A Model for Group Practice with Adult Female Victims of Brother–Sister Incest

Working with groups of people who have been sexually abused introduces mutual experiential themes into the process that can be beneficial and meaningful. This paper discusses brother–sister incestuous sexual abuse with implications for group work. Literature and research is reviewed concerning sexual abuse, incest, family relationships, and theories that aid in explaining incest. Themes covered include: effects of incest, coping methods, blaming, and family of the victim. Common themes are explored and implications for group work are suggested on the basis of length, detail, structure, content, and pre-group contact.
RAG Reexpression and DNA Recombination at T Cell Receptor Loci in Peripheral CD4+ T Cells

Abstract Under most circumstances, allelic exclusion at the T cell receptor (TCR)β locus is tightly regulated. Here, we describe a system in which TCRβ allelic exclusion is overcome as a result of V(D)J recombination in peripheral CD4 + T cells. In TCR β chain transgenic mice, tolerogen-mediated chronic peripheral selection against cells expressing the transgene leads to surface expression of endogenous TCR β chains. Peripheral CD4 + T cells reexpress the recombination activating genes, RAG1 and RAG2 , and contain signal end intermediates indicative of ongoing V(D)J recombination. The rescue from deletion of mature T cells expressing newly generated TCR β chains suggests that receptor revision plays a role in the maintenance of peripheral T cell tolerance.
Image Recovery via Diffusion Tensor and Time-Delay Regularization

We present a system of PDEs for image restoration, which consists of an anisotropic diffusion equation driven by a diffusion tensor, whose structure depends on the gradient of the image obtained from a coupled time-delay regularization equation, and governs the direction and the speed of the diffusion. The diffusion resulting from this model is isotropic inside a homogeneous region, anisotropic along its boundary, and is able to connect broken edges and enhance coherent structures. Experimental results are given to show its effectiveness in tracking edges and recovering images with high levels of noise. Moreover, the proposed model can be interpreted as a time continuous Hopfield neural network. This connection further illustrates how the proposed model enhances coherent structures. The existence, uniqueness, and stability for the solutions of the PDEs are proved.
Volumetric measurement of the hippocampus, the anterior cingulate cortex, and the retrosplenial granular cortex of the rat using structural MRI.

MRI imaging of the rodent brain is a rapidly growing field in the neurosciences. Relatively limited information is available for regional volume determination. The present paper describes a reliable method for the assessment of the hippocampus, the anterior cingulate cortex, the retrosplenial granular cortex and the ventricles in rats. MRI scans were acquired using a 7 T magnet. The anatomical sampling method was found to be highly reliable with an intra-rater reliability of greater than 0.93. The current protocol should facilitate future in vivo neuroimaging research using animal models of neurodegenerative diseases.
Secular Psychology among Members of an American Catholic Church

Studies of religious psychological orientation indicate that historically there has been a decline of the Catholic orientation and a rise of Protestantism and a secular psychology ( 4 ) . Greeley (3) suggests chat along with this secularization there has concomitandy been a decline in acceptance of the legitimacy of ecclesiastical authority in the Catholic Church. To examine further the ubiquitousness of secular psychology among members of Catholicism a sample of 150 familier was randomly selected from 1,472 families of an American Catholic church in the southwest. A majority of the 1,472 families had Hispanic surnames and were middle class. The author served as one of their church counselors. A checklist questionnaire of four items was sent to the 150 sampled families. Despite a covering letter from the pastor of the church asking for cooperation, and the enclosure of a self-addressed stamped envelope, only 18% of the sample responded. Although there was no follow-up, this might reflect a lack of ecclesiastical authority for the members. This interpretation is further supported by the data from respondents as only 11% said that any members of their family went to confession regularly. There is additional evidence of a secular psychology among respondents in the response rate to the question whether the Continuing Catholic Development ("Sunday" school) teachers should be paid for something which has traditionally been volunteer work for God. This reflects a secular orientation ( 4 ) . A slight majority of the families ( 5 6 % ) felt that there should be payment. Further corroboration of this secularization is reflected by a cross-tabulation between whether or not the Continuing Catholic Development teachers should be paid and regularity of church attendance. Regularity of
Asymptotic correlation functions in the one-dimensional Hubbard model with applications to high-Tc superconductivity.

The one-dimensional Hubbard model with repulsive interaction is studied. We calculate the asymptotic correlation functions in the less-than-half-filled band case. In particular, our approach centers on the large-U wave function and emphasizes the finite phase shifts on the Fermi surface. This is important since the concept of finite phase shifts can be easily applied to higher dimensions. We then discuss the non-Fermi-liquid behavior of this model and the relevance to the understanding of the two-dimensional Hubbard model, which is believed to give a good description of the high-${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ superconductors.
Selective ultrafilters and homogeneity

We develop a game-theoretic approach to partition theorems, like those of Mathias, Taylor, and Louveau, involving ultrafilters. Using this approach, we extend these theorems to contexts involving several ultrafilters. We also develop an analog of Mathias forcing for such contexts and use it to show that the proposition (considered by Laver and Prikry) “every non-trivial c.c.c. forcing adjoins Cohen-generic reals or random reals” implies the non-existence of P-points. We show that, in the model obtained by Levy collapsing to ω all cardinals below a Mahlo cardinal ;, any countably many selective ultrafilters are mutually generic over the Solovay (Lebesgue measure) submodel. Finally, we show that a certain natural group of self-homeomorphisms of βω-ω, chosen so as to preserve selectivity of ultrafilters, in fact preserves isomorphism types.
Group Cohesion, Collective Efficacy, and Motivational Climate as Predictors of Conductor Support in Music Ensembles:

In the present study, we examined whether collective efficacy, group cohesion (task and social), and perceived motivational climate (task-involving and ego-involving orientations) in a music ensemble predict instrumentalists' perceived conductor support. Ninety-one (N = 91) skilled high school instrumentalists participated in the study. To assess the variables, participants responded to a number of surveys during rehearsals. It was hypothesized that instrumentalists' perceptions of collective efficacy, group cohesion, and a task-involving motivational climate cultivated by the conductor would predict conductor support. Results showed that, collectively, these variables accounted for 46% of the variance in instrumentalist perceptions of a supportive conductor. Findings of this study may provide guidance on how conductors can create learning environments that instill a strong sense of support for their instrumentalists.
Correlation of fine aggregate imaging shape indices with asphalt mixture performance

This study addresses the relationship between fine aggregate shape properties and the performance of hot-mix asphalt. Aggregate shape was expressed as three independent properties: form, angularity, and texture. Image analysis procedures and indices were developed to capture these properties. The indices were measured for 22 aggregate samples. The samples were related to the hot-mix asphalt rutting resistance measured under wet and dry conditions in the Purdue wheel-tracking device. Among the different aggregate shape properties, texture had the strongest correlation with rutting resistance. Resistance to rutting increased exponentially with an increase in aggregate texture.
Passive damping and velocity sensing using magnetostrictive transduction

Magnetostrictive Terfenol-D transducers are an attractive alternative to viscoelastic dampers, and electrodynamic and piezoelectric actuators for damping and self-sensing. These advantages include high stiffness and primary load carrying capability, high power density, low voltages, and low temperature sensitivity. Terfenol-D converts 50 percent of the transducer strain energy into magnetic field energy. Because the Terfenol-D transducer is a primary load carrying member, large amounts of structural energy are converted into magnetic field energy. This magnetic field energy is converted into electric energy by a surrounding coil and dissipated in a resistor to provide damping. The voltage developed in the surrounding coil is proportional to the strain rate of the magnetostrictive material, thus producing a velocity signal. This velocity signal can be used for colocated active damping by controlling coil current based on coil voltage induced by transducer velocity. Experiments using a Terfenol-D actuator capable of 65 microns motion and 1,000 N force showed modal loss factors to 0.22 (relative damping to 0.11) and velocity sensing scale factors to 183 volts/(meter/sec). Room temperature tests of a transducer designed for 77 degree(s)K use showed only 20 percent reductions in damping and velocity signals. Magnetic modeling supports the damping and sensing observations.
Age-related relative volume preservation of the dominant hand cortical region

Aging is usually associated with a progressive difficulty in learning new skills. Similarly, the dexterity in the non-dominant hand is usually decreased with age, while the dominant hand maintains a relative preservation in agility. We investigated if age-related volume loss affects the hand areas asymmetrically by comparing structural measures of the dominant hand area versus the non-dominant area. We performed a region of interest analysis of T1-weighted images focusing on the sensorimotor cortex corresponding to the hand area. We evaluated images from young subjects (younger than 65 years of age, n=38, mean age=24+/-7 years) and senior subjects (65 years or older, n=61, mean age =73+/-6 years). We observed that older adults exhibited greater leftward gray matter asymmetry of sensorimotor cortex, due in large part to more pronounced age-related loss of gray matter in the right hemisphere. These results are consistent with evidence that disuse leads to atrophy and suggest that age-related declines in gray matter, and perhaps function, may be limited by increasing the use of the non-dominant hand.
Tax structure and the size of government: An empirical analysis of the fiscal illusion and fiscal stress arguments

This study attempts to fulfill a number of objectives. One is the (possible) reconciliation of two divergent strains of thought concerning the size of government: fiscal illusion and fiscal stress. In this respect, the results show little evidence of fiscal illusion, but provide support for some of the notions associated with the fiscal stress hypothesis, namely the effects of revenue and income variability on the size of government.
Protoplast formation and cell wall regeneration in Clostridium thermocellum

A protocol was developed for the production ofClostridium thermocellum protoplasts and the regeneration of protoplasts into vegetative cells. Protoplasts were prepared by exposure of whole cells to lysozyme (125 ug/ml for 10 min. at 45 C). Protoplasts plated on regeneration agar reverted to walled cells with a frequency of up to approximately 0.3 % of input cells.
How well does patient self-report predict asthma medication possession? Implications for medication reconciliation and adherence assessment.

Background. Self-report is the most commonly used method for collecting information regarding asthma medication possession and adherence in clinical practice. Objective. To determine the agreement between self-report and pharmacy claims data for asthma medication possession. Methods. This is a retrospective study that examined pharmacy claims data 12 months before and after participants completed a structured asthma survey. This study was performed in a sample of health care workers and dependents >17 years old in a large, self-insured Midwestern United States health care center. The main outcome measure was agreement (kappa calculation) between self-report and pharmacy claims data of asthma medication possession. Results. Self-report of asthma medication use agreed moderately with pharmacy claims data for short-acting albuterol (κ = 0.47 ± 0.03), salmeterol (κ = 0.79 ± 0.04), and montelukast (κ = 0.69 ± 0.03) but only slightly for inhaled corticosteroids (κ = 0.18 ± 0.03) and prednisone (κ = 0.10 ± 0.03)...
Functional inactivation of genes by dominant negative mutations

Molecular biologists are increasingly faced with the problem of assigning a function to genes that have been cloned. A new approach to this problem involves the manipulation of the cloned gene to create what are known as 'dominant negative' mutations. These encode mutant polypeptides that when overexpressed disrupt the activity of the wild-type gene. There are many precedents for this kind of behaviour in the literature--some oncogenes might be examples of naturally occurring dominant negative mutations.
PAR: A CSG-based unique representation scheme for rotational parts

PAR (principal axis representation) for rotational parts (i.e., solids of revolution) is proposed as an internal representation scheme for constructive solid geometry (CSG). They key idea of PAR is to represent an object uniquely by its principal axis and a set of boundary curves. Since PAR is in an evaluated form, geometrical properties of parts can be computed more directly and efficiently from this evaluated representation than from the original CSG tree. The scheme is described, and operations (e.g. union) on PARs are defined. The uniqueness of the scheme is proved. An algorithm that converts a CSG representation into PAR is presented along with examples. The equivalence of PAR to the CSG scheme for rotational parts is proved.
Isospin symmetry in nuclear transitions from pion scattering.

A collection of transition matrix elements from pion scattering to natural parity states of spin-zero nuclear targets has been generated from [pi][sup +] and [pi][sup [minus]] inelastic scattering, with results for proton, neutron, and isoscalar transitions, using a consistent reaction model and data from many sources. These are compared to electromagnetic results, to isoscalar results from folding analyses of alpha particle scattering, and to neutron matrix elements inferred by a variety of methods. Good agreement is generally found among these determinations. Comparison of neutron to proton matrix elements shows a simple proportionality to the neutron and proton numbers of the target, reflecting a simple bulk symmetry for a wide range of multipolarities, target masses, and transition strengths.
Aberrant expression of immunoglobulin mRNA in bovine leukemia virus-infected cattle.

Abstract Our objective was to determine whether bovine leukemia virus (BLV) integration and expression affect the expression of host genes that function in immune responses and cell proliferation. Freshly isolated mIgM+ cells obtained from BLV-infected cows with persistent lymphocytosis (PL) expressed increased Ig-μ mRNA and decreased mRNA for Ig-λ relative to infected and uninfected animals that had normal peripheral lymphocyte counts. In contrast, there was no correlation between BLV-infection status and expression of major histocompatibility complex (Mhc) Class I or Class II genes. The induction of BLV expression in mIgM+ cells from animals with PL did not affect significantly the levels of Mhc Class I, Class II, Ig-μ or Ig-λ mRNA. Phorbol ester-induced c-fos mRNA expression was greater in the BLV-infected cell line BL3∗ than the uninfected parental cell line BL3°. However, the level of c-fos expression did not appear different compared with its induction in peripheral blood B cells from seronegative animals and animals with PL. We conclude that the BLV early and late phase proteins have no effect on Ig or Mhc mRNA levels, but that freshly isolated mIgM+ cells from PL animals constitutively express increased Ig-μ and decreased Ig-λ mRNA. These data suggest that the increase in Ig-μ and mIgM on B cells from PL cows is related to a differentiation state rather than trans-activation by BLV.
Lessons Learned and Unanswered Questions About Sexual Assault Perpetration

The most important lesson learned about interpersonal violence in the past 20 years is the astonishingly high prevalence of sexual assault in American society. The extensiveness of unreported sexual assault has been repeatedly documented through the use of self-report data from well-constructed surveys of victims and perpetrators. In contrast, little has been learned about how to effectively reduce rates of sexual assault perpetration. Theoretically derived universal prevention programs targeted at adolescents are sorely needed.
The in vitro release of LH during continuous superfusion of single rat anterior pituitary glands.

SummaryStimulation of single rat anterior pituitary glands has been obtained in a continuously superfused system as demonstrated by radioimmunoassay of LH in the superfusate. The results show the possibility of repeatedly stimulating a single pituitary gland, with approximately graded responses to hypothalamic extracts, in presence of a constant basal release rate. The data indicate that a relatively constant basal release rate is obtained under these conditions and that intermittent administration of hypothalamic extracts results in repeated acute release of LH. The period of release was largely limited to the time during which hypothalamic extract was administered. Equivalent amounts of cerebral cortex extract only produced slight increase of LH concentration in the superfusate.
Minimal versus Umbilical Waist Circumference Measures as Indicators of Cardiovascular Disease Risk

WILLIS, LESLIE H., CRIS A. SLENTZ, JOSEPH A. HOUMARD, JOHANNA L. JOHNSON, BRIAN D. DUSCHA, LORI B. AIKEN, AND WILLIAM E. KRAUS. Minimal versus umbilical waist circumference measures as indicators of cardiovascular disease risk. Obesity. 2007;15: 753–759. Objective: Measures of central obesity are strongly correlated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Although waist circumference (WC) is a commonly used measure of central obesity, there is no standard measurement location. We examined two WC locations to determine which was more highly correlated with CVD risk factors and metabolic syndrome (MS). Research Methods and Procedures: WC measures were taken on 266 sedentary, overweight men and women 45 to 60 years old. Intravenous glucose tolerance tests, fasting plasma lipid analysis, and computed tomography scans were conducted. Correlational analyses followed by the Test for Equal Correlations determined whether one WC measure better correlated with the cardiovascular risk factors. Results: In women, minimal waist had higher correlation coefficients than umbilical waist for all eight variables presented. High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein particle size, and MS score were significantly correlated with minimal waist, but not umbilical waist. For high-density lipoprotein size and insulin sensitivity, minimal waist was a better correlate, although the difference between waist measures only approached statistical significance (p 0.06). In men, minimal waist had a higher correlation coefficient than umbilical waist for insulin sensitivity, fasting insulin, and visceral adipose tissue. Additionally, minimal waist was significantly correlated with MS in men and umbilical waist was not. For both genders, minimal waist was more highly correlated with visceral adipose tissue than umbilical waist. Discussion: For every metabolic variable presented, minimal WC was more highly correlated with CVD risk than was umbilical WC in women. The data for women indicate that WC location is important when determining CVD risk. In men, minimal waist was better, although the data were less compelling.
Implementing lung cancer screening: a checklist

1 ISSN 1758-1966 10.2217/LMT.13.76 © 2014 Future Medicine Ltd Lung Cancer Manage. (2014) 3(1), 1–4 Based on the results of the NLST [1], the US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) has affirmed its recommendation regarding the value of low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans in finding early lung cancer [2]. The next steps entail ensuring provisions for appropriate reimbursement followed by national implementation of this screening service. From a clinical perspective, low-dose CT management is quite different from existing management strategies of clinically detected lung cancer. Therefore the transition to this new management approach may be challenging. Inherent in the emergence of lung cancer screening as a recommended service is that the optimal organizational structure to provide this service is not fully defined. Recent articles have outlined how risk stratification and diagnostic workups as well as surgical interventions can be refined to further improve screening outcomes [1,3,4]. For a new multidisciplinary team beginning to provide lung cancer screening care what is the best strategy for rapidly implementing the delivery of safe, quality screening service? Recently, the ‘checklist’ approach has been advocated as a mechanism that decreases harm and enhances the favorable outcomes of complex pathways of care [101]. In this editorial, we will use a checklist as a metaphor to propose how to facilitate the evolution of high-quality lung cancer screening. So what is the checklist to ensure prudent attention to core issues as institutions consider implementation of a lung cancer screening program (Box 1). A critical initial factor is to coordinate this process with the appropriate institutional administrators. An institutional commitment to finance the necessary infrastructure should include space allocation and the provision of the informatic and ancillary staff support required for a successful inception of a screening program. The USPSTF has finalize their recommendation for lung cancer screening services, but a number of private insurers have not yet added this service to their coverage provisions. Therefore, for the intermediate term, such reimbursement issues need to be addressed proactively, so that appropriate financial provisions can be arranged so that individuals that require further
Polarity-sensitive position controller for MEMS-based radiation sensing

Abstract To successfully deploy many advanced radiation detection schemes, strict control of the system's response to environmental influences is required. For micromechanical radiation detectors in particular, highly sensitive lever-motion sensors––with resolutions in the picometer range––require not only mechanical control, but overall thermal and electrical control in order to maintain a constant system response. In this work, we report on the successful development of a piezo-electric actuator controller that maintains sub-nanometer precision in a noisy environment. The inadequacy of proportional-integral-differential (PID) controllers is demonstrated and explained, and the implementation of a polarity-sensitive controller is detailed. The resulting temporal control scheme can be profitably deployed for other nonlinear systems requiring drift-free control.
Amitriptyline inhibits neurite outgrowth in chick cerebral neurons: A possible mechanism

Previous studies showed that amitriptyline (AMI), a tricyclic antidepressant, inhibited neurite outgrowth from chick embryonic cerebral explants and inhibited adenylyl cyclase activity in cerebral membrane preparations. In the present study, we have investigated the possibility that AMI may have additional effects on cellular metabolism and signal transduction that underlie AMI-mediated inhibition of neurite outgrowth. In vitro AMI inhibited phospholipase C in a dose- and GTP-dependent manner in membranes from 8-day-old chick forebrain. Brain homogenates from 8-day-old chick embryos, treated in vivo for 6 days with AMI (20 μg/g/day), showed significant reductions in (1) phosphorylation of two polypeptides (49 and 105 kD), and (2) levels of three polypeptides (43, 53, and 92 kD). Western blots showed that the 43- and 53-kD polypeptides corresponded to actin and tubulin, respectively. Diolein and dilinolein, potent activators of protein kinase C, stimulated neurite outgrowth and reversed the inhibitory effects of AMI. Sphingosine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, significantly inhibited neurite outgrowth and eliminated the stimulatory effects of diolein and dilinolein on neurite outgrowth. These data suggest that AMI-mediated inhibition of neurite outgrowth involves multiple effects on cellular metabolism and signal transduction. A hypothesis consistent with our data is that AMI interferes in some manner with the action of G proteins in the signal transduction cascade. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Propagating updates through XML views using lineage tracing

We address the problem of updating XML views over relational data by translating view updates expressed in the XQuery update facility to embedded SQL updates. Although our XML views may be defined using the full extent of the XQuery syntax, they can only connect relational tables through restricted one-to-many relationships that do not cause view side effects for a wide range of XQuery updates. Our approach is to use lineage tracing to propagate the necessary information about the origins of updatable data pieces through the query and the view code, to be used when these pieces are to be updated. Our system performs a compile-time analysis, based on polymorphic type inference and type usage, to detect the exclusive data sources, which are the table columns from the database that can be updated without causing side-effects to the view. The rest of the updates are associated with an update context in the form of a chain of tuples, which reflects the navigation path that was used to reach the update destination. At commit time, our system collectively considers all the compatible chains of all updates in the transaction and tries to relink them to new chains from the existing database whose tuples contain the updated data, so that the updates are reflected correctly without causing side effects to the other components of the view.
The Effects of Framing Grades on Student Learning and Preferences

Two experiments examined whether framing effects, in terms of losses and gains, can be extended to student learning and grading preferences. In Experiment 1, participants rated psychology course sy...
Bupropion-induced angioedema.

Purpose. A case of angioedema caused by bupropion used for smoking cessation is discussed. Summary. A 33-year-old man with a 12-pack-year of smoking history developed a rash on his extremities 18 days after the initiation of bupropion, followed by pruritus and swelling of the arms, feet, lower lip, and tongue by day 20. Progression subsided after treatment with intravenous histamine antagonists and corticosteroids and required two emergency department visits. On day 22, the patient took his morning dose of bupropion as scheduled, which resulted in his symptoms returning. He discontinued bupropion on his own. The recommendation to discontinue the drug was not made or documented by the treating clinician. By day 23, the diarrhea had subsided, the next day his swelling disappeared, and by day 25, the pruritus had ceased. Cases of angioedema, a rare adverse effect of bupropion, have not been extensively described in previous literature. The reaction is linked to medications in 90% of all cases. Nonpitting edema typically affects the head and neck and may progress to respiratory failure. Failure to remove the causative agent may increase patient risk and result in increased health care costs, both of which occurred in this case. According to the Naranjo et al. probability scale, bupropion was deemed a definitive causative agent for this adverse reaction. Conclusion. A 33-year-old man developed angioedema during treatment with bupropion for smoking cessation.
Inhibitory effects of tamoxifen and tumor necrosis factor α on human glioblastoma cells

We reported previously that tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) inhibited proliferation and invasiveness of human malignant glial cells. Because tamoxifen, an estrogen antagonist, has also been shown to inhibit growth of such cells, we hypothesized that a combination of tamoxifen and TNFα might be more effective than either reagent alone. TNFα (1–100 ng/ml) or tamoxifen (80 ng/ml-2 μg/ml) alone inhibited proliferation of a human glioblastoma cell line (WITG3) in a dose-dependent fashion; in combination, tamoxifen and TNFα yielded additive growth inhibition. Apoptotic cells characterized by nuclear fragmentation were detectable after 48 h of TNFα or tamoxifen exposure and were significantly increased by combination treatment. In non-neoplastic human astroglia and fibroblasts, proliferation was unaffected by tamoxifen, and enhanced by TNFα as previously reported. Staurosporine (2–50 nM), which has been reported to augment the effects of TNFα, was less effective than tamoxifen against WITG3 and, in addition, was markedly inhibitory to non-neoplastic glial cells. Binding studies yielded no evidence of WITG3 estrogen or progesterone receptors, nor of tamoxifen effects on TNFα receptors. Data suggest that TNFα and tamoxifen in combination display growth-regulatory properties, which (a) are more inhibitory to human glioblastoma cells than either agent alone, (b) do not affect non-neoplastic glia, (c) do not require either estrogen/ progesterone receptors or alteration of external TNFα receptors, and (d) may involve apoptosis.
Assignment of the genome segment coding for the neutralizing epitope(s) of orbiviruses in the Great Island subgroup (Kemerovo serogroup).

Abstract Reassortant viruses were produced from high-frequency recombination events between temperature-sensitive ( ts ) mutants of Broadhaven (BRD) (S. R. Moss and P. A. Nuttall, Virus Res. 4, 331–336, 1986) and Wexford (WEX) viruses, two serotypes in the Kemerovo serogroup of orbiviruses. The parental origin of each of the 10 genomic segments comprising each reassortant was determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Comparison of neutralization titers with the results of genomic dsRNA analyses revealed that genome segment 5 codes for the neutralizing epitope(s). Kemerovo group viruses therefore differ from orbiviruses of the bluetongue serogroup in which segment 2 codes for the neutralizing epitopes ( M. J. Grubman, J. A. Appleton, and G. J. Letchworth, Virology 131, 355–366,1983 ; J. Kahlon, K. Sugiyama, and P. Roy, J. Virol. 48, 627–632, 1983 ). Results also indicated that the is lesions in mutants of recombination groups II, III, and VI were in segments 1, 5, and 4, respectively. Reassortment of segments 2 and 10 appeared to be nonrandom, and evidence of possible “linkage” was obtained for segments 3 and 9.
A Storage and Retrieval Technique for Scalable Delivery of MPEG-Encoded Video

Concurrent retrieval of continuous media from a physical storage device can be achieved by interleaving data and providing a suitable scheduling algorithm. Scheduling approaches that exploit gains from statistical multiplexing are susceptible to a nonzero probability of frame loss due to the variable-bit-rate characteristic of compressed video. With interframe encoding schemes (such as specified by the MPEG standard), the losses propagate, resulting in a net loss of frames that exceeds the fraction of lost data. In this paper, we describe a mechanism for the storage and retrieval of MPEG-encoded video from a single disk storage system. The scheme balances the need for the reliable delivery of MPEG frames with the desire to support the largest number of sessions. Our approach reorganizes the MPEG-encoded video stream based on the relative importance of the frames and maps them to the storage device geometry. The reorganization reduces the impact of frames lost due to missed deadlines and distributes the frame losses over time and among sessions. Simulation results show that the new approach improves performance when compared to conventional storage and scheduling schemes.
A chemical test for determining biological availability of aged chemicals in soil.

Abstract Aging is one of several processes that are known to affect exposure of chemicals to organisms by decreasing the available fraction of chemical contaminants in soil. This phenomenon has important implications in the assessment of the hazards of chemicals and regulations for soil cleanup. Passive sampling devices (PSDs) are potentially direct chemical indicators for assessing bioavailability of pesticides (and other chemicals). PSDs consist of lipophilic material within a semi-permeable membrane, similar to biological systems. In this study, a pesticide mixture was aged in soil for up to eight months. Earthworms and PSDs were placed in soil and chemical uptake into both was determined over time. Uptake rates into PSDs and maximum concentrations were observed to positively correlate with uptake rates and maximum concentrations in earthworms for both of the soil types studied (sandy loam, silt loam). These results indicate that PSDs may be used as a surrogate for earthworms and provide a chemical tec...
Intersubband absorption in Nb-clad InAs quantum wells

Abstract We use mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy to investigate the contact region at the Nb/InAs superconductor/semiconductor interface. We observe a remnant of the intersubband (ISB) resonance in Nb-clad InAs quantum wells, both in samples where we have grown Nb directly on InAs in situ, and samples where we have etch exposed the InAs surface before depositing the Nb. The presence of this remnant ISB indicates partial confinement of the electrons to the InAs. The similar resonance widths in the MBE grown Nb/InAs sample and the samples with Nb on etched InAs suggest that coupling of electron states in the InAs to those in Nb, rather than etch-induced damage, produces most of the resonance broadening.
Image segmentation techniques for improved processing of landmine responses in ground-penetrating radar data

As ground penetrating radar sensor phenomenology improves, more advanced statistical processing approaches become applicable to the problem of landmine detection in GPR data. Most previous studies on landmine detection in GPR data have focused on the application of statistics and physics based prescreening algorithms, new feature extraction approaches, and improved feature classification techniques. In the typical framework, prescreening algorithms provide spatial location information of anomalous responses in down-track / cross-track coordinates, and feature extraction algorithms are then tasked with generating low-dimensional information-bearing feature sets from these spatial locations. However in time-domain GPR, a significant portion of the data collected at prescreener flagged locations may be unrelated to the true anomaly responses - e.g. ground bounce response, responses either temporally "before" or "after" the anomalous response, etc. The ability to segment the information-bearing region of the GPR image from the background of the image may thus provide improved performance for feature-based processing of anomaly responses. In this work we will explore the application of Markov random fields (MRFs) to the problem of anomaly/background segmentation in GPR data. Preliminary results suggest the potential for improved feature extraction and overall performance gains via application of image segmentation approaches prior to feature extraction.
Does compliance matter? Assessing the relationship between sovereign risk and compliance with international monetary law

An important theory of international cooperation asserts that governments comply with international law because of the reputational costs incurred by reneging on public agreements. Countries that sign binding international agreements in the realm of monetary relations signal their commitment to an open economic system, which should reassure international market actors that the government is committed to sound economic policies. If the theory is correct, we should observe evidence that noncompliance is in fact costly. I test this argument by examining the effect of noncompliance with Article VIII of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement on sovereign risk ratings. The results show that noncompliance with the agreement mitigates any benefits that accrue to Article VIII signatories. The empirical evidence suggests that, in addition to improving economic and political conditions at home, governments in the developing world would improve their access to financial markets by signing and complying with international monetary agreements.
Double-layered patella in multiple epiphyseal dysplasia: A valuable clue in the diagnosis

Bilateral double-layered patella, a form of partite patella consisting of anterior and posterior components, was diagnosed in three children with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia. The literature on double-layered patella, its relationship to multiple epiphyseal dysplasia, radiographic findings, and clinical implications are reviewed.
Polysomnography outcomes for partial intracapsular versus total tonsillectomy

Abstract Objective To demonstrate similar improvement in pediatric sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) as determined by polysomnography (PSG) with microdebrider-assisted partial intracapsular tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (PITA) versus Bovie electrocautery complete tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (TA this difference was not statistically significant (Fisher exact test P = 1.000). There was no significant interaction or substantial confounding effect of age, sex, race, preoperative tonsil size, preoperative AHI, or body mass index in the model relating surgery type to reduction of postoperative AHI to ≤5. Conclusions Our study demonstrates no clinically or statistically significant differences in PSG and clinical outcomes between PITA and T&A for treatment of pediatric SDB in otherwise healthy children.
Charge-Coupled Device Image Acquisition For Digital Phase Measurement Interferometry

Direct phase measurement interferometry can provide a fast and accurate means of obtaining surface data. Solid-state detector arrays are ideal imaging devices for these instruments. These imagers can be coupled to micro-computers for phase calculation. This article discusses the use of CCD arrays and techniques for digitizing and interfacing these arrays to microcomputers.
Total intensity light scattering from short, optically anisotropic wormlike chains

Simple exact equations are derived for intensity light scattering from optically anisotropic wormlike chains in the absence of excluded volume. The results are valid at low scattering angles (q2 〈R2G〉 ≲ 1) for all sormilke chains from rigid rods to random couils. The present work and an earlier theory [Nagai, K. (1972) Polym. J.3, 67–83] appear to be equivalent, although they were both derived using different methods. The present work is primarily concerned with short wormlike chains, since intensity light scattering from short fragments may provide valuable information about DNA flexibility. By using the results of this work to reanalyze some older light-scattering studies [Godfrey, J. E. & Eisenberg, H. (1976) Biophys. Chem.5, 301–318], it is shown that anisotropy corrections to polarized light-scattering measurements have been overcorrected in the past. It can be anticipated that future light-scattering experiments will determine the base-pair anisotropy.
Lithofacies and water-body record of Messinian evaporites in Nijar Basin, SE Spain

Abstract The depositional lithofacies and fabrics of Messinian evaporites have been studied to evaluate the palaeodepth of water body in Nijar Basin, SE Spain. The Nijar Messinian strata consist of three formations: Abad marls, Yesares evaporites, and Feos rocks. Gypsum deposits dominate the Yesares Formation and the basal Feos Formation. Six gypsum lithofacies have been identified including coarse twinned selenite, grass-like selenite, hemiradial to radial selenite, turbidite selenite in the Yesares Formation; and gypsum conglomerate, laminated gypsum, and hemiradial to radial selenite in the Feos Formation. The size of Yesares selenites decreases upward while carbonate content and trace-element abundance increase in each selenite bed and the whole formation, suggesting a shallowing-up sequence. These gypsum lithofacies were deposited in subaqueous environments commonly at 10–30 m and occasionally up to 100 m or deeper for the turbiditic selenites based on the interpretations of gypsum fabrics, marl intervals, basin configuration, and geochemistry. The sea level of Nijar Basin experienced two major drops with a magnitude of ∼ 40 m before and after the deposition of Yesares evaporites. However, the basin was never desiccated during the evaporite deposition and the change of sea level for the alternative deposition of gypsum beds and marl intervals was commonly around 50–80 m, probably resulting from the glacio-eustacy fluctuations. Feos gypsum reflects another evaporative event and is correlated to the “Upper Evaporite” while the Yesares selenite is correlated to the “Lower Evaporite” based on the interpretations of lithofacies, geochemistry, and sealevel change. As seawater in Nijar Basin was continuously supplied by the central Mediterranean basins and remained in subaqueous conditions during the Messinian salinity crisis, therefore, the desiccation theory needs to be reexamined.