cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development and Validation of a Circumplex Measure of the Interpersonal Culture in Work Teams and Organizations

Interpersonal circumplex (IPC) inventories assess a range of dispositions but can condense and compare their findings within a circular model defined by two factors: agency and communion. Whereas other IPC inventories assess individuals, the current research introduces IPC inventories assessing the interpersonal culture (interaction and communication norms) characterizing an entire organization or team-namely, the Circumplex Culture Scan (CCS) and Circumplex Team Scan (CTS). Across an initial development sample (n = 1676), online validation sample (CCS, n = 808; CTS, n = 832), and onsite validation sample (CCS, n = 516 respondents from 21 organizations; CTS, n = 347 respondents from 38 teams), the eight 8-item CCS/CTS octant scales demonstrated good internal consistencies, circumplex properties, reliable within-group agreement and between-group variance (thus justifying aggregation across an organization/team), and convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity in relation to other measures. According to their members, the organizations/teams with the most satisfied members and customers/clients were organizations/teams with considerably stronger communal (e.g., being open and respectful) than uncommunal (e.g., being rude and guarded) norms and somewhat stronger agentic (e.g., being eager and assertive) than unagentic (e.g., being cautious and quiet) norms. The CCS/CTS complements existing IPC and organizational culture measures and helps bridge the IPC and organizational literatures.
Analysis of Anti-Retaliation Provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act in Relation to Foreign Whistleblowers

Given the increasing globalization of corporations and the interest of Congress in increasing the incentives for whistleblowing as shown in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (hereinafter Dodd-Frank Act or Act), the absence of significant anti-retaliation protection for foreign whistleblowers is of concern. The Supreme Court has ruled that it will not extend United States security laws to extraterritorial jurisdictions in Morrison v. National Australia Bank thereby limiting the ability of foreign whistleblowers to participate in the anti-retaliation provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. The paper will first review the whistleblowing and anti-retaliation provisions of the Act before addressing whether the lack of these protections for foreign whistleblowers could undermine the effectiveness of the Act in relation to possible infractions by foreign corporation registrants with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The paper cites data regarding the number of foreign whistleblower reports, foreign corporation SEC registrants, and enforcement proceedings of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) to provide a basis for the conclusions reached.
Kidney and Ureteral Stones.

Renal colic is a common complaint that presents to the emergency department. It is estimated that 13% of men and 7% of women will develop a renal stone. There is a high probability of recurrence, with 50% within 5 years. Computed tomographic scan of the abdomen and pelvis without contrast and the ultrasound of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder are the common diagnostic imaging modalities used for diagnosis. Initial treatment includes analgesics and medical expulsive therapy. Most of the patients will pass their stone spontaneously within 3 days. The remaining 20% will require urologic intervention.
Reseña. Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators

ONWARD: CULTIVATING EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE IN EDUCATORS Aguilar, E. (2018). San Francisco, 372 pages. ISBN: 978-1-119-36489-4-53495
Effects of Old Age on Knee Extensor Fatigue and Recovery From High-Velocity Muscle Contractions

ABSTRACT Purpose Although high-velocity contractions elicit greater muscle fatigue in older than young adults, the cause of this difference is unclear. We examined the potential roles of resting muscle architecture and baseline contractile properties, as well as changes in voluntary activation and low-frequency fatigue in response to high-velocity knee extensor work. Methods Vastus lateralis muscle architecture was determined in quiescent muscle by ultrasonography in 8 young (23.4±1.8 yrs) and 8 older women (69.6±1.1). Maximal voluntary dynamic (MVDC) and isometric (MVIC), and stimulated (80Hz and 10Hz, 500ms) isometric contractions were performed before and immediately after 120 MVDCs (240°·s−1, one every 2s). Results Architecture variables did not differ between groups (p≥0.209), but the half-time of torque relaxation (T1/2) was longer in older than young women at baseline (151.9±6.0 vs. 118.8±4.4 ms, respectively, p=0.001). Older women fatigued more than young (to 33.6±4.7% vs. 55.2±4.2% initial torque, respectively; p=0.004), with no evidence of voluntary activation failure (ΔMVIC:80Hz torque) in either group (p≥0.317). Low-frequency fatigue (Δ10:80Hz torque) occurred in both groups (p Conclusions These results indicate that differences in muscle architecture, voluntary activation, and low-frequency fatigue do not explain the greater fatigue of older compared with young women during high-velocity contractions. The inverse association between baseline T1/2 and fatigue in older women suggests that factors related to slower muscle contractile properties may be protective against fatigue during fast, repetitive contractions in aging.
Heterogeneous Perfusion in COVID-19 and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema: A Review of Two Cases Followed by Implications for Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction, Thrombosis Development, Ventilation Perfusion Mismatch and Emergence of Treatment Approaches

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been compared to high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Multiple similarities between the two conditions were drawn in the past. This article seeks to further clarify potential underlying mechanisms related to hypoxia and pulmonary vascular responses. It does so by looking at perfusion imaging of patients with COVID-19 and comparing them with patterns observed in HAPE and hypoxic exposure. Two separate clinical cases are reviewed. The salient aspect of each case that is emphasized is the perfusion scintigraphy results that revealed heterogeneous perfusion patterns in both patients. Heterogeneous or non-homogeneous perfusion is also observed in HAPE. A detailed clinical course of each patient is described. Medications utilized to treat the conditions are outlined as well as laboratory parameters and clinical findings. Interestingly, both of these patients were treated with calcium channel blockers and this class of medications is utilized to prevent HAPE as well. Discussion following the case presentations attempts to contextualize possible implications of this and other studies on the broader pathophysiology of COVID-19 disease. Findings related to pathophysiologic patterns and treatment strategies are also described. Micro-thrombi formation has been reported in both COVID-19 and HAPE as well and may be an accessory complication of perfusion compromise. In a separate study, vasodilatation with calcium channel blocker (CCB) therapy has been associated with improved mortality in COVID-19 and potential pathophysiologic mechanisms were previously presented. This case report provides further clinical findings that support the notion that perfusion deficits are an integral component of hypoxia in COVID-19. It also advances the basis for use of vasodilator therapy as part of treatment regimens in COVID-19. Vasodilators may improve micro-perfusion. In this way, oxygenation may be promoted by decreasing impedance and improving flow via the alveolar-capillary unit.
Pedestrian Traffic Signal Data Accurately Estimates Pedestrian Crossing Volumes

Existing methods of pedestrian travel monitoring are generally inefficient for collecting pedestrian data in many locations over long time periods. In this study, we demonstrate the validity of usi...
CURE in a Box: an Online CURE for Introductory Biology Majors That Incorporates Vision and Change

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) help fulfill the recommendation of Vision and Change for biology curricula to focus on key concepts and skills to better prepare students for careers in the sciences. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many schools to move instruction online, highlighting the dearth of resources available for offering a CURE for introductory biology outside of the traditional laboratory-based setting. Here, we present a revision of our first-semester General Biology laboratory for a synchronous online setting where students perform a research-based wet lab component at home using an affordable preassembled kit while still meeting the CURE learning objectives. This template can be utilized by other colleges and universities that are looking to offer a safe, reliable, and affordable CURE in their introductory biology courses whether in a virtual or face-to-face environment.
Does preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy impact short-term surgical outcomes in patients with locally advanced colon cancer?

Preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for colon cancer in advanced stages is associated with improved outcomes and tumor regression. The aim of our study was to identify outcomes in patients with colon cancer who received preoperative NAC. A 4-year analysis of the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) was performed. We included patients with locally advanced colon cancer (non-metastatic T3, T4 with or without nodal involvement) who underwent colon cancer resection. Patients were stratified into two groups (NAC and No-NAC). Our outcome measures were anastomotic leaks, hospital length of stay (LOS), 30-day complications, 30-day mortality, and 30-day readmissions. We performed a multi-variable logistic regression analysis. We analyzed 90,055 patients of which 7694 (NAC: 7.8 % (n = 599) and No-NAC: 92.2% (n = 7095)) met the inclusion criteria and included in the analysis. Mean age was 67 ± 13 years, 51% were males, and 72% were whites. Patients in the NAC group were more likely to be younger (60 ± 12 years vs. 68 ± 13 years, p < 0.01) and males (62% vs. 50%, p < 0.01) compared to No-NAC. On regression analysis, preoperative NAC was independently associated with higher odds of anastomotic leak (OR 1.35 [1.05–1.97], p = 0.03) and 30-day readmission (OR 1.54 [1.24–2.05], p < 0.01) in reference to No-NAC. However, no association was found between NAC and 30-day complications and 30-day mortality. Preoperative NAC might be associated with adverse outcomes of anastomotic leaks and 30-day readmissions, however does not appear to impact 30-day complications nor 30-day mortality.
Risk Management in Client Acceptance Decisions

This paper examines whether risk‐management strategies (specifically, the use of specialist personnel and higher billing rates) moderate the effect of risk on client acceptance decisions, thereby assisting auditors in bringing prospective client relationships to acceptable risk/return levels. We propose a conceptual model of the client acceptance decision process, and use archival data on one firm's actual client acceptance decisions to test the model. Our results demonstrate the selective use of risk‐management strategies in the client acceptance decision, based on the nature of the risks present for each particular client. Specifically, plans to charge a higher billing rate are associated with a reduction in the negative relationship between client acceptance likelihood and both going‐concern risk and public trading status, and plans to assign specialist personnel are associated with a reduction in the negative relationship between client acceptance likelihood and both fraud risk and error risk. Therefo...
Training Convolutional Networks for Prostate Segmentation With Limited Data

Multi-zonal segmentation is a critical component of computer-aided diagnostic systems for detecting and staging prostate cancer. Previously, convolutional neural networks such as the U-Net have been used to produce fully automatic multi-zonal prostate segmentation on magnetic resonance images (MRIs) with performance comparable to human experts, but these often require large amounts of manually segmented training data to produce acceptable results. For institutions that have limited amounts of labeled MRI exams, it is not clear how much data is needed to train a segmentation model, and which training strategy should be used to maximize the value of the available data. This work compares how the strategies of transfer learning and aggregated training using publicly available external data can improve segmentation performance on internal, site-specific prostate MR images, and evaluates how the performance varies with the amount of internal data used for training. Cross training experiments were performed to show that differences between internal and external data were impactful. Using a standard U-Net architecture, optimizations were performed to select between 2D and 3D variants, and to determine the depth of fine-tuning required for optimal transfer learning. With the optimized architecture, the performance of transfer learning and aggregated training were compared for a range of 5–40 internal datasets. The results show that both strategies consistently improve performance and produced segmentation results that are comparable to that of human experts with approximately 20 site-specific MRI datasets. These findings can help guide the development of site-specific prostate segmentation models for both clinical and research applications.
School–Family–Community Partnerships for Educational Success and Equity for Black Male Students:

Throughout the past decade, scholars have argued that the persistent achievement gap between Black male students and their White peers is a result of unequal and inadequate educational opportunitie...
A hybrid network model for cellular wireless packet data networks

We propose a hybrid network model called Sphinx for cellular wireless packet data networks. Sphinx uses a peer-to-peer network model in tandem with the cellular network model to achieve higher throughput and lower-power consumption. At the same time, Sphinx avoids the typical pitfalls of the pure peer-to-peer network model including unfair resource allocation, and throughput degradation due to mobility and traffic locality. We present simulation results showing that Sphinx outperforms the cellular network model in terms of throughput and power consumption, and achieves better fairness and resilience to mobility than the peer-to-peer network model.
Adam Smith on Uncertainty, Civility, and Trust

Adam Smith recognizes and assimilates some of the most powerful criticisms of commercial civility. His account of our propensity to persuade others into relationships of mutual sympathy helps to explain the emergence of norms of civility, yet it also shows how these norms generate a range of moral and social problems. It is this same propensity to persuade, Smith argues, that helps individuals cultivate the capacity to transcend these problems. The first section of this paper shows how Smith’s account of persuasive exchange grows out of a search for recognition and approval and leads the culture of politeness promoted in the newspapers of Addison and Steele. The second section argues that Smith, following Mandeville and Rousseau, recognizes that a culture of politeness can encourage a type of dependency that breeds duplicity and alienation. The third section describes how Smith insists that restrained sociability and refined civility can nonetheless be maintained by individuals who develop the capacity to transform their natural desire for approbation into an artificial desire for self-approbation. This capacity, which Smith calls self-command or independence, paradoxically emerges out of the very persuasive exchange that encourages dependency. Ultimately Smith’s faith that commercial society can sustain social trust rests on his belief that an individual can achieve independence from social norms without rejecting them.
The Partisan Battle Over College Student Voting: An Analysis of Student Voting Behavior in Federal, State, and Local Elections*

Objective We aim to test the hypothesis that college students provide Democratic candidates with greater electoral support and whether this varies among federal, state, and local elections. We also test whether college students mobilized by presidential campaigns are more likely to abstain from voting for state and local elections. Methods To examine these questions, we employed OLS and difference-of-means tests to analyze the distribution of votes cast in competitive elections for the November 2008 elections in 86 precincts located on 42 college campuses across five states as compared to the distribution of votes cast in noncollege precincts. College precincts were identified by representatives from each community's local Board of Elections. Results In line with conventional wisdom, the results of the analyses indicate Democratic candidates for federal offices do consistently receive greater electoral support from precincts located on college campuses as compared to noncollege precincts. However, the analyses of state and local elections highlight substantial variation in the level of support that Democratic candidates receive from precincts located on college campuses. Moreover, we found many college students in 2008 cast their ballots for Obama, but chose not to participate in lower-level elections. Conclusion Republican fears regarding college students turning small towns on their heads via the ballot box are not supported by our analyses. On average, students vote more democratically than nonstudents but they are also more likely to simply choose not to vote for local candidates. By and large, they come to the polls to vote for national offices, not local ones.
Risk factors for adverse drug events in older adults with mobility limitations in the community setting.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate risk factors for self-reported adverse drug events (ADEs) in a cohort of annually surveyed Iowa Medicare beneficiaries with mobility limitations. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study with baseline and two annual follow-up questionnaires. SETTING: Population-based sample of Iowa Medicare beneficiaries with mobility limitations. PARTICIPANTS: Members of the cohort with complete follow-up questionnaires and prescription dispensing data (N=689). MEASUREMENTS: The questionnaires asked about self-reported ADEs in the previous 12 months, sociodemographic data, smoking, alcohol use, number of mobility limitations, and history of chronic disease. Pharmacy dispensing records were the source of number and classes of prescription drug use. Linked Medicare claims provided additional comorbidity data. RESULTS: Of the 689 subjects, 151 (21.9%) reported an ADE, 83% of which resulted in physician contact and 56% of which resulted in discontinuing the medication. Number of different medications dispensed during the prior year was an independent predictor of a self-reported ADE. Neither age, extent of mobility limitation, nor number of chronic conditions was independently associated with reporting an ADE. CONCLUSION: Excess ADE risk observed with increasing mobility limitations is mediated through greater medication use.
Dielectric strength testing of 3D printed plastics and application to a high voltage transformer pulser

The use of additive manufacturing techniques offers the potential to rapidly fabricate complex insulator designs; however, the lack of dielectric strength data for many of the currently available printable plastics limits the usefulness of these materials in high electric field environments. The authors begin to address this issue by providing data from dielectric strength testing of selected plastic samples fabricated using the stereolithography (SLA), fused deposition modeling (FDM), and selective laser sintering (SLS) additive manufacturing techniques. Results of a high voltage transformer experiment using an SLA printed winding form will be presented.
Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive vasculitis in a patient with graves disease: cross-reaction between propylthiouracil and methimazole.

Objective: To alert clinicians about the risk of vasculitis and cross-reactivity of antithyroid medication.Methods: We describe the clinical course and medical management of the study patient.Results: A 25-year-old woman with hyperthyroidism developed antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody—positive vasculitis after 15 months of propylthiouracil therapy. Her condition improved when propylthiouracil was withdrawn, but recurred when she was prescribed methimazole. Propylthiouracil and methimazole are commonly used antithyroid medications, and propylthiouracil is a well-recognized cause of drug-induced vasculitis. Cross-reactivity between the 2 drugs is likely, but it has not been reported previously with regard to vasculitis. Many patients with propylthiouracil-induced vasculitis have been switched to methimazole.Conclusions: Awareness of this rare, but potentially serious, adverse drug reaction is important because prompt discontinuation of medication is essential. Cross-reactivity between propylthiouracil and...
Design, synthesis, and characterization of a 39 amino acid peptide mimic of the main immunogenic region of the Torpedo acetylcholine receptor ☆

We have designed a 39 amino acid peptide mimic of the conformation-dependent main immunogenic region (MIR) of the Torpedo acetylcholine receptor (TAChR) that joins three discontinuous segments of the Torpedo α-subunit, α(1-12), α(65-79), and α(110 - 115) with two GS linkers: This 39MIR-mimic was expressed in E. coli as a fusion protein with an intein-chitin-binding domain (IChBD) to permit affinity collection on chitin beads. Six MIR-directed monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) bind to this complex and five agonist/antagonist site directed mAbs do not. The complex of MIR-directed mAb-132A with 39MIR has a Kd of (2.11±0.11)×10(-10)M, which is smaller than (7.13±1.20)×10(-10)M for the complex of mAb-132A with α(1-161) and about the same as 3.4×10(-10)M for that of mAb-132A with TAChR. Additionally, the 39MIR-IChBD adsorbs all MIR-directed antibodies (Abs) from an experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) rat serum. Hence, the 39MIR-mimic has the potential to inactivate or remove pathogenic Torpedo MIR-directed Abs from EAMG sera and to direct a magic bullet to the memory B-cells that produce those pathogenic Abs. The hope is to use this as a guide to produce a mimic of the human MIR on the way to an antigen specific therapeutic agent to treat MG.
Heat transfer to three canned fluids of different thermo-rheological behaviour under intermittent agitation

Heat transfer to canned 5% cross-linked waxy maize (CWM) and 3.5% corn (CN) starch dispersions (STDs), and a 5.6 °Brix tomato juice (TJ) which exhibited different thermo-rheological (TR) behaviours was studied. The three fluids had approximately the same maximum viscosity (∼2.6 Pa s) at some point during thermal processing. The η a –T profiles of the 5% CWM STD were determined using a pressurized viscometer system, while those of the 3.5% CN STD and 5.6 °Brix TJ were obtained from Yang and Rao 1 and Sornsrivichai 2 , respectively. A simulation program (FIDAP) was used to solve the governing mass, momentum, and energy transport equations for heating each fluid in a 81mm×111mm horizontal can at 121.6 °C under going intermittent rotation as in a Steritort TM . The 3.5% CN STD which exhibited sol-gel-sol transition over a narrow range of temperature, had the highest heating rate and the most uniform temperature distribution. In contrast, the 5% CWM STD, which gelatinized at a lower temperature and formed a heat- and shear-stable gel, had the slowest heating rate. In the 5.6 °Brix TJ, which had high initial viscosity, the heating rate increased as the viscosity decreased according to the Arrhenius model and attained heating rates higher than in the 5% CWM STD.
Overview of Open Seismic Data from the North Korean Event of 9 October 2006

On 9 October 2006 North Korea announced that it had conducted a nuclear weapons test, its first, at the Chik-tong test site in north Hamgyeong Province. It had been more than eight years since the world's last known nuclear test, carried out by Pakistan on 30 May 1998 (Wallace 1998). The North Korean event was small (4.2 mb ) and occurred in a part of the world with a relatively low density of accessible (open) broadband seismometers. Therefore, it provides a nice test of the nuclear explosion monitoring capability of the open global seismic network, which is deployed and maintained primarily for the study of earthquakes. In this study we forgo a comprehensive technical analysis and instead emphasize the extent to which openly available seismic data and related products can be used in a forensic sense to study this politically important event. Much of the material presented here was developed for a discovery-based course entitled “EAS130 Seismology of Nuclear Weapons,” which is taught to freshmen and sophomores at Saint Louis University. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) operates the National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC), a 24/7 seismic monitoring facility with global earthquake monitoring capabilities and responsibilities (see http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/). Within or near the Korean peninsula, NEIC's sources of realtime data are Global Seismic Network (GSN) stations, cooperative stations in China, and selected stations of the International Monitoring System (IMS). Based on interstation distances, noise characteristics of individual stations, regional attenuation properties, and its association and location algorithms, NEIC estimates that its minimum automatic detection and location threshold for the Korean peninsula is approximately M 4.5–4.8 (B. Presgrave, personal communication 2006). In the week before the North Korean event, a significant number of media outlets were reporting the possibility of a nuclear test. Consequently, NEIC staff reviewed its policy and procedures with regard …
A method for determination of intra‐ and interparticle structure factors of macroions in solution from small angle neutron scattering

Macroions in solution have been studied by a variety of physicochemical methods. In particular, small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and light scattering (LS) have been widely used in this domain (e.g., micelles, emulsions, proteins) because of the wealth of information these techniques can provide. We describe here a method by which both single particle and interparticle structure factors [P(Q) and S(Q), respectively] can be extracted from SANS data. P(Q) is given by the SANS data under conditions of low concentration and moderately high ionic strength where interactions between macroions are negligible. For conditions where the interactions are important and in the Q region covered by SANS, S(Q) can be deduced by dividing the intensity distribution by P(Q) obtained previously. If available, the LS data further provides the osmotic compressibilty so that the values of S(Q) at vanishing Q’s can be interpolated.
Studies on Incubator Hygiene V A Note on the Hatchability of Eggs Inoculated with Salmonella, Pasteurella, Staphylococci and Streptococci

Abstract SINCE Salmonella pullorum has been frequently incriminated as a cause of low fertility and hatchability of eggs, it has been considered possible that other microorganisms which have been isolated from eggs or oviducts might have a similar injurious effect upon hatchability of eggs. Experiments at the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station have, therefore, been conducted to determine the effect of inoculating eggs with suspensions of the following microorganisms: Salmonella pullorum, Salmonella aertrycke, Salmonella gallinarum, Pasteurella avicida, two strains of staphylococci isolated from eggs of apparently healthy hens and three strains of streptococci isolated from eggs of apparently healthy hens. TECHNIC EMPLOYED All eggs 1 used in these studies were purchased from a flock that had been pullorum tested over a period of several years, but it is not assumed that all eggs were free from S. pullorum. Each setting of eggs was divided into either three or five groups. When the three-group . . .
Elementary particles on p-adic spacetime and temperedness of invariant measures

We extend the method of L. Schwartz [1] to classify elementary scalar particles in p-adic space time. Schwartz obtained the states of the elementary particles over real spacetime as tempered distributions on spacetime itself. We obtain the analogous description in p-adic spacetime. We introduce a natural notion of temperedness similar to one introduced by Harish-Chandra in the p-adic case and show that the invariant measures corresponding to the elementary particles are tempered.
Lipids of cultured hepatoma cells: VIII. Utilization of D-[1-14C] glucose for lipid biosynthesis.

Minimal deviation hepatoma 7288C cells (HTC) were incubated in serum-supplemented and serum-free Swim’s 77 medium in the presence of D-[1-14C] glucose for 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hr. Glucose oxidation to CO2, incorporation into total cell mass, and incorporation into cell and medium lipids were determined. The percentage distribution of total cell lipid radioactivity in individual neutral and polar lipid classes was followed as a function of time. Degradation studies of individual lipid classes were performed to ascertain the percentage of radioactivity in acyl and glycerol moieties. The percentage of D-[1-14C] glucose oxidized to14CO2, incorporated into cell matter and cell lipids was elevated in cells incubated in serum-free medium as opposed to serum-supplemented medium. The percentage distribution of total cell lipid radioactivity into individual neutral lipid classes from both serum-free and serum-supplemented cultures was as follows: sterols > triglycerides > free fatty acids > sterol esters. The percentage distribution of total cell lipid radioactivity into individual polar lipid classes of serum-supplemented cultures was as follows: phosphatidylcholine > phosphatidylinositol > sphingomyelin > phosphatidylethanolamine > phosphatidylserine. The distribution of glucose radiolabel into individual polar lipid classes of serum-free HTC cells was different from their serum-supplemented counterparts: sphingomyelin > phosphatidylcholine > phosphatidylinositol > phosphatidylethanolamine > phosphatidylserine. Glycerol from glyceride classes contained a higher percentage of radioactivity than the acyl moieties, with this percentage significantly elevated in serum-free cultures. The data indicate that, although glucose is a substrate for HTC cell lipids, other precursors present in the culture system also contribute to the lipid constituency of this hepatoma cell line.
Response of dry beans to iron deficiency stress

Abstract Two dry bean (Phasaolua vulgarla L.) cultivars, one susceptible (PI‐165078 (PI)) and one resistant (Great Northern Valley (GNV)) to Fe deficiency chlorosis in the field were grown in a modified Hoagland solution in a growth chamber under varying degrees of Fe stress (0.0, 0.05, 0.10, and 1.0 mg Fe/liter). Response to Fe‐deficiency stress was determined by measuring daily release of H ions and reductant from the roots, leaf chlorophyll and concentrations of Fe and Mn in leaves and roots. As the plants responded to Fe stress, both varieties released H ions and reductant from their roots, with GNV responding sooner than PI. There were generally no significant differences between cultivars in chlorophyll concentration. The Fe concentration in top leaves was not significantly different between cultivars at solution Fe levels below 1 mg/liter. There was some indication that GNV might be more Fe‐efficient at the 0.05 mg Fe/liter treatment than PI, but these two dry bean cultivars are similar enough in t...
Comparison of serum and prostatic levels of tobramycin

Tobramycin sulfate, an aminoglycoside antibiotic, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections. Because of this, a study was undertaken to determine the penetrance of tobramycin into the prostate gland. It was found that the drug is concentrated at inhibitory levels in the prostate gland after the routinely recommended administration and should be useful in the treatment of bacterial prostatic infection.
Major Bleeding During HeartMate II Support

Objectives The aim of this study was to characterize a single-center experience of major bleeding complications during HeartMate II (HMII) (Thoratec Corp., Pleasanton, California) left ventricular assist device support, with focus on the subtypes and temporal patterns of post-operative bleeding. Background Bleeding complications are the most common post-operative adverse events after HMII implantation. The timing of bleeding events, relationship to coagulation status, and effect on post-operative survival are incompletely understood. Methods From October 2004 to June 2010, 139 HMII recipients at the Cleveland Clinic received 145 devices as a bridge to transplant or destination therapy for advanced heart failure. Major bleeding was defined using Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support criteria, with an additional category created to maximize sensitivity for events. Pre-operative variables, coagulation status, and bleeding recurrence were assessed for correlation to primary events using modulated renewal within a multivariable analysis. Results The cumulative occurrence of major bleeding was 58% during 171 patient-years of follow-up. There were 1.14 major bleeds per patient-year, with 44% occurring as repeat bleeding events. A first bleed did not predict subsequent bleeding. The greatest risk of bleeding was noted within 2 weeks post-implantation. The international normalized ratio profile correlated poorly with the risk of bleeding. Bleeding early after surgery was associated with reduced survival while on HMII support. Conclusions The risk of bleeding peaks early after HMII implantation. Bleeding of thoracic and gastrointestinal sources dominates these events, although many patients undergo transfusions for anemia without an apparent source of hemolysis or bleeding.
The reaction of H2S with adsorbed oxygen atoms on platinum (111)

Abstract The reaction of H 2 S(g) and adsorbed atomic oxygen on Pt(111) has been studied by SIMS, HREELS, and TPD. H 2 S(g) reacts completely at 96 K with 0.22 ML O(a) to give H 2 O(a) and S(a). The reaction rate shows no measureable temperature dependence between 96 and 135 K and, under the conditions of this study, was equal to the flux of H 2 S. After a saturation dose of H 2 S on O(a)/Pt(111), only H 2 S, H 2 and H 2 O desorbed in TPD. HREEL spectra provide evidence of water clustering when H 2 S exposure continues beyond the amount necessary for complete reaction of the adsorbed O atoms.
Using focusing search algorithms and a strong heuristic to solve the findpath problem in robotics

Two problems are associated with the seeking of good solutions to the find path problem (Find Path) in robotics. First, the use of artificial intelligence searching techniques is limited to the A* algorithm. Secondly, simple and poor heuristics are employed in this best-first search. To speed up the search, two approaches are taken in this paper: i) using two A*-based focusing search algorithms, A+ and Ad, for FindPath; ii) constructing a problem-tailored strong heuristic, h2, under the configuration space representation chosen (2-D with rotation). These approaches are compared with the use of A* and a standard heuristic. Experimental evidence indicates that each of the new approaches improves speed considerably and solution quality in each case is very close to the optimal. When combined, the new approaches speed up the search by more than 40%. We conclude that Ad is, among the three search algorithms studied, the fastest and most suitable one for high branching-factor problems such as FindPath, especially when a strong heuristic (such as h2) is employed.
Are elevated pancreatic polypeptide levels in patients with insulinoma secondary to hypoglycaemia

In 13 patients with insulinoma, human pancreatic polypeptide (hPP) was measured under basal conditions, after a mixed meal, and during a fast of up to 72 h. Significant negative correlatons between hPP and plasma-glucose levels were found both under basal conditions and during fasting. Patients with insulinoma and basal plasma-glucose values above 60 mg/dl had hPP values similar to those in control subjects, whereas insulinoma patients with plasma-glucose values under 60 mg/dl had significantly higher hPP values (323 versus 115 pg/ml). The mean hPP response to a mixed meal was similar in patients with insulinoma and in control subjects. hPP values during symptomatic hypoglycaemia were higher in insulinoma patients than controls fasted for comparable times (751 versus 171 pg/ml). Under conditions of euglycaemia, hPP is not a reliable marker for insulinoma.
Dynamic stress concentration studies by boundary integrals and Laplace transform

The dynamic stress field and its concentrations around holes of arbitrary shape in infinitely extended bodies under plane stress or plane strain conditions are numerically determined. The material may be linear elastic or viscoelastic, while the dynamic load consists of plane compressional waves of harmonic or general transient nature. The method consists of applying the Laplace transform with respect to time to the governing equations of motion and formulating and solving the problem numerically in the transfomed domain by the boundary integral equation method. The stress field can then be obtaind by a numerical inversion of the trasformed solution. The correspondence principle is invoked for the case of viscoelastic material behavious. The method is simplified for the case of harmonic waves where no numerical inversion is involved.
Deficits in grasp versus reach during acute hemiparesis

We studied how acute hemiparesis affects the ability to perform purposeful movements of proximal versus distal upper extremity segments. Given the gradient of corticospinal input to the spinal motoneuron pools, we postulated that movement performance requiring distal segment control (grasping) should be more impaired than movement performance requiring proximal segment control (reaching) in people with hemiparesis. We tested subjects with acute hemiparesis and control subjects performing reach and reach-to-grasp movements. Three characteristics of movement performance were quantified for each movement: speed, accuracy, and efficiency. For the reach, we calculated peak wrist velocity, endpoint error, and reach path ratio. For the grasp, we calculated peak aperture rate, aperture at touch, and aperture path ratio. To evaluate the relative deficits in reaching versus grasping, performance measures were converted to z-scores using control group means and standard deviations. For both the movements, movement times were longer and performance was more variable in the hemiparetic group compared to the control group. Hemiparetic z-scores indicated that relative deficits in movement speed were small in the two movements, with deficits in grasp being slightly greater than deficits in reach. Relative deficits in accuracy showed a trend for being larger in the reach compared to the grasp, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. In contrast, relative deficits in efficiency were larger in the grasp compared to the reach, with reaching efficiency near the range of normal performance. When considering data across all three movement characteristics, the ability to perform a purposeful movement with the distal segments was not clearly more disrupted than the ability to perform a purposeful movement with the proximal segments in people with acute hemiparesis.
Active Surveillance of Sudden Cardiac Death in Young Athletes by Periodic Internet Searches

The authors hypothesized that prospective, systematic Internet searches could identify occurrences of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in athletes and would be useful for establishing a system of active surveillance. Weekly advanced Google searches of the Internet were conducted for cases of SCD in young athletes during a 12-month period (2007-2008). Athletes ages 11-30 years who collapsed during a game, practice, or within an hour of exercise were included in the study. Individuals with known histories of cardiac issues and events occurring outside the United States were excluded. Verification of SCD was by autopsy reports and death certificates from county coroner offices and vital record agencies. Initially, 71 events were identified. Verification for the cause of death by coroner reports was possible in 45 cases, 43 (96 %) of which were confirmed to be SCDs. A total of 69 individuals 11-30 years of age (mean 17 ± 5 years) died suddenly of cardiovascular causes while participating in 15 different organized sports and a variety of nonorganized physical activities. The most common cause of death was hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (30 %), followed by coronary artery anomalies (9 %), and myocarditis (9 %). The incidence of athlete SCD, the types of sports involved, and the cardiac causes of death in our study were comparable with those of previous reports. Readily available Internet searches have the potential to be a powerful tool for identifying occurrences of athlete SCD. An active surveillance system using Google searches followed by coroner report verification can provide important epidemiologic and clinical information.
Expedient placement of two fluorescent dyes for investigating dynamic DNA protein interactions in real time

Many questions in molecular and cellular biology can be reduced to questions about ‘who talks to whom, when and how frequently’. Here, we review approaches we have used with single-pair fluorescence resonance energy transfer (spFRET) to follow the motions between two well-placed fluorescent probes to ask similar questions. We describe two systems. We have used a nucleosomal system in which the naked DNA molecule has the acceptor and donor dyes too far apart for FRET to occur whereas the dyes are close enough in the reconstituted nucleosome for FRET. As these individual nucleosomes were tethered on a surface, we could follow dynamics in the repositioning of these two dyes, inferring that nucleosomes stochastically and reversibly open and close. These results imply that most of the DNA on the nucleosome can be sporadically accessible to regulatory proteins and proteins that track the DNA double helix. In the case of following the binding of recombination protein RecA to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and the RecA filament displacement by DNA helicase motor PcrA, the dsDNA template is prepared with the two dyes close enough to each other to generate high FRET. Binding of the RecA molecules to form a filament lengthens the dsDNA molecule 1.5-fold and reduces the FRET accordingly. Once added, DNA motor protein helicase PcrA can displace the RecA filament with concomitant return of the DNA molecule to its original B-form and high FRET state. Thus, appropriately placed fluorescent dyes can be used to monitor conformational changes occurring in DNA and or proteins and provide increased sensitivity for investigating dynamic DNA–protein interactions in real time.
Increasing probability of sign language learning by severely mentally retarded individuals: a discussion of learner, sign production, and linguistic variables

Abstract A pervasive problem for educators of the severely mentally retarded is language training. In spite of extensive oral language training, many severely mentally retarded individuals never acquire functional oral language. Many of these clients, however, are able to acquire sign language communication skills. The present article discusses sign language learning in terms of learner attributes, production variables in sign, and the referential concepts which the signs represent. More specifically, it is hypothesized that by taking into account variables such as sign translucency, referential concreteness, learner readiness, and by externally organizing the signs to be learned along visual continuums, the probability of sign learning by severely mentally retarded individuals can be increased.
Modeling uncertain outcomes of genetic testing: factor V Leiden mutation and pregnant women.

Modeling uncertain outcomes of genetic testing: factor V Leiden mutation and pregnant women
Kolmogorov problem for the heat equation and its probabilistic counterpart

Abstract This paper analyses a pontwise limit of solutions to the first boundary value problem for the heat (or diffusion) equation in a sequence of unboundedly expanded domains of R N + 1 . The result implies asymptotic probability law for the standard N -dimensional Brownian motion.
A comparison of the personality type dimensions of the 1987 Inc. 500 company founders/CEOs with those of slower-growth firms

Abstract A popular misconception holds that most new businesses experience similar growth stages of start-up, rapid growth, maturity, and decline. Yet, business statistics show that only a small number of firms grow into large organizations. A few experience some growth, but the majority have such small growth that they provide only a marginal income to the founder. While market conditions impact on the growth of the firm, they do not explain growth differences when they occur under similar market conditions. In this paper, the authors have compared psychological type preferences of founders/CEOs of fast-growth firms with those of slow-growth firms under the assumption that differences in psychological preferences, as they relate to gathering, assimilating, and processing information, would have an impact on the strategic or growth orientation of the firm. The results are based on the administration of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to the founders/cofounders of 143 firms included in the 1987 Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States and the comparison of these results with those of an earlier study of 150 founders/CEOs of successful, yet slower growing firms. The primary personality traits under consideration were an individual's preferred method of gathering information from the environment, making decisions, and drawing conclusions from the information. The results indicate that founders of rapid-growth firms have psychological preferences that are significantly different from those of their slower-growth counterparts. Growth oriented founders prefer an intuitive approach or consideration of future possibilities when gathering information, and a thinking or planned and organized approach to drawing conclusions. These preferences represent those facets most frequently used in strategic or growth planning. Investors in new firms that place importance on the capabilities and orientations of the management team as an evaluation criteria are currently limited to consideration of past experiences. An awareness of the management team's experiences can provide an indication of management ability, but unless their experience involves management of growth, the information related to growth propensities or orientations is limited. A measure of a person's preferences in gathering, assimilating, and processing information can indicate their desires for strategic and/or growth planning. Hence, investors may have another tool that can be used in the investment decision making process. In addition, government policy makers may have the opportunity for increased effectiveness in assistance programs by recognizing that the needs and preferences of founders of rapid-growth companies are significantly different from those of their slower-growing counterparts, and that these differences should be considered in the development of assistance programs.