cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using system dynamics simulations to compare capacity models for production planning

While a variety of optimization formulations of production planning problems have been proposed over the last fifty years, the majority of these are based on simple models of capacity that fail to reflect the nonlinear relationship between workload and lead times induced by the queuing behavior of capacitated production resources. We use system dynamics simulations of a simple capacitated production system to examine the performance of several different capacity models that yield load-dependent lead times, and relate these models to those used in system dynamics models of production systems.
MR classification of renal masses with pathologic correlation

To perform a feature analysis of malignant renal tumors evaluated with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and to investigate the correlation between MR imaging features and histopathological findings. MR examinations in 79 malignant renal masses were retrospectively evaluated, and a feature analysis was performed. Each renal mass was assigned to one of eight categories from a proposed MRI classification system. The sensitivity and specificity of the MRI classification system to predict the histologic subtype and nuclear grade was calculated. Subvoxel fat on chemical shift imaging correlated to clear cell type (p < 0.05); sensitivity = 42%, specificity = 100%. Large size, intratumoral necrosis, retroperitoneal vascular collaterals, and renal vein thrombosis predicted high-grade clear cell type (p < 0.05). Small size, peripheral location, low intratumoral SI on T2-weighted images, and low-level enhancement were associated with low-grade papillary carcinomas (p < 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of the MRI classification system for diagnosing low grade clear cell, high-grade clear cell, all clear cell, all papillary, and transitional carcinomas were 50% and 94%, 93% and 75%, 92% and 83%, 80% and 94%, and 100% and 99%, respectively. The MRI feature analysis and proposed classification system help predict the histological type and nuclear grade of renal masses.
Endoscopic renal evaluation and biopsy of chelonia

Sixty-nine tortoises, turtles and terrapins representing 28 species of the order Chelonia, class Reptilia were evaluated by endoscopy for renal disease. Under general anaesthesia, coelomic and/or extracoelomic endoscopic evaluations and biopsies of the kidney(s) were undertaken. Endoscopic approaches required a 2 to 4 mm skin incision in the prefemoral fossa, and minimal blunt dissection through the subcutaneous tissues. For the coelomic approach the coelomic aponeurosis of the transverse and oblique abdominal muscles was penetrated so that the cranioventral kidney(s) could be examined and biopsied. The extracoelomic approach required the endoscope to be advanced in a caudodorsal direction, between the coelomic aponeurosis and the broad iliacus muscle, so that the dorsolateral kidney(s) could be examined and biopsied. Both techniques were safe and effective for obtaining renal biopsies for histological examination and microbiological culture. Several renal pathologies were identified including glomerulonephrosis, tubulonephrosis, interstitial nephritis, uric acid accumulation, tubulonephritis, glomerulonephritis, renal oedema, glomerulosclerosis, nephrosclerosis, soft tissue mineralisation, and pyelonephritis. Several infectious conditions were identified, including a predominance of Gram-negative bacterial infections, two cases of hexamitiosis, and one case of mycobacteriosis.
The dynamic response of the cat ankle joint during load-moving contractions

The dynamic response of the cat's ankle joint during load-moving activation of the medial gastrocnemius was determined. Sinusoidal-input oscillations of ankle plantar flexion were performed by the muscle at frequencies ranging from 0.4 to 5 Hz against a 10-N load acting via a cable through a pulley with a 2 cm radius. This was followed by sinusoidal muscle length changes against the same load while excluding the joint. The frequency responses of the two conditions were compared and decomposed in terms of their relative phase and gain, and best-fit pole-zero models to yield the dynamic model of the joint isolated from the muscle properties. The muscle displacement transfer function M(j/spl omega/) was characterized as two sets of double poles at 2.1 and 3.2 Hz, with a pair of zeros at 0.92 and 20 Hz, and pure time delay of 8 ms. The joint model J(j/spl omega/) was obtained by adding a pole at 5 Hz and a zero at 13 Hz. It was concluded that the ankle joint acts as a lag system, introducing significant increase in the phase lag between stimulus input and mechanical output without affecting the frequency-dependent attenuation of gain. Average harmonic distortion was less than 5% in all cases. This particular finding reveals that, despite its inherently nonlinear mechanical characteristics, the joint introduces no degradation in the simplified linear behavior of the muscle-joint system. This model is useful in the design of systems employing electrical stimulation to restore movement to limbs paralyzed by spinal cord injury or stroke. In this application, it is suggested that a linear systems approach may be reasonable, but that the joint's dynamic response decreases the control system design stability margins of the muscle-joint unit. The joint model J(j/spl omega/), albeit obtained from a condition in which only one muscle was activated, could be used in complex conditions where several muscles are cocontracting independently as agonists or antagonists to modify the torque, angle, or stiffness of the joint. >
Normal Pediatric EEG

This chapter provides an overview of the developmental changes in the pediatric EEG from early prematurity through adolescence. The early development of recognizable sleep-wake cycles in the premature infant, the changes that occur around term and the maturation of the EEG in the awake, drowsy, and sleep states are described. Changes in response to routine activation procedures are also described. Figures are provided throughout the text. Discussion of common variant patterns observed in childhood is also provided.
Depositional Conditions for the Kuna Formation, Red Dog Zn-Pb-Ag-Barite District, Alaska, Inferred from Isotopic and Chemical Proxies

Water column redox conditions, degree of restriction of the depositional basin, and other paleoenvironmental parameters have been determined for the Mississippian Kuna Formation of northwestern Alaska from stratigraphic profiles of Mo, Fe/Al, and S isotopes in pyrite, C isotopes in organic matter, and N isotopes in bulk rock. This unit is important because it hosts the Red Dog and Anarraaq Zn-Pb-Ag ± barite deposits, which together constitute one of the largest zinc resources in the world. The isotopic and chemical proxies record a deep basin environment that became isolated from the open ocean, became increasingly reducing, and ultimately became euxinic. The basin was ventilated briefly and then became isolated again just prior to its demise as a discrete depocenter with the transition to the overlying Siksikpuk Formation. Ventilation corresponded approximately to the initiation of bedded barite deposition in the district, whereas the demise of the basin corresponded approximately to the formation of the massive sulfide deposits. The changes in basin circulation during deposition of the upper Kuna Formation may have had multiple immediate causes, but the underlying driver was probably extensional tectonic activity that also facilitated fluid flow beneath the basin floor. Although the formation of sediment-hosted sulfide deposits is generally favored by highly reducing conditions, the Zn-Pb deposits of the Red Dog district are not found in the major euxinic facies of the Kuna basin, nor did they form during the main period of euxinia. Rather, the deposits occur where strata were permeable to migrating fluids and where excess H2S was available beyond what was produced in situ by decomposition of local sedimentary organic matter. The known deposits formed mainly by replacement of calcareous strata that gained H2S from nearby highly carbonaceous beds (Anarraaq deposit) or by fracturing and vein formation in strata that produced excess H2S by reductive dissolution of preexisting barite (Red Dog deposits).
Stochastic modeling of partially stirred reactors

Abstract Modeling of Partially-Stirred-Reactors (PaSR) by stochastic simulation is carried out for investigating the influence of unmixedness on thermo-chemical properties. First, the joint scalar probability density function (pdf) of the PaSR is derived using a control volume analysis to provide theory for development of stochastic simulation procedures. Second, through numerical exploration and analysis, an improved stochastic algorithm is developed to eliminate the dependence of solution on time step. The limitations on age distribution from the stochastic simulation are identified. For nonpremixed combustion with either the modified Curl's mixing model or the Linear-Mean-Square-Estimation (LMSE) mixing model, analytic expressions are derived for the unmixedness in terms of residence time and mixing frequency. Numerical simulations have been performed revealing that the unmixed nature has profound influence on ignition delay and NO formation in PaSR with hydrogen combustion. The performance of recently...
Model-based approach with adaptive bounds of robust controllers for robot manipulators

This paper presents a dynamic compensation methodology for the robust trajectory tracking control of uncertain robot manipulators. To improve the tracking performance of the system, a full model-based feedforward compensation with continuous VS-type robust control is developed in this paper. Since possible bounds of uncertainties are unknown, the adaptive bounds of the robust control is used to estimate the uncertainty bounds. The stability and robustness issues of the proposed control algorithm are investigated via the Lyapunov method. The control algorithm presented guarantees that all system responses are uniformly and ultimately bounded. Thus, it is shown that the control system is evaluated to be highly robust with respect to significant uncertainties. >
Narrowing the teaching-research gap by integrating undergraduate education and faculty scholarship

Understanding and enjoying research can be facilitated by doing research with those we teach. By engaging undergraduate students as research participants, and converting a classroom assignment into a research project, the present author was able to narrow the teaching-research gap. 'Letters of Gratitude' were written to explore the benefits of being a benefactor and highlight important course content. Results indicated that students enjoyed participating in the process and showed increased interest in research. In addition, statistical group differences in subjective well-being were found between students who participated in the experimental and control groups.
Version selection schemes for hard real-time communications

Version selection schemes for hard real-time communications in multiaccess networks are studied. Two classes of version selection schemes are proposed: those that are based on message time constraints and those that are based on the network traffic. The authors discuss the design and implementation of both classes of version selection schemes used in conjunction with a window-based media access protocol. Integrated version selection schemes that combine both the timing- and the traffic-based approaches are discussed. The simulation results show that as the network load increases, the version selection schemes are effective at reducing the message loss by trading off the proportion of long version messages sent. >
Two mutations that block heterocyst differentiation have different effects on akinete differentiation in Nostoc ellipsosporum

Summary Evident differentiation of vegetative cells into hetero-cysts in Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 is prevented by Insertions in genes hetR and hetP. Nostoc ellipsosporum possesses single copies of genes that hybridize with hetR and hetP. In mutant NE2 of N. ellipsosporum, in which hetR is interrupted by an insert, and in a double recombinant of wild-type N. ellipsosporum with a plasmid that bears an interrupted copy of hetR, neither heterocysts nor akinetes are formed. When an intact copy of hetR from Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 was added to NE2 the ability to form both heterocysts and akinetes was restored, in contrast to the hetR mutant, a hetP mutant of N. ellipsosporum could form akinetes, but heterocyst formation was blocked. Use of luxAB, encoding luciferase, as a reporter, and use of luxC, luxD and luxE to generate aldehyde (a substrate for the luciferase reaction), permitted visualization of the expression of hetR at the level of single cells; hetR was expressed in akinetes.
Shh influences cell number and the distribution of neuronal subtypes in dorsal root ganglia

Abstract The molecular mechanisms responsible for specifying the dorsal–ventral pattern of neuronal identities in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are unclear. Here we demonstrate that Sonic hedgehog (Shh) contributes to patterning early DRG cells. In vitro , Shh increases both proliferation and programmed cell death (PCD). Increasing Shh in vivo enhances PCD in dorsal DRG, while inducing greater proliferation ventrally. In such animals, markers characteristic of ventral sensory neurons are expanded to more dorsal positions. Conversely, reducing Shh function results in decreased proliferation of progenitors in the ventral region and decreased expression of the ventral marker trkC. Later arising trkA + afferents make significant pathfinding errors in animals with reduced Shh function, suggesting that accurate navigation of later arising growth cones requires either Shh itself or early arising, Shh-dependent afferents. These results indicate that Shh can regulate both cell number and the distribution of cell types in DRG, thereby playing an important role in the specification, patterning and pathfinding of sensory neurons.
Carbonate-Paleosol Genesis in the Plio-Pleistocene St. David Formation, Southeastern Arizona

ABSTRACT We use soil developmental criteria to interpret carbonate-paleosol genesis in the Plio-Pleistocene St. David Formation, southeastern Arizona. Our study of six paleosol sections indicates that pedogenesis varied during the time the St. David Formation was deposited as well as in different depositional environments. Paleosol features range from those common to modern, well-drained surface soils requiring long periods of stability to those indicating hydromorphic-soil processes and cumulic pedogenesis. Differentiating these pedogenic processes helps to interpret carbon- and oxygen-isotope data. Vadose-zone paleosols reflect paleoenvironment better than hydromorphic paleosols because the likelihood of detrital carbonate and ground-water contamination is less. The morphology and texture of paleosols that formed above the influence of the ground-water table (vadose) are similar to those of nongravelly, well-drained Quaternary soils developed in arid regions. Carbonate-enriched zones are beneath clay-rich, carbonate-depleted zones. Carbonate is disseminated in the matrix and is segregated into small (<= 1 cm diameter) nodules, filaments, and seams; well-developed carbonates are massive. Layers of increased clay accumulation have a higher ratio of fine-to-coarse (or to total) clay than overlying or underlying layers, indicating that clay in these layers was probably translocated. Paleosols that formed within the influence of the ground-water table (hydromorphic) have carbonate and clay accumulations unlike those found in modern, well-drained surface soils. Carbonate is segregated into large (2-10 cm diameter) subspherical masses (glaebules) in a noncalcareous or weakly calcareous matrix. Layers of increased clay accumulation seldom have a genetic relation to zones of increased carbonate. These clay-rich layers lie above or below or correspond to the zones of carbonate aggregates.
Dynamic coordination of macronutrient balance during infant growth: insights from a mathematical model

Complex dynamic changes in body composition dietary intake energy expenditure and macronutrient oxidation occur during infant growth. Although previous investigators have focused on energy requirements for normal growth little is known about the dynamic coordination of macronutrient balance. Our objective was to develop a mathematical model of the dynamic relations between diet macronutrient oxidation and energy expenditure during normal infant growth. We developed a mathematical model that integrates longitudinal data on changes of body composition and carbon dioxide production determined with the doubly labeled water method to calculate both energy intake requirements and macronutrient oxidation rates during normal infant growth. The calculated fat oxidation rate was initially less than 20 kcal - kg/-1 - d/-1 despite the consumption of greater than 60 kcal - kg/-1 - d/-1 of dietary fat. This discrepancy was maintained until _ 6 mo after which fat intake was only slightly greater than fatoxidation. Nonfat oxidation closely followed nonfat dietary intake for the duration of the period studied. Model calculations of the energy intake requirements for normal growth were slightly lower than previous estimates. The calculations were robust to variations of body weight body composition and diet composition input data but depended sensitively on variations of carbon dioxide production data. Our model presents a dynamic picture of how macronutrient oxidation adapts in concert with dietary changes and energy expenditure to give rise to normal tissue deposition. The model integrates a variety of data in a self-consistent way simulating the complex metabolic adaptations occurring during normal growth while extracting important physiologic information from the data that would otherwise be unavailable. (authors)
The importance of location in determining breast conservation rates.

Abstract Background This study evaluates differences in the utilization of breast conservation surgery (BCS) between major metropolitan areas in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK). Methods Surgical and staging information were obtained from the Cancer Surveillance Program for Los Angeles County (LAC), the New York State (NYS) Department of Health Cancer Registry, and the UK National Health Service (NHS) Breast Screening Program. Demographic data were obtained from the census databases from the US, UK, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and chi-square tests were used to compare rates of BCS across the locations under study. Results Breast conservation rates were highest in London (79.3%) compared to New York City (NYC) (69.7%) and LAC (66.5%) ( P P Conclusion When comparing large metropolitan areas in the US and UK there are significantly different rates of BCS in different locations. These differences reflect differences in population density, socioeconomic status (SES), education levels, hospital volume, and the effects of a nationally funded screening program.
New aromatic pentafluoro-λ6-sulfanyl (SF5) derivatives, m-SF5(CF2)2C6H4X: (X = N3, Br, OC(O)CHCH2, CHCH2)

Abstract Preparation of the following new m-SF5CF2CF2C6H4X derivatives has been achieved: X=N3(2), Br(3), OC(O)CHCH2(4), CHCH2(5). The compounds were characterized by their respective IR, NMR, mass spectra (MS) and high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). An improved yield of SF5(CF2)2C6H5 (1) is also reported along with the synthesis of the polyacrylate (6) and polystyrene (7) from their respective monomers.
Interface design and multiplexed analysis with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy and SPR imaging

Ever since the advent of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and SPR imaging (SPRi) in the early 1990s, their use in biomolecular interaction analysis (BIA) has expanded phenomenally. An important research area in SPR sensor development is the design of novel and effective interfaces that allow for the probing of a variety of chemical and biological interactions in a highly selective and sensitive manner. A well-designed and robust interface is a necessity to obtain both accurate and pertinent biological information. This review covers the recent research efforts in this area with a specific focus towards biointerfaces, new materials for SPR biosensing, and novel array designs for SPR imaging. Perspectives on the challenges ahead and next steps for SPR technology are discussed.
Angiogenesis and morphogenesis of murine fetal distal lung in an allograft model.

Neovascularization is crucial to lung morphogenesis; however, factors determining vessel growth and formation are poorly understood. The goal of our study was to develop an allograft model that wou...
Evaluation of urban-rural differences in pharmacy practice needs in Maine with the MaPPNA.

Background: Maine is a rural state with an aging population located in the northeastern United States. Pharmacists play an important role in serving the public’s health as they are often the most available point-of-contact within a community.Objective: To assess the current pharmacy practice needs as viewed by licensed pharmacists across our rural state, and to distinguish issues that are unique to rural pharmacy practice.Methods: An online survey was sent to all licensed pharmacists in the state in the fall of 2014 (n=1,262) to assess their pharmacy practice needs, and specify an rural-specific needs, within the categories of (1) opioid misuse, abuse, and diversion, (2) challenges associated with access to healthcare, (3) poly-pharmacy use, (4) meeting the needs of special populations, (5) lack of antibiotic stewardship, and (6) resources, such as staffing.Results: The response rate was 22.1 % (n=279). We found the most agreed upon issue facing pharmacists’ in Maine is opioid use, misuse and diversion, followed closely by shortages in staffing. We also learned that pharmacists’ view pharmaceutical care for older adults, those with low health literacy, and those with mental disabilities more time-consuming. Some urban-rural differences were discovered in with regard to the pharmacists’ views; such as the magnitude of the distance barrier, and limited transportation options available to rural residents. Issues related to polypharmacy were viewed as more problematic by pharmacists practicing in urban versus rural sites.Conclusions: Pharmaceutical care in Maine must focus on meeting the needs of the elderly, those with disabilities, and those with limited health literacy. As with the rest of the nation, opioids challenge pharmacy practice in a variety of ways. These findings clarify areas that present opportunities for pharmacists to focus more specifically on Maine’s largely rural population.
Experimental Effects of Pre-Drive Arousal on Teenage Simulated Driving Performance in the Presence of a Teenage Passenger

Teenage passengers increase teenage driving risk, but this may be conditional on events and emotions immediately preceding driving. An experimental simulation study evaluated the effect of pre-drive arousal on risky driving in the presence of a confederate teenage passenger. In a two-by-two between-subjects design, participants were randomized to high or low pre-drive arousal and passenger present or not present conditions. Prior to the drive participants played the Nintendo Wii video game, Rock BandTM. In the high-arousal condition participants stood while playing high-energy Beatles songs; in the low arousal condition participants sat while playing low-energy Beatles songs. The manipulation produced differences in arousal by group. Group differences in risky driving were in the expected direction, but were not statistically significant at p = .05 on any of the three outcome measures, which included Failed to Stop (failing to stop at signalized intersections in the dilemma zone), Percent Time in Red (in intersections), and Pass Slow Vehicle (electing to pass a slow vehicle).
Unveiling the structure of multi-attributed networks via joint non-negative matrix factorization

Finding community structure (CS) has long been a core network science problem with various applications. Despite a vast amount of work on the problem, most current methods only focus on network topology, thus, perform poorly on real networks with labels and ground-truth communities. In this paper, we propose 3NCD (Network topology - Node attribute - NMF - Community Detection) algorithm that incorporates information from both network topology and node attributes in a unified non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) framework. The proposed algorithm not only achieves considerably higher accuracy but also runs markedly faster than the state-of-the-art methods. The superiority of our method is demonstrated in our experiments on three collections of real social networks with known ground-truth communities. Our experiments also suggest that the proposed method is robust against missing (incomplete) links and nodes' information.
Regulation of human airway mucins by acrolein and inflammatory mediators.

Bronchitis, asthma, and cystic fibrosis, marked by inflammation and mucus hypersecretion, can be caused or exacerbated by airway pathogens or irritants including acrolein, an aldehyde present in to...
Map segmentation algorithms for geographic resource allocation

Dividing a given geographic region into pieces is a problem that arises in many contexts, such as congressional redistricting, wireless sensor placement, supply chain management, sales segmentation, and air traffic control. These also include problems that do not look like such initially, such as dividing a region among a set of vehicles in order to perform surveillance or to perform service among various customer locations. Often, some ways of dividing the region are better than others along one or more criteria. Current approaches to many of these problems involve first discretizing them and then solving the resulting large integer programs. We find that a geometric approach to certain problems using map segmentation leads to computationally tractable algorithms which give fast and competitive solutions. This thesis describes two algorithms for equitably partitioning a region with respect to two densities, motivated by a vehicle routing problem.
Bladder Outlet Obstruction After Incontinence Surgery

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is said to effect up to 80 % of all women who complain of some type of urinary leakage. As education about the diagnosis and treatment of SUI becomes more widespread, there is a need for understanding the efficacy and potential complications of the therapies used to treat this condition. It is widely accepted that the gold standard for treatment of SUI is mid-urethral sling (MUS). One significant complication of the MUS procedure is subsequent bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). We review the incidence and etiology of BOO following MUS and hope this document can be used as a guide for identifying patients who may be affected by postsurgical BOO. Additionally, we discuss modalities for achieving a timely and accurate diagnosis and highlight recent evidence regarding the various applications of urodynamic studies, when concerned for BOO. Lastly, various managements of this complication are discussed. This chapter serves as a comprehensive overview of BOO after incontinence procedures, highlighting the recent research contributions, which have enhanced our understanding of this potential complication when treating SUI.
Ethical Behavior and Bureaucratic Structure in Marketing Research Organizations

The authors examine the relationship between bureaucratic structure and ethical behavior in research firms, data subcontractor organizations, and corporate research departments. The results suggest...
The necessity of contralateral surgical exploration in Wilms tumor with modern noninvasive imaging technique: a reassessment.

AbstractSurgical exploration of the contralateral kidney in unilateral Wilms tumor has been the standard of surgical practice. During the last decade advances in noninvasive imaging techniques (ultrasound, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) have led to more accurate definition of intrarenal pathological conditions. The intuitive question presently is whether contralateral exploration remains mandatory in Wilms tumor patients.We reviewed the records of 52 consecutive children at our institutions who underwent radiological and operative staging of the Wilms tumor from 1979 to 1988. All 48 evaluable patients underwent either preoperative computerized tomography, ultrasound and/or magnetic resonance imaging. Five bilateral Wilms tumors were diagnosed preoperatively and confirmed surgically, whereas extensive operative exploration of the contralateral kidney in the other 43 cases of radiologically diagnosed unilateral disease failed to reveal any contralateral abnormality. Thus, in all pat...
Predicting the Prognosis of Acute Pancreatitis

Lau and colleagues' systematic review revealed that prognostic scoring systems for acute pancreatitis have limited accuracy and value in predicting mortality. The editorialists discuss how simpler ...
Infantile-Onset Alexander Disease

Researchers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, and VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam report a 6-year-old Indian boy with infantile-onset Alexander disease having an unusually mild clinical course and a de novo mutation in the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) gene.
Role for Egr1 in the Transcriptional Program Associated with Neuronal Differentiation of PC12 Cells

PC12 cells are a well-established model to study how differences in signal transduction duration can elicit distinct cell behaviors. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) activates transient ERK signaling in PC12 cells that lasts 30-60 min, which in turn promotes proliferation; nerve growth factor (NGF) activates more sustained ERK signaling that lasts 4-6 h, which in turns induces neuronal differentiation. Data presented here extend a previous study by Mullenbrock et al. (2011) that demonstrated that sustained ERK signaling in response to NGF induces preferential expression of a 69-member gene set compared to transient ERK signaling in response to EGF and that the transcription factors AP-1 and CREB play a major role in the preferential expression of several genes within the set. Here, we examined whether the Egr family of transcription factors also contributes to the preferential expression of the gene set in response to NGF. Our data demonstrate that NGF causes transient induction of all Egr family member transcripts, but a corresponding induction of protein was detected for only Egr1 and 2. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments provided clearest evidence that, after induction, Egr1 binds 12 of the 69 genes that are preferentially expressed during sustained ERK signaling. In addition, Egr1 expression and binding upstream of its target genes were both sustained in response to NGF versus EGF within the same timeframe that its targets are preferentially expressed. These data thus provide evidence that Egr1 contributes to the transcriptional program activated by sustained ERK signaling in response to NGF, specifically by contributing to the preferential expression of its target genes identified here.
Large-Modulation-Depth Polarization-Sensitive Plasmonic Toroidal Terahertz Metamaterial

In this letter, we propose a terahertz (THz) plasmonic metamaterial based on planar metamolecule arrays with strong polarization sensitivity and large-modulation-depth for potential switching applications. Using both numerical and experimental studies, we analyzed the spectral features of the plasmonic unit cells. Employing bimetallic resonators, we showed that the proposed metamolecules can be efficiently tailored to support strong toroidal dipole resonant mode across the THz spectrum with high quality factor. The photo-induced toroidal moment with ultrasharp linewidth is used to design a polarization sensitive structure. This approach is the first utilization of toroidal metamaterials for switching applications, possessing strong potential to be used for advanced integrated photonic devices.
Solvent exchange radiofluorination: High yield production of fluorine-18 compounds without water evaporation

534 Objectives The goal of this study was to evaluate a new method for the rapid introduction of fluorine-18 into useful intermediates by eliminating the resolubilization step. Resolubilization is the process whereby water is azeotropically removed from aqueous [18F]fluoride ion (18F-) in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst and the residue is dissolved in a polar aprotic solvent suitable for subsequent nucleophilic radiofluorination reactions. Elimination of this step would lead to more efficient radiofluorination reactions. Methods A device was built for the concentration of aqueous 18F- using a small anion exchange cartridge. The trapped 18F- was rinsed with DMSO. The 18F- was eluted from the cartridge with a DMSO/ water (20-25 μL ) solution of potassium carbonate and kryptofix into the reaction vial containing the desired precursor. The reaction mixture was heated to 150°C for 15 minutes. The products were analyzed by radioTLC and radioHPLC. Results The 18F- ion was quantitatively trapped and released from the anion exchange cartridge. The radiochemical yields for the initial reactions with aryl precursors using this system are shown in Table 1. The aryl [18F]fluoride yields in Table 1 are comparable to those achieved for conventional radiofluorination conditions where the water is azeotropically dried. Initial results with alkyl tosylates did not produce the desired corresponding [18F]fluoroalkanes. Conclusions This new automated method is suitable for the efficient preparation of aryl [18F]fluoride intermediates and may be applicable to a broader spectrum of intermediates and tracers. Research Support This research was supported in part by the Office of Biological and Environmental Research, US DOE under grant no DE-FG02-08ER64699
Safety and efficacy of synchronous robotic surgery for colorectal cancer with liver metastases.

Timing of resection and treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) with liver metastases varies based on patient characteristics and center protocols. Concerns of increased morbidity and mortality (MM three with concurrent microwave ablation. One patient had ablation without resection and another had no identifiable lesion on ultrasound. The colonic resections included 3 low anterior resections, 2 abdominal perineal resections (APR), and 1 right hemicolectomy. Mean operative time was 401 min (349–506 min) with mean EBL of 316 mL (150–1000 mL). No conversions to an open approach occurred. Median length of stay (LOS) was 4.5 days (3–10 days). Complications included delayed wound healing after an APR and a delayed rectal anastomotic failure after ileostomy reversal. There was no 30-day mortality. At a mean follow-up of 19 months, one death occurred at 26 months and the remaining patients had documented metastatic disease. Synchronous resection for metastatic CRC carries risks. We report our series of synchronous robotic surgery for CRC with liver metastases. The robotic approach contributed to low blood loss, appropriate LOS, and no 30-day mortality. Morbidity experienced was consistent with the procedures and not related to the robotic technique. This series supports the potential benefits of synchronous resection from a technical standpoint. Further data are required to determine treatment and survival benefits. Limitations include small number and retrospective review of data.
Anatomy of the Eye

The eye is a complex organ. The emergency physician may be tasked with managing various ophthalmologic emergencies. A basic understanding of the specific structures of the eye can help recognize and manage the differentials of the eye. This applies to both medical and traumatic pathologies. This chapter delves into the anatomy of the eye, focusing on highlighting the different structures that are highly relevant to the emergency medicine differential diagnosis.
Designed for Learning: A Tale of Two Auto Plants

The Toyota-GM joint venture, NUMMI, and Volvo's Uddevalla plant represent two different ways of organizing the labor-intensive production of standardized products, in this case, auto assembly. NUMMI is based on the Japanese lean-production model, whereas Uddevalla has been called a human-centered model. Which model can best stimulate continuous improvement while maintaining worker morale? The authors argue that the answer is, emphatically, NUMMI.
Growth Hormone Stimulation of Normal and Leukemic Human T-Lymphocyte Proliferation In Vitro

In order to investigate the effect of human growth hormone on T lymphocytes, we utilized a clonogenic assay for mitogen-responsive human peripheral blood T lymphocytes. Lymphocytes were purified by density gradient centrifugation and incubated in the presence of phytohemagglutinin using a two-layer agar technique for CFU- T- lymphocyte culture. Nanogram concentrations of human growth hormone, ovine prolactin, human chorionic somatomammotropin, or growth hormone fragment were added to cell cultures. Growth hormone potentiated normal T-cell colony formation in a species-specific manner. Cells from a homogeneous T-lymphoblast line derived from a patient with a T-cell variant of hairy cell leukemia also showed augmentation of colony growth in the presence of human growth hormone. These studies provide evidence for a direct effect of growth hormone on normal and some neoplastic human T cells.
Overview of U.S. Law

This book is specifically designed to help pre-law students, international students, and international officials better understand the U.S. legal system. The book has an accompanying asynchronous online course. Each segment of the course and chapter of the book supports the framework for effectively learning the nuts and bolts of U.S. Law. It can assist those who need a head start with law school, those who learned English as a second language, and those who seek knowledge of how the U.S. legal system is structured and functions. An outstanding faculty of law professors from distinguished American law schools penned each of the 17 chapters ranging from an overview of the legal system in the United States to Contracts, Torts, Criminal Law, Civil Procedure, Evidence, Family Law and more. These same authors provide video lectures corresponding to their book chapters.
Somatic cell expression of the c-mos protein

The c-mos protein has been found to be enriched in germ cells of male mice, as described in a recent report from this laboratory (Herzog et al., Oncogene 3, 225, 1988). We report on further studies which indicate that the c-mos protein (a 41 to 43 kDa protein termed p43c-mos) is expressed in somatic tissues of mice and in cells grown in culture. In testes of mice, germ cell fractions have increased levels of p43c-mos relative to other cells of the testes. However, non-germ cells harbor significant levels of p43c-mos, as judged by comparison of testes from normal mice to those with mutations that affect the germ cell content of the testes. Thus, homozygous S1, at, and the W/Wv mutant mice are sterile due to severe deficiencies of germ cells. Such mice had only an estimated 50%-60% reduction in p43c-mos as judged by western immunoblotting using two different site-directed anti-mos antibodies. Similarly, X/X-sex reversed mice in which germ cells die after 10 days of age had only an 85% reduction of p43c-mos in mice 35 days of age. Thus, the germ cell content of testes did not correlated with p43c-mos levels in this tissue. Direct analyses of non-germ cells derived from mouse testes confirmed these findings, since Sertoli and Leydig cell lines grown in culture expressed p43c-mos. In addition, tissues such as kidney, liver, spleen and brain were found to contain p43c-mos. Surprisingly, mouse NIH3T3 cells were found to express significant levels of the c-mos protein based upon immunoblotting and one-dimensional peptide mapping experiments performed with both anti-mos antibodies. The concentration of the c-mos protein was not affected by expression of viral mos proteins. We conclude that the c-mos protein is enriched in male germ cells, but p43c-mos is also expressed in significant amounts in somatic tissues and in fibroblastic cells grown in culture.
Redox and Heat Shock Protein Hsp70 Affect the Binding of Erythropoietin RNA Binding Protein to Erythropoietin mRNA

Factors affecting complex formation between the cytosolic protein identified in our laboratory to bind to erythropoietin (EPO) mRNA (ERBP) and this mRNA have been investigated. It was observed that reducing agents, dithiothreitol and 2-mercaptoethanol, enhanced ERBP binding activity in a dose-dependent manner. Oxidizing agents such as diamide abolished complex formation. Treatment with the sulfhydryl alkylating agent N-ethylmaleimide also resulted in inhibition of complex formation, suggesting a possible role of sulfhydryl groups in the interaction between this protein and EPO mRNA.
The light field for diffusely scattering media

A movie projector beams collimated light waves onto a screen. The light rays, instead of reflecting back in a specified direction, scatter in all directions so that everyone in the audience can see the picture, no matter what seat they occupy. This scattering phenomenon is due to the fact that the movie screen contains many small inclusions whose index of refraction is different from that of the base material of the screen. The screen of an overhead projector, and the display of a laptop computer operate on the same diffuse scattering principle. On November 8, 1996 Robert L. Brott from 3M Company described the structure of diffuse scattering media. He discussed the radiation transfer model, and then presented a solution in the case of strongly forward scattering.
Challenging the urban–rural dichotomy in agri-food systems

The idea of a profound urban–rural divide has shaped analysis of the 2016 U.S. presidential election results. Here, through examples from agri-food systems, we consider the limitations of the urban–rural divide framework in light of the assumptions and intentions that underpin it. We explore the ideas and imaginaries that shape urban and rural categories, consider how material realities are and are not translated into U.S. rural development, farm, and nutrition policies, and examine the blending of rural and urban identities through processes of rural deagrarianization and urban reagrarianization. We do not argue that an urban–rural divide does not exist, as studies and public opinion polls illustrate both measured and perceived differences in many aspects of the lived experiences that shape our individual and collective actions. Ultimately, we suggest that the urban–rural divide concept obscures the diversity and dynamism of experiences each category encompasses. Additionally, it ignores the connections and commonalities that demand integrative solutions to challenges in agri-food systems, and draw attention to the power relations that shape resource access and use within and across urban and rural spaces.
Time-resolved multirotational dynamics of single solution-phase tau proteins reveals details of conformational variation

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are crucial to many cellular processes and have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases. Single molecules of tau, an IDP associated with Alzheimer's disease, are trapped in solution using a microfluidic device, and a time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy decay is recorded for each molecule. Multiple rotational components are resolved and a novel k-means algorithm is used to sort the molecules into two families of conformations. Differences in rotational dynamics suggest a change in the rigidity and steric hindrance surrounding a sequence (306VQIVYK311) which is central to paired helical filament formation. This single-molecule approach can be applied to other IDPs to resolve heterogeneous populations and underlying differences in conformational dynamics.
Academic Library Management: Case Studies, Edited by Dearie, Meth, and Westbrooks: A Substantive Analysis

AbstractCase studies can be an excellent way to teach management principles. This article presents a detailed analysis of the fourteen case studies included in Academic Library Management: Case Stu...
Synergistic effects of lovastatin and a COX-2 inhibitor on apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, prostaglandin synthesis and cell morphology in pancreatic cancer

4049 Introduction. Methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, commonly known as statins, are receiving attention as potential anticancer agents. We previously reported the effectiveness of lovastatin and NS398, an experimental cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, either individually or in combination in reducing pancreatic cancer cell growth in vitro. However, the mechanism of lovastatin’s cancer-killing action remains unclear. Inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase may alter apoptosis, cell cycle regulation and morphology which would account for observed reductions in pancreatic cancer cell growth. Therefore, we hypothesized that lovastatin, a competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, would act synergistically with a selective COX-2 inhibitor to induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In addition, we examined their combined effects on prostaglandin E2 production and cell morphology. Methods. A human pancreatic cancer cell line (MIA PaCa-2) was treated with lovastatin (0,5,10 μM) and NS398 (200 μM) alone and in combination for 16h. Pretreatment with lovastatin followed by lovastatin and NS398 was also evaluated. Cells were stained with propidium iodide for flow cytometry analysis to determine cell cycle (G0/G1phase) and relative apoptosis. The production of prostaglandin E2 in cell supernatants was measured by ELISA immunoassay. To observe changes in morphology, cells were imaged after individual and combined treatments using a phase contrast microscope at 400× magnification. Results. Apoptosis was significantly (P
‘Pesticides are our children now’: cultural change and the technological treadmill in the Burkina Faso cotton sector

Amidst broad debates about the “New Green Revolution” in Africa, input-intensive agriculture is on the rise in some parts of Africa. This paper examines the underlying drivers of the recent and rapid adoption of herbicides and genetically modified seeds in the Burkina Faso cotton sector. Drawing on 8 months of ethnographic fieldwork in the Hounde region, this article contends that economic and cultural dynamics—often considered separately in analyses of technology adoption—have co-produced a self-reinforcing technological treadmill. On the one hand, male farmers seek to increase cotton production in response to an economic squeeze. At the same time, broader cultural shifts toward individualism have created labor shortages as a result of families splitting apart, parents putting their children in school, and some women and young men refusing to provide free labor. Male cotton farmers thus increase production by turning to labor-saving inputs like herbicides, but these inputs create more debt, further locking farmers into intensive production. This article thus expands on the classic concept of the technological treadmill, demonstrating how economic and cultural processes intersect within a process of agrarian change to drive labor-saving agricultural technology adoption in the Burkinabe cotton sector. This expanded treadmill concept illuminates the complex dynamics compelling farmers’ choices to opt into input-intensive agriculture, and also helps explain rising farmer differentiation, as poorer farmers struggle to stay afloat and wealthier farmers expand.