cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Making Privatization Work: Utilizing a Scorecard Model of Human Resource Strategy

Three-fourths of privatization efforts fail. Analyses of the other one-fourth have overlooked what is arguably the single most important element: successful management of human resources. In establishing the culture of change necessary to effect competitive initiatives and in motivating employees toward innovation and accountability, a scorecard-based human resource strategy is at the center of it all. A discussion of the strategic role of human resource management supporting privatization efforts in general, and of the remarkably successful Charlotte, North Carolina experience in particular, offers important lessons. Detailed here is a rubric of what works and why.
The Basic Foundation of U.S. Antitrust Policy

As indicated in Chapter 3, it is thought that a review of our economic and legal history as they reflect the environment that spawned our basic antitrust legislation is appropriate. A study of history per se, however, is not the intent at all, although there are those who find such explorations interesting in and of themselves.
Taking a Hands-on Approach to Learning:

When people talk, they gesture. These gestures often convey substantive information that is related, but not always identical, to the information conveyed in speech. Gesture thus offers listeners i...
Dose Effect and Stability of Postoperative Cyclodeviation After Adjustable Harada-Ito Surgery

Purpose To report the dose-response relationship of adjustable Harada-Ito surgery, and postoperative stability of cyclodeviation. Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods Twenty patients underwent a unilateral adjustable Harada-Ito advancement of the anterior fibers of the superior oblique tendon, with or without resection. The surgical dose was calculated as resection plus advancement plus adjustment. Cyclodeviation was measured using double Maddox rods at preoperative and postoperative time points. We assessed dose effect by calculating change in cyclodeviation from preoperatively to postadjustment and evaluated the dose-response relationship by Spearman rank methods. Postoperative stability of cyclodeviation was assessed by comparing postadjustment measurements with 1-day and 6-week measurements, and also 1- and 5-year measurements, when available. Results Change in cyclodeviation from preoperatively to postadjustment ranged from 7 to 20 degrees of incyclo effect. There was a dose effect of 1.3 degrees per mm (r s = 0.52, P = .019). Postoperative incyclodeviation unwound a mean of 3.6 degrees ± 2.5 degrees between postadjustment and day 1. Overall change between postadjustment and the 6-week window was 6.5 ± 2.9 degrees in an excyclo direction. Unwinding continued with a mean change of 0.2 ± 2.6 degrees between the 6-week and 1-year windows, and of 0.4 ± 2.1 degrees between 1-year and 5-years windows. Conclusions Adjustable Harada-Ito advancement of the anterior fibers of the superior oblique tendon has a dose response of 1.3 degrees per millimeter, but its effect regresses over time. Based on our data, an immediate postoperative target incyclodeviation of 7 degrees is reasonable.
‘Proper’ Men and ‘Tricksy’ Spirits: The Eunuch in Disguise in Twelfth Night and The Tempest

European travelers writing about eunuch slaves in the Ottoman world were impressed by their elevated social status. English playwrights however tend to represent eunuchs as comic, disturbing, or both. The representation of Viola-Cesario in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night recalls a eunuch, but the play effectively erases her eunuch status to normalize the work as romantic comedy. Reading Ariel in The Tempest as eunuch allows one to acknowledge the intersection of violence and servitude, but by conferring the status of ‘spirit’ on Ariel, his enslavement and powerlessness are rewritten to romantic effect. The discourse of the grotesque and the deformed is shifted instead onto Caliban.
Safeguarding Stem Cell-Based Regenerative Therapy against Iatrogenic Cancerogenesis: Transgenic Expression of DNASE1, DNASE1L3, DNASE2, DFFB Controlled By POLA1 Promoter in Proliferating and Directed Differentiation Resisting Human Autologous Pluripotent Induced Stem Cells Leads to their Death.

Introduction: The worst possible complication of using stem cells for regenerative therapy is iatrogenic cancerogenesis. The ultimate goal of our work is to develop a self-triggering feedback mechanism aimed at causing death of all stem cells, which resist directed differentiation, keep proliferating, and can grow into tumors. Specific aim: The specific aim was threefold: (1) to genetically engineer the DNA constructs for the human, recombinant DNASE1, DNASE1L3, DNASE2, DFFB controlled by POLA promoter; (2) to bioengineer anti-SSEA-4 antibody guided vectors delivering transgenes to human undifferentiated and proliferating pluripotent stem cells; (3) to cause death of proliferating and directed differentiation resisting stem cells by transgenic expression of the human recombinant DNases (hrDNases). Methods: The DNA constructs for the human, recombinant DNASE1, DNASE1L3, DNASE2, DFFB controlled by POLA promoter were genetically engineered. The vectors targeting specifically SSEA-4 expressing stem cells were bioengineered. The healthy volunteers’ bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) were induced into human, autologous, pluripotent stem cells (hapiSCs) with non-integrating plasmids. Directed differentiation of the induced stem cells into endothelial cells was accomplished with EGF and BMP. The anti-SSEA 4 antibodies’ guided DNA vectors delivered the transgenes for the human recombinant DNases’ into proliferating stem cells. Results: Differentiation of the pluripotent induced stem cells into the endothelial cells was verified by highlighting formation of tight and adherens junctions through transgenic expression of recombinant fluorescent fusion proteins: VE cadherin, claudin, zona occludens 1, and catenin. Proliferation of the stem cells was determined through highlighting transgenic expression of recombinant fluorescent proteins controlled by POLA promoter, while also reporting expression of the transgenes for the hrDNases. Expression of the transgenes for the DNases resulted in complete collapse of the chromatin architecture and degradation of the proliferating cells’ genomic DNA. The proliferating stem cells, but not the differentiating ones, were effectively induced to die. Conclusion: Herein, we describe attaining the proof-of-concept for the strategy, whereby transgenic expression of the genetically engineered human recombinant DNases in proliferating and directed differentiation resisting stem cells leads to their death. This novel strategy reduces the risk of iatrogenic cancerogenesis in stem cell therapy.
Mean flows induced by inertia–gravity waves in a vertically confined domain

The Lagrangian-mean motion of fluid particles induced by horizontally localized small-amplitude wavepackets of vertically trapped inertia–gravity waves is computed analytically, at second order in wave amplitude, and the results are supported by direct nonlinear numerical simulations. The leading-order motion is assumed to be inertia–gravity waves, which is applicable to oceanic mesoscale flows in regions where wave activity is as strong as or stronger than the balanced flow. The analytical computation is based on time-dependent asymptotic wave–mean interaction theory, and the numerical simulation uses a Galerkin-truncated -plane nonlinear hydrostatic Boussinesq model that retains the barotropic mode and two baroclinic modes (vertical wavenumbers 0, and ), this being the minimal set on which consistent wave–mean interactions can take place. Two novel dynamical effects are revealed: First, we find that the barotropic component robustly dominates the Lagrangian-mean flow response, which is contrary to earlier findings for the same problem. Second, we discovered a new wavepacket regime in which the baroclinic mean-flow response consists of the persistent radiation of resonantly forced secondary internal waves. The latter effect occurs in an oceanically accessible parameter regime.
A $19-Billion Blind Spot: State Pension Spending.

In this brief, we examine an important but obscure form of state spending on K–12 education—state subsidies of school district pension costs. In 2018, this exceeded $19 billion across 23 states. To...
Chapter 66 – Historical Perspectives on U.S. Economic Geography

We review historical patterns of economic geography for the United States from the colonial period to the present day. The analysis is framed in terms of two geographic scales: regions and cities. The compelling reason for studying geographic area of two different scales is that models that explain location of economic activities at one scale may not apply to other scales. We consider the process of settling the frontier; the development of national markets in goods and factors and, more generally, the convergence (and divergence) of regional economies; the growth of cities and the relationship between urbanization and trends in aggregate economic structure, such as industrialization; and changes in the internal structure of cities.
Access Control Model for Google Cloud IoT

The prevalence of Internet of Things (IoT) is growing rapidly with increasing influence on our daily life. IoT has received considerable attention in both academia and industry recently and there has been significant studies on security and privacy aspects of IoT and cyber-physical systems. Researchers in academia have developed novel access control models and mechanisms for IoT. On the industry side, companies including cloud services providers like Microsoft, Amazon and Google have deployed Cloud-Enabled IoT Platforms to ensure wide scale adoption. However, there is a lack of consensus between formal IoT access control models proposed in the literature and real-world Cloud-Enabled IoT deployments. To bridge this gap, in this paper, we first study and develop a formal access control model of Google Cloud Platform, referred to as GCPAC model. We then extend the GCPAC model into a formal Google Cloud Platform IoT Access Control (GCP-IoTAC) model with IoT specific components. We demonstrate two dominant IoT scenarios - E-health use case, and smart home use case, using the GCP-IoT. We also highlight some of the limitations of the current access control capabilities of GCP-IoT and propose attributebased extensions for fine-grained access control in GCP and its IoT platform. We envision that this contribution will help achieving consensus among formal IoT access control models and real-world Cloud-Enabled IoT Platforms.
Accountability and Troubling the Caring Ideal in the Classroom: A Call to Teacher Citizenry

This work considers challenges facing the classroom caring ideal that Nel Noddings’ ethics of care theory exemplifies. It is evident that conditions of a neoliberal regime of accountability, a cont...
The Graph Theoretic Approach for Nodal Cross Section Parameterization

Presently, models for the parameterization of cross sections for nodal diffusion nuclear reactor calculations at different conditions using histories and branches are developed from reactor physics expertise and by trial and error. In this paper we describe the development and application of a novel graph theoretic approach (GTA) to develop the expressions for evaluating the cross sections in a nodal diffusion code. The GTA generalizes existing nodal cross section models into a ``non-orthogonal'' and extensible dimensional parameter space. Furthermore, it utilizes a rigorous calculus on graphs to formulate partial derivatives. The GTA cross section models can be generated in a number of ways. In our current work we explore a step-wise regression and a complete Taylor series expansion of the parameterized cross sections to develop expressions to evaluate them. To establish proof-of-principle of the GTA, we compare numerical results of GTA generated cross section evaluations with traditional models for canonical PWR case matrices and the AP1000 lattice designs.
Mesh Based Analysis of Low Fractal Dimension ReinforcementLearning Policies

In previous work, using a process we call meshing, the reachable state spaces for various continuous and hybrid systems were approximated as a discrete set of states which can then be synthesized into a Markov chain. One of the applications for this approach has been to analyze locomotion policies obtained by reinforcement learning, in a step towards making empirical guarantees about the stability properties of the resulting system. In a separate line of research, we introduced a modified reward function for on-policy reinforcement learning algorithms that utilizes a "fractal dimension" of rollout trajectories. This reward was shown to encourage policies that induce individual trajectories which can be more compactly represented as a discrete mesh. In this work we combine these two threads of research by building meshes of the reachable state space of a system subject to disturbances and controlled by policies obtained with the modified reward. Our analysis shows that the modified policies do produce much smaller reachable meshes. This shows that agents trained with the fractal dimension reward transfer their desirable quality of having a more compact state space to a setting with external disturbances. The results also suggest that the previous work using mesh based tools to analyze RL policies may be extended to higher dimensional systems or to higher resolution meshes than would have otherwise been possible.
Renal tissue oxygenation after caffeine administration in preterm neonates.

BACKGROUND Caffeine has been associated with reduced rates of acute kidney injury (AKI) in preterm neonates. The effect of caffeine on preterm neonatal renal regional saturation of oxygen (RrSO2) is unknown. METHODS RrSO2 was recorded continuously in neonates < 32 weeks' gestation until 7 days of age with INVOS™ neonatal near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) sensors. Baseline RrSO2 values were established by averaging the saturations in the 20 min prior to caffeine administration. Subgroup analysis was performed based on pre-caffeine RrSO2 averages. Change in RrSO2 was recorded at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 h after maintenance caffeine administration. RESULTS Of 35 eligible neonates, 31 (median gestational age 28.4 weeks) received 156 caffeine doses (median 8 mg/kg). Analysis of combined doses showed no significant changes in RrSO2 after caffeine administration at any time. However, neonates with baseline 20-29.9% had significant increases from 1 to 12 h (range of increase 5.9-13.9%), and those with baseline 30-39.9 had significant increases at 1 h (8.06%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Maintenance caffeine dosing increased RrSO2 in neonates with low RrSO2 in the first week. Further research is needed to determine the effect of loading doses of caffeine and if increases in RrSO2 correlate with improved clinical kidney outcomes. IMPACT Caffeine administration is associated with increased renal tissue oxygenation in preterm neonates with low baseline values under 40%. The most significant renal tissue oxygenation changes occur in the first 3 h after IV caffeine administration. With recent studies suggesting low RrSO2 values in preterm neonates are associated with AKI, caffeine should be studied as a potential therapeutic for this common and complex morbidity in preterm neonates.
Evaluation and Enhancement of a Comprehensive Controlled Substances Management Process at an Academic Medical Center.

Purpose:Controlled substances management is highly regulated, and requires institutions to have processes in place to maintain a closed-loop. This study was conducted to comprehensively evaluate th...
Proper control of R-loop homeostasis is required for maintenance of gene expression and neuronal function during aging

Age-related loss of cellular function and increased cell death are characteristic hallmarks of aging. While defects in gene expression and RNA metabolism have been linked with age-associated human neuropathies, it is not clear how the changes that occur during aging contribute to loss of gene expression homeostasis. R-loops are DNA-RNA hybrids that typically form co-transcriptionally via annealing of the nascent RNA to the template DNA strand, displacing the non-template DNA strand. Dysregulation of R-loop homeostasis has been associated with both transcriptional impairment and genome instability. Importantly, a growing body of evidence links R-loop accumulation with cellular dysfunction, increased cell death and chronic disease onset. Here, we characterized the R-loop landscape in aging Drosophila melanogaster photoreceptor neurons. Our data shows that transcribed genes in Drosophila photoreceptor neurons accumulate R-loops during aging. Further, our data reveals an association between age-related R-loop accumulation and decreased expression of long and highly expressed genes. Lastly, we show that photoreceptor-specific depletion of Top3{beta}, a DNA/RNA topoisomerase associated with R-loop resolution, leads to both downregulation of of long genes with neuronal function and decreased visual response in flies. Together, our studies present novel data showing increased levels of R-loop in aging photoreceptor neurons, highlighting the link between dysregulation of R-loop homeostasis, gene expression and visual function.
Professor Emerit: It is Time to Reject Gendered Titles for Retired Faculty.

“[I]t’s like calling me a professorette now” – these words came to me in an e-mail from esteemed gender scholar Janet Shibley Hyde on the problem with the title “Professor Emerita” (personal corres...
Electro-Thermal-Control Co-Design of An All Silicon Carbide 2250 kW Dual-Inverter for Heavy-Duty Traction Applications

This work presents the design and demonstration of an all silicon carbide (SiC) 2250 kW dual-inverter for heavy-duty traction applications. Through the use of a formal electro-thermal-control co-design approach, the maximum power density of the proposed inverter system is 60 kW/L, which is accomplished by. More specifically, to analyze the thermal performance of the inverter, a lumped thermal model is developed based on the characteristics of the power modules and the cold plate. To analyze the complicated interaction between the power losses and module junction temperatures, a closed-loop iterative estimation scheme is proposed to estimate the inverter power loss and module junction temperature. Based on the proposed thermal model and estimation scheme, a detailed optimization procedure on the selection of switching frequency and dc-link capacitor is presented to maximize power density. Furthermore, design optimization of the busbar was conducted to minimize the stray inductance, thus reducing the voltage overshoot during switching transients. Comprehensive experimental studies were performed on a physical converter prototype built based on the optimization results, which validate both the effectiveness of the presented design approach.
500kVA Hybrid Solid State Transformer (HSST): Modelling and Control

This paper presents a full order average model of a Hybrid Solid State Transformer (HSST) and a controller design to regulate the HSST output voltage. The developed 500kVA HSST comprises of a higher-power line frequency transformer (LFT) and a lower power Solid State Transformer (SST). The SST is based on a soft-switched single stage dual-active bridge (DAB) AC/AC topology. The model and the controller have been verified through simulation studies. The HSST has been tested in several scenarios to validate the controller experimentally.
Enhancement of multisubband electron mobility in asymmetrically doped coupled double quantum well structure

Abstract We study the effect of coupling of subband wave functions on the multisubband electron mobility in a barrier delta doped GaAs/Al x Ga 1− x As asymmetric double quantum well structure. We use selfconsistent solution of the coupled Schrodinger equation and Poisson's equation to calculate the subband wave functions and energy levels. The low temperature mobility is considered by using scatterings due to ionized impurities, interface roughness and alloy disorder. We show that variation of the width of the central barrier considerably affect the interplay of different scattering mechanisms on electron mobility through intersubband effects. Under single subband occupancy, the mobility increases with decrease in the barrier width as functions of doping concentration as well as function of well width. However, in case of double subband occupancy, effect of intersubband interaction yields opposite trend, i.e. , increase in mobility with increase in barrier width. It is gratifying to show that in case of asymmetric variation of well widths the mobility shows nonmonotonic behavior which varies with change in the width of the central barrier under double subband occupancy.
Multilevel secure rules and its impact on the design of active database systems

The event-condition-action paradigm (also known as triggers or rules) gives a database "active" capabilities - the ability to react automatically to changes in the database or in the environment. One potential use of this technology is in the area of multilevel secure (MLS) data processing, such as, military, where the subjects and objects are classified into different security levels and mandatory access control rules govern who has access to what. Unfortunately, not much work has been done in the area of multilevel secure active database system. In this paper we define the structure of MLS rules and identify what effects these rules have on the execution semantics of an active database system. Such knowledge is essential before developing a multilevel secure active database system.
The Democratic Efficiency Debate and Definitions of Political Equilibrium

An ongoing debate has been occurring within public choice for over a decade concerning the efficiency of democracy. Virginia Political Economy holds that political markets perform very differently from traditional markets. Chicago Political Economy, exemplified by the work of Becker and Wittman, maintains that political equilibrium, properly defined, is relatively efficient. I argue that the debate can be understood at least partially in methodological terms: Chicago views politics exclusively within the equilibrium framework of traditional economics, while Virginia draws at least implicitly on Austrian economics' view of the economy as a disequilibrium process. I contend that the factors which public choice scholarship has identified as distinguishing politics from markets—rational ignorance, majority rule, collective outcomes—affect the performance of politics as a process even if political equilibrium is relatively efficient.
Isolated hypertrophic obstruction to right ventricular outflow: Clinical, hemodynamic, and angiographic findings before and after operative treatment

Abstract A child is described in whom the familial form of idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused isolated and severe obstruction to right ventricular outflow, accompanied by progressive angina pectoris. The obstruction, which resulted from massive hypertrophy of the crista supraventricularis and interventricular septum, was treated by resection and prosthetic enlargement of the right ventricular outflow tract. The results of pre- and postoperative clinical, hemodynamic, and angiographic assessments are summarized.
Does increased adherence to medications change health care financial burdens for adults with diabetes

Background The aim of the present study was to investigate increased out-of-pocket drug costs and financial burdens of achieving adherence to oral antidiabetic medications and medications for prevalent comorbidities. Methods Concurrent adherence to medications, out-of-pocket drug costs, and financial burdens were measured among non-elderly adults with diabetes in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. “Financial burden” was defined as spending on health care exceeding 10% of family income. This study simulated the increased out-of-pocket drug costs and financial burdens that would result if non-adherent adults in our sample had obtained sufficient medications to be adherent. For each adult, for all therapeutic classes in which they were non-adherent, we calculated the additional days supplied required to become adherent, as well as out-of-pocket spending on these additional days supplied. Results Approximately one-quarter adhered to all required medications. Among non-adherent adults with employer-sponsored insurance and public insurance, the mean annual out-of-pocket drug costs of achieving adherence were US$171 and US$68, respectively, which was generally affordable. However, 35.6% of the uninsured lived in families that spent 10% or more of their income on health care. Mean simulated additional out-of-pocket drug costs of achieving adherence were US$310 for the uninsured. These additional drug costs would increase those spending 10% or more of income to 39.6% of the uninsured. Conclusions Efforts to reduce the costs faced by the uninsured and insured will make adherence more affordable and, therefore, more attainable for some adults with diabetes.
Off-label antidepressant use in children and adolescents compared with young adults: extent and level of evidence.

PURPOSE: To estimate the degree of, and level of evidence supporting, off-label antidepressant (AD) prescribing for children and adolescents compared with young adults. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study utilizing medical and pharmacy claims data from US-managed care plans, 1997-2009. PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged 5-24 years, with at least one (index) AD claim during a period of continuous enrollment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Drug-diagnosis pairs, on the basis of medical claims within 30 days pre-index or post-index AD, were grouped as (1) Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved or (2) off-label with one of three evidence categories based on Micromedex®2.0: favorable, inconclusive or limited-to-none (Thomson Micromedex, Greenwood Village, CO, USA). RESULTS: Over the study period, 290 816 subjects met eligibility criteria: 17% 5-12 years old, 40% 13-18 years old, and 43% 19-24 years old. Sertraline was the most commonly prescribed index AD (19-23%). Psychiatrists more often prescribed the AD for children (31%) and adolescents (35%) versus young adults (17%). Only 28% of all subjects had a diagnosis consistent with an FDA-approved indication within 30 days pre-index and post-index AD. Children less than 13 years old were less likely to have had an FDA-approved indication (5-10%). Most off-label prescribing had inconclusive to no evidence supporting efficacy. The lack of evidence was especially pronounced for younger children. Trends were consistent over the study period. Increasing the time period for potential indications pre-index and post-index AD did not result in significantly reduced off-label rates. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric off-label AD prescribing occurs frequently without a strong evidence base, highlighting a need to generate additional evidence to ensure safe and effective use. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en
From information to intelligence: the role of relative significance in decision making and inference

The growth of the amount of information accessible to people is phenomenal in recent years. In one estimate, the amount of digital information created, captured, and replicated in 2006 was 161 exabytes, approximately three million times the information in all the books ever written [1]. The issue of finding or discovering intelligence from a sea of information thus becomes ever more important and challenging. Although computational algorithms have been developed to aid the user in search of information that may be deemed useful, automatic discovery of intelligence (ADI) beyond simple information matching is still beyond the reach of conventional search methods. In this paper, we address one important component, namely relative significance which is essential in forming the paradigm of intelligence beyond a simple recognition of pattern of information. We further formulate the concept of relative significance in the framework of Bayes decision theory so as to enable computational optimization and algorithmic development. We believe processing of true computational intelligence must include capabilities in dealing with nonuniform significance and cost issues.
Epidemic spread in mobile Ad Hoc networks: determining the tipping point

Short-range, point-to-point communications for mobile users enjoy increasing popularity, particularly with the rise in Bluetooth -equippedmobile devices.Unfortunately, virus writers have begun exploiting lax security in many mobile devices and subsequently developed malware exploiting proximity-based propagation mechanisms (e.g. Cabir or CommWarrior). So, if given an ad-hoc network of such mobile users, will a proximity-spreading virus survive or die out; that is, can we determine the "tipping point" between survival and die out? What effect does the average user velocity have on such spread? We answer the initial questions and more. Our contributions in this paper are: (a) we present a framework for analyzing epidemic spreading processes on mobile ad hoc networks, (b) using our framework, we are the first to derive the epidemic threshold for any mobility model under the SIS model, and (c) we show that the node velocity in mobility models does not affect the epidemic threshold. Additionally, we introduce a periodic mobility model and provide evaluation via our framework. We validate our theoretical predictions using a combination of simulated and synthetic mobility data, showing ultimately, our predictions accurately estimate the epidemic threshold of such systems.
Embracing failure: What the Phase III progesterone studies can teach about TBI clinical trials.

Background: Despite positive preclinical studies and two positive Phase II clinical trials, two large Phase III clinical trials of progesterone treatment of acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) recently ended with negative results, so a 100% failure rate continues to plague the field of TBI trials. Methods: This paper reviews and analyses the trial structures and outcomes and discusses the implications of these failures for future drug and clinical trial development. Persistently negative trial outcomes have led to disinvestment in new drug research by companies and policy-makers and disappointment for patients and their families, failures which represent a major public health concern. The problem is not limited to TBI. Failure rates are high for trials in stroke, sepsis, cardiology, cancer and orthopaedics, among others. Results: This paper discusses some of the reasons why the Phase III trials have failed. These reasons may include faulty extrapolation from pre-clinical data in designing clinical trials and the use of subjective outcome measures that accurately reflect neither the nature of the deficits nor long-term quantitative recovery. Conclusions: Better definitions of injury and healing and better outcome measures are essential to change the embrace of failure that has dominated the field for over 30 years. This review offers suggestions to improve the situation.
High Concentration of Antioxidants N-Acetylcysteine and Mitoquinone-Q Induces Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 and Oxidative Stress by Increasing Intracellular Glutathione

In endothelial cells, the intracellular level of glutathione is depleted during offering protection against proinflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha-induced oxidative stress. Administration of anti-inflammatory drugs, i.e., N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or mitoquinone-Q (mito-Q) in low concentrations in the human pulmonary aortic endothelial cells offered protection against depletion of reduced glutathione and oxidative stress mediated by TNF-alpha. However, this study addressed that administration of NAC or mito-Q in high concentrations resulted in a biphasic response by initiating an enhanced generation of both reduced glutathione and oxidized glutathione and enhanced production of reactive oxygen species, along with carbonylation and glutathionylation of the cellular proteins. This study further addressed that IkappaB kinase (IKK), a phosphorylation-dependent regulator of NF-kappaB, plays an important regulatory role in the TNF-alpha-mediated induction of the inflammatory cell surface molecule ICAM-1. Of the two catalytic subunits of IKK (IKKalpha and IKKbeta), low concentrations of NAC and mito-Q activated IKKalpha activity, thereby inhibiting the downstream NF-kappaB and ICAM-1 induction by TNF-alpha. High concentrations of NAC and mito-Q instead caused glutathionylation of IKKalpha, thereby inhibiting its activity that in turn enhanced the downstream NF-kappaB activation and ICAM-1 expression by TNF-alpha. Thus, establishing IKKalpha as an anti-inflammatory molecule in endothelial cells is another focus of this study. This is the first report that describes a stressful situation in the endothelial cells created by excess of antioxidative and anti-inflammatory agents NAC and mito-Q, resulting in the generation of reactive oxygen species, carbonylation and glutathionylation of cellular proteins, inhibition of IKKalpha activity, and up-regulation of ICAM-1expression.
Burial of terrestrial organic matter in marine sediments: A re-assessment

[1] Calculations based on recent observations indicate that approximately one third of the organic matter presently being buried in marine sediments may be of terrestrial origin, with the majority of this terrestrial organic matter (TOM) burial occurring in muddy, deltaic sediments. These calculations further suggest that the remineralization of terrestrial organic matter in the oceans is also much less efficient than that of marine organic matter. These two underappreciated observations have important implications in terms of our understanding of the controls on the global carbon cycle. From a paleoceanographic perspective, the results presented here also suggest that changes in TOM burial on glacial-interglacial timescales have the potential to impact the global carbon cycle (i.e., atmospheric CO2 levels).
Tear-drop fractures of the lower cervical spine: classification and analysis of 54 cases

Tear-drop fractures, as described by Schneider and Kahn, are by definition unstable injuries, since both bony and ligamentous elements are involved in such lesions. Fifty-four patients having sustained the above-mentioned injury were treated in our Orthopaedic Department during the last 36 years, representing the 8.1% of all cervical spine injuries. Those patients, 45 men and 9 women, of a mean age of 34.3 years, were injured following a RTA (63%), or a fall from the height (22.2%). Fifty-five percent of those patients suffered spinal cord injury. These injuries were classified in four types (I, II, III, IV) according to the severity of the lesions and were treated accordingly. The whole spectrum of the medical records were analysed and discussed in relation to the available bibliography. Attention was paid to the presence of neurological lesions and the severity of the injury. It was shown that Type I lesions respond satisfactory to conservative treatment, while Types III and IV have an absolute indication for surgical treatment.
Metal redistribution in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in response to restrainment stress and dietary cadmium: Role of metallothionein and other metal-binding proteins

Abstract 1. Fish stressed by restrainment displayed elevated serum cortisol, copper and zinc levels; dietary cadmium had no effect. 2. Stress/dietary cadmium increased liver copper levels in a metal pool containing metallothionein and non-metallothionein proteins but decreased intestinal zinc bound as low molecular weight forms. 3. After restrainment, zinc losses occurred in dorsal skeletal muscle, ovary and spleen: copper decreased in intestine and pyloric caecum. 4. Dietary cadmium altered intestinal zinc distribution and raised hepatic Cu-binding protein levels but did not alter plasma zinc, copper or cortisol levels. 5. Alterations in zinc and copper concentrations during stress contrast with mammalian models.
Municipal wastewater contamination in the southern california bight: Part I—metal and organic contaminants in sediments and organisms

Abstract Sediments and organisms were examined for concentrations of organic and metal contaminants from near the Los Angeles County (JWPCP) municipal outfall at Palos Verdes (PV) station 7-3, the Los Angeles City (Hyperion) municipal outfall at Santa Monica Bay (SMB) station 6-4 and reference station SMB 2–3 near Malibu Beach. Flows and mass emission rates of suspended solids, PCBs, Cd and Zn were similar at the two outfalls. Mass emission rate of copper was almost twice as high from Hyperion as from JWPCP, while mass emission rate of DDTs was an order or magnitude higher from JWPCP than from Hyperion. Surficial sediments at PV 7-3 were enriched in most contaminants relative to SMB 6-4 and relative to the mass emission rates of contaminants from the JGVPCP and Hyperion outfalls. Some of this enrichment could be accounted for by the greater accumulation of organic material, measured as total volatile solids, at PV 7-3 relative to SMB 6-4. Some might be accounted for by resurfacing of more contaminated historical deposits buried at PV 7-3. Some of the enrichment of DDTs relative to PCBs could be accounted for by the greater abundance of oxygenated metabolites of PCBs (PCBols) relative to DDTs (DDTols) in sediments. The degree of contamination of organisms by DDTs increased with proximity to PV 7-3 but contamination by PCBs was similar at PV 7-3 and SMB 6-4. DDT concentrations in fish livers ranged from 12 ± 4 ( x ± SE: n = 4 ) mg/wet kg in longspine combfish from SMB 2–3 to 610 ± 105 ( n = 5) mg/wet kg in Pacific sanddab from PV 7-3. DDT concentrations in fish gonads ranged from 0·003 ± 0·003 ( n = 5) mg/wet kg in yellowchin sculpin from SMB 6-4 to 1.5 ± 6 ( n = 3) mg/wet kg in Pacific sanddabs from PV 7-3. PCB concentrations in fish livers ranged from 1·2 ± 0·4 ( n = 4) mg/wet kg in yellowchin sculpin from SMB 2–3 to 16 ± 3 ( n = 6) in Pacific Sanddab from SMB 6-4. DDT and PCB concentrations in invertebrate hepatopancreas were only slightly lower than those in fish livers. DDTols and PCBoIs comprised an average of 91 % of the total of parent compounds and oxygenated metabolites in sediments and 66 % in livers and hepatopancreas. Trace metals were frequently decreased in livers and hepatopancreas from near outfalls even though they were highly elevated in sediments. Comparison of sediment and tissue chlorinated hydrocarbon data with that from Elliot and Commencement Bays, Puget Sound, indicated that none of the southern California coastal stations considered in this study were sufficiently lacking contamination to be considered as adequate control sites.
Stratifying Osteosarcoma: Minimizing and Maximizing Therapy

Patients who are newly diagnosed with osteosarcoma face a daunting year of medical and surgical therapy, often filled with hospitalizations and changes in lifestyle. Fortunately, the majority of patients endure this struggle to become long-term survivors. However, follow-up studies of cancer survivors are revealing the sequelae of this curative therapy. Just as disturbingly, there remains a large subset of patients for whom conventional therapy is inadequate and who succumb to disease. In this review, we propose that therapeutic strategies for osteosarcoma patients must rely on stratification of patients into risk categories, in order to minimize therapy for some, while expanding treatment for others. We then focus on two molecular targets for the treatment of patients with high-risk osteosarcoma.
Activating Mutations in β-Catenin in Colon Cancer Cells Alter Their Interaction with Macrophages; the Role of Snail

Background Tumor cells become addicted to both activated oncogenes and to proliferative and pro-survival signals provided by the abnormal tumor microenvironment. Although numerous soluble factors have been identified that shape the crosstalk between tumor cells and stroma, it has not been established how oncogenic mutations in the tumor cells alter their interaction with normal cells in the tumor microenvironment. Principal Findings We showed that the isogenic HCT116 and Hke-3 cells, which differ only by the presence of the mutant kRas allele, both stimulate macrophages to produce IL1β. In turn, macrophages enhanced Wnt signaling, proliferation and survival in both HCT116 and Hke-3 cells, demonstrating that signaling by oncogenic kRas in tumor cells does not impact their interaction with macrophages. HCT116 cells are heterozygous for β-catenin (HCT116WT/MT), harboring one wild type (WT) and one mutant (MT) allele, but isogenic lines that carry only the WT (HCT116WT) or MT β-catenin allele (HCT116MT) have been generated. We showed that macrophages promoted Wnt signaling in cells that carry the MT β-catenin allele, but not in HCT116WT cells. Consistent with this observation, macrophages and IL1β failed to stabilize Snail in HCT116WT cells, and to protect these cells from TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Finally, we demonstrated that HCT116 cells expressing dominant negative TCF4 (dnTCF4) or HCT116 cells with silenced Snail failed to stimulate IL1β production in macrophages, demonstrating that tumor cells activate macrophages via a Wnt-dependent factor. Significance Our data demonstrate that oncogenic β-catenin mutations in tumor cells, and subsequent activation of Wnt signaling, not only trigger cell-intrinsic alterations, but also have a significant impact on the crosstalk of tumor cells with the tumor associated macrophages.
Multipurpose receptor ligands: β-carboline cholecystokinin antagonists

Abstract New amides and ureas of 3-amino-β-carboline are described which are selective ligands for CCK-A receptors. These compounds are developed by adaptation of benzodiazepine receptor-selective β-carboline-3-carboxylic esters. New CCK-A antagonists with 10−8M receptor affinities are reported.
Cryptochromes: Blue Light Receptors for Plants and Animals

Cryptochromes are blue, ultraviolet-A photoreceptors. They were first characterized for Arabidopsis and are also found in ferns and algae; they appear to be ubiquitous in the plant kingdom. They are flavoproteins similar in sequence to photolyases, their presumptive evolutionary ancestors. Cryptochromes mediate a variety of light responses, including entrainment of circadian rhythms in Arabidopsis, Drosophila, and mammals. Sequence comparison indicates that the plant and animal cryptochrome families have distinct evolutionary histories, with the plant cryptochromes being of ancient evolutionary origin and the animal cryptochromes having evolved relatively recently. This process of repeated evolution may have coincided with the origin in animals of a modified circadian clock based on the PERIOD, TIMELESS, CLOCK, and CYCLE proteins.
Employer assessment of work‐related competencies and workplace adaptation

In this exploratory study, we identified 17 work-related competencies that might relate best to the successful workplace adaptation of recent engineering graduates. The test battery consisted of the Work-Related Competency Index, the Workplace Adaptation Questionnaire, and a demographic survey. Mail and Web-based surveys were employed to collect the data from employers representing a wide spectrum of organizations who hire engineers from a cross-section of engineering disciplines. The research questions were examined through correlations, t tests, analyses of variance, and hierarchical regressions. After statistically controlling for the demographic and background variables, the regression analyses suggested a strong positive magnitude of effect between interpersonal and technical competencies and each measure of workplace adaptation. The findings demonstrate the need for engineering programs to produce graduates with these competencies and suggest that HRD professionals could have a powerful influence on workplace assimilation and performance by facilitating interpersonal and technical competency improvement through training and development activities.
Genetics of coxsackievirus B cardiovirulence and inflammatory heart muscle disease

Abstract Coxsackieviruses B (CVBs) are etiological agents of human inflammatory myocardial disease. The genetics of the coxsackieviral virulence phenotype in mice are now beginning to be understood with the availability of infectious cDNA copies of CVB genomes. Investigations to date with CVB3 and CVB4 have shown that sites within a non translated region and in the capsid proteins can affect the virulence phenotype. The relative importance of these sites to expression of the phenotype remains unclear.
Warfarin alone or with aspirin was superior to aspirin alone after acute myocardial infarction but increased bleeding.

Source Citation Hurlen M, Abdelnoor M, Smith P, Erikssen J, Arnesen H. Warfarin, aspirin, or both after myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med. 2002;347:969-74. 12324552
Does excited chlorophyll a equilibrate in solution

Copyright (c) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.A modified Kennard-Stepanov analysis of fluorescing systems is applied to chlorophyll a in various solvents. It suggests departures from thermal equilibrium in the emitting states.
Calcium signaling in mammalian egg activation and embryo development: the influence of subcellular localization.

Calcium (Ca2+) signals drive the fundamental events surrounding fertilization and the activation of development in all species examined to date. Initial studies of Ca2+ signaling at fertilization in marine animals were tightly linked to new discoveries of bioluminescent proteins and their use as fluorescent Ca2+ sensors. Since that time, there has been rapid progress in our understanding of the key functions for Ca2+ in many cell types and of the impact of cellular localization on Ca2+ signaling pathways. In this review, which focuses on mammalian egg activation, we consider how Ca2+ is regulated and stored at different stages of oocyte development and examine the functions of molecules that serve as both regulators of Ca2+ release and effectors of Ca2+ signals. We then summarize studies exploring how Ca2+ directs downstream effectors mediating both egg activation and later signaling events required for successful preimplantation embryo development. Throughout this review, we focus attention on how localization of Ca2+ signals influences downstream signaling events, and attempt to highlight gaps in our knowledge that are ripe for future research. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 79: 742–756, 2012. Published 2012. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
Spectroscopic ellipsometry as a real-time sensor for the fabrication of infrared photodiodes

The use of in situ process monitoring equipment is becoming increasingly important in the drive to produce focal plan arrays more efficiently and at decreased cost. As part of Texas Instruments' modular approach to microelectronics manufacturing (microelectronics manufacturing science and technology, MMST), a number of internal process monitors and sensors have been developed. We describe the use of one such sensor, a spectral ellipsometer (SE) for in situ, real-time monitoring and control during infrared device fabrication. Using the SE we have demonstrated end-point detection for the removal of the air-contaminated surface layer of HgCdTe during a remote microwave hydrogen plasma cleanup process step. The SE is also being used to monitor the real-time growth of an interlevel MOCVD ZnS insulator. The spectral ellipsometer provides rapid feedback of film thickness, at a rate of about 10 Hz, enabling its use for process control. We describe the use of the SE for both the HgCdTe surface plasma etch cleanup and the ZnS deposition processes.