cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Portfolio rebalancing, institutional ownership, and the small firm-January effect

Abstract We use monthly reported firm share ownership by institutions to provide direct evidence that portfolio rebalancing exists in the U.S. We find rebalancing exists in sufficient size to affect prices around the turn-of-the-year and conclude that portfolio rebalancing may be a substantial part of the small firm-January effect in the U.S. The findings are more important than simply evidence leading to the resolution of an anomaly since they cast doubt on our current asset pricing models and on previous efficient markets studies. The findings also suggest that investor's asset allocations may not be optimally determined without the inclusion of a portfolio rebalancing parameter.
The potency of dietary amino acids in elevating plasma cholecystokinin immunoreactivity in cats is related to amino acid hydrophobicity

Incomplete agreement exists on the relative potency of amino acids in stimulating endocrine secretion of cholecystokinin (CCK). Species and methodological variations have been suggested to account for the apparent inconsistencies. In the present research, the CCK-releasing potency of dietary amino acids was evaluated in cats using plasma CCK-like immunoreactivity (CCK-LI) as an indicator of CCK secretion rather than pancreatic protein and enzyme secretion, as has been used in past research. Oral-gastric administrations of a casein-simulating amino acid mixture increased (P < 0.05) plasma CCK-LI but not to the extent of that observed for casein or sodium oleate. The response in plasma CCK-LI to administrations of 50 mM solutions of amino acids was significant (P < 0.05) for tryptophan, phenylalanine, leucine, and isoleucine and the response increased linearly (P < 0.01) with increasing amino side-chain hydrophobicity. Control administrations of water and saline also evoked elevation in plasma CCK-LI, but the responses were so transient that amino acid effects were not obscured. This was substantiated by the finding of a significant linear (P < 0.001) dose response to phenylalanine administration. Cholecystokinin-8, 33 and 58 were among the CCK molecular forms identified by HPLC in plasma after administrations of phenylalanine and water. The present findings indicate that lipophilic amino acids released during digestion account for at least part of the endocrine CCK response in cats to ingested protein. The greater CCK-releasing potency observed for intact protein relative to free amino acids may have been the result of a slow digestive release of amino acids, elaboration of peptide secretogogues or protection of protease-sensitive releasing factors.
Business in the media: a pedagogical approach to understanding basic business concepts

This paper describes an unusual course offered recently at a regional university in the Southern US. The course discussed in this paper was different for a number of reasons; these include the fact that the course was team-taught (a new concept in this institution, although not new to more established universities), the course dealt with the psychology of perceptions (specifically how business is perceived through popular media), and the format of the course used a variety of media (predominantly film, but also software, television and popular fiction) to investigate how perceptions are created and manipulated and the justifications for these manipulations. This paper discusses the development of the course, the selection of the various media used to present the course, and concludes with the student responses to the course.
Maintenance of Hemostasis After Invasive Cardiac Procedures: Implications for Outpatient Catheterization

Abstract Objectives. This study investigated the efficacy of four different methods of arterial puncture site management during recovery from invasive cardiac procedures. The primary goals were less patient discomfort and improved clinical outcome. Background. The increasing use of outpatient catheterization, large interventional devices and potent periprocedural anticoagulation regimens has made the reduction of groin complications a high priority. Despite these trends, there are no randomized trials comparing commonly used techniques in treating the catheter entry site for the first few hours after the procedure. Methods. Four-hundred consecutive patients undergoing catheterization laboratory procedures were randomly assigned to one of four dressing techniques applied after achieving hemostasis: a sandbag placed over the site; a pressure dressing constructed from surgical gauze and elastic tape; a commercially available compression device; and no use of compressive dressing. Of these 400 patients, 171 would have been eligible for outpatient procedures in the absence of geographic constraints. The dressings were removed, and ambulation was encouraged 5 h after sheath removal. Uniform initial compression times, patient instructions, nursing follow-up and a structured interview and physical examination at 24 h were used. Results. The level of patient discomfort before and after dressing removal, as well as site tenderness at 24-h follow-up, was statistically similar in all four groups. Hematomas (typically small) and areas of ecchymosis were observed in 58 and 122 patients, respectively, but both their frequency and size were equally represented in each group. Important adverse events were confined to bleeding, rated as mild in 5.8%, moderate in 0.8% and severe in 0.6% of patients. Again, all four groups were statistically similar. Comparable findings were observed in the subgroup of patients eligible for outpatient procedures. Conclusions. Despite an increase in inconvenience and expense, none of the three compression techniques that were investigated improved patient satisfaction or outcome. Therefore, the routine use of compression dressings after invasive cardiac procedures cannot be recommended.
Possible explanations for child sexual abuse allegations in divorce

Based on a clinical sample of 136 cases, four classes of child sexual abuse cases in divorce are proposed: divorce precipitated by discovery of sexual abuse; long-standing sexual victimization revealed after marital breakup; sexual abuse precipitated by marital dissolution; and false allegations made during or after divorce. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.
Reinforcement of carbon/epoxy composites with multi-wall carbon nanotubes and dispersion enhancing block copolymers

The epoxy matrix of the composite was modified with multi-wall carbon nanotubes to improve its matrix dominated properties. The dispersion of the nanotubes within the matrix was enhanced with a commercial block copolymer. A pronounced improvement in matrix dominated properties was achieved. The glass transition temperature of the composite was increased by 39 °C, and the compressive and interlaminar shear strengths were increased by 39% and 15%, respectively.
The finer points of lying online: E-mail versus pen and paper.

The authors present 3 experimental studies that build on moral disengagement theory by exploring lying in online environments. Findings indicate that, when e-mail is compared with pen and paper communication media (both of which are equal in terms of media richness, as both are text only), people are more willing to lie when communicating via e-mail than via pen and paper and feel more justified in doing so. The findings were consistent whether the task assured participants that their lie either would or would not be discovered by their counterparts. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Possible ways to minimize nitrosation reactions during post-combustion CO2 capture process

Abstract The formation and any emission of nitrosamines in a post-combustion CO 2 capture process are of great interest over the past few years even though its concentration is quite low. In the present research, bench scale nitrosation experiments were conducted using morpholine, a representative of secondary amines, with NO 2 gas and flue gas. Laboratory experiments with 5 M morpholine with 100 ppm NO 2 gas resulted in 88 μg/g nitrosomorpholine (NSMO) in 6 h and 450 μg/g in 24 h. However, coal derived flue gas gave only about 7 μg/g NSMO in 24 h. To prove the inhibitory effect from SO 2 in the flue gas, experiments were conducted with diluted NO 2 gas blended with SO 2 gas in the feed stream. Formation of NSMO was inhibited by about 53.3% when equal concentrations of SO 2 and NO 2 existed compared with the same concentration of NO 2 gas diluted with N 2 . The inhibitory effect of SO 2 gas was found to be linear with its concentration. Apart from that, the addition of various inhibitors to the amine solution was also evaluated and isoascorbic acid was found the best with 86% inhibition activity under the test conditions. Isoascorbic acid was further examined both under simulated CO 2 scrubber and stripper conditions indicating good stability and inhibition performance.
Diethyl Dithiocarbamate-Induced Decomposition ofS-Nitrosothiols

Abstract Diethyl dithiocarbamate (DDC) has been used extensively as an inhibitor of CuZn superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the study of superoxide and nitric oxide. Addition of DDC to solutions of the endogenous NO adductS-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) causes a rapid decrease in GSNO with concomitant formation of nitrite, nitrate, disulfuram, oxidized glutathione, and mixed disulfide. Nitric oxide and superoxide appear to be produced in the process. Product formation is best explained by a radical mechanism in which S-nitrosation of DDC facilitates disulfide formation following homolytic cleavage.S-Nitrosocysteine andS-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine are likewise unstable in the presence of DDC. These findings may complicate interpretation of experiments in which DDC is used to alter NO-mediated responses. Some biological actions of DDC may result from SNO elimination rather than SOD inactivation. Moreover, apparent DDC-induced potentiation of superoxide effects may derive from O2−produced during the conversion of SNO to NO.
Construction of a yeast artificial chromosome library of tomato and identification of cloned segments linked to two disease resistance loci.

We have constructed a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) library of tomato for chromosome walking that contains the equivalent of three haploid genomes (22 000 clones). The source of high molecular weight DNA was leaf protoplasts from the tomato cultivars VFNT cherry and Rio Grande-PtoR, which together contain loci encoding resistance to six pathogens of tomato. Approximately 11 000 YACs have been screened with RFLP markers that cosegregate withTm-2a andPto — loci conferring resistance to tobacco mosaic virus andPseudomonas syringae pv.tomato, respectively. Five YACs were identified that hybridized to the markers and are therefore starting points for chromosome walks to these genes. A subset of the library was characterized for the presence of various repetitive sequences and YACs were identified that carried TGRI, a repeat clustered near the telomeres of most tomato chromosomes, TGRII, an interspersed repeat, and TGRIIl, a repeat that occurs primarily at centromeric sites. Evaluation of the library for organellar sequences revealed that approximately 10% of the clones contain chloroplast sequences. Many of these YAC clones appear to contain the entire 155 kb tomato chloroplast genome. The tomato cultivars used in the library construction, in addition to carrying various disease resistance genes, also contain the wild-type alleles corresponding to most recessive mutations that have been mapped by classical linkage analysis. Thus, in addition to its utility for physical mapping and genome studies, this library should be useful for chromosome walking to genes corresponding to virtually any phenotype that can be scored in a segregating population.
Springtime boundary layer ozone depletion at Barrow, Alaska: Meteorological influence, year-to-year variation, and long-term change

[1] In April 2008 and March–April 2009 near daily ozonesonde measurements were made over a several week period to study springtime Arctic boundary layer ozone loss in the vicinity of Barrow, Alaska. A detailed picture of the vertical structure of the depletion events from the soundings was obtained showing that the depletion was confined to approximately the lowest 1000 m with an average height of the top of the layer at ∼500 m. The two years were strongly contrasting in the frequency of ozone depletion events providing an opportunity for investigating the differing conditions under which these events develop. Short-term variability of the ozone depletion events is closely tied to the frequency of airflow that is primarily Arctic Ocean in origin (more depletion) or originates at lower latitudes (less depletion). The ubiquitous depletion events are interrupted by periodic mixing of ozone rich air into the boundary layer with the onset of synoptic scale weather changes that interrupt flow from off the Arctic Ocean. A 38-year record of surface ozone measurements at Barrow provides a unique time series that reveals the strong year-to-year variability of ozone depletion event occurrence. During March, but not April or May, there has been a significant increase in the frequency of ozone depletion events. This long-term increase in March depletion events appears to follow the decline in multiyear sea ice in the Arctic Ocean and its replacement by first-year ice. This significant change in the occurrence of boundary layer ozone events in March may signal a change in the oxidative chemistry in the Arctic that is related to climate change in this sensitive region.
Presynaptic HCN channels regulate vesicular glutamate transport.

SUMMARY The amount of neurotransmitter stored in synaptic vesicles determines postsynaptic quantal size and thus the strength of synaptic transmission. However, little is known about regulation of vesicular neurotransmitter uptake. In recordings from the calyx of Held, a giant mammalian glutamatergic synapse, wefoundthatchangesinpresynapticNa + concentration above and below a resting value of 13 mM regulated vesicular glutamate uptake, consistent with activation of a vesicular monovalent cation Na + (K + )/ H + exchanger. Na + flux through presynaptic plasma membrane hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels enhanced presynaptic Na + concentration and thus controlled postsynaptic quantal size. Our results indicate that a plasma membrane ion channel controls synaptic strength by modulating vesicular neurotransmitter uptake through a Na + -dependent process.
Cultural adaptability as an attribute of therapies: The case of morita psychotherapy

Morita psychotherapy, a form of therapy developed in Japan some sixty years ago, has survived extensive changes in Japanese society, and is now enjoying popularity in the United States. This gives us an opportunity to look closely at the concept of ‘cultural fit’ between an important therapeutic technique and its social milieu, and to speculate about recent changes in American culture that may account for the growing popularity of Moritism. In contrast to Western style `talking therapies' like psychoanalysis, Morita psychotherapy is relatively group-centered, ritualistic, and behavioristic. One would expect to find these features in a Japanese therapy, but their acceptance in America suggests that previously popular Western techniques may not be optimum for handling certain problems of the post-industrial American. McLuhan, Peacock, Douglas, and others have suggested some emerging traits of Western character that might shed some light on this question.
Brain research in functional gastrointestinal disorders.

The current understanding is that functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) result from dysregulation of the bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain (i.e., the brain-gut axis), modulated by various psychosocial and environmental factors (i.e., the biopsychosocial model). This concept has led to a growing interest in the research of brain function in relation to gut motor and sensory function. Brain research on the mechanisms that are involved in the generation of gastrointestinal symptoms includes studies of the gut response to brain stimulation with technique such as transcranial magnetic stimulation or studies of the brain response to gut stimulation by cortical evoked potentials, positron emission tomography, and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Studies using these techniques have shown that visceral/gut sensation involves activation of several brain regions that are associated with various brain functions, including sensation, cognition, and affect. The complexity of the brain response to visceral stimulation and the multidetermined nature of FGIDs make studies of brain function in FGID patients difficult and demands great caution in interpreting their results. Nevertheless, brain research in FGIDs is an emerging field and suggests that patients with irritable bowel syndrome differ from healthy subjects in the way that their brain response to visceral (e.g., rectal) distention. These studies emphasize the role of the central nervous system in conducting and processing visceral signals and suggest that alteration in brain processes involving perception and affective responses might be key factors in the pathogenesis of functional gastrointestinal symptoms.
Electron Localization or Delocalization in the MLCT Excited States of Ru(bpy)32+ and Ru(phen)32+. Consequences to Their Photochemistry and Photophysics in Fluid Solution

The decay parameters of *Ru(phen)32+ and *Ru(bpy)32+ as a function of temperature in H2O, CH3CN, and their mixtures are quite similar, and the reorganization energies for their electron-transfer quenching, whether reductive or oxidative, are virtually identical. The nature of the localization of the electron in the excited states seems to have no significant effect on the observed photophysics and electron-transfer quenching in fluid solution at or near room temperature.
18 O/ 16 O variations in deep-sea carbonate shells from the Rise hydrothermal field

Active hydrothermal vents have recently been discovered1 on the East Pacific Rise near 21° N (Fig. 1). Exotic benthic communities similar to those at the Galapagos vents2 thrive around many of the vents. Some of these animals have calcium carbonate shells which presumably contain a temperature record in the oxygen isotopes of the carbonate. These provide an opportunity to investigate the temperature preferences of the organisms and, perhaps, the history of temperature variation near the vents. We report here stable oxygen and carbon isotope measurements made on clam shells and on a barnacle collected near the RISE vents from the submersible Alvin at a water depth of ∼2,600 m (Fig. 1).
21 Ways to 21st Century Skills: Why Students Need Them and Ideas for Practical Implementation.

What is the purpose of school? A student may respond, “to get good grades.” A parent may say, “to educate.” A teacher may add, “to prepare students for their futures.” The purpose is an intertwined...
Glucocorticosteroid Hormone Treatment of Larval Treefrogs Increases Infection by Alaria Sp. Trematode Cercariae

In many amphibian species, an apparent increase has occurred in the prevalence of limb deformities caused by parasitic trematodes. We are interested in the role of environmental stressors in increasing these infections in amphibians. One mechanism by which environmental stressors could act to increase disease prevalence is to increase circulating levels of glucocorticosteroid hormones, which are released in response to stressors and can be immunosuppressive. In the present study, we treated gray treefroZg tadpoles (Hyla versicolor) with exogenous corticosterone, which is the main glucocorticosteroid “stress” hormone in amphibians. We then exposed treated tadpoles to Alaria sp. cercariae and scored the number of mesocercariae that successfully infected the tadpoles. In addition, we assayed one function of the immune response by counting the number of circulating eosinophilic granulocytes, which are thought to be important in immune responses to macroparasites. Tadpoles treated with exogenous corticosterone...
Effects of caffeine and bombesin on ethanol and food intake

The methylxanthine caffeine and ethyl alcohol are widely used and powerful psychotropic drugs, but their interactions are not well understood. Bombesin is a brain-gut neuropeptide which is thought to function as a neurochemical factor in the inhibitory control of voluntary alcohol ingestion. We assessed the effects of combinations of intraperitoneal (i.p.) doses of caffeine (CAF, 0.1-50 mg/kg) and bombesin (BBS, 1-10 micrograms/kg) on 5% w/v ethanol solution and food intake in deprived rats. Deprived male and female Wistar rats received access to 5% ethanol or Purina chow for 30 minutes after i.p. injections. In single doses, CAF and BBS significantly decreased both ethanol and food consumption, at 50 mg/kg and 10 micrograms/kg, respectively. CAF and BBS combinations produced infra-additive, or less-than-expected inhibitory effects on ethanol intake, but simple additive inhibitory effects on food intake. This experimental evidence suggests a reciprocal blocking of effects of CAF and BBS on ethanol intake but not food intake. Caffeine, when interacting with bombesin, increases alcohol consumption beyond expected values. Caffeine could affect the operation of endogenous satiety signals for alcohol consumption.
Trends in U.S. Wage Inequality: Revising the Revisionists

Abstract A recent “revisionist” literature characterizes the pronounced rise in U.S. wage inequality since 1980 as an “episodic” event of the first half of the 1980s driven by nonmarket factors (particularly a falling real minimum wage) and concludes that continued increases in wage inequality since the late 1980s substantially reflect the mechanical confounding effects of changes in labor force composition. Analyzing data from the Current Population Survey for 1963 to 2005, we find limited support for these claims. The slowing of the growth of overall wage inequality in the 1990s hides a divergence in the paths of upper-tail (90/50) inequality—which has increased steadily since 1980, even adjusting for changes in labor force composition—and lower-tail (50/10) inequality, which rose sharply in the first half of the 1980s and plateaued or contracted thereafter. Fluctuations in the real minimum wage are not a plausible explanation for these trends since the bulk of inequality growth occurs above the median ...
10 Mev PROTON REACTION CROSS SECTIONS

Proton nonelastic cross sections were obtained near 10 Mev from Be, C, Al, Ti, Mo, Zr, Fe, Ni, Zn, Cu, V, Rh, Nb, Ag, Sn, Ta, Th, Au, and Pb. The most significant features of the data are the appearance of a minimum in the vicinity of nuclei with Z = 28 protons, an anomalously low cross section for carbon, and a systematic deviation from optical model predictions for heavier elements. Proton reaction cross sections from both volume and surface absorption predictions are compared to experimental values. (H.D.R.)
Synthesis of novel organic oligomers containing SiH bonds

Several organic oligomers (Mw = 103–104 order) containing SiH bonds of the general formula 1 have been successfully synthesized by platinum-catalyzed partial hydrosilylation reaction of an allyloxy (or an allyl carbonate) end-blocked linear organic oligomer 2 with 2,4,6,8-tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane, [CH3(H)SiO]4 (3) (hereafter called hydrocyclotetrasiloxane). 1H-NMR spectroscopy confirmed the introduction of hydrocyclotetrasiloxane moiety into the oligomers through SiC linkage by hydrosilylation reaction. 13C-NMR analysis revealed that the cyclic structure of the starting hydrocyclotetrasiloxane 3 was retained intact in product 1. As the precursor for 1, allyloxy (or allyl carbonate) end-blocked oligomers 2 could be prepared from hydroxyl-terminated oligomers 4. The storage stability of product 1 was significantly influenced by the platinum catalyst still remaining in it. The poor stability was improved by decreasing the amount of the platinum catalyst and/or by adding coordinating compounds. As a result, an excellent stability of product 1 was obtained. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Artificial hybridization of rubber-bearing guayule with cold-tolerant Parthenium ligulatum

Caespitose and cold-tolerant plants of Parthenium ligulatum (Jones) Barneby (Asteraceae) from a native population in the Uinta Basin, Utah, were uprooted, potted, and transferred to a greenhouse in California. Approximately two years after transfer, the plants flowered and subsequently were crossed to diploid guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray), the rubber-bearing species, native to the state of Durango, Mexico. Only female guayule {times} male P. ligulatum crosses produced F{sub 1} hybrids. Only crosses involving guayule as female parent and F{sub 1} plants as male parent produced backcross (BC{sub 1}) plants. Hybrid plants were variable with respect to their growth habit, inflorescence, and leaf shape. Both parents and F{sub 1} hybrids had 2n = 36 chromosomes. Unlike the parents, however, meiosis was irregular in the hybrids which showed a range of 0-5 and an average of 2.1 univalents at metaphase I. Hybrids averages 0.87 laggards at anaphase I and 0.83 micronuclei at the tetrad stage. The crossability of guayule and P. ligulatum, the high degree of chromosome pairing of the F{sub 1} hybrids, and the production of BC{sub 1} plants indicate that the two species are related in spite of their of distinct morphological and ecological differences. This study suggests that the cold-tolerancemore » trait of P. ligulatum may be transferred to guayule through interspecific hybridization followed by backcrossing.« less
The Use of a Scanning Tunneling Microscope to Estimate Film Thickness and Conductivity of an Electrochemically Produced Poly‐1‐aminoanthracene Film

An electronically conductive poly-1-aminoanthracene (PAA) film was prepared electrochemically on Pt, Au, and C substrates by cycling the potential between -0.40 and +0.80 V in MeCN/BAPF 6 solutions. Adding pyridine to the solution resulted in a marked increase in the growth rate of the polymer film, as indicated by a large increase of faradaic current. A new scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) approach is also presented to determine film thickness and film conductivity through measuring the tip current vs, tip displacement
1170 STUDIES WITH A NEW COMPETITIVE INHIBITOR OF α-GLUCOSIDASES

Lysosomal a glucosidase, deficient in type II, GSD, has not been fully characterized in the diseased state. Inhibition by turanose and stimulation by high concentrations of KCl have been used to distinguish the lysosomal pH4 enzyme from the microsomal bound enzyme with pH optimum 6.5. In the human placenta the Km of the pH4 enzyme is 1.1 mM whereas the pH6.5 enzyme is 12. μM, utilizing 4 methylumbelliferyl-α-D-glucopyranoside. The low Km pH 6.5 activity was not found in urine. A new competitive inhibitor was found to be useful in distinguishing the two enzymes: Bay G-5421 is a complex oliogosaccharide, containing an unsaturated cyclitol unit bound to 4,5-didioxy-amino-D-glucopyranae within a chain of α-1, 4-glucopyranose units. The KI for the pH4 enzyme was .05 mM, whereas that for the pH 6.5 enzyme was 1.5 mM. Urine enzyme showed only the pH4 type inhibition. The urine enzyme could be concentrated by percipitation with 50% alcohol. This technique will be applied to tissues from patients with late onset type II GSD who have reduced amount of enzyme with an altered Vmax. This additional tool should be helpful in defining heterogeneity in the late onset form. It is hoped that urinary enzyme assays may be useful in detecting heterozygotes.
Political and economic brinkmanship

ABSTRACT According to liberal arguments for American hegemony a dangerous world needs American power. How does the liberal view hold up against the reality test of how political aims are interpreted and implemented by security professionals? I argue that many security operations are embedded in strategies of political brinkmanship. The second part explores whether American economic policies too can be viewed as brinkmanship. This concerns the ramifications of ‘free market’ policies for the United States at a time when exports become imports, the trade deficit deepens, income inequality widens and external deficits rise to unsustainable levels. In closing I reflect on the rationality of political and economic brinkmanship.
Cycloheximide Induction of Aflatoxin Synthesis in a Nontoxigenic Strain of Aspergillus Flavus

Cycloheximide Induction of Aflatoxin Synthesis in a Nontoxigenic Strain of Aspergillus Flavus
Technical Note-Comments on the Classical Derivation by Taha and Curry of Optimality Conditions in Linear Programming

This note points out some deficiencies in a recent paper [Opns. Res. 19, 1045-1050 1971] concerning the classical derivation of optimality conditions in linear programming.
Contemporary Experience with Percutaneous and Surgical Right Ventricular Assist Devices

Purpose Significant uncertainty exists regarding the deployment of the recently developed percutaneous right ventricular assist device (pRVAD) in the context of high mortality from right ventricular failure. We compare our initial institutional experience with pRVAD with our contemporary experience with surgical right ventricular assist device (sRVAD). Methods and Materials Percutaneous RVAD was accomplished in the Hybrid operating room. The right internal jugular vein was accessed percutaneously and a 17F Medtronic cannula was passed over a guidewire into the main pulmonary artery. Position was verified using TEE. A long 21F or 25F multistage venous cannula was used for inflow from the femoral vein. sRVAD implantation was performed using standard Thoratec cannulae from the right atrium to the pulmonary artery. An oxygenator was utilized in-line for 2/3 pRVAD patients and 7/17 sRVAD patients. Results Between January 2009 and September 2012, 17 patients underwent placement of sRVAD. During that contemporaneous period, 3 patients underwent pRVAD placement. Indications for pRVAD were RV infarct, RV failure s/p LVAD, and fulminant viral myocarditis. All 3 patients with pRVAD implant survived, 11/17 patients with sRVAD survived. All 3 pRVADs were removed at the bedside without complication. Mean duration of pRVAD support was 4 days. No patient with pRVAD required subsequent re-operation, whereas all sRVAD survivors required at least one further sternotomy. Conclusions pRVAD ease of insertion and removal may lower resistance to RVAD deployment. Support comparable to sRVAD may allow pRVAD use for both early deployment, critical for survival, and as the final procedure after anticipated RV recovery. Also, pRVAD remains flexible to support an in-line oxygenator for the impaired lungs.
Assessing the Efficacy of Variable Compliance Tactile Displays

Tactile displays based on pin arrays are challenging to design because they require a large number of individually controllable pins, or "tactors". A semi-active approach such as variable compliance could lead to improvements in tactor density, power consumption, size, and weight. However, the effectiveness of such an approach at conveying information to the user has not previously been studied. This paper presents an experiment that compares the performance of height varying and compliance varying pin arrays. It was found that users of a variable compliance pin array took at least 1.41 times longer to determine the shape of a displayed object than when using a variable height pin array, and this decision time increases with tactor stiffness
Black ethnicity and innovative communication

Behavioral scientists have noted an increasing emphasis on ethnicity and ethnically defined identities among diverse social groups. The relationships between ethnicity and a concept central to the innovation diffusion paradigm—innovative communication—are empirically investigated within the Black American subculture. Tests of seven hypotheses derived from prior research on black-white consumption patterns reveal significant differences in the correlates of this diffusion construct which appear to be attributable to both ethnic and socioeconomic influences.
German-US Commodity Trade: Is there a J-Curve Effect?

Abstract The short-run and long-run effects of currency depreciation on the trade balance of Germany have been investigated by several studies. Studies that have used aggregate trade data between Germany and the rest of the world have been said to suffer from aggregation bias. Those that disaggregated their trade data by trading partners and looked at the response of bilateral trade found neither short-run nor long-run effects. In this paper, we disaggregate bilateral trade data between Germany and the US by commodity and consider the response of the trade balance of 131 industries to real depreciations of the euro. We find that while in the short run, 91 industries respond to the depreciation of euro, these short-run effects last into the long run in 59 industries. Furthermore, the J-curve pattern was discovered in 31 cases. JEL Classification: F31
Application of task-based measures of image quality to optimization and evaluation of three-dimensional reconstruction-based compensation methods in myocardial perfusion SPECT

In this paper, we apply the channelized Hotelling observer (CHO) using a defect detection task to the optimization and evaluation of three-dimensional iterative reconstruction-based compensation methods for myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). We used a population of 24 mathematical cardiac-torso phantoms that realistically model the activity and attenuation distribution in three classes of patients: females, and males with flat diaphragms and raised diaphragms. Projection data were generated and subsequently reconstructed using methods based on the ordered subsets-expectation maximization (OSEM) algorithm. The methods evaluated included compensation for attenuation, detector response blurring, and scatter in various combinations. We applied the CHO to optimize the number of iterations for OSEM and the cutoff frequency and order of a three-dimensional postreconstruction Butterworth filter. Using the optimal parameters, we then compared the compensation methods. The index of comparison in these studies was the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) for the CHO. We found that attenuation compensation with either detector response or scatter compensation gave statistically significant increases in the AUC compared to attenuation compensation alone. The greatest increase in the AUC occurred when all three compensations were applied. These results indicate that compensation for detector response and scatter, in addition to attenuation compensation, will improve defect detectability in myocardial SPECT images.
Foot-like heart

Figure: Left ventricular non-compaction (A) Two-dimensional echocardiography in the apical four-chamber view showing prominent trabeculations from the apex to middle portion of the left ventricle. (B) Contrast echocardiography showing contrast agent penetrating into the intertrabecular recesses. (C) Magnetic resonance image of the apical four-chamber view showing large trabeculations in the apex of the left ventricle. (D) Left ventriculography (30° right anterior oblique projection) showing a characteristic foot-like appearance. diastolic non-compacted to compacted layer ratio of 2·4 (fi gure C), meeting the current diagnostic criteria of left ventricular non-com paction. Contrast left ventriculography showed a char acteristic appearance of multiple broad trabeculations of the left ventricle that had a roughly parallel orientation (fi gure D, video 3). Left ventricular non-compaction is a rare disorder characterised by thickened left ventricular wall with deep intertrabecular recesses and can be associated with neuromuscular disease. Its main clinical manifestations are heart failure, thromboembolic events, and arrhythmias.
Comparison of 4H-SiC Separate Absorption and Multiplication Region Avalanche Photodiodes Structures for UV Detection

We designed and fabricated silicon carbide (SiC) separate absorption multiplication region avalanche photodiodes (SAM-APDs) for UV detection in harsh environment applications. Two variations of device types were compared. Type I was designed to achieve reach-through (i.e. multiplication, charge, and absorption layers are depleted) prior to reaching high gain while Type II was designed not to achieve reach-through (i.e. only the multiplication region is depleted). It was found that both the dark current behavior and the responsivity were improved significantly by employing a nonreach-through design. According to preliminary measurements, the maximum quantum efficiency of the type II was ~70 % at the wavelength of 300 nm.
Phosphoregulation of an Inner Dynein Arm Complex in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Is Altered in Phototactic Mutant Strains

To gain a further understanding of axonemal dynein regulation, mutant strains of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii that had defects in both phototactic behavior and flagellar motility were identified and characterized. ptm 1, ptm 2, and ptm 3 mutant strains exhibited motility phenotypes that resembled those of known inner dynein arm region mutant strains, but did not have biochemical or genetic phenotypes characteristic of other inner dynein arm mutations. Three other mutant strains had defects in the f class of inner dynein arms. Dynein extracts from the pf 9-4 strain were missing the entire f complex. Strains with mutations in pf 9/ ida 1, ida 2, or ida 3 failed to assemble the f dynein complex and did not exhibit phototactic behavior. Fractionated dynein from mia 1-1 and mia 2-1 axonemes exhibited a novel f class inner dynein arm biochemical phenotype; the 138-kD f intermediate chain was present in altered phosphorylation forms. In vitro axonemal dynein activity was reduced by the mia 1-1 and mia 2-1 mutations. The addition of kinase inhibitor restored axonemal dynein activity concomitant with the dephosphorylation of the 138-kD f intermediate chain. Dynein extracts from uni 1-1 axonemes, which specifically assemble only one of the two flagella, contained relatively high levels of the altered phosphorylation forms of the 138-kD intermediate chain. We suggest that the f dynein complex may be phosphoregulated asymmetrically between the two flagella to achieve phototactic turning.
Membrane Plasma Separation

Guest Editor's Introduction: This paper was presented at the first plasmapheresis symposium organized by ISAO and the International Center for Artificial Organs and Transplantation on April 3, 1982, Cleveland, Ohio. This paper was printed in the proceedings of this symposium, Plasmapheresis: Therapeutic Applications and New Techniques, edited by Y Nose and PS Malchesky, JW Smith, and RS Krakauer, Raven Press, New York, 1983, p. 81–92. This paper describes the basic concept of membrane plasma separation. Consideration necessary for the usage of membrane plasma separators are also specifically described. The importance of transmembrane pressures and their maintenance for the lowest possible levels is stressed for the effective hemolysis-free membrane plasma separation.
Stereo pseudo 3D rendering for web-based display of scientific volumetric data

Advancement in high-throughput microscopy technology such as the Knife-Edge Scanning Microscopy (KESM) is enabling the production of massive amounts of high-resolution volumetric data of biological microstructures. To fully utilize these data, they should be efficiently distributed to the scientific research community (e.g., through the Internet) and should be easily annotated and analyzed. Given the volumetric nature of the data, visualizing them in 3D is important. Since we cannot assume that every end user has high-end hardware, an approach that has minimal hardware requirement will be necessary. There are several prominent applications that facilitate the viewing of large collections of images over the web. Google Maps and Google Maps-like interfaces such as Brainmaps.org allow users to pan and zoom 2D images efficiently. However, they do not yet support the rendering of volumetric data in their standard web interface. Thus, we propose a new method of rendering volumetric data over the web that directly uses the raw image stack, without any computation on the data at all. The human visual system has the capability of viewing stereo images in 2D and turn that into a 3D perception. To generate stereo images, we will need to create the effects of depth and binocular disparity using 2D images. By using simple HTML and JavaScript that are computationally cheap, we can accomplish both tasks dynamically in a standard web browser, by overlaying the images with intervening semi-opaque layers. We expect the approach presented in this paper to be applicable to a broader domain, including geology and meteorology.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Discharge Preparedness: Primary Care Implications

Objective. To investigate specific post–neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharge outcomes and issues for families. Study design. The authors prospectively surveyed family’s discharge preparedness at the infant’s NICU discharge. In the weeks after the infant was discharged, families were interviewed by telephone for self-reported utilization of health services as well as any infant-associated problems or issues. Results. At discharge, 35 of 287 (12%) families were “unprepared” as defined by a Likert response of less than 7 by either the family member or nursing assessment. Unprepared families were more likely to report that their pediatrician could not access the infant’s NICU hospital discharge summary, problems with the infant’s milk/formula, and an inability to obtain needed feeding supplies. Conclusions. Although most of the families are “prepared” for discharge at the time of discharge, this study highlights several issues that primary care providers accepting care and NICU staff discharging infa...
Second-harmonic generation circular dichroism studies of osteogenesis imperfecta

We report the use of second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy in conjunction with circular dichroism (CD) to differentiate normal skin from that in the connective tissue disorder osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Osteogenesis imperfecta results from mutations in the collagen triple helix, where the individual chains are defective, leading to abnormal folding, and ultimately, abnormal fibril/fiber organization. Second-harmonic-generation circular dichroism successfully differentiated normal human and OI skin tissues, whereas other SHG polarization schemes did not provide discrimination, suggesting this approach has high sensitivity for studying the difference in chirality in the mutated collagen. We further suggest that the method has clinical diagnostic value, as it could be performed with minimal invasion.
Solvent-induced damage in polyimide thin films

Solvent induced crazes formed in strained polyimide thin films on different substrates have been studied. A fracture mechanics approach has been used to simulate craze evolution. The experiments and simulations have identified a critical prestrain below which craze formation does not occur. This strain decreases with increase in solvent exposure time, but also exhibits a threshold. Diffusion of the solvent into the film is considered to be responsible for the time-dependent nature of damage formation.
Self-Regulation of Solar Coronal Heating Process via the Collisionless Reconnection Condition

I propose a new paradigm for solar coronal heating viewed as a self-regulating process keeping the plasma marginally collisionless. The mechanism is based on the coupling between two effects. First, coronal density controls the plasma collisionality and hence the transition between the slow collisional Sweet-Parker and the fast collisionless reconnection regimes. In turn, coronal energy release leads to chromospheric evaporation, increasing the density and thus inhibiting subsequent reconnection of the newly reconnected loops. As a result, statistically, the density fluctuates around some critical level, comparable to that observed in the corona. In the long run, coronal heating can be represented by repeating cycles of fast reconnection events (nanoflares), evaporation episodes, and long periods of slow magnetic stress buildup and radiative cooling of the coronal plasma.
Model of cost and mass for compact sized lightweight automobiles using aluminum & high strength steel

In this paper, we consider interactions between life cycle emissions and materials flows associated with lightweighting automobiles. The study begins by developing scenarios for lightweighting a specific compact sized vehicle based on a Ford Focus. Both aluminum and high strength steel are used, and specific levels of lightweighting are considered between 6% and 23% based on literature references and discussions with industry experts. Using automotive simulations and literature estimations for cost, we estimate improvements in fuel economy and increases in cost relative to the baseline vehicle. By incorporating emissions factors associated with producing aluminum and high strength steel, over a range of possible values dependent for instance on region of the world where these materials are produced, we compare the increased emissions associated with producing the vehicle with the saved emissions during use following from lightweighting. This yields a calculation of how many years it takes to recover the extra greenhouse gas GHG emissions required in production to create the lightweight vehicle. We observe a 2-12 year GHG payback for the 6% lightweighting scenario, a 2-7 year GHG payback for the 11% lightweighting scenario, and a 4-9 year GHG payback for the 23% lightweighting scenario. We also observe that the cost to remove GHG emissions per kilogram by lightweighting is lowest for the 23% case. In principle, these payback times can be shortened for aluminum intensive vehicles by closed-loop recycling of wrought aluminum (i.e., using secondary wrought aluminum), which is not practiced today. However, over a 15-year time horizon this is unlikely to make much difference due to a lack of secondary wrought aluminum and the expected growth in the demand for vehicles. Cost analyses demonstrate that lightweight vehicles have favorable economics for consumers.
Mitochondrial DNA and disease

The small circle of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) present in all human cells has proven to be a veritable Pandora's box of pathogenic mutations and rearrangements. In this review, we summarize the distinctive rules of mitochondrial genetics (maternal inheritance, mitotic segregation, heteroplasmy and threshold effect), stress the relatively high prevalence of mtDNA‐related diseases, and consider recent additions to the already long list of pathogenic mutations (especially mutations affecting protein‐coding genes). We then discuss more controversial issues, including the functional or pathological role of mtDNA haplotypes, the pathogenicity of homoplasmic mutations and the still largely obscure pathophysiology of mtDNA mutations.
Poly(ethylene imine)-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers facilitate efficient delivery of antisense oligonucleotides to nuclei of mature muscle cells of mdx mice.

Antisense oligonucleotides (AO) can facilitate dystrophin expression via targeted exon skipping in cultured cells of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients and in the mouse model of DMD (mdx mi...
Narrative, Time and the Emergence of the Encultured Self:

It is argued here that ‘the encultured self’ emerges in early to later childhood from the earlier experiential self that is differentiated from other persons and other objects in infancy and early childhood. The later sense of self is derived largely from verbal exchanges with significant others, both narrative and explanatory, about shared and unshared experiences, and about the stories, histories and myths of the embedding culture. These enable the child to achieve a continuing sense of self in time with relations to other times and places beyond personal experience.