cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
71. GETTING ATTENDINGS IN LINE: A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT APPROACH TO IMPROVING COMPLETION OF ATTENDING WRITTEN FEEDBACK FOR RESIDENT MORNING REPORT

Background On the annual ACGME survey, residents are asked to rate their satisfaction with feedback after assignments. For several years at our institution, this rating has steadily declined, with residents defining assignments as morning report presentations. With increasing residents interested in medical education, program leadership prioritized providing attending feedback on resident teaching skills. We employed a QI framework to increase the frequency of residents receiving written feedback from attendings after their presentations. Objective: Increase the frequency with which residents receive written feedback from attendings following a morning report presentation from 0% to 50%. Methods An electronic feedback form was established by the program leadership team. Our initial strategy to obtain written feedback was to ask core faculty to submit written feedback using our traditional evaluation platform (Medhub). This required faculty to log in to the platform and create an evaluation for the resident. Our initial assessment revealed very few residents received feedback with this platform, and, given inconsistent attendance, it was difficult to send evaluation forms to specific attendings. Our second cycle linked the feedback evaluation form to the platform used to track attending attendance for CME credit (eeds). Results Initially, 0% of residents received written feedback after their morning report presentations. After our initial PDSA cycle using our traditional feedback platform, 17% of residents received written feedback on their presentations. During our second PDSA cycle, we transitioned to the attendance tracking platform, at which point 55% of residents received written feedback. Conclusions Linking the evaluation form with attendance was most successful for ensuring that residents receive formal written feedback after morning report presentations. Ongoing efforts are being made to maximize efficiency and completion of evaluations.
A cultural sociology approach to the trauma of decolonialization

The cultural turn in late twentieth-century sociology took several forms, none more influential than the “strong programme in cultural theory” advanced by Jeffrey C. Alexander and associates (Alexa...
ACCRUALS MANAGEMENT, INVESTOR SOPHISTICATION, AND EQUITY VALUATION: EVIDENCE FROM 10-Q FILINGS

The release of the full set of financial statements in Form 10-Q provides investors with the data necessary to estimate the discretionary portion of earnings, thereby allowing them to better assess the integrity of reported quarterly earnings. We thus expect a negative association between unexpected discretionary accruals estimated using 10-Q disclosures and stock returns around 10-Q filing dates. Consistent with our expectations, we document a negative association between unexpected discretionary accruals and cumulative abnormal returns over a short window around the 10-Q filing date. Furthermore, this association varies systematically with investor sophistication. Finally, results from portfolio tests indicate that this association is economically as well as statistically significant. One interpretation of our findings is that accruals management has substantial valuation consequences, which are quickly impounded into stock prices.
Fault Tolerant Operation of Active Front End Converter with High Resistance Grounding System

High resistance grounding (HRG) system grounds the neutral point of a three-phase power distribution system through high resistance. This grounding scheme limits the ground short circuit current allowing continued operation in case of a single phase to ground fault. Since 1970s, HRG has become prevalent in continuous-process industries where ground fault tolerant operation is desired. An Active front end (AFE) converter is an AC-to-DC converter, in which the diode bridge in a threephase rectifier is replaced by solid state switches, and a line filter is installed between the line and the solid state switches. An AFE allows bidirectional power flow and is typically controlled to maintain near unity power factor. Because of these features, AFEs are gaining popularity in applications where high power factor and high energy efficiency are desired. An AFE has different operating characteristics and phenomena than that of a diode front end (DFE) converter particularly when a ground fault is present in an HRG system. If the system is not carefully considered, the fault tolerant feature of an HRG system will be compromised. So far there is limited literature that analyzed an AFE converter operating in HRG systems, and no literature can be found that studied the impact of a ground fault on the fault tolerant operation for this case. In this manuscript, the phenomenon is presented, verified by simulation and experiment, and the potential solution is discussed in the end.
Market-Based Strategies to Offset New Development Impacts on Aquatic Ecosystems

It’s a simple truth: negative impacts to aquatic ecosystems from urbanization cannot be completely avoided. However, the extent and intensity of certain impacts can be managed in a manner that limits their negative effects. Oregon’s governments, communities, and businesses expend substantial resources on environmental rehabilitation and mitigation projects aimed at offsetting the effects of development (Institute for Natural Resources 2008). Because individual projects tend to be costly and only protect or rehabilitate small, spatially dispersed areas near developed lands, “on-site” mitigation or rehabilitation projects may not effectively contribute to regional conservation efforts (Sudol and Ambrose 2002; BenDor and Brozovic 2007). In response to perceived shortcomings of on-site rehabilitation and mitigation actions, various market-based trading strategies have been proposed or developed as economically and ecologically sound alternatives (e.g., Morgan and Wolverton 2005; Trauth and Shin 2005; Shabman and Stephenson 2007). This chapter summarizes the theory behind market-based strategies and two strategies used or proposed for use in the Pacific Northwest: credit trading and mitigation banking.
RSVP/spl trade/: an automotive vector processor

A myriad of sensors (i.e., video, radar, laser, ultrasound, etc.) continuously monitoring the environment are incorporated in future automobiles. The algorithms processing the data captured by these sensors are streaming in nature and require high levels of processing power. Due to the characteristics of the automotive market, this processing power has to be delivered under very low energy and cost budgets. The Reconfigurable Streaming Vector Processing (RSVP/spl trade/) is a vector coprocessor architecture which accelerates streaming data processing. This paper presents the RSVP architecture, programming model, and a first implementation. Our results show significant speedups on data streaming functions. Running compiled code, RSVP outperforms an ARM9 host processor on average by a factor of 31 on a set of kernels. From a performance/$ and performance/mW perspective, RSVP compares favorably with leading DSP architectures. The time to market is substantially reduced due to ease of programmability, elimination of hand-tuned assembly code, and support for software re-use through binary compatibility across multiple implementations.
Out-of-plane refractive microlens for freespace integrated optics

Summary form only given. In summary, we believe an out-of-plane spherical microlens standing perpendicular to the substrate has been demonstrated for the first time using surface-micromachining technology. Light emitted from an optical fiber is successfully collimated by the microlens to a divergence angle of 0.15", and the focal length is measured to be 645 /spl mu/m. These microlenses can be combined with other out-of-plane micro-optical components on a silicon substrate to form a free space micro-optical bench.
STAPHYLOCOCCAL TRANSDUCING PARTICLE

Dowell, C. E. (The University of Texas, Dallas) and E. D. Rosenblum. Staphylococcal transducing particle. J. Bacteriol. 84:1076–1079. 1962.—When novobiocin-resistant transductants were isolated under conditions that permitted superinfection, almost all the clones were lysogenic for the transducing phage. If superinfection was prevented, then the transductants isolated were nonlysogenic, suggesting the defective nature of the transducing particle. It was noted that the transducing and plaque-forming particles showed no appreciable difference in buoyant density. No difference was found in transduction rates when either sensitive or lysogenic cells were used as recipients. Transduction rates as high as one transductant per 7 × 104 phage particles were obtained for novobiocin resistance.
A Welfare Analysis of Port User Fees: The Case of Grain and Soybean Exports

User fees have become a popular means of financing public services, including certain transportation facilities. The Water Resources Development Act of 1986 includes provisions for user fees to finance part of the costs of operations, maintenance, and new construction of the U.S. port system. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the welfare implications of this legislation. An analytical model is developed and used to estimate the impact of port user fees on grain and oilseed producers, consumers, and the government. The results of the analysis indicate that the user fee has a relatively small effect on producer welfare and that the efficiency gains resulting from the replacement of the government subsidy for port operations, maintenance, and new construction with a user fee are negligible.
Authorization and the Right to Punish in Hobbes

This article answers questions about the consistency, coherence, and motivation of Hobbes's account of the right to punish. First, it develops a novel account of authorization that explains how Hobbes could have consistently held both that the subjects do not give the sovereign the right to punish and also that they authorize the sovereign to punish. Second, it shows that, despite appearances, the natural and artificial elements of Hobbes's account form a coherent whole. Finally, it explains why Hobbes thought it was important to establish the sovereign's right to punish apart from the sovereign's power to punish.
Inactivation of yeast hexokinase by o-phthalaldehyde: evidence for the presence of a cysteine and a lysine at or near the active site.

Yeast hexokinase (ATP:D-hexose 6-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.1), a homodimer, was rapidly and irreversibly inactivated by o-phthalaldehyde at 25 degrees C (pH 7.3). The reaction followed pseudo-first-order kinetics over a wide range of the inhibitor concentration. The second-order-rate constant for the inactivation of hexokinase was estimated to be 45 M-1.s-1. Hexokinase was protected more by sugar substrates than by nucleoside triphosphates during inactivation by o-phthalaldehyde. Absorption spectrum (lambda max 338 nm), and fluorescence excitation (lambda max 363 nm) and emission (lambda max 403 nm) spectra of the hexokinase-o-phthalaldehyde adduct were consistent with the formation of an isoindole derivative. These results also suggest that sulfhydryl and epsilon-amino functions of the cysteine and lysine residues, respectively, participating in the isoindole formation are about 3 A apart in the native enzyme. About 2 mol of the isoindole per mol of hexokinase dimer were formed following complete loss of the phosphotransferase activity. Chemical modification of hexokinase by iodoacetamide in the presence of mannose resulted in the modification of six sulfhydryl groups per mol of hexokinase with retention of the phosphotransferase activity. Subsequent reaction of the iodoacetamide modified hexokinase with o-phthalaldehyde resulted in complete loss of the phosphotransferase activity with concomitant modification of the remaining two sulfhydryl groups of hexokinase. Chemical modification of hexokinase by iodoacetamide in the absence of mannose resulted in complete inactivation of the enzyme. The iodoacetamide inactivated hexokinase failed to react with o-phthalaldehyde as evidenced by the absence of a fluorescence emission maximum characteristic of the isoindole derivative. The holoenzyme failed to react with [5'-(p-fluorosulfonyl)benzoyl]adenosine. The dissociated hexokinase could be inactivated by [5'-(p-fluorosulfonyl)benzoyl]adenosine; the degree of inactivation paralleled the extent of reaction between o-phthalaldehyde and the nucleotide-analog modified enzyme. Thus, it is concluded that two cysteines and lysines at or near the active site of the hexokinase were involved in reaction with o-phthalaldehyde following complete loss of the phosphotransferase activity. An important finding of this investigation is that the lysines, involved in isoindole formation, located at or near the active site are probably buried.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Land use and transportation: Envisioning regional sustainability

Abstract This study of one region is in many ways relevant for others. In 1994, at the request of the Regional Alliance for Transit (RAFT), the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) used RAFT's assumptions in a run of its computer model of land use and transportation for the nine counties of the San Francisco, California, region. The RAFT run assumed the same population and employment growth for 2010 as MTC. RAFT assumptions combined a pricing reform, land use changes, and a shift of funds from freeways to transit. The pricing reform was to, in effect, pay employees the value of their “free” parking at work if they did not use it. The land use changes were to stop growth in the green belt and to revitalize neighborhoods and industries in transit-served areas. Funds were shifted from freeways to CalTrain upgrades, commuter rail, light rail, express bus services and local buses. RAFT proposed only three highway projects: one was to test against a competing freeway proposed in Hayward; a second for the I-238 bottleneck, and the third for Route 4 in Contra Costa. Regionally, performance was measured using many indices. For the Hayward project, it was measured in terms of mode choice, of level of service on highways, and of BART ridership. The RAFT plan performed significantly better than MTC's Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) on all measures regionally and in Hayward. MTC claimed it could not implement the RAFT plan, and RAFT responded to MTC. Despite limitations on its powers, MTC can still condition funding for transportation projects on land use, and can plan on the basis of market-based pricing reform and transit supported by land use and pricing reform. The problem is MTC's willingness to use the powers it has, which depends, in turn, on support from local governments.
The uptake, retention, and release of ammonium by reef corals 1

Of several genera tested, only those Pacific reef corals symbiotic with zooxanthellae take up and retain ammonium. Uptake and retention are enhanced by light, and the normal daylight period is sufficient to sustain ammonium retention during the night. Ammonium uptake kinetics for several species indicate that a two-process mechanism may be involved. If a correction is made for diffusion, uptake kinetics can be characterized by the Michaelis-Menten equation.
The Effects of Catch-and-Release Angling on the Growth and Survival of Juvenile White Seabass Captured on Offset Circle and J-Type Hooks

Abstract Despite the growing number of recreational anglers targeting white seabass Atractoscion nobilis in California, no information is available on the mortality rates of juveniles following catch and release. We captured juvenile white seabass (430–577 mm total length) with 4/0 offset circle hooks (n = 113) or 4/0 J-type hooks (n = 108) or with a net (control, n = 30) to investigate the effect of hook type on anatomical hook location. We also examined how hook location affected growth and survival for 90 d following release. Offset circle hooks penetrated the lip region significantly more frequently (73%) than did J-type hooks (41%). Hook location was directly correlated with mortality; all mortalities involved hook damage to the visceral region. A 10% postrelease mortality rate was observed for fish caught on both offset circle and J-type hooks. All mortalities occurred within 5 d postrelease. Survival was enhanced when deeply embedded hooks were left in place rather than removed from the visceral ti...
Job development guidelines in supported employment.

Topic This article describes methods for building relationships with employers that benefit both employers and job seekers. Purpose Many employment specialists receive little training on how to work with employers and, therefore, resort to online job searches. This article describes a simple framework for developing long-term relationships with employers. Sources used Personal observations and published literature. Conclusions and implications for practice Employment specialists benefit from a structured format to develop relationships with employers, as well as good supervision in the field.
SIMPLE GEOMETRIC FIGURES AND THE PART-WHOLE PROBLEM

In a previous study (Giorgi 8: Colaizzi, 1966) to determine the number of parts necessary to experience the demand to complete a figure in a given univocal way, Ss were presented one-fourth, one-half, and three-fourths of a square, a circle, and a diamond and were instructed to draw "what you think is the completed figure of this part." Ic may be objected, however, that Ss' performance may have been contaminated by the instructions, that is, it is not known whether Ss actually perceived stimuli as parts that demanded completion or the instructions suggested completion. Thus, a comparable study was conducted but Ss were instructed simply to state what they perceived at [he presentation of each of the stimuli. Table 1 lists for each stimulus the modal figures completed in the 1966 study and perceived in the second study.
Nitric Oxide Isoenzymes Regulate Lipopolysaccharide-Enhanced Insulin Transport across the Blood-Brain Barrier

Insulin transported across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has many effects within the central nervous system. Insulin transport is not static but altered by obesity and inflammation. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), derived from the cell walls of Gram-negative bacteria, enhances insulin transport across the BBB but also releases nitric oxide (NO), which opposes LPS-enhanced insulin transport. Here we determined the role of NO synthase (NOS) in mediating the effects of LPS on insulin BBB transport. The activity of all three NOS isoenzymes was stimulated in vivo by LPS. Endothelial NOS and inducible NOS together mediated the LPS-enhanced transport of insulin, whereas neuronal NOS (nNOS) opposed LPS-enhanced insulin transport. This dual pattern of NOS action was found in most brain regions with the exception of the striatum, which did not respond to LPS, and the parietal cortex, hippocampus, and pons medulla, which did not respond to nNOS inhibition. In vitro studies of a brain endothelial cell (BEC) monolayer BBB m...
Characterization of Ustilago maydis DNA binding protein one (UBP1)

The DNA binding properties of a protein from the lower eukaryote Ustilago maydis have been characterized. Using both filter binding and gel retention assays, we demonstrate that this protein, termed UBP1 (Ustilago binding protein one), binds preferentially to DNA molecules lacking chain interruptions. The introduction of DNA breaks by a restriction enzyme or a purified nuclease, from Ustilago maydis, causes the dissociation of protein-DNA complexes. UBP1 stimulates the relaxation of negatively supercoiled DNA, mediated by Ustilago type I topoisomerase, through a mechanism most likely involving the association of UBP1 with the DNA rather than with the topoisomerase. The prebinding of UBP1 to DNA templates, subsequently assembled into minichromosomes, results in the development of a disorganized nucleosomal array. Possible roles for UBP1 in processes that involve changes in DNA topology, such as chromatin assembly, are discussed.
Integrating strategic management and budgeting

Purpose – This article examines the relationship between budgeting and strategic management, especially in terms of strategic planning. Strategic management presents managers with a process for making decisions and guiding a firm's actions, while budgeting provides information on funding and accountability. The article takes the position that the two processes should be tightly integrated as they serve complimentary but distinct purposes.Design/methodology/approach – The article develops a model of how strategic management and budgeting should be intertwined. The model describes a cascading process by which a firm's general strategic direction and financial condition drive tactical decisions and resources allocations at lower organizational levels.Findings – The article discusses ideas on how the budgeting and strategic management might be administered so as to have the best impact on firm performance. A key observation in the article is that overall firm performance is likely to be improved when the two ...
Mitogenic effect of myelinated vs unmyelinated garfish nerve extracts

Abstract Mitogenic activities in crude extracts of unmyelinated olfactory nerves and myelinated trigeminal nerves of the garfish Lepisosteus osseus were compared. Extracts of each nerve type were added in a range of protein concentrations to serum-starved, subconfluent cultures of BALB/c 3T3 cells. At low protein concentrations (50–250 μg/ml) myelinated nerve extracts produced more [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation in the cultured cells than unmyelinated nerve extracts, while at higher concentrations (500–1000 μg/ml), the latter caused as much DNA synthesis as the myelinated nerve extracts, surpassing them at the highest concentrations tested. The results suggest that both axonal and myelin components contribute to the growth-promoting activity in nerve tissue.
Hypervolaemia improves global and local function and efficiency in postischaemic myocardium

SUMMARY 1. In the present study, we investigated the effects of blood volume on postischaemic function and efficiency. In 14 anaesthetized dogs, following recovery from a period of 15 min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery, the effects of hypervolaemia (HYPER; 15% increased volume produced by fast infusion of Hespan; B Braun Medical, Irvine, CA, USA), normovolaemia (NORMO) and hypovolaemia (HYPO) were studied. 2. Although myocardial O2 consumption was not significantly increased by volume (6.37±0.94 vs 6.89±1.1 mL/min per 100 g for HYPO and HYPER, respectively), local work of the stunned myocardium was markedly elevated (8.8±1.7 vs 22.5±3.5 g·mm/ beat, for HYPO and HYPER, respectively; P < 0.05). External work of the heart was also significantly improved (71.8±12.7 vs 139.5±16.2 mmHg·L/min for HYPO and HYPER, respectively). These data indicate markedly improved efficiency produced by volume, because work was increased with no change in myocardial O2 consumption. 3. Local dysfunction was characterized by several parameters, including systolic bulge, end-diastolic length, delay to onset of shortening, end shortening time delay (EST) and tail work ratio. Hypervolaemia reduced EST compared with hypovolaemia (98.6±18.3 vs 110.7±14.9 msec, respectively; P < 0.05) and improved tail work ratio (28.0±7.0 vs 36.0±7.0%, respectively; P < 0.05), with no effects on systolic bulge, end-diastolic length and delay to onset of shortening. 4. Thus, even in the postischaemic myocardium, increasing work by volume is energetically efficient and is accompanied by partial improvement of local dysfunction.
Localization of GABAA α1 mRNA subunit in the brainstem nuclei controlling esophageal peristalsis

Abstract The nucleus of the solitary tract, the site of esophageal premotor neurons (PMN), is tonically inhibited by GABAergic neurons via the GABAA receptor. We investigated the expression of GABAA α1 subunit mRNA within esophageal PMNs of the NTS utilizing transynaptic tracing with pseudorabies virus and nonisotropic in-situ hybridization. Double-labeling studies revealed that the majority of PRV-immunoreactive cells also expressed GABAA α1 mRNA. The expression of GABAA subunits supports a role for GABA in the brainstem circuit controlling esophageal peristalsis.
Correlations between dynamic urethral profilometry and perivaginal pelvic muscle activity

Of 208 ambulatory female subjects evaluated for complaints of urinary incontinence, complete history, physical findings, and urodynamic data were available on 163 patients allowing correlation of measures of perivaginal muscle activity to urethral profilometry measurement of sphincter strength. Perivaginal measures include pelvic digital exam score as well as vaginal electromyography with a modified perinometer. Urethral profilometry was performed at rest and during pelvic muscle contractions in both supine and standing positions. There was a moderate and significant correlation (r = 0.19 to 0.32) between profilometry measures of voluntary sphincter contractions and perivaginal EMG parameters of endurance peak and area, as well as to the digital test parameters of pressure and displacement. The correlation values between the vaginal EMG and the Digital Test scale of perivaginal strength were higher (r = 0.28 to 0.74). When the patients with pure stress incontinence were stratified by degrees of incontinence (mild, moderate, severe), urethral prolfilometry measures were a more accurate indicator of severity of incontinence than measures of perivaginal strength or the degree of bladder neck mobility as measured by the Q-tip test.
Current evidence on perinatal home visiting and intimate partner violence.

ABSTRACT Objective To describe current evidence on home visiting interventions for pregnant or postpartum women with specific intimate partner violence assessment and content. Data Sources Online bibliographic databases including PubMed, CINAHL Plus, and Web of Science and a hand search of bibliographies of relevant articles. Study Selection Original research and intervention studies were included that contained (a) a well-described prenatal and/or postpartum home visitation; (b) an assessment of perinatal intimate partner violence; and (c) quantitative data describing health outcomes for the women and their infants. Data Extraction The search yielded 128 articles, and 8 relevant articles met all of the inclusion criteria. Nonresearch, nonintervention, and international articles were excluded. Data Synthesis No perinatal home visiting interventions were designed to address intimate partner violence. Programs that screened for intimate partner violence found high rates, and the presence of intimate partner violence limited the ability of the intervention to improve maternal and child outcomes. Conclusions Perinatal home visitation programs likely improve pregnancy and infant outcomes. Home visiting interventions addressing intimate partner violence in nonperinatal population groups have been effective in minimizing intimate partner violence and improving outcomes. This suggests that perinatal home visiting programs adding specific intimate partner violence interventions may reduce intimate partner violence and improve maternal and infant health. Continued rigorous research is needed.
Using the Identity Processing Style Q-Sort to examine identity styles of Turkish young adults

This paper reports on two studies with Turkish young adults that used the Turkish version of the Identity Processing Style Q-Sort (IPSQ). The IPSQ is based on Berzonsky's informational, normative, and diffused identity styles. Participants sort descriptors of the styles into columns ranging from most to least like them. Patterns in Turkish young adults' identity styles were examined in the first study. The construct validity of the IPSQ-Turkish version based on associations between the IPSQ and measures of cultural orientation, self-definitions, self-concept clarity, self-esteem, and coping was tested in the second study. Results of the first study were consistent with the current literature in terms of a negative correlation between informational and diffuse/avoidant styles, and a relatively weaker relationship between informational and normative styles. Support for the construct validity of the Turkish version of the IPSQ was found in the second study, with results consistent with other IPSQ research.
Dietary uridine-5′-monophosphate supplementation increases potassium-evoked dopamine release and promotes neurite outgrowth in aged rats

Membrane phospholipids like phosphatidylcholine (PC) are required for cellular growth and repair, and specifically for synaptic function. PC synthesis is controlled by cellular levels of its precursor, cytidine-5′-diphosphate choline (CDP-choline), which is produced from cytidine triphosphate (CTP) and phosphocholine. In rat PC12 cells exogenous uridine was shown to elevate intracellular CDP-choline levels, by promoting the synthesis of uridine triphosphate (UTP), which was partly converted to CTP. In such cells uridine also enhanced the neurite outgrowth produced by nerve growth factor (NGF). The present study assessed the effect of dietary supplementation with uridine-5′-monophosphate disodium (UMP-2Na+, an additive in infant milk formulas) on striatal dopamine (DA) release in aged rats. Male Fischer 344 rats consumed either a control diet or one fortified with 2.5% UMP for 6 wk, ad libitum. In vivo microdialysis was then used to measure spontaneous and potassium (K+)-evoked DA release in the right striatum. Potassium (K+)-evoked DA release was significantly greater among UMP-treated rats, i.e., 341±21% of basal levels vs. 283 ± 9% of basal levels in control rats (p<0.05); basal DA release was unchanged. In general, each animal’s K+-evoked DA release correlated with its striatal DA content, measured postmortem. The levels of neurofilament-70 and neurofilament-M proteins, biomarkers of neurite outgrowth, increased to 182±25% (p<0.05) and 221 ± 34% (p<0.01) of control values, respectively, with UMP consumption. Hence, UMP treatment not only enhances membrane phosphatide production but also can modulate two membrane-dependent processes, neurotransmitter release and neurite outgrowth, in vivo.
Physiology and mechanics of rat levator ani muscle: Evidence for a sexual function

The levator ani (LA) of male rodents is a classic model tissue for the study of hormone-muscle interactions, although its functions remain unknown. Recordings during copulation from chronic electromyographic (EMG) electrodes in the LA and bulbospongiosus (BS) revealed that EMG activity in the LA and BS was tightly coordinated. The LA was not active during noncopulatory behaviors, including the 1-min interval surrounding defecation. Electrical stimulation of the LA motor nerves increased penile bulb pressure. Increases in penile bulb pressure following BS nerve stimulation were markedly attenuated after LA denervation and were reduced further by LA removal. Stimulation of the LA nerve yielded insignificant changes in rectal pressure. Perineal motion analysis demonstrated that the LA acts upon the penile bulb and the surrounding BS exclusively. Apparently the rodent LA muscle is an active component in a highly coordinated neuromuscular system augmenting penile erection and, contrary to its name, is most unlikely to participate in alimentary function.
Clinical nurse specialist practice--spheres of influence

Many nurses are uncertain of the differences in the educational backgrounds and practice domains of clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). This uncertainty may make it difficult for perioperative nurses to select the advanced practice role that is most congruent with their career goals and interests. The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists developed the Statement on Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice and Education, which provides an organizing framework for the CNS practice role. This article offers distinctions between the educational experiences of CNSs and NPs and suggestions for perioperative CNS practice.
Response properties of lobster chemoreceptors : tuning of primary taste neurons in walking legs

1. We determined the tuning properties of 66 single chemoreceptor cells from the legs of the lobsterHomarus americanus. The specificity of these (taste) cells was tested electrophysiologically in the upper range of biologically relevant stimulus concentrations (3×10−4 mol/l) with 15 compounds listed in Table 1. 2. Most of the chemoreceptors surveyed were narrowly tuned to specific test chemicals (Fig. 3). The best stimuli for these chemoreceptors were glutamate (Glu), ammonium chloride (NH4), betaine (Bet) and hydroxyproline (OH-Pro) (Fig. 4). Cell populations were defined by their best stimulus. Populations of cells responding best to Glu and NH4 were extremely narrowly tuned; populations responding best to Bet and OH-Pro were less narrowly tuned (Fig. 5, Table 2). 3. Each cell population showed a range of response specificities, from cells responding to only one compound to cells responding more broadly to other compounds. Within each population cells were arranged by their tuning breadth (H). Cells that shared a best stimulus but responded also to other compounds showed no consistency for the next best stimulus (Fig. 6). This suggests that even cells responding to the same stimulus do not share the same receptor complement. 4. The response patterns to Glu, NH4 and Bet elicited across all the chemoreceptor cells surveyed can be distinguished statistically as different from each other and from all others tested. Similarly, OH-Pro can be distinguished from all other stimuli except glycine and taurine (Figs. 8 and 9). 5. Systematic prior exposure to all 15 test compounds (corresponding to 21 stimulus exposures) at our stimulus concentrations reduced the absolute sensitivity of Glu best cells but did not change the slope of their dose-response functions (Fig. 10) with respect to earlier results (Derby and Atema 1982a). 6. We suggest that extremely narrowly tuned cells in lobster legs may function to detect key compounds as feeding stimuli over a large dynamic range of mixture concentrations such as found in nature. These cells may not be affected as much as broadly tuned cells by ambient backgrounds of cross-adapting compounds. In addition, both narrowly tuned and broadly tuned cells may participate in across fiber patterns to encode the quality of naturally occurring stimulus mixtures.
State-to-state dynamics of H+c-RH→H2(v′,j′)+c-R reactions: the influence of reactant stereochemistry

Abstract Rotational state distributions for the H 2 v ′ =0 product from the H+c-C 4 H 8 and H+c-C 5 H 10 abstraction reactions are reported for 1.6 eV collision energy. These results are compared to those previously obtained by us for the H+c-C 6 H 12 reaction. The H 2 ( v ′ =0, j ′ ) rotational state distributions from the H+c-C 5 H 10 and H+c-C 6 H 12 reactions are identical, within experimental uncertainty. In contrast, the H+c-C 4 H 8 reaction produces an H 2 ( v ′ =0, j ′ ) distribution that is much warmer. These results are interpreted through a model of the reaction dynamics that invokes the characteristic stereochemistry of the reactants.
Transfection of neonatal rat cochlear cells in vitro with an adenovirus vector

A recombinant adenovirus vector containing a beta-galactosidase reporter gene was used to transfect neonatal rat organ of Corti or spiral ganglion explants in vitro. Infection at appropriate titers (10(6)-10(7) pfu/ml) transduced virtually all cells in the cultures after 72 hr. However, spiral ganglion neurons and cells in the inner hair cell regions of the organ of Corti showed the highest levels of expression. Viral titers that produced high levels of beta-galactosidase expression did not appear to damage the cultures, and did not inhibit neurite outgrowth from spiral ganglion cells. However, higher titers (10(8)-10(9) pfu/ml) clearly diminished explant viability and inhibited neurite extension. The results demonstrate that cochlear cells can be transfected successfully with an adenovirus vector, at viral titers which do not induce obvious signs of cellular damage or dysfunction.
Universal preventive interventions for children in the context of disasters and terrorism

This review addresses universal disaster and terrorism services and preventive interventions delivered to children before and after an event. The article describes the organization and structure of services used to meet the needs of children in the general population (practice applications), examines screening and intervention approaches (tools for practice), and suggests future directions for the field. A literature search identified 17 empirical studies that were analyzed to examine the timing and setting of intervention delivery, providers, conditions addressed and outcomes, and intervention approaches and components.
Scheduling with Uncertain Resources: Elicitation of Additional Data

We consider the task of scheduling a conference based on incomplete data about available resource and scheduling constraints, and describe a procedure for automated elicitation of additional data. This procedure is part of an interactive system for scheduling under uncertainty, which identifies critical missing information, generates related questions to the human administrator, and uses answers to improve the schedule.
Effects of an early literacy professional development intervention on head start teachers and children.

Effects of a 1-semester professional development (PD) intervention that included expert coaching with Head Start teachers were investigated in a randomized controlled trial with 88 teachers and 759 children. Differential effects of technologically mediated (remote) versus in-person (on-site) delivery of individualized coaching with teachers also were examined in a random assignment design. Hierarchical linear model analyses revealed positive PD intervention effects on general classroom environment (d = 0.99) and classroom supports for early literacy and language development (d = 0.92), and on children's letter knowledge (d = 0.29), blending skills (d = 0.18), writing (d = 0.17), and concepts about print (d = 0.22). No significant intervention effects on teaching practices and children's outcomes related to oral language were found. There were no differential effects of remote versus on-site delivery of literacy coaching.
A fundamental limitation to the reduction of Markov chains via aggregation

This paper highlights a limitation of state space aggregation based model reduction of Markov chains. It is shown that within the set of Markov chains of a given dimension that admit an exact low order representation, the set of Markov chains where this exact low order representation can be extracted by means of aggregation based model reduction is a nowhere dense set.
Organic co-solvent effects on the bioconversion of (R)-(+)-limonene to (R)-(+)-α-terpineol

Abstract The effects of 22 organic solvents were tested on the bioconversion of (R)-(+)-limonene to (R)-(+)-α-terpineol by free and immobilized P. digitatum mycelia. Free cells showed the highest bioconversion activity in water-organic co-solvent single-phase systems. The relative activity increased 2·4 fold with dioctylphthalate (1·5%, v/v) and 2·2 fold with ethyl decanoate (1·5%, v/v). Immobilized cells showed the greatest bioconversion in detergent reversed micelle systems. When Tween 80 (0·1%) or Triton 100-X (0·1%) was added into an immobilized P. digitatum bioconversion system, the relative bioconversion activity increased 2 fold. Immobilization protected the fungal cells from the cytotoxic effects of organic solvents. Dioctylphthalate 1·5% to 2% (v/v) was the optimum concentration range for free cell bioconversion, and Tween 80 0·5% to 1% (v/v) was the optimum concentration range for immobilized cell bioconversion.
Medical Reimbursements and Patient Selection by Physicians: A Capital-Theoretic Approach

In this paper we use a simple model of patient selection to examine how expected declines in reimbursement rates (including scheduled cuts in Medicare reimbursements) affect decisions made by physicians. Accepting a new patient generates revenue for the physician both immediately and over time, but constrains the physician’s flexibility in accepting new patients in the future. The effects of the constraint depend, in part, on the turnover in patient capital. Findings imply that physicians who have longer-lasting relationships with their patients face higher costs than physicians who have only short-term relationships. For example, primary-care physicians are more likely to close their practices to new Medicare and Medicaid patients in response to expected reimbursement cuts in the future than are providers in consultative specialties.
Electronic spectroscopy probe of NH (c 1Π, a 1Δ)+Ar complexes

Abstract Imidogen radical-argon complexes have been spectroscopically characterized by laser-induced fluorescence in the vicinity of the NH c 1Π—a 1Δ 0—0 transition. At least 14 new features have been detected over a 241 cm−1 spectral region, indicating that the binding energy of Ar to NH c 1Π is ⩾241 cm−1. The spectral shift of these features with respect to NH places a lower limit of 128 cm−1 on the NH(a 1Δ)—Ar binding energy. Rotationally resolved spectra give the average separation of Ar to NH in both electronic states. Comparisons are made to a recent ab initio calculation of the NH(a 1Δ)+Ar interaction potential.
HACCP as a Business Management Tool

The subject of quality management has engulfed the world's businesses in the past decade. The proposed incorporation of quality management methods in product/process regulation is not surprising, as reports abound in the popular press and trade journals about improvements in product and process design, consistency, and effectiveness from adoption of quality management techniques. The subject of quality control through hazard analysis of critical control points (HACCP) in a regulatory setting has been addressed by numerous authors and will not be repeated here. Rather, the purpose of this paper is to give background and insight into the business management literature on HACCP and other forms of process control, with the intent being to describe their motivation and benefits in internally driven quality management systems, apart from regulation. The limitations on the scope of this paper prevent a complete enumeration of the vast literature on quality management. However, many points of departure are provided for the interested reader. Furthermore, because this paper is compiled with others which specifically address proposed HACCP systems to regulate food safety in the U.S. meat processing sector, mention is made of implications of this discussion for regulated HACCP systems. In this paper I first describe the foundation of internally driven process control and improvement. In the subsequent section I provide a framework for thinking about the benefits of process control and improvement within the context of a firm or industry. In the third I part identify some issues at the juncture between regulated HACCP systems and those that are part of a total quality management system. Foundation of Process Control Systems Management
Aortic Connective Tissue Content in White Leghorn Females

Abstract The aortae of adult female chickens were analyzed for their connective tissue content. Collagen increased primarily in the distal aorta; elastin decreased between the proximal and middle aorta; the collagen to elastin ratio increased progressively along the aorta. These changes in connective tissue contribute to nonuniform mechanical properties and related hemodynamic phenomena of the avian aorta.
Tumor sensitizing effect by misonidazole in a clinically relevant radiation dose range

Abstract The survival of cells from two murine fibrosarcoma (FSa) subpopulations after exposure to radiation only or radiation in combination with misonidazole (0.2 mg/g/fraction) was determined using a lung colony assay. FSa tumors grown in the hind legs of C 3 Hf/Kam pathogen-free mice were irradiated in situ when the tumors were 8 to 10 mm in diameter. Single cell suspensions prepared from excised tumors were separated on linear density gradients of Renografin, and the clonogenicity of predominantly oxic Band 2 (density 1.08 g/cm 3 ) and predominantly hypoxic Band 4 (density 1.14 g/cm 3 cells were measured. The surviving fraction of cells after doses of 1, 2, and 3 Gy, alone or preceded 30 minutes earlier with an i.p. injection of misonidazole (0.2 mg/g) was estimated from that measured after total radiation doses of 5 Gy=5 × 1 Gy, 10 Gy=5 × 2 Gy, and 15 Gy=5 × 3 Gy, with the misonidazole treated groups receiving a total drug dose of 1 mg/g, under the assumption of an equal effect per fraction. Under these conditions the initial slopes of Band 2 cells following irradiation only or irradiation plus misonidazole were 1 D 0 = 3.6 Gy and 2.74 Gy, respectively, giving rise to a sensitizer enhancement ratio of 1.3. Band 4 cells exhibited a 1 D 0 of 5.15 Gy to radiation only and 2.75 Gy to radiation plus misonidazole (SER of 1.9). In addition, misonidazole when administered alone in a single dose or up to 5 fractions of 0.2 mg/g each separated by 4-hour intervals, was effective in killing 50% of the Band 4 cells. The target population at risk appeared to remain constant regardless of the number of dose fractions administered. In contrast, Band 2 cells were not affected by the cytotoxic action of misonidazole. These data suggest that misonidazole is effective in sensitizing hypoxic cells in the clinical dose range, and that it is directly cytotoxic to hypoxic tumor cells.
Optimization of tether geometry to achieve low anchor loss in Lamé-mode resonators

In this paper, we study the fundamental cause of anchor dissipation in Lame- or wineglass-mode resonators and show that by carefully optimizing the resonator tether geometry low anchor losses can be achieved, making it possible to reach the intrinsic fxQ limit of the resonating material. Through analytical and finite element investigation, we demonstrate that the anchor loss is most significant when the flexural-mode resonance frequency of the tether is in sync with the Lame-mode frequency of the resonating plate. This has a significant bearing on the design of Lame-mode resonators with release holes or temperature-compensation trenches, where the modification of the resonator structure requires modification to the tether geometry to maintain a high Q. We verify the predicted results through experimental measurements and present an optimized design that exhibits a mechanical Q of 408,270 for the fundamental Lame mode at 41.57 MHz. The fxQ for this device is 1.7×1013, one of the highest values reported in silicon.
A Comparison of Flow Gradients across Disposable Arterial Perfusion Cannulas

Five-hundred members of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons were canvassed to discover which cannulas are currently used for open-heart surgical procedures in adults; 120 surgeons responded. The mean arterial line pressure produced by 29 disposable arterial perfusion cannulas (size range, 16F to 30F) at flow rates of 1 to 5 liters per minute was compared. A roller pump with perfusion tubing 95 mm (0.75 inch) in diameter was used with water as the test solution. Line pressures in these cannulas ranged from 22.4 +/- 2.30 (standard deviation) to 271.0 +/- 6.60 mm Hg at 5 L/min. Four 24F cannulas had gradients of less than 55 mm Hg at a flow rate of 5 L/min, and 6 cannulas--4 of which were 22F and 2, 24F--had gradients higher than 150 mm Hg at 5 L/min. A number of cannulas kinked easily, and these showed marked increases in line pressure. The following results were obtained from this study: (1) a wide range of line pressures was observed in disposable arterial perfusion cannulas currently in clinical use; (2) some cannulas currently used for cardiopulmonary bypass in adults generated excessive line pressure; and (3) both material and design affect function, with some designs being safer than others. Cardiac surgeons should base the choice of an arterial perfusion cannula on the best performance and safest design available to avoid cannula-related problems at operation.