cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rod photoreceptors in infant rats with a history of oxygen exposure.

PURPOSE. To study in an infant rat model of retinopathy of prematurity, the rod photoreceptors. which are known to have attenuated photoresponses. METHODS. Rhodopsin was extracted from whole retinas, the thickness of the rod outer segment (ROS) layer was measured, large phagosomes were counted, and the ROS ultrastructure was examined in the retinas of oxygen-exposed and control rats, ages 13 and 18 days. Rhodopsin absorbances in the ROS were measured by microspectrophotometry at age 20 days. RESULTS. The rhodopsin content did not differ significantly between the oxygen-exposed and control rats at either 13 or 18 days. The thickness of the ROS layer was equal in 13-day-old oxygen-exposed and control rats; however, at 18 days, the ROS layer was significantly thinner in the oxygen-exposed rats than in the control rats. The number of phagosomes did not vary significantly among the oxygen-exposed and control groups. Opsin immunoreactivity was seen only in the ROS layer in oxygen-exposed and control rats. The ROS were disorganized in oxygen-exposed rats. The rhodopsin absorbances of the oxygen-exposed R()S were significantly more variable and higher than in the control rats. CONCLUSIONS. Attenuation of the rod photoresponse parameters does not result simply from shortening of the outer segments and consequent low rhodopsin content. Rather, the structure of the outer segments is altered. A fault in the synthesis of the outer segments, rather than disposal of outer segment discs, is suspected.
The CTSA Mentored Career Development Program: Supporting the Careers of Child Health Investigators

Training translational scientists is a priority of the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) consortium. Objectives: 1) Describe the landscape of CTSA Mentored Research Career Development Awards (CDA) and 2) Evaluate participation and outcomes of child health investigators in these programs. Design: Survey of the CTSA Child Health Oversight Committee (CC-CHOC) and review of non-responders’ CTSA web sites. Results: Thirty-two of 53 CC-CHOC members (60%) responded and all non-responder websites were reviewed. Institutions supported 1166 CDA positions from 2006–2011, with 134 awarded to child health investigators (11.5%). Respondents reported a mean of 29.8 KL2 positions (95% CI 17.5–42.2) during their award period, with a mean of 2.8 (95% CI 1.8–3.8) awarded to child health investigators. The proportion of child health awardees varied from 0% to 50% across institutions. We identified 45 subsequent NIH awards to the 134 child health investigators (34%). Conclusions: The CTSA program contributes substantially to training the next generation of translational investigators. One-third of child health investigators obtained subsequent NIH awards in the short follow-up period demonstrating success of the CTSA CDA programs. Child health investigators are represented variably across the consortium. Pediatric institutions can partner with the CTSA program to further support training child health investigators.
Identification of pubourethral ligaments and their role in transvaginal surgical correction of stress incontinence

Abstract A transvaginal surgical technique in which the urethral attachment of intact posterior pubourethral ligaments can be demonstrated, shortened, and plicated is described, explaining a successful treatment of female urinary stress incontinence when coincident with genital prolapse and offering an alternative explanation for the success of “Kelly stitches”.
Excimer Laser Phototherapeutic Keratectomy: Surgical Strategies and Clinical Outcomes

Purpose: To assess the different strategies and analyze clinical outcomes of excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) for a variety of superficial corneal disorders. Methods: Twenty-eight eyes of 26 patients with one of five general categories of corneal disorders were treated with a variety of PTK techniques. Patients were assessed for preoperative and postoperative corneal thickness, uncorrected and best spectaclecorrected visual acuity, refractive changes, corneal topography and astigmatism, and results of a subjective patient questionnaire. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 30 months. Results: The average number of laser pulses was 418, with a mean decrease in corneal thickness of 31μm. Uncorrected visual acuity improved in 20 eyes and decreased in 5. Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity improved in 20 eyes and decreased in 5; two patients had two Snellen lines of best-corrected vision loss. Nineteen patients (21 eyes) noted symptomatic improvement. Corneal topography improved in 17 eyes and worsened in 1. The average refractive shift was +1.4 diopters; patients undergoing general PTK, PTK combined with mechanical superficial keratectomy, and superficial scar removal had greater degrees of hyperopic shift. Complications were rare. Two patients who did not appreciate adequate improvement in vision after PTK underwent subsequent penetrating keratoplasty. Conclusions: A number of PTK techniques are available to treat particular corneal disorders. Planning of surgical strategy is guided by careful patient selection which will minimize optical side effects and optimize visual outcome and subjective symptomatology after the PTK procedure.
Transcomplementation of nucleotide priming and reverse transcription between independently expressed TP and RT domains of the hepatitis B virus reverse transcriptase

Hepadnavirus polymerases initiate reverse transcription in a protein-primed reaction that involves the covalent linkage of the first deoxyribonucleotide to the polymerase polypeptide. We recently expressed human hepatitis B virus (HBV) reverse transcriptase (pol) in insect cells by using the recombinant baculovirus system. The purified protein is active in nucleotide priming and reverse transcription reactions. In this report, we demonstrate that the tyrosine residue at amino acid number 63 within the TP (terminal protein) domain of the polymerase is the site of covalent linkage of the first nucleotide of minus-strand DNA. Analysis of pol polypeptides with mutations in the TP and RT (reverse transcriptase) domains indicated that both domains were required for in vitro nucleotide priming activity. Polymerase proteins with mutations in the TP and RT domains were not capable of complementing each other in the nucleotide priming reaction, suggesting that transcomplementation between full-length polypeptides was not possible. However, when the TP and RT domains were expressed as separate polypeptides, they formed a highly stable complex that was active in nucleotide priming and reverse transcription. The presence of an epsilon stem-loop dramatically increased the nucleotide priming activity in transcomplementation assays, even though full-length pol displayed similar activities in the absence and presence of epsilon. These data raise the possibility that in the transcomplementation assay, epsilon may play a role in the formation of a functional complex between TP and RT, rather than being required only as the template for nucleotide priming. The results indicate that using the baculovirus system, it is possible to dissect the protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions required for HBV genome replication.
The familial occurrence of polycythemia vera: report of a father and son, with consideration of the possible etiologic role of exposure to organic solvents, including tetrachloroethylene

The occurrence of polycythemia vera in a father and son, both of whom had intermittent exposure to organic solvents, including tetrachloroethylene and Stoddard solvent, is reported. Only three other well substantiated familial occurrences of polycythemia vera, none encompassing successive generations, were found among many reported instances.
Aortic Dissection Manifesting as ST-Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction

An 80-year-old man presented to the emergency department with acute chest discomfort. An ECG showed sinus rhythm with 1-mm ST-segment elevation in the inferior limb leads. He was brought to the cardiac catheterization laboratory for primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Selective angiography of the left coronary system showed no obstructive disease. The initial attempt to selectively engage the right coronary artery (RCA) was unsuccessful, and contrast injection through the JR-4 catheter showed aortic regurgitation (Figure 1 and Movie I in the online-only Data Supplement). After …
Variability of defibrillation threshold in HEARTSIM: a 3D computer model of the heart

The authors present a three-dimensional computer model of the heart to demonstrate simulation of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and defibrillation (DF). Delivery of a run of extra-stimuli initiated self-sustaining rapid regular rhythm or coarse and fine VF. Shocks of increasing strengths were applied at various times to determine the energy required for successful DF. The success rate curve versus DF energy showed the expected sigmoidal shape. For a given episode, the energy required for DF showed remarkable variation from moment to moment. Two successive pulses significantly lowered the energy requirement. The optimum interval between pulses was found to center around 85 ms, and the energy for the second pulse was lower than that for the first pulse. A biphasic pulse also lowered the energy requirement. >
SOLIDARITY AND DRUG USE IN THE ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC SCENE

Current research and theory on rave culture has articulated a link between solidarity and drug use, although the precise nature of this relationship remains unclear. Work conducted in the field of cultural studies contends that while rave participants engage in drug use, it is by no means the exclusive source of solidarity. However, work in the fields of public health and medical science portrays rave culture as a site of extensive drug consumption and personal risk, where solidarity is dismissed or dubiously acknowledged as chemically induced. Prior research has not sought to reconcile this tension, or to consider how the relationship between drug use and solidarity may have changed over time. Using data from a multimethod ethnography of the rave scene in Philadelphia, we found the drug use–solidarity relationship substantially more complicated than prior scholarship has articulated. Our discoveries, consequently, provide clarification of this relationship as well as advance the literatures on solidarity, collective identity, youth culture, and music scenes.
Evaluation of Microbiological Test Kits for Hydrocarbon Fuel Systems

Commercially available kits were tested for their ability to detect bacterial and fungal contamination in hydrocarbon fuel systems. The handling ease of the kits was evaluated, and their sensitivity was compared with that of conventional methods. Most kits in both laboratory and field studies compared well with laboratory methods and were sufficiently sensitive to determine contamination in shipboard fuel tanks.
Uncertain Classification of Fault-Prone Software Modules

Many development organizations try to minimize faults in software as a means for improving customer satisfaction. Assuring high software quality often entails time-consuming and costly development processes. A software quality model based on software metrics can be used to guide enhancement efforts by predicting which modules are fault-prone. This paper presents statistical techniques to determine which predictions by a classification tree should be considered uncertain. We conducted a case study of a large legacy telecommunications system. One release was the basis for the training dataset, and the subsequent release was the basis for the evaluation dataset. We built a classification tree using the TREEDISC algorithm, which is based on χ2 tests of contingency tables. The model predicted whether a module was likely to have faults discovered by customers, or not, based on software product, process, and execution metrics. We simulated practical use of the model by classifying the modules in the evaluation dataset. The model achieved useful accuracy, in spite of the very small proportion of fault-prone modules in the system. We assessed whether the classes assigned to the leaves were appropriate by statistical tests, and found sizable subsets of modules with uncertain classification. Discovering which modules have uncertain classifications allows sophisticated enhancement strategies to resolve uncertainties. Moreover, TREEDISC is especially well suited to identifying uncertain classifications.
Stratified patient appointment scheduling for mobile community-based chronic disease management programs

ABSTRACTDisease management programs have emerged as a cost-effective approach to treat chronic diseases. Appointment adherence is critical to the success of such programs; missed appointments are costly, resulting in reduced resource utilization and worsening of patients’ health states. The time of an appointment is one of the factors that impacts adherence. We investigate the benefits, in terms of improved adherence, of incorporating patients’ time-of-day preferences during appointment schedule creation and, thus, ultimately, on population health outcomes. Through an extensive computational study, we demonstrate, more generally, the usefulness of patient stratification in appointment scheduling in the environment that motivates our research, a mobile asthma management program. We find that capturing patient characteristics in appointment scheduling, especially their time preferences, leads to substantial improvements in community health outcomes. We also identify settings in which simple, easy-to-use pol...
Transient stability prediction based on apparent impedance trajectory recorded by PMUs

Abstract Traditional methods for predicting transient stability of power systems such as the direct method, the time domain approach, and the energy function methods, do not work well for real-time stability predictions. The use of Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) appears to alleviate this problem by providing information in real-time for transient stability assessment and enhancement. Techniques such as the rotor oscillation prediction method based on time series have made the prediction of system stability possible for real-time applications. However, such methods often require more than 300 ms after the start of a transient event to make reliable predictions. This paper proposes using the trajectory of the apparent impedance recorded by PMUs placed at strategic locations in the power system to rapidly predict transient stability. From the simulations performed, it is realized that system stability can be predicted in approximately 200 ms (12 cycles). The main advantage of this method is its simplicity as the PMUs can record the apparent impedance trajectories in real-time without any previous calculation. Moreover, using decision trees built in CART®, transient stability prediction becomes straightforward and computationally very fast. The optimum locations for PMU placement can also be determined using this technique.
Electric dichroism of chromatin.

Abstract The linear dichroism of sheared calf thymus chromatin, oriented in solution by a pulsed electric field, has been measured. The limiting value of this dichroism is considerably less negative than that of calf thymus DNA, but does not approach the positive values predicted if chromatin were uniformly supercoiled in the manner suggested by X-ray studies. The decay of the dichroism of chromatin, after termination of the electric pulse, is similar to that of DNA, indicating that chromatin retains a high degree of chain flexibility. These data, as well as previous flow dichroism studies (Ohba, 1966; Smart & Bonner, 1971), suggest that chromatin is not predominantly supercoiled in solutions of low ionic strength. Evidence for a structurally heterogeneous model for chromatin is discussed.
Potent mimicry of fibronectin-induced intracellular signaling in glioma cells by the homodimeric snake venom disintegrin contortrostatin.

OBJECTIVE: The snake venom disintegrin contortrostatin (CN) is able to inhibit tumor progression and angiogenesis in vivo and therefore is of considerable interest as a potential antitumor drug. CN specifically binds to certain integrins on the tumor cell and angiogenic endothelial cell surface and inhibits their interaction with the extracellular matrix, resulting in blockage of cell motility and invasiveness. To understand the molecular consequences of CN binding to integrins, we set out to investigate and compare the effects of CN and fibronectin (FN) on integrin-induced signaling and the resulting alteration in cellular cytoskeletal morphology. METHODS: Two different malignant glioma cell lines were exposed to soluble or immobilized CN, FN, or both, and the consequences for intracellular signaling and cellular adhesion to matrix were investigated. RESULTS: CN binding to integrins can mimic the intracellular signaling cascade evoked by FN, because the phosphorylation of the key signaling proteins focal adhesion kinase, paxillin, and p130 Crk-associated substrate and the association of Src with focal adhesion kinase are similar. However, CN is at least one order of magnitude more potent than FN. When soluble CN is added to cells that are already attached to an FN-coated matrix, it effectively disrupts the binding of integrin to FN, leading to a decrease in integrin signaling, which, in turn, results in the disruption of the cytoskeleton and cellular detachment. CONCLUSION: Our results provide a mechanistic explanation of how soluble CN might block cellular migration and invasion, namely, by disrupting and preventing the binding of integrins to the extracellular matrix. We envision that this property of CN could be used in the treatment of gliomas, namely, by intratumoral infusion of CN to prevent glioma and endothelial cell interactions with the extracellular matrix, leading to inhibition of cell invasion.
Effect of larval fish and nutrient enrichment on plankton dynamics in experimental ponds

The hypotheses that larval fish density may potentially affect phytoplankton abundance through regulating zooplankton community structure, and that fish effect may also depend on nutrient levels were tested experimentally in ponds with three densities of larval walleye, Stizostedion vitreum (0, 25, and 50 fish m−3), and two fertilizer types (inorganic vs organic fertilizer). A significant negative relationship between larval fish density and large zooplankton abundance was observed despite fertilizer types. Larval walleye significantly reduced the abundances of Daphnia, Bosmina, and Diaptomus but enhanced the abundance of various rotifer species (Brachionus, Polyarthra, and Keratella). When fish predation was excluded, Daphnia became dominant, but Daphnia grazing did not significantly suppress blue-green algae. Clearly, larval fish can be an important regulator for zooplankton community. Algal composition and abundance were affected more by fertilizer type than by fish density. Inorganic fertilizer with a high N:P ratio (20:1) enhanced blue-green algal blooms, while organic fertilizer with a lower N:P ratio (10:1) suppressed the abundance of blue-green algae. This result may be attributed to the high density of blue-green algae at the beginning of the experiment and the fertilizer type. Our data suggest that continuous release of nutrients from suspended organic fertilizer at a low rate may discourage the development of blue-green algae. Nutrient inputs at a low N:P ratio do not necessarily result in the dominance of blue-green algae.
Hospital-level variability in incisional hernia repair technique affects patient outcomes

Background Mesh placement during ventral incisional hernia repair has been shown to result in superior outcomes; however, significant variation persists in the adoption of this technique. We performed a multi-institutional study to understand how variation in surgical technique influences outcomes. Methods This study is a retrospective, facility-level analysis of incisional hernia repairs performed at 16 veteran's administration medical centers between 1997 and 2002. Operative notes and a postoperative course were physician-abstracted from the medical record. Hospital rates for the type of hernia repair, mesh placement, and recurrence were calculated. Spearman's correlation and generalized linear models were performed. Results A total of 1,612 incisional hernia repairs with a median follow-up of 66.2 months were included in the study. The mean rate of mesh implantation was 63.7% but ranged from 37.5% to 90%. The 5-year recurrence rate was 25.6% and ranged from 16.0% to 38.4%. The rate of mesh use for the incisional hernia repair at the hospital level was associated significantly with the hospital recurrence rate for all cases (R 2 = .27; P = .04) and elective cases (R 2 = .31; P = .02). For every 10% increase in the rate of mesh placement, a corresponding 3.1% decrease was noted in the recurrence rates ( P = .001). The hospital rate of mesh use was not associated significantly with rates of complications or patient satisfaction. Conclusion Hospitals that adopted a higher rate of mesh repair for incisional hernia repairs had lower recurrence rates. These data support that the efficacy of mesh repair previously proven in clinical trials is highly translatable to effective practice in the field. Continued studies on the attributable risk of complications to mesh placement are ongoing.
Induction of DARPP-32 by Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Striatal Neurons In Vitro Is Modified by Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors and Nab2

Neurotrophins and modifiers of chromatin acetylation and deacetylation participate in regulation of transcription during neuronal maturation and maintenance. The striatal medium spiny neuron is supported by cortically-derived brain derived neurotrophic factor and is the most vulnerable neuron in Huntington’s disease, in which growth factor and histone deacetylase activity are both disrupted. We examined the ability of three histone deacetylase inhibitors, trichostatin A, valproic acid and Compound 4 b, alone and combined with brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), to promote phenotypic maturation of striatal medium spiny neurons in vitro. Exposure of these neurons to each of the three compounds led to an increase in overall histone H3 and H4 acetylation, dopamine and cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein, 32 kDa (DARPP-32) mRNA and protein, and mRNA levels of other markers of medium spiny neuron maturation. We were, however, unable to prove that HDAC inhibitors directly lead to remodeling of Ppp1r1b chromatin. In addition, induction of DARPP-32 by brain-derived neurotrophic factor was inhibited by histone deacetylase inhibitors. Although BDNF-induced increases in pTrkB, pAkt, pERK and Egr-1 were unchanged by combined application with VPA, the increase in DARPP-32 was relatively diminished. Strikingly, the NGF1A-binding protein, Nab2, was induced by BDNF, but not in the presence of VPA or TSA. Gel shift analysis showed that α-Nab2 super-shifted a band that is more prominent with extract derived from BDNF-treated neurons than with extracts from cultures treated with VPA alone or VPA plus BDNF. In addition, overexpression of Nab2 induced DARPP-32. We conclude that histone deacetylase inhibitors inhibit the induction of Nab2 by BDNF, and thereby the relative induction of DARPP-32.
Palaeoclimate: Foreshadowing the glacial era

Under what circumstances do glaciations persist or occur only transiently? Indications that short-lived 'icehouse' conditions occurred during the otherwise warm Eocene provide further cause for debate on the question.
Influence of salinity on the actions of pentachlorophenol in haliotis as measured by in vivo 31P NMR spectroscopy

Abstract The actions of pentachlorophenol (PCP) under various water salinities was investigated in live, intact red ( Haliotis rufescens ) and black abalone ( H. cracherodii ) by in vivo 31 P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Based on PCP toxicity in red abalone (6 h LC 50 1.6 mg l −1 ; 6 h NOEL=0.8 mg l −1 ), animals were exposed in flowing seawater (14°C) to a sublethal PCP concentration of 1.2 mg l −1 and a water salinity of either 25, 35 or 45 ‰. Phosphagen changes in foot muscle were monitored by surface-probe localized 31 P NMR. Upon PCP exposure, phosphoarginine (PA) levels declined and inorganic phosphate (Pi) levels concurrently increased. Dosing was terminated at a standard metabolic endpoint (MEP), defined as the time for the spectral peak height for Pi to reach one-half that of PA. This was on average 3.3±0.2 and 6.8±0.7 h at ambient salinity; 5.3±0.7 and 7.1±0.7 h for high salinity; and 4.0±0.5 and 6.5±1.0 h at low salinity, for red and black abalone, respectively. During recovery, all biochemical endpoints returned to normal; however, both onset and intensity of effects were influenced by changes in seawater salinity. Disposition of [U- 14 C]PCP in both species was also examined to determine if the effects observed with NMR had a kinetic basis. Three sets of abalone ( n =3) from each species were exposed to each salinity (25, 35 and 45 ‰), plus 1.2 mg l −1 of [U- 14 C]PCP. Red abalone were exposed for 3.5 h and black abalone for both 3.5 and 6.5 h (they represent the lowest average MEP for both species). Residues were quantified via tissue digestion and liquid scintillation counting. The 3.5 h total concentration factors (TCFs) for red abalone were not significantly different among the three salinities ( P >0.05) and ranged from 104 to 133. However, low salinity seemed to deter the uptake of [U- 14 C]PCP in black abalone, as the TCF was over three times lower for abalone exposed to 25 ‰ at both 3.5 h (TCF=19±11) and 6.5 h (TCF=38±8) than at 35 ‰ (3.5 h TCF=62±6; 6.5 h TCF=119±11) and 45 ‰ (3.5 h TCF=67±14, 6.5 h TCF=115±8). Furthermore, the 3.5 h TCF for red abalone exposed to PCP at all salinities was similar to the 6.5 h TCF for black abalone exposed at 35 and 45 ‰. Thus, black abalone appear to have greater resistance to the combined effects of PCP and salinity variations, which appears to be due to slower uptake of the biocide. While PCP is a potent uncoupler of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, use of varying water salinities simulated an additional stress imposed on intertidal animals by transient or seasonal environmental changes.
A Permanent-Magnet Field Source For The Production Of Circularly Polarized Radiation Via Helical Free-Electron Lasers

A relativistic electron-beam laser designed at the Naval Research Laboratory produces circularly polarized 15 GHz radiation by means of a transverse magnetic field of which the orientation rotates continuously in the φ direction with displacement along the z axis. A field strength of about 500 Oe is presently provided by a bifilar solenoid carrying a current of 200 amperes. It is desirable to eliminate the necessity of such high currents and the attendant bulky power supplies by means of a permanent-magnet field source. This can be accomplished by a tubular magnetic structure of rectangular cross section which is twisted progressively about its z axis with the desired pitch of field rotation (2π radians in 2.5 to 6 cm). By means of a sheathing of rare earth permanent magnets oriented normally to the magnets supplying the working flux, the magnetic field can be confined to the twisted rectangular tube through which passes the cylindrical tube carrying the electron beam. Also discussed is the design of an outer permanent-magnet structure for the supply of a solenoidal focusing field of 3 kOe.
APPROVAL-SEEKING THROUGH VARIATION IN LINGUISTIC IMMEDIACY

Invesrigations of verbal and nonverbal "immediacy" behaviors have found that individuals manifest relatively immediate communicative behavior under approval-seeking conditions. For example, subjects talk longer (3) and maintain more eye contacr (2) when interacting with people whose approval they seek than when interacting under other conditions. This study investigates whether individuals also manifest increased linguistic immediacy (4) as they seek the approval of another. College students, 29 males and 52 females, were asked to imagine being interviewed by a psychologist who asked them personal questions, ending the interview with the query. "Do you mind talking about yourself to people who don't know you very well?" One-third of the subjects wrote the answer they would give if, during the interview, they (a) had a positive experience (positive response), ( b) had a negative experience ( negarive response), or (c) wanted to get the interviewer to like and approve of them . (appr~~al-seeking response). The immediacy of subjects' responses was scored accordng to Wiener and Mehrabian (4), with a lower score indicating greater immediacy. An analysis of variance indicated a main effect of response condirion (FI.B) = 3.92, p < .05) which was explored further through comparison via the Newman-Keuls method of rhe mean immediacy scores of the three response conditions. Significantly (ps < .05) more immediate communication was associated with both the approval-seeking (M = 2.99, SD = .35) and positive response (M = 2.96, SD = .62) conditions than with the negative response condition (M = 3.42, SD = 1.22). These results extend the findings of Wiener and Mehrabian (4) by indicating that people manifest relatively immediate verbal communication under approval-seeking as well as other positive communication conditions. It could be argued, however, that results obtained in a role-playing paradigm do not necessarily generalize to actual behavior (1). In this regard, the validity of the relationship between linguistic immediacy and approval-seeking instructions is supported by its consistency with other findings (2, 3) of a relationship between immediacy behaviors and approval-seeking when subjects' behavior has been observed in actual interactions.
The Role of Risk in Executive Compensation

The present study was designed to investigate the role of risk in executive compensation. We argue that compensation arrangements may be used to mitigate agency problems by encouraging risk taking behavior and providing incentives for optimizing long-term performance. We examine total compensation, compensation risk, and compensation time horizon. Consistent with our theory, the evidence indicates that these dimensions vary with the financial and strategic context of the firm and with the risk-taking propensity of the CEO.
Functional Architecture of Eye Position Gain Fields in Visual Association Cortex of Behaving Monkey

In the behaving monkey, inferior parietal lobe cortical neurons combine visual information with eye position signals. However, an organized topographic map of these neurons' properties has never been demonstrated. Intrinsic optical imaging revealed a functional architecture for the effect of eye position on the visual response to radial optic flow. The map was distributed across two subdivisions of the inferior parietal lobule, area 7a and the dorsal prelunate area, DP. Area 7a contains a representation of the lower eye position gain fields while area DP represents the upper eye position gain fields. Horizontal eye position is represented orthogonal to the vertical eye position across the medial lateral extents of the cortices. Similar topographies were found in three hemispheres of two monkeys; the horizontal and vertical gain field representations were not isotropic with a greater modulation found with the vertical. Monte Carlo methods demonstrated the significance of the maps, and they were verified in part using multiunit recordings. The novel topographic organization of this association cortex area provides a substrate for constructing representations of surrounding space for perception and the guidance of motor behaviors.
Global Profiling of Rice and Poplar Transcriptomes Highlights Key Conserved Circadian-Controlled Pathways and cis-Regulatory Modules

Background Circadian clocks provide an adaptive advantage through anticipation of daily and seasonal environmental changes. In plants, the central clock oscillator is regulated by several interlocking feedback loops. It was shown that a substantial proportion of the Arabidopsis genome cycles with phases of peak expression covering the entire day. Synchronized transcriptome cycling is driven through an extensive network of diurnal and clock-regulated transcription factors and their target cis-regulatory elements. Study of the cycling transcriptome in other plant species could thus help elucidate the similarities and differences and identify hubs of regulation common to monocot and dicot plants. Methodology/Principal Findings Using a combination of oligonucleotide microarrays and data mining pipelines, we examined daily rhythms in gene expression in one monocotyledonous and one dicotyledonous plant, rice and poplar, respectively. Cycling transcriptomes were interrogated under different diurnal (driven) and circadian (free running) light and temperature conditions. Collectively, photocycles and thermocycles regulated about 60% of the expressed nuclear genes in rice and poplar. Depending on the condition tested, up to one third of oscillating Arabidopsis-poplar-rice orthologs were phased within three hours of each other suggesting a high degree of conservation in terms of rhythmic gene expression. We identified clusters of rhythmically co-expressed genes and searched their promoter sequences to identify phase-specific cis-elements, including elements that were conserved in the promoters of Arabidopsis, poplar, and rice. Conclusions/Significance Our results show that the cycling patterns of many circadian clock genes are highly conserved across poplar, rice, and Arabidopsis. The expression of many orthologous genes in key metabolic and regulatory pathways is diurnal and/or circadian regulated and phased to similar times of day. Our results confirm previous findings in Arabidopsis of three major classes of cis-regulatory modules within the plant circadian network: the morning (ME, GBOX), evening (EE, GATA), and midnight (PBX/TBX/SBX) modules. Identification of identical overrepresented motifs in the promoters of cycling genes from different species suggests that the core diurnal/circadian cis-regulatory network is deeply conserved between mono- and dicotyledonous species.
Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of zeins in mature maize kernels.

A high-throughput method has been developed to allow rapid analysis of maize seed storage proteins by matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The extraction solution containing an organic solvent, a reducing agent, and a volatile base has been optimized to enable extraction of all classes of zein proteins (α-, β-, γ-, and δ-). A near-saturating concentration of matrix, 2-(4-hydroxyphenylazo)benzoic acid, was necessary to obtain strong peaks for the most lipophilic zeins, the α-zeins. Zein proteins with small mass differences, difficult to separate by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, were resolved through this analysis. Mass signals corresponding to the 10-kDa δ-, 15-kDa β-, 16-kDa γ-, 27-kDa γ-, and several 19 and 22-kDa α-zeins were detected. The zein identities were further confirmed by the association of the number of cysteine residues in each zein MS peak, as determined by iodoacetamide derivatization, with the number predicted from its coding seque...
Enriching Goal-Setting Theory with Time: An Integrated Approach

We examine the overlooked role of time in goal-setting theory and demonstrate how the integration of time into this theory adds to its dynamism and validity in the increasingly complex, constantly changing work environment. Following a brief discussion of developments in the scientific understanding of time, we discuss and illustrate how these new understandings enhance the utility and theoretical soundness of the theory and how time can be integrated into the theory's main components: goal difficulty, goal attainability, and goal specificity.
Consistent multiple testing for change points

The change point problem for independent normal means is considered as a multiple testing problem. Two stepwise methods are considered. Namely, the binary segmentation method of Vostrikova (1981) [7] and the maximum residual down method of Cohen et al. (2009) [5]. Both of these methods are shown to be consistent. Consistent here means that as sample sizes tend to infinity, the probability of making an error (false rejection or false acceptance) tends to zero.
Time course and pattern of cortical granule breakdown in hamster eggs after sperm fusion

We have determined the temporal relationship between sperm fusion and cortical granule breakdown in the hamster egg. Sperm fusion was determined by the Hoechst-transfer method (Stewart-Savage and Bavister: Dev Biol 128:150-157, 1988), and cortical granules were visualized with fluorescein isothiocynate-conjugated Lens culinaris agglutinin (Cherr et al. J Exp Zool 246:81-93, 1988). By 55 min after insemination, there was an 85% reduction in the density of cortical granules (fewer than four granules/100 microns2). Taking this value as the completion of the cortical reaction, analysis of the data indicate that the cortical reaction was completed 9 min after sperm fusion and 3 min after the formation of the zona and cell surface blocks to polyspermy. There was no obvious spatial pattern of granule loss in eggs that had a Hoechst-positive sperm but had not completed the cortical reaction.
Flight test of a half-scale unmanned air vehicle

A half-scale unmanned air vehicle was flight tested to provide lift and drag data for correlation with the fullscale vehicle. Additional work was carried out to determine if wing drag could be reduced with an improved surface finish and a trailing-edge modification. Ground tests for power and thrust using a torque stand and a lowspeed wind tunnel supported the flight tests for the determination of engine and propeller parameters. A panel method was used to predict the induced drag behavior of the tested air vehicle. Parasite drag was predicted by build-up methods. The predicted parasite drag for the half-scale fell short of flight-tested values by about 25%, but that predicted for the full-scale vehicle correlated well with the flight data. Within the scatter of data, the induced drag correlated satisfactorily. A comparison was made to lift and drag data extracted from full-scale, idlepower glide tests, and correlation was poor. Implications are that residual thrust prevents these glide-test data from accurately representing the full-scale drag polar.
Understanding structural relationships in proteins of unsolved three-dimensional structure.

The locations of functionally important sequences and general structural motifs have been assigned to Ile-tRNA synthetase. However, a function has not been established for some segments of the protein (e.g., CP1). The method of structural modeling described here cannot establish the details of a 3 A crystal structure, and, in contrast to a crystal structure, the precision of the model varies according to the extent of a sequence similarity or the functional importance of a region. In Ile-tRNA synthetase, the signature sequence and the flanking regions are likely to be similar in structure to the proteins on which the model is based. For other regions, it may be possible to build a three-dimensional model by connecting well defined regions and refining the positions of the connecting elements by energy minimization. Structural modelling of this kind must be done cautiously, because the order and orientation of the elements of a structural motif can change in subtle ways. In the case of Tyr-tRNA synthetase, the beta-strand nearest the N-terminus is the outermost strand of the nucleotide binding fold; in Met-tRNA synthetase, the same strand is innermost. Furthermore, the orientation of this strand may be antiparallel (Tyr-tRNA synthetase) or parallel (Met-tRNA synthetase). Because multiple structures that differ in their orientations of structural elements are possible, the structural analogies between proteins should not be naively extrapolated without independent experimental support. As described above, some regions of proteins tolerate internal deletions and insertions. This provides further experimental support for the practice of allowing for gaps in computer-generated sequence alignments. Nevertheless, because some regions are more tolerant of insertions and deletions than others, the structural and functional significance of a region of broken alignment must be assessed carefully. All gaps in sequence alignments cannot be treated equally, and each must be evaluated within its own context. In the synthetases of known structure, structural analogy can be used to identify important functional elements. For example, the amino acid binding site of Met-tRNA synthetase might be formed, at least in part, by a peptide that encompasses Ala50; this amino acid aligns with Gly94 of the Ile-tRNA synthetase. This is an example in which results on a protein of unknown structure (Ile-tRNA synthetases) can lead to identification of a potential substrate binding site in a protein of known structure (Met-tRNA synthetase).
Trans-tail histone modifications: wedge or bridge?

An example of crosstalk between 'tails' of different histones within nucleosomes suggests novel mechanisms of chromatin regulation.
Impact of estrogen receptor expression and other clinicopathologic features on tamoxifen use in ductal carcinoma in situ.

BACKGROUND Recent data have demonstrated that benefit from adjuvant tamoxifen therapy for patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is limited to estrogen receptor (ER)-positive lesions. The objective of the current study was to correlate clinicopathologic features of DCIS with ER expression and the impact of this information on tamoxifen counseling. METHODS Women with DCIS who were treated from 2001 to 2004 were evaluated. Routine ER staining was initiated in January 2003. RESULTS Ninety-four women (mean age, 57.6 years) were analyzed. The mean DCIS size was 0.98 cm. ER-staining was performed in 55 lesions, and 76% were ER-positive. All Grade 1 and 2 DCIS lesions were ER-positive, compared with 54% of high-grade lesions (P<.001); no other clinicopathologic feature significantly predicted ER status. Overall, 58 patients (62%) were offered tamoxifen, and the rates were similar for the pre-ER and post-ER staining periods. In the pre-ER staining period, surgical treatment and grade were associated with offering tamoxifen (75% of patients who underwent breast conservation vs. 40% of patients who underwent mastectomy; P = .03; 78% of patients with Grade 1 or 2 lesions vs. 45% of patients with Grade 3 lesions; P = .04). In the post-ER staining period, however, only ER status was correlated significantly with offering tamoxifen (71% of patients with ER-positive lesions vs. 31% of patients with ER-negative lesions; P = .01). Approximately 66% of patients who were offered tamoxifen agreed to treatment (approximately 33% of the total DCIS study sample). No clinicopathologic features predicted for tamoxifen acceptance by patients in either the pre-ER or post-ER staining periods. CONCLUSIONS Seventy-five percent of DCIS lesions were ER-positive. ER staining significantly influenced the likelihood that clinicians would offer tamoxifen to patients with DCIS, but it had no impact on whether patients accepted treatment. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Designing an Architecture for Delivering Mobile Information Services to the Rural Developing World

Paper plays a crucial role in many developing world information practices. However, paper-based records are inefficient, error-prone and difficult to aggregate. Therefore we need to link paper with the flexibility of online information systems. A mobile phone is the perfect bridging device. Long battery life, connectivity, solid-state memory, low price and immediate utility make it better suited to developing world conditions than a PC. However, mobile software platforms are difficult to use, difficult to develop for, and make the assumption of ubiquitous connectivity. To address these limitations we present CAM - a framework for developing mobile applications for the rural developing world. CAM applications are accessed by capturing barcodes using the phone camera, or by entering numeric strings with the keypad. Supporting minimal navigation, direct linkage to paper practices and offline multimedia interaction, CAM is uniquely adapted to rural user, application and infrastructure constraints.
Note on shock reflection coefficient.

Abstract : The shock reflection coefficient, R sub w, is defined here as the ratio of pressure drop across a reflected disturbance from a shock wave to that across the incident disturbance wave (which is generated downstream of the shock). The treatment of shock reflection coefficients in the work of previous investigators is reviewed briefly. A derivation is given of a general expression for R sub w in terms of shock curvature for nonequilibrium axisymmetric flow. Sample computations show the effects of nonequilibrium flow and three-dimensionality on the behavior of R sub w. It is shown that R sub w can become infinite in these situations, although for two-dimensional ideal gas flow its magnitude is always finite and usually very small.
Crystallization of inviscid melt spun (IMS) calcia-alumina (CA) eutectic fibers

Abstract Crystallization behavior of vitreous calcia-alumina (CA) fibers of eutectic composition (46.5 wt% CaO–53.5 wt% Al2O3) was studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). From DTA results, crystallization temperature of the CA fibers ranges from 948 to 1034 °C according to DTA heating rates. The activation energy value for crystallization of the CA fibers was determined as 490 kJ/mol and 477 kJ/mol via Kissinger and Augis-Bennett methods, respectively. SEM for crystallized CA fibers showed surface roughness, whereas that for vitreous CA fibers showed typical glassy fracture. Wide angle X-ray diffractometer analysis on CA fibers which were crystallized by the DTA scans showed Ca12Al14O33 formation as a major phase and CaAl2O4 formation as a minor phase.
FAULT-TOLERANT CONTROL OF A REVERSE OSMOSIS DESALINATION PROCESS

Abstract Fault-detection and isolation and fault-tolerant control structures are implemented on a reverse osmosis desalination plant. A detailed mathematical model of a simple reverse osmosis plant is first developed. A family of control configurations are identified next, and bounded nonlinear feedback controllers are developed for each configuration. Stability regions of the closed-loop system under each controller are explicitly characterized. A fault-detection and isolation filter is developed for the reverse osmosis system. A supervisory switching law is derived to guarantee closed-loop stability by determining the activation time of fall-back control configurations in the presence of faults in the primary control configuration. The proposed fault-tolerant control scheme is demonstrated in the context of a reverse osmosis system simulation.