cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Amyloid Cardiomyopathy in the Emergency Department.

Abstract Background Cardiac amyloidosis is an underdiagnosed cause of restrictive cardiomyopathy resulting from the infiltration of the myocardium by amyloid proteins. Case Report We report the case of an 83-year-old woman who presented with increasing dyspnea and lower-extremity swelling. She reported a medical history of unspecified heart failure. Evaluation in the Emergency Department (ED) revealed evidence of heart failure on physical examination, low-voltage electrocardiogram, chest x-ray study with mild pulmonary edema, and laboratory evaluation with elevated brain natriuretic peptide and troponin. Bedside cardiac ultrasound illustrated severe concentric ventricular hypertrophy and interventricular septal wall thickening with “sparkling” hyperechoic appearance of the myocardium, mildly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, and small pericardial effusion. Inpatient comprehensive echocardiogram and follow-up nuclear medicine cardiac amyloid pyrophosphate study were suggestive of cardiac amyloidosis. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Emergency physicians commonly treat acute on chronic systolic heart failure with diuresis and reductions in preload and afterload with nitrates. Identifying amyloid cardiomyopathy in the ED is of clinical significance because treatment should include loop diuretics but should avoid β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and digoxin. Atrioventricular nodal blocking agents may have detrimental effects in cardiac amyloidosis because the cardiac output in this patient population is dependent on heart rate due to a significantly reduced stroke volume from the concentric hypertrophy minimizing diastolic filling. Also, caution should be taken when initiating nitrates in amyloid cardiomyopathy because further reducing preload in an already preload-depleted state can result in hypotension.
Analysis of two-stage natural-gas lean combustion inside a diesel geometry

Abstract Lean-burn natural-gas spark-ignition combustion inside a diesel geometry is characterized by two distinct and successive events: a rapid burning process inside the piston bowl, followed by a much slower burn inside the squish region. This paper used experimental data (including images of flame natural luminosity) to investigate the magnitude and phasing of these two combustion stages. The results showed a substantial impact on the parameters generally used to investigate the combustion phenomena in spark-ignition engines (e.g., the 10-to-90-percent energy release). A better solution to identify the start and end of the rapid- and the slow-burning stages in such an engine is to use the inflection points in the apparent rate of heat release. Moreover, as the higher turbulence in a diesel-like environment accelerates flame inception, the 5% or 10% energy release used traditionally to define the flame inception period should not be used for these engines because the enflamed zone already reached an appreciable size at the two corresponding crank angle degrees. Further, the 2nd inflection point in the apparent rate of heat release (i.e., the point where the slow-burning stage started to dominate the heat release) was much advanced compared to 90% energy release generally used to define the end of the rapid-burning stage in conventional stoichiometric spark-ignition engines. Furthermore, as the slow-burning stage was characterized by a lower flame propagation speed, a lower fuel fraction burning during this stage would increase the engine combustion efficiency. Furthermore, a more advanced phasing of the late-burning stage relative to the fast-burn stage would result in a more optimal combustion environment (i.e., higher in-cylinder pressure and temperature), which would further improve the engine efficiency and probably reduce carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon emissions. As a result, this study suggests that the combustion strategy of such converted diesel engines should advance and optimize the mass of fuel that burns inside the squish region.
Impact of Lygus hesperus (Hemiptera: Miridae) Feeding and Oviposition on Lettuce

The western tarnished plant bug, Lygus hesperus Knight (Hemiptera: Miridae), is an important insect pest of lettuce, Lactuca sativa L. in the central coast region of California. However, little is ...
Spontaneous Rectus Sheath Hematoma: Factors Predictive of Conservative Management Failure.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate radiographic, laboratory, and clinical factors associated with conservative management (CM) failure in spontaneous rectus sheath hematoma (RSH). Materials and Methods Retrospective review of 72 patients with spontaneous RSH between 2006 and 2017 was performed. Patients were initially managed conservatively and then divided into 2 groups based on decision to embolize. No differences were found between embolization (n = 32) and CM (n = 40) groups in age (67.5 vs 69.5 y; P = .79), sex (31% vs 38% male; P = .58), body mass index (27.7 vs 25.7 kg/m2; P = .20), or medical comorbidities. Univariate analyses compared initial hemoglobin level, change in hemoglobin level, coagulation parameters, transfusion requirements, hematoma volume, and active extravasation on computed tomographic (CT) angiography between groups. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors predictive of CM failure. A scoring system was then created to predict CM failure. Results CM failed in 32 of 72 patients. Multivariable regression identified active extravasation on CT angiography (P = .02), hematoma volume (P = .01), and packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusion of ≥ 4 U (P = .03) as predictors of embolization. A scoring system using these factors along with maximum rate of hemoglobin decrease yielded a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 98% in determining need for embolization. Conclusions CM for RSH was more likely to fail in patients with active extravasation on CT angiography, larger hematoma volume, pRBC transfusion of ≥ 4 U, and higher rate of hemoglobin decrease. Using these parameters, a scoring system was created that achieved high sensitivity and specificity in identifying patients who would require embolization.
Gleaning the Tideline: Elodie La Villette’s Ecocritical Painting

Elodie La Villette is an understudied late-nineteenth-century French marine artist who had an exceptional ecological sensibility. Her images of the interstitial world of the coastlines of Brittany ...
Psychotherapy for Depression and Addiction

Substantively as well as symbolically, psychotherapy for depression and addiction repeats the clinical record of post-traumatic stress disorder. The best of the best studies of psychotherapy for depression fails as science, lacking true tests of treatment while routinely exaggerating the effectiveness of psychotherapy. The research does not dispel the likelihood that psychotherapy for depression fails to improve on the processes that account for natural remission. Psychotherapy offers no apparent cure for drug addiction. The variation in reported addiction rates from year to year, suspect in itself, may be due to generational learning and changing fashions in social attitudes to illicit drug use more than to any form of treatment. The small amount of remission and true long-term abstinence reported in psychotherapy trials are likely determined by rare patient motivation and their situations rather than treatment itself.
The Quality of Randomized Controlled Trials in High-impact Rheumatology Journals, 1998-2018

Objective Well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) mitigate bias and confounding, but prior evaluations of rheumatology trials found high rates of methodological flaws. Outside of rheumatoid arthritis, no studies in the modern era have assessed the quality of rheumatology RCTs over time or with respect to industry funding. Methods We identified all RCTs published in three high impact rheumatology journals from the years 1998, 2008, and 2018. Quality metrics derived from a modified Jadad scale were analyzed by the year of publication and by funding source. Results Ninety-six publications met inclusion criteria; 82 of these described the primary analysis of an RCT. Over time (1998 – 2008 – 2018), trials were less likely to adequately report dropouts and withdrawals (100% vs. 82% vs. 60%, p Conclusion Industry funded trials comprise the majority of RCTs published in high impact rheumatology journals and more frequently report metrics associated with RCT quality. RCTs assessing active comparators and non-biologic therapies have become less common in high impact rheumatology journals.
Millimeter wave integrated circuit radar sensors

The marriage of planar integrated circuit transceivers with thin, printed antennas is providing a new generation of low cost, producible and miniature millimeter wave transducers for demanding systems requirements. The use of integrated circuit techniques for millimeter wave transducers has now moved from a research curiosity to an engineering discipline. Microstrip is the preferred transmission media to demonstrate a wide variety of RF component functions. For applications involving precision weapon systems, a soft substrate is preferred since it provides lower cost, improved survivability, and functional versatility when compared with the traditional hard candidates such as quartz. The MESFET is rapidly emerging as a key building block for monolithic supercomponents up to a frequency of approximately 40 GHz.
Efficacy of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Postoperative Pain, Pulmonary Function, and Opioid Consumption Following Cardiothoracic Procedures: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a minimally invasive method for treating pain. In the most recent review published in 2012, TENS was associated with increased pain relief following cardiothoracic surgery when compared to standard multimodal analgesia. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine if adding TENS to current pain management practices decreases pain and analgesic use and improves pulmonary function for postcardiothoracic surgery patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CINAHL, MEDLINE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PubMed, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched using specific keywords. Covidence was used to screen, select studies, and extract data by two independent reviewers. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool assessed risk of bias. Visual analog scale (VAS) and pulmonary function data were exported for meta-analysis using a random effects model. RESULTS: The search yielded 38 articles. Eight randomized controlled trials met inclusion criteria for the literature review. Five studies were included in the meta-analysis of pain at 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively. Data were analyzed using the standard mean difference (SMD). TENS had a significant impact on VAS at rest (-0.76 SMD [95% confidence interval, CI = -1.06 to -0.49], p < 0.00001) and with coughing (-1.11 SMD [95% CI = -1.64 to -0.56], p < 0.0001). FEV1 improved after 72 hours (1.00 SMD [95% CI = 0.66-1.35], p < 0.00001), as did forced vital capacity (1.16 SMD [95% CI = 0.23-2.10], p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The addition of TENS therapy to multimodal analgesia significantly decreases pain following cardiothoracic surgery, increases the recovery of pulmonary function, and decreases the use of analgesics.
Understanding How Perfectionism Impacts Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment Outcomes: A Nonrandomized Trial.

Objective Several factors are known to impact response to the intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment (IIPT) program described in this study, yet no research has explored the role of perfectionism. This secondary data analysis explored direct and indirect relations between perfectionism and functional disability (primary outcome) and pain severity (secondary outcome) after IIPT, with pain catastrophizing and fear of pain as mediators. Methods Youth (N = 253) aged 8-21 with chronic pain and associated disability completed pre- and post-IIPT measures of self-oriented perfectionism (SOP), socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP), pain catastrophizing, fear of pain, functional disability, and pain characteristics for routine clinical care and this nonrandomized trial. Eight mediated models were run for the two predictors, two mediators, and two outcomes. Results Pretreatment perfectionism (SOP and SPP) led to greater reductions in pain catastrophizing over the course of IIPT, which resulted in lower pain severity (β = -.02 [CI = -0.07, -0.01] for SOP and β = -.02 [CI = -0.06, -0.003] for SPP) and less functional disability (β = -.06 [CI = -0.13, -0.01] for SOP and β = -.06 [CI = -0.14, -0.01] for SPP). Independent of pain catastrophizing, pretreatment SPP was directly associated with more posttreatment functional disability (β = .16 [CI = 0.05, 0.27]). Fear of pain was not a mediator. Conclusions Findings suggest perfectionism has the potential to negatively impact IIPT outcomes. However, when perfectionistic youth with chronic pain learn to manage pain-related distress, they benefit. Results highlight the importance of assessing for and treating perfectionism and pain-related distress in youth with chronic pain.
A k-MCST Based Algorithm for Discovering Core-Periphery Structures in Graphs.

Core-periphery structures are examples of meso-scale characteristics of graphs. Most existing algorithms for core-periphery (CP) structures work by first finding the dense cores of a network and then discovering the peripheral nodes around them. Our algorithm presented here seeks to query a graph to return the CP structures centered around any selected query node. Our algorithm significantly reduces the computational complexity of repeatedly querying the CP structures from a network. Our algorithm repeatedly extracts minimum cost spanning trees (MCSTs), first from the original network, and then successively from the residual networks. From the union of these MCSTs, our algorithm efficiently answers the queries for CP structures around nodes. We validate our algorithm on example networks taken from two domains.
“They Just Want Us to Exist as a Trash Can”: Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Perspectives to School-Based Bullying Victimization

Little is known about parents’ perspectives on school-based bullying victimization of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in China. This study began by interviewing 16 parents about their experiences with their children (7 to 15 years old) at school in China under the inclusive education policy. Most of the parents’ responses indicated the existence and the severity of school-based bullying victimization of their children with ASD. Our findings indicated that bullying victimization at school was a concern for children with ASD and their parents were frequently victimized. Parents reported that they dealt with bullying victims at school independently and tended to hold a pessimistic view about their bullying victimization. The study highlights the importance of incorporating parents’ voices in understanding bullying victimization of students with ASD and proposing potential implications in bullying prevention and advocacy with this group of students in mainstream schools in China.
TT-Mars: Structural Variants Assessment Based on Haplotype-resolved Assemblies

Variant benchmarking is a critical component of method development and evaluating the accuracy of studies of genetic variation. Currently, the best approach to evaluate the accuracy of a callset is the comparison against a well curated gold standard. In repetitive regions of the genome it may be difficult to establish what is the truth for a call, for example when different alignment scoring metrics provide equally supported but different variant calls in on the same data. Here we provide an alternative approach, TT-Mars, that takes advantage of the recent production of high-quality haplotype-resolved genome assemblies by evaluating variant calls based on how well their call reflects the content of the assembly, rather than comparing calls themselves. We used TT-Mars to assess callsets from different SV discovery methods on multiple human genome samples and demonstrated that it is capable at accurately classifying true positive and false positive SVs. On the HG002 personal genome, TT-Mars recapitulates 96.0%-99.6% of the validations made using the Genome in a Bottle gold standard callset evaluated by truvari, and evaluates an additional 121-10,966 variants across different callsets. Furthermore, with a group of high-quality assemblies, TT-Mars can evaluate performance of SV calling algorithms as a distribution rather than a point estimate. We also compare TT-Mars against the long-read based validation tool, VaPoR, and when assembly-based variant calls produced by dipcall are used as a gold standard. Compared with VaPoR, TT-Mars analyzes more calls on a long read callset by assessing more short variant calls (< 100 bases), while requiring smaller input. Compared with validation using dipcall variants, TT-Mars analyzes 1,497-2,229 more calls on long read callsets and has favorable results when candidate calls are fragmented into multiple calls in alignments. TT-Mars is available at https://github.com/ChaissonLab/TT-Mars.git with accompanying assembly data and corresponding liftover files.
An Internally Translated MAVS Variant Exposes Its Amino-terminal TRAF-Binding Motifs to Deregulate Interferon Induction

Activation of pattern recognition receptors and proper regulation of downstream signaling are crucial for host innate immune response. Upon infection, the NF-κB and interferon regulatory factors (IRF) are often simultaneously activated to defeat invading pathogens. Mechanisms concerning differential activation of NF-κB and IRF are not well understood. Here we report that a MAVS variant inhibits interferon (IFN) induction, while enabling NF-κB activation. Employing herpesviral proteins that selectively activate NF-κB signaling, we discovered that a MAVS variant of ~50 kDa, thus designated MAVS50, was produced from internal translation initiation. MAVS50 preferentially interacts with TRAF2 and TRAF6, and activates NF-κB. By contrast, MAVS50 inhibits the IRF activation and suppresses IFN induction. Biochemical analysis showed that MAVS50, exposing a degenerate TRAF-binding motif within its N-terminus, effectively competed with full-length MAVS for recruiting TRAF2 and TRAF6. Ablation of the TRAF-binding motif of MAVS50 impaired its inhibitory effect on IRF activation and IFN induction. These results collectively identify a new means by which signaling events is differentially regulated via exposing key internally embedded interaction motifs, implying a more ubiquitous regulatory role of truncated proteins arose from internal translation and other related mechanisms.
Mutual Fund Expense Disclosures: A Behavioral Perspective

Mutual funds have enjoyed phenomenal growth with their numbers exceeding the number of public companies and their assets aggregating in excess of $9 trillion. Increasingly they are the investment instrument of choice by the proverbial widows, widowers and orphans, and a few school teachers are included as well. But how are best can that choice be one that is not only informed but informed in a way more likely to elicit a wise decision? This paper examines from a behavioral perspective how regulation can best disclose information related to two key factors for investors to compare competing mutual funds: fund returns and fund expenses. Our analysis reflects that the current disclosure process is deficient because it fails to reflect the insights of research on judgment and decision making, and particularly the need to distinguish between the availability of information and its processability by its user. The message of our article is straightforward: if regulators adhered to the insights provided by our paper, not only investors, but also the fund's directors, would be greatly empowered so that better returns and lower costs could be expected.
The interaction of lysozyme and glycosaminoglycans: An element of the intrinsic immune system

Abstract Rationale Lysozyme, a cationic protein, depolymerizes bacterial cell wall peptidoglycans. Its bacteriocidal activity is found in mucus membranes as well as in internal structures, such as articular cartilage. We examined the interaction of lysozyme with the anodal glycosaminoglycans in mucus, tears and cartilage. Methods Pure human milk or recombinant lysozyme, cartilage extracts, mucus, tears and lysozyme to which chondroitin sulfate A was added were subjected to horizontal electrophoresis at pH 7.9. This agarose was then layered over agarose containing M. lysodeikticus and the resultant lytic area was observed. The agarose used for electrophoreses was stained for glycosaminoglycans with Toluidine Blue and for protein with Coommasie Blue. Results Pure milk or recombinant human lysozyme showed a lytic zone from the origin extending toward the electrophoretic cathode. Addition of chondroitin sulfate to the lysozyme showed a lytic zone from the origin to the anode, the extent of the zone being larger with higher concentrations of chondroitin. Human mucus, tears and cartilage extracts had lytic zones extending toward the anode. Counterstaining of the articular cartilage extracts indicated that lysozyme was associated with glycosaminoglycans with a total net anionic charge and the lytic action of lysozyme diffused from this complex. Conclusions The interaction of lysozyme and glycosaminoglycans retains this bactericidal enzyme in mucosal areas and is also important in cartilagenous regions such as joints.
DISTRIBUTION AND CAPACITY UTILIZATION: CONCEPTUAL ISSUES AND EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE

This paper examines the relationship between the distribution of income and capacity utilization in the context of the Kaleckian model of growth and distribution. We provide an exposition of the underlying theory of wage- and profit-led growth. We emphasize the implications of possible non-linearities in the determination of the final equilibrium and why—because of them—a redefinition of the concept of wage- and profit-led economy is necessary. We estimate the demand and distribution schedule for the US economy using a two-stage least squares approach. Our findings confirm the hypothesis of a non-linear distribution schedule and therefore the need to redefine the concepts wage- and profit-led growth.
A Connotational Theory of Program Structure

Motivations, background, and basic definitions.- Effective numberings, completions, and control structures.- Some special effective numberings.- Characterizations of acceptability.- Independence of control structures.- General programming properties of effective numberings of subrecursive classes.
Studies in phosphinemethylene chemistry : IX. The reaction of organolithium reagents with tert-butyltriphenylphosphonium bromide☆

Abstract Methyllithium attacks tert -butyltriphenylphosphonium bromide principally at the phosphorus atom, giving benzene (68%) and tert -butyldiphenylphosphinemethylene (46% as methylenecyclohexane after its reaction with cyclohexanone). Ethyllithium shows reaction in this sense to a lesser degree, giving benzene and tert -butyldiphenylphosphineethylidene in yields of 30% and 25% respectively. With lithium piperidide formation of 9-phenyl-9-phosphafluorene in 42.4% yield was found; some 16% β -elimination also was observed in this reaction. Thus in the RLi ÷ [(C 6 H 5 ) 3 PC(CH 3 ) 3 ]Br reactions electronic factors appear to be more important than steric factors.
Can the Treasury Exempt its Own Companies from Tax? The $45 Billion GM NOL Carryforward

To discourage firms from buying and selling tax deductions, Sec. 382 of the tax code limits the ability of one firm to use the "net operating losses" (NOL's) of another firm that it acquires. Under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), the Treasury lent a large amount of money to GM. In bankruptcy, it then transformed the debt into stock. GM did not make many cars anyone wanted to buy, but it did have $45 billion in NOL's. Unfortunately for the Treasury, if it now sold the stock it acquired in bankruptcy it would trigger Sec. 382. Foreseeing this, the market would pay much less for its stock in GM. Treasury solved this problem by issuing a series of "Notices" in which it announced that the law did not apply to itself. Sec. 382 says that the NOL limits apply when a firm's ownership changes. That rule would not apply to any firm bought with TARP funds, declared Treasury. Notwithstanding the straightforward and all-inclusive statutory language, GM could use its NOL's in full after Treasury sold out. The Treasury issued similar Notices about Citigroup and AIG. Treasury had no legal or economic justification for any of these Notices, but the press did not notice. Precisely because they involved such arcane provisions of the corporate tax code, they largely escaped public attention. The losses were not minor -- they cost the country billions of dollars in tax revenue. That the effect could be so large and yet so hidden illustrates the risk involved in this kind of tax manipulation. The more difficult the tax rule, the more easily the government can use it to hide the cost of its policies and subsidize favored groups. We suggest that Congress give its members standing to challenge unlegislated tax law changes in court.
Perhydroxyl radical (HOO.) initiated lipid peroxidation. The role of fatty acid hydroperoxides.

It is demonstrated that the perhydroxyl radical (HOO., the conjugate acid of superoxide (O2-], initiates fatty acid peroxidation (a model for biological lipid peroxidation) by two parallel pathways: fatty acid hydroperoxide (LOOH)-independent and LOOH-dependent. Previous workers (Gebicki, J. M., and Bielski, B. H. J. (1981) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 103, 7020-7025) demonstrated that HOO., generated by pulse radiolysis, initiates peroxidation in ethanol/water fatty acid dispersions by abstraction of the bis-allylic hydrogen atom from a polyunsaturated fatty acid. Addition of O2 to the fatty acid radicals forms peroxyl radicals (LOO.s), the chain-propagating species of lipid peroxidation. In this work it is demonstrated that HOO., generated either chemically (KO2) or enzymatically (xanthine oxidase), is a good initiator of fatty acid peroxidation in linoleic acid ethanol/water dispersions; O2- serves only as the source of HOO., and HOO. initiation can be observed at physiologically relevant pH values. In contrast to the previous results, the initiating effectiveness of HOO. is related directly to the initial concentrations of LOOHs in the lipids to be peroxidized. This defines a LOOH-dependent mechanism for fatty acid peroxidation initiation by HOO., which parallels the previously established LOOH-independent pathway. Since the LOOH-dependent pathway is much more facile than the LOOH-independent pathway, LOOH is the kinetically preferred site of HOO. attack in these systems. Experiments comparing HOO./LOOH-dependent fatty acid peroxidation with transition metal- and peroxyl radical-initiated peroxidation rule out the participation of the latter two species as initiators, which defines the HOO./LOOH initiation system as mechanistically unique. LOOH product studies are consistent with either a direct or indirect hydrogen atom transfer between LOOH and HOO. to yield LOO.s, which propagate peroxidation. The LOOH-dependent pathway of HOO.-initiated fatty acid peroxidation may be relevant to mechanisms of lipid peroxidation initiation in vivo.
Incomplete tree search using adaptive probing

When not enough time is available to fully explore a search tree, different algorithms will visit different leaves. Depth-first search and depth-bounded discrepancy search, for example, make opposite assumptions about the distribution of good leaves. Unfortunately, it is rarely clear a priori which algorithm will be most appropriate for a particular problem. Rather than fixing strong assumptions in advance, we propose an approach in which an algorithm attempts to adjust to the distribution of leaf costs in the tree while exploring it. By sacrificing completeness, such flexible algorithms can exploit information gathered during the search using only weak assumptions. As an example, we show how a simple depth-based additive cost model of the tree can be learned on-line. Empirical analysis using a generic tree search problem shows that adaptive probing is competitive with systematic algorithms on a variety of hard trees and outperforms them when the node-ordering heuristic makes many mistakes. Results on boolean satisfiability and two different representations of number partitioning confirm these observations. Adaptive probing combines the flexibility and robustness of local search with the ability to take advantage of constructive heuristics.
Do Firms Contract Efficiently on Past Performance When Hiring External CEO's?

Prior research finds that firms tend to select external CEO hires from companies with superior past performance and that this past performance is associated with a compensation premium in the hiring firm. We test whether this pay premium is associated with future performance in the hiring firm. We find that the pay premium for predecessor firm performance, though economically significant, does not predict higher performance in hiring firms. In fact, we document a negative relation between this pay premium and future performance. We also find external CEOs’ prior firm performance is not associated with a pay premium in the years subsequent to the year of hire. Finally, we find that measures of board inattentiveness predict the degree to which boards rely on prior firm performance to evaluate external CEO candidates. Overall, our results are consistent with the view that boards over-weight executives' prior firm performance when evaluating external CEO candidates.
The effect of donor age on the flow properties of blood. Part I: Plasma and whole blood viscosity in adult males.

Abstract The relationship between blood viscosity and age was studied using heparinized blood samples obtained from 50 normal male blood donors between the ages of 20 and 65 years. There was a slight but significant decline in packed cell volume (hematocrit) with age, Plasma viscosity showed no significant variation with donor age, but the viscosity of blood samples standardized to a packed cell volume of 45 ml/dl showed an increase as the age of the donor rose. The age-related trend to a higher viscosity was present at shear rates below 46 s −1 , but not at higher shear rates. This shows that with age there is a rising trend in the red cell contribution to blood viscosity, which is not dependent on the packed red cell volume; this component increases across a wide age range in early and middle adult lif, and is not a characteristic appearing exclusively in later age periods. The tendency for the viscosity trend to be greater at lower shear rates indicates inreased shear thinning in blood obtained from older subjects, the cause of which may be either diminished red cell deformability in these subjects, or an increased tendency to form aggregates at low shear rates.
The right place at the right time: chaperoning core histone variants

Histone proteins dynamically regulate chromatin structure and epigenetic signaling to maintain cell homeostasis. These processes require controlled spatial and temporal deposition and eviction of histones by their dedicated chaperones. With the evolution of histone variants, a network of functionally specific histone chaperones has emerged. Molecular details of the determinants of chaperone specificity for different histone variants are only slowly being resolved. A complete understanding of these processes is essential to shed light on the genuine biological roles of histone variants, their chaperones, and their impact on chromatin dynamics.
Two-pupil synthesis of three-dimensional optical transfer functions

We investigate the defocusing imaging effect of a two-pupil interactive system and discuss the synthesis of 3D optical transfer functions (OTFs) from defocused 2D OTFs. Through analytical and simulation results we show the synthesis of 3D OTFs, using as examples two spatially separated Gaussian pupils, and two superposed Gaussian pupils apodized by complementary Fresnel zone plates. Simulation results indicate the low frequency de-emphasis of the obtainable 3D OTFs.
Estimation of synchronous generator parameters using an observer for damper currents and a graphical user interface

Abstract This paper presents a method to identify synchronous generator parameters from on-line data. An observer for estimation of synchronous machine damper currents is designed. The observer-estimator is used in a graphical user interface (GUI) application. Possible internal machine fault conditions can be detected and remedial action can be undertaken. It is desired that an algorithm be developed such that it will enable bad measurement detection and rejection so as to increase the reliability of the results. Secondary objectives include calculation of the error characteristics of the estimation; development of an index of confidence; study of which machine parameters can be estimated, and which cannot; and evaluation of alternative GUI features.
Research on nicotine regulation

An important issue of present interest in smoking research is whether smokers regulate nicotine to maintain plasma nicotine levels. Yet, investigations of nicotine titration have provided contradictory results. The present paper attempts to clarify the current status of the nicotine titration hypothesis by critically reviewing research in this area. Following a brief discussion of the various techniques employed in the study of nicotine titration, studies are evaluated and methodological weaknesses noted. The review concludes that methodological problems make it impossible to draw firm conclusions as to the acceptability of the nicotine titration hypothesis at this time. Guidelines for correcting these methodological problems in future research are outlined.
Apical leptin induces chloride secretion by intestinal epithelial cells and in a rat model of acute chemotherapy-induced colitis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether luminal leptin alters ion transport properties of the intestinal epithelium under acute inflammatory conditions. Monolayers of human intestinal ...
Genetic markers useful for distinguishing between organ-confined and locally advanced prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States. In this study, we performed comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) on 45 primary prostate adenocarcinomas to determine genetic markers that could be useful for distinguishing between organ-confined and locally advanced prostate cancer. Of these tumors, 24 were pT2 stage, 21 were pT3b; 20 had low Gleason scores (GS), 25 had high GS. The most common chromosomal alterations in all 45 tumors included losses on 8p (57.8%), 10q21-->qter (40.0%), 16q (35.6%), 11q21-->qter (28.9%), 16p (22.2%), 6q22-->24 (22.2%), 10p (20.0%), 5q31-->qter (17.8%), 6p (17.8%), 15q22-->qter (15.6%), and 17p (15.6%) as well as gains on 7cen-->p14 (20.0%), 7cen-->q22 (20.0%), and Xcen-->q21 (17.8%). Contingency table analysis showed that losses of 8p, 10q25-->qter, 6p21, 6q24-->qter, and 15q22-->qter were significantly increased in frequency (P < 0.05) with increasing stage and/or GS. A model was created following multivariate logistic regression analysis that was predictive of tumor stage in approximately 90% of the tumors studied. This model suggests that loss of 8p is the most valuable predictor of stage. These findings suggest that chromosomal regions identified in this study may be useful for distinguishing between organ-confined and locally advanced prostate tumors.
Aggregate, composed, and evolved systems: Reductionistic heuristics as means to more holistic theories

Richard Levins’ distinction between aggregate, composed and evolved systems acquires new significance as we recognize the importance of mechanistic explanation. Criteria for aggregativity provide limiting cases for absence of organization, so through their failure, can provide rich detectors for organizational properties. I explore the use of failures of aggregativity for the analysis of mechanistic systems in diverse contexts. Aggregativity appears theoretically desireable, but we are easily fooled. It may be exaggerated through approximation, conditions of derivation, and extrapolating from some conditions of decomposition illegtimately to others. Evolved systems particularly may require analyses under alternative complementary decompositions. Exploring these conditions helps us to better understand the strengths and limits of reductionistic methods.
Zum Nachweis der Bluteigenschaften M und N

Bei unseren Untersuchungen wurde eine geringe Absorption des Anti-N-Agglutinins nur bei einem Hundeblut gefunden, mehrmals eine solche des Agglutinins Anti-M und ofters geringe Abschwachungen von Anti-M und Anti-N durch Organbrei (Leber, Niere, Milz) verschiedener Tiere. Allerdings steht diese Abnahme der Wirksamkeit in keinem Verhaltnis zu der viel starkeren Absorption durch menschliches M- bzw. N-Blut. Auβerdem zeigten die untersuchten Organe und Blute auch eine ebenfalls geringe Abschwachung gewohnlicher Immunagglutinine fur Menschenblut4.
Regulation by estrogen of organ-specific synthesis of a nuclear acidic protein

Abstract Estradiol-17β acting in vivo in the uterus of the ovariectomized adult rat stimulates about 75% the incorporation of 3H-tryptophan into the fraction of nuclear acidic protein extracted in 0. 05 N NaOH. The electrophoretic distribution of this nuclear protein fraction in gels containing 10% acrylamide, 5 M urea, and 0. 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate indicates that this stimulation of incorporation is restricted almost entirely to a single band. No appreciable stimulation of incorporation of 3 H-tryptophan by the hormone was observed in the acidic protein of hepatic nuclei. It is concluded that induction of organ-specific synthesis of a nuclear acidic protein is an important aspect of the regulation of gene activation by estrogen in the uterus.
Synthetic studies on mesoionic compounds. The mesoionic 1,3-diazol-4-one system†

The synthesis of the mesoionic 1,3-diazol-4-one system is discussed. The intermediate to this system and the attempted cyclizations are described in detail. Further comments on the stability of these mesoionic compounds are also made.
A diversity of GABA receptors in the retina.

Abstract GABA, a major inhibitory transmitter in the vertebrate retina, plays important roles in processing visual information. There are three functional families of retinal GABA receptors, the ionotropic GABA A and GABA C receptors and the metabotropic GABA B receptor. GABA C receptors are enriched in the retina, compared to other parts of the CNS. GABA C and GABA B receptors are found on subsets of neurons, whereas GABA A receptors are ubiquitous. The distinct functional properties of GABA A , GABA B and GABA C receptors suggests that individual neurons with different receptor complements have unique responses to GABA.
Classes of Diagnostic Tests

This paper presents the results of an investigation into the types of tests useful for automatically diagnosing combinational digital devices. The diagnosis is based on a design model that allows hierarchy in both the structure and the data of the device being represented. A more general set of assumptions than is commonly employed allows data values other than boolean values to be diagnosed, and permits faults other than stuck-at faults to be found. The design model, the assumptions, and the tests are represented in SUBTLE, a language based on predicate calculus and specialized for digital systems.
Structure of the fibers of sickle cell hemoglobin in the presence of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate

Abstract Bundles of fibers of hemoglobin S in the presence of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate or inositol hexaphosphate have been prepared from stirred solutions and examined by electron microscopy. The bundles are found to contain ordered arrays of fibers in an eight-stranded form, with strands staggered by 37 A, as characterized by optical and computer transforms. The characteristic reflections observed for individual fibers are also seen for large areas of the bundles, indicating the presence of the same form of the fibers throughout the bundles. Since 2,3-diphosphoglycerate is the natural hemoglobin cofactor, the structure observed in these studies is likely to bear a close correspondence to the structure in vivo .
Ragged Red Fibers in Normal Aging and Inflammatory Myopathy

Ragged red fibers are an important marker for mitochondrial disease. To evaluate the hypothesis that mitochondrial dysfunction may play a role in the pathogenesis of aging and inclusion body myositis, we studied the frequency of ragged red fibers in muscle biopsy specimens from 15 young and 13 old normal adults, and from 27 patients with inclusion body myositis, polymyositis, or dermatomyositis. Serial transverse cryostat sections were stained with modified Gomori trichrome, modified succinic dehydrogenase, and cytochrome c oxidase. The frequency of ragged red fibers, determined by measuring the percent number of succinic dehydrogenase-positive ragged red fiber equivalents, was significantly higher in old compared to young normal subjects (0.33 vs. 0.02%, p < 0.0001). With the exception of a single polymyositis biopsy specimen showing a large number of ragged red fibers, the frequency of ragged red fibers in patients with polymyositis or dermatomyositis was similar to that of age-matched normal control subjects. The frequency of ragged red fibers was more than 1% in 7 of 8 patients with inclusion body myositis (maximum, 15%). The modified succinic dehydrogenase stain was more sensitive than the modified Gomori trichrome in detecting accumulation of mitochondria in muscle fibers. Cytochrome c oxidase activity was deficient in most ragged red fibers. We conclude that the number of ragged red fibers increases with normal aging and may reflect an age-related decline in muscle mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. The frequent occurrence of ragged red fibers in inclusion body myositis suggests that mitochondrial function may be impaired in this disease.
Sleep-induced apnea syndrome: Prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias and their reversal after tracheostomy☆

Abstract Cardiac arrhythmias during wakefulness and sleep in 15 patients with sleep-induced obstructive apnea, and the effect of atropine and tracheostomy on these arrhythmias were studied by continuous overnight Holter electrocardiographic, respiratory and electroencephalographic recordings. Sleep was characterized by marked sinus arrhythmia in 14, extreme sinus bradycardia ( Marked sinus arrhythmia during sleep is characteristic of the syndrome of obstructive sleep apnea and is frequently accompanied by potentially life-threatening tachy- and bradyarrhythmias. Possible mechanism of production of these arrhythmias, the mode of action of tracheostomy and atropine, and the probable role of similar arrhythmias in the sudden infant death syndrome are discussed.
Distribution of Spot and Forward Exchange Rates: Empirical Evidence and Investor Valuation of Skewness and Kurtosis*

This paper examines the statistical distribution of exchange rates for eight major currencies for the post-1973 floating rate period. The results show that spot rates, forward rates, and ex-post risk premia all exhibit significant, persistent, but varying deviations from normality, and that the risk premia in forward rates reflect investor preferences for skewness and investor aversion towards standard deviation and kurtosis. These results imply that foreign currency forecasting and hedging practices, mean-variance portfolio analysis, pricing of foreign currency options, and other research involving exchange rates should account for these significant deviations from normality.
Workshop - capstone engineering design assessment workshop

This workshop is based on assessments developed under a National Science Foundation grant to create versatile assessments for capstone engineering design courses. It will prepare capstone design instructors to adopt and implement these assessments for enhancing and documenting student achievement in their courses. The workshop will interoduce participants to a learner and solution development model for design achievement and to performance criteria used to target achievement. Seven assessments exercises will be presented, along with scoring rubrics for establishing performance levels. Participants will explore assessment instruments and sample student work to learn the assessment implementation and interpretation process. Each participant will receive a set of assessment instruments and scoring rubrics for their use.
External rotation method of shoulder dislocation reduction

We used the external rotation method for reducing anterior shoulder dislocations on 85 consecutive patients seen in our emergency department during a one-year period. In relatively inexperienced hands, the external rotation method was successful on first attempt in 80% of cases. There were no complications attributable to the technique itself. We feel that it is a successful, easy, and atraumatic method of achieving reduction in both first occurrence and recurrent anterior shoulder dislocations.
Report on Travel to Athens, Greece September 9-21, 2006

The author reports on a visit to Athens, Greece, in September 2006 to visit book dealers, libraries, archives, and other institutions with which the Library of Congress has relations, for acquisitions and for collaborative projects in the areas of bibliographic control, microfilming, and digital projects. The author expresses his gratitude to his division chiefs, Georgette Dorn and John Van Oudenaren, for managerial support for this trip; and to Carolyn Powers and Adrija Henley, European & Latin American Acquisitions Division, for details of LC’s Greek acquisitions program. Opinions expressed herein are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Library of Congress or the United States government.
The Contribution of Home-Based Business Income to Rural and Urban Economies

During the past decade, many rural and urban residents have turned to home-based self-employment as a means of providing for themselves and their families. Home-based work can be considered a form of community development for its potential as an alternative or supplemental income source for residents and for its economic multiplier effect on a community and region. This article reports results from a nine-state study on home-based employment—who does it and what they do—and estimates its economic impact on communities. Suggestions for building a supportive environment for home-based and microenterprises are discussed.
Effect of prior domain knowledge and headings on processing of informative text

College students with either high or low prior domain knowledge (PK) read a text chapter presented in short pages on a computer monitor. Half of the participants read with headings present and half with headings absent. The computer recorded time spent reading and rereading each short page. Learning was assessed through a structured recall task. In general, headings seem to improve recall of high importance information, and headings were more effective for high PK learners. Analysis of time data showed that participants with headings spent more time per word reading the pages with headings than participants that did not have headings. Prior knowledge had no effect on attention to either high importance information or important supporting detail. Low prior knowledge readers decreased the amount of time spent reading each word as they progressed through the passage and neither the presence nor absence of headings influenced this effect.