cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic and epigenetic strategies for advancing ovarian cancer immunotherapy

Introduction: Immuno-oncology is currently the most popular field of cancer research and development. The surge of interest in immuno-oncology stems from recent clinical approvals and successes in ...
Upgrading backup alarms to reduce encroachment on soundscapes in Denali National Park

Denali maintains a sizeable fleet of maintenance vehicles that are equipped with backup alarms. Across many years, park acoustical monitoring demonstrated that tonal backup alarms were audible at one to two miles distance from the hazard zone immediately behind the truck. Following a successful demonstration of backup alarms with broadband signals, 77 vehicles at Denali were upgraded. The aggregate cost of the devices was just under $11,000, and the Denali auto shop provided 25 h of staff time for the upgrade. CadnaA modeling was used to compare the park area in which the old and new alarms were audible, assuming that both broadcast the same level (107 dB, A-weighted). The broadband alarm was predicted to be audible in 2.9 km2, compared with 6.9 km2 for the tonal alarm. The adaptive level feature of the new alarms yielded additional benefits in quiet locales. After the upgrade, backup alarm noise became noticeably less along the Denali Road corridor, and these improvements motivated the park to incorporate language regarding backup alarms into construction contracts.
EndoVascular Occlusion and Tumor Excision (EVOTE): a Hybrid Approach to Small-Bowel Neuroendocrine Tumors with Mesenteric Metastases

Mesenteric metastases from small-bowel neuroendocrine tumors (SBNETs) present a surgical challenge due to encasement of mesenteric vessels. In this study, we evaluate the feasibility and safety of a new, hybrid surgical approach to these mesenteric masses, EndoVascular Occlusion and Tumor Excision (EVOTE). From 2014 to 2018, 13 patients underwent the EVOTE procedure after being referred to our institution for primary SBNETs with “unresectable” mesenteric metastases. During stage 1 of the hybrid EVOTE procedure, angiographic evaluation of the mesenteric mass is performed. If adequate collateralization is demonstrated, the encased mesenteric vessel(s) is embolized. Mass excision is performed the following day during stage 2 of the EVOTE procedure. Preoperative embolization was successful in 86% of cases; 2 cases were aborted for persistent abdominal pain following occlusion testing. Complete surgical excision of the mesenteric mass was achieved in 86% of cases. The 30-day overall morbidity and mortality rate was 29% and 0%, respectively. There was one local recurrence at 31.8 months post-op; this patient underwent a repeat EVOTE procedure with successful complete excision. EVOTE represents a new technique that aids in preoperative planning and surgical resection of SBNETs with mesenteric metastases.
Keypresses and Mouse Clicks: Analysis of the First National Computer-Based Writing Assessment

The quality of students’ writing skills continues to concern educators. Because writing is essential to success in both college and career, poor writing can have lifelong consequences. Writing is now primarily done digitally, but students receive limited explicit instruction in digital writing. This lack of instruction means that students fail to take advantage of the affordances of digital tools. The writing process is shaped by the tools used, which makes digital writing, to an extent, different from writing with pen and paper. To better understand students’ digital writing skills, we take advantage of the information provided by computer-based assessments—keyboard and mouse activity data. We examine the relationship between students’ use of the keyboard and mouse during the assessment and students’ writing achievement. Our data comes from the first national computer-based writing assessment in the United States, the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessment. Using data from over 24,100 eighth-grade students, we found that the number of keypresses had a distinct and direct effect on writing achievement scores, controlling for word count. We also identified several different patterns of keyboard and mouse activity on the computer-based NAEP assessment.
A pilot study of neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX followed by chemoradiation for gastric and gastroesophageal cancer: Preliminary results.

4057Background: We performed a single-arm pilot study of total neoadjuvant approach including FOLFIRINOX and chemoradiation (CRT) with concurrent carboplatin/taxol (C/T) followed by surgery in pati...
Characterizing Safety: Minimal Barrier Functions from Scalar Comparison Systems

Verifying set invariance has classical solutions stemming from the seminal work by Nagumo, and defining sets via a smooth barrier function constraint inequality results in computable flow conditions for guaranteeing set invariance. While a majority of these historic results on set invariance consider flow conditions on the boundary, recent results on control barrier functions extended these conditions to the entire set, although they required regularity conditions on the barrier function. This paper fully characterizes set invariance through \emph{minimal barrier functions} by directly appealing to a comparison result to define a flow condition over the entire domain of the system. A considerable benefit of this approach is the removal of regularity assumptions of the barrier function. This paper also outlines necessary and sufficient conditions for a valid differential inequality condition, giving the minimum conditions for this type of approach. We also show when minimal barrier functions are necessary and sufficient for set invariance.
On-orbit servicing ontology applied to recommended standards for satellites in earth orbit

Abstract The Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations (CONFERS) is an industry-led initiative with initial seed funding provided by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that aims to leverage best practices from government and industry to research, develop, and publish non-binding, consensus-derived technical and operations standards for On-Orbit Servicing (OOS) and Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO). As part of the CONFERS effort, the University of Southern California’s (USC) Space Engineering Research Center (SERC) conducted research into existing RPO methodologies and practices and OOS methodologies through literature review and interviews with practitioners. Following the first year of analytical input focused solely on RPO, the second year’s activities have focused further into the full extent of attributes for satellite servicing and in-space docking (OOS). USC’s focus was to develop a taxonomy of functions and attributes related to all aspects of technical elements and techniques required for past/current/anticipated OOS missions. A taxonomy database was created that allowed various key elements to be broken down into quantifiable data within common categories. Following the taxonomy creation, working with the Space Infrastructure Foundation (SIF) a review of existing standards in space along with other industries were analyzed and compared for possible matches. This standards gap analysis focused primarily from the end of the RPO maneuver to the point of physical contact or action between two spacecraft. These comparisons were then used to recommend where gaps in standards exist and where it might be most beneficial to create new ones, enabling spacecraft of various shapes and sizes to safely execute various OOS operations, and spur the industry between customers and providers. The field of space servicing is a rapidly growing field, with governments and numerous private entities developing robotic systems for mission extension vehicles and satellite repair. With an increased number of servicing missions forthcoming, a system of guidelines and standards on how to effectively and safely design on-orbit servicing activities is a next natural step to enable the expansion of this burgeoning industry.
Epigenetic Regulation of the GnRH and Kiss1 Genes: Developmental Perspectives

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and kisspeptin neurons are indispensable for reproductive function. This chapter focuses on the epigenetic regulation of the GnRH and kisspeptin (Kiss1) genes in the context of neuronal development, puberty onset, and maintenance of adult reproductive function. Proper function of GnRH and kisspeptin neurons in the hypothalamus requires coordinated embryonic and postnatal maturation. Recent studies indicate that diverse epigenetic phenomena including the formation of chromatin loops, activation of bivalent domains, maintenance of “stable” histone modifications, and DNA methylation, active demethylation, and hydroxymethylation are all involved in epigenetic regulation of these neurons. This chapter focuses on how these epigenetic regulation components interact with each other and which enzymes or binding factors are involved in specific stages of neuronal development or aging. By emphasizing similar epigenetic mechanisms operating within these two peptidergic neuronal populations, we highlight likely targets for future investigations of environmental influences over puberty timing and progression.
Travels with Foxfire: stories of people, passions, and practices from Southern Appalachia

A collection of essays profiling people living in Southern Appalachia, Travels with Foxfire is yet another volume capitalizing on the Foxfire brand. For those unfamiliar with the term, Foxfire refe...
Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis: An Unusual Case of Pediatric Subglottic Stenosis

Systemic disease is an uncommon cause of subglottic stenosis (SGS). We report a case of severe SGS due to underlying eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) in a child presenting with isolated stridor. EGPA is a rare systemic vasculitis with very limited cases reported in the pediatric population. While surgical intervention was required given the degree of stenosis in this case, medical management of the underlying systemic disease process is critical when there is clinical suspicion of SGS in the context of systemic vasculitis. Laryngoscope, 131:656-659, 2021.
The Economic Footprint of Interventional Radiology in the United States: Implications for Systems Development.

Abstract Purpose Despite the growing presence of interventional radiology (IR) in inpatient care, its global impact on the health care system remains uncharacterized. The aim of this study was to quantitate the use of IR services rendered to hospitalized patients in the United States and the impact on cost. Methods The National Inpatient Sample 2016 was queried. Using the International Classification of Diseases, tenth rev, Clinical Modification/Procedure Classification System, adult inpatients who underwent routine IR procedures were identified. Unadjusted and adjusted analyses were performed. Weighted patient data are presented to provide national estimates. Results Of the 29.7 million inpatient admissions in 2016, 2.3 million (7.8%) had at least one IR procedure. Patients who needed IR were older (62.8 vs 57.1 years, P Conclusions Approximately 1 in 10 US inpatients are treated with IR during their hospitalizations. These patients are sicker, with about 4 times higher mortality and 2.5 times greater length of stay, accounting for almost one-fifth of all health care costs. These findings suggest that IR should have a voice in discussions of means to save costs and improve patient outcomes in the United States.
Chapter 33 – A Codon Frequency Obfuscation Heuristic for Raw Genomic Data Privacy

Genomic data provides clinical researchers with vast opportunities to study various patient ailments. Yet the same data contains revealing information, some of which a patient might want to remain concealed. The question then arises: How can an entity transact in full DNA sequence data while concealing certain sensitive pieces of information in the genome sequence and maintaining DNA data utility? As a response to this question, we propose a codon frequency obfuscation heuristic, in which a redistribution of codon frequency values with highly expressed genes is done in the same amino acid group, generating an obfuscated DNA sequence. Our preliminary results show that it might be possible to publish an obfuscated DNA sequence with a desired level of similarity (utility) to the original DNA sequence.
Symmetric Boundary-Finite Element Discretization of Time Dependent Acoustic Scattering by Elastic Obstacles with Piezoelectric Behavior

A coupled BEM/FEM formulation for the transient interaction between an acoustic field and a piezoelectric scatterer is proposed. The scattered part of the acoustic wave is represented in terms of retarded layer potentials while the elastic displacement and electric potential are treated variationally. This results in an integro-differential system. Well posedness of a general Galerkin semi-discretization in space of the problem is shown in the Laplace domain and translated into explicit stability bounds in the time domain. Trapezoidal-rule and BDF2 convolution quadrature are used in combination with matching time stepping for time discretization. Second order convergence is proven for the BDF2-based method. Numerical experiments are provided for BDF2 and trapezoidal rule based time evolution.
Enhancement of diffusive transport by non-equilibrium thermal fluctuations

We study the contribution of advection by thermal velocity fluctuations to the effective diffusion coefficient in a mixture of two identical fluids. The steady-state diffusive flux in a finite system subject to a concentration gradient is enhanced because of long-range correlations between concentration fluctuations and fluctuations of the velocity parallel to the concentration gradient. The enhancement of the diffusive transport depends on the system size L and grows as ln(L/L0) in quasi-two-dimensional systems, while in three dimensions it grows as L0 − 1 − L − 1, where L0 is a reference length. The predictions of a simple fluctuating hydrodynamics theory, closely related to second-order mode–mode coupling analysis, are compared to results from particle simulations and a finite-volume solver and excellent agreement is observed. We elucidate the direct connection to the long-time tail of the velocity autocorrelation function in finite systems, as well as finite-size corrections employed in molecular dynamics calculations. Our results conclusively demonstrate that the nonlinear advective terms need to be retained in the equations of fluctuating hydrodynamics when modeling transport in small-scale finite systems.
The Biological Deserts Fallacy: Cities in Their Landscapes Contribute More than We Think to Regional Biodiversity

Cities are both embedded within and ecologically linked to their surrounding landscapes. Although urbanization poses a substantial threat to biodiversity, cities also support many species, some of which have larger populations, faster growth rates, and higher productivity in cities than outside of them. Despite this fact, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the potentially beneficial links between cities and their surroundings. We identify five pathways by which cities can benefit regional ecosystems by releasing species from threats in the larger landscape, increasing regional habitat heterogeneity and genetic diversity, acting as migratory stopovers, preadapting species to climate change, and enhancing public engagement and environmental stewardship. Increasing recognition of these pathways could help cities identify effective strategies for supporting regional biodiversity conservation and could provide a science-based platform for incorporating biodiversity alongside other urban greening goals.
Switching decision, timing, and app performance: An empirical analysis of mobile app developers’ switching behavior between monetization strategies

Abstract Mobile application developers switch their monetization strategies for strategic purposes. We investigate the determinants and consequences of app developers’ switching behavior between paid and free strategies over time. Using large-scale daily app rank data from the iOS App Store, our estimations reveal that the prior performance of an app and its duration of staying in a monetization strategy significantly impact the developers’ decision of switching. We also find that better-performing apps tend to have longer stays in the paid strategy, whereas developers tend to switch their monetization strategy to free when the performance of a paid app declines. Furthermore, app developers’ switching behavior and duration of the app in each strategy have significant effects on the subsequent app performance in the App Store. Finally, we find the impact of switching behavior varies by app category. Managerial implications with estimated economic outcomes on strategic moves by app developers towards higher app performance are provided.
On the $\ell^\infty$-norms of the Singular Vectors of Arbitrary Powers of a Difference Matrix with Applications to Sigma-Delta Quantization

Let $\| A \|_{\max} := \max_{i,j} |A_{i,j}|$ denote the maximum magnitude of entries of a given matrix $A$. In this paper we show that $$\max \left\{ \|U_r \|_{\max},\|V_r\|_{\max} \right\} \le \frac{(Cr)^{6r}}{\sqrt{N}},$$ where $U_r$ and $V_r$ are the matrices whose columns are, respectively, the left and right singular vectors of the $r$-th order finite difference matrix $D^{r}$ with $r \geq 2$, and where $D$ is the $N\times N$ finite difference matrix with $1$ on the diagonal, $-1$ on the sub-diagonal, and $0$ elsewhere. Here $C$ is a universal constant that is independent of both $N$ and $r$. Among other things, this establishes that both the right and left singular vectors of such finite difference matrices are Bounded Orthonormal Systems (BOSs) with known upper bounds on their BOS constants, objects of general interest in classical compressive sensing theory. Such finite difference matrices are also fundamental to standard $r^{\rm th}$ order Sigma-Delta quantization schemes more specifically, and as a result the new bounds provided herein on the maximum $\ell^{\infty}$-norms of their $\ell^2$-normalized singular vectors allow for several previous Sigma-Delta quantization results to be generalized and improved.
Significant Variation in Blood Transfusion Practice Persists Following Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery.

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case control study. OBJECTIVE To review current transfusion practise following Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) surgery and assess risks of complication from transfusion in this cohort. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA No study to date has investigated variation in blood transfusion practices across surgeons and hospitals following AIS surgery. METHODS Data were extracted from the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System. Using International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) all patients with (ICD-9) code for AIS (737.30) ("idiopathic scoliosis") and underwent spinal fusion between 2000 and 2015 were included. Bivariate and mixed-effects logistic regression analyses were performed to assess patient, surgeon, and hospital factors associated with perioperative allogeneic red blood cell transfusion. Additional multivariable analyses examined the association between transfusion and infectious complications. RESULTS Of the 7689 patients who underwent AIS surgery, 21.1% received a perioperative blood transfusion. After controlling for patient factors, wide variation in risk-adjusted transfusion rates was present with a 10-fold difference in transfusion rates observed across surgeons (4.4%-46.1%) and hospitals (5.1%-50%). Patient factors did not explain any of the surgeon or hospital variation. Use of autologous blood transfusion, higher surgeon procedure volume, and greater surgeon years in practice were independently associated with lower odds of allogeneic blood transfusion (P < 0.001), and surgeon and hospital characteristics explained 45% of surgeon variation but only 2.4% of hospital variation. Allogeneic blood transfusion was independently associated with postoperative wound infection (OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.20-2.93), pneumonia (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.26-2.44), and sepsis (OR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.11-5.83). CONCLUSION Significant variation exists across both surgeons and hospitals in perioperative blood transfusion utilization following AIS surgery. Use of autologous blood transfusion and implementing institutional transfusion protocols may reduce unwarranted variation and potentially decrease infectious complication rates.Level of Evidence: 3.
Particulate Air Pollution and Risk of Cardiovascular Events Among Adults With a History of Stroke or Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background Previous studies have found associations between fine particulate matter <2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5) and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among populations with no CVD hist...
Zeroing Control Barrier Functions for Safe Volitional Pedaling in a Motorized Cycle

Abstract A minimally restrictive robust controller is developed for a motorized rehabilitative cycling system. The controller yields a forced-use movement therapy that constrains the rider’s cadence to remain within a user-defined range. The controller is designed using a zeroing control barrier function (ZCBF), which facilitates the therapy by reducing control effort when the rider can sustain the desired cadence volitionally. Moreover, the ZCBF design approach certifies the rider’s safety by ensuring the desired cadence range is an asymptotically stable set. The effectiveness of the controller is demonstrated with a preliminary experimental result, which shows the cadence constrained within a range of 50 ±8 RPM even when the rider stops pedaling volitionally mid-trial. Additionally, the rider was able to pedal with no intervention from the motor when volitional effort was present.
Factors That Influence Substance Use Among American Indian/Alaskan Native Youth: A Systematic Mixed Studies Review.

BACKGROUND:The American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) mortality rate from illicit drug use was 22.7%, double that of the general population between 2007 and 2009. Fifteen percent of AI/AN youth rep...
Elastic Block Ciphers: The Feistel Cipher Case

We discuss the elastic versions of block ciphers whose round function processes subsets of bits from the data block differently, such as occurs in a Feistel network and in MISTY1. We focus on how specific bits are selected to be swapped after each round when forming the elastic version, using an elastic version of MISTY1 and differential cryptanalysis to illustrate why this swap step must be carefully designed. We also discuss the benefit of adding initial and final key dependent permutations in all elastic block ciphers. The implementation of the elastic version of MISTY1 is analyzed from a performance perspective.
The Geographic Evolution of the U.S. Auto Industry (Part 2)

The authors examine changes in the footprint of the auto industry in the United States, starting in 1980 and tracking them through 2003. Their formal analysis of assembly and supplier plant locations traces the reorientation of the auto region from one that extends east-west to one that stretches north-south over this period. To accommodate the large size of the file and the number of illustrations, the article has been divided into two smaller files.
Ecological life history of Polymnia canadensis, a monocarpic species of the North American temperate deciduous forest: demography.

A demographic investigation was conducted to assess variation in life history of Polymnia canadensis (Asteraceae), a geographically-widespread, herbaceous species of deciduous forests in eastern North America. During 1985-1994, 23,063 seedlings of P. canadensis were monitored at five central Kentucky study sites. Numbers at the end were: biennials, 554; triennials, 142; winter annuals, 16; monocarpic perennials, 2; tricarpic perennials (three years), 3; and dicarpic perennials (some skipped years) that matured in the first year of life, 23; in the second year, 60; and in the third year, 9. Weekly cohorts of P. canadensis generally exhibited Deevey Type III survivorship with highest seedling mortality in summer associated with low soil moisture. Wide spatial variation in life history was displayed by the fact that fall germination cohorts at dry sites generally had greater germination and survivorship than at mesic sites during seedling establishment, while the reverse was true for spring cohorts. This led to more reproductive individuals in fall germination cohorts than spring cohorts at dry sites and generally the opposite case at mesic sites. Forest shade in mesic sites caused slower growth and a greater frequency of longer-lived reproductive individuals than in open, dry sites, but it also resulted in higher survivorship than at dry sites during moderate drought. Annual population growth rate averaged across four years was not significantly different between a dry site and mesic site, indicating that despite forest shade, P. canadensis persisted in the mesic site as well as it did in the dry site. Population structure varied among years, seasons, and study sites; at two study plots, a 2-year flowering cycle of mass seeding and senescence persisted for 4 years. At a smaller scale, there was little difference in survivorship between study plots within sites or between quadrats within study plots, while in a few instances there were large differences in the number of reproductive individuals. Weekly cohorts that germinated early within seasonal cohorts had greater number of reproductive individuals than later weekly cohorts, but not consistently greater survivorship. Several droughts induced temporal variation that was as important as spatial variation. During these droughts, the population size of all cohorts that germinated prior to the droughts declined to zero at all sites, and biennials were the longest lived type of reproductive individuals. During drought, Deevey Type I survivorship was prevalent, and lack of seed rain led to dependence on persistent seed banks for recruitment in some seasonal cohorts.
Dog erythrocyte antigen 1: mode of inheritance and initial characterization

Background The dog erythrocyte antigen (DEA) 1 blood group system remains poorly defined. Objectives The purpose of the study was to determine the DEA 1 mode of inheritance and to characterize the DEA 1 antigen and alloantibodies. Animals Canine research colony families, clinic canine patients, and DEA 1.2+ blood bank dogs were studied. Methods Canine blood was typed by flow cytometry and immunochromatographic strips using anti-DEA 1 monoclonal antibodies. Gel column experiments with polyclonal and immunoblotting with monoclonal anti-DEA 1 antibodies were performed to analyze select samples. Cross-reactivity of human typing reagents against canine RBC and one monoclonal anti-DEA 1 antibody against human RBC panels was assessed. Results Typing of 12 families comprising 144 dogs indicated an autosomal dominant inheritance with ≥ 4 alleles: DEA 1− (0) and DEA 1+ weak (1+), intermediate (2+), and strong (3+ and 4+). Samples from 6 dogs previously typed as DEA 1.2+ were typed as DEA 1+ or DEA 1− using monoclonal antibodies. Human typing reagents produced varied reactions in tube agglutination experiments against DEA 1+ and DEA 1− RBC. Polypeptide bands were not detected on immunoblots using a monoclonal anti-DEA 1 antibody, therefore the anti-DEA 1 antibody may be specific for conformational epitopes lost during processing. Conclusions The autosomal dominant inheritance of DEA 1 with ≥ 4 alleles indicates a complex blood group system; the antigenicity of each DEA 1+ type will need to be determined. The biochemical nature of the DEA 1 antigen(s) appears different from human blood group systems tested.
Last Chance Earnings Management: Using the Tax Expense to Achieve Earnings Targets

We assert that the tax expense is a powerful context in which to study earnings management, because it is one of the last accounts closed prior to the earnings announcement. While many pre-tax accruals must be posted in the year-end general ledger, managers estimate and negotiate tax expense with their auditors immediately prior to the earnings announcement. We hypothesize that changes from 3rd to 4th quarter effective tax rates (ETRs) are negatively related to whether and how much a firm's earnings absent tax expense management miss analysts' consensus forecast, a proxy for target earnings. We measure earnings absent tax expense management as actual pretax earnings adjusted for the annual ETR reported at the third quarter. We provide robust evidence that firms lower their projected ETRs when they miss the consensus forecast, consistent with firms decreasing their tax expense if non-tax sources of earnings management are insufficient to achieve targets. We also find that firms that exceed earnings targets increase their ETR, but this effect is smaller. By studying the tax expense in total, rather than narrow components of deferred tax expense, our results provide general evidence that reported taxes are used to manage earnings.
Retrospective Evaluation of Urethral Bovine Cross-Linked Collagen Implantation for Treatment of Urinary Incontinence in Female Dogs

Background: Transurethral collagen injections are an alternative treatment for canine urinary incontinence. There is controversy regarding the long-term effectiveness of collagen and the impact urethral coaptation and injection site have on outcome. Hypothesis/Objectives: To evaluate outcome and client satisfaction after urethral collagen injections, and correlation between degree of urethral coaptation and collagen placement with outcome. Animals: Thirty-six procedures on 31 dogs, 10 with ureteral ectopia. Methods: Retrospective review of records and video evaluation of injection procedures. Follow-up communication with owners was performed between 1 and 56 months after bovine cross-linked collagen implantation to evaluate duration of continence, need for additional medical therapy, and owner satisfaction. Continence score was evaluated before and after the procedure, and after additional medical therapy, if needed. Injection location and degree of urethral coaptation was assessed with respect to duration of continence. Results: Dogs had a significant increase in continence score after the procedure. Mean (SD) duration of continence in dogs without addition of medication was 16.4 (15.2) months, and 5.2 (4.3) months in dogs needing additional medical therapy. No significant difference was found with respect to degree of coaptation. Median client satisfaction with the procedure was 100%. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Transurethral collagen implantation may be a viable option for treatment of female dogs with urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence, particularly after medical failure. Duration and degree of improvement are variable. Client satisfaction was excellent despite lack of complete continence in some dogs, and highlights the importance of discussing outcome expectations with owners.
More than Decisions: Reviews of American Law Reports in the Pre-West Era

In the early nineteenth century, both general literary periodicals and the first American legal journals often featured reviews of new volumes of U.S. Supreme Court and state court opinions, suggesting their importance not only to lawyers seeking the latest cases, but to members of the public. The reviews contributed to public discourse through comments on issues raised in the cases and the quality of the reporting, and were valued as forums for commentary on the law and its role in American society, particularly during debates on codification and the future of the common law in the 1820s. James Kent saw the reports as worthy of study by scholars of taste and literature, or to be read for their drama and displays of great feeling. By the 1840s fewer lengthy reviews of reports were published in the journals, but shorter reviews continued in the years prior to and after the Civil War; they largely disappeared with the emergence of West’s National Reporter System and other privately published reporters in the 1880s. This paper examines role and influences of the reviews in earlier decades of the century.
Attitudes about Educational and Related Service Provision for Students with Deaf-Blindness and Multiple Disabilities

Over the past two decades, exemplary practices regarding support services have been shifting away from specialist-reliant models and toward approaches that rely more on natural supports. This study explored attitudes regarding educational and related service-provision practices from the perspective of professionals and parents (n = 119) who were educational team members for students with deaf-blindness and multiple disabilities in general education settings. The findings highlight sample respondents' agreements and disagreements with exemplary practices, as well as differences across subgroups and within teams. Analyses suggest some internal inconsistencies regarding important service provision practices, as well as continuing gaps between attitudes and proposed exemplary practices.
Regulation of vimentin gene expression in the ocular lens

Abstract Vimentin expression in the lens is striking due to the reported mesenchymal preference of vimentin and the epithelial origin of the lens. The amount of chicken vimentin mRNA levels determined by Northern blot analysis increased 3-fold from 7 to 14 days of embryonic lens development and then decreased 10-fold at 16 days of development, suggesting that post-transcriptional processes may contribute to the level of cytoplasmic vimentin mRNA during lens development. To analyze the mechanisms governing vimentin gene expression in the lens at the level of transcription, a series of chicken vimentin 5′-flanking region deletions were fused to the bacterial CAT gene and transfected into fibroblasts and lens cultures derived from three species. The −160 to +1 sequence conferred equal promoter activity in cultured chicken lens epithelial cells and fibroblasts. The −321 to −160 sequences increased promoter activity in all cultures, but more strongly in fibroblasts than in lens cells. Sequence elements in the region −608 to −321 repressed promoter activity in lens cells and fibroblasts. Promoter activity was partially restored in fibroblasts but not in lens cells by −767 to −608 sequences. Vimentin gene expression in the lens thus appears to be controlled by multiple positive- and negative-acting elements in its 5′-flanking sequence.
Follow-up of Incidental Pulmonary Nodules and the Radiology Report

Purpose Incidental pulmonary nodules that require follow-up are often noted on chest CT. Evidence-based guidelines regarding appropriate follow-up have been published, but the rate of adherence to guideline recommendations is unknown. Furthermore, it is unknown whether the radiology report affects the nodule follow-up rate. Methods A review of 1,000 CT pulmonary angiographic studies ordered in the emergency department was performed to determine the presence of an incidental pulmonary nodule. Fleischner Society guidelines were applied to ascertain if follow-up was recommended. Radiology reports were classified on the basis of whether nodules were listed in the findings section only, were noted in the impression section, or had explicit recommendations for follow-up. Whether the rate of nodule follow-up was affected by the radiology report was determined according to these 3 groups. Results Incidental pulmonary nodules that required follow-up were noted on 9.9% (95% confidence interval, 8%–12%) of CT pulmonary angiographic studies. Follow-up for nodules was poor overall (29% [28 of 96]; 95% confidence interval, 20%–38%) and decreased significantly when the nodules were mentioned in the findings section only (0% [0 of 12]). Specific instructions to follow up nodules in radiology reports still resulted in a low follow-up rate of 29% (19 of 65; 95% confidence interval, 18%–40%). Conclusions Incidental pulmonary nodules detected on CT pulmonary angiography are common and are frequently not followed up appropriately. Although the inclusion of a pulmonary nodule in the impression section of a radiology report is helpful, it does not ensure follow-up. Better systems for appropriate identification and follow-up of incidental findings are needed.
Psychocultural Interpretations and Dramas: Identity Dynamics in Ethnic Conflict

Ethnic identity connects individuals through perceived common past experiences and expectations of shared future ones. Identity is concerned with group judgments and judgments about groups and their motives. This article explores identity through the case of Loyal Order Protestant parades in Northern Ireland and the concepts of psychocultural interpretations (shared, deeply held worldviews found in group narratives) and psychocultural dramas (conflicts over competing, and apparently irresolvable, claims that engage the central elements of a group’s historical experience). Psychocultural dramas are polarizing events whose manifest content involves non-negotiable cultural claims, threats, and/or rights that become important because of their connections to core metaphors and group narratives that embody a group’s identity. In ethnic conflicts, psychocultural dramas arise over competing claims that evoke deeply rooted dimensions of the conflict which cannot be settled by reference to more general rules or higher authority. Psychocultural dramas are tools of analysis for understanding the centrality of cultural identity and ritual in ethnic conflict and for the redefinition of such conflicts in ways that increase the chances for managing them constructively. Examining the psychocultural dramas surrounding parades disputes in Northern Ireland suggests why and how some conflicts are more amenable to constructive outcomes than others.
How TRW Automotive helps global virtual teams perform at the top of their game

Global virtual teams have the deck stacked against them: long distances, cultural differences, lack of social cues to help gauge each other's trustworthiness—and leaders unprepared to deal with these challenges. What such teams need for success are special leadership, consistent work practices, and keen attention to communication and building trust through a focus on member commitment and competency. TRW Automotive trains its continuous improvement leaders on how to apply the Goals, Roles, Processes, and Interpersonal Relationships (GRPI) Model with their far-flung virtual project members to create the all-important interdependent relationships and team cohesion in the absence of face-to-face interactions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Significance of Membrane Calcium in Calcium-free and Potassium-rich Media

FROG Ranvier's nodes immersed in potassium-rich media are capable of producing action potentials when the membrane is hyperpolarized by anodal currents1. This observation was confirmed in frog sartorius muscles by one of us, who found that action potentials were restored by anodal polarization in frog sartorius muscles which depolarized in calcium-free media2. The so-called ‘hyper-polarizing response’ was also observed in muscle fibres soaked in both potassium-rich and calcium-free media. This experimental evidence seems to suggest that removal of calcium from the membrane in these two solutions might be responsible for the loss of membrane excitability, as suggested in a previous communication2. The rate of output of calcium-45 loaded on muscles, therefore, was studied in both calcium-free and potassium-rich solutions.
The Aesthetics of Interactive Computer Music

This article describes the aesthetics of interactive computer music and contrasts these with aesthetic assumptions of other genres of computer music. Interactive computer music is a sub-genre of what might be called performance-oriented computer music-that is, any computer music that includes a strong performance component. This broader category requires at least one live performer joined with computer-generated or electronically produced or modified music. The genre thus incorporates both the traditional tape-plusinstrument medium (Mario Davidovsky's series of Synchronisms [e.g., Davidovsky 1988] are paradigmatic) and more recent interactive computer music-whether precomposed, improvised, randomly generated, or a mixture of these. I will narrow the focus of this article to just those works that are interactive: works wherein the performer in some way controls the electronics or the electronics affect the performer's sounds. The conceptual implications of this genre are rarely discussed. Even in works that purport to treat of the aesthetics of computer music in a general fashion, such as Keane (1986) and many essays in Heifetz (1989), the issues addressed fall short of those that are implied in addressing interactive computer music. Rather than merely creating a typology or presenting the more problematic aspects of its ontology, my aim will be to show what aesthetic qualities this music has that distinguish it from other genres of electronic and electroacoustic music as well as from other forms of music generally. Since aesthetic issues are intimately intertwined with value judgements, I also make some claims about the relative value of various approaches to computer-extended performance and their possibilities. After a brief discussion of some definitional and ontological issues (simply to set the boundaries of discussion), I turn to the main points of the article. These are considered under two broad, complementary headings: (1) the human performer's contribution to computer music, and (2) the computer's contribution to human performance. Within these broad sections, there is a background theme involving the nature and relationship of the human element to the machine element. In a great deal of music since the advent of electronic sound production, the electronic elements have been used to imply the non-human; this is one reason electronic music has been so often used in science fiction films. This is some-
Arthroscopic arthrolysis for flexion contracture following intraarticular reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament

This article describes the surgical technique and expected results for arthroscopic arthrolysis for the treatment of flexion contracture following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The technique emphasizes a systematic approach to the surgical procedure followed by an intensive rehabilitation program. The results in 11 patients treated with this technique are reviewed. They averaged 12.6 months from the index ACL reconstruction. Despite extensive physical therapy, their mean preoperative flexion contracture was 19°, mean total range of motion was 94°, and mean preoperative Lysholm score was 67. At a mean follow-up of 22 months following arthrolysis and physical therapy, mean flexion contracture improved to 2°, total range of motion improved to 125°, and mean Lysholm score improved to 94.
Positive vs. negative electrostatic coating using food powders

Previous studies on electrostatic coating of food powders using negative corona have showed benefits such as an increase in coating deposition and a more even coating. However, no work has been done on the advantages of positive corona. Thus, this study was aimed to determine whether positive or negative corona produced better coating for different food powders. Twenty-three powders were coated onto five aluminum strips using an electrostatic powder applicator. Transfer efficiency (TE), adhesion and dustiness were measured and correlated to particle size, flowability and tribocharging value. The polarity of the tribocharging value for each powder determined whether positive or negative corona produced higher TE. For most proteins, positive corona produced higher TE than negative corona since proteins tribocharge positive. Most carbohydrates tribocharge negative; thus negative corona produced higher TE than positive corona. Salts had relatively small tribocharge values; thus there was no difference between TE of positive and negative corona. No significant difference was observed between positive and negative corona for adhesion and dustiness, though electrostatic coating produced higher TE and adhesion and less dust than nonelectrostatic coating.
The sense of flutter-vibration evoked by stimulation of the hairy skin of primates: Comparison of human sensory capacity with the responses of mechanoreceptive afferents innervating the hairy skin of monkeys

We have studied the response properties of peripheral myelinated fibers ending in the hairy skin of the Rhesus monkey, activated by sinusoidal mechanical stimulation. In parallel experiments we measured thresholds of the sensations evoked in man by identical stimuli, delivered under similar conditions to corresponding areas of the hairy skin. We found that the sense of low frequency vibration (i. e., flutter) depends upon activity in rapidly adapting alpha fibers which end in or about the hair follicles. High frequency vibration is signalled by Pacinian afferents whose terminals lie deep to the skin itself. These two sets of fibers, by reason of their discharge patterns and differential sensitivities in different frequency ranges, are thought to provide the essential first order input for the human sense of vibration evoked by stimulation of the hairy skin. Rapidly adapting cutaneous afferents of the delta size and two classes of slowly adapting alpha fibers are also entrained by mechanical sinusoids, but are thought not to contribute to vibratory sensibility. Our findings support the proposition that the sensitivity of humans to oscillatory mechanical stimuli at different frequencies, and the quality of the sensations evoked by them, are determined in the first instance by the properties of two distinct sets of peripheral afferent fibers.
Are Venture Capital Firms and Hedge Funds Safer Than Mutual Funds?: A Theory of Investor Loss Aversion

The authors observe that mutual funds compete in tournaments based on rank, with investors allocating new money only into top ones and ignoring the rest. They then suggest that losing managers play go-for-broke in order to place high in the contest. They note that, in contrast, venture capital firms and hedge funds compete based on risk-adjusted performance. Thus, they argue that investors9 behavioral biases matter more in the alternative asset world. In particular, they feel that investors9 loss aversion influences a fee-maximizing manager. It causes a losing manager to scale down risk and a winning one take some. They argue that this provides a risk-mitigating safety valve which is absent in the performance-obscuring tournament, suggesting that there may be more risk in that “tournament” mutual fund environment than in the alternative asset sphere.
Currents induced in a wire cross by a plane wave incident at an angle

The currents induced in a thin-wire cross with equal mutually perpendicular arms by an incident plane electromagnetic wave are determined when the normal to the wave front is perpendicular to the horizontal wire and is at an angle \theta with respect to the vertical wire; the direction of the electric vector in the wave front is arbitrary. The analysis is formulated in general terms but explicit formulas are obtained only for the zero-order currents which are generally adequate to determine the scattered field of very thin wires. The relatively simple formulas consist of even and odd parts for both the vertical and horizontal wires; they include components due to mutual coupling as well as those excited directly by the incident field.