cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tryptophan 500 and arginine 707 define product and substrate active site binding in soybean lipoxygenase-1.

There is much debate whether the fatty acid substrate of lipoxygenase binds “carboxylate-end first” or “methyl-end first” in the active site of soybean lipoxygenase-1 (sLO-1). To address this issue, we investigated the sLO-1 mutants Trp500Leu, Trp500Phe, Lys260Leu, and Arg707Leu with steady-state and stopped-flow kinetics. Our data indicate that the substrates (linoleic acid (LA), arachidonic acid (AA)), and the products (13-(S)-hydroperoxy-9,11-(Z,E)-octadecadienoic acid (HPOD) and 15-(S)-hydroperoxyeicosatetraeonic acid (15-(S)-HPETE)) interact with the aromatic residue Trp500 (possibly π−π interaction) and with the positively charged amino acid residue Arg707 (charge−charge interaction). Residue Lys260 of soybean lipoxygenase-1 had little effect on either the activation or steady-state kinetics, indicating that both the substrates and products bind “carboxylate-end first” with sLO-1 and not “methyl-end first” as has been proposed for human 15-lipoxygenase.
Diabetes: normal glucose levels should be the goal.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major public health problem. However, few clinicians screen routinely to detect this problem early or manage hyperglycaemia aggressively if it is found. As even transient normalization of glucose levels in prediabetes reduces the risk of developing T2DM, these practices should change.
Bladder compliance in neurologically intact women

No data currently exist to define normal bladder compliance (C) in women. This study was undertaken to establish normative data for C in neurologically intact women and to determine if detrusor instability (DI) is associated with changes in C. The multichannel urodynamic tracings of 270 patients (195 stable, 75 unstable) were reviewed according to a standard written protocol. Vesical and abdominal pressures (Pves, Pabd) were measured during retrograde filling after a stable baseline was established ( 130 ml/cm; in 90%, C was > 60 ml/cm; and in 95%, C was > 40 ml/cm. There were significant differences between the distribution of stable and unstable bladders above and below each of these percentile cutoffs. Only 2 women, both of whom had unstable bladders, had C 40 ml/cm, and nearly half have no increase in Pdet during filling to MCC. Patients with DI have significantly less compliant bladders than do those with stable bladders. If C is < 40 ml/cm, a woman is 16 times more likely to have DI. Decreased C may suggest the diagnosis of DI in patients with urge incontinence whose symptoms are not reproduced in the laboratory.
Impact of cross traffic burstiness on the packet-scale paradigm

The packet-scale paradigm is a novel framework for achieving ultra-high speed congestion control. Due to its reliance on finely-controlled inter-packet gaps, the paradigm is expected to be sensitive to transient burstiness in traffic encountered on bottleneck links. This paper uses a first-principles approach to study the impact of cross traffic burstiness on the efficiency of the packet-scale paradigm. It relies on a simple periodic on-off model for cross traffic and studies the interaction of the burstiness timescale, round-trip times, and the smoothing filters adopted by the paradigm. The analysis is validated against ns-2 simulations with a prototype. Our analysis helps gain fundamental insights on the impact of several factors.
Adapting natural resource management to climate change on the Olympic Peninsula

Climate change presents a major challenge to natural resource managers both because of the magnitude of potential effects of climate change on ecosystem structure, process, and function, and because of the uncertainty associated with those potential ecological effects. Concrete ways to adapt to climate change are needed to help natural resource managers take the first steps to incorporate climate change into management and take advantage of opportunities to balance the negative effects of climate change. We initiated a climate change adaptation case study at Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park to determine how to adapt management of federal lands on the Olympic Peninsula to climate change. As a part of the case study process, we conducted a vulnerability assessment that involved a review of available climate model projections to determine likely levels of exposure to climate change on the Olympic Peninsula, and a review of relevant literature and available effects model projections to identify likely climate change sensitivities in each of four focus areas on the Olympic Peninsula, including hydrology and roads, fish, vegetation, and wildlife. We also identified management constraints at the forest and park to evaluate some aspects of institutional capacity to implement adaptive actions. The vulnerability assessment process set the stage for development of adaptation options through scientist-manager workshops.The case study process produced concrete adaptation options for Olympic National Forest and Park and illustrated the utility of place-based vulnerability assessments and scientist-manager workshops in adapting to climate change. A key finding of the assessment was that the current general management at the forest and park, with restoration as a primary goal, is consistent with managing for resilience to prepare ecosystems for a changing climate. However, the effort highlighted some potential issues related to climate change that challenge current precepts and management guidelines, and helped to identify new potential actions, and actions that could be increased and re-prioritized. For example, the case study process identified numerous ways to maintain ecosystem function and biodiversity, and increase resilience to climate change. However, the looming questions of when to consider assisted migration or when and how to redefine exotic species remain for discussion. Although questions remain, the case study process was an essential first step for Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park in preparing for climate change. The process used and ideas produced can be used to help other natural resource managers in adapting to climate change.
Shifting the Lens on Organizational Life: The Added Value of Positive Scholarship

Fineman raises concerns regarding the implications of positive scholarship for organizational theory and managerial practice. I suggest that illuminating positive states, dynamics, and outcomes enriches theoretical perspectives and invites new directions for empirical research. Gaining a deep understanding of generative mechanisms may ultimately enhance the quality of life for individuals who work within and are affected by work organizations.
SU-DD-A2-01: The Utility of Depth Dose Modulation (DDM) for Electronic Brachytherapy

Purpose: To illustrate the utility of Depth Dose Modulation (DDM) for Ir‐192, Electronic Brachytherapy (EB) and EBDDM. Method and Materials: A numerical model was created for a miniature x‐ray source equipped with an adjustable collimator that produces a fan‐beam distribution. A general‐purpose multi‐particle transport code was used to calculate the dose distribution for multiple collimator gaps. A software program superimposed the collimated doseimages at intervals to build an overall dose distribution for a simulated micro‐stepping treatment. TG‐43 data were input to the Nucletron PLATO treatment planning system. Treatment plans were generated for breast, endometrial and lung cases; doses to target volumes and normal tissues were compared for each of the planning sources. Results: For the breast case, PTV coverage for Ir‐192, EB and EBDDM plans was 96, 100 and 94% with maximum skindoses of 100, 97 and 89% respectively. For the endometrial case, PTV coverage for the Ir‐192, EB and EBDDM plans was 99, 100 and 77% with maximum rectal doses of 140, 127 and 105% and bladder doses 115, 111 and 87% respectively. For equivalent prescription point doses in lung, with Ir‐192, EB and EBDDM, the maximum rib dose was 43, 30 and 34% while V50Lung was 11, 8 and 7% respectively. Conclusions: With intracavity breast cases, DDM is a useful tool, reducing Ir‐192 skindose by up to 11% while maintaining adequate target coverage. For endometrial treatments, however, EBDDM target coverage is inadequate; because of collimated source anisotropy, there is little dose deposition superiorly. To achieve full target coverage while maintaining significant normal tissue sparing, a treatment would require a combination of EB and EBDDM. For lung, EBDDM allows a two‐fold reduction in V50Lung. Conflict of Interest: Partial financial support provided by Xoft, Inc.
Battery model-based thrust controller for a small, low cost multirotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) are typically driven by LiPo batteries. The batteries have their own dynamics, which changes during discharge. Classical approaches to altitude control assume time-invariant system and therefore fail. Adaptive controllers require an identified system model which is often unavailable. Battery dynamics can be characterized and used for a battery model-based controller. This controller is useful in situations when no feedback from actuators (such as RPM or thrust) is available. After measuring the battery dynamics for two distinct types of batteries, a controller is designed and experimentally verified, showing a consistent performance during whole discharge test. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL), quadrotor, hexarotor, multirotor, altitude control, battery monitoring and modelling.
Pills and improvement: a study of placebo response in psychoneurotic outpatients.

The hypothesis that clinical improvement would be significantly correlated with number of daily placebo pills prescribed was supported for clinic and general practice patients but not for private psychiatric practice patients. Patients in the 3 treatment settings differed in other ways, particularly in treatment orientation, i.e., their awareness of having emotional problems and the most suitable treatment recommended for them by their physicians, as well as in social class. Treatment orientation was found not to account for the demonstrated “pill effect”, and social class differences, seen only in general practice, also did not appear to modify the relationship between pills and improvement within the entire patient sample.
Radionuclide evaluation of right ventricular wall motion after surgery in tetralogy of Fallot.

Regional wall motion patterns in tetralogy of Fallot and its postoperative modifications by electrical and hemodynamic factors were assessed by Fourier analysis of gated radionuclide angiograms in 24 studies performed in children after surgical correction of tetralogy of Fallot. The range of right ventricular (RV) phase angles (standard deviation of the peak [SDP] of RV) as well as the difference between RV and LV (ΔMPh) were used as indices of the synchronicity of wall motion and were correlated with RV apical electrical activation time determined by endocardial electrical mapping. Postoperative studies were divided into two groups according to apical activation: (a) those involving right bundle branch block (RBBB) (nine patients), and (b) those involving distal RBBB (15 patients). ΔMPh was longer in proximal than in distal RBBB. Best discrimination between the two groups was obtained with SDP of RV (proximal=24°±3°, and distal=17°±2°;p<0.0001). These results showed that the range of ventricular phases measured by the SD of the phase distribution of the right ventricle is a good index for distinguishing between proximal and distal RBBB after cardiac surgery.
Modeling the Martian seasonal CO2 cycle 1. Fitting the Viking Lander pressure curves

Abstract A diurnal and seasonal thermal model is used to simulate the seasonal exchange of carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and polar caps of Mars. Surface CO 2 frost condensation and sublimation rates are determined by the net effects of radiation, latent heat, and heat conduction in subsurface soil layers. We show that this model can successfully reproduce the measured seasonal pressure variations at the Viking Lander 1 site using constant values for frost albedo and emissivity in each hemisphere. An exact treatment of heat conduction is found to have important effects, as our best-fit CO 2 frost albedos and emissivities are not unique, but depend on the value of soil thermal inertia assumed in each hemisphere. We find that Martian seasonal pressure variations are primarily due to frost condensation and sublimation in the 55° to 70° latitude regions in both hemispheres. The observed retreat of the north and south seasonal polar caps can also be matched closely by this model, but no combination of best-fit frost albedos and emissivities was consistent with the stability of permanent CO 2 deposits at either pole. The fact that this relatively simple model can provide such a good fit to the Viking Lander 1 pressure curve makes it a useful platform for studying the Martian CO 2 cycle over seasonal, interannual, and climatic timescales.
Progress in gene assembly from a MAS-driven DNA microarray

We report the progress on 765bp full green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene assembly of oligonucleotides from a single DNA microarray, using the amplification and assembly of chip-eluted DNA (AACED) strategy. The chip was fabricated with maskless array synthesizer (MAS) via 2-nitrophenylpropoxycarbonyl (NPPOC)-driven light-directed synthesis. Upon the recognition of the strong dependence of final assembly yield on the purity of construct oligonucleotides, we put a large effort in developing error reduction methods with a considerable improvement in the purity of chip-oligonucleotides in terms of exposure image quality, synthesis protocols and mask design. In addition to the synthesis improvement (as an error prevention), a post-assembly error filtering method was devised and developed - consensus shuffling using MutS-protein filtering. The preliminary demonstrations indicate their potential uses in more rapid and efficient DNA assembly process.
High-Resolution Measurement of the Kα Spectrum of Fe XXV-XVIII: New Spectral Diagnostics of Nonequilibrium Astrophysical Plasmas

We present laboratory measurements of high-resolution spectra of iron Kα emission under transient ionization conditions similar to those that are believed to exist in stellar flares and young supernova remnants. Taking advantage of our high spectral resolution (λ/Δλ ≥ 2000), we identify a number of transitions that can serve as diagnostics of ionizing plasmas. By varying the excitation energy in the experiments, we constrain the effects of the electron distribution on these diagnostic lines. Using our measured line ratios, we deduce values for the ionization time, η = Net, in the plasma, which agree with the actual values to ~20% accuracy. This result gives us confidence to our ability to derive similar constraints on astrophysical plasmas from remote X-ray spectroscopic observations.
The Influence of Sex-linked Barring and Rate of Feathering Genes, and of Stock, upon Egg Riboflavin and Vitamin B12

Abstract RESEARCH indicating an hereditary effect on nutrient composition of chicken eggs is limited (Taylor, 1960). Jackson et al. (1946), Asenjo (1950), Arroyave et al. (1957) and Mayfield et al. (1955) compared riboflavin levels in eggs from various breeds. When the latter workers fed the same ration to both White Leghorns and New Hampshires, the mean riboflavin in micrograms per gram of whole egg was 4.24 for Leghorns and 3.58 for New Hampshires, the difference being statistically significant. Jackson et al. (1946) and Evans et al. (1952) observed differences in riboflavin content of eggs among hens on the same diet. The differences among hens ranged from 3.06 to 4.24 micrograms per gram of whole egg with a mean value of 3.49 micrograms per gram. A statistically significant hen difference in riboflavin content of yolks, whites, whole egg contents and ratio of riboflavin of yolks to riboflavin of whites was observed in. . .
Is there any beam yet? Uses of synchrotron radiation in the in situ study of electrochemical interfaces

The advantages of employing synchrotron radiation for the in situ study of electrochemical interfaces are discussed with emphasis on the techniques of surface EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) and X-ray standing waves. The principles behind the techniques are briefly considered followed by a discussion of recent experimental results. Examples include the study of under potentially deposited metallic monolayers, polymer films on electrodes, and in situ measurement of adsorption isotherms. The authors conclude with an assessment of future directions.
Synthesis and Characterization of Anti-EGFR Fluorescent Nanoparticles for Optical Molecular Imaging

Molecular imaging, the visualization of molecular and cellular markers, is a promising method for detection of dysplasia and early cancer in the esophagus and can potentially be used to identify regions of interest for biopsy or tumor margins for resection. EGFR is a previously reported cell surface receptor with stepwise increases in expression during the progression from Barrett’s metaplasia to adenocarcinoma. In this work, a 200 nm fluorescent nanoparticle contrast agent was synthesized for targeted imaging of EGFR through a series of surface modifications to dye-encapsulated polystyrene particles. Amino-functionalized polystyrene particles were PEGylated using a heterobifunctional PEG linker. Subsequently, thiolated M225 antibodies were conjugated to maleimide functional groups on attached PEGs for EGFR targeting. In vitro binding studies using flow cytometry demonstrated specific binding of M225-PEG-NP to EGFR-expressing cells with minimal nonspecific binding in EGFR– cells. Binding was shown to incr...
Hydraulic formula for calculation of the area of the stenotic mitral valve, other cardiac valves, and central circulatory shunts. I

Abstract 1.1. Standard hydrokinetic orifice formulas have been applied to stenotic mitral, pulmonic, tricuspid, and aortic valves, patent ductus arteriosus, and atrial and ventricular septal defects. These formulas were considered applicatble because of the high kinetic energy losses through small orifices or in the presence of high volume flow. 2.2. In its general form, the formula is as follows: A=FC2gh where A=cross-sectional area in cm. 2 of the orifice F=flow rate in c.c. per second C=empirical constant g=gravity acceleration h=pressure gradient across the orifice in mm. Hg. 3.3. Cross-sectional valve areas have been calculated in twenty-one patients with mitral stenosis. Calculated and measured areas have checked within 0.2 cm. 2 in six post-mortem examinations and in five patients at the time of operation. Repeated calculations from different sets of data in the same patient have checked well in all instances. Valve area showed a good correlation with severity of pulmonary symptoms. Changes in valve area following finger fracture valvuloplasty were observed in two patients. The exponential relation of pressure to flow and valve area is briefly discussed. 4.4. The stenotic cross-sectional area has been calculated in ten patients with pulmonic stenosis with one post-mortem observation and in two patients with patent ductus arteriosus with operative correlations. 5.5. Calculations have likewise been made but without post-mortem confirmation in tricuspid stenosis, atrial septal defect, and ventricular septal defect. Formulas are presented for calculation of the size of the aortic orifice in aortic stenosis. In these groups, the empirical constant, C, has not as yet been determined and must await the collection of post-mortem data. 6.6. In each case an attempt has been made to assess the sources of error as well as the degree of accuracy involved in the particular formula. 7.7. The chief value of these formulas is that they present an objective evaluation of surgical procedures designed to widen stenotic orifices or to abolish abnormal shunts. Furthermore, a theoretical prediction of the benefit to be derived from surgical widening of stenotic valves may be made.
Kinetically inert Co(III) linkage through an engineered metal binding site: Specific orientation of recombinant human papillomavirus type 16 E7 protein on a solid support

Abstract We report that engineered metal binding sites, or chelating peptides (CPs), can be used to site-specifically orient and immobilize recombinant CP-proteins on a solid support by forming a kinetically inert ternary complex with immobilized iminodiacetato-Co(III). The specific orientation and kinetic inertness of the linkage provide many advantages over conventional immobilization techniques. The utility of this novel immobilization chemistry was demonstrated using recombinant E7 protein from human papillomavirus type 16 with a CP, Met-His-Trp-His-His-His, at its N-terminus. The immobilized kinetically inert Co(III) complex of CP-E7 served as an extremely robust affinity matrix for the single-step purification of anti-E7 antibodies from rabbit antiserum. In addition, naturally occurring proteins that bind immobilized Co(II), such as myoglobin, can also be converted to kinetically inert immobilized complexes.
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and hematopoiesis: new support for some old observations.

Forty-seven years ago, the parathyroid hormone (PTH) in one injection of Lilly's old bovine parathyroid extract, PTE, was found to greatly increase the 30-day survival of heavily X-irradiated rats when given from 18 h before to as long as 3 h after irradiation but no later. This was the first indication that PTH might stimulate hematopoiesis. Recent studies have confirmed the relation between PTH and hematopoiesis by showing that hPTH-(1-34)OH increases the size of the hematopoietic stem cell pool in mice. The peptide operates through a cyclic AMP-mediated burst of Jagged 1 production in osteoblastic cells lining the stem cells' niches on trabecular bone surfaces. The osteoblastic cells' Jagged 1 increases the hematopoietic stem cell pool by activating Notch receptors on attached stem cells. PTH-triggered cyclic AMP signals also directly stimulate the proliferation of the hematopoietic stem cells. However, the single PTH injection in the early experiments using PTE probably increased the survival of irradiated rats mainly by preventing the damaged hematopoietic progenitors from irreversibly initiating self-destructive apoptogenesis during the first 5 h after irradiation. It has also been shown that several daily injections of hPTH-(1-34)OH enable lethally irradiated mice to survive by stimulating the growth of transplanted normal bone marrow cells. If the osteogenic PTHs currently entering or on the verge of entering the market for treating osteoporosis can also drive hematopoiesis in humans as well as rodents, they could be potent tools for reducing the damage inflicted on bone marrow by cytotoxic cancer chemotherapeutic drugs and ionizing radiation. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Functional assessment of challenging behavior: Toward a strategy for applied settings

The development of experimental functional analysis and more recently functional analysis checklists have become common technologies for evaluating antecedent events and the consequences of problematic behaviors. Children and developmentally disabled persons across the life span with challenging behaviors have been the primary focus of this research. The primary purpose of this paper is to present an overview the developments in this rapidly expanding research literature, particularly as it involves the application of the functional assessment paradigm in applied settings where resources and time are scarce. Implication of the functional assessment research for clinical practice are discussed along with strengths and weakness of the current technology.
Hospital based cardiopulmonary resuscitation: It could be better

Abstract The frequency and duration of interruptions of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were evaluated in a hospital to determine whether or not CPR was being performed properly according to American Heart Association (AHA) standards. The frequency of interruptions were 0.41 per min. Interruptions of greater than 20 s duration occurred in 17.12% of all interruptions. Eighty percent of these interruptions of greater than 20 s duration were of unjustified duration. CPR education should reflect these unjustified deviations and their reasons in an attempt to limit such interruptions in future patient CPR.
Cellular bases for the control of retinogeniculate signal transmission

The dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) is the major thalamic relay for retinal signals en route to cortex. However, LGN cells operate as more than just a simple relay of their retinal inputs. Rather, they function as a variable gate, determining what, when, and how much retinal information gets passed to visual cortex. Two factors that are key to this control are the innervation patterns and electrophysiological membrane properties of geniculate cells. This paper discusses three active membrane properties and the manner in which they modulate the transfer of retinal signals to cortex. They are the low threshold calcium (Ca2+) conductance, a transient potassium (K+) conductance, and NMDA receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs). The low-threshold Ca2+ conductance transforms a geniculate cell from a state of single spike activity to one of bursting discharge, the potassium current leads to a delay in membrane depolarization to reach spike threshold, and NMDA receptor activity modula...
FURTHER SEROLOGICAL STUDIES OF PLANT VIRUSES

Summary. Precipitin reactions with several plant viruses propagated in serologically unrelated hosts offer additional evidence that the virus is, in itself, antigenic. Reciprocal precipitin tests show that the viruses of cucumber mosaic, tobacco ringspot, and tobacco mosaic are serologically distinct; whereas tobacco mosaic virus, aucuba mosaic virus (green and yellow strains), and probably tomato streak virus remain serologically indistinguishable. No soluble specific substance was isolated from the juice of virus diseased plants or of healthy tomato by the methods employed.
Early food and social environment affect certain behaviours but not female choice or male dominance in bluefin killifish

Environmental conditions during development can have long-lasting effects on morphology, physiology and behaviour. In contrast to human personality, our understanding of how the early environment influences the development of animal personality is limited. In bluefin killifish, Lucania goodei, a male’s mating behaviour is highly repeatable through time and across interactions. To examine whether these stable behavioural types are influenced by early nutritional and social conditions, we reared individuals on either high- or low-food levels in combination with either one adult male, one adult female or no adult. Individuals reared on high food were larger at the earliest measurements and remained so as adults. The high-food treatment also had the highest mortality, particularly if individuals were reared with an adult male. Despite these growth and survival consequences, the food and social treatments did not affect whether males were preferred by females or became dominant as adults. While the outcome of social interactions was not influenced by the early food and social environment, particular mating behaviours were; males reared on low food were more aggressive to females and showed more courtship, and males reared without an adult were more aggressive to females than those reared with either an adult female or male. Our results suggest that some of the behaviours that contribute to a male’s behavioural type within the mating context and that influence mating success in this species are sensitive to aspects of the early environment.
Bacteremia Due to Bacteroides fragilis Group: Distribution of Species, β-Lactamase Production, and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns

A retrospective analysis of susceptibility data on 542 blood isolates of the Bacteroides fragilis group tested from 1987 to 1999 by the same NCCLS-recommended broth microdilution method throughout is presented. Metronidazole, β-lactam-β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, carbapenems, and trovafloxacin were the most active agents (susceptibility of ≥93%). Among the cephalosporin-cephamycins, the order of activity was cefoxitin > ceftizoxime > cefotetan = cefotaxime = cefmetazole > ceftriaxone. All isolates were resistant to penicillin G, and 22% were resistant to clindamycin. The susceptibility rates to piperacillin-tazobactam, imipenem, and meropenem were affected least among isolates resistant to cefoxitin or clindamycin. Except for piperacillin-tazobactam, imipenem, and meropenem, the B. fragilis species was more susceptible than were the non-B. fragilis species. These data underscore the importance of susceptibility testing of the B. fragilis group and can serve as a guide in the choice of empirical antimicrobial therapy.
OVERWINTERING OF WESTERN FLOWER THRIPS (THYSANOPTERA: THRIPIDAE) IN PENNSYLVANIA

Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), originally distributed throughout western North America (Bryan and Smith 1956), have since spread to greenhouses in the eastern United States and Canada, and to many other parts of the world (Brodsgaard 1989). Populations have established outdoors in the southeastern United States (Chamberlin et al. 1992) and in several other warm regions of the world (Brodsgaard 1993). but have failed to establish in Ontario (Broadbent and Hunt 1991) and the northern parts of Europe (Brodsgaard 1993). We have not found reports of western flower thrips overwintering outdoors in the northeastern United States.
Intravascular Fasciitis Clinically Mimicking an Axillary Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Intravascular fasciitis is one of the benign myofibroblastic pseudosarcomatous proliferations, among which nodular fasciitis is the prototype. These lesions are important as they may mimic a variety of sarcomas and other lesions on both clinical and pathologic grounds. This report describes the features of one such lesion that arose within the brachial artery and invested nerve trunks of the brachial plexus. The patient presented with symptoms of arm fatigue and hand numbness. There were no neurological or vascular findings on physical examination. The clinicopathologic differential diagnosis is discussed. Also, surgeons are cautioned to involve a vascular etiology in their differential diagnosis and seek the help of a vascular surgeon when the lesion juxtaposes the axillary artery or vein.
Genotypic correlation and multivariate QTL analyses for cell wall components and resistance to stalk tunneling by the european corn borer in maize

Correlations between concentrations of cell wall components (CWCs) in the leaf sheath and stalk and resistance to stalk tunneling by the European corn borer (ECB) [Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner)] have been reported in some maize (Zea mays L.) populations. Evaluations of resistance to ECB stalk tunneling (ECB-ST) and concentrations of neutral detergent fi ber (NDF), acid detergent fi ber (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL) have been performed on recombinant inbred lines (RILs) developed from the cross of maize inbred lines B73 (susceptible to ECB-ST, low to moderate CWC concentrations) and DE811 (resistant to ECB-ST, high CWC concentrations). The objective of this study was to estimate genotypic correlations between ECB-ST and CWC concentrations and compare locations and effects of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for those traits. Genotypic correlations between ECB-ST and CWCs were not signifi cant, but clustering of QTL for ECB-ST and CWCs was observed. Negative genotypic correlations between ECBST and CWC concentrations were observed at some loci, and resistance to ECB-ST may be associated with a subset of the QTL observed for CWCs and ADF in particular. Resistance to ECB-ST may also be associated with starch concentration in the stalk, which could explain the detection of resistance alleles contributed by B73. Examination of temporal differences in CWC and starch concentrations, and markerassisted transfer of select alleles, could provide more information on mechanisms of resistance to ECB-ST.
Effects of reducing contingency management values on heroin and cocaine use for buprenorphine- and desipramine-treated patients.

Aims During 3 months where contingency management (CM) had an escalating value for each consecutive drug-free urine (escalating CM), cocaine- and heroin-abusing patients significantly increased drug-free urines. The ‘escalating CM’ was eliminated during months 4‐6 to assess any reduction in drug-free urines. Design Patients who completed a 3-month, randomized, double-blind, trial evaluating CM versus non-CM and desipramine (DMI) versus placebo, had an ‘escalating CM’ eliminated during months 4‐6. The CM and non-CM groups were compared using thrice-weekly urine samples. Setting Out-patient buprenorphine maintenance for 6 months. Participants All 75 of the 160 original study patients who completed month 3 of the clinical trial. Intervention The ‘escalating CM’ was eliminated for all 3 months and during months 5 and 6 the response requirement was also increased to two and then three consecutive drug-free urines in order to obtain a voucher. Measurements Urine toxicology for opiates and cocaine. Findings After eliminating the ‘escalating CM’, the CM group showed a decline in combined opioid- and cocaine-free urines. This decline within the CM group was greater in those treated with DMI than placebo. Conclusions Buprenorphine with DMI maintained drug abstinence after eliminating the ‘escalating CM’, but not after increasing the response requirement, suggesting the need for more intensive psychosocial interventions during CM.
Optimal batch sizing and repair strategies for operations with repairable jobs

This paper presents a model of a bottleneck facility that performs two distinct types of operations: "regular" and "repair." Both switch-over time and cost are incurred when the facility switches from performing one type of operation to a different type. Upon the completion of a batch of jobs in the regular mode, each batch is subjected to a test, where the entire batch of jobs will be classified accordingly as either nondefective, repairable, or nonrepairable. A nondefective batch continues its process downstream, a nonrepairable batch is scrapped, and a repairable batch can be cycled back to the bottleneck facility for repair. The objective of this paper is to determine the optimal repair policy for the bottleneck facility so that the long run average operating profit is maximized. We first characterize the optimal repair policy by showing that the optimal repair policy must take one of the two forms: a "repair-none" policy under which all repairable batches are scrapped, or a "repair-all" policy under which all repairable batches are repaired. We then develop optimality conditions for the repair-none policy and the repair-all policy. When the repair-all policy is optimal, we further show that there exists an optimal "threshold" operating policy that can be described as follows: upon completion of a regular batch, switch over to the repair mode only if the number of available repairable batches exceeds a certain threshold value. We also evaluate the impact of batch sizes, yield, and switch-over cost on the optimal operating policy.
Rapid instructed task learning: a new window into the human brain's unique capacity for flexible cognitive control.

The human ability to flexibly adapt to novel cir- cumstances is extraordinary. Perhaps the most illustrative, yet underappreciated, form of this cognitive flexibility is rapid instructed task learning (RITL)—the ability to rapidly reconfigure our minds to perform new tasks from instruc- tions. This ability is important for everyday life (e.g., learn- ing to use new technologies) and is used to instruct participants in nearly every study of human cognition. We review the development of RITL as a circumscribed domain of cognitive neuroscience investigation, culminating in re- cent demonstrations that RITL is implemented via brain circuits centered on lateral prefrontal cortex. We then build on this and the recent discovery of compositional represen- tations within lateral prefrontal cortex to develop an integra- tive theory of cognitive flexibility and cognitive control that identifies mechanisms that may enable RITL within the human brain. The insights gained from this new theoretical account have important implications for further develop- ments and applications of RITL research.
A tool integration facility for programming environments

The authors describe the project manager (PM) that forms the core of the Faust environment. PM's primary objective is to provide an infrastructure, or object base, for Faust tool integration. A project is a set of related executable programs. PM defines an extensible project model that gives all projects a similar abstract structure. PM attempts to be sensitive to special needs of scientific programmers in parallel environments by allowing for easy definition of overlapping subprojects and by providing servers for execution of remote system commands in a heterogeneous system environment. >
Radar Signature Prediction for Sensing-Through-the-Wall by Xpatch and AFDTD - Part II

This paper presents computer simulations of Sensing-through-the-Wall (STTW) radar for room-imaging applications. Our main focus in this study is to evaluate the impact of certain construction details, such as pipes, ducts, gutters and roof beam structure on the radar images. We use two radar signature prediction codes for this analysis, namely Xpatch and Army Finite-difference time-domain (AFDTD). Based on the electromagnetic simulation results, we build synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of a room containing a human, for various look angles and polarizations. To validate the radar signature modeling codes, we compare the images obtained by the two methods. Our results demonstrate good modeling accuracy for this application.
Effects of cupric and zinc ion activities on the survival and reproduction of marine copepods

The toxicity of copper and zinc to the estuarine copepod Acartia tonsa and to the two diatom food species Thalassiosira pseudonana and T. weissflogii was measured in nitrilotriacetate-trace metal ion buffer systems at 25‰ S. Overall, A. tonsa appeared to be more sensitive to cupric and zinc ion activity than either of the diatoms; however, its sensitivity varied among the different life stages examined. Adult survival was not affected within the zinc ion activity range 10-11 to 10-8M and cupric ion activity range 10-13 to 10-11M over a 96-h period, but a cupric ion activity of 10-10M caused total mortality of adults within 72 h. Egg-laying rate was most sensitive to zinc, and was reduced at zinc ion activities ≧10-10M. Naupliar survival after 96 h was reduced by zinc ion activities ≧10-8M and by cupric ion activities ≧10-11M, and was reduced to zero at a zinc ion activity of 10-7M and at a cupric ion activity of 10-10.5M. In an interspecies comparison of 96-h adult survival, Centropages typicus was more sensitive to copper and zinc than A. tonsa and the survival of Labidocera aestiva was dependent on the ratio of cupric to zinc ion activity. A comparison of our results with estimates of zinc and cupric ion activities in estuaries suggests that ionic activities of these metals are high enough in some polluted estuaries to affect the survival and reproduction of copepods.
Index assignment for progressive transmission of full-search vector quantization

The authors study codeword index assignment to allow for progressive image transmission of fixed rate full-search vector quantization (VQ). They develop three new methods of assigning indices to a vector quantization codebook and formulate these assignments as labels of nodes of a full-search progressive transmission tree. The tree is used to design intermediate codewords for the decoder so that full-search VQ has a successive approximation character. The binary representation for the path through the tree represents the progressive transmission code. The methods of designing the tree that they apply are the generalized Lloyd algorithm, minimum cost perfect matching from optimization theory, and a method of principal component partitioning. Their empirical results show that the final method gives intermediate signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) that are close to those obtained with tree-structured vector quantization, yet they have higher final SNRs. >
Evaluation of Removal Sampling for Basinwide Assessment of Atlantic Salmon

Abstract Removal estimators for stream fish abundance are widely used but can result in biased population estimates at the site level. We conducted computer simulations to examine how the Carle and Strub (1978) estimator, coupled with variation in catchability, influences the accuracy of population estimates at the site level. Site-level population estimates were then used to examine what effect potential bias in the population estimate at a site had on basinwide abundance estimates. Historic electrofishing data collected from Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in the Narraguagus River, Maine, were used as the baseline for construction of these simulations. At the site level, mean percent bias of population estimates was −23% when catchability was low (0.30–0.40) and when the true population was low (1–20 fish). Bias was reduced as the true population size increased and catchability increased. The negative bias at the site level affected total population estimates for the entire river basin. Under current sampli...
A variational multiscale stabilized finite element method for the Stokes flow problem

A new stabilized method is proposed for the 2-D Stokes flow problem. The new approach is based on the Variational Multiscale(VM) formulation. The Green's functions for an infinite domain are adopted to compute the two-scale interaction. The method is shown to be able to stabilized low order Finite Element intepolation pairs and has a formulation similar to the one of Galerkin/Least-squares(GLS) formulation. The stabilization term obtained in this method has a physical interpretation. A couple of numerical examples show the method has a good convergence rate.
Effect of opiate and adrenergic blockers on the gut motor response to centrally acting stimuli

Labyrinthine stimulation and cold pain inhibit feeding antral pressure activity, delay gastric emptying, and increase blood concentrations of β-endorphin and norepinephrine. Further, labyrinthine stimulation induces, in approximately one-third of healthy individuals, a migrating burst of motor activity in the proximal intestine that interrupts the normal fed pattern. Our hypothesis was that endogenous opiates and catecholamines act as mediators of such disruptive effects of centrally acting stressful stimuli on gut motility. Thus, we studied feeding gastrointestinal pressure activity in healthy volunteers who were exposed to labyrinthine stimulation or cold pressure test, or both (both stimuli being either in their active or in their control forms), while receiving an intravenous infusion of either placebo (saline), or an opioid blocker (naloxone), or a combination of α- and β-adrenergic blockers (phentolamine and propranolol), or all the drugs together. Neither opioid nor adrenergic blockers affected motility during control stimulations. Active stressful stimuli (labyrinthine stimulation, cold pain, or both) significantly inhibited antral feeding activity (p
Disclosure and Incentives

T his paper discusses some existing and potential roles of financial reporting disclosures. The focus is on what are conventionally termed mandatory disclosures, although as Sunder (1997) points out the distinction between mandatory and voluntary is somewhat arbitrary. The paper views disclosure through the lens of incentives. Accounting disclosures are a component of the broad set of information shareholders, debt holders, and other accountees have to assess the stewardship of accountors. Valuation and stewardship are inherently interwoven. One needs to assess stewardship to value the firm, and value creation is a natural focus of stewardship assessment when shareholders are making the assessment. The purpose of the paper is to highlight considerations potentially deserving of additional attention by regulators and accounting researchers, not to advocate a particular position. What are the comparative advantages of accounting disclosures over non-accounting sources of information? Should accounting disclosures be a complement to or substitute for recognized amounts? If a complement, how do we best complement recognized amounts? For example, disclosures can provide relevant information that is soft but later disciplined by recognized amounts (Arya et al. 2004). Disclosures can also provide information about the verifiability and/or hardness (Ijiri 1975) of recognized amounts. Preparers sometimes use disclosures as an override when recognized amounts would otherwise mislead financial statement users. SEC Rules 10b-5 and 12b-20 make such disclosures a duty of preparers. An often-criticized aspect of financial reporting regulation is that, as soon as a new rule is promulgated, preparers and their advisors (e.g., financial engineers) find a way around the rule. Part of the problem seems to be that the regulators (standard setters) try to enumerate all of the factors that should be used in determining the treatment of a particular transaction. The financial engineers respond with new features that seem to be unanticipated by the regulators. Whether disclosure, increased judgment in the treatment of recognized amounts, or a combination of the two is the best way to move preparers away from a compliance focus to a communication focus seems an important question for the regulators to continue grappling with. The remainder of the paper is organized into five sections. The first focuses on the role of disclosures as a communication override. The second explores the role of disclosure in reducing information asymmetries about verifiability and uses a simple principal-agent model to study the
Infrared thermography of cutaneous melanoma metastases.

Background Differentiating melanoma metastasis from benign cutaneous lesions currently requires biopsy or costly imaging, such as positron emission tomography scans. Melanoma metastases have been observed to be subjectively warmer than similarly appearing benign lesions. We hypothesized that infrared (IR) thermography would be sensitive and specific in differentiating palpable melanoma metastases from benign lesions.
The attractions and delights of goodness

What makes something good for me? Most contemporary philosophers argue that something cannot count as good for me unless I am in some way attracted to it, or take delight in it. However, subjectivist theories of prudential value face difficulties, and there is no consensus about how these difficulties should be resolved. Whether one opts for a hedonist or a desire-satisfaction account of prudential value, certain fundamental assumptions about human well-being must be abandoned. I argue that we should reconsider Plato's objectivist theory of goodness as unity, or the One. This view is both consistent with and explains our most basic views both about goodness in general and human well-being in particular.
The Rachitogenic Effects of Fractions of Rye and Certain Polysaccharides

Abstract When fed to chicks rye is rachitogenic as well as growth depressing. The component or components of rye that cause these effects have not been identified. In an attempt to separate the factors, a water extract of rye was fractionated by precipitation with ethanol or ammonium sulfate. The precipitated fractions were fed to chicks. Although there were different responses to growth and bone ash from the ethanol fractions, they were not statistically significant. In another experiment, guar gum, pectin, or gum arabic was fed to chicks as 2% of the diet. Guar gum was both growth depressing and rachitogenic, pectin was only growth depressing, and gum arabic was without effect.