cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Moment-screen method for wave propagation in a refractive medium with random scattering

Direct numerical solution of a parabolic equation (PE) for the second moment of the sound field in a refracting medium with random scattering is described. The method determines the mean-square sound pressure without requiring generation of random realizations of the propagation medium. The second-moment matrix is factored into components that are independently propagated with a conventional PE algorithm. A moment screen is periodically applied to attenuate the coherence of the wavefield, much as phase screens are often applied in the method of random realizations. An example involving upwind and downwind propagation in the near-ground atmosphere shows that the new direct method converges to an accurate solution faster than the method of random realizations and is particularly well suited to calculations at low frequencies.
Mount St. Helens petrology workshop

Following seismic activity in late September 2004, the current eruption of Mount St. Helens began with an explosive steam and ash emission on 1 October 2004, with hot dacite emerging from the crater floor on 11 October 2004. Nearly two years later, with more than 80 million cubic meters of erupted dacite, accompanied by rare explosions and predominantly shallow seismicity questions still remain about what initiated and what is sustaining the eruption. The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Cascade Volcano Observatory (CVO) hosted the 2006 Mount St. Helens Petrology Workshop in Vancouver, Wash., on 27–30 August 2006. With many of the more than 40 workshop participants finalizing contributions to a USGS Professional Paper on the current Mount St. Helens eruption, the workshop was a timely opportunity to share results, reconcile interpretations, and plan future research.
Coronary artery disease after heart transplantation and its relation to cytomegalovirus

The most common cause of death and retransplantation after heart transplantation is a rapidly progressive, obliterative vascular disease involving the coronary arteries, termed cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). Most believe that this is a form of chronic rejection. Several clinical series have suggested an association between cytomegalovirus and CAV. Rat cytomegalovirus enhances the development of CAV in rat heterotopic heart or aortic transplantation models. The mechanism(s) by which cytomegalovirus might have an impact on the severity of chronic rejection include the augmentation of vascular growth factors, the alteration in the alloimmune response directly or the alteration of cytokines and cell adhesion molecules, enhancing cellular and humoral interactions. We previously reported that the infection of smooth muscle cells by cytomegalovirus resulted in the alteration of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules on the smooth muscle cell surface. In a subsequent report we demonstrated that a sublethal inoculum of cytomegalovirus produced no cytopathology in smooth muscle cells yet had the same viral burden as fibroblasts, which demonstrated cytopathology. The identical effects on major histocompatibility complex class I were observed in smooth muscle cells, and cytokine gene transcription was altered, favoring a proinflammatory milieu. These and most in vitro studies are carried out with the use of traditional laboratory strains of cytomegalovirus. We have subsequently demonstrated major genotypic differences between laboratory and clinical strains of cytomegalovirus that are associated in differences in biological activity in vitro. These include differences in tropism for vascular cells, differences in cell surface antigen expression, and differences in mesenchymal growth factor gene expression. All of these may have important implications with regard to associating cytomegalovirus with CAV.
Autonomy for Mars Rovers: Past, Present, and Future

The vehicles used to explore the Martian surface require a high degree of autonomy to navigate challenging and unknown terrain, investigate targets, and detect scientific events. Increased autonomy will be critical to the success of future missions. In July 1997, as part of NASA's Mars Pathfinder mission, the Sojourner rover became the first spacecraft to autonomously drive on another planet. The twin Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) vehicles landed in January 2004, and after four years Spirit had driven more than four miles and Opportunity more than seven miles-lasting well past their projected three-month lifetime and expected distances traveled. The newest member of the Mars rover family will have the ability to autonomously approach and inspect a target and automatically detect interesting scientific events. In fall 2009, NASA plans to launch the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, with a primary mission of two years of surface exploration and the ability to acquire and process rock samples. In the near future, the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, a cooperative project of NASA and the European Space Agency, will likely use a lightweight rover to drive out and collect samples and bring them back to an Earth return vehicle. This rover will use an unprecedented level of autonomy because of the limited lifetime of a return rocket on the Martian surface and the desire to obtain samples from distant crater walls.
Persistence in punishment and extinction testing as a function of percentages of punishment and reward in training

Rat Ss were trained in a Skinner-box fixed ratio analogue of the straight runway. A 3 by 2 by 2 factorial design incorporated 0%, 50%, and 100% punished trials, 50% and 100% reinforcement with sucrose solution, and punishment vs. no punishment in extinction testing. Amount of responding in extinction testing increased with percentage of punishment and decreased with percentage of reinforcement.
Analysis of Elliptically Polarized Light

Exact equations for the analysis of elliptically polarized light with a nonexact quarter-wave compensator are developed. Procedures are described for calibrating a quarter-wave compensator.
Osmotic diuresis paradoxically worsens brain shift after subdural grid placement.

The purpose of this study was to assess for peri-operative factors associated with brain shift following craniotomy for subdural grid electrode placement. A retrospective analysis of cases operated at a single institution was undertaken, examining 63 consecutive patients undergoing craniotomy for subdural grid placement for seizure monitoring between 2001 and 2007. Peri-operative records were reviewed in order to assess for intraoperative employment of osmotic duiresis. Postoperative MRI scans were analyzed for shift of the midline and brain displacement. One patient was excluded due to gross hemispheric atrophy confounding the midline, and four patients were excluded due to lack of available imaging. Hence 58 patients were radiographically reviewed. The employment of osmotic diuresis during grid placement appeared to be the most significant peri-operative factor influencing brain shift. Osmotic diuresis was administered in only 14 patients. Midline shift of the third ventricle was greater in the osmotic diuresis group (2.3 ± 0.3 mm vs. 1.5 ± 0.2 mm, p = 0.037). Moreover, the volume of shifted brain was significantly higher in the osmotic diuresis group (7.9 ± 0.5 cm3 vs. 4.7 ± 0.5 cm3, p = 0.003). There was no significant difference in the rates of neurological complications between patients who received osmotic diuresis and those who did not. Employment of osmotic diuresis during grid placement appears to be associated with a paradoxical increase in the volume of shifted brain. This may be due to a combination of the resultant “sagging” of the brain and the pressure exerted by the grid, suggesting that osmotic diuresis might not improve mass effect as intended when employed within this context.
The role of hamstring tightness in plantar fasciitis.

The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to determine if hamstring tightness was an increased risk in plantar fasciitis. It was thought that there is an increased risk of plantar fasciitis when hamstring tightness is present. A total of 105 patients (68 women, 37 men) were included in the study, 79 of whom were diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and the presence of plantar fasciitis, equinus, and calcaneal spurs were assessed. The popliteal angle was measured using standard diagnostic techniques. Without controlling for covariates, BMI, the presence of a calcaneal spur, tightness in the gastrocnemius, gastrocnemius-soleus, and hamstring all had statistically significant association with plantar fasciitis. After controlling for covariates, patients with hamstring tightness were about 8.7 times as likely to experience plantar fasciitis (P 35 were approximately 2.4 times as likely to experience plantar fasciitis compared with those with BMI <35 (P = .04). This study demonstrates that hamstring tightness plays a significant role in the presence of plantar fasciitis and should be addressed along with equinus and obesity when providing treatment to patients with this diagnosis.
Local stimulation induced GABAergic response in rat striatal slice preparations: Intracellular recordings on QX-314 injected neurons

Abstract Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic responses evoked by electrical stimulation in the neostriatal slice preparation were studied in neurons injected intracellularly with Na-conductance blocker QX-314. Local stimulation elicited depolarizing postsynaptic potentials (DPSPs) in the QX-314-injected neurons when the membrane potential was morenegative than −60 mV. When DPSPs were minimized by depolirizing current injection in the QX-314-injected neuron, hyperpolarization was clearly observed following local stimulation. The maximum duration of the hyperpolarizing response to strong local stimulation was about 130 ms. The hyperpolarizing response was blocked by the addition of bicuculine or picrotoxin to the Ringer solution. Intracellular Cl- injections produced changes in the pattern of the local stimulations-induced responses; the initial depolarizing response was followed by a relatively large amplitude long duration depolarization. The polarity of the long duration of depolarizing response could not be reversed by depolarizing currents which were normally sufficient to reverse the polarity of DPSPs in the neurons without Cl- injection. The application of pentobarbital enhanced the amplitude and the duration of the hyperpolarizing responses. The revealed potential of the pentobarbital-enhanced response was estimated to be −60 mV. On the basis of their reversal potential, sensitivity to injected Cl-, sensitivity to GABA blockers picrotoxin and bicuculine, and the effect of pentobarbital, these hyperpolarizing responses are shown to be GABAergic Cl- mediated inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs).
Abstract 787: Involvement of HER2, HIF-1, and BCRP in cancer stem cell characteristics of letrozole-resistant breast cancer cells

Studies by us and others suggest that acquired resistance to aromatase inhibitors (AIs; i.e., letrozole) involves a switch from dependence on ER signaling to dependence on growth factor-mediated pathways, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/HER2. Recent work in our lab has also linked hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP, a stem cell marker) to HER2 and AI resistance. Other studies have associated each of these factors with cancer stem cells (CSCs) and CSCs have been implicated in drug resistance. Therefore, this current study aimed to 1) compare the CSC characteristics of letrozole-resistant (LTLTCa) and parental letrozole-sensitive (MCF-7Ca) breast cancer cells; 2) determine the roles of HER2, BCRP, and HIF-1 on CSC characteristics; and 3) compare the effects of HER2 inhibition and of differentiating agent all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on CSC population of the LTLTCa cells. LTLTCa cells were found to have higher expression of CSC characteristics compared to parental MCF-7Ca cells: 9.17%±2.0% vs. 0.02% ±0.01% (p 200 mammospheres/10,000 cells to ∼50 mammospheres/10,000 cells). Flow cytometry also demonstrated that LTLTCa cells high in both ALDH activity and CD44 positivity, were also high in HER2. Inhibition of HIF-1 (by siRNA) or BCRP (by pharmacological inhibitors or siRNA) significantly decreased mammosphere formation from 406 mammospheres/80,000 cells to 93 and 81 mammospheres/80,000 cells, respectively (p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 787. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-787
Rudolph M. Schindler—Proportion, Scale and the “Row”

Jin-Ho Park interprets Schindler’s “reference frames in space” as set forth in his 1916 lecture note on mathematics, proportion, and architecture, in the context of Robinson’s1898–99 articles in the Architectural Record. Schindler’s unpublished, handwritten notes provide a source for his concern for “rhythmic” dimensioning in architecture. He uses a system in which rectangular dimensions are arranged in “rows.” Architectural examples of Schindler’s Shampay, Braxton-Shore and How Houses illustrate the principles.
Runway Operational Quality Assurance (ROQA) system

Bottlenecks are developing in the air traffic system that controls airline traffic flows. Runways are a limiting factor at airports where consumer demand continues to increase and/or runway construction has been limited by land constraints. One approach to raise system capacity and to lower bottlenecks is to reduce the time separations between aircraft during the approach phases of flight. Such changes should be quantified to document the safety impacts of separation reductions. A team of systems engineering students from George Mason University has developed the initial design for a runway monitoring system, the Runway Operational Quality Assurance (ROQA) system. Similar to the FAA flight operational quality assurance (FOQA) system that analyzes individual aircraft operational flight data,. ROQA is designed to provide operational performance measurements of approach runway operations. ROQA data is analyzed for operational parameter exceedences and statistical distributions are calculated to determine collision risk.
Comparison of a Theory of Sequential Fragmentation with the Initial Mass Function of Stars

A one-parameter theory of sequential fragmentation is formulated, validated, and compared with the Initial Mass Function of stars. The agreement is excellent.
Using Mobile Health Clinics to Reach College Students: A National Demonstration Project.

Background: The mobile health unit (MHU) was a grant-funded national initiative to explore the utilization of a mobile clinic to provide health promotion and clinical services for college students in the United States. Purpose: In 2010 and 2011, a 38-foot mobile clinic tested the feasibility of utilizing the clinic to deliver health promotion and clinical services to students on and off campus. Methods: Undergraduate peer educators, supervised by 2 certified health education specialists, provided health promotion at night (9:00 pm to midnight) near bars and restaurants. Clinical services provided on the mobile clinic included influenza vaccinations administered by nursing students. HIV antibody testing was also piloted. Results: The mobile clinic was utilized for health promotion and clinical services (N = 1561) at the pilot university. Discussion and Translation to Health Education Practice: Replication of this project could include additional health promotion and clinical services. Mobile clinics could ...
Duplication of Chromosome Band 12q24.11q24.23 Results in Apparent Noonan Syndrome

Noonan syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder with an estimated incidence of 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 2,500 live births. It is characterized by postnatal-onset short stature, characteristic facial changes, webbed neck, pectus carinatum, or excavatum, congenital heart defects, and bleeding abnormalities. Gain-of-function mutations in the PTPN11, KRAS, SOS1, and RAF1 genes that are components of the RAS/MEPK signaling pathway are identified in about 70–85% of individuals with Noonan syndrome. We report here a case of duplication of chromosome region 12q24.11q24.23 identified by array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) that includes the PTPN11 gene in a 3-year-old girl with apparent Noonan syndrome. The patient presented with postnatal-onset failure-to-thrive, developmental delay, microcephaly, velopalatal incompetence, pectus excavatum, coarctation of aorta, atrial and ventricular septal defects, decreased muscle tone, and minor facial anomalies consistent with Noonan syndrome. At 3 years of age her speech, gross and fine motor development were at the level of a 12–18 month old child. This degree of developmental delay was atypical for an individual with Noonan syndrome, raising concerns for a chromosomal abnormality. Array-CGH showed an interstitial duplication of 10 Mb including the PTPN11 gene. Sequencing of PTPN11, KRAS, SOS1 and the coding region of RAF1 did not identify mutations. The increased gene dosage of the PTPN11 gene in the form of duplication is expected to have the same consequence as gain-of-function mutations seen in Noonan syndrome. We propose that at least some of the 15–30% of individuals with Noonan syndrome who do not have a mutation by sequencing may have a gain in copy number of PTPN11 and recommend that comprehensive testing for Noonan syndrome should include analysis for copy number changes of PTPN11. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Excited State Intramolecular Proton Transfer in 2-(2'-Arylsulfonamidophenyl)benzimidazole Derivatives: Insights into the Origin of Donor Substituent-Induced Emission Energy Shifts

Donor-substituted 2-(2′-arylsulfonamidophenyl)benzimidazoles undergo efficient excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) upon photoexcitation. The tautomer emission energy depends strongly on the substituent attachment position on the fluorophore ﷿-system. While substitution with a donor group in the para-position relative to the sulfonamide moiety yields an emission energy that is red-shifted relative to the unsubstituted fluorophore, fluorescence of the meta-substituted derivative appears blue-shifted. To elucidate the origin of the surprisingly divergent emission shifts, we performed detailed photophysical and quantum chemical studies with a series of methoxy- and pyrrole-substituted derivatives. The nature and contribution of solvent -solute interactions on the emission properties were analyzed on the basis of solvatochromic shift data using Onsager’s reaction field model, Reichardt’s empirical solvent polarity scale ET(30), as well as Kamlet-Abboud-Taft’s empirical solvent index. The studies revealed that all ESIPT tautomers emit from a moderately polarized excited-state whose dipole moment is not strongly influenced by the donor-attachment position. Furthermore, the negative solvatochromic shift behavior was most pronounced in protic solvents presumably due to specific hydrogen-bonding interactions. The extrapolated gas-phase emission energies correlated qualitatively well with the trends in Stokes shifts, suggesting that solute -solvent interactions do not play a significant role in explaining the divergent emission energy shifts. Detailed quantum chemical calculations not only confirmed the moderately polarized nature of the ESIPT tautomers but also provided a rational for the observed emission shifts based on the differential change in the HOMO and LUMO energies. The results gained from this study should provide guidelines for tuning the emission properties of this class of ESIPT fluorophores with potential applications in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, or materials science.
Higher Dimensional Operators in the MSSM

We briefly present the most important aspects of MSSM5, an extension of MSSM by dimension five, R-parity conserving effective operators. This report is a summary of a recent publication ( arXiv:0806.3778 [hep-th] ) where the MSSM5 model was investigated in detail.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of midazolam given via continuous intravenous infusion in intensive care units

Critically ill patients often benefit from sedation to optimize their care and their ventilatory support. Ideally, incremental doses of a drug are administered to produce the desired level of sedation without toxicity or overdose. Because metabolism and elimination of drugs are often altered in critically ill patients, knowledge of the pharmacokinetics of sedative hypnotics is essential to ensure their appropriate selection and administration. Furthermore, the administration of sedatives via continuous infusion minimizes fluctuations in drug concentrations and permits more consistent control of the patient's agitation and anxiety. Physician preference and the patient's individual requirements and underlying diseases are the primary determinants for the selection of a given sedative. Benzodiazepines are the most commonly used sedatives in critical care. Midazolam is readily distinguished from other benzodiazepines because of its rapid onset and short duration of action, low incidence of thrombophlebitis and pain on injection, and minimal cardiovascular and respiratory effects. The physiochemical properties of midazolam allow for enhanced water solubility, which limits physicochemical incompatibilities. These properties make midazolam a valuable sedative that can be given via continuous intravenous infusion in the intensive care unit.
Materials issues in fluidized bed combustion

The materials issues in fluidized bed combustion systems are in many cases essentially similar to those in conventional pulverized coal systems. Those that are related to the technology itself include the erosion and corrosion of in-bed components, particularly the heat exchanger; the erosion of above-bed components; the wear (perhaps accelerated by corrosion) of the solids handling systems, particularly the ash recirculation system; and, in the case of pressurized combustors, the erosion and hot corrosion of the expander turbine. For steam-generating systems, the issue of in-bed corrosion is probably not as serious as had once appeared, provided care is taken in materials selection, in design, and in operation. In-bed erosion now appears to be the most important problem to be solved. The expander turbine problems define the degree of particulate removal from the hot gas that has to be achieved, and limit the maximum permissible bed temperature. However, both the erosion and corrosion may be easier to deal with in the low-temperature expander in the “pressurized boiler” concept.
Premature ankle plantarflexor activity during gait: An evaluation of 647 patients with diverse pathologies

Discussionandconclusions:Takken [4] concludes inhis review that exercise therapy didn’t show statistically significant effects on functional abilities and therefore claims standardized therapy. PMW is a standardized approach to treat certain deficits in motor abilities of patients with JIA. The results here indicate that PMW shows effects on the JIA patients. The improvement of flexibility and the moderate effect size of the core stability are indicators of further research on this topic. The patients report no detrimental effects due to the intervention. The next steps are to enlarge the sample sizes and to analyze long-term effects.
Comparative study of short forms of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia: fear of movement in a surgical spine population.

Abstract Archer KR, Phelps KD, Seebach CL, Song Y, Riley LH III, Wegener ST. Comparative study of short forms of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia: fear of movement in a surgical spine population. Objective To compare the factor structure of 6 short forms of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) by means of confirmatory factor analysis in patients after spinal surgery for degenerative conditions. Design A cross-sectional survey study. Setting University-based surgical clinic. Participants Adults (N=137) treated by spinal surgery for a degenerative condition (ie, spinal stenosis, spondylosis with or without myelopathy, and spondylolisthesis). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure Patients completed the TSK within 3 months of hospital discharge. Results Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the 2-factor models of the TSK-13 and TSK-11 had a reasonable fit for the data, with internal consistency values >.70. A 1-factor TSK-4 (items 3, 6, 7, and 11) demonstrated an excellent fit for the data, but an adequate internal consistency was not maintained. A poor fit was noted for the 1-factor models of the TSK-13 and TSK-11, and a 4-item TSK (items 1, 2, 9, and 11). Conclusions The current study provides further evidence that specific short-form versions of the TSK may be useful for assessing fear of movement in surgical populations. Results support the measurement of fear of movement using the 2-factor, 13- and 11-item versions of the TSK in patients after spinal surgery. A TSK-4 (items 3, 6, 7, and 11) offers a promising alternative to the TSK-13 and TSK-11. However, further research is needed to test the validity and reliability of the TSK-4 in patients undergoing spinal surgery in order to support its use in a clinical environment. Researchers and clinicians interested in a shorter measure of fear of movement should consider using the TSK-11.
Identification of Active-Site Peptides from 3H-Labeled 2-Ethynylnaphthalene-Inactivated P450 2B1 and 2B4 Using Amino Acid Sequencing and Mass Spectrometry

2-Ethynylnaphthalene (2EN) is a mechanism-based inactivator of rat cytochrome P450 (P450) 2B1 with 1.3 mol of adduct bound per mole of P450 inactivated [Roberts, E.S., Hopkins, N.E., Alworth, W.L., & Hollenberg, P.F. (1993) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 6, 470-479]. Further studies have shown that 2EN is also an efficient mechanism-based inactivator of the 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase activity of rabbit P450 2B4 with 0.83 mol of adduct bound per mole of P450. Cleavage of [3H]2EN-inactivated 2B1 with cyanogen bromide, separation of the peptides by HPLC, and further purification of the radiolabeled fraction by Tricine-sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) led to the identification by autoradiography of a radiolabeled peptide (M(r) approximately 3000). Amino acid sequence analysis of the first 12 N-terminal residues revealed the sequence ISLLSLFFAGTE corresponding to positions 290-301 in the protein. When the radiolabeled fraction from the HPLC separation was analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), peaks at m/z 2722.5 and 2890.6 were detected. The lower mass peak corresponds to the molecular ion (average mass) of the cyanogen bromide peptide Ile290 to Met314 (theoretical 2722.2), while the higher mass peak corresponds to the same peptide with a bound 2-naphthylacetyl group (theoretical 2890.4). When [3H]2EN-inactivated 2B4 was treated with cyanogen bromide, the peptides were separated by HPLC, and the fractions were analyzed by Tricine-SDS-PAGE, two radiolabeled peptides (M(r) = 5000 and 8000) were identified by autoradiography. Amino acid sequence analysis of the first 11 residues revealed identical N-termini with the sequence EKDKSDPSSEF corresponding to positions 273-283.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Differential regulation of amyloid-beta-protein mRNA expression within hippocampal neuronal subpopulations in Alzheimer disease

We have mapped the neuroanatomical distribution of amyloid-beta-protein mRNA within neuronal subpopulations of the hippocampal formation in the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis), normal aged human, and patients with Alzheimer disease. Amyloid-beta-protein mRNA appears to be expressed in all hippocampal neurons, but at different levels of abundance. In the central nervous system of monkey and normal aged human, image analysis shows that neurons of the dentate gyrus and cornu Ammonis fields contain a 2.5-times-greater hybridization signal than is present in neurons of the subiculum and entorhinal cortex. In contrast, in the Alzheimer disease hippocampal formation, the levels of amyloid-beta-protein mRNA in the cornu Ammonis field 3 and parasubiculum are equivalent. These findings suggest that within certain neuronal subpopulations cell type-specific regulation of amyloid-beta-protein gene expression may be altered in Alzheimer disease.
The under-representation of African Americans in animal welfare fields in the United States

AbstractThis research explored possible reasons for the under-representation of African Americans in animal welfare fields. Semi-structured interviews of nine senior-level African Americans working in the animal welfare-related fields of veterinary medicine, nonprofit animal welfare organizations, animal shelters, and animal control revealed the following reasons: 1) economic disparities, 2) on-going civil rights struggle, 3) moral obligation to serve people, 4) unattractive career incentives, 5) inadequate career exposure and recruitment, 6) non-supportive environments, 7) negative images of the fields, 8) little or no positive animal experience, and 9) prejudice and discrimination. Participants objected to the suggestion of cultural differences in attitudes toward companion animals. All participants said increasing diversity in animal welfare fields was essential, and made suggestions for its increase.
Everywhere regularity of solutions to a class of strongly coupled degenerate parabolic systems

A class of strongly coupled degenerate parabolic system is considered. Sufficient conditions will be given to show that bounded weak solutions are Holder continuous everywhere. The general theory will be applied to a generalized porous media type Shigesada-Kawasaki-Teramoto model in population dynamics.
Functional Interaction of BRCA1-Associated BARD1 with Polyadenylation Factor CstF-50

Polyadenylation of messenger RNA precursors requires a complex protein machinery that is closely integrated with the even more complex transcriptional apparatus. Here a polyadenylation factor, CstF-50 (cleavage stimulation factor), is shown to interact in vitro and in intact cells with a nuclear protein of previously unknown function, BRCA1-associated RING domain protein (BARD1). The BARD1-CstF-50 interaction inhibits polyadenylation in vitro. BARD1, like CstF-50, also interacts with RNA polymerase II. These results indicate that BARD1-mediated inhibition of polyadenylation may prevent inappropriate RNA processing during transcription, perhaps at sites of DNA repair, and they reveal an unanticipated integration of diverse nuclear events.
Citizen oversight in the United States and Canada: an overview

Police misconduct and corruption have the potential to erode public trust and confidence in both policing and government agencies. Repeat accounts of law enforcement officials engaging in deviant acts have prompted greater citizen involvement in the review of officer behavior. However, citizen oversight has had a contentious history in both the USA and Canada, with most challenges expressed by law enforcement officers whose behavior often comes under scrutiny. This article provides a review of how citizen oversight has evolved in both nations, as well as an examination of contemporary models of this accountability practice. This review reveals that operational differences exist between the different oversight models and that external factors such as political, police, and public support, as well as budgetary considerations also impact the procedural outcomes of citizen oversight. We conclude with a discussion of the future prospects and challenges to citizen oversight of the police.
Nonradiative Decay Mechanisms in DNA Model Systems

Experimental and theoretical research into excited electronic states of DNA has flourished during the past decade. The dynamics of excited states in monomeric nucleobases and defined-sequence oligo- and polynucleotides can now be routinely observed by ultrafast laser spectroscopy on time scales of hundreds of femtoseconds and beyond. Powerful quantum chemical methods are pinpointing the coupled nuclear and electronic motions responsible for nonradiative decay with unprecedented detail. For single bases, a fully microscopic description of nonradiative decay is almost at hand, and experiment and quantum dynamics calculations are increasingly congruent about deactivation events, including the bifurcation of excited-state populations on ultrafast time scales. For nucleobase multimers, there is evidence of both slower and faster rates of nonradiative decay than those in single bases, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood due to uncertainty about excited-state delocalization and energy transfer.
Effect of furosemide and dietary sodium on kidney and plasma big and small renin.

AbstractRenin was found in mouse plasma in high-molecular-weight forms (big big renin, big renin) and a low-molecular-weight form (small renin). They were measured by a radioimmunoassay procedure for the direct measurement of renin. In the kidney, 89% of total renin was small renin and the rest was big big and big renin. This distribution pattern of renins was not changed when the kidney tissue was homogenized in the presence of protease inhibitors. Low-sodium or high-sodium diets changed renal renin content, but not the distribution pattern of renins in the kidney. Acute stimulation of renin release by furosemide increased small renin but not big big and big renin in plasma. However, dietary sodium depletion for 2 weeks significantly increased big big, big, and small renin in plasma of mice with or without submaxillary glands. In contrast, high-sodium intake significantly decreased big big, big, and small renin in plasma of mice with or without submaxillary glands.
The Impact of Psychological Injuries on Sexual Harassment Determinations

Although a plethora of studies focus on jury decision making in sexual harassment cases, few studies examine damage award assessments in such suits, and even fewer explore the impact of psychological injury on jurors’ liability and damage award assessments. In the present study, 342 undergraduates read a hostile environment sexual harassment case that manipulated the plaintiff’s psychological injury level (severe vs. mild vs. control) to investigate whether males and females made different damage decisions. Males using a reasonable person standard found more liability as the severity of the plaintiff’s psychological injury increased. However, males using a reasonable woman standard found less liability with the addition of any psychological injury information. Similarly, for mild and severe injuries, males using the reasonable woman standard awarded lower damages than males using the reasonable person standard. Females tended to find more harassment than males, but psychological injury and legal standard had little impact on females’ legal decisions. We discuss these findings in light of the positive relationship often observed between the plaintiff’s injury severity level and pro-plaintiff verdicts.
OLD-ROMAN CHANT AND THE RESPONSORIES OF NOAH: NEW EVIDENCE FROM SUTRI

Among the manuscript fragments in the Archivio comunale of Sutri (Province of Viterbo), Italy, are four consecutive folios of an Old-Roman antiphoner of the later eleventh century. The two bifolios are now identified as fragments 141 (Frammenti teologici 40) and 141bis (Frammenti teologici 41). These fragments, which preserve music for the feasts of Sexag?sima, Quinquagesima and Ash Wednesday, are remnants of what appears to be the oldest witness of Old-Roman music for the office. When added to the two
A 10-year experience in the use of air medical transport for medical scene calls.

Abstract Objective: The objective of this retrospective descriptive study was to evaluate the use of air medical services in response to medical scene calls for transport to tertiary care in the rural setting. Methods: This study is a retrospective descriptive review of all medical scene calls during a 10-year study period. The cases were analyzed for demographics, transport time, medical indication, procedures, role of ground EMS services, effects on community hospitals, and patient outcomes. A case-by-case review by emergency medicine (EM) physicians was conducted to determine necessity of air medical transport. Results: A total of 8106 medical flights were conducted during the study period. Of these, 103 were scene calls for which 85 charts were available for review. The breakdown of medical scene calls is cardiac (29%), poisoning (17%), co poisoning (11%), neurologic (11%), and other (32%). Ground EMS was involved in 80% of the cases; ground advanced life support (ALS) was present in 58%. In 86% of the flights reviewed, an EM resident was aboard the helicopter. Of the 85 patients whose charts were available, 41 required admission to the ICU, five required hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment, and 14 died before admission. Conclusion: Evacuation of the rural patient with a medical emergency accounts for an extremely small percentage of an air medical service's use. ALS services, including emergency procedures at the scene and rapid transport to a tertiary care, were provided. Seventy-one percent of the flights reviewed required transport to a tertiary care facility, indicating that air medical transport was appropriate. Physician guidelines to ensure effective and cost-efficient use of these services should be developed. Responding for victims in cardiopulmonary arrest appears to provide little benefit with respect to outcome.
Performance regression testing target prioritization via performance risk analysis

As software evolves, problematic changes can significantly degrade software performance, i.e., introducing performance regression. Performance regression testing is an effective way to reveal such issues in early stages. Yet because of its high overhead, this activity is usually performed infrequently. Consequently, when performance regression issue is spotted at a certain point, multiple commits might have been merged since last testing. Developers have to spend extra time and efforts narrowing down which commit caused the problem. Existing efforts try to improve performance regression testing efficiency through test case reduction or prioritization. In this paper, we propose a new lightweight and white-box approach, performance risk analysis (PRA), to improve performance regression testing efficiency via testing target prioritization. The analysis statically evaluates a given source code commit's risk in introducing performance regression. Performance regression testing can leverage the analysis result to test commits with high risks first while delaying or skipping testing on low-risk commits. To validate this idea's feasibility, we conduct a study on 100 real-world performance regression issues from three widely used, open-source software. Guided by insights from the study, we design PRA and build a tool, PerfScope. Evaluation on the examined problematic commits shows our tool can successfully alarm 91% of them. Moreover, on 600 randomly picked new commits from six large-scale software, with our tool, developers just need to test only 14-22% of the 600 commits and will still be able to alert 87-95% of the commits with performance regression.
Moving hand reveals dynamics of thought

P erception, cognition, and action occur over time. An organism must continuously and rapidly integrate sensory data with prior knowledge and potential actions at multiple timescales. This makes time of central importance in cognitive science. Crucial questions hinge on time, from the class of systems that may underlie cognition to debates about constraints on the functional organization of the brain and theoretical disputes in specialized domains. Often, the fine-grained time-course predictions that distinguish theories exceed the temporal resolution of available measures. In this issue of PNAS, Spivey et al. (1) introduce a method (“mouse tracking”) that provides a continuous measure of underlying perception and cognition in online language processing, promising badly needed leverage for addressing theoretical impasses, narrow and broad. I will describe examples of theoretical debates that hinge on time course, the difficulties in assessing time, and how the strengths and limitations of the new method complement current techniques for estimating time course. I conclude with a discussion of the potential of the new method to extend the tools and implications of dynamical systems theory (DST) to higher-level cognition. Precious little of perception and cognition can be observed directly and instead must be inferred from relationships between input and behavior, often from single postperceptual responses. A typical word-recognition paradigm is lexical decision. A subject sees or hears words and nonwords and hits keys indicating whether the stimulus was a word. The more frequently a word is used, the more quickly subjects respond yes ; however, the more words that sound similar to it, the slower the response. So reaction times tell us a complex process of activation and competition underlies word recognition but indicate little beyond the approximate number of activated words and some of their characteristics. Theories make conflicting predictions about precisely which words are activated, and how …
Flexible 2D layout decomposition framework for spacer-type double pattering lithography

A spacer-type self-aligned double pattering (SADP) is a pitch-splitting sidewall image method that is a major option for sub-30nm device node manufacturing due to its lower overlay sensitivity and better process window compared to other double patterning processes, such as litho-etch-litho-etch (LELE). SADP is in production use for 1D patterns in NAND Flash memory applications but applying SADP to 2D random logic patterns is challenging. In this paper, we describe the first layout decomposition methods of SADP lithography for complex 2D layouts. The favored type of SADP for complex logic interconnects is a two mask approach using a core (mandrel) mask and a trim mask. This paper describes methods for automatically choosing and optimizing the manufacturability of base core mask patterns, generating assist core patterns, and optimizing trim mask patterns to accomplish high quality layout decomposition in SADP process. We evaluate our technique on 22nm node industrial standard cells and logic designs. Experimental results show that our proposed layout decomposition for SADP effectively decomposes many challenging 2D layouts.
Endovascular management of malperfusion in acute type B aortic dissections.

Purpose:To examine the feasibility, efficacy, and midterm results of endovascular stent-graft management of acute type B aortic dissection complicated by renal, visceral, or lower limb malperfusion.Methods:A retrospective review was conducted to identify all patients with acute type B dissection treated endovascularly at a single center between 1998 and 2009. Of the 85 patients identified, 23 (27%) consecutive patients (20 men; mean age 60.9±11.6 years) presented with clinical and imaging evidence of end-organ malperfusion: 7 (30%) renal, 6 (26%) lower limb, 4 (17%) renal and lower limb, 3 (13%) visceral, and single cases of renal/visceral, renal/lower limb/spinal cord, and renal/visceral/spinal cord/lower limb.Results:All patients had stent-graft coverage of the proximal entry tear; 5 (22%) patients required additional branch vessel stenting, and 2 (9%) had femorofemoral bypass graft. Successful correction of malperfusion was achieved in 21 (91%) patients. In 1 patient, ischemia in the lower limb was res...
The investigational drug camicinal for the treatment of gastroparesis.

Introduction: Gastroparesis is a syndrome of delayed gastric emptying in the absence of mechanical obstruction that presents with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Despite its growing prevalence, there remains an unmet clinical need for more efficacious prokinetic treatment options. The current market includes prokinetic agents that reduce gastroparesis symptoms. However, adverse drug effects and tachyphylaxis with repeated dosing are among the factors that limit their use. Camicinal (GSK962040) is the most advanced, small-molecule, selective motilin receptor agonist with therapeutic potential to date.Areas covered: This article reviews the literature on the limitations of current prokinetic agents used in the treatment of gastroparesis. It also summarizes the current evidence and influential clinical trial results involving the investigational drug camicinal, and shares its preliminary findings from the literature.Expert opinion: Camicinal represents a new opportunity as a treatment in a clinical area in ...
Novae Gesneriaceae Neotropicarum XII. New species of Gesneriaceae from the Guianas

Abstract Novae Gesneriaceae Neotropicarum XII. New species of Gesneriaceae from the Guianas. Brittonia 54: 352–361. 2002.—Five new species of Gesneriaceae are described from the Guianas: Nautilocalyx coccineus, Paradrymonia anisophylla, and Paradrymonia barbata in the tribe Episcieae, from Guyana; Napeanthus angustifolius from French Guiana and Napeanthus rupicola from Guyana in the tribe Napeantheae.
Flexible Incentives and Water Quality Control Technologies for the Everglades Agricultural Area

The degradation of the unique wetland ecosystem of the Everglades can be characterized as a nonpoint-source pollution (NSP) problem that has a large number of emitters. A significant proportion of these emitters is from the farming enterprises located in the Everglades’ Agricultural Area (EAA) of South Florida. Under plans to restore the ecosystem of the Everglades, phosphorus concentrations in water discharged from the EAA must be reduced below 50 parts per billion (ppb), and perhaps as low as 10 ppb. The cost of this approach is estimated to be at least $700 million. Two questions remain at the forefront of this issue: (1) Who should be financially responsible for this clean up? and (2) How clean is clean? The resolution of these issues is complicated by historically undefined property rights; the NSP nature of the water pollution; and uncertainty about the regenerative capacity of the Everglades at lower nutrient levels. Providing farmers with flexible incentives to adopt on-site water conserving technologies and to switch to low input production practices may be a more efficient and less expensive means of achieving long-term water quality improvement goals for restoring the ecosystem of the Everglades. This chapter examines the adoption of decentralized water quality control mechanisms to reduce the total costs of lowering phosphorus concentrations in EAA discharges.
Editorial: Introduction to the special issue on decision support in medicine

Information technology plays an important role in medicine because of the advanced decision support systems (DSS) it can provide. We provide an overview of the building blocks necessary for a medical decision support system and introduce seven research articles in this special issue that describe the development and evaluation of individual medical DSS building blocks or complete medical DSS.