cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is Clitoral Release Another Term for Metoidioplasty? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Metoidioplasty Surgical Technique and Outcomes.

Abstract Introduction There has been an exponential increase in referrals for transmasculine patients seeking genital affirmation surgery. Despite transgender men’s equal interest in metoidioplasty and phalloplasty, research has primarily focused on phalloplasty. Aim To summarize and investigate the relationship between surgical technique, complications, and patient-satisfaction. Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of surgical techniques and physician- and patient-reported outcomes of gender-affirming clitoral release and metoidioplasty (PROSPERO# 158722) with literature from PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Data were extracted using PRISMA guidelines. All searches, extractions, and grading were independently completed by 2 authors. Main Outcome Measures Main measures were surgical technique, patient satisfaction, voiding, urethral stricture, and urethral fistula. Results and Conclusion A total of 7 non-overlapping articles on metoidioplasty were identified, with a total of 403 patients. We identified 4 metoidioplasty techniques: Hage, Belgrade, labial ring flap, and extensive metoidioplasty. All techniques included urethral lengthening. The reported neophallus length ranged from 2 cm to 12 cm, with the smallest neophallus occurring with the labial ring flap technique and extensive metoidioplasty the largest. Across techniques, voiding while standing was reported in most patients, with the lowest rate reported with the labial ring flap (67%). Complications were impacted by surgical technique, with the lowest rates of fistula and stricture occurring with the Belgrade technique. Fistula rates ranged from 5% to 37%, while stricture ranged from 2% to 35% of patients. The Belgrade technique reported significantly lower rates of fistula and stricture (P = .000). The patient-reported outcomes were described for the Belgrade technique and extensive metoidioplasty. Both techniques showed high aesthetic and sexual satisfaction. Transgender individuals can achieve an aesthetically and sexually satisfactory neophallus using a variety of metoidioplasty techniques; however, urethral outcomes vary significantly by technique. The Belgrade technique reported the best outcomes, although data remains limited. Patient priorities should be used to determine surgical technique. Jolly D, Wu CA, Boskey ER, et al. Is Clitoral Release Another Term for Metoidioplasty? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Metoidioplasty Surgical Technique and Outcomes. Sex Med 2021;9:100294
Optimizing Intent to Transfer: Engagement and Community College English Learners

Researchers have long struggled to accurately identify the needs of English learner (EL) students and the factors that facilitate their postsecondary success. Although prior research suggests that EL students disproportionately select into community colleges, there is a dearth research that examines transfer to four-year schools among community college English learner (CCEL) students. In this study, we examined whether and to what extent community college students’ linguistic status shapes the relationship between engagement and intent to transfer to a four-year institution. Using data from the Community College Survey of Student Engagement, we used logistic regression to examine how, if at all, the relationships between the multiple forms of student engagement and intent to transfer might differ by linguistic status, net of various student and school-level controls. Ultimately, our findings suggest that students’ returns to engagement do differ by linguistic status, with CCEL students experiencing the greatest gains relative to their intent to transfer. Not only are CCEL students are more likely to engage in academic discourse, internalize teachers’ pedagogical offerings, and recognize institutional supports than their non-CCEL peers, but they appear to derive greater benefits from both academic engagement and instruction in the use critical thinking skills than their non-CCEL peers. We conclude with recommendations for educators, policymakers, and researchers seeking to improve CCEL students’ educational attainment and engagement.
Airborne Millimeter Wave Radiometer for 94/183 GHz High Altitude Atmospheric Measurements

A moisture sounding imaging radiometer operating at 94/183 GHz has been developed for NASA/GSFC to perform high altitude measurements onboard a WB-57F aircraft [1,2]. The instrument known as the Advanced Microwave Moisture Sounder (AMMS) was used to perform measurements near the 183.3 GHz water vapor line with three data channels and simultaneously collected data at a single window channel at 94 GHz to measure surface emissivity variations over land. The instrument operated under microcomputer control throughout each flight and collected data continuously from aircraft takeoff to landing. The radiometer was integrated into the WB-57F instrumented pallet for a series of data flights between June 1979 and June 1981. A portable ground support system was used following each flight to provide quick-look analysis of the data. The Cooperative Convective Precipitation Experiment (CCOPE) was conducted in the Miles City, Montana area from May through August 1981. CCOPE's main objectives were to study the life cycles of summer convective clouds and storms and to learn how natural processes interact to produce storms. A typical WB-57F data flight during CCOPE involved the aircraft flying above a storm at 18 km altitude within a 150 km radius circle near Miles City. At the same time other aircraft would fly in and around the storm. Other equipment in operation at the same time included ground based weather radar, weather balloons, and a satellite-linked network of 125 ground stations.
Mitochondrial Capacity and Muscle Endurance in Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease

Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with loss of motor control and difficulty exercising. This study measured skeletal muscle mitochondrial capacity and endurance in individuals with and without PD using novel non-invasive methods. We hypothesized that individuals with PD will have decreased mitochondrial capacity, reduced oxygen recovery, and decreased endurance compared to controls. Methods: Eight participants with PD and nine healthy controls were tested. Mitochondrial capacity was measured as the rate of recovery of muscle metabolism after electrical stimulation using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and repeated short arterial occlusions. Oxygen recovery was measured as the half time of recovery of oxygen levels after 5 minutes of ischemia. Muscle endurance was determined from changes in twitch contraction acceleration during electrical stimulation at 2, 4, and 6 Hz. Results: Mitochondrial capacity was lower in individuals with PD compared to controls (1.5±0.1min-1 vs. 1.7±0.1min-1, p=0.02). Individuals with PD had slower oxygen recovery after ischemia compared to controls (8.9±2.3s vs. 5.4±0.8s, p=0.01). Endurance was not different between groups at 6 Hz (PD vs controls: 58±23% vs. 69±16%, p=0.34). The effect sizes for mitochondrial capacity and oxygen recovery were large (Cohen's d >0.8). The Cohen's d for endurance was 1.11. Conclusion: Individuals with PD had slight impairments in mitochondrial capacity and blood flow but did not have reduced muscle endurance. While our study suggests that muscle metabolic dysfunction may play a minor role in exercise intolerance in people with PD, it demonstrates the use of noninvasive technologies to evaluate muscle function in people with neurological disorders.
Simple and Sensitive Method for Deep Profiling of Host Cell Proteins in Therapeutic Antibodies by Combining Ultra-Low Trypsin Concentration Digestion, Long Chromatographic Gradients, and BoxCar Mass Spectrometry Acquisition

Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is a powerful tool for the analysis of host cell proteins (HCP) during antibody drug process development due to its sensitivity, selectivity, and adaptability. However, the enormous dynamic range between the therapeutic antibody and accompanying HCPs poses a significant challenge for LC-MS based detection of these low abundance impurities. To address this challenge, enrichment of HCPs via immunoaffinity, protein A, 2D-LC, or other strategies is typically performed. However, these enrichments are time-consuming and sometimes require a large quantity of sample. Here, we report a simple and sensitive strategy to analyze HCPs in therapeutic antibody samples without cumbersome enrichment by combining an ultra-low trypsin concentration during digestion under nondenaturing conditions, a long chromatographic gradient, and BoxCar acquisition (ULTLB) on a quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometer. Application of this strategy to the NIST monoclonal antibody standard (NISTmAb) resulted in the identification of 453 mouse HCPs, which is a significant increase in the number of identified HCPs without enrichment compared to previous reports. Known amounts of HCPs were spiked into the purified antibody drug substance, demonstrating that the method sensitivity is as low as 0.5 ppm. Thus, the ULTLB method represents a sensitive and simple platform for deep profiling of HCPs in antibodies.
Genetics of Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins Guide Identification of Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction.

Objective: Despite aggressive reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), there is a residual risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Hypertriglyceridemia is known to be associated with increased CVD risk, independently of LDL-C. Triglycerides are one component of the heterogenous class of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TGRLs). Methods/Results: Growing evidence from biology, epidemiology, and genetics supports the contribution of TGRLs to the development of CVD via a number of mechanisms, including through proinflammatory, proapoptotic, and procoagulant pathways. Conclusion: New genetics-guided pharmacotherapies to reduce levels of triglycerides and TGRLs and thus reduce risk of CVD have been developed and will be discussed here.
From Lessons Learned to Improvements Implemented: Some Roles for Gaming in Cybersecurity Risk Management

Effective cybersecurity risk management hinges on a strategic blend of people, processes, and technology working together to recognize and prevent attacks; mitigate and minimize negative impacts should attacks succeed; and resume operations after recovery. Ideally, risk management involves processes that engage the entire organization continually and holistically—not just episodic reactions by a few key personnel in times of crisis. The translation of lessons learned into implemented and validated improvements may be a missing or underutilized best practice. This chapter explores ways gaming can be used as a complement to authoritative standards and frameworks to optimize an organization’s cybersecurity posture and preparedness. A variety of gamified approaches are described and presented as useful tools with differentiating value at multiple stages in an ongoing cybersecurity risk management cycle. State-of-the-practice exemplars and successes are cited as are approaches to adapting games to both assess and improve an organization’s cybersecurity posture. The chapter concludes with some speculations about how games focused on cybersecurity can be expected to evolve and gain greater traction for risk management in light of emergent technologies and increasingly complex threat and defense landscapes.
CELL DEATH AND SUSTAINED SENESCENCE ARREST IN COLON CARCINOMA AND MELANOMA TUMOR CELLS IN RESPONSE TO THE NOVEL MICROTUBULE POISON, JG-03-14

CELL DEATH AND SUSTAINED SENESCENCE ARREST IN COLON CARCINOMA AND MELANOMA TUMOR CELLS IN RESPONSE TO THE NOVEL MICROTUBULE POISON, JG-03-14
Light and Dark Anaerobic Activation of NADP-Malate Dehydrogenase in Pea Leaves and Chloroplasts

Upon illumination, the activities of several enzymes located in the chloroplast stroma are changed through covalent modification. The chloro-plastic NADP-malate dehydrogenase (NADP-MDH) is one such enzyme activated by light and deactivated in the dark (1,2). In vitro activation of this enzyme requires reducing conditions and is thought to be mediated be reduction of disulfide groups on the protein (1,2,3,4). In C4 plants, the in ivo state of NADP-MDH activation, as mediated by covalent modification, may reflect the extent of the reductive conditions in the mesophyll chloro-plasts of C4 plants both in dark and light. NADP-MDH in maize has been shown to be dark activated in vivo under anaerobic conditions (1).
Absence of Significant Light-Induced Changes in cAMP Levels in Sporangiophores of Phycomyces blakesleeanus

We were unable to find transient changes in the amount of cAMP or cGMP that had been proposed to mediate the light-growth response in sporangiophores of Phycomyces blakesleeanus.
Lymphadenitis as the dominant manifestation of Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile illness primarily affecting infants and young children. Its importance relates to the fact that 20% to 25% of untreated patients develop coronary abnormalities that can lead to myocardial infarction or even to death.1 KD is a leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in many regions, including the United States.2 Because there are no specific diagnostic tests for KD, the diagnosis is established by the presence of fever and four of five criteria without other explanation for the illness: (1) nonexudative conjunctival injection; (2) oral mucosal changes; (3) changes of the peripheral extremities; (4) rash, primarily truncal; and (5) cervical lymphadenopathy.
Individualisierte Anlageberatung: Axiomatische Fundierung von Zielfunktionen zur Bewertung von Anlagealternativen

Im Finanzdienstleistungsbereich spielt die Individualisierung von Beratungsleistungen eine immer bedeutendere Rolle. Kunden erwarten die individualisierte Leistungserstellung nicht nur im personlichen Beratungsgesprach, sondern auch uber elektronische Kommunikationskanale. Um die individuelle Beratung auch IT-gestutzt vornehmen zu konnen, ist es vor allem notwendig, neben „harten“ finanzwirtschaftlichen Zielen wie Rendite und Risiko auch „weiche“ Ziele — wie die Variabilitat, Liquidierbarkeit, Verwaltbarkeit und Nachvollziehbarkeit — in die (teil-)automatisierte Beratung mit einzubeziehen. Die bisherigen Ansatze zur systemgestutzten Anlageberatung bewerten Anlagealternativen jedoch fast ausschlieslich auf Basis etablierter finanzwirtschaftlicher Kennzahlen und lassen somit „weiche“ Ziele auser Acht. Die Autoren stellen fachlich begrundete Axiome auf und leiten daraus Funktionen ab, welche die Bewertung der „weichen“ Ziele einer Anlagealternative erlauben. Die Methodik ist uber die Anlageberatung hinaus geeignet, in allgemeinen Beratungssituationen die betrachteten Objekte nicht nur hinsichtlich „harter“, sondern auch „weicher“ Ziele beurteilen zu konnen.
Al-26 in Kenna and other ureilites

A description is presented of the results of a nondestructive analysis conducted with a 42-g slice of the Kenna ureilite. The sample was analyzed in a gamma-gamma coincidence counting system, using a dual-parameter, 4096-channel pulse height analyzer. Data concerning Al-26 and Ne-22/Ne-21 in ureilites and Chassigny are presented in a table. A graph shows the ratio of measured Al-26 activity to that calculated from elemental production rates vs spallation Ne-22/Ne-21 for ureilites and Chassigny. The significance of the data with respect to findings reported by Wilkening et al. (1973) is discussed.
Cord blood coagulation studies in infants of high-risk pregnant women

A prospective study of cord blood for coagulability, evidence for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and hematocrit was done in 106 infants who were offspring of mothers with high-risk pregnancies (pre-eclampsia, diabets mellitus, third-trimester bleeders, severe erythroblastosis fetalis, maternal hypertension, fetal distress, and spontaneous premature labor). Significant changes of hypercoagulability (low AT-III and abnormal TEG) were seen in the third-trimester bleeder and premature labor groups which also had the highest incidence of IRDS and necrotizing. Infants undergoing "stress" (pre-eclampsia, fetal distress) had elevated levels of factors V and VIII but were not hypercoagulable or AT-III deficient. Except for mild thrombocytopenia, infants of the diabetic mothers, a group with increased thrombotic complications, did not show any cord blood abnormalities. Offspring of third-trimester bleeders were anemic. The EBF infants were also anemic, severely hypercoagulable, and showed coagulation changes compatible with severe liver disease and/or DIC. Mild changes compatible with intravascular coagulation were seen in six infants and were not related to the the development of IRDS.
Everyday Impacts of a Most Influential Theory

Evolution . WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, and Clear Blue Sky Productions, Seattle, WA. On PBS, evenings, 24 to 27 September 2001. Evolution The Triumph of an Idea . by Carl Zimmer. HarperCollins, New York, 2001. 384 pp. $40, C$59.95. ISBN 0-06-019906-7. This seven-part television series and the companion book are parts of a multifaceted project that aims to explain evolution ("one of the most...misunderstood principles of life") to the general public. Both combine findings from modern genetics, molecular biology, and paleontology with examples from the grocery store, medicine cabinet, and everyday life.
Developing Creative Advertising Strategy for the Japanese Marketplace

This article identifies and illustrates some of the characteristics of successful Japanese advertising and discusses implications for creative strategy development. Secondly, it presents two case histories of how American firms successfully advertised their products in the Japanese market. Lastly, it makes overall observations, recommendations, and conclusions.
The Ordertype of $\beta$-R.E. Sets

Let β be an arbitrary limit ordinal. A β -r.e. set is l -finite iff all its β -r.e. subsets are β -recursive. The l -finite sets correspond to the ideal of finite sets in the lattice of r.e. sets. We give a characterization of l -finite sets in terms of their ordertype: a β -r.e. set is l -finite iff it has ordertype less than β *, the Σ 1 , projectum of β ).
The New European Economic Governance

For more than two years, the European Union has been endeavouring to cope with an unprecedented public debt crisis. Under pressure from the financial markets, the EU and its member states have put in place a new set of regulations, procedures and institutions that have come to be known as the “new European economic governance”.This Working Paper by ETUI Senior researcher Christophe Degryse provides a thorough historical overview of how this new European economic governance came about and what the new structures for surveillance, coordination and sanctions (Euro-Plus Pact, Fiscal Compact, European Stability Mechanism, and so on) mean for the European project. Starting from a clear analysis of the inherent weaknesses of the Economic and Monetary Union, it explains why the European Union is moving from one crisis to the next while sinking ever more deeply into a spiral of austerity with dramatic impacts on the prosperity of millions of European citizens.The last chapter of the Working Paper questions the relevance of the proposed remedies and criticizes the austerity approach which uses “structural reforms” to undermine the European social model. It also looks at the democratic failure of the new economic governance and offers some first ideas for an alternative approach based on investment and solidarity rather than economic and social competition.
Dicliques: Finding Needles in Haystacks

A key task in counterterrorism is finding useful records and combinations of records in very large heterogeneous databases. The bits and pieces of information come from many sources and the pieces do not all tightly connect together. Some (possibly disconnected) pieces tightly connect to some other (possibly disconnected) pieces. The databases are very large and the number of records that pertain to terrorist activity is very small. The problem is to find a needle in a haystack, that involves connections between different types of relevant data. This chapter describes the mathematical properties of the diclique structure, which encodes a key concept of what such meaningful ‘needles’ may look like. We show that the set of dicliques forms a lattice and in two different ways forms commutative idempotent monoids. By investigating groupoid homomorphisms on the monoid structure, we show how to coalesce overlapping dicliques and how coalesing a pair of dicliques may require coalescing other dicliques. These results point towards useful new data mining tools.
Low temperature phase transitions in ferromagnetic rare earth alloys

Recently calculated phase boundaries within the ferromagnetic regime of TbxDy1−x are discussed. These competing anisotropy alloys are predicted to contain a low-temperature phase in which the easy direction of the net magnetization lies in non-symmetry directions in the hexagonal plane.
Inhibition of endothelial cell thromboresistance by homocysteine.

Homocysteine (HC) is a highly reactive thiol intermediate in amino acid metabolism, which can modify the function of endothelial cells in a myriad of ways. In vitro, homocysteine can inhibit the thromboresistance properties of the endothelial cell by induction of procoagulant factors, inactivation of natural anticoagulant systems, and suppression of vasodilatory and platelet-modulating factors. HC also inhibits the fibrinolytic system by impairing the ability of the endothelial cell to bind tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), by interacting directly with the t-PA binding tail domain of its endothelial cell receptor, annexin II. Moreover, HC influences endothelial cell gene expression as exemplified by induction of the elongation factor-1 family of polypeptides, which promote polypeptide chain elongation during mRNA translation. Induction of EF-1 subunits a, β, y and 8 by homocysteine is associated with increased turnover of at least one free thiol-containing protein, suggesting that up-regulation of these subunits may represent a mechanism for replacement of damaged or modified proteins. A more complete understanding of the diverse effects of homocysteine on endothelial cell function may provide important clues to the precise role homocysteine may play in the initiation and progression of vascular disease.
The patient with cancer: social and clinical perspectives for the dentist

Dentists can have a significant role in the care of individuals with cancer. They detect and provide treatment for patients with head and neck cancer and routinely provide oral care to patients who have other forms of cancer. This paper addresses the social, clinical, and psychological responses to cancer and considers the patient's understandings of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The findings in this paper are based on intensive interviews with 42 patients with cancer and family members, sociological participant-observation of oral and maxillofacial rehabilitation of the patient with head and neck cancer in major teaching hospital settings, and a review of the literature. Cancer was associated with an uncertain course and prognosis, made more problematic by imagery, fear, and fatalism. Patient behaviors, including delayed care seeking, are related to understandings of cancer and the social and family interactions that may occur around the disease. Professional role dilemmas, strategies toward informing patients of their cancer, and dealing with death are considered as issues dentists may face in care of the patient with cancer.
A fixed exit sagittal focusing monochromator utilizing bent single crystals

Abstract We have constructed and tested a tunable two crystal, horizontally focusing monochromator for use with synchrotron radiation. Horizontal focusing is achieved by using a segmented rectangular crystal especially cut to have the bending properties of a triangular plate. The bending device was designed to maintain axial symmetry around the central ray independent of bend radius. The entire crystal and bending device is so arranged that, coupled with the first crystal, a fixed exit beam height is maintained for all energies. Other innovative features such as an automatic translation seek circuit will be discussed.
The frail elderly functional assessment questionnaire: Its responsiveness and validity in alternative settings

Abstract Objective: To test the Frail Elderly Functional Assessment (FEFA) questionnaire for responsiveness (sensitivity to change) to low-level functional tasks in a frail elderly cohort and to evaluate its validity over the telephone or when administered to a caregiver proxy. Subjects: Fifty-eight elderly patients from three urban inpatient rehabilitation settings and an outpatient geriatrics center. Methods: A prospective, clinical, comparative trial. The FEFA questionnaire was administered serially. For validity, subjects were observed performing the tasks on the questionnaire within 24 hours of each interview. For responsiveness, repeat measures were performed within a 1- to 2-week period. Validity and sensitivity to change (responsiveness) of the questionnaire were determined by correlating patient responses to direct observations by rehabilitation staff. Responsiveness was also determined based on the Guyatt technique that divides clinically significant change by the normal variance, σ/(2× [mean squared error]) 12, as well as by measures of effect size, standardized response means, and relative efficiency tests for responsiveness. To evaluate FEFA validity in alternative settings, kappa statistic and regression analyses were used based on the previously validated interviewer-administered format. Results: Responsiveness was excellent with effect size (.35), standardized response means (.48), and relative efficiency (2.67) tests as well as Guyatt (1.26). There was 83% agreement when compared with FEFA task performance. Regression between change in FEFA score versus performance testing was significant ( r 2 = .33; p = .01). ANOVA was significant at ap=.03 for FEFA scores at first measure in rehabilitation compared to second. Correlation for caregiver proxy administration was .92 ( p ≤ .0001) and for telephone administration was .99 ( p Conclusions: The FEFA questionnaire, previously demonstrated to be reliable and valid, is sensitive to functional change (responsive) in frail elderly people. It is also valid when administered by phone or to a caregiver proxy.
Molecular biology: Complicity of gene and pseudogene.

'Pseudogenes' are produced from functional genes during evolution, and are thought to be simply molecular fossils. The unexpected discovery of a biological function for one pseudogene challenges that popular belief.
Treatment of rheumatoid joint inflammation with triamcinolone hexacetonide

Prolonged (more than 1 year) reversal of inflammation, as judged by decreased swelling, tenderness and synovial thickening, occurred in 12 patients in whom the joints of one hand and the wrist were treated locally with triamcinolone hexacetonide. Better preservation of grip strength, structural joint integrity and range of motion on the treated side were evidence of a beneficial effect on function. Fewer new lesions developed on the treated side as observed radiographically over the period of follow-up, which averaged 21 months. Recurrence and progression of arthritis, both clinical and radiologic, definitely occurred in some injected joints. Unwanted effects such as soft tissue atrophy and periarticular calcification were common; their true incidence and the significance of the latter remain to be determined. The doses used here are regarded as experimental and, while promising, warrant further study before adoption as a possible method of “medical synovectomy”.
Form follows function: Learning about function helps children learn about shape

Abstract Object functions help young children to organize new artifact categories. However, the scope of their influence is unknown. We explore whether functions highlight property dimensions that are relevant to artifact categories in general. Specifically, using a longitudinal training procedure, we assessed whether experience with functions highlights shape as important for categorization. Seventeen-month-olds were provided experience with novel categories of similarly shaped objects. In Study 1, the function group learned about the objects’ shape-based functions; a control group did not. In Study 2, 17-month-olds were trained on the same categories, but the objects’ shapes and functions were no longer causally related. Only the function group in Study 1 subsequently used shape reliably when categorizing novel objects. These results suggest that function is instrumental in establishing a ‘shape bias’ in early categorization and that it does so via conceptually based processes.
Role Conflict and Ambiguity Scales: An Evaluation of Psychometric Properties and the Role of Social Desirability Response Bias:

A comprehensive evaluation is made of the widely used role conflict and ambiguity scales (RCA) developed by Rizzo, House and Lirtzman (1970). Data on the factor structures, means and standard deviations, internal consistency reliability, and discriminant validity were analyzed and compared to other studies on RCA scales. There are generally consistent positive results across the studies on the psychometric properties of RCA scales. However, this latest study reveals the possibility of social desirability bias in the role ambiguity responses.
Regional analysis of the Zapotec empire, Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract The origin and development of the Zapotec empire, centered in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico, are topics that have been the focus of considerable archaeological work during the past two decades. Despite the amount of work that has been carried out ‐ excavation, ethnohistoric analysis, and large‐scale survey ‐ heightened debate over the nature of the empire and its capital, Monte Alban, demonstrates that myriad key issues are poorly understood. The nature of those issues, however, is such that existing information cannot be used to address them. The settlement‐system information at hand was collected to address very limited topics, such as the number of sites in the valley and when they might have been occupied. The information is not usable for calculating population levels or for analyzing sociopolitical and economic systems.
Regulation of population cycles by genetic feedback: Existence of periodic solutions of a mathematical model

Populations of voles, and lemmings of the Northern hemisphere exhibit cyclic fluctuations with a cycle of three to four years. Krebs et al. presented evidence that the cycles are driven by changes in the genotypic structure of the population [9]. Incorporating some of their hypotheses we present a mathematical model of a one locus two allele population with density dependent selection and assuming a slow selection hypothesis, the existence of periodic solutions is proved. These solutions arise by Hopf bifurcation in δ1/¦β1¦, the ratio of the residual death and birth rates of the density sensitive homozygote.
A comparative study of two codes with an improved two-equation turbulence model for predicting jet plumes

Compressible jet plumes were studied using a two-equation turbulence model. A space marching procedure based on an upwind numerical scheme was used to solve the governing equations and turbulence transport equations. The computed results indicate that extending the space marching procedure for solving supersonic/subsonic mixing problems can be stable, efficient and accurate. Moreover, a newly developed correction for compressible dissipation has been verified in fully expanded and underexpanded jet plumes. For a sonic jet plume, no improvement in results over the standard two-equation model was seen. However for a supersonic jet plume, the correction due to compressible dissipation successfully predicted the reduced spreading rate of the jet compared to the sonic case. The computed results were generally in good agreement with the experimental data.
Modeling safety of highway work zones with random parameters and random effects models

This paper presents an investigation of traffic safety in highway work zones using detailed data obtained from the results of a survey of project engineers and existing datasets. The observations were organized in monthly clusters that correspond to individual work zones; and a two-level random parameters negative binomial model that reflected the structure of the observations was estimated. The safety effects of various work zone design and traffic management features were identified, including lane shift, lane split, and detour, whose safety effects have not been evaluated in past research. This new insight into highway work zone safety was accomplished thanks to the better data acquired and the improved statistical model. A fixed parameters negative binomial model with random effects then was estimated to check its viability as an alternative to the random parameters model when the sample's large size makes estimation of the latter challenging. From a practical standpoint, the marginal effects on crash frequency computed from the model with random effects were quite similar to those computed from the random parameters model. This result indicates that, at least in some cases, convenient fixed parameters models may be a practical alternative to random parameters models. Utilization of an entire sample to estimate these conventional models may further compensate a less advanced model specification. The obtained negative binomial model with random effects has become useful for programming police enforcement in highway work zones in Indiana.
Connections on the path bundle of a principal fiber bundle

Abstract Let (P, M, π, G) be a principal fiber bundle. In the first section of this paper, we consider the Frechet manifold PP of smooth paths in P along with important Frechet submanifolds such as the space PP of paths in P which emanate from some fixed point u0 ∈ P and the space π∗u0(Lx0M) of paths at u0 in P which project to the set Lx0M of loops of M at x0 = π(u0). These Frechet manifolds of paths of P are principal fiber bundles over corresponding path spaces of M with structure group a subgroup of the Frechet Lie group of paths in G. The main result of Section 1 asserts that each connection of P induces a global section of the principal bundle PuoP →PxoM and also of the bundle ∗πu0(Lx0M) → Lx0M. These sections may be used to show that both path bundles are trivial in the strong sense that they factor in the category of Frechet manifolds. Section 2 considers connections on various principal bundles of paths of P such as PP, PuoP, π∗uo(Pxo M) and π∗u0(Lx0M). Connections are defined as they usually are on any principal bundle except that the set of horizontal vectors þγ at a path γ is required to be a C∞(I, R )-submodule of the tangent space at γ for γ in PP, PuoP, π∗uo(Pxo M) or π∗u0(Lx0M). We show that generally connections in this context define, along each path γ in P, a set of “horizontal” subspaces of P with the assignment of “horizontal” spaces along one path generally differing from the assignment of “horizontal” spaces along another path even when the two paths share common points of P. We characterize which connections on path space are induced from connections on P. We use the triviality of PuoP → PxoM to obtain an easy criterion for defining connections on PuoP and its submanifolds. In Section 3, we show how the idea of a “connection” as introduced by Polyakov fits into the present context and characterize which connections on PuoP may be obtained from a function from T (PuoP) into the Lie algebra of G as in the Polyakov case.
Formation of galactolipids by chloroplasts

Chloroplasts of higher plants contain relatively large amounts of galactolipids (Wintermans, 1960). These have been shown to be α, β diglycerides (predominantly dilinolenin), with either one or two D-galactosyl residues attached to the third hydroxyl group of glycerol (Benson et, al., 1958; Carter et, al., 1961; Sastry and Kates, 1963a). In the present investigation it was found that isolated spinach chloroplasts catalyze the transfer of galactose from UDP-D-galactose-C14 to an endogenous acceptor, yielding alkali-labile products which are similar, though not identical, to the galactolipids isolated from plant material.
Relationships among Upland Development, Nitrogen, and Plant Community Composition in a Maine Salt Marsh

Salt marshes provide important ecosystem services, such as buffering the nutrient runoff from land to sea, and as nurseries for economically important fish species. Upland development in southern New England salt marshes has led to drastic increases in nitrogen runoff and associated changes in marsh diversity asSpartina alterniflora displaces high marsh species. How upland development impacts nitrogen levels and community parameters on northern New England salt marshes is not known. We assessed if upland development was associated with increased nitrogen and changes in plant community composition in a northern New England salt marsh. We found nitrate levels were higher in areas adjacent to development relative to those associated with intact upland, but that marsh nitrogen levels were generally much lower than those reported from southern New England. Areas associated with development had highTriglochin maritimum abundance but lowS. alterniflora abundance relative to areas with no upland development. Correlations between nitrate and plant abundance corroborated these patterns. Our work suggests that in northern New England salt marshes,T. maritimum, rather thanS. alterniflora, may be an early indicator of nitrogen runoff from upland development.
Relationship of fetal oxygen consumption and acid-base balance to fetal hematocrit☆

Abstract We evaluated the effects of alterations in fetal hematocrit on fetal oxygenation in 10 chronically catheterized fetal lambs. Hematocrit was varied from 10% to 55% by slow isovolemic exchange transfusions with plasma or packed red blood cells obtained freshly from donor fetuses. At each hematocrit studied, we measured umbilical blood flow (Q umb ) and the oxygen concentrations in umbilical venous blood (Cuv O 2 ) and arterial blood (Ca O 2 ) and calculated fetal oxygen delivery (Q umb · Cuv O 2 ), oxygen extraction [(Cuv O 2 − Ca O 2 ], and oxygen consumption [Q umb (Cuv O 2 − Ca O 2 )]. Fetal oxygen delivery was maximal at a fetal hematocrit of 33% (mean oxygen delivery=23 ml of oxygen per minute per kilogram of fetus) and decreased as hematocrit was raised or lowered from that value. Despite these reductions in oxygen delivery, fetal oxygen consumption was relatively stable (at about 7 ml of oxygen per minute per kilogram) at hematocrits ranging from about 16% to 48% because of compensatory increases in fetal oxygen extraction. Regardless of whether oxygen delivery decreased because of anemia or polycythemia, fetal oxygen consumption was maintained as long as oxygen delivery was greater than about 14 ml of oxygen per minute per kilogram of fetus. When oxygen delivery was
QUALITATIVE EVALUATION OF TASTE STIMULI BY CROSS‐MODALITY MATCHING WITH A COLOR SYSTEM: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

The taste quality of 27 stimuli equi-intense to 100 mM NaCl was described by 10 subjects using cross-modality matching with Munsell colors. Subjects were instructed to use one color for each perceived taste quality. An initial set of 9 stimuli covering the range of taste qualities was used by the subjects to build their own spectrum of colors to match taste qualities. Subjects then used their system to describe the quality of 18 sweet and/or bitter stimuli. All subjects were able to develop and consistently use Munsell colors to describe taste quality. This psychophysical method for taste description could allow for a better discrimination among taste stimuli than the traditional use of five adjectives. Three-dimensional plots in L, a, b coordinates of the color spaces produced by the subjects suggest sweetness and bitterness may not be unitary qualities, and that semantics may not be sufficient to describe taste quality.
Spatial econometrics of multiregional growth: The case of India*

The focus of this paper is the simultaneous growth of a system of spatial units with India the case for empirical testing. The framework used to model the multiregional dynamics is consistent with spatial theory and spatial econometrics. It builds on the work by Arbia and Paelinck, which proposes a model based on the classical Lotka-Volterra predator-prey system to consider potential convergence dynamics of regions. The paper proposes a different method to estimate dynamic interdependencies and in its empirical exercise distinguishes between dynamics that may arise from geographic proximity and those that may arise from equivalent structures. Resumen Este articulo concentra su atencion en el crecimiento simultaneo de un sistema de unidades espaciales con la India como caso para estudio empirico. El marco utilizado para modelizar las dinamicas multirregionales esta en consonancia con la teoria espacial y la econometria espacial. Se basa en el trabajo de Arbia y Paelinck, que propone un modelo basado en el sistema clasico de predador-presa de Lotka-Volterra para considerar posibles dinamicas de convergencia regionales. El articulo propone un metodo diferente para estimar interdependencias dinamicas y en su desarrollo empirico distingue entre aquellas dinamicas que pueden resultar de la proximidad geografica y las que pueden resultar de estructuras equivalentes.
Teaching 2D arrays using real-time video filters

Educators have long been trying to spice things up in their introductory programming courses. Traditionally, two-dimensional arrays have been taught non-graphically using contrived examples and the command-line - which is often not motivating to students. We believe (as does supporting literature) that the inherently visual nature of a more media-oriented approach to teaching arrays, such as teaching using Image Processing, is more effective and more engaging for students. This teaching style can be extended to include real-time video filters, opening up a unique set of time-sensitive algorithms and making the traditional image processing transformations highly interactive.
IMITATION IN ANIMALS: EVIDENCE, FUNCTION, AND MECHANISMS

The terms sociallearning and social influence have been used descriptively and theoretically to characterize a broad range of animal behavior from physical antipredatory adaptations such as eye spots, which are totally under genetic control, to the human capacity for the exaggeration of individual characteristics, known as caricature, which are largely under cognitive control. In the present review, the various forms of social influence and social learning are identified and distinghished from imitation, a term that generally has been reserved for behavioral matching that cannot be accounted for using simpler specifically predisposed, motivational, or learning mechanisms. It is suggested that much of the ambiguity in the literature concerning the various forms of social learning can be attributed to the distinction between the function of a behavior and the mechanisms responsible for its occurrence. Finally, the various mechanisms that have been proposed to account for imitative learning are presented and...
Physician outcome measurement: review and proposed model.

As health care moves from a fee‐for‐service environment to a capitated arena, outcome measurements must change. ABC Children’s Medical Center is challenged with developing comprehensive outcome measures for an employed physician group. An extensive literature review validates that physician outcomes must move beyond revenue production and measure all aspects of care delivery. The proposed measurement model for this physician group is a trilogy model. It includes measures of cost, quality, and service. While these measures can be examined separately, it is imperative to understand their integration in determining an organization’s competitive advantage. The recommended measurements for the physician group must be consistent with the overall organizational goals. The long‐term impact will be better utilization of resources. This will result in the most cost effective quality care for the health care consumer
Characterization of the IL-6 Responsive Elements in the γ Fibrinogen Gene Promoter

Fibrinogen, a hepatically derived class II acute phase protein, is the product of three separate genes, (Aα, Bβ, and γ). The fibrinogen genes are expressed constitutively; however, their transcription can be significantly up-regulated by interleukin-6 (IL-6) and glucocorticoid. Inspection of the promoter region of the fibrinogen γ gene revealed three hexanucleotide clusters of CTGGGA that are recognized as class II IL-6 responsive elements. Functional analyses of these regions (designated here as site I, site II, and site III according to their position in the promoter) were performed using luciferase reporter constructs and show a hierarchy of IL-6 response in which site II was the preferred functional site, site I was the next important site, and site III was the site least responsive to IL-6. Gel mobility shift assays using 25-base pair oligonucleotide probes derived from these three regions with the CTGGGA positioned in the middle and nuclear extracts from IL-6-treated primary hepatocytes reveal the presence of IL-6-induced high molecular weight complexes appearing 5 min after cytokine treatment. Supershift assays using anti-Stat3 antibody indicate that Stat3 is part of the IL-6-induced complex formed on the three γ chain probes. The binding of Stat3 to the IL-6 responsive elements of the γ probes is significantly weaker than to an α2-macroglobulin probe. These findings show for the first time that Stat3 is involved in associating with the IL-6 responsive elements of fibrinogen γ chain, a class II acute phase gene other than α2-macroglobulin.
Pragmatic Comprehension in Japanese as a Foreign Language

This study developed an original instrument that measures pragmatic comprehension in Japanese as a foreign language (JFL). It examined the ability to comprehend implied meaning encoded in conventional and nonconventional features and the effect of proficiency on comprehension. There were 63 college students of Japanese at 2 proficiency levels who completed a listening test measuring their ability to comprehend 3 types of implied meaning: indirect refusals, conventional indirect opinions, and nonconventional indirect opinions. Comprehension was analyzed for accuracy (scores on a multiple-choice measure) and comprehension speed (average time taken to answer items correctly). There was a significant effect of item type on accuracy but not on comprehension speed. A proficiency effect was observed on accuracy but not on comprehension speed. Analyses of error data and introspective verbal reports revealed the nature of comprehension difficulty among JFL learners.
The effect of caffeine on the ultraviolet light induction of SV40 virus from transformed hamster cells.

The effect of caffeine on the uv light induction of SV40 virus from two transformed hamster cell lines heterogeneous for the induction of infectious virus was studied. The amount of virus induced was significantly increased in both cell lines when exposure to uv light was followed by treatment with caffeine. Caffeine in the absence of uv irradiation did not stimulate virus induction, nor did it stimulate SV40 replication in a lytic infection. There was an apparent difference in the concentrations of caffeine which maximally stimulated SV40 virus induction in the two cell lines. This effect could not be explained by differences in cell survival after exposure to uv light and caffeine. Since caffeine is known to cause the accumulation of gaps formed in DNA during postreplication repair of uv-irradiated rodent cells, our results support the hypothesis that the formation of gaps or breaks in DNA is an important early step in virus induction.