cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surfactant protein A and D polymorphisms and methylprednisolone pharmacogenetics in donor lungs

Abstract Objective Surfactant proteins A and D are important molecules involved in lung allograft innate immunity. Genetic polymorphisms of surfactant proteins A and D are associated with various lung diseases. In this study, surfactant protein A and D expression responses were investigated during pharmacogenetics upon methylprednisolone treatment as observed during lung transplantation. Methods A human cell line (NCI-H441) and precision-cut lung slices from 16 human donors were incubated with methylprednisolone, and surfactant protein A1, surfactant protein A2, and surfactant protein D messenger RNA and surfactant protein A protein expression were assayed. Surfactant protein A1, A2, and D polymorphisms and surfactant protein A gene and protein expressions were determined. Results In NCI-H441 cells, methylprednisolone treatment at 10−5 M and 10−6 M reduced surfactant protein A1 and surfactant protein A2 messenger RNA and surfactant protein A protein expression (P Conclusions The surfactant protein A genotype and methylprednisolone stimuli influence donor lung surfactant protein A and D expression. Lungs carrying the surfactant protein A2 variant 1A0 have a greater expression of surfactant protein A when treated with methylprednisolone. Surfactant protein A polymorphisms could be used to personalize immunosuppressive regimens.
Spring safflower water use patterns in response to preseason and in-season irrigation applications

Abstract The deep root system of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an important adaptive trait under rainfed conditions in semi-arid agriculture. Lower water requirements and ability to tolerate abiotic stresses make safflower a potential alternative crop for the Southern High Plains (SHP). However, information on water extraction patterns of safflower and its role in oil yield formation under center pivot irrigation system that keeps only the surface soil profile wet with frequent irrigations is limited. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted in a split-plot design at Clovis, New Mexico during 2012 and 2013 growing seasons to assess the soil water use patterns, evapotranspiration, and oil yield of two spring safflower cultivars under different preseason and in-season irrigation levels. Half of the experimental units received 164 and 153 mm of preseason irrigation in 2012 and 2013, respectively, while the other half remained unirrigated. Five in-season irrigation levels (I1–I5) ranging from 88 to 392 mm in 2012 and from 83 to 373 mm in 2013 were applied to preseason and no-preseason irrigation blocks. On average, safflower extracted 70 and 28 mm of stored soil moisture in the preseason and no-preseason irrigation treatments, which significantly increased evapotranspiration (ET), water use efficiency (WUE), and oil yield in preseason compared to no-preseason irrigation treatment. Average water extraction decreased with increasing level of in-season irrigation and a decline of 32, 27, and 25% in soil moisture at the end of the season compared to initial soil moisture were observed in I1, I3, and I5, respectively. Since, WUE was not much affected by in-season irrigation treatment in both years, limiting the in-season irrigation level to I4 can save 17% of irrigation with a corresponding 9% reduction in oil yield. The relatively smaller differences were observed for water extraction and WUE among the cultivars. Overall, safflower was able to use preseason irrigation water more efficiently in semi-arid SHP. Growers can pre-irrigate safflower and reduce its in-season irrigation to allocate more water to high water requirement traditional-crops such as corn.
Fracture toughness in shales using nano-indentation

Abstract Fracture toughness property is often ignored but has a significant impact on the hydraulic fracture design, i.e. length and height. It represents the resistance of the rock to hydraulic fracturing and is a direct indicator of rock fracability. It is difficult to measure fracture toughness in shales using current experimental procedures designed for conventional rocks largely due to mechanical and chemical instability in shales. This study measures fracture toughness in shales using nano-indentation. Nano-indentation can, in fact, be used to derive both tensile and shear dominated fracture toughness. The observations in the study show that while crack-length method derived fracture toughness is close to Mode I (tensile) fracture toughness, energy-method based fracture toughness is closer to Mode II (shear) fracture toughness. Fracture toughness was calculated for 67 samples in different shale formations namely Marcellus, Wolfcamp, Woodford and Eagle Ford. The results show that mineralogy had a strong control on fracture toughness. Fracture toughness decreases with increasing porosity, TOC (Total Organic Carbon) and clay content. The fracture toughness also shows strong anisotropy with fracture toughness measured parallel to the bedding planes being generally 33% higher than the corresponding values measured normal to the bedding planes. The fracture toughness shows a direct correlation with other mechanical properties like Young's modulus, hardness and brittleness. Typically, samples with fracture toughness values greater than 3 MPa m0.5 were found to be brittle based on Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio cross plots. Evaluation of fluid effects on fracture toughness shows that it decreases by 10–37% due to spontaneous imbibition with low salinity brines. This could help understand the impact of hydraulic fracturing fluid on fracture propagation and stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) creation.
Public understanding of wildlife tourism: defining terms, harms, and benefits

An online survey of the American public (n = 500) was used to explore perceptions of the effects of tourism on wildlife and definitions of key tourism terms. Results show that the public’s assessme...
Federal Securities Laws Should Protect Some Purchases of All or Substantially All of a Corporation's Stock

The federal securities laws were designed to protect purchasers of securities by ensuring adequate disclosure of material information regarding the security, issuer, and selling intermediaries. The author notes that a series of recent federal court decisions has formulated a virtual per se rule disallowing application of the federal securities law protections to transactions involving the purchase of all or substantially all the stock of a business. Although literally such "stock" would be subject to the securities law protections due to its inclusion in the statutory definition of 'Security," these recent decisions have held that acquisition of substantially all of the stock of a business conveys enough management control that disclosure and antifraud protection under the Acts is not warranted The author examines the emergent trend created by these decisions as well as Golden v. Garofolo, a Second Circuit decision which manifests a strong contrary reaction. He also examines the congressional intent behind/federal securities law protections and the true economic reality of investment decision making employed in the purchase of all or substantially all the stock of a business. The author concludes that the analysis employed in the recent trend of decisions and the emergence of a virtual per se rule contradict fundamental premises for federal securities law protections. He reasons that acquisition of management control, rather than being the determinative factor in denying securities law protections, is itself a critical factor in making an investment decision--one which is vulnerable to information failure and which consequently requires federal securities law protection.
Monte Carlo neutronics benchmarks on nuclear fuel depletion: A review

Abstract Monte Carlo (MC) neutronics codes are used widely for academic and industrial needs. Several schemes of coupling MC neutronics code with isotope generation and depletion code exist, which are used for performing nuclear fuel depletion simulations. These simulations can estimate the inventory of isotopes in neutron irradiated nuclear reactor fuel. However, the accuracy of these simulations shall be validated through experiments. MC codes are seldom validated by isotopic benchmarks compared to criticality benchmarks. This work compiles and analyzes the fuel depletion benchmarks and validations used to analyze the performance of MC-based fuel depletion neutronics codes. Analyses of these benchmarks and validations showed that the computed concentrations of 133Cs, 135Cs, 137Cs, 148Nd, 239Pu, 240Pu, and 241Pu in the irradiated fuel by the depletion codes agreed with the measured values within 10% error. However, the computed concentrations of 125Sb, 242Cm, 243Cm, 244Cm, 245Cm, and 246Cm had errors more than 15% compared to the measured values. Ventina depletion code showed the most accurate predictions for the greatest number of isotope concentrations compared to ORIGEN2 and CINDER90.
Tardive Dyskinesia

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is iatrogenic (drug-induced); hence the best strategy is prevention. Try to limit exposure to any dopamine receptor blocking agents (DRBAs) if possible. These agents may be unavoidable in some psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, but alternative therapies can be used in many situations, such as in the treatment of depression, anxiety, gastrointestinal conditions, and other neurologic conditions, including migraines and sleep disorders. When DRBAs are necessary, physicians should prescribe the smallest possible dose and try to taper and stop the drug at the earliest signs of TD. Abrupt cessation should be avoided, as this can worsen symptoms of TD. Always discuss and document the possibility of TD as an adverse effect when starting patients on DRBAs. If TD is mild and tolerable, the withdrawal of the offending agent is possible, and exposure to DRBAs was short, physicians should consider avoiding treatment and waiting for spontaneous recovery. When treatment is necessary, tetrabenazine (TBZ) is considered a potential first-line agent and is known to be one of the most effective drugs in treating TD, but it is expensive and adverse effects such as depression, akathisia and parkinsonism frequently occur. Therefore, second-line agents with better tolerability profiles are often tried first in practice. These include amantadine, benzodiazepines, beta-blockers, and levetiracetam. When using TBZ, adverse effects should be aggressively monitored. (Depression often can be managed with antidepressants, for instance). In patients with psychosis, withdrawal of the antipsychotic may not be possible. Switching to clozapine or quetiapine is one option to minimize TD. When these agents are contraindicated and the patient must continue using other atypical antipsychotic drugs, try to add dopamine-depleting agents such as TBZ or reserpine, but watch for the development of parkinsonism. When the symptoms are focal, such as tongue protrusion or blepharospasm, botulinum toxin injections can be very effective if spontaneous recovery does not occur. As a last resort, when disabling, life-threatening symptoms of TD persist despite all of the above-mentioned methods, some advocate resuming treatment with the DRBA to suppress symptoms of TD. This has the potential to worsen TD in the long run.
Safety of Wireless Power Transfer

Wireless power transfer (WPT) systems are developed to provide electric power either directly or via battery charging. The optimism on WPT technology is driven by the ubiquity of cellphones, laptops, and mobile communication devices. Aside from not having to plug in a cellphone or laptop, WPT battery charging offers the potential for mobile devices to get electrical power the same way they get data through harvesting ambient electromagnetic radiation. The dream is a truly wireless mobility scenario with tether-free electric power for cellphones, laptops, appliances, and transportation systems. Beyond wireless communication, the electromagnetic power required for large-scale commercial WPT implementation is substantial. A key facet of the system design and research should include consideration of health effects and safety of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation.
Real-Time Flow in Unstratified Shallow Water

A finite element model for prediction of time-dependent flow in shallow coastal areas is presented herein. The model is based upon the vertically integrated equations of motion combined with the hydrostatic assumption and is applicable to water bodies without vertical stratification. The time integration scheme evolves on a grid with variables staggered in time and is conditionally stable. Consistent treatment of boundaries is facilitated by the flexible grid layout, and the finite element method allows straightforward treatment of convective terms throughout the domain. All variables are defined at the same points in space. The model is applied to predict tidal flow and the flow induced by a hypothetical cooling water circulation system.
Moral Reasoning, Moral Pluralism, and the Classroom

In this essay I focus on a fundamental aspect of moral reasoning — the application and revision of a comprehensive moral framework. This is not the only type of moral reasoning nor, perhaps, the most important. It is, however, the most general and pervasive, marking the broad contours within which other types of moral reasoning are employed. After characterizing this kind of reasoning, I turn to moral pluralism. So long as individuals and groups enjoy a certain amount of freedom to think and act for themselves, there will be conflicts between good and important moral values and principles that cannot be resolved by reason. This is a fact, the fact of reasonable moral pluralism, that must be incorporated into the application and revision of our comprehensive moral frameworks. I conclude by discussing the implications of my accounts of moral reasoning and moral pluralism for the classroom.
THE THEORY OF INDEX-BASED FUTURES AND OPTIONS MARKETS*

Resumen: Este trabajo presenta una panoramica del desa­ rrollo de mercados de futuros y opciones basados en indices economicos. La tesis es que, aun cuando dichos mercados han crecido dramaticamente, su desarrollo podria ser mas extendido si al­ gunos problemas de medicion se pudieran resolver.
Soluble Amino Acid-incorporating System III. FURTHER STUDIES ON THE PRODUCT AND ITS RELATION TO THE RIBOSOMAL SYSTEM FOR INCORPORATION

Abstract The soluble amino acid incorporation system from Escherichia coli was fractionated by density gradient centrifugation and was shown to contain aminoacyl soluble ribonucleic acid (S-RNA) transfer factor, aminoacyl S-RNA synthetase, and acceptor molecules which accept amino acids from aminoacyl S-RNA, but direct evidence that aminoacyl S-RNA transfer factor participates in the soluble system is still lacking. The acceptor molecules are shown to be present also on the ribosomes. Thus the 14C-leucine or 14C-phenylalanine-labeled product of the soluble system was identical with the major product of the ribosomal system obtained in the absence of added messenger RNA. The product of the soluble amino acid incorporation system was digested by trypsin and subjected to paper chromatography and paper electrophoresis. At least four different radioactive components were obtained by these procedures. When 14C-leucine and 14C-phenylalanine are incorporated by the ribosomal system, without addition of messenger RNA, the major portion of the incorporated amino acids had free amino groups which were revealed by the dinitrofluoro-benzene technique for NH2-terminal analysis. This observation suggests that even with the conventional ribosomal system, if the incorporation was studied in the absence of added messenger, the major portion of 14C-leucine and 14C-phenylalanine incorporation is an addition of amino acid to the NH2 group of a preformed acceptor or to a lysine NH2 group in the internal linkage. This incorporation is tentatively called "NH2-group addition" to distinguish it from the usual incorporation representing a chain elongation through successive addition of amino acid at the COOH-terminal end. The NH2 group addition involving ribosomes is dependent on aminoacyl S-RNA, soluble enzymes, and the acceptor substance on ribosomes. It was sensitive to RNase and puromycin but was not dependent on added guanosine triphosphate or messenger RNA. Some release of radioactive product takes place from the ribosomes during the incorporation reaction.
Young professional discussion forum: Awaken the entrepreneurial genius in you!

This forum features speakers that are entrepreneurs in the field of engineering sharing their experience on building a successful company. They will highlight how their background i.e. academia, industry, etc. and experiences influenced their viewpoint and/or choices they made along the way. It includes a panel discussion exploring the need, challenges and rewards of successful engineering entrepreneurship including how some of these barriers can be avoided and/or overcome.
Ala-His Mediated Peptide Bond Formation Revisited

The historical origin of the translation machinery remainsunresolved. Although the large 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is almost certainly the catalytic component of the peptidyl transferase center in the modern ribosome, it is likely thatgreatly simplified systems were initially employed in the latestages of the prebiotic world. In particular, it has been suggested that small RNAs carrying amino acids were important forthe genesis of protein synthesis. Consistent with this, adipeptide, Ala-His, was previously claimed to be a prebioticallyfeasible catalyst mediating peptide bond formation in thepresence of aminoacylated tRNA and cognate mRNA template, in theabsence of other ribosomal components (Shimizu, 1996). We hereinreport a detailed study of putative dipeptide formation by Ala-His and RNAs carrying leucine. Based on the results presentedhere, it is unlikely that the dipeptide, Ala-His, catalyzessignificant levels of Leu-Leu dipeptide formation in solution. Aproduct is produced which can be readily mistaken for a dipeptidein the TLC separation systems employed in earlier work. We offerexplanations for the formation of this product as well as anotherunexpected product. The results presented here are consistentwith the notion that the translation machinery was likely basedon catalytic RNA from its very inception.
SOC and Multi-Core Debug: Are Design for Debug (DFD) features that are put in reuse cores sufficient for Silicon Debug?

Traditionally, developers of multi-core chips have relied upon system-level techniques such as boundary scan and external instrumentation to access internal signals during silicon debug. The system-on-a-chip (SoC) nature of the cell processor makes it more difficult to rely on these techniques, as the system bus is internal to the chip, and only a limited number of pins are accessible. The cell development team was thus presented with the challenge of designing a sufficient built-in facility that could provide visibility to critical nodes within cell's multiple partitions. The team answered this challenge with the design of cell's centralized trace logic analyzer. The cell trace logic analyzer is a powerful built-in tool that allows for debug and analysis of processor components by providing a window to internal signals. Its main components are the debug bus, match logic, state control logic, and trace array. The centralized approach allows for a high degree of user programmability and flexibility that would not otherwise be feasible under typical design constraints
System for audience participation in event scoring at the 2004 Olympic Games

In this paper we describe a system for audience participation in gymnastics and diving events scoring at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. The proposed system has six primary design goals: ease-of-use, scalability, low cost, scoring accuracy, portability and resistance to tampering. The system provides a simple and portable system that can be used for any sporting event where judge scores are reviewed by an audience. The supporting database design provides for statistical analysis and portability as well by providing a generalized database structure that can be easily adapted to any event as necessary. By using off-the-shelf technologies and open-source software, the solution provides for simple implementation, inexpensive hardware requirements, and easy software development.
The use of specific opioid agonists and antagonists to delineate the vagally mediated antinociceptive and cardiovascular effects of intravenous morphine

Intravenous (i.v.) administration of morphine produces a dose-dependent inhibition of the tail-flick (TF) reflex, depressor response, and bradycardia in the rat. Some of these effects depend on interactions of i.v. morphine with peripheral opioid receptors and the integrity of cervical vagal afferents. The present studies used the relatively specific mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptor agonists (DAGO, DPDPE or U-50,488H) and the relatively specific mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptor antagonists (beta-FNA, naloxonazine, naltrindole or nor-BNI) in either intact rats or rats with bilateral cervical vagotomy (CVAG) to delineate the vagal afferent/opioid-mediated components of these effects. I.v. administration of DAGO in intact rats produced a dose-dependent inhibition of the TF reflex, depressor response, and bradycardia virtually identical to those produced by i.v. morphine. All of these effects of either i.v. DAGO or i.v. morphine were significantly attenuated by either bilateral CVAG or pre-treatment with the mu 2 opioid receptor antagonist beta-FNA. Pre-treatment with the mu 1 opioid receptor antagonist naloxonazine affected i.v. DAGO-induced inhibition of the TF reflex and bradycardia, but had no significant effects on i.v. morphine-produced responses. I.v. administration of DPDPE produced a dose-dependent pressor response, but had no marked effects on the either the TF reflex or heart rate (HR). The pressor response was unaffected by either bilateral CVAG or pre-treatment with naltrindole, naloxone, hexamethonium, or bertylium. i.v. administration of U-50,488H produced a depressor response and bradycardia, but had no significant effect on the TF reflex. The depressor response and bradycardia produced by i.v. U-50,488H were unaffected by bilateral CVAG, but could be antagonized by pre-treatment with either nor-BNI or naloxone. These studies suggest that the vagal afferent-mediated antinociceptive and cardiovascular effects of i.v. morphine are primarily mediated by interactions with low affinity mu 2 opioid receptors.
Potato Yield, Petiole Nitrogen, and Soil Nitrogen Response to Water and Nitrogen

Detection of high NO 3 concentrations in domestic wells has led to concern about excessive fertilizer N use in crop production. A potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Russet Burbank) experiment was initiated to examine the effect of water and N on potato yield and quality, tuber N concentrations, petiole NO 3 concentrations, and N distribution in the soil. The field trial consisted of a line-source irrigation system with six water rates (0.33, 0.66, 1.00, 1.10, 1.20, and 1.30 times crop evapotranspiration ET c ) each having six planting-time N rates (0, 56, 112, 168, 224, and 448 kg ha -1 ) replicated four times with treatments applied to the same plots in two successive years on a Pittville sandy loam (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Argixerolls). Yields were significantly increased with water, averaging 14.1 to 54.4 Mg ha -1 in 1992 and 20.8 to 46.5 in 1993. Nitrogen rate significantly increased yield in 1993, averaging 28.7 to 44.1 Mg ha - 1 ,but not in 1992. Residual soil profile NO 3 -N (1040 mg kg -1 ) present at planting time in the first cropping season was utilized, denitrified, or leached from the top 150 cm of soil by above-normal winter rainfall before the beginning of the second season. At the end of the second season, low NO 3 -N concentrations were observed in soil profiles receiving 0, 112, and 224 kg N ha -1 , whereas a concentration of 1050 mg kg -1 was found in the 0- to 60-cm depth of soil with the 448 kg N ha - rate. High residual soil N in 1992 resulted in N use efficiency (NUE) for tubers of >200 g kg -1 ; in the 1993 season, however, NUE was > 300 g kg -1 . Near-maximum yields were obtained with 1.10 to 1.20 ET c applied water and 0 to 56 kg N ha -1 in 1992 and with 1.10 to 1.30 ET c applied water and 168 to 224 kg N ha -1 in 1993.
Numerical Solutions of Cauchy-Riemann Equations for Two and Three-Dimensional Flows

For two-dimensional flows, the conservation of mass and the definition of vorticity comprise a generalized Cauchy-Riemann system for the velocity components assuming the vorticity is given. If the flow is compressible, the density is a function of the speed and the entropy, and the latter is assumed to be known. Introducing artificial time a symmetric hyperbolic system can be easily constructed. Artificial viscosity is needed for numerical stability and is obtained from a least-squares formulation. The augmented system is solved explicitly with a standard point relaxation algorithm which is highly parallelizable. For an extension to three-dimensional flows the continuity equation is combined with the definitions of two vorticity components, and are solved for the three velocity components. Second-order accurate results are compared with exact solutions for incompressible, irrotational, and rotational flows around cylinders and spheres. Results for compressible (subsonic) flows are also included
A comparison of household mobility for owned manufactured, traditional owned, and rental units using the American Housing Survey

Abstract This study employs data from the national sample of the American Housing Survey to analyze the mobility decisions of families in owned manufactured housing in comparison to families in traditional owned homes and rental units. Specifically a continuous time probability model (CTM) is used to estimate the likelihood of these families moving over the period of 1993–2001. In general, the empirical work suggests that families occupying both owned manufactured housing and traditional owned housing are associated with lower probabilities of moving than comparable households in rental units. Of particular interest is the fact that, ceteris paribus, families in both traditional owned homes and owned manufactured housing exhibit negative duration dependence, or a decreasing probability of moving over time, while for those in rental units duration dependence is positive. These differences are important because of their potential implications for long-term neighborhood stability and, as such, the viability of manufactured housing as an affordable housing alternative for lower income families.
A rheological study of long branching in polyethylene by blending

Steady shear viscosities, dynamic viscosities and moduli, and the corresponding activation energies for flow were examined for a branched polyethylene, a linear polyethylene, and three of their blends at 150° and 190°C. The polyethylenes were chosen to have closely matched molecular weights and distributions. An R-17 Weissenberg rheogoniometer and an Instron capillary rheometer were used. At lower stress, the branched polymer had a higher viscosity than the linear one, possibly because of the contribution of long branches to entanglements. At high stress, this contribution is reduced and the inherently smaller coil dimensions likely become responsible for the lower viscosity of the branched polymer. The activation energy for the branched polymer is high and decreases with stress, in contrast to the low and almost-constant value for the linear polymer. The effects here of pressure on compression are considered. The entanglements of long branches may also decrease with increasing temperature. With decreasing stress, the activation energy for branched polymer tends to become constant, corresponding to an absence of pressure effects and an equilibrium entanglement of long branches for a given temperature range. The linear relationship between activation energy and blend composition problably means that any compressional effects, like free volume, are additive and that long-branch entanglements rearrange with added linear molecules. The linearity may be the result, in part, of a broad distribution for the lengths of long branches.
Genetic Recombination in Germinated Oospores of Phytophthora infestans

THE sexual process of the heterothallic fungus, Phytopthora infestans (Mont.) De Bary, in Mexico1,2 has long been suspected of being an important source of variation in the pathogenesis of new isolates to resistant varieties of potato2. Although various investigators2–6 have reported a low percentage of germination of oospores from controlled crosses in the laboratory, there is little information about the role of sexuality. In some of our experiments as much as 64.0 per cent of the oospores germinated. In this communication, we will briefly describe the variation in pathogenesis and compatibility type of progeny from single germinated oospores.
Cultured keratinocyte sheets enhance spontaneous re-epithelialization in a dermal explant model of partial-thickness wound healing.

An in vitro model for partial-thickness cutaneous wound healing is described in which the influence of variables present in vivo, such as blood-borne factors and inflammatory cells, is eliminated. Dermal sheets of porcine skin are maintained in culture at the air-liquid interface in serum-free medium, and re-epithelialization from the keratinocytes of the hair infundibula can be studied. Dermal sheets of different thicknesses harvested from various depths were first evaluated for viability and regenerative potential in serum-supplemented medium. Mid-dermal plants, 20/1000 inch thick, showed the greatest epithelial outgrowth from the appendigeal keratmocytes and the longest viability in vitro. Explants of this type were used in all subsequent experiments. The effects of growth factors on re-epithelialization of the explants were studied in a serum-free environment. Epidermal growth factor, cholera toxin, bombesin, and insulin-like growth factor alone and in various combinations were applied to the explant surface in aqueous solutions by micropipette. Outgrowth was assessed by computerized morphometric analysis (RS/1 program by BBN) at days four and eight. Among all factors tested, cholera toxin alone and in combination with insulin-like growth factor produced the greatest epithelial outgrowth. Nevertheless, topical applications of growth factors failed to induce complete re-epithelialization within the experimental time frame. In contrast, explants to which cultured human keratinocyte sheets were topically applied regenerated a confluent and regularly stratified epidermis within 6 d.
Factors adversely influencing retail patronage: an empirical investigation in the USA

Researchers have shown that there is a relationship between the retail environment and revenue in retail and service outlet stores, satisfaction and product selections and evaluations. A consumer's retail experience is affected by their emotional states, retail store attributes and parking facilities. The purpose of the present study is to identify those factors likely to affect negatively retail patronage. Focus group interviews identified 19 negative attributes. A survey instrument was developed and randomly administered via mall intercept. The factors that adversely influence the retail consumer perceptions of a retail store in order of importance are personnel related, product and pricing related, hygiene related, store ambience, parking convenience and shopping convenience. Factor importance across demographic groups was analysed. The results of this study suggest the areas of potential concern to which retail management should develop proactive strategies. Finally, implications and directions for future research are discussed.
The Effects of Membership and Demographics on Consumer Satisfaction and Loyalty in Service Organizations

Service organizations that require customer membership must monitor and evaluate consumer retention, satisfaction, and loyalty. A common problem in member-based service organizations is that some consumers leave the organization and then return. Levels of consumer satisfaction and loyalty are likely different between those who continue their membership and those who let their membership lapse. This research assesses consumer satisfaction and loyalty of 8,376 U.S. Masters Swimming current members. Results indicate that age, marital status, and number of children impact membership mode (continuous or lapsed) and that membership mode impacts several measures of both loyalty and satisfaction.
OPT++: An object-oriented toolkit for nonlinear optimization

Object-oriented programming is a relatively new tool in the development of optimization software. The code extensibility and the rapid algorithm prototyping capability enabled by this programming paradigm promise to enhance the reliability, utility, and ease of use of optimization software. While the use of object-oriented programming is growing, there are still few examples of general purpose codes written in this manner, and a common approach is far from obvious. This paper describes OPTpp, a Cpp class library for nonlinear optimization. The design is predicated on the concept of distinguishing between an algorithm-independent class hierarchy for nonlinear optimization problems and a class hierarchy for nonlinear optimization methods that is based on common algorithmic traits. The interface is designed for ease of use while being general enough so that new optimization algorithms can be added easily to the existing framework. A number of nonlinear optimization algorithms have been implemented in OPTpp and are accessible through this interface. Furthermore, example applications demonstrate the simplicity of the interface as well as the advantages of a common interface in comparing multiple algorithms.
Viruses of waterfowl

Abstract Viral disease can cause substantial mortality in wild populations of ducks as well as domesticated geese and ducks. Migrating and captive waterfowl play a role in the dynamics and epidemiology of some viruses that also infect humans, such as influenza virus and West Nile virus. Crowded farm conditions favor the transmission of infectious disease agents among birds. Disease transmission is further facilitated by the comingling of wild anatids with nonmigratory resident waterfowl flocks in zoological parks or on farms. The following article will emphasize the most important viral diseases of waterfowl and briefly cover the newer diseases of suspected viral etiology in this group of birds. As viral detection and identification techniques become more and more sophisticated, and as the study of wildlife diseases increases, new viruses will be discovered and new diseases will be encountered. More research into the viral diseases of waterfowl is needed; the implementation of the latest techniques in molecular epidemiology in addition to the "gold standard" techniques such as virus isolation and histopathology, will yield insight into how viruses move from species to species and from region to region.
Necrotizing and Eosinophilic Masticatory Myositis in Farmed Mink: a Preliminary Description

This report describes necrotizing and eosinophilic myositis affecting the masticatory muscles of a group of mink. Affected animals demonstrated sudden death with marked subcutaneous oedema over the dorsal head. The temporalis and masseter muscles were pale, swollen and friable. Histologic changes consisted of varying degrees of myodegeneration, myonecrosis and inflammation. Eosinophils were prominent in the inflammatory infiltrate. Similar to dogs, masticatory muscles in mink were found to contain unique type 2M fibres, suggesting a possible target for an immune response. Aerobic and anaerobic tissue cultures of the affected musculature revealed no significant pathogens. Histological and nutritional analyses were not typical of vitamin E/selenium deficiency. This case series supports the existence of a novel disease entity in mink with some features comparable with masticatory muscle myositis in dogs.
A Retrospective Examination of the Similarity Between Clinical Practice and Manualized Treatment for Childhood Anxiety Disorders

Abstract The objective of this study was to facilitate the bidirectional communication between researchers and clinicians about the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder. Forty-four children were assessed before and after cognitive behavioral treatment with the parent versions of the Spence Child Anxiety Scale and Child Sheehan Disability Scale. In this retrospective study, treatment sessions were coded for the presence of exposures, relaxation, anxiety management, and behavior management. Results showed improved functioning within the clinical sample and suggested that treatment could be shorter, with exposure exercises implemented earlier in the course of treatment than described in manuals. Moreover, improvements in functioning were positively related to the use of exposures, and negatively related to the use of other anxiety management strategies. These results are discussed in the context of efforts to increase the availability of evidence-based treatments and are interpreted as supporting the development of more flexible treatment manuals.
SU‐FF‐T‐147: Improved Calibration Method of EDR Films for IMRT‐QA

Purpose: Due to film processing variation and the optical density not being linear with the dose, a full calibration has to be obtained for every IMRT‐QA with film. We are proposing the application of a linearization method and the use of a single dose calibration EDR film for relative and absolute dose measurement in IMRT‐QA. Method and Materials: The linearization method was studied for the EDR films using 6, 10 and 15 MV photon beams. The films were developed in a Konica film processor, then scanned with a Vidar VXR‐16 scanner and analyzed using RIT‐114 version 4.1. A standard 30‐point calibration curve was obtained with the 6 MV beam. Using the method developed in a previous paper, a curve fitting was obtained for a sigmoid expression modulated by a 3rd degree polynomial: ApparentDose = b (1+ a 1 x + a 2 x 2 + a 3 x 3 ) [ log ( m )− log ( m − x )] ; where x is the net optical density, m is the net saturation density, b, a1, a2 and a3 are parameters of the model. Results: A value of 1870.1945 was obtained for b that is a parameter related to the dose unit. The net saturation density was 3.5587 for our system. The parameters a1, a2 and a3 are, respectively, −0.4551, 0.1167, −0.0134. For every IMRT‐QA a spreadsheet is used to obtain a 70 point calibration curve for RIT, using only one exposed film developed together with the composed and enface films, obtaining <5% uncertainty. Conclusion: Some softwares are available to make film dosimetry in IMRT QA less cumbersome, however daily calibration still remains a time consuming procedure. Absolute dosimetry requires a full calibration every time film is used. The linearization method presented here is being used in our department for isodose comparison and for absolute measurement at calculation point. The overall time is reduced while obtaining uncertainty comparable to the existing methods.
Remembering the Forgotten Number Ones: A Reflection of My Middle School Teaching Experience

This is a personal account of the author's naivete, growth, and hope as a literacy educator after she left her position as a university professor to teach reading to young adolescents. She describes how her experience and academic expertise did not fully prepare her for the realities of working in a middle school and how she became more aware of the need to improve adolescent literacy instruction and more sensitive to adolescents with reading and writing difficulties. By describing the literacy life of one adolescent, the author illustrates inadequate assessment and learning conditions and her frustrations and concerns with our current educational system. She concludes with concrete recommendations that can be implemented in a comprehensive literacy program.
Still seeking: signposts of things to come

This year (1995) the latest news is about who is making what for publication on the World Wide Web. The good news is that we now have a primitive infrastructure capable of delivering most of the multimedia objects and functions we once thought essential. The bad news is that this infrastructure is currently underpowered and extremely cumbersome to use. As a desktop publishing medium, the World Wide Web hearkens to the old model of pamphleteering, where anyone has the right to advertise opinion without censorship or editorial interference. How far can we go down this aesthetically and sociologically independent path before regulation and other forces converge to tame it, imposing a layer of moderation or editorial control between author and audience?.
Ground states and quasiparticle excitations of the Anderson lattice model

Abstract A variational method described previously has been extended to provide a simple and explicit realization of the Luttinger picture of a periodic Fermi liquid. The result can also be viewed as a renormalized band theory. This provides a general framework for understanding the electronic structure of periodic valence fluctuation systems.
Functional subsets of neurons in somatosensory thalamus of the cat

Abstract Functional properties of somatosensory thalamic neurons isolated within a region encompassing nucleus ventralis posterolateralis were studied in chloralose-anesthetized cats. A sample of these neurons responding to electrical stimulation of the contralateral forepaw was reconstructed by pooling data from 46 individual animals on the basis of unit spatial location. Seventy percent of the 640 neurons studied responded only to the contralateral forepaw; they had small receptive fields as determined by natural stimulation, generally on the digits and the dorsum of the paw, and 75% of this group were excited by light touch or deflection of hairs. Thirty percent of the neurons studied responded to the contralateral forepaw and to other limbs as well, their larger receptive fields often being bilateral. Approximately 50% of these wide-field neurons were excited by gentle mechanical stimulation. Some cells of this type were identified as projection neurons by virtue of their antidromic activation from the S I forepaw area of cerebral cortex. The wide-field neurons described here are not adequately explained as vestigial aberrations persisting at the feline stage in an evolutionary trend toward strictly somatotopic thalamic representation. Comparison of the dynamic response properties (latency, spikes per discharge, and frequency-following) of small- and wide-field somatosensory thalamic neurons suggests that they are activated via different input mechanisms and that each has a particular functional role in somesthesis.
Chromogenic values of 17-hydroxy corticosteroids in a modified Porter-Silber reaction.

Abstract A convenient semimicro modification of the original Porter-Silber assay has been described. Among fifteen 17,21-dihydroxy-20-ketosteroids tested in this procedure, cortisone, dihydrocortisone, and tetrahydrocortisone were strongly chromogenic. Hydrocortisone and Reichstein's substance S gave about one-third the color of cortisone, while the four corresponding dihydro compounds were about one-tenth as chromogenic as cortisone. Two tetrahydro analogs of hydrocortisone and two of Reichstein's substance S were practically nonchromogenic.
Sports-specific concerns in the young athlete: soccer.

This article on soccer marks the first of a biannual series on sports-specific injury. Sports-related injury in the young athlete has become an issue of increasing importance to both emergency physicians and the pediatric community at large. Across America, increasing numbers of children and adolesc
Policy Credibility and Sovereign Credit - The Case of New EU Member States

References to policy credibility, particularly with regard to fiscal policy, are ubiquitous in both economic literature and financial markets, even though it is not directly observable. The case of the EU new member states (NMS) - emerging markets joining a supranational entity that is generally considered to have higher policy credibility - provides a unique experiment to assess the effects of credibility on sovereign credit. This paper examines the impact of EU accession on three key variables that can reflect in varying degrees policy credibility: sovereign ratings, foreign currency spreads, and local currency yields. The results suggest that the NMS appear to have enjoyed higher credibility compared to their peers.
Analysis of T-cell subset proliferation at afebrile and febrile temperatures: differential response of Lyt-1+23- lymphocytes to hyperthermia following mitogen and antigen stimulation and its functional consequence on development of cytotoxic lymphocytes.

Abstract Poikilotherms are now known to increase their survival by behaviorally induced fevers in response to pathogenic infection. Increased host resistance to viral and bacterial infections has also been noted in homeotherms whose body temperature has been elevated by manipulation of ambient temperature. These observations suggest that fever may increase host resistance by augmenting acquired immunity; thus, this highly conserved response during evolution may provide a survival advantage against environmental pathogens. This possibility has prompted us to investigate the influence of a temperature characteristic of a modest fever in humans (39 °C) on T-cell proliferation and function. Our studies revealed that T-cell mitogenesis was enhanced when cultures were incubated at the febrile temperature (39 °C). Analysis of T-cell subsets demonstrated that temperature enhanced the mitogenic (Concanavalin A) response of Lyt-1 + 23 − splenocytes; in contrast, hyperthermia was deleterious to lectin-driven proliferation of the Lyt-1 − 23 + population even in the presence of large quantities of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2). B-cell mitogenesis was invariably inhibited by hyperthermia over a broad range of concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Although T-cell mitogenesis was enhanced at the febrile temperature, T-cell proliferation induced by alloantigens or by a murine pathogen, Sendai virus (SV), was diminished at the febrile temperature. Hyperthermia inhibited SV-induced proliferation of Lyt-1 + 23 − lymphocytes, indicating that a febrile temperature can either augment or inhibit T-cell proliferation of the same T-cell subset depending upon the activation signal (i.e., lectin or antigen). Because effector cell development depends upon antigen-induced clonal expansion (proliferation), we evaluated the influence of temperature on primary cytotoxic thymus (T)-derived lymphocyte (CTL) responses against alloantigens and secondary CTL responses against SV under afebrile and febrile conditions. We consistently observed that the induction of alloreactive and virus-specific CTL was diminished in cultures incubated at the elevated temperature, suggesting that a thermosensitive event(s) exists in the progression of CTL derived from either CTL precursors (CTLp) or memory CTL. Furthermore, hyperthermia reduced the number of SV-specific CTL detectable by limiting dilution analysis, suggesting that another event independent of clonal expansion was thermolabile during effector cell development. In view of these results, we suggest that it may be premature to conclude that the observed increase in host resistance induced by a febrile state is mediated by enhanced cell-mediated immunity.
Fifteenth International Conference on X-ray Absorption Fine Structure

The 15th International Conference on X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS15) was held at the Pullman Beijing West Wanda Hotel in Beijing, China, on July 22–28, 2012. The conference was chaired by Ziyu Wu (Chinese Academy of Sciences). In conjunction with XAFS15, the workshop “XAFS theory and nano particles” was held July 18–20, 2012, in Chiba, Japan, and chaired by T. Fujikawa.