cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Choosing greatness in leadership.

One of the questions that anyone who looks at the business school literature asks sooner or later is “Let’s get to the bottom line why do some companies do so well while others don’t even when other factors are the same.” This is one of the big questions, perhaps even the biggest that you can ask in the field of management. Two companies face similar costs, similar geography, and the same market issues. One succeeds, the other performs at a mediocre level or even worse. Is it leadership, is it technology, is it culture, is it history, or something else? What factor or factors really matter within a much larger ocean of possibilities? In this chapter, we will look at a short list of important factors that are at the heart of great leadership so that you can think about applying these in your group or department and in your career path.
Direct loading of polymer matrices in plastic microchips for rapid DNA analysis: A comparative study

We report the design and performance validation of microfluidic separation technologies for human identification using a disposable plastic device suitable for integration into an automated rapid DNA analysis system. A fabrication process for a 15-cm long hot-embossed plastic microfluidic devices with a smooth semielliptical cross section out of cyclic olefin copolymer is presented. We propose a mixed polymer solution of 95% w/v hydroxyethylcellulose and 5% w/v polyvinylpyrrolidone for a final polymer concentration of 2.5 or 3.0% to be used as coating and sieving matrix for DNA separation. This formulation allows preparing the microchip without pretreatment in a single-loading step and provides high-resolution separation (≈1.2 bp for fragments <200 bp), which is superior to existing commercial matrices under the same conditions. The hot-embossed device performance is characterized and compared to injection-molded devices made out of cyclic olefin copolymer based on their respective injector geometry, channel shape, and surface charges. Each device design is assessed by fluorescence videomicroscopy to evaluate the formation of injection plugs, then by comparing electropherograms for the separation of a DNA size standard relevant to human identification.
Prognostic significance of thyroid transcription factor-1 expression in both early-stage conventional adenocarcinoma and bronchioloalveolar carcinoma of the lung

Thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) is a diagnostic immunohistochemical marker for primary pulmonary neoplasms, but its utility as a prognostic marker is not well established. Surgical specimens from 100 cases of pulmonary adenocarcinoma were retrieved from the hospital computer system, including 50 cases of conventional adenocarcinoma (CA) and 50 cases of bronchioloalveolar adenocarcinoma (BAC) (32 nonmucinous type and 18 mucinous type). Representative sections were immunostained for TTF-1. Positive immunohistochemical study was correlated with other prognostic parameters. In the CA group, strong or moderate TTF-1 expression was seen in 30 of 50 (60%) patients and was associated with significantly better survival compared with those patients having weak staining (7 cases; 14%) or negative staining (13 cases; 26%) (P <0.01; log-rank test). Spearman and Pearson's correlation showed no significant correlation between TTF-1 expression and tumor grade, size, recurrence, or vascular invasion; therefore, TTF-1 was considered an independent predictor of survival. In the BAC group, TTF-1 was strongly expressed in 34 of 50 cases (68%) and was negative in 16 of 50 cases (32%), including 14 mucinous BACs. Although TTF-1 immunoreactivity was not statistically associated with good survival in BAC patients, those patients with strong immunohistochemical expression showed a trend toward longer survival. Our results indicate that TTF-1 positivity is an independent predictor of better survival, especially in patients with CA. Mucinous and nonmucinous BACs exhibit disparate staining patterns with TTF-1, with nonmucinous BAC demonstrating greater positivity. Although nonmucinous BAC patients showing strong positive staining had longer survival, the difference was not statistically significant, which is probably related to the overall good survival of patients with early-stage BAC.
Lessons in managed destination competitiveness: the case of Foxwoods Casino Resort

Abstract Foxwoods, which started as a Bingo gaming facility, has become the largest casino in the western world. It is one of the most competitive tourist destinations in the world and can teach a few lessons about managing competitiveness. The visionary entrepreneurial activity, strategic management decisions of its owners and the Mashantucket Pequots are the reasons for its existence and its success, not some circumstantial fluke. The Pequots understood the destination's potential initial advantage. They then sought to avoid that Foxwoods casino and resort slip into McGambling or wither in the face of increasing competition for the entertainment/leisure dollar in the eastern United States by modifying its market positioning. They are now nudging it toward a broadly diversified base of entertainment. All along they empowered their employees to support their clear mission for the resort. Part of their strategy is to transform southeastern Connecticut into a synergistic tourist destination for their and the region's benefit.
Dynamic load balancing algorithms for replicated data molecular dynamics

Algorithms to enhance parallel performance of molecular dynamics simulations on parallel computers by dynamic load balancing are described. Load balancing is achieved by redistribution of work based on either a history of time spent computing per processor or on the number of pair interactions computed per processor. The two algorithms we detail are designed to yield optimal load balancing on both workstation clusters and parallel supercomputers. We illustrate these methods using a small molecular dynamics kernel developed for the simulation of rigid molecular solvents. In addition, we discuss our observation regarding global communications performance on workstation clusters with a fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) using a high-speed point-to-point switch (Gigaswitch) and the k-ary 3-cube of the Cray T3D. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Optically pumped cw CH 2 DOH fir laser: New lines and frequency measurements

We have measured the output powers and relative polarizations of 66 cw FIR laser lines from CH2DOH (including 50 not previously reported), which were optically pumped by a CO2 laser. The frequencies of 43 of these lines were measured relative to stabilized CO2 lasers.
Development and evaluation of a forecasting system for fungal disease in turfgrass

A forecasting system for fungal infection of turfgrass using weather-based empirical indices (the ‘Fidanza’ and ‘Schumann’ models) was developed and evaluated for its ability to predict the occurrence of brown patch (Rhizoctonia blight) infection episodes at an experimental site in southeastern USA. Disease observations took place at the Turfgrass Field Laboratory in Raleigh, North Carolina between 8 June and 17 August 2003. Three meteorological data sources were used to generate disease risk indices using the empirical models: an on-site observing station, an observing station at a nearby airport, and the US National Weather Service’s operational Eta weather forecast model. Visual observations of brown patch activity were conducted in the field and used to evaluate the accuracy of the disease prediction models. Results indicate that the Fidanza and Schumann models correctly predicted brown patch activity on 48% and 30% of the days on which disease occurred, respectively. A diagnosis of the model performance of these disease indices was undertaken. Results are dependent on occurrence of high temperatures and rainfall and independent of the source of the meteorological information (on-site, airport and the Eta model); therefore, regional meteorological information can be effectively applied to develop turfgrass disease forecasting systems. Ongoing efforts are directed towards developing new disease indices and modifying existing indices before an operational disease forecasting system can be implemented.
A scalable dissemination service for the ISAM architecture

The ISAM architecture presents a platform to the development and to the execution of pervasive applications. DIMI (Disseminador Multicast de Informacoes - information multicast disseminator) is an information dissemination service designed for the ISAM architecture. DIMI seeks mainly to obtain scalability, avoiding bottlenecks formation while accepting new consumers on a channel. Besides the search for scalability, this service outfits other necessary characteristics of the computational environment proposed by the ISAM architecture, as planned disconnection support and user mobility support.
The Complementary Role of Dominant Designs and Industry Standards

Models of competition in innovative and standard-based industries have advanced considerably in recent years. Two terms that have become important competitive considerations are dominant designs and industry standards. This paper describes the potential for confusion between dominant designs and industry standards and attempts to clearly delineate between them. The role of standards is narrowly driven by the relative importance of network effects while dominant designs are persistent architectures with established implications for industries. However, standards are often important elements of dominant designs. There are many implications of this distinct, yet complementary, relationship between standards and dominant designs for managers. Perhaps the most important is that while dominant designs have been shown to presage industry shake outs, standards do not. In addition, a firm that establishes a dominant design does not often appear to reap competitive advantages from it, though one that establishes a standard may. Other implications for managers from this distinction are also discussed, including corporate strategy and first mover advantage
Chemotaxis of Pseudomonas syringae subsp. savastanoi Virulence Mutants

Abstract Several mutants of Pseudomonas syringae subsp. savastanoi were tested for their ability to sense and respond to a chemotactic gradient in low concentrations of yeast extract. The mutants were deficient in one or both of the genes coding for the synthesis of the plant hormones indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and isopentenyl adenosine. Mutations which resulted in the loss of IAA production were due to the loss of the entire plasmid containing the iaa operon or to an 18-kb deletion of the iaa region. Additional mutants tested were deficient in their ability to produce isopentenyl adenosine as a result of the loss of the ptz-bearing plasmid. In all cases, strains which had lost the ability to produce IAA exhibited enhanced motility of up to 2.5 times that of the wild type (IAA+) in medium containing 0.01% yeast extract. No differences in motility were observed on medium containing lower concentrations of yeast extract. The presence or absence of the cytokinin plasmid and the presence or absence of inorganic nitrogen in the medium had no effect on the relative mobility of the strains.
Benefit Transfer: A Review of Methodologies and Challenges

For policy makers, regulators and natural resource managers, the resources necessary for original empirical resource valuations are often unavailable. A common alternative to original valuation studies is the practice of benefit transfer—the use of an empirical value estimate or estimates from a previous study or studies for application in a similar context. In order to reduce the error inherent in applying values from one parcel of land to another, researchers commonly use meta-analysis, or the “study of studies”, to provide a more thorough and statistically valid value estimate for use in a benefit transfer. In the practice of benefit transfer, much emphasis has been placed on improving the validity of values for transfer, but fewer studies have focused on the appropriate application of the established estimates. In this article, several often disregarded concerns that should be addressed when practicing benefit transfer are identified. A special focus is placed on spatial considerations and the recent progress that has been made to incorporate spatial trends. Geographic information systems (GIS) are advocated as a useful tool for incorporating the spatial aspects of benefit transfer. Consensuses and trends in the literature are acknowledged, and areas of potential improvement are highlighted.
Rural land-use trends in the conterminous United States, 1950-2000

In order to understand the magnitude, direction, and geographic distribution of land-use changes, we evaluated land-use trends in U.S. counties during the latter half of the 20th century. Our paper synthesizes the dominant spatial and temporal trends in population, agriculture, and urbanized land uses, using a variety of data sources and an ecoregion classification as a frame of reference. A combination of increasing attractiveness of nonmetropolitan areas in the period 1970-2000, decreasing household size, and de- creasing density of settlement has resulted in important trends in the patterns of developed land. By 2000, the area of low-density, exurban development beyond the urban fringe occupied nearly 15 times the area of higher density urbanized development. Efficiency gains, mechanization, and agglomeration of agricultural concerns has resulted in data that show cropland area to be stable throughout the Corn Belt and parts of the West between 1950 and 2000, but decreasing by about 22% east of the Mississippi River. We use a regional case study of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions to focus in more detail on the land-cover changes resulting from these dynamics. Dominating were land-cover changes associated with the timber practices in the forested plains ecoregions and urban- ization in the piedmont ecoregions. Appalachian ecoregions show the slowest rates of land- cover change. The dominant trends of tremendous exurban growth, throughout the United States, and conversion and abandonment of agricultural lands, especially in the eastern United States, have important implications because they affect large areas of the country, the functioning of ecological systems, and the potential for restoration.
Equilibrium or indeterminate? Where sediment budgets fail: Sediment mass balance and adjustment of channel form, Green River downstream from Flaming Gorge Dam, Utah and Colorado

This study examines bed and bank adjustment in the 105-km reach of the Green River immediately downstream from Flaming Gorge Dam by the use of historical aerial and oblique photographs, analysis of current and abandoned stream-gaging records, and field observations. Although this segment has been previously characterized as sediment deficient, these data show that sediment is accumulating in all reaches and that the bed has not degraded at any location where historical data are available. Adjustment is occurring through a combination of deposition of post-dam sediment and stabilization of pre-dam deposits, resulting in a 10–30% reduction in average width of the channel. All post-dam surfaces are colonized by woody riparian vegetation. The style of channel adjustment varies between geomorphically defined reaches. In canyons dominated by debris fans and gravel-bedded restricted meandering reaches, gravel bars have become inactive and accumulated fine sediment. In the sand-bedded meandering reaches, existing islands have increased in size and new mid-channel islands have formed. In all of these types of reaches, post-dam deposits line the banks and sediment has accumulated in side-channels that previously separated islands from the bank. These findings demonstrate that sediment budgets that show a balance between inputs and outputs cannot necessarily be interpreted to indicate channel equilibrium. A sediment mass balance for 150-km reach between the dam and the first long-term gage indicates approximate balance of inputs and outputs for the pre- and post-dam periods. When uncertainty in budget components is considered, the mass balance is indeterminate. Although the Green River may have been in approximate equilibrium in the pre-dam period, we have shown that channel width is decreasing in the post-dam period. The post-dam deposits constitute a small but a significant component of the sediment budget upstream from the first major tributary. Sediment is supplied to this reach by small tributaries and, to a lesser extent, erosion of pre-dam alluvium. Downstream from the study area, the volume of the post-dam deposits is tiny relative to the volume of sediment input from the first major tributary. D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Feasibility Analysis of Aircraft Landing Scheduling for Non-Controlled Airports

** † Advanced technologies are needed to enhance the transportation capabilities of the nation’s small aircraft transportation network, and thus relieve the congestion of the hub airports. The existing air transport system cannot fully meet the public demand for safety, higherspeed mobility, and increased accessibility since the current hub-and-spoke model concentrates a large percentage of the air traffic at a few hub airports. To alleviate this problem, current operational concepts and procedures will change and be improved to make practical use of the roughly five thousand existing public-use-landing facilities. A previous paper by the authors developed a basic approach/departure system for non-controlled airports, using an intelligent agent system. This paper extends that work, and addresses aircraft landing scheduling issues for non-controlled airports. The basic problem of aircraft landing scheduling is described, followed by an aircraft landing scheduling model for the single runway case at non-controlled airports. Two different scheduling algorithms, consisting of linear programming and job shop scheduling, are proposed to complete the feasibility analysis. Required simulation methodologies and capabilities are presented with a full description of software and hardware facilities. Finally, numerical results are presented which support the development.
Retrieval of remote radiance reflection coefficients of coastal waters from the inherent optical properties

Upwelling spectral radiances from the water surface and in situ inherent optical properties are measured concurrently at the same locations. Values of spectral radiance reflectance coefficients are derived from in situ data and compared with those obtained from spectral radiance data. An algorithm for estimating reflectance coefficients based on attenuation and absorption data is proposed and evaluated. This algorithm is based on the theoretically derived equations and the experimentally obtained regressions that connect scattering and backscattering coefficients. Overall comparison of derived and measured radiance coefficients shows that this algorithm is suitable for processing ground truth data for the purposes of calibration remote and in situ optical measurements.
Assessment of a retrovirus sequence and other possible risk factors for the chronic fatigue syndrome in adults

Objective: To assess whether the human T-lymphotropic virus type 2 (HTLV-II) gag gene sequence, a purportedly new laboratory marker of the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and other possible risk fa...
Temperature-Dependent Size-Controlled Nucleation and Growth of Gold Nanoclusters

The electrochemical method of synthesis of gold nanorods in micelles gives substrate solutions that upon spotting and heating on a transmission electron microscope (TEM) substrate result in the nucleation and growth of small gold nanoclusters of narrow size distribution. The size of the nanoclusters, and not their numbers, is found to increased with increasing final temperature to which the substrate is heated. The data are fitted to a mechanism, based on Ostwald ripening in which atomic gold diffusion followed by nucleation on nucleating sites leads to the formation of these small clusters.
Building realistic mobility models from coarse-grained traces

In this paper we present a trace-driven framework capable of building realistic mobility models for the simulation studies of mobile systems. With the goal of realism, this framework combines coarse-grained wireless traces, i.e., association data between WiFi users and access points, with an actual map of the space over which the traces were collected. Through a sequence of data processing steps, including filtering the data trace and converting the map to a graph representation, this framework generates a probabilistic mobility model that produces user movement patterns that are representative of real movement. This is done by adopting a set of heuristics that help us infer the paths users take between access points. We describe our experience applying this approach to a college campus, and study a number of properties of the trace data using our framework.
THE GOLGI APPARATUS IN CHICK CORNEAL EPITHELIUM: CHANGES IN INTRACELLULAR POSITION DURING DEVELOPMENT

The intracellular position of the Golgi apparatuses in the basal cell layer of the corneal epithelium in embryonic and hatched chicks has been studied in the light microscope by impregnating the Golgi apparatus with silver. During two distinct periods in development the Golgi apparatuses in the basal cells shift from an apical to basal position. Each of these periods correlates in time with the appearance of an acellular collagenous matrix beneath the epithelium. Examination of the basal epithelial cells in the electron microscope confirms the intracellular shifts in position of the Golgi apparatus. The results suggest that the Golgi apparatus shifts to the basal cell pole of the corneal epithelium in order to excrete connective tissue materials into the developing corneal stroma.
Using Multiple Interviewers in Qualitative Research Studies: The Influence of Ethic of Care Behaviors in Research Interview Settings.

This study considered the methodological implications of a qualitative study that involved two research practitioners as interviewers, one male and one female, who conducted semistructured cognitive interviews with middle school students. During the reading and analysis of interview transcriptions, differences were noted between the interviewers' interactions with the students. Ethic of care behaviors noted by Hayes, Ryan, and Zseller were evident in the interviews. Data analysis found differences in the frequency of both positive and negative ethic of care behaviors exhibited by each interview and possibly influenced by gender. Implications for the methodological designs of studies involving semistructured cognitive interviews conducted by multiple researchers are discussed.
Imaging longitudinal cardiac strain on short‐axis images using strain‐encoded MRI

This article presents a new method for measuring longitudinal strain in a short-axis section of the heart using harmonic phase magnetic resonance imaging (HARP-MRI). The heart is tagged using 1-1 SPAMM at end-diastole with tag surfaces parallel to a short-axis imaging plane. Two or more images are acquired such that the images have different phase encodings in a direction orthogonal to the image plane. A dense map of the longitudinal strain can be computed from these images using a simple, fast computation. Simulations are conducted to study the effect of noise and the choice of out-of-plane phase encoding values. Longitudinal strains acquired from a normal human male are shown.
Inhibition of seed germination by extracts of bitter Hawkesbury watermelon containing cucurbitacin, a feeding stimulant for corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Cucurbitacins are feeding stimulants for corn rootworm used in baits to control the adults of this insect pest. Corn rootworm larvae also feed compulsively on cucurbitacins. Cucurbitacins are reported to be gibberellin antagonists that may preclude their use as seed treatments for these soil-dwelling insects. The crude extract of a bitter Hawkesbury watermelon containing cucurbitacin E-glycoside significantly inhibited germination of watermelon, squash, and tomato seeds. Although the germination of corn seed was not significantly inhibited, root elongation was inhibited by crude extracts, but not by high-performance liquid chromatography-purified cucurbitacin E-glycoside. Therefore, the effects of the major components in the bitter watermelon extract (e.g., sugars) on seed germination and root elongation were determined. Pure sugars (glucose and fructose), at concentrations found in watermelon extract, mimicked the inhibition of seed germination and root elongation seen with the crude bitter Hawkesbury watermelon extract. Removal of these sugars may be necessary to use this extract as a bait for corn rootworm larvae as a seed or root treatment.
Automatic Construction Schedule Generation Method through BIM Model Creation

Building information modeling (BIM) has recently experienced rapid technological advancement and gained prevalence in the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. BIM models contain valuable information on buildings to support four-dimensional (4D) modeling that involves the integration of three-dimensional (3D) building components and time as specified in the onedimensional (1D) construction schedule. While 4D modeling has been proven to be useful in effective construction management, a critical challenge in current 4D modeling practice is the discrepancy between the element breakdown structure (EBS) of the BIM model and the work breakdown structure (WBS) of scheduling. This discrepancy leads to considerable time and effort being spent on matching and linking BIM model components and schedule activities. This paper presents a framework for automating the generation of construction schedules during the BIM model creation process. A matching and pairing mechanism between EBS and WBS was created to automate the matching and linking between BIM model elements and construction schedule activities. A prototype system was developed and tested to validate this framework. The proposed framework is expected to automatically generate detailed construction schedules during the development process of BIM models.
End Points of Traumatic Brain Injury Resuscitation

Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an insult severe enough to cause an acute and persistent loss of consciousness with a significant risk of death or disability. Worldwide, it is a leading cause of death, especially for younger people less than 50 years of age. Over the last two decades, we have made significant progress in our understanding of the pathophysiology of TBI. This however has not resulted in substantial improvements in outcome, as the incidence of TBI continues to increase and mortality rates remain relatively unchanged. To better understand the long-term outcome and end points in TBI resuscitation, tools to predict a patient’s prognosis becomes essential. In this review, we discuss the role of clinical assessment, as such the Glasgow Coma Scale and the Full Outline of UnResponsiveness Score, neuroimaging, including computed tomography (CT) and MRI, and current research innovations, such as the biomarkers, to predict TBI outcomes. Additionally, we describe the clinical implications of using prognostic models, such as the International Mission on Prognosis and Analysis of Clinical Trials in TBI (IMPACT) database models and the Corticosteroid Randomization after Significant Head Injury (CRASH) trial data models to calculate TBI outcome.
Recounts: Elections in Overtime

In the second half of the twentieth century, with the rise of television, Americans developed an expectation that at the end of Election Day-after dinner and after the polls closed-they could turn on their television sets and watch the returns come in. Doing so became something of a national ritual, akin to watching the Super Bowl, particularly in presidential elections. Perhaps watching America’s athletes in the summer Olympics would be a better analogy, as these games occur on the same quadrennial cycle as presidential elections.
Development of the Gay and Lesbian Relationship Satisfaction Scale

This article describes the development and evaluation of the Gay and Lesbian Relationship Satisfaction Scale (GLRSS) as a measure of individuals' gay and lesbian same-gender relationship satisfaction and social support. Clinicians and researchers administer relationship satisfaction scales to persons in gay and lesbian relationships with a heteronormative assumption that scales developed and validated with opposite-gender couples measure identical relationship issues. Gay and Lesbian couples have unique concerns that influence relationship satisfaction, most notably social support. Using online recruitment and data collection, the GLRSS was evaluated with data from 275 gay and lesbian individuals in a same-gender relationship.
Object tracking with adaptive motion modeling of particle filter and support vector machines

In this paper, we propose an approach for tracking arbitrary objects based on dynamic motion model and support vector machines (SVMs). When the motion of target is large or abrupt, modeling target motion is crucial for robust object tracking, however, recent advanced trackers ignore this component. In our proposed approach, we represent target motion as a random stochastic process. We use Kernelized Harmonic Means to predict the next state of target motion using few prior state vectors, and then utilize Particle filter to further optimize the predicted state. Because SVMs possess good generalization ability, while being robust against noise, we adopt online ker-nelized SVMs to the tracking problem. Our approach learns the appearance of the target during tracking, and thus the proposed method is able to adapt online to target appearance changes and its surrounding background. In addition, we incorporate our motion model within the online kernelized SVMs framework as an energy map to assign higher energy for the support vectors that are closer to the location predicted by the proposed motion model. This allows reliably maintaining smooth trajectories without unnatural jittering artifacts, which is important for long-term object tracking in the presence of occlusion and noise. Taking the dynamic model into account also improves the computational efficiency as it reduces the dense search space required for localizing the target candidate. Experimentally, we demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms state-of-the-art trackers on particularly challenging standard datasets.
Joint Involvement in Progressive Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma): A Light and Electron Microscopic Study of Synovial Membrane and Fluid

In six patients with progressive systemic sclerosis the synovial membrane was characterized by superficial deposition of fibrin, mild chronic inflammation with very little proliferation of lining cells, prominence of what appears to be immature connective tissue, and previously unrecognized obliterative microvascular disease. Leukocyte counts of synovial fluid were generally less than 1,000 cells per cu. mm., predominantly mononuclear cells. These typical findings taken together should suggest the diagnosis of scleroderma. The prominent microvascular lesions of still unknown mechanism suggest the small vessels as a likely site for the initial injury.
ID: 38: PRIMARY SQUAMOS CELL CARCINOMA OF THE RECTUM

Introduction Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is an uncommon occurrence, as it usually involves the esophagus or anal canal. Approximately 90% of cases of rectal malignancy are adenocarcinoma and other rectal cancers include lymphoma (1.3%), carcinoid (0.4%), and sarcoma (0.3%). We are presenting a rare and unique case of patient with SCC of the rectum presenting with lower abdominal pain and significant weight loss. Case A 52 year old female was admitted with a two month history of diffuse lower abdominal pain and hematochezia. The pain was constant and pressure like. The patient was a nonsmoker and nondrinker. Review of systems was pertinent for an unintentional weight loss of 10lbs. Physical examination revealed diffuse lower abdominal tenderness and a firm, irregular anterior rectal mass. She had no lymphadenopathy and her skin exam was normal. Laboratory results a normocytic anemia with a hemoglobin of 8.8 g/dl and a CEA of 1.35 ng/ml. Abdominal CT scan revealed a 7 cm irregular rectal mass with extra luminal compression to the rectosigmoid area, (figure 1). The mass did not extend from uterus and confirmed with transvaginal ultrasound. Patient underwent a flex sigmoidoscopy which revealed a lesion 5 cm from anal verge extending distally. There is a semi-circumferential narrowing occupying 7% of lumen and a dense layer of mass tissue with superficial friability of mucosa. Biopsy was taken from the mass, histology shows invasive moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (figure 1). Discussion SCC of the rectum has a very similar presentation to colon adenocarcinoma. Diagnoses can be established by proctoscopy/colonoscopy and more specifically, a biopsy to get a definitive histological analysis. The latter is a used to differentiate from SCC of the anus, which presents similarly. Immunohistochemistry has proved useful in characterizing lesions, especially when using cytokeratin stains. Pathogenesis is unclear due to its rarity; however one of the proposed mechanisms suggests that inflammation or infection results in squamous metaplasia from which carcinoma develops. Thus there is an association with HPV and various squamous cancers. In conclusion, SCC of rectum is a distinct entity and it is important to shed some light on this rare condition because it has different epidemiology, etiology, pathogenies and requires a different treatment approach than other colorectal carcinomas. Surgery is the primary treatment which consists of local excision versus radical resection and the need for adjuvant therapy.
Emerging Scientist: Examining Exercise-Based Therapies for Voice and Swallow Disorders With a Neuroplastic Eye

Exercise-based therapies are currently used to treat voice and swallow disorders without a clear understanding of the mechanisms that alter the cranial neuromuscular system. The recent application of principles of neuroplasticity to rehabilitation has revolutionized how we think about treatment, highlighting the need for change in both behavior and neural substrates to create lasting benefits. It is difficult, however, to study neural substrates in human patients while controlling for factors that may influence plasticity, such as genetic and environmental differences. The use of a rat model allows these controls. My research aims to further our understanding of the neuroplastic potential of exercise in the cranial sensorimotor system with the ultimate long-term and future goal of guiding care of individuals with voice and swallow problems. This work is significant because it examines the neuroplastic potential of exercise in the cranial sensorimotor system in both muscle and the central nervous system, a...
A simple gas-flow meter.

Received, April 10, 1958; accepted for publication June 9. Mr. Tubiash is a Microbiologist. clearance for the tubing. Water is added to the crystallizing dish, and the level is adjusted so that it is even with the calibration of the graduate. A pressure-tubing connection with a plastic disconnective fitting (D) is made to the desired experimental apparatus (X), and also from the apparatus to the source of the vacuum. As the pump removes air, water rises in the graduate and a direct volume per time reading may be made by use of the graduate calibrations and a stop-watch. At the end of the desired time interval, the flow of gas is clamped on the positive side of the disconnective fitting, and the line is disconnected. A reading of air replaced by water is taken from the calibra-
Effect of liver damage and nephrectomy on convulsant potency of pentylenetetrazol (metrazol).

SummaryThe convulsant potency of intravenously administered Metrazol for maximal and minimal seizures was determined in control, liver-damaged, and nephrectomized mice. In addition, the convulsant potency of subcutaneously administered Metrazol for minimal seizures was determined in control, liver-damaged, nephrectomized, and sham-operated mice and rats. The results obtained were analyzed to determine the relative importance of the liver and the kidney in the fate and excretion of the drug. Neither liver damage nor nephrectomy had any significant effect on the potency of intravenously administered Metrazol for maximal or minimal seizures. Liver damage significantly increased the potency of subcutaneously administered Metrazol for minimal seizures; on the other hand, bilateral nephrectomy and sham operation had no significant effect on the potency of this drug. The data indicate that, in both mice and rats, the liver is the principal organ for the conversion of Metrazol into products devoid of convulsant a...
An exploration of the earthen feminine : the vessel.

Sharon Madison January 27,2011 Clay has been an integral part of my life from early childhood. The attempts of five-year-old hands to create vessels always ended up failures in my young eyes. Having had the blessings in my life to study under Richard Burns and the Master, Tom Marsh, I have learned to create, in permanency, the kinds of vessels my five-yearold heart yearned for. My exploration in the study of ceramics has been, and always will be, the center of my life in art. This exploration has brought me from the functional to an exaggeration of the functional. A way from the wheel, I have found a new comfort in the creation of my visions from my environment, my forest, my earth. These works represent my vision of special places at the creek which runs far back in my woods. The texture and the visual pleasure of watching the effect of weather and time, on a spot of earth special to me, is the essence of my work.
Early Christian Understandings of the 'Abomination that Causes Desolation'

In this article, Daryn Graham explores the earliest Christian understandings of the 'Abomination that Causes Desolation', as prophesied by Daniel, and later, Jesus. In doing so the Gospel evidence is examined, and other historical sources are also treated, as evidence of early Christian conceptions, experiences and responses to its prophetic fulfilment in AD70. The Pella tradition is analysed, as well as Late Antiquity writings which record both it, and their own interpretations of the 'Abomination' and its 'Desolation'. In doing so Graham finds that early Christian understandings were varied, yet often found a measure of consensus among many. Responses also varied, although only the Pella tradition survives in any detail regarding them.
Feasibility Study on Application of TDLAS Technology to Detection of H_2S in SF_6 Discharge Decomposition Products

The paper proposed to apply the TDLAS technology in detecting the volume fraction of H2S in the atmosphere of SF6. Through the research and analysis of TDLAS technology,a simple detection prototype was manufactured,the practicalapplicability of the prototype was approved through certain test.The research result indicated that the detection of the volume fraction of H2S gas in SF6can achieve high accuracy by using this technology at atmospherepressure.
Diagnosis of Colonic Polyp in Infants by B-Mode Ultrasonogrophy

Objective To explore the value of B-mode ultrasonogrophy in diagnosis of colonic polyp.Methods Seventy-three infants presented with recurrent intestinal bleeding and were detected by B-mode ultrasonogrophy before the surgery.Then they underwent electrical colonoscopy to prove the existence of the polyp.Results Thirty-seven cases of polyp were found out by B-mode ultrasonogrophy.Then 39 cases of polyp were found out by electrical colonoscopy.These cases that were found out by B-mode ultrasonogrophy were confirmed by electrical colonoscopy.Conclusion B-mode ultrasonogrophy is an easy and no invasive procedure in diagnosing the colon polyp.
Development of UHV AC Dynamic Simulation System

The application of UHV AC transmission technology in China brings forward new requirements for relay protection test. And the key to this project is to establish the dynamic simulation systems with accurate components. This paper introduces the design and research of UHV AC dynamic simulation system, including component design of UHV single line and double-circuit line; simulation design of the autotransformer with independent regulating and compensation transformer, off-circuit-tap-changing at the neutral point; and test results of the systems. They are all developed by China Electric Power Research Institute (hereinafter referred to as CEPRI) on the basis of 1000kV Jindongnan-Nanyang-Jingmen UHV AC pilot demonstration project and 1 000 kV Huainan-Shanghai double-circuit UHV AC project.
What can we learn from animal models of focal hand dystonia

Focal hand dystonia (FHd) is a disabling disorder of hand control characterized by a loss of inhibition and involuntary co-contractions of agonists and antagonists that can develop in motivated, productive individuals performing highly repetitive, intensive hand tasks. It is our hypothesis that FHd can result from aberrant learning. We summarize three behavioral animal models (Nancymae aotus owl monkeys and Sprague Dawley rats) that provide evidence supporting aberrant learning as one origin of FHd. Hand task behaviors that increase the risk for repetitive strain injury-FHd include: attended, precise, repetitive behaviors that involve near coincident inputs-outputs (e.g. rapid reversal of agonists-antagonists, stereotypical movements, stressful end range motions, cutaneous stimulation across broad surfaces). High force, vibration, congenital abnormalities, and stress can further increase the risk. The central consequences of aberrant learning include large sensory receptive fields (rfs), significant overlap of rfs across adjacent digits and across glabrous and dorsal surfaces, and the persistence of digital representations across a broad cortical distance (>600 microm). Behavioral animal models are valid for the study of FHd etiology and could logically be applied to study the effects of pharmaceutical, surgical, anatomical, and behavioral enrichment intervention strategies, but these models may have limitations in the study of the recovery of fine motor, articulated, interdigitated movements following progressive, learning based, complex sensorimotor training.
Uninsured children and adults.

Almost 40 million U.S. residents do not have health insurance. A summary of various government and private agency reports is provided in an effort to increase a practitioner's awareness of the demographic distribution of the uninsured in our communities.
Japan and the Far East

Carving out a sphere of influence in East and Southeast Asia has been a preoccupation of Japanese foreign policy since the nineteenth century. Tokyo considers the region as vital to Japanese security as Central America and the Caribbean is to the United States or Eastern Europe is to the European Economic Community. In the late nineteenth century, Japan emulated the Western imperial powers by conquering adjacent countries like the Ryukyus, Taiwan and Korea while Japanese zaibatsu began muscling into markets throughout the region. In the 1930s, fuelled by slogans like ‘Asia for the Asians’, Japan began a step by step conquest of East Asia with the goal of transforming it into a ‘co-prosperity sphere’ with all the region’s economic, political, social, cultural and even spiritual roads leading to Tokyo.
Medical Parasitology Taxonomy Update: January 2012 to December 2015.

ABSTRACT Parasites of medical importance have long been classified taxonomically by morphological characteristics. However, molecular-based techniques have been increasingly used and relied on to determine evolutionary distances for the basis of rational hierarchal classifications. This has resulted in several different classification schemes for parasites and changes in parasite taxonomy. The purpose of this Minireview is to provide a single reference for diagnostic laboratories that summarizes new and revised clinically relevant parasite taxonomy from January 2012 through December 2015.
The role of edge-sensing in experiential psychotherapy.

In experiential psychotherapy three modes of experiencing are managed in parallel—experiencing in the domain of explicit knowing, experiencing in implicit knowing, and experiencing in the zone of e...
Cobalt-Catalyzed Synthesis of Aromatic, Aliphatic, and Cyclic Secondary Amines via a “Hydrogen-Borrowing” Strategy

The replacement of precious metals with inexpensive, less toxic, and earth-abundant elements in typical noble-metal-mediated organic transformations is a major goal in current synthetic chemistry and industries. The metal-catalyzed N-alkylation of amines with other amines through a “hydrogen-borrowing” principle represents a green and atom-economical reaction for the synthesis of secondary amines. However, catalysts developed thus far that are effective for this process remain quite scarce and are only limited to a few ruthenium and iridium complexes. In this work, we present a cobalt-catalyzed selective alkylation of amines with amines to synthesize a large variety of secondary amines. A range of amine substrates have been converted to the corresponding products through hetero- or homocoupling between amines. Cyclic sec-amines are also achieved from diamine precursors as rare examples.
Telomere-Based Pre-Clinical Therapy of Human Lymphoid Malignancy in a SCID Xenograft Model.

We continue to develop and extend our novel adjuvant therapy approach to lymphoid malignancy. We supplement CHOP with DNA oligonucleotides that mimic the chromosomal telomere, which we call a “T oligo.” These agents are homologous to the 3′ overhang nucleotide sequence of telomeres and have previously been shown to have anti-tumor activity in animal models of malignant melanoma and breast cancer. They are currently being evaluated in melanoma and breast cancer patients. If introduced into human or murine normal, proliferating primary B cells or T cells, T oligo causes transient cell cycle arrest, while exerting no toxicity, but if introduced into human or murine malignant B cells or T cells, the arrest is followed by p53 phosphorylation, p21 message induction and ultimately p53-dependent apoptosis. Other p53-related effector molecules, such as p73, are also likely to be involved. The mechanism immediately suggests a novel method of chemotherapy for leukemia and lymphoma as an adjuvant with CHOP. Furthermore, we have previously shown with in vitro assay and in vivo mouse models of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLCL) that T oligo produces a more-than-additive toxicity towards lymphoma cells when combined with vincristine. T oligo alone or in combination with sub-therapeutic doses of CHOP, the standard of care for DLCL, dramatically reduced lymphoma burden in spleen, lung, bone marrow and peritoneum. In combination, which we refer to as T-CHOP, there was a greater reduction in tumor burden than with either therapy alone. We now show in SCID mouse xenograft models of human T cell malignancies, using a Jurkat T cell leukemic line or a MOLT-4 T cell leukemic line that T oligo also works alone to reduce tumor burden dramatically and increase survival. Interestingly, because T oligo-driven apoptosis occurs in p53-null, human lymphoid tumors, even chemotherapy-resistant lymphoid tumors are nevertheless sensitive to T oligo treatment, which may have profound benefit for relapsed leukemia or lymphoma patients.