cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do windfall non‐debt tax shields from acquisitions affect corporate debt issues?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify possible tax synergies from acquisitions when the acquiring firm gains a non‐debt tax shield (NDTS) not directly associated with its own past performance, or a windfall NDTS. One possible benefit of a windfall NDTS is reduced reliance on interest tax shields to lower the firm's marginal tax rate (MTR).Design/methodology/approach – This paper tests the likelihood of issuing debt following acquisitions of windfall non‐debt tax attributes with logistic regressions. Both acquirers and targets are publicly held US firms. Acquisitions are completed from 1987 to 2003, and debt issues are observed following the deal. Target firm tax attributes are defined as the total tax spread, tax loss carryforward (TLCF), and the MTR.Findings – Target firm tax spread and TLCFs are inconsequential to the acquirer's likelihood of issuing future debt, suggesting that tax synergies are relatively unimportant motives for acquisitions. As predicted, the target firm MTR is not signi...
From Cultural Diversity to Universal Ethics Three Models

In this article the author lays out and discusses three different models for arriving at universal agreement in ethics. The author argues that the 'human rights model'-the model by which international human rights instruments get produced-has some serious flaws. The second model is the 'necessary conditions model'. It enables us to arrive at a significant but still too thin universal ethic. The author presents a case for the 'cultural dialogue model' in which members of one culture undertake a piecemeal search in the texts and way of life of other cultures, for beliefs, practices, etc. resembling their own. In this model cross-cultural disagreement is acknowledged, but the appropriate kind of room is left open to work towards thicker cross-cultural agreement.
Development of a high drug load tablet formulation based on assessment of powder manufacturability: Moving towards quality by design

The development of a robust tablet formulation for a high dose active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) by the trial-and-error approach is challenging. To meet the growing needs of bringing drugs to market faster and with reduced costs, more targeted and efficient development practices are in demand. Here we show detailed understanding of mechanical properties of API and excipients are essential in achieving efficient development of a high API loading formulation. The loading of the experimental drug, AMG458, was 50 wt% plus accompanying 1:1 molar ratio organic acid of approximately 19%. We assessed manufacturability of powders based on their flow and compaction properties using a shear cell and a compaction simulator, respectively. We selected granulation process on the basis of poor flow properties of API and its blends with common direct compaction excipients. During the course of formulation development, we could quickly identify manufacturability deficiencies in the lead formulation. With detailed knowledge of the mechanical properties of excipients and formulated powders, we improved the lead formulation by overcoming manufacturability deficiencies using predictive and material sparing (<10 g) approaches. Larger batches were subsequently manufactured to confirm predictions.
Viral and bacterial contamination of groundwater from on-site sewage treatment systems

On-site septic tank-soil absorption systems treating domestic wastewater have contaminated groundwaters with enteric viruses and other pathogens and caused drinking waterborne outbreaks. The factors influencing pathogen transport, survival and fate at on-site wastewater treatment systems remain inadequately characterised. We studied the survival and transport of a model enterovirus (BE-1) and faecal coliform bacteria in four on-site wastewater treatment systems (three conventional and one low pressure, small pipe diameter, pumped system) located in sandy soils typical of the coastal plains. Septic system wastewaters were seeded seasonally with known amounts of BE-1 and the fate of BE-1, faecal coliforms and other wastewater constituents were followed for three months in seeded wastewaters and groundwaters of drainfield monitoring wells. BE-1 levels in seeded wastewaters declined exponentially by kinetics consistent with a 3d hydraulic residence time. BE-1 was detected in ground waters of monitoring wells as early as 1d after seeding and persisted up to two months. Virus detection in ground water was greater in winter than in summer and was positively associated with proximity to septic effluent distribution lines, drainfield soils with the lowest clay content, elevated ground water pH and shallower vadose zones. Viruses were not strongly associated with either distance from septic tank or faecal coliform levels in groundwater. Under optimum conditions, virus reductions were as high as 9 log10, but in systems with the most coarse (sand) soils and highest water tables (most shallow vadose zones), there was extensive ground water contamination by viruses and other wastewater constituents. Under some conditions, septic systems in sandy coastal plains soils can contaminate ground water with viruses and other wastewater constituents.
Heterotopic adrenal cortical adenoma masquerading as metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

It is known that a heterotopic adrenal gland may be located in the upper abdomen or anywhere along the path of descent of the gonads.'.* Such adrenal glands may undergo hyperplasia in response to increased levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone, and they may serve as a site of origin of a cortical neoplasm.3 Conceivably heterotopic adrenal cortical hyperplasia and/or adenoma may be confused with certain primary or metastatic tumors. We report a case of adrenal cortical adenoma arising from the heterotopic adrenal cortex in the gastroesophageal junction that was misdiagnosed as metastatic renal cell carcinoma before and during radical nephrectomy for primary renal cell carcinoma. To our knowledge our case represents the first report of heterotopic adrenal cortical adenoma at the gastroesophageal junction mimicking metastatic renal cell carcinoma. CASE REPORT A 60-year-old black man presented with hematuria. Subsequently excretory urography and computerized tomography (CT) revealed a 12 x 12 cm. mass in the upper pole of the right kidney consistent with renal cell carcinoma (fig. 1). In addition, CT and esophagogastroduodenoscopic ultrasound showed a solid 2 x 3 cm. lesion at the gastroesophageal junction immediately outside the gastroesophageal wall. Transgastric fine needle aspiration of the mass demonstrated clusters of epithelial cells with clear cytoplasm consistent with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Biopsy of the gastric mucosa revealed chronic active gastritis with no evidence of tumor in the gastric wall. Therapeutic approaches were significantly complicated by these apparent gastroesophageal metastases. After considering the risks, benefits and alternatives the patient elected right radical nephrectomy followed by exploration of the lesion at the gastroesophageal junction. During surgery the 2.5 to 3.0 cm., soft, rubbery, bright yellow-orange mass was not
Reproducibility of synovial fluid analyses. A study among four laboratories.

Aliquots from 30 synovial fluids were submitted to 4 laboratories for comparison of leukocyte counts and differential cell counts, and to 3 laboratories for a search for and identification of crystals. Leukocyte counts showed only fair correlation (coefficients of 0.76–0.80) with the reference laboratory. In synovial fluid from 4 patients, there was sufficient difference in leukocyte counts to cause the fluids to be erroneously classified as either “inflammatory” or “noninflammatory.” In 12 of 24 fluid specimens examined, percentages of neutrophils fell outside the 95% confidence limits of the value determined by the reference laboratory. In 7 of the 11 patients with crystals reported, discrepancies were found between the reports from 1 or more laboratories. More attention to quality control of synovial fluid analyses is important.
Transcatheter occlusion of aortopulmonary shunts during single-ventricle surgical palliation

Development of aortopulmonary collaterals during the course of surgical palliation for single-ventricular anatomy has been linked to adverse outcomes following Fontan palliation. We investigated the hemodynamic significance of aortopulmonary collaterals during presurgical cardiac catheterization of patients with single-ventricle surgically palliated anatomy. Thermal indicator dilution studies were performed to determine degree of shunt. A total of 52 patients were studied and the data were analyzed. Measurements by thermal indicator dilution correlated significantly with qualitative angiographic grading of aortopulmonary collaterals. However, the hemodynamic significance of these aortopulmonary collaterals, as measured by thermal indicator dilution, did not correlate with postoperative outcome variables. This study demonstrated that thermal indicator dilution measurement holds promise for hemodynamically quantifying the significance of aortopulmonary shunts in surgically palliated single-ventricular patients. However, the degree of recirculation from aortopulmonary collaterals does not correlate with outcome after Fontan surgery in this patient cohort.
Formulation, Characterization, and Sensing Applications of Transparent Poly(vinyl alcohol)−Polyelectrolyte Blends

Several new optically clear polymer blends have been formulated for selectively incorporating solution-phase anions and cations. In all of the blends poly(vinyl alcohol) was the host matrix and it was cross-linked with glutaraldehyde to entrap polyelectrolytes including poly(acrylic acid), Nafion, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride), poly(vinylbenzyltrimethylammonium chloride), and poly(styrenesulfonic acid). [Ru(BiPy)3]2+ and Fe(CN)63- were used as prototypical analytes to study the ion-exchange properties of the new blends. The thicknesses of spin-coated thin films of the blends were variable over a wide range (0.70 μm being typical), as determined by an optical interference method. Thin film coatings of three of the blends were optimized for single-step covalent coating on activated oxide surfaces. Two silane coupling agents, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, were used to covalently attach these three blends to glass and ITO-coated glass surfaces. The potential use ...
The Effects of Removal of C-termini of Tubulin for Mitotic Kinesin CENP-E Microtubule Interactions

The carboxyl-terminus of both a- and b- tubulin consists of helices H11 and H12 and are located on the outer surface of the microtubule (MT). H12 extends into a disordered region that is characterized by a highly negatively charged motif of approximately 10-18 residues (CTT). These MT CTTs have been shown to affect the MT interactions with kinesin molecular motors for function. The research presented here tests the hypothesis that the MT CTTs modulate the behavior of the kinesin motor CENP-E with the MT and affect ATP-promoted motility. Subtilisin was used to remove the CTTs of a,b-tubulin, and the impact of the loss of the CTTs was evaluated by MT-CENP-E cosedimentation and CENP-E promoted MT gliding assays. The cosedimentation results show a dramatic decrease in MT affinity to subtilisin-MTs in the presence of 1 mM MgAMPPNP although 100% CENP-E binding is achieved. In contrast, the 1 mM MgADP results demonstrate an increase in CENP-E binding to subtilisin-MTs and an increase in MT affinity in comparison to native MTs. The in vitro motility assays reveal an increase in the rate of CENP-E promoted MT gliding on subtilisin MTs at 7.2 nm/s relative to 5.1 nm/s on native MTs. However, after 15 min, most subtilisin-MTs detached from the coverslip suggesting almost complete dissociation of the subtilisin-MT-CENP-E complex. In contrast, CENP-E promoted native MT gliding for >60 min. This study provides further evidence for the importance of the electrostatic interactions mediated by the MT CTTs for CENP-E mitotic function.
Localization and speciation of selenium and mercury in Brassica juncea-implications for Se-Hg antagonism

The occurrence and form of selenium and mercury were investigated in Indian Mustard, Brassica juncea, a selenium accumulating plant, which had been co-exposed to varying concentration levels of these two elements. Plants were grown and exposed in hydroponic solutions. Following exposure, root exudates were collected in fresh solutions and the head-space around the aerial portions of the plants was sampled. These samples and the harvested plant tissues were then processed for determination of Se and Hg-containing compounds. For the plant tissues, roots, stems and leaves were separated and extracted using a sequential procedure that removed water-soluble species, water-soluble proteins, and dodecyl sulfate-soluble proteins. Size exclusion chromatography allowed further fractionation. High molecular-weight selenium/mercury-containing compounds were found primarily in the plant root extract. Evidence suggests that a Se and Hg complex of high molecular weight may be protein associated. For the analysis of exudate solutions, ion-pairing reversed phase chromatography coupled to ICP-MS was used. Multiple selenium and mercury species were detected, with one mercury-containing compound observed eluting near selenocystine. Plant head-space was sampled with solid phase microextraction and analyzed with GC-ICP-MS and GC-TOFMS. Apart from the primary selenium volatiles and elemental mercury, no volatile species simultaneously containing Se and Hg could be detected.
Numerical Computation of Two-Dimensional Viscous Blunt Body Flows with an Impinging Shock

Two-dimensional viscous blunt body flows with an impinging shock have been computed using a time-dependent finite-difference method which solves the complete set of Navier-Stokes equations for a compressible flow. For low Reynolds number flows, the entire flow field, including the bow shock and impinging shock, has been captured in the computation. For higher Reynolds number flows, the bow shock is treated as a discontinuity across which the Rankine-Hugoniot equations are applied, while the boundary layer and interaction regions are captured as before. Using this latter shock-fitting approach, a Type III shock interaction flow field has been computed with flow conditions corresponding to the space shuttle orbiter freestream conditions at 61 km (200,000 ft).
Density Gradient Study of Bronchial Mucus Aspirates from Healthy Volunteers (Smokers and Nonsmokers) and from Patients with Tracheostomy

Because it is difficult to obtain, little is known of bronchial mucus from the normal human airway; it has been mainly studied as sputum expectorated in chronic bronchitis with particular attention to epithelial glycoprotein. We have now applied density gradient methods to study this and other macromolecules and lipids in normal airway mucus. After lavage at bronchoscopy, mucus was aspirated from six normal volunteers, that include one light and two heavy smokers. This normal mucus has been compared with that obtained from four patients with tracheostomy because of respiratory muscle paralysis due to neurological disease. The normal aspirates contained small threads of mucus, the tracheostomy aspirates viscous blobs of jelly, a difference in physical appearance reflected in macromolecular yields, 0.3-1 mg/ml and 6-24 mg/ml respectively. On analytical ultracentrifugation normal mucus showed no discernible material in the buoyant density region typical of epithelial glycoprotein (1.5 g/ml): Virtually all the material migrated to the miniscus and was predominantly lipids and proteins. A trace amount of material recovered from a higher density region (greater than or equal to 1.6 g/ml) was found to contain both glycoprotein and proteoglycan. Aspirates from the heavy smokers contained appreciable amounts of material with typical buoyant density (approximately 1.5 g/ml) but still with features of proteoglycan. In contrast in tracheostomy aspirates epithelial glycoprotein of typical buoyant density and chemical composition accounted for up to 25% of nondialyzable material. We conclude that under normal conditions typical epithelial glycoprotein is virtually absent from airway mucus and that the glycoconjugate present has features of glycoprotein and proteoglycan.
Recent Progress in Therapeutic Treatments and Screening Strategies for the Prevention and Treatment of HPV-Associated Head and Neck Cancer

The rise in human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has elicited significant interest in the role of high-risk HPV in tumorigenesis. Because patients with HPV-positive HNSCC have better prognoses than do their HPV-negative counterparts, current therapeutic strategies for HPV+ HNSCC are increasingly considered to be overly aggressive, highlighting a need for customized treatment guidelines for this cohort. Additional issues include the unmet need for a reliable screening strategy for HNSCC, as well as the ongoing assessment of the efficacy of prophylactic vaccines for the prevention of HPV infections in the head and neck regions. This review also outlines a number of emerging prospects for therapeutic vaccines, as well as for targeted, molecular-based therapies for HPV-associated head and neck cancers. Overall, the future for developing novel and effective therapeutic agents for HPV-associated head and neck tumors is promising; continued progress is critical in order to meet the challenges posed by the growing epidemic.
Smoothing algorithm for 3-D surface rendering from stereo images

Methods for determining the three-dimensional (3-D) form of complex objects in a scene from a pair of images using the principles of stereo vision are described. A pair of stereo images are epipolar- or raster-scan-aligned to restrict the search to one dimension along the horizontal lines as a first step in location of image feature points. A correlation window of size 5/spl times/5 around a pixel on the left image is superimposed on a similar window centered around every pixel along the same scan line of the right image. A normalized cross-correlation value for every pair of windows is determined. The image points in the right image which give the maximum correlation value are chosen as the corresponding points for the associated points in the left image. Once the corresponding points are found, the disparity is determined. This initial disparity map is noisy. A smoothing or interpolation algorithm has been developed, greatly increasing the number of feature points that can be identified. Sobel Edge detection is employed to locate discontinuities. Disparity values at edge points are added back into the smoothed disparity map, and the modified smoothed disparity map is used for 3-D rendering.
Platelet activation: yet another strike against routine TRANSFUSION

This editorial refers to ‘Impact of red blood cell transfusion on platelet activation and aggregation in healthy volunteers: results of the TRANSFUSION study’, by J. Silvain et al. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehq209 In the past, anaemia in patients with established coronary artery disease, especially acute anaemia as a result of bleeding, has been treated with a relatively liberal use of allogenic red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. RBC transfusions are believed to increase oxygen delivery by increasing haemoglobin concentration. Therefore, transfusion would seem to be a logical approach, as anaemia is associated with a number of maladaptive responses, such as increased sympathetic tone, heart rate, and myocardial contractility, which may all prove detrimental in patients with coronary artery disease.1 Laboratory-based studies further suggest that patients with coronary artery disease may require higher haemoglobin concentrations to maintain oxygen delivery in diseased or occluded arteries.1,2 In one of the largest cohort studies on the salutary effects of blood transfusion, Wu et al. noted that in 78 974 Medicare beneficiaries older than 65 years of age who were hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction (MI), lower admission haematocrit values were associated with increased 30-day mortality, with a rate as high as 35–39% among patients with a haematocrit of ≤27%. RBC transfusion, on the other hand, was associated with a seemingly linear reduction in 30-day mortality for patients who received at least one RBC transfusion if their admitting haematocrit was ≤33%.3 The age-old adage of transfusing for a haemoglobin concentration <10 g/dL or a haematocrit <30% (the so-called ‘10/30 rule’) is still commonly applied.4 More recent studies have suggested a null effect and possibly even an adverse impact of RBC transfusion on cardiovascular outcomes.5 Rao and colleagues examined the potential impact of RBC transfusion in 24 112 patients with acute coronary syndromes … *Corresponding author. Tel: +1 857 203 6840, Fax: +1 857 203 5550, Email: DLBHATTMD{at}POST.HARVARD.EDU
A Dynamic Approach for the Selection of Super Peers in Ad Hoc Networks

Peer-to-peer and mobile ad hoc networks have established a strong connection due to the fact that peer-to-peer models present effective solutions for decentralized systems. Pure and hybrid peer-to-peer networks have propagated as design models for such decentralized systems. Super-peer networks, in which some nodes (super peers) are selected and assigned special roles, have been proposed as a compromise tradeoff between the two models. In this paper, we study the selection of super peers in mobile ad hoc networks. We investigate two approaches to selection and study their impacts on network performance. Based on the analysis of empirical results, we propose and evaluate a new dynamic approach. Simulation results show a significant improvement over existing selection techniques.
Analysis of a current sensing and reporting tolerance in an inductor DCR sense topology

This paper shows a method to design an inductor DCR sense circuit that achieves a tight tolerance and good sigma level across all the units in a high volume manufacturing environment. Ultimately, the problem that we are trying to solve is to help designers get rid of the large tolerance seen on the current sensed on many DCR sensed based circuits. The paper presents a novel way to derive the expression of the sensing capacitor voltage, taking into account the resonant circuit time constants mismatch. The expression obtained is shown to be more accurate than what was previously published in the literature. The paper presents a statistical method to compute the total error on the current drawn by a chip, reported to it by the VR controller. Experimental data obtained from a design done using the proposed statistical methods are also shown. The results are shown to yield an overall sigma level that is acceptable industry wide.
Circadian clock, cancer, and chemotherapy.

The circadian clock is a global regulatory system that interfaces with most other regulatory systems and pathways in mammalian organisms. Investigations of the circadian clock–DNA damage response connections have revealed that nucleotide excision repair, DNA damage checkpoints, and apoptosis are appreciably influenced by the clock. Although several epidemiological studies in humans and a limited number of genetic studies in mouse model systems have indicated that clock disruption may predispose mammals to cancer, well-controlled genetic studies in mice have not supported the commonly held view that circadian clock disruption is a cancer risk factor. In fact, in the appropriate genetic background, clock disruption may instead aid in cancer regression by promoting intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis. Finally, the clock may affect the efficacy of cancer treatment (chronochemotherapy) by modulating the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of chemotherapeutic drugs as well as the activity of the DNA repair enzy...
Cocaine and Metabolite Elimination Patterns in Chronic Cocaine Users During Cessation: Plasma and Saliva Analysis

Several reports suggest a prolonged elimination of cocaine and metabolites after chronic use compared with single or occasional use. This study was designed to measure the half-lives of cocaine in plasma and saliva of individuals who consumed cocaine on a frequent basis. The disposition and elimination patterns of cocaine and metabolites in the body fluids of chronic high-dose cocaine users during acute cessation of use were investigated. Plasma and saliva specimens were collected over a 12-h period during cessation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic parameters were derived by noncompartmental analysis of plasma and saliva data. Results indicated a cocaine terminal T,/2 of 3.8 h in plasma and 7.9 h in saliva. The terminal T1/2 of benzoylecgonine was 6.6 h in plasma and 9.2 h in saliva. Compared with prior studies of acute low-dose cocaine administration, these findings suggest that cocaine's half-life is longer in active street users than in occasional users though the half-life of its main metabolite benzoylecgonine remains similar (as do cocaine saliva-to-plasma ratios). Thus, regular use of cocaine appears to alter the disposition and elimination of cocaine when compared to single or occasional use.
Glucocorticoid-Induced Insulin Resistance: Dexamethasone Inhibits the Activation of Glucose Transport in Rat Skeletal Muscle by Both Insulin- and Non-Insulin-Related Stimuli

To test the hypothesis that glucocorticoids inhibit muscle glucose transport apart from changes in early insulin-signaling events, we determined the effect of glucocorticoid treatment on the activation of glucose transport by both insulin and non-insulin-related stimuli (insulin-like growth factor [IGF] I and hypoxia) in rat skeletal muscle. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with dexamethasone (Dex) (0.8 mg/kg for 2 days) and compared with pair-fed controls. 2-[3H]deoxyglucose (2-[3H]DG) uptake in isolated soleus muscles was measured under conditions in which uptake reflects glucose transport activity. In control muscles, 2-[3H]DG uptake was stimulated 10-fold by insulin (10 nmol/l) or IGF-I (50 nmol/l) and sixfold by hypoxia. Dex treatment decreased 2-[3H]DG uptake at all concentrations of insulin tested, reducing maximal insulin-stimulated 2-[3H]DG uptake by 41 +/- 11% (mean +/- SE, P < 0.05) and basal 2-[3H]DG uptake by 38 +/- 6% (P < 0.01). Dex treatment also inhibited 2-[3H]DG uptake at all concentrations of IGF-I tested, reducing maximal IGF-I-stimulated 2-[3H]DG uptake by 29 +/- 2% (P < 0.01), and decreased hypoxia-stimulated 2-[3H]DG uptake by 61% (P < 0.01). Dex treatment increased soleus GLUT4 protein content by 11%. Thus, Dex treatment reduces basal glucose transport and decreases the maximal response of skeletal muscle glucose transport to insulin, the related hormone IGF-I, and the non-insulin-related stimulus hypoxia. These findings support the hypothesis that, in addition to altering early insulin-signaling events, glucocorticoids may also act by inhibiting the glucose transport system, per se, perhaps by affecting GLUT4 subcellular trafficking.
Justification Not by Faith Alone: Clergy Generating Trust and Certainty by Revealing Thought

While our intuition is that religious elites influence the political behavior of their audiences, just how that influence takes place is essentially unknown. Among many possible mechanisms, we investigate a new one: the effects of the decision-making process information that is included in elite statements. We believe that "process cues" paralleling those preferred by respondents bolster trust in the source and augment the ability to form determined attitudes. We test this proposition in the context of a survey experiment that focuses on environmental racism. We present competing arguments provided by a reverend and a professor, variably assigning the arguments and presence of elite process cues. We find that process cues do affect trust and attitudinal ambivalence, but in ways that challenge some pervasive assumptions about the integrity and importance of religious groups in politics.
The Effects of Vasoactive Agents on Impedance Measures in the Pulmonary Circulation of Mice

Pulmonary hypertension is a potentially fatal disease, resulting from chronic obstructive or interstitial lung disease, recurrent pulmonary emboli, antecedent heart disease, hypoxia or other unknown causes [1]. Pulmonary hypertension causes vascular remodeling with smooth muscle cell (SMC) hyperplasia and hypertrophy and accumulation of collagen and elastin [2]. This remodeling increases pulmonary vascular resistance, which can lead to increases in steady right ventricular work [3]. The effects of remodeling on pulmonary vascular impedance, which determines pulsatile right ventricular work, remain incompletely described. We have previously quantified the effects of chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (HPH) on pulmonary vascular impedance [4] but did not investigate the role of SMC tone either before or after HPH. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of normal and increased SMC tone on pulsatile pulmonary hemodynamics before and after HPH-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling. We hypothesized that SMC contraction would increase input resistance but decrease the speed of wave reflections. We also hypothesized that increased arteriolar muscularization after HPH would lead to greater increases in resistance and greater decreases in wave reflections with increased SMC tone.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Genetic analysis of the right (3') end of the rosy locus in Drosophila melanogaster.

Prior reports from this laboratory have described the experimental basis for our understanding of the rosy locus (ry: 3–52·0) of Drosophila melanogaster as a bipartite genetic entity consisting of a structural element that codes for the xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) peptide and a contiguous cis-acting control element immediately to the left of the structural element. Although the left end (5′) of the structural element has been well defined, the right boundary (3′) has been given only casual treatment in our prior reports. In our recent studies of rosy locus expression we have been concerned with the production and identification of mutations in the non-structural regions immediately flanking the structural element. An improved definition of the right end of the structural element is essential to this analysis. In addition to producing a better definition of the right boundary of the structural element, this study produced several phenotypically novel mutations. These mutations were classified initially ascontrol element mutations, but upon analysis were found to map within the rosy structural element. No evidence was obtained for the existence of a control element contiguous with the right end of the structural element.
PBFA II ion diode theory and implications

Fully electromagnetic, relativistic, two-dimensional, particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of barrel-type and extractor-type Applied-B ion diodes have increased our confidence in the design of present and future diodes for the Particle Beam Fusion Accelerator II (PBFA II). In addition, the data from various experiments on Pro to I, Proto II, and PBFA I Applied-B ion diodes are inconsistent with previous models of diode operation, based on anode-cathode gap closure from expanding plasmas. A new model has been devised and applied to the PBFA II diode to explain the diode impedance and its time history, and to suggest methods for controlling the impedance.
Electronic and Steric Effects on the Rate of the Traceless Staudinger Ligation

Interplay between electronic effects imparted by phosphinothiol substituents and steric effects imposed by amino-acid reactants affects the rate of the traceless Staudinger ligation of peptides in a predictable manner.
An iris and retina multimodal biometric system

The Retina/Iris Multimodal Biometric (RIMB) system is a developing technology that aims to address security and imaging problems inherent in current iris recognition systems. The shortcomings of the Iris recognition system are studied. The addition of retinal scanning helps alleviate spoofing and imaging issues associated with occlusions of the iris. By combining both iris and retinal cameras in one apparatus, scans can be done in parallel and data can be combined at the feature extraction level. RIMB provides for a nearly impossible to spoof system that is best in high security situations. Hypotheses on the operation of RIMB are presented.
Sex-ratios, sex-role spillover, and sexual harassment of women at work.

We propose that sexual harassment of women at work is often a product of sex-role spillover, which is defined as the carryover into the workplace of gender-based expectations for behavior that are irrelevant or inappropriate to work. We argue that, when the sex-ratio at work is skewed—in either direction—sex-role spillover occurs. Thus, women in male-dominated work experience one kind of sex-role spillover. They are “role deviates” who are treated differently from other (male) work-role occupants; they are aware of this differential treatment, and they think it is directed at them as individual women rather than as work-role occupants. On the other hand, women in female-dominated work also experience sex-role spillover but of a different kind. Sex-role and work-role are practically identical. These women are treated similarly to other (female) work-role occupants, so are unaware that their treatment is based on sex-role. Because of this, they think the treatment they receive is a function of their job; the job itself is sexualized. Data from a representative sample survey, about sexual harassment of working women in Los Angeles County, provide some support for these ideas.
Benzocyclobutene optical waveguides

Single-mode optical waveguides at 1300 nm have been fabricated from the organic polymer benzocyclobutene. This material system utilizes a 535 rmb photodefinable resin for forming the core of the waveguide, allowing the waveguides to be processed in a fashion similar to a negative photoresist. The processing conditions required for the fabrication of single-mode benzocyclobutene optical waveguides are presented. With the measured losses in the waveguide equal to 0.81 dB/cm at 1300 nm, this material system is suitable for use in a variety of optical interconnect applications. >
Mississippi Cattle Producers Gain Insight into Temperament Effects on Feedlot Performance and Subsequent Meat Quality

The Mississippi Farm to Feedlot program has supplied producers with information about feedlot cattle performance since 1993. To add to this information, the effects of temperament score on feedlot growth performance and subsequent carcass value were evaluated. Steers consigned to the Farm to Feedlot program in 2004 were evaluated for temperament in a cattle restraint chute [chute scores (CS) ranged from 1 = calm and no movement to 5 = rearing, twisting, or struggling] and for pen temperament [pen score (PS) ranged from 1 = nonaggressive, docile, not excited by humans or facilities to 5 = very aggressive, excitable, runs into fences and toward humans]. Analyses were conducted to determine the effects of feed group and farm of origin and correlations of exit velocity (EV) and chute and pen temperament with feedlot performance. Exit velocity and PS were positively correlated (r = 0.70; P < 0.0001). Farm of origin had a direct effect on PS, CS, and EV. Sire breed had an effect on CS, PS, EV, pay and final weight, total gain, ADG, hot carcass weight, and USDA QG and YG. Medicine costs, days treated, and net profits were influenced by PS and EV. As EV increased, final BW, total gain, and ADG decreased (P < 0.05). As EV increased, there was a tendency for net returns to decrease and the number of days treated to increase (P < 0.07). These results indicate the importance of educating beef cattle producers on cattle temperament and its relationship to cattle feeding production and economic measures.
Disseminated cutaneous coccidioidomycosis in a liver transplant patient.

The increasing incidence of allogeneic transplants in Coccidioides-endemic areas such as the southwestern United States and Latin America highlights the importance of considering reactivation of donor coccidioidomycosis in transplant recipients. We report the case of a 42-year-old Nicaraguan woman who had multiple firm, violaceous subcutaneous nodules 1 month after her orthotopic liver transplant. Histopathology of a biopsy specimen, immunodiffusion assay, and donor serologic testing results were consistent with disseminated cutaneous coccidioidomycosis secondary to donor reactivation. Screening of donors in Coccidioides-endemic areas with serology, organ culture, and chest radiography should be considered before transplantation. Recipients in endemic areas may benefit from prophylactic antifungal therapy.
Ibuprofen regulates the expression and function of membrane-associated serine proteases prostasin and matriptase.

The glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored extracellular membrane serine protease prostasin is expressed in normal bladder urothelial cells. Bladder inflammation reduces prostasin expression and a loss of prostasin expression is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human bladder transitional cell carcinomas. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) decrease the incidence of various cancers including bladder cancer, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effect of NSAIDs are not fully understood. The normal human bladder urothelial cell line UROtsa, the normal human trophoblast cell line B6Tert-1, human bladder transitional cell carcinoma cell lines UM-UC-5 and UM-UC-9, and the human breast cancer cell line JIMT-1 were used for the study. Expression changes of the serine proteases prostasin and matriptase, and cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) in these cells following ibuprofen treatments were analyzed by means of reverse-transcription/quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunoblotting. The functional role of the ibuprofen-regulated prostasin in epithelial tight junction formation and maintenance was assessed by measuring the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and epithelial permeability in the B6Tert-1 cells. Prostasin’s effects on tight junctions were also evaluated in B6Tert-1 cells over-expressing a recombinant human prostasin, silenced for prostasin expression, or treated with a functionally-blocking prostasin antibody. Matriptase zymogen activation was examined in cells over-expressing prostasin. Ibuprofen increased prostasin expression in the UROtsa and the B6Tert-1 cells. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression was up-regulated at both the mRNA and the protein levels in the UROtsa cells by ibuprofen in a dose-dependent manner, but was not a requisite for up-regulating prostasin expression. The ibuprofen-induced prostasin contributed to the formation and maintenance of the epithelial tight junctions in the B6Tert-1 cells. The matriptase zymogen was down-regulated in the UROtsa cells by ibuprofen possibly as a result of the increased prostasin expression because over-expressing prostasin leads to matriptase activation and zymogen down-regulation in the UROtsa, JIMT-1, and B6Tert-1 cells. The expression of prostasin and matriptase was differentially regulated by ibuprofen in the bladder cancer cells. Ibuprofen has been suggested for use in treating bladder cancer. Our results bring the epithelial extracellular membrane serine proteases prostasin and matriptase into the potential molecular mechanisms of the anticancer effect of NSAIDs.
Extinction following Various Types of Partial Reinforcement in a Probability Matching Situation

The hypothesis that as the discriminability of reinforcement patterns during acquisition goes up resistance to extinction goes down was tested. Ss were given 50 trials of either 50% random reinforcement, 80% random reinforcement, or 50% single alternation reinforcement. The 50% random group showed greatest resistance to extinction, then the 80% random group, and finally the single alternation group, which confirms the hypothesis.
Analysis of Rubber, Resin, and Moisture Content of Guayule by Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy

Abstract Although the overall error associated with the NIR analysis of guayule may be slightly higher than that of some other methods, the trade-off between the increased error and the very rapid aquistion of data by NIR is quite positive.
Survey of the Status of Soil-Borne Nematode Infection in Shenzhen in 2010-2011

Objective To understand the status of soil-borne nematode infection in Shenzhen and provide scientific basis for control strategy. Methods The survey was targeted on the permanent residents over 3 years old. Modified Kato Katz's thick smear was used to detect the soil-borne nematode eggs such as ascaris,whipworm,hookworm and threadworm in the feces. The data of infection rate and infectiosity were analyzed. Results A total of 3 935 persons were investigated in 5 districts.19 were infected and the mean infection rate of soil-borne nematode was 0.48%,of which the infection rates of ascaris,whipworm,hookworm and threadworm were 0.13%,0.28%,0.05% and 0.03%,respectively.EPGs of ascaris, whipworm and hookworm infected persons were 242,81.6 and 120, respectively,and all were mild infection. The district with the highest infection rate was Baoan(0.86%),and the district with the lowest infection rate was Futian(0.13%).Differences between the infection rates of different districts was not statistically significant (χ2=6.81,P0.05).The average infection rates of male and female were 0.56% and 0.40%, respectively. Difference between the infection rate in different gender was not statistically significant(χ2=0.59,P0.05). Analysis of the age distribution revealed that the highest score was found in the age group of less than 20 years old (0.55%),20- years old(0.60%) and 30-years old(0.65%). Conclutions The status of soil-borne nematode infection in Shenzhen was at a lower level.The infection rate of soil-borne nematode was lower than the infection rate in the current-status survey of human important parasitic diseases of Guangdong province in 2001-2004.
Toward an Experimental Quantum Chemistry: Exploring a New Energy Partitioning

Following the work of L. C. Allen, this work begins by relating the central chem. concept of electronegativity with the av. binding energy of electrons in a system. The av. electron binding energy, χ, is in principle accessible from expt., through photoelectron and X-ray spectroscopy. It can also be estd. theor. χ has a rigorous and understandable connection to the total energy. That connection defines a new kind of energy decompn. scheme. The changing total energy in a reaction has three primary contributions to it: the av. electron binding energy, the nuclear-nuclear repulsion, and multielectron interactions. This partitioning allows one to gain insight into the predominant factors behind a particular energetic preference. We can conclude whether an energy change in a transformation is favored or resisted by collective changes to the binding energy of electrons, the movement of nuclei, or multielectron interactions. For example, in the classical formation of H2 from atoms, orbital interactions dominate nearly canceling nuclear-nuclear repulsion and two-electron interactions. While in electron attachment to an H atom, the multielectron interactions drive the reaction. Looking at the balance of av. electron binding energy, multielectron, and nuclear-nuclear contributions one can judge when more traditional electronegativity arguments can be justifiably invoked in the rationalization of a particular chem. event. [on SciFinder(R)]
Environmental Focusing and Source Localization in the Ocean

Accurately determining the sound-speed distribution in large oceanographically-active regions of the ocean is very difficult. Since mismatch can severely degrade matched-field processing (MFP), this task might seem to be essential for MFP. However, it is possible to determine the sound speed and the source locations in a single process that we refer to as focalization. This approach should be much more efficient than attempting to determine the sound speed separately because the maximum requirement for source localization is information about the sound speed along the paths between the sources and the receiving array to the resolution appropriate for the frequencies of the sources. We present simulations that suggest that focalization might be feasible and that the sound-speed distribution that brings the sources into focus is not unique. We discuss the implementation of focalization on a large scale with methods such as simulated annealing and adiabatic normal modes.
Conditional Tests with an Order Restriction as a Null Hypothesis

For the isotonic normal means problem, Bartholomew (1961) discussed a conditional likelihood-ratio test of HO: the means are homogeneous, vs. H1: the means satisfy the linear order. He concluded that the conditional test was substantially less powerful than the chi-bar-squared test. However, for testing H1 vs. H2: all alternatives, the corresponding conditional test can be more powerful than the chi-bar-square test. Moreover, the conditional test can be modified so as to be asymptotically α-similar.
Excessive Skin after Massive Weight Loss: Body Contouring and Bariatric Surgery

Body Contouring after massive weight loss has become an established field of surgery. Obesity is now an epidemic with the number of patients electing to undergo bariatric surgery and subsequent body contouring increasing substantially. Both the patients and operations can be extremely complex requiring a systematic approach and multidisciplinary team. Despite the positive aesthetic and psychosocial outcomes, these patients are at an increased risk for complications. Meticulous patient evaluation, counseling, and risk stratification are of paramount importance. As body contouring after massive weight loss continues to evolve, the ultimate goal of minimizing complications and optimizing outcomes will remain the same.