cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generalizing Mechanistic Explanations Using Graph-Theoretic Representations

Mechanistic explanations appeal to the parts, operations, and organizations of mechanisms to explain the phenomena for which they are responsible. Scientists have developed accounts of myriads of mechanisms thought to be operative in biology, each involving distinctive parts and operations organized in idiosyncratic ways. The focus on specific mechanisms (e.g., those found in a particular cell type in a given model organism) appears opposed to the idea that explanations ought to be generalizable to new instances. Some generalizability can arise from the fact that many biological mechanisms inherit their parts and operations from mechanisms found in ancestral species and one can often identify commonalities in these parts and the operations they perform. But organization seems to be idiosyncratic to specific mechanisms, thwarting attempts to develop generalizations about how mechanisms organized in a specific way will behave. For example, as a result of different genes being expressed, the organizational pattern of interactions between proteins varies in different tissues or in the same tissue in different strains of a species. This poses an even greater problem when it is recognized that many biological mechanisms exhibit non-sequential organization of non-linear operations, making it difficult to use mental simulation to determine the behavior of the mechanism. Instead researchers resort to computational models, resulting in dynamic mechanistic explanations that integrate mathematical modeling with empirically ascertained details of parts and operations. These models, though, appear to be even more idiosyncratic, revealing only the behavior of the specific organization employed in a specific mechanism.
Phenytoin neuropathy: structural changes in the sural nerve

Phenytoin has been implicated as a causative agent in peripheral neuropathy, although structural changes in nerve have not been characterized. A 47-year-old man was seen with clinical and electrophysiological signs of peripheral neuropathy after 30 years of phenytoin administration. Despite a modest dose of phenytoin (300 mg/day) blood levels were 31 to 38 micrograms/ml. A sural nerve biopsy showed a loss of large myelinated nerve fibers and a nonrandom clustered distribution of segmental demyelination and remyelination. The latter findings were accompanied by axonal shrinkage. Sixteen months after phenytoin was stopped, the patient's clinical and electrophysiological findings reflected improvement. These data indicate that long-term phenytoin administration can cause a reversible neuropathy characterized by axonal shrinkage and secondary demyelination.
Induction Machine Analysis for Arbitrary Displacement Between Multiple Winding Sets

The steps in t he applied voltages of a three-phase, inverter-induction motor drive system cause undesirable pulsations in motortor By using multiple inverters connected to a multiphase machine with appropriate winding displacements, significant improvement in system performance is possible. The winding displacements required, however, are not necessarily the symmetrical displacements used in standard multiphase machines. This paper sets forth an improved method for analyzing many types of unsymmetrical, as well as symmetrical, multiphase induction machines. The simulation of a 7.5-hp induction machine with two three-phase sets of stator windings fed from two six-step inverters illustrates the application of the method of analysis and shows how the machine torque characteristic may be improved by proper spacing of the winding sets.
The marketability of electric vehicles: battery performance and consumer demand for driving range

This paper reports on a four-year study of electric vehicle (EV) demand. We focused on a newly defined market segment: multi-car "hybrid households," in which one car has limited driving range. We designed a four-stage mail survey that included a video of EV use and recharging, informational material, a 3-day trip diary, and a series of vehicle choice questions. Respondents had a choice of propulsion systems, body styles and sizes, driving ranges, and other features. The variety of driving ranges offered tested the hypothesis that demand for EVs will be segmented by demand for driving range. Prices of EVs varied, but tended to be up to several thousand dollars higher than those of comparable gasoline vehicles. The questionnaires were administered to 740 multi-car households in 6 metropolitan areas of California. The response rate was 61%. In the second of two vehicle choice scenarios, 37% of the respondents chose battery-powered EVs, with ranges varying from 40 to 150 miles; 10% chose hybrid electrics with ranges up to 180 miles; and 19% chose limited-range natural gas vehicles with ranges of 80-120 miles. Altogether, 66% chose limited-range vehicles. Translating these choices into annual vehicle sales, we find that purchases of pure EVs by hybrid households would account for 7-15% of annual light duty vehicle sales. Based on the current state of EV traction battery development, we infer from these results that any remaining barriers to marketable EVs are not related to the ability of existing batteries to provide adequate driving range.
Acid Ceramidase (ASAH1) Represses Steroidogenic Factor 1-Dependent Gene Transcription in H295R Human Adrenocortical Cells by Binding to the Receptor

Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) signaling increases glucocorticoid production by promoting the interaction of transcription factors and coactivator proteins with the promoter of steroidogenic genes. The nuclear receptor steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) is essential for steroidogenic gene transcription. Sphingosine (SPH) is a ligand for SF-1. Moreover, suppression of expression of acid ceramidase (ASAH1), an enzyme that produces SPH, increases the transcription of multiple steroidogenic genes. Given that SF-1 is a nuclear protein, we sought to define the molecular mechanisms by which ASAH1 regulates SF-1 function. We show that ASAH1 is localized in the nuclei of H295R adrenocortical cells and that cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling promotes nuclear sphingolipid metabolism in an ASAH1-dependent manner. ASAH1 suppresses SF-1 activity by directly interacting with the receptor. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays revealed that ASAH1 is recruited to the promoter of various SF-1 target genes and that ASAH1 and SF-1 colocalize on the same promoter region of the CYP17A1 and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) genes. Taken together, these results demonstrate that ASAH1 is a novel coregulatory protein that represses SF-1 function by directly binding to the receptor on SF-1 target gene promoters and identify a key role for nuclear lipid metabolism in regulating gene transcription.
The Dark Heart of Kindness: The Social Construction of Deflection

Inayatullah, Naeem and David L. Blaney. (2012) The Dark Heart of Kindness: The Social Construction of Deflection. International Studies Perspectives, doi: 10.1111/j.1528-3585.2012.00462.x © 2012 International Studies Association The success of norms constructivists rests in part on their assertion of academic activism as a heroic aspect of intellectual life. Critics of this vision, however, insist on the complicity of norm scholars in creating and maintaining processes of global injustice. Frustrated with this criticism, Richard Price calls for answers to a simple question: can detractors go beyond mere criticism and provide a praiseworthy target toward which norms constructivists can aim? We respond to this challenge, first, by offering an internal critique of Price’s logic. We suggest that Price and other norms entrepreneurs underplay the darker, colonial side of modern ethical life on which the successes of norms cascades depend. Second, we draw on Adam Hochschild’s King Leopold’s Ghost to contrast contemporary norms constructivists with the heroic characters represented in and by this book. Norms entrepreneurs, Edmund Morel and Roger Casement, successfully exposed Belgian atrocities in colonial Congo, and Hochschild himself brings this mostly forgotten history to light. Yet the narrative trajectory of these three heroes is tragic, compelling each to face their complicity in the very forces they resist. This tragic vision calls us not to celebrate but to resist the continuing legacies of colonial domination.
Methadone Treatment During Pregnancy

Objective To review the literature on methadone use by pregnant women. Data Sources A search was conducted on CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PSYCHINFO under "pregnancy" and "methadone." Study Selection Articles published between 1988–1998 were reviewed and chosen based upon relevance to the objective. Data Extraction Data were extracted and organized under the following headings: effects of methadone on pregnancy outcome, management of the pregnant woman on methadone, and implications of social and political policies for pregnant women who use opiates. Data Synthesis Methadone treatment is most effective for pregnant women who receive care in a comprehensive service center. Few systematic investigations exist concerning methadone maintenance during pregnancy, thus no formal guidelines for management exist. Changes in federal policies for drug treatment and welfare regulations will challenge health care professionals who provide treatment for opiate-dependent pregnant women. Conclusions Treatment with methadone is the standard of care for the opiate-using pregnant woman, despite findings challenging its benefits and efficacy in women who continue to use illicit drugs. JOGNN, 28, 615-622; 1999.
IIIB-8 titanium disilicide contact resistivity and its impact on 1-&#181;m CMOS circuit performance

A major feature of modern 1-µm CMOS technology is the use of TiSi 2 -clad diffusions with effective sheet resistances of typically 1 Ω /square. However, until now very little attention has been given to the contact resistance between the TiSi 2 and the underlying diffusions which form the source and drain of the active transistors. Our experimental results have shown that, depending on process conditions, the specific contact resistivity from silicide to n-diffusion varies by six orders of magnitude. In this work it is demonstrated that unless proper care is taken with respect to junction doping concentrations and post-silicide processing to minimize the silicide to diffusion contact resistance, the use of silicided diffusions actually can be detrimental to circuit performance instead of the intended performance enhancement. In this paper we will present: 1) a novel method to evaluate silicide to diffusion contact resistance using only two masks, 2) an outline of the process conditions that yield a minimum contact resistance, 3)circuit simulations showing the impact of this work on circuit performance, and 4) results showing that the modulation of the contact resistance at high current levels can distort the MOS linear region current-voltage characteristics.
SPONGES AND ASSOCIATED FOSSILS FROM THE PENNSYLVANIAN CARBONDALE FORMATION OF NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS

Abstract The two new sponges, Diagonodictya crusta n. gen. and sp., a small steeply obconical, dictyospongiid hexactinellid, and Pohlispongia monosphaera n. gen and sp., a spheroidal, single-chambered, monaxonid demosponge—along with several isolated hexactinellid spicules—are described from low-energy, low pH, black shales within the Pennsylvanian Desmoinesian Carbondale Formation from northwestern Illinois, from the Illinois Basin. They are associated with a variety of small fossils, which range from radial and spheroidal to lobate obconical, here identified only as forms A and B, that are possible spore-bearing organs of plants. Some of these latter forms occur as core debris associated with fine hexactine-derived sponge spicules and bivalve? fragments in fecal pellets. The described assemblage may have lived as pelagic organisms in a protected environment and may have been deposited under swamp “flotants” in anoxic shallow water conditions. Alternatively, the assemblage may have lived as part of an op...
Combined effects of energy density and portion size on energy intake in women.

Background: Increases in both the portion size and energy density of food have both been shown to increase energy intake, but the combined effects of such increases have not been investigated. Objective: The objective was to determine the combined effects of energy density and portion size on energy intake in women. Design: This study used a within-subjects design. Once a week for 6 wk, 39 women were served breakfast, lunch, and dinner ad libitum. The main entree at lunch was formulated in 2 versions that varied in energy density (5.23 or 7.32 kJ/g), each of which was served in 3 different portion sizes (500, 700, or 900 g). The 2 versions were matched for macronutrient composition and palatability. Breakfast and dinner were standard meals. Results: Increases in portion size and energy density led to independent and additive increases in energy intake (P 0.0001). Subjects consumed 56% more energy (925 kJ) when served the largest portion of the higher energy-dense entree than when served the smallest portion of the lower energy-dense entree. Subjects did not compensate for the additional intake by eating less at the subsequent meal. Despite substantial differences in energy intake, no systematic differences in ratings of hunger and fullness across conditions were observed. Conclusions: The energy density and the portion size of a food act independently to affect energy intake. The findings indicate that large portions of foods with a high energy density may facilitate the overconsumption of energy. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;79:962– 8.
Simultaneous Low- and High-Grade Primary Leiomyosarcomas in Two Separate Organs in a Thirty-Year Survivor of Hereditary Retinoblastoma

Patients with hereditary retinoblastoma have a heightened risk of developing subsequent bone and soft tissue sarcomas, exacerbated by radiation and alkylating chemotherapy. Secondary leiomyosarcomas are rare. A 29-year-old patient with bilateral retinoblastoma history presented with concurrent, independent malignancies found to be Rb-suppressed uterine and Rb-positive bladder leiomyosarcomas. She had undergone both ifosfamide chemotherapy and radiation therapy but demonstrated rare simultaneous primary leiomyosarcomas not previously described in association with ifosfamide. This rare case underlines the protean genetic predisposition to malignancy in this patient population, heightening awareness of lifelong malignancy potential, and the necessity for continuous periodic screening.
Predicting species invasions using ecological niche modeling: New approaches from bioinformatics attack a pressing problem

O 3 February 1999, President Clinton signed an executive order dealing with invasive species in the United States. The order was designed to lay the foundation for a program “to prevent the introduction of invasive species and provide for their control and to minimize the economic, ecological, and human health impacts that invasive species cause” (Clinton 1999). This program includes far-reaching plans to prevent, plan, monitor, and study species’ invasions. Such high-level attention emphasizes the enormity of the problem facing the United States, and in fact the entire world: With ever-growing international commerce, reduced barriers to trade, and increasing human influence, species are moving around, and natural systems are suffering drastic changes. The dimensions of the problem are indeed impressive. Alien plants, animals, and microbes have poured into the United States from all directions. Natural systems have been disrupted, species extinguished, transportation and agriculture compromised, and resources damaged (Carlton 1997–1998, Ogutu-Ohwayo 1997–1998, Richardson 1997–1998, Shiva 1997–1998). In fact, most modern agriculture is based on nonnative organisms; problems arise because questions of when and why some escape and become nuisances remain unanswered. More generally, no proactive approach to combating such species is available—invasive species are dealt with one at a time, as they become problematic. Scientific approaches to a synthetic, and ultimately proactive, understanding of species invasions have developed along several lines, but most have been frustrated by the complex and unpredictable nature of such invasions—which species will invade and which invaders will become serious problems? For example, considerable effort has gone into identifying characteristics of species likely to invade, or of invaders likely to become pests (e.g., Lawton and Brown 1986, Smallwood and Salmon 1992, Carlton 1996). Another line of inquiry and effort has focused on modeling spatial patterns of range expansion after initial invasion (e.g., Mollison 1986, Williamson and Brown 1986, Reeves and Usher 1989, Hastings 1996, Shigesada and Kawasaki 1997, Holway 1998). All in all, though, a general, synthetic, predictive, proactive approach to species invasions is lacking (Mack 1996) but is desperately needed (Hobbs and Mooney 1998).
Reciprocating constructed wetlands for treating industrial, municipal and agricultural wastewater.

Scientists at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are continuing to develop and refine an innovative wastewater treatment system referred to as reciprocating subsurface-flow constructed wetlands. Reciprocation relates to patented improvements in the design and operation of paired subsurface-flow constructed wetlands, such that contiguous cells are filled and drained on a frequent and recurrent basis. This operating technique turns the entire wetland system into a fixed-film biological reactor, in which it is possible to control redox potential in alternating aerobic and anaerobic zones. Reciprocating systems enable manipulation of wastewater treatment functions by controlling such parameters as hydraulic retention time, frequency of reciprocation, reciprocation cycle time, depth of reciprocation, and size and composition of substrate. These improved wetland technologies have been used for treating municipal/domestic wastewater, high strength animal wastewater, and mixed wastewater streams containing acids, recalcitrant compounds, solvents, antifreeze compounds, heavy metals, explosives, and fertilizer nutrients. Results from selected treatability studies and field demonstrations will be summarized with respect to conceptual design and treatment efficacy.
Creating a Document to Meet Your Client’s Needs

This article discusses the preparation required before drafting a document, including ascertaining the purpose of the document, gathering facts to create a comprehensive document, and learning the substantive and procedural law that applies along with ethical considerations.
Direct measurement of the propagation velocity of defects using coherent X-rays

The properties of artificially grown thin films are often strongly affected by the dynamic relationships between surface growth processes and subsurface structure. Coherent mixing of X-ray signals promises to provide an approach to better understand such processes. Here, we demonstrate the continuously variable mixing of surface and bulk scattering signals during real-time studies of sputter deposition of a-Si and a-WSi2 films by controlling the X-ray penetration and escape depths in coherent grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering. Under conditions where the X-ray signal comes from both the growth surface and the thin film bulk, oscillations in temporal correlations arise from coherent interference between scattering from stationary bulk features and from the advancing surface. We also observe evidence that elongated bulk features propagate upwards at the same velocity as the surface. Furthermore, a highly surface-sensitive mode is demonstrated that can access the surface dynamics independently of the subsurface structure. Defects affect materials’ properties. A method is now presented for studying dynamic processes during the growth of thin films — specifically, the evolution of defects — based on the coherent mixing of bulk and surface X-ray scattering signals.
A Continuous Version of Newton's Method

Newton's method for finding a root of f(x) = 0, starting with an initial estimate xo, is equivalent to applying Euler's method with step size ft = 1 to approximate the solution of the initial value problem ^ = ?f(x)/f'(x), with initial condition x(0) = xo. We will examine this connection and prove that, under quite general conditions, the solution of this initial value problem converges to a root of / as t ?>? oo. Then we consider some examples to show how this continuous version of Newton's method [6], [7], which deserves to be more widely known, can be used to find roots in cases where Newton's method fails. The discussion is accessible to
Isolation and Identification of Salmonella agona and Study of Their Drug Resistance

Objective To know the contamination of Salmonella agona and their antibiotic resistance.Methods S.agona was isolated and identified according to GB/T4789.4-2008.Kirby-Bauer method was used to conduct drug sensitivity test,and criteria for judging conducted by NCCLS2004 edition.Results Eight strains of S.agona were detected from the samples,with the separation rate of 6.6%.4 strains were detected from poultry meat,which accounted for 50% of the detected samples,the bacterium was sensitive to gentamicin,ceftriaxone and chloramphenicol,and it had a strong resistance to tetracycline,sulfamethoxazole and nalidixie acid.Conclusions The contamination of S.agona is serious,its antibiotic sensitivity and antibiotic resistance deserve attention.
Complications of Groin Hernia Repair

This review concerns itself with the recognition and treatment of the common and rare complications of groin hernia (direct, indirect, and femoral) repair. Preoperative complications such as incarceration and intestinal obstruction, operative complications such as hemorrhage and nerve severance, and postoperative complications such as compression of the femoral vein and urinary retention are discussed.
Surface strain accumulation and the seismic moment tensor

Although the scalar moment accumulation rate within the seismogenic zone beneath a given area is sometimes deduced from the observed average surface strain accumulation rate over that same area (e.g., Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities, 1995), the correspondence between the two is very uncertain. The equivalence between surface strain accumulation and scalar moment accumulation is based on Kostrov's (1974) relation between the average strain rate over a volume and the moment-rate tensor for that volume. The average strain rate over the volume is replaced by the average strain rate measured at the free surface to deduce an approximate moment-rate tensor. Only in exceptional circumstances will that moment-rate tensor correspond to a double-couple mechanism, a mechanism that can be represented by a scalar moment accumulation rate. More generally, the moment tensor must be resolved into the superposition of two or more double-couple mechanisms, and that resolution can be done in many ways, each with its own scalar moment rate. Thus the resolution is not unique. This is demonstrated by deducing scalar moment accumulation rates for a GPS network that covers most of California south of San Francisco. It is shown that resolutions into different double-couple mechanisms lead to scalar moment accumulation rates differing by factors of ∼2. We suggest that the minimum scalar moment rate equivalent to principal surface strain rates ɛ 1 and ɛ 2 acting over the area A is M (min) = 2 μHA Max (¦ ɛ 1¦, ¦ ɛ 2¦, ¦ ɛ 1 + ɛ 2¦), where μ is the rigidity and H the depth of seismogenic zone, and the function Max is equal to the largest of its arguments. Within the uncertainites of measurement, the scalar moment accumulation rate in southern California based on that approximation is in balance with the average historic seismic moment release rate so that no current earthquake deficit need be accumulating.
P.N. (Raja) Junankar, Development Economics: The Role of Agriculture in Development

Abstract. Development Economics: The Role of Agriculture in Development is a compilation of academic writings from P.N. Junankar and coauthors on the topic of agriculture in India. These writings includeanalyses of government policies regarding the agricultural sector, farmer behavior, inequality, informal labor markets and female labor force participation. This book is a valuable contribution to the literature addressing growth within the agricultural sector in lesser developed economies. Keywords. India, Agriculture, Economic Development. JEL. O13, O53, J43, J46.
A network communication protocol for distributed virtual environment systems

Virtual environment (VE) applications involve many different tasks, including interfacing with input and output devices, providing responsive user interaction, and simulating a dynamic environment. The variety and number of tasks lends the application to a distributed computing system, where different tasks are performed by different computing resources. A critical issue that arises from such a design is how information is communicated between tasks. In particular, for virtual environments, how information is communicated promptly is the critical issue. In this work, we describe a pattern of communication common between VE tasks which is not addressed by other communication protocols, namely the communication of state information that continuously changes. We describe a new protocol based on an updatable queue abstraction which allows obsolete state information to be discarded, and compare a prototype implementation of that abstraction with a standard communication protocol.
Data ex Machina: Introduction to Big Data

Social life increasingly occurs in digital environments and continues to be mediated by digital systems. Big data represents the data being generated by the digitization of social life, which we break down into three domains: digital life, digital traces, and digitalized life. We argue that there is enormous potential in using big data to study a variety of phenomena that remain difficult to observe. However, there are some recurring vulnerabilities that should be addressed. We also outline the role institutions must play in clarifying the ethical rules of the road. Finally, we conclude by pointing to a few trends that are not yet common in research using big data but will play an increasing role in it. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Sociology Volume 43 is July 30, 2017. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Yttrium-90 Selective Internal Radiation Therapy

Yttrium-90 Selective internal radiation therapy is a growing part of the field of liver-directed radiation therapy. This technique involves the delivery of radioactive microbeads directly into liver tumors via the blood supply. There are presently two devices available to deliver Y90, with different techniques and clinical considerations for the two devices. This therapy requires careful work-up and appropriate patient selection that is best accomplished in the context of a multidisciplinary oncology team. This treatment has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of colorectal metastases, hepatocellular carcinoma, neuroendocrine tumor, with emerging data in other malignancies. This chapter seeks to describe the appropriate patient selection, work-up, technique, dosimetry, complications, and follow-up of Y90 as performed in current clinical practice.
Gait Characteristics of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Patients.

PURPOSE To identify potential differences between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients and controls in fall-relevant gait characteristics. METHODS Spatiotemporal gait characteristics using the GAITRite walkway were collected from 29 AMD patients and 20 controls, aged 60 to 90 years, at the Wilmer Eye Institute. Multiple linear regressions, controlling for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and comorbidities were used to assess associations between gait characteristics and AMD. RESULTS Study participants were predominantly white (86%) and female (55%). Mean age of the full study population was 73.51 (SD: 8.14) years, and mean BMI was 27.80 (SD: 5.44) kg/m2. Median better-eye acuity (logMAR) was 0.23 (interquartile range [IQR] = 0.18, 0.36) and -0.02 (IQR = -0.08, 0.02), while median binocular log contrast sensitivity was 1.44 (IQR = 1.32, 1.56) and 1.76 (IQR = 1.76, 1.80) for the AMD and control groups, respectively. In multivariable regression models, AMD patients had significantly slower walking speeds (β = -0.118 m/sec [95% confidence interval (CI): -0.229, -0.007], P = 0.038) and stride velocities (β = -0.119 m/sec [95% CI: -0.232, -0.007], P = 0.038), and greater double support time (β = 3.381% of the walk cycle, 95% CI = 1.006, 5.757, P = 0.006) than controls. There were no group differences in base of support, step length, stride length, or gait variability measures. CONCLUSION AMD patients exhibited many fall-relevant gait characteristics. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE The finding of fall-relevant gait characteristics suggests that AMD patients may be at a greater risk of falls during ambulation than those without AMD.
The Speed of the Market Reaction to Pre-Open versus Post-Close Earnings Announcements

The vast majority of U.S. public firms announce earnings in the post-close (between the closing bell and midnight, or PC) or the pre-open (between midnight and the opening bell, or PO). Prior literature generally treats PC and PO announcements as equivalent when measuring the market reaction to the announcement. In this study, we provide a model of investor processing of earnings announcements and hypothesize that PO announcements have a slower market reaction to the earnings news than PC announcements. This differential speed of the market reaction is because PC announcements offer investors more time to process and trade on the earnings news before regular trading begins. We find strong empirical evidence that, although the earnings news and cumulative market reaction does not differ between PC and PO announcements, PO announcements incorporate earnings news more slowly in the days after the announcement than PC announcements.
The Role of Strategic Orientation in Business Innovation

Focusing on technology-driven industries, this paper describes a model by which it is possible to identify and evaluate business strategies according to a matrix of four generic strategy categories. The model may assist in assuring that business functional strategies fit the requirement of the adopted business orientation. The model is illustrated by our interpretation of past and present strategies followed by leading firms in a variety of industries. We identify four generic categories of business strategic orientations: strategies designed to reallocate earnings or acquire greater market share, strategies that expand the profit pool by implementing innovations, strategies designed to readjust competitive positions in a declining market, or strategies designed to capitalize on "the next big thing." Examples of hightech companies with one or more of these strategic orientations are provided. The framework presented in this article contributes to research in strategic management, and supports m anagers in making business decisions for high-tech companies.
Ethnische Milieukonstruktionen durch Expertenwelten

Gegenstand des vorliegenden Artikels ist die Analyse von Zuschreibungen eines ethnischen Milieus in dem Feld kleiner- und mittelstandischer Unternehmen am Fallbeispiel der Befragung von Experten, die in den Geschehnissen einer Unternehmensnachfolge beratend zur Seite stehen. Die Ausfuhrung schliest an die theoretische Grundlegung der Milieuanalyse von Darius Zifonun in diesem Band an. Unter Rekurs auf weitere konzeptionelle Bezuge der Perspektive sozialer Welten (Strauss 1978) und der Veranschaulichung des methodischen Vorgehens an konkretem Datenmaterial, wird entfaltet, dass Expertisen zur Frage danach, wie und vor allem wer ein Unternehmen erfolgreich ubernehmen konnte, nicht (ausschlieslich) nach okonomischer Rationalitat urteilen.
Integration ökologischer Parameter in das Reverse Network Design

Gegenstand der Arbeit ist die Analyse landerubergreifender Rucknahmenetzwerke fur Elektroaltgerate (EAG) unter Berucksichtigung okonomischer und okologischer Zieldimensionen. Hierzu wird das Netzwerkmodell eines europaischen IT-OEMs um okologische Parameter erweitert, die auf der LCIA-Methode ReCiPe basieren. Die Analyse umfasst aus der WEEE-Richtlinie und der Abfallverbringungsverordnung abgeleitete legislative Szenarien sowie unterschiedliche Aufkommensmengen. Die resultierenden Forschungsfragen werden anhand vier zentraler Erkenntnisse beantwortet, die sich auf die Aufkommensmenge, den Grad rechtlicher Einschrankungen sowie die Abwagung zwischen Transport- und Baukosten bzw. -umweltauswirkungen beziehen.
Log-odds rate and monotone log-odds rate distributions

Since the 1960's, reliability models for time to failure based on monotone failure rate models have become important models of failure time for reliability practitioners. Bounds for monotone increasing failure rates (IFR) have been developed and are esp..
Racial Disparities and Preventive Measures to Renal Cell Carcinoma

Kidney cancer ranks among the top 10 cancers in the United States. Although it affects both male and female populations, it is more common in males. The prevalence rate of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which represents about 85% of kidney cancers, has been increasing gradually in many developed countries. Family history has been considered as one of the most relevant risk factors for kidney cancer, although most forms of an inherited predisposition for RCC only account for less than four percent. Lifestyle and other factors such as occupational exposure, high blood pressure, poor diet, and heavy cigarette smoking are highly associated with its incidence and mortality rates. In the United States, White populations have the lowest prevalence of RCC compared to other ethnic groups, while Black Americans suffer disproportionally from the adverse effects of RCC. Hence, this review article aims at identifying the major risk factors associated with RCC and highlighting the new therapeutic approaches for its control/prevention. To achieve this specific aim, articles in peer-reviewed journals with a primary focus on risk factors related to kidney cancer and on strategies to reduce RCC were identified. The review was systematically conducted by searching the databases of MEDLINE, PUBMED Central, and Google Scholar libraries for original articles. From the search, we found that the incidence and mortality rates of RCC are strongly associated with four main risk factors, including family history (genetics), lifestyle (poor diet, cigarette smoking, excess alcohol drinking), environment (community where people live), and occupation (place where people work). In addition, unequal access to improvement in RCC cancer treatment, limited access to screening and diagnosis, and limited access to kidney transplant significantly contribute to the difference observed in survival rate between African Americans and Caucasians. There is also scientific evidence suggesting that some physicians contribute to racial disparities when performing kidney transplant among minority populations. New therapeutic measures should be taken to prevent or reduce RCC, especially among African Americans, the most vulnerable population group.
Inherited Retinal Diseases

The successful sequencing of the human genome and invention of new molecular tools such as gene modification technologies and virus-mediated gene delivery systems have changed our understanding and treatment approaches toward inherited retinal disorders. This chapter includes the most recent advances that showed potential benefits in clinical trials and brought hope for patients with visually debilitating inherited diseases.
Cell differentiation in the embryonic mammalian spinal cord.

The acquisition of cell type specific properties in the spinal cord is a process of a sequential restriction in developmental potential. Multipotent neuroepithelial stem cells (NEP cells) can give rise to all the major cell types in the central nervous system. The generation of these multiple cell types occurs via the generation of intermediate precursor cells, which are restricted in their differentiation potential, but are still able to give rise to more than one cell type. These intermediate precursor cells are different from NEP cells and are different from each other. We have identified neuronal restricted precursor cells (NRP’s) which can only generate neurons but no longer glial cells and glial restricted precursor cells (GRP’s), which give rise to glial cells but not to neurons. These intermediate precursor cells can be purified and expanded in vitro and might offer a new tool for gene discovery, drug screening and transplantation approaches.
Hydrolysis of a synthetic angiotensin-converting enzyme substrate in dog lungs

The present study was carried out to begin to evaluate the saturable kinetics of the hydrolysis of a synthetic substrate, benzoyl-phenylalanyl-alanyl-proline (BPAP), for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), by the pulmonary endothelium of the dog using a multiple indicator dilution method. In the experiments, isolated dog lung lobes were perfused with a salt solution containing 5% bovine serum albumin. Boluses containing [3H]BPAP, and various amounts of unlabeled BPAP were injected into the lobar artery, and timed samples of venous effluent were collected. The samples were analyzed to determine the fractional hydrolysis of the injected BPAP. The BPAP hydrolysis on passage through the lungs exhibited the saturable behavior and the relative insensitivity to changing flow rate previously described. Since we have described previously that BPAP behaves as if it exists in two forms, one of which is virtually unhydrolyzable on a single pass through the lungs, a model was formulated to include the influence of the unhydrolyzable form, as well as the saturable hydrolysis of the hydrolyzable form, on the fractional hydrolysis of the injected BPAP. This model provides a new method for estimating the kinetic parameters of BPAP hydrolysis by pulmonary endothelial ACE, and it explains the observation that the fractional BPAP hydrolysis does not vary with flow rate and transit time to the extent predicted by previous models.
Differential responses to spectrally degraded speech within human auditory cortex: An intracranial electrophysiology study.

Abstract Understanding cortical processing of spectrally degraded speech in normal-hearing subjects may provide insights into how sound information is processed by cochlear implant (CI) users. This study investigated electrocorticographic (ECoG) responses to noise-vocoded speech and related these responses to behavioral performance in a phonemic identification task. Subjects were neurosurgical patients undergoing chronic invasive monitoring for medically refractory epilepsy. Stimuli were utterances /aba/ and /ada/, spectrally degraded using a noise vocoder (1–4 bands). ECoG responses were obtained from Heschl's gyrus (HG) and superior temporal gyrus (STG), and were examined within the high gamma frequency range (70–150 Hz). All subjects performed at chance accuracy with speech degraded to 1 and 2 spectral bands, and at or near ceiling for clear speech. Inter-subject variability was observed in the 3- and 4-band conditions. High gamma responses in posteromedial HG (auditory core cortex) were similar for all vocoded conditions and clear speech. A progressive preference for clear speech emerged in anterolateral segments of HG, regardless of behavioral performance. On the lateral STG, responses to all vocoded stimuli were larger in subjects with better task performance. In contrast, both behavioral and neural responses to clear speech were comparable across subjects regardless of their ability to identify degraded stimuli. Findings highlight differences in representation of spectrally degraded speech across cortical areas and their relationship to perception. The results are in agreement with prior non-invasive results. The data provide insight into the neural mechanisms associated with variability in perception of degraded speech and potentially into sources of such variability in CI users.
Security-oriented DSA for Network Access Control in Cognitive Radio Networks

Observing both Dynamic Spectrum Allocation/Access (DSA) and Network Access Control (NAC) are indispensable for granting network access privilege to eligible Cognitive Radio Network (CRN) users, we propose a novel security-oriented DSA algorithm to provide communication confidentiality for NAC in CRNs with negligible network performance degradation. Moreover, with the integration of this security-oriented DSA into NAC framework, the implementation complexity of NAC system is reduced. This is because not only is the complex encryption/decryption in traditional NAC replaced with our DSA, but also can the usage of a management mechanism to coordinate operations between DSA and NAC in real-world CRN systems be avoided. As the result, a complete secure solution for NAC design is achieved as the security-oriented DSA is capable of providing confidential communication for both authentication messages and subsequent user data. The analysis shows our proposed cryptography based NAC framework is robust to varying communication environment. Simulations verify that the confidentiality achieved by security-oriented DSA induces negligible degradation on average throughput per user compared with existing DSA schemes.
Human Influenza A Virus Hemagglutinin Glycan Evolution Follows a Temporal Pattern to a Glycan Limit

Human antibody-based immunity to influenza A virus is limited by antigenic drift resulting from amino acid substitutions in the hemagglutinin (HA) head domain. Glycan addition can cause large antigenic changes but is limited by fitness costs to viral replication. Here, we report that glycans are added to H1 and H3 HAs at discrete 5-to-7-year intervals, until they reach a functional glycan limit, after which glycans are swapped at approximately 2-fold-longer intervals. Consistent with this pattern, 2009 pandemic H1N1 added a glycan at residue N162 over the 2015-2016 season, an addition that required two epistatic HA head mutations for complete glycosylation. These strains rapidly replaced H1N1 strains globally, by 2017 dominating H3N2 and influenza B virus strains for the season. The pattern of glycan modulation that we outline should aid efforts for tracing the epidemic potential of evolving human IAV strains.IMPORTANCE Frequent mutation of its major antibody target, the glycoprotein hemagglutinin, ensures that the influenza virus is perennially both a rapidly emerging virus and a major threat to public health. One type of mutation escapes immunity by adding a glycan onto an area of hemagglutinin that many antibodies recognize. This study revealed that these glycan changes follow a simple temporal pattern. Every 5 to 7 years, hemagglutinin adds a new glycan, up to a limit. After this limit is reached, no net additions of glycans occur. Instead, glycans are swapped or lost at longer intervals. Eventually, a pandemic replaces the terminally glycosylated hemagglutinin with a minimally glycosylated one from the animal reservoir, restarting the cycle. This pattern suggests the following: (i) some hemagglutinins are evolved for this decades-long process, which is both defined by and limited by successive glycan addition; and (ii) hemagglutinin's antibody dominance and its capacity for mutations are highly adapted features that allow influenza to outpace our antibody-based immunity.
Screening Older Adults for Depression: Barriers Across Clinical Discipline Training.

Background and objectives Depressed older adults are more likely to be seen in primary care than in specialty mental health settings, but research shows that physicians may not routinely screen for depression. Other clinical disciplines are also in a position to screen for depression, but have not been studied. This study examined barriers to screening older adults for depression, and disciplinary differences in clinical trainees' likelihood of screening. Research design and methods We used a cross-sectional, online survey with experimental manipulation of vignettes. A four-way mixed analysis of variance explored the effects of clinical discipline (between subjects) and time pressure, patient difficulty, and level of symptoms (within subjects) on trainees' likelihood of screening. Results Participants were 229 trainees in medicine (83), psychology (51), nursing (49), and social work (46). Lower time pressure and greater symptom severity increased likelihood of screening. There was a significant three-way interaction among discipline, patient difficulty, and symptom level that was driven by social work graduate trainees' greater likelihood of screening for depression when there were more symptoms present, which was diminished if the patient was being difficult. There was a two-way interaction between patient difficulty and level of symptoms: more symptoms resulted in increased likelihood of screening, an effect that diminished with greater patient difficulty. Discussion and implications The study holds implications for identifying and addressing gaps in education on depression screening to minimize the effects of barriers. Interventions could address education about older adults and depression, including practice-based screening, time management, and behavior management skills.
Economic Analyses to Inform and Support Health Policy for Chronic Hepatitis B Treatment

Summarize insights into the economic impact of global hepatitis B treatment policies. With the highly effective antiviral treatment, entecavir and recently tenofovir, coming off patent, hepatitis B treatment is now very inexpensive and may save costs in the long run. In the USA alone, dramatic increases in screening and treatment would prevent between 80 and 100 thousand cases of cirrhosis, 50 and 60 thousand cases of liver cancer, and 80 to 100 thousand HBV-related deaths over the next 50 years. Cost-effectiveness analyses can provide information in the form of what a proper course of action will cost, and what the benefits will be in terms of health impact. Since the sharp reduction in antiviral drug pricing, the focus should be on treating patients with generic antivirals to ensure that the chronic hepatitis B care and treatment efforts are highly cost-effective and even cost-saving.
Loss for photoemission versus gain for Auger: Direct experimental evidence of crystal-field splitting and charge transfer in photoelectron spectroscopy

Here, we find a 5 eV satellite in the Ti1s photoelectron spectrum of the transition-metal oxide SrTiO3. This satellite appears in addition to the well-studied 13 eV structure that is typically associated with the Ti2p core line. We give direct experimental evidence that the presence of two satellites is due to the crystal-field splitting of the metal 3d orbitals. They originate from ligand 2pt2g → metal3dt2g and ligand 2peg → metal 3deg monopole charge-transfer excitations within the sudden approximation of quantum mechanics. This assignment is made by the energetics of the resonant and high-energy threshold behaviors of the TiK–L2L3 Auger decay that follows Ti1s photoionization.
A (1R,2R,5R)-(+)-2α-hydroxy­pinan-3-one ketimine

The title compound {systematic name: (1R,2R,5R)-(+)-2-hydr­oxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-3-[(3-pyrid­yl)methyl­imino]­bicyclo[3.1.1]­heptane}, C16H22N2O, was obtained by the condensation reaction of (1R,2R,5R)-(+)-2α-hydroxy­pinan-3-one with 3-(amino­meth­yl)pyridine in the presence of boron trifluoride. The compound was obtained as an enantiomerically pure isomer, and has the 1R,2R,5R configuration. In the crystal structure, mol­ecules are linked together by inter­molecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds between the hydr­oxy group of the pinanone group and the N atom of the pyridine ring, forming mol­ecular chains.