cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High content image analysis of focal adhesion-dependent mechanosensitive stem cell differentiation

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) receive differentiation cues from a number of stimuli, including extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness. The pathways used to sense stiffness and other physical cues are just now being understood and include proteins within focal adhesions. To rapidly advance the pace of discovery for novel mechanosensitive proteins, we employed a combination of in silico and high throughput in vitro methods to analyze 47 different focal adhesion proteins for cryptic kinase binding sites. High content imaging of hMSCs treated with small interfering RNAs for the top 6 candidate proteins showed novel effects on both osteogenic and myogenic differentiation; Vinculin and SORBS1 were necessary for stiffness-mediated myogenic and osteogenic differentiation, respectively. Both of these proteins bound to MAPK1 (also known as ERK2), suggesting that it plays a context-specific role in mechanosensing for each lineage; validation for these sites was performed. This high throughput system, while specifically built to analyze stiffness-mediated stem cell differentiation, can be expanded to other physical cues to more broadly assess mechanical signaling and increase the pace of sensor discovery.
The fabrication of a nanoscale polyoxometalate based magnetic adsorbent and its selective adsorption on cationic dyes

AbstractAmino group-functionalized Fe3O4 is loaded on a coordination complex-modified polyoxometalate nanoparticle. In this composite material, Fe3O4 and coordination complex-modified polyoxometalate are connected with intense hydrogen bonds as suggested by FTIR. This composite material exhibits excellent methylene blue (MB) adsorption, with adsorption capacity of 175.5 mg g−1. It also possesses selective separation ability between cationic and anionic dye molecules. In binary solution of MB and methyl orange (MO), MB adsorption efficiency reaches 75%, but it exhibits almost no effect on the adsorption of methyl orange. The saturation magnetization value of this composite material is 18.89 emu g−1, allowing magnetic separation, which facilitates the recycle and reuse of this composite adsorbent.
Safety and utilization of peripherally inserted central catheters versus midline catheters at a large academic medical center.

Background Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are a commonly used central intravenous (IV) access device, which can be associated with significant complications. Midline catheters (MCs) are peripheral IV access devices that may reduce the need for central lines and hence decrease central line–associated bloodstream infections. The objective of this study is to compare the utilization and safety of PICCs and MCs. Methods This was a retrospective study comparing the use and outcomes of PICCs and MCs at a large academic medical center between January and May 2015. Data were collected using electronic medical records and IV team insertion data. Statistical software was used for analysis. Results A total of 206 PICCs and 200 MCs were inserted in 367 patients within the study duration. Patients with MCs were more likely to have complications than those with PICCs (19.5% vs 5.8%, P Conclusions MCs were associated with a higher risk of non–life-threatening complications versus PICCs, which showed fewer but more serious complications, including bacteremia. The decision to move toward more use of MCs is not without risk. Institutions should continue to review the utilization and safety data of IV catheter use to determine the most appropriate use of these devices.
Spontaneous Remission of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Possibly More Rare Then Previously Reported?

Abstract 4589 Introduction: Spontaneous remission of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (SRCLL) has occassionaly been reported since the 1950s. About 40–50 cases have been reported in the English literature. The often quoted incidence of such a phenomena is estimated to be 1% of all CLL cases (Table 1). However, a review of these reports which have determined this incidence suggests that many patients did not have a true SRCLL. The authors have conducted a systemic search within their own institution database to determine the true incidence of SRCLL. Methods: After obtaining appropriate IRB approval, a systemic search was performed within the our institution9s hematopathology databases for the diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia from year 2000 to 2012. Records and laboratory findings were reviewed for all cases. Records for patients with laboratory data suggestive of remission were reviewed to determine if they had received any form of therapy. All cases were included in the review if the diagnosis of CLL was firmly established by flow cytometry. SRCLL was defined as: 1) the patient9s elevated lymphocyte number at diagnosis was >5 × 109/L and persisted for >6 months confirming the initial diagnosis of CLL, 2) the lymphocyte number subsequently normalized to Results: After reviewing 167 cases, only one case met our inclusion criteria, with an estimated incidence of 0.6%. Conclusion: Spontaneous remission of CLL is a rare phenomenon. This review suggests that the incidence of SRCLL is less then the previously often quoted incidence of 1% and may more appropriately approximate 0.6%. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Resonance in dance: The art of blending bodies

In dance, “resonance” describes a shared sense of energy, rhythm, flow, and coherence. Choreographers and dancers seek resonance for the purposes of creating and performing dance. I theorize that resonance is a kind of human social cognition in the context of self-other matching, which is defined as any phenomenon in which the observation of another’s behavior or state causes the observer’s behavior or state to become congruent with it. I review findings from cognitive and neuroscience to show that “resonance in dance” is a blend of feeling and knowing arising from somatomotor “reflexive” systems that prime more reflective processes like learning by imitation, perspective-taking, and empathy. I introduce the “embodied conceptual blending” hypothesis as a mechanism for dance resonating. I explore questions that arise about the role and function of resonance in dance and speculate on gender differences. Implications are discussed.
Vanadium as a potential membrane material for carbon capture: Effects of minor flue gas species

Vanadium and its surface oxides were studied as a potential nitrogen-selective membrane material for indirect carbon capture from coal or natural gas power plants. The effects of minor flue gas components (SO2, NO, NO2, H2O, and O2) on vanadium at 500–600 °C were investigated by thermochemical exposure in combination with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that SO2, NO, and NO2 are unlikely to have adsorbed on the surface vanadium oxides at 600 °C after exposure for up to 10 h, although NO and NO2 may have exhibited oxidizing effects (e.g., exposure to 250 ppmv NO/N2 resulted in an 2.4 times increase in surface V2O5 compared to exposure to just N2). We hypothesize that decomposition of surface vanadium oxides and diffusion of surface oxygen into the metal bulk are both important mechanisms affecting the composition and morphology of the vanadium membrane. The results and hypothesis suggest that the carbon capt...
Network Structure and Governance Performance: What Makes a Difference?

Comparing and evaluating the performance of governance networks are important tasks for researchers and practitioners of network governance and public administration. Limited by the lack of network data across space and time, the study of network performance and effectiveness at the network level is not on pace with advances in theories and methodologies in network analysis. With a novel methodology to measure clean energy governance networks using hyperlink network analysis across the contiguous United States, this article collects a large sample of self-organizing policy networks in the same policy domain across geographic locations. This article proposes that governance networks with high overall bridging and bonding social capital perform better. Regression analyses show that network structures have statistically significant effects on governance outcomes. States with high average closeness and average clustering in their governance networks are more likely to have faster clean energy development.
Diagnostic Evaluation, Comorbidity Screening, and Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Adolescents in 3 Specialty Clinics.

Abstract Study Objective A polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis in adolescence can have significant long-term health implications. The criteria for its diagnosis in adolescents have been subject to much debate. In this study we aimed to characterize the variability in diagnosis and management among different pediatric specialties. Design, Setting, Participants, and Interventions This was a retrospective review of electronic medical records of female patients (11-21 years old) who presented to 3 specialties (adolescent medicine [ADO], pediatric endocrinology [ENDO], and gynecology [GYN]), with a postvisit diagnosis of PCOS, menstrual disorders, or hirsutism, at a large tertiary care center, from November 1, 2011 to October 31, 2012. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data were abstracted. Main Outcome Measures Testing for diagnosis of PCOS and its comorbidities, and treatment strategies in the 3 pediatric specialties. Results One hundred forty-one patients (50 ADO, 48 ENDO, and 43 GYN) were eligible. Testing for hyperandrogenemia (17-hydroxy-progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, estradiol), thyroxine, and use of pelvic ultrasound differed among specialties. Providers failed to document weight concerns in 28.3% (29 of 101) of overweight or obese patients. Patients seen by ENDO were most likely, and GYN least likely, to be identified as having elevated weight, and to be tested for glucose abnormalities, dyslipidemia, and liver disease. ENDO providers prescribed metformin more often and hormonal therapy less often than ADO and GYN. Conclusion There is considerable variability across pediatric specialties in the evaluation of PCOS, with significant underassessment of comorbidities. Use of unified guidelines, including for the evaluation of comorbidities, would improve evidence-based management of adolescent PCOS.
Behavior Related to Learning Disabilities and Effective Strategies

This paper includes a literature review regarding if behavior may or may not have an effect on learning disabilities. In general, the literature seems to indicate that there is a need for further research on evidenced based theories. The areas are specific in the field of special education and behavior problems within the classroom. Teachers and parents need more resources and effective ways of reaching students with disabilities. This review will focus on oppositional defiant disorder, attention deficit disorder and autism.
Price, Place, People, and Local Experience

With property characteristics unobserved or difficult to measure, there are returns to evaluation, due diligence, and performance. Buyers can invest in observable human capital signals including lo...
Characterizing Residual Muscle Properties in Lower Limb Amputees Using High Density EMG Decomposition: A Pilot Study *

As research is progressing towards EMG control of lower limb prostheses, it is vital to understand the neurophysiology of the residual muscles in the amputated limb, which has been largely ignored. Therefore, the goal of this study was to characterize the activation patterns (muscle recruitment and motor unit discharge patterns) of the residual muscles of lower limb amputees. One transtibial amputee subject was recruited for this pilot study. The participant wore three high-density EMG electrode pads (8x8 grid with 64 channels) on each limb (a total of six pads) – one on the tibialis anterior (TA), medial gastrocnemius (MG), and lateral gastrocnemius (LG), respectively. The participant was asked to follow a ramping procedure plateauing at 50% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) for both the TA and Gastrocnemius muscles. The EMG signals were then decomposed offline; the firing rate and spatial activation patterns of the muscle were analyzed. Results showed slower and more variable firing rate in motor units of residual muscles than those of intact side. In addition, the spatial pattern of muscle activation differed between residual and intact muscles. These results indicate that surface EMG signals recorded from residual muscles present modified signal features from intact shank muscles, which should be considered when implementing myoelectric control schemes.
Helium Refrigeration During the 50 Years Since the 1968 Brookhaven Summer Study

Before the 1968 Brookhaven summer study, there were commercial helium liquefiers and refrigerators. Machines that are common today started just before the 1968 summer study. The 1968 summer study led to a use of superconductivity in physics. Improved refrigeration followed. This paper shows the developments in helium refrigeration that led to the machines that are the mainstay of modern physics. Changes in helium refrigeration led to improvements in MRI, nuclear magnetic resonance, and superconducting RF cavities. These changes are continuing today.
A Change in Bile Flow: Looking Beyond Transporter Inhibition in the Development of Drug-induced Cholestasis.

Background Drug-induced Liver Injury (DILI) has received increasing attention over the past decades, as it represents the leading cause of drug failure and attrition. One of the most prevalent and severe forms of DILI involves the toxic accumulation of bile acids in the liver, known as Drug-induced Cholestasis (DIC). Traditionally, DIC is studied by exploring the inhibition of hepatic transporters such as Bile Salt Export Pump (BSEP) and multidrug resistance-associated proteins, predominantly through vesicular transport assays. Although this approach has identified numerous drugs that alter bile flow, many DIC drugs do not demonstrate prototypical transporter inhibition, but rather are associated with alternative mechanisms. Methods We undertook a focused literature search on DIC and biliary transporters and analyzed peer-reviewed publications over the past two decades or so. Results We have summarized the current perception regarding DIC, biliary transporters, and transcriptional regulation of bile acid homeostasis. A growing body of literature aimed to identify alternative mechanisms in the development of DIC has been evaluated. This review also highlights current in vitro approaches used for prediction of DIC. Conclusion Efforts have continued to focus on BSEP, as it is the primary route for hepatic biliary clearance. In addition to inhibition, drug-induced BSEP repression or the combination of these two has emerged as important alternative mechanisms leading to DIC. Furthermore, there has been an evolution in the approaches to studying DIC including 3D cell cultures and computational modeling.
Adaptive Model Predictive Control for Real-Time Dispatch of Energy Storage Systems

Energy storage systems are flexible and controllable resources that can provide a number of services for the electric power grid. Many technologies are available, and corresponding models vary greatly in level of detail and tractability. In this work, we propose an adaptive optimal control and estimation approach for real-time dispatch of energy storage systems that neither requires accurate state-of-energy measurements nor knowledge of an accurate state-of-energy model. Specifically, we formulate an online optimization problem that simultaneously solves moving horizon estimation and model predictive control problems, which results in estimates of the state-of-energy, estimates of the charging and discharging efficiencies, and future dispatch signals. We present a numerical example in which the plant is a nonlinear, time-varying Lithium-ion battery model and show that our approach effectively estimates the state-of-energy and dispatches the system without accurate knowledge of the dynamics and in the presence of significant measurement noise.
No evidence of apoptotic response of the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli, to "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum" at the gut interface.

ABSTRACT “Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” is a pathogen transmitted by the potato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae) in a persistent manner. In this study, we investigated the molecular interaction between “Ca. Liberibacter solanacearum” and the potato psyllid at the gut interface. Specifically, we focused on the apoptotic response of potato psyllids to the infection by two “Ca. Liberibacter solanacearum” haplotypes, LsoA and LsoB. To this end, we first quantified and localized “Ca. Liberibacter solanacearum” in the gut of adult psyllids. We then evaluated the existence of an apoptotic response in the insect gut using microscopy analyses to visualize the nuclei and the actin cytoskeleton of the gut cells and DNA fragmentation analyses by agarose gel electrophoresis. We also performed annexin V cell death assays to detect apoptosis. Finally, we annotated apoptosis-related genes from the potato psyllid transcriptome and evaluated their expression in response to “Ca. Liberibacter solanacearum” infection. The results showed no cellular markers of apoptosis despite the large amount of “Ca. Liberibacter solanacearum” present in the psyllid gut. In addition, only three genes potentially involved in apoptosis were regulated in the psyllid gut in response to “Ca. Liberibacter solanacearum”: the apoptosis-inducing factor AIF3 was downregulated in LsoA-infected psyllids, while the inhibitor of apoptosis IAPP5 was downregulated and IAP6 was upregulated in LsoB-infected psyllids. Overall, no evidence of apoptosis was observed in the gut of potato psyllid adults in response to either “Ca. Liberibacter solanacearum” haplotype. This study represents a first step toward understanding the interactions between “Ca. Liberibacter solanacearum” and the potato psyllid, which is crucial to developing approaches to disrupt their transmission.
A Time Motion Study Evaluating the Impact of Geographic Cohorting of Hospitalists

BACKGROUND Geographic cohorting (GCh) localizes hospitalists to a unit. Our objective was to compare the GCh and non-GCh workday. METHODS In an academic, Midwestern hospital we observed hospitalists in GCh and non-GCh teams. Time in patient rooms was considered direct care; other locations were considered 'indirect' care. Geotracking identified time spent in each location and was obtained for 17 hospitalists. It was supplemented by in-person observation of four GCh and four non-GCh hospitalists for a workday each. Multilevel modeling was used to analyze associations between direct and indirect care time and team and workday characteristics. RESULTS Geotracking yielded 10,522 direct care episodes. GCh was associated with longer durations of patient visits while increasing patient loads were associated with shorter visits. GCh, increasing patient loads, and increasing numbers of units visited were associated with increased indirect care time. In-person observations yielded 3,032 minutes of data. GCh hospitalists were observed spending 56% of the day in computer interactions vs non-GCh hospitalists (39%; P .05). Interruptions were pervasive, but the highest interruption rate of once every eight minutes in the afternoon was noted in the GCh group. CONCLUSION GCh may have the potential to increase patient-hospitalist interactions but these gains may be attenuated if patient loads and the structure of cohorting are suboptimal. The hospitalist workday is cognitively intense. The interruptions noted may increase the time taken for time-intensive tasks like electronic medical record interactions.
Hearing Preservation and Speech Outcomes After Cochlear Implantation in Meniere's Disease

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To evaluate speech perception outcomes and hearing preservation after cochlear implantation in patients with Meniere's disease (MD). STUDY DESIGN Retrospective chart review. METHODS Fifty-one adult patients, accounting for a total of 63 implants, with MD treated at a tertiary care center were included in the study. Patients with unaided preoperative air-conduction thresholds ≤80 dB at 250 Hz were included in hearing preservation analyses. The primary outcome measure was Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant (CNC) score. Hearing preservation was assessed as follows: 1) maintenance of functional hearing, defined as a postoperative unaided air-conduction threshold ≤80 dB at 250 Hz and 2) low-frequency pure-tone average (LFPTA) shift. RESULTS Speech perception scores improved significantly postimplantation; specifically, the CNC mean score was 9% preoperatively and increased to 57% by 1 year postoperatively (P < .001). Eighteen ears were included in hearing preservation analysis; the mean preoperative LFPTA was 65 dB (standard deviation [SD] = 10). The mean postoperative LFPTA at activation was 93 dB (SD = 21), and at 1 year was 102 dB (SD = 11). Twenty-seven percent of patients achieved short-term functional hearing preservation, whereas the longer-term outcomes were less favorable (11%). CONCLUSIONS Speech perception scores improve after implantation in patients with MD. Hearing preservation is possible in patients with MD, albeit at lower rates than reported non-MD populations. Our data suggest that there can be degradation in acoustic hearing over time. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 2019.
The Dwarf Cuttlefish: a story of trials, exploration, and scientific frontiers

Far from the Indopacific, aquatics manager Josh Barber and veterinarian Rebecca Ober walk through the recently established dwarf cuttlefish program at Columbia University and share their lessons learned for others interested in these intriguing animals.
17 – Barley Oil

Publisher Summary Barley is an ancient domesticated grain. As the oil content of most hulled and hulless barley cultivars is low, obtaining oil from whole barley grain is not easy or economical. However, when barley is milled by various methods, some of its milling fractions are enriched in oil and the fractions are used to produce barley oil. Almost all of the studies of barley oil and its lipid composition were conducted by extracting the oil and lipids with hexane. Barley oil is high-linoleate oil with a fatty-acid composition similar to corn oil and several other commodity plant oils. The levels of phytosterols in barley oil are higher than those in most other edible-plant oils. The most unique feature about barley oil is the very high levels of tocotrienols.
Moderators of Treatment for Adolescent Depression

This brief report reviews the literature on moderators of treatment for adolescent depression. Treatment moderators can help to guide the process of personalizing intervention to individual patient...
The Exciton Interaction: Its Possible Role in High Temperature Superconductivity

The recent remarkable developments in superconductivity(1,2) has forced the group of physicists in the main stream of superconductivity research to re-examine the possible role of what has been referred to in the conference as novel mechanisms of superconductivity. The exciton mechanism is one such. While the many studies and developments in this subject are relatively well known to those involved in studies of organic superconductors and superconductors of reduced dimension, it appears that it is not well known to that large body of physicists involved in the more conventional “mainstream” of superconductivity. In view of this I have been asked to review the salient features of the mechanism and to discuss what it can and cannot do. I will base my remarks on the most recent and most comprehensive review of the subject published in 1979 by H. Gutfreund and myself (3) plus a few key papers since that time(4,5). I would also like to acknowledge the major role our colleagues in theoretical physics in the Soviet Union have played in contributing to the resolution of many of the problems in this field which had been raised by our colleagues in the West.
Unjustified trust beliefs: Trust conflation on sharing economy platforms

Abstract Previous research has addressed the benefits of trust mechanisms on sharing economy platforms, and digital trust cues are widely accepted to immediately boost trust beliefs amongst peer consumers; yet little is known about whether such trust beliefs are justified. Our mixed-methods, abductive research explores trust conflation by peer consumers who are relatively unfamiliar with a platform, and how this may differ from the trust differentiation of more experienced peer consumers. We find that when peer consumers start to use a sharing economy platform, they perceive that various digital trust cues influence multiple trustees across different levels simultaneously, forming unjustified beliefs provoked by trust conflation relating to the platform intermediary and peer providers. Once peer consumers have had more time to gain relevant knowledge, they develop more accurate beliefs by differentiating relationships between digital trust cues and multiple trustees.
Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) represent a very effective therapy for primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, implantation of endocardial leads using a transvenous approach is associated with significant procedural and long term complications. An entirely subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) has been developed, potentially eliminating many of the complications associated with traditional transvenous ICDs. This novel approach has been demonstrated to be a reliable and effective system for detection and termination of ventricular arrhythmias. The available therapeutic interventions are a result of the unique characteristics of a high energy subcutaneous delivery system, and therefore require appropriate patient selection to optimize therapeutic benefit and minimize the limitations of the first generation S-ICD. By maintaining the effectiveness of conventional ICDs while limiting the associated complications, the S-ICD provides an alternative therapy for clinicians treating many patients at risk for SCD. This review will examine the development of the subcutaneous ICD, its advantages, limitations, and potential clinical role in the treatment of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and prevention of SCD. Despite advances in cardiovascular care, SCD remains a significant public health issue.1 A variety of nonpharmacologic therapies for primary and secondary prevention of SCD exist, including ICDs by endovascular lead implantation or placement of epicardial defibrillation patches. Nonimplantable strategies for SCD protection in high risk patients have also been attempted, including a wearable defibrillator vest,2,3 as well as automated external defibrillator use at home in selected cohorts.4 The subcutaneous ICD provides an alternative device for treatment of SCD.5 The development of an entirely subcutaneous ICD was motivated initially by special circumstances where a traditional endovascular system was not practical. It was first applied in the pediatric population, where congenital anatomic variation often precludes safe endocardial lead placement; the technique was extended to other patient populations in whom venous …
Use of between-within degrees of freedom as an alternative to the Kenward–Roger method for small-sample inference in generalized linear mixed modeling of clustered count data

Clustered count data, common in health-related research, are routinely analyzed using generalized linear mixed models. There are two well-known challenges in small-sample inference in mixed modelin...
Energy Recovery Circuit for LC Cell Driver

Smart glass products use liquid crystal cells to alter glass’s state from transparent to opaque. These products are developed for everyday glass objects to combat light-related issues such as energy loss in buildings or drastic changes in incoming light. Some LC cells require an AC voltage applied to their terminals to transition states. Existing circuit topologies achieve this functionality but have limited output voltage range. They also do not conserve energy, and this is problematic for low-power applications that use batteries. The proposed energy recovery circuit (ERC) topology overcomes these obstacles by combining a boost converter with a series-resonant circuit. This work presents theoretical analysis and experimental results for the ERC. The results show that the proposed ERC can (1) switch LC cells from the OFF-state to the ON-state, (2) achieve a wide range of output voltages, and (3) recover the energy used to charge an LC cell.
Antioxidant Properties of Whole Body Periodic Acceleration (pGz)

The recognition that oxidative stress is a major component of several chronic diseases has engendered numerous trials of antioxidant therapies with minimal or no direct benefits. Nanomolar quantities of nitric oxide released into the circulation by pharmacologic stimulation of eNOS have antioxidant properties but physiologic stimulation as through increased pulsatile shear stress of the endothelium has not been assessed. The present study utilized a non-invasive technology, periodic acceleration (pGz) that increases pulsatile shear stress such that upregulation of cardiac eNOS occurs, We assessed its efficacy in normal mice and mouse models with high levels of oxidative stress, e.g. Diabetes type 1 and mdx (Duchene Muscular Dystrophy). pGz increased protein expression and upregulated eNOS in hearts. Application of pGz was associated with significantly increased expression of endogenous antioxidants (Glutathioneperoxidase-1(GPX-1), Catalase (CAT), Superoxide, Superoxide Dismutase 1(SOD1). This led to an increase of total cardiac antioxidant capacity along with an increase in the antioxidant response element transcription factor Nrf2 translocation to the nucleus. pGz decreased reactive oxygen species in both mice models of oxidative stress. Thus, pGz is a novel non-pharmacologic method to harness endogenous antioxidant capacity.
Storage Mechanisms in Recall

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the storage mechanisms in recall. Information on the recall of words has been organized according to several theoretical views. In the case of free recall, the first reason for assuming such a flow and two separate storage mechanisms may be found in a very prominent and reliable characteristic of free recall–the serial position function. In the free recall of lists, Ss are more likely to recall the early and late items than the middle items. There are, moreover, a variety of systematic experimental effects that can be worked on this curve. In most cases, the curve is raised or lowered in all positions except the last few. The effects of similarity on LTS and STS are not established. Most of the work cited on this effect does not differentiate LTS and STS effects. The few studies that do permit the differentiation give conflicting results. Many of the results on short-term memory are interpreted differently in light of the STS-LTS distinction.
Chapter 77 The use of a semi-permeable tube as a guidance channel for a transected rabbit optic nerve

Publisher Summary Guidance channels are valuable tools for elucidating the cellular and molecular processes, which underlie nerve regeneration. This chapter discusses and analyzes the potential of semipermeable guidance channels to support the regeneration of a transected CNS structure, the rabbit optic nerve. A well-vascularized tissue cable containing neuroglial cells and unmyelinated axons is observed in saline-filled semi-permeable channels indicates that the completely transects optic nerve possesses some potential for regeneration. Peripheral nervous system (PNS) transplants added to the lumen of semipermeable channels, promotes the limited regeneration of myelinated axons. The rabbit optic nerve model offers several advantages over the rat model, such as it can be visualized through an extracranial approach, which allows exposure of a much longer segment than in the rat model, and in the rabbit model, the nerve gap can be controlled by the placement of sutures. The chapter demonstrates the usefulness of a permselective guidance channel system in studying optic nerve regeneration. Incorporation of other growth factors or tissue transplants within the guidance channel lumen may promote more extensive axonal elongation and myelination into and within the regenerated structure.
Technical and Economic Breakdown of Value Added in Shipbuilding

For shipbuilding and other heavy industries, the standard value chain breakdown by stage of production or functional activity provides an incomplete picture, in which some key strategic factors are absent. However, if each stage of production could be further decomposed to reveal factors of production, sourcing strategies, and production scenarios, then essential business strategic characteristics may be captured. This goal was realized by developing a new, more complex type of techno-economic breakdown, which was then implemented at a shipyard in Western Europe. Data from this trial implementation are used to show how the new method can be used in strategic management research in shipbuilding and in other heavy industries.
Variable Furosemide Absorption and Poor Predictability of Response in Elderly Patients

Study objectives To determine the between- and within-patient variability of furosemide bioavailability and natriuretic response, and whether four marketed products differ in bioavailability and response. Design Open-label, crossover study. Setting General clinical research center at an academic medical center. Patients Convenience sample of 17 patients age 65 +/- 6 years receiving diuretics for the treatment of hypertension or congestive heart failure. Intervention Each patient received each of five furosemide products (one intravenous and four oral tablet formulations) twice in random order for a total of 10 treatments. Measurements and main results Measurements included absolute bioavailability using cumulative amounts of urinary furosemide collected over 8 hours after oral versus intravenous dosing, and cumulative amounts of urinary sodium. Extensive between- and within-patient variability in all measured values rendered any differences among the products neither clinically nor statistically significant. Mean (+/-SD) bioavailability was 49 +/- 17% (range 12-112%) and coefficients of variation with different products were from 25-43%. Coefficients of variation for urinary furosemide excretion and urinary sodium excretion were also large, 25-42% and 23-51%, respectively. Multivariate analyses that incorporated between- and within-patient effects failed to reveal differences among the products for bioavailability (F = 1.04, p = 0.403), urinary furosemide excretion (F = 1.09, p = 0.371), or urinary sodium excretion (F = 0.97, p = 0.448). Correlation coefficients were 0.81-0.85 for the rates of sodium and furosemide excretion, and half-maximum response using a sigmoid Emax model did not differ among products. Conclusion Although furosemide concentration in urinary and natriuretic responses showed good correlation, variability in bioavailability considerably affects the drug's excretion into urine. Variability in absorption both among patients and within an individual patient is great and overwhelms any differences in bioavailability among approved furosemide products. Switching from one formulation to another will not likely result in any predictable change in patient response.
Gulf Stream water on the shelf and upper slope north of Cape Hatteras

Abstract Although intrusions of water from the Gulf Stream have often been observed over the Carolina shelf, there has been no published report of Gulf Stream water near the continental margin north of Cape Hatteras. By examining sea surface temperature distributions and hydrographic data collected over an 11-yr period, we have found that water discharged from the Gulf Stream often appears over the shelf and upper slope north of Cape Hatteras. For example, in the band between 36 and 38°N, roughly 80–300 km north of the tip of Cape Hatteras, Gulf Stream water was detected 13–27% of the time at sites on the upper slope and 3–9% of the time at locations on the shelf. In most instances, sea surface temperature distributions suggest that the Gulf Stream water which appeared near the continental margin was not part of the Gulf Stream's main current but was fluid which had been expelled from the Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream water found on the shelf did not appear to significantly influence the local circulation or alongshelf density structure. Its subtidal flow was largely driven by the alongshelf wind stress; and in most instances its vertical density profile nearly matched that of adjacent shelf water situated alongshore. In contrast, the discharged Gulf Stream water observed over the upper slope was significantly less dense than abutting fluid of equivalent depth located along the slope to the northeast. The circulation associated with this density contrast often conveyed Middle Atlantic Bight shelf water seaward of the continental margin. The resulting rate of shelf water export is not well resolved by the available data. Some rough estimates put it at 0.1 Sv, comparable with the estimated mean alongshore transport of shelf water over the Middle Atlantic Bight shelf.
Rethinking the Compstat process to enhance problem-solving responses: insights from a randomized field experiment

Compstat is an important administrative innovation in policing that provides a much-needed mechanism for holding mid-level managers accountable for controlling crime rates. Research evidence suggests that Compstat is more likely to generate reactive crime control responses rather than more creative problem-solving responses. A randomized field experiment in Lowell, Massachusetts found that ‘problem-solving meetings’ produced more innovative responses to crime problems and generated stronger crime control gains when compared to the Compstat process. Analysis of qualitative data collected to monitor the implementation of the experiment revealed that important differences in meeting dynamics were associated with observed differences and suggests promising avenues to improve Compstat processes.
Reliability and cross-validity of trade-off analysis in an industrial setting

Abstract More than 200 applications of trade-off analysis now have been completed. A review of the literature uncovers only four sources that evaluate the reliability or validity, or both, of trade-off analysis using the concept evaluation approach. Detailed evaluations of trade-off analysis based on trade-off grid data are unavailable. This paper reports reliability and cross-validity experience using this approach.
Impact of non-homogenous distributor's preferred allocation on shortages in hospitals

Purpose – Hospitals procure high volumes of medical supplies through large distributors in order to leverage economies of scale. However, when shortages hit, hospitals incur high penalty costs by purchasing from secondary markets. In this paper, the authors counter the hospital's typical purchasing strategy that a collaborative relationship with a large, Tier I medical supply distributor is beneficial under all conditions. The paper finds that during shortages the more beneficial strategy is for the hospital to add a medium-sized, Tier II distributor who offers a transactional relationship and is willing to provide a “preferred allocation” in return for a pre-committed annual purchase contract. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The authors assume availability of order volume to be a stochastic process and formulate the problem as a two-stage stochastic programming model, with optimal allocation in the second stage. The authors analyze the first-stage objective function ...
Crossing probabilities for a square root boundary by a bessel process

Probabilities for Wiener and Bessel processes to cross a square root boundary are calculated and the Mellin transform of the distribution of the associated stopping time is given.The transform is inverted and a table of critical values for the crossing probability as a function of the observation time is included. Also an analytic expression for the crossing probability is computed for the case of constant drift.
Ozone measurement device

A new instrument mounted on an aircraft has been used by the EPA to measure ozone concentration and distribution in a column of atmosphere for the first time. The instrument is called Ultra Violet Differential Absorption LIDAR (UV-DIAL). Previous instruments could give such data on ozone only in the area immediately surrounding the aircraft. LIDAR, light intensification detection and ranging, is similar to radar but uses electromagnetic waves of much shorter wavelength. The new instrument uses light of two different wavelengths. One of the wavelengths is absorbed by ozone, and the other is not. The difference between the two combined signals is analyzed by the UV-DIAL to determine concentration and distribution of ozone in a column beneath the aircraft.
Elucidation of Mechanism of Inhibition and X-ray Structure of the TEM-1 β-Lactamase from Escherichia coli Inhibited by a N-Sulfonyloxy-β-lactam

Class A β-lactamases are inactivated by a novel type of monocyclic β-lactams described recently (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1995, 117, 5938). A compound of this class, (±)-trans-1-N-(tosyloxy)-3-(1-hydroxyethyl)-4-phenyl-2-azetidinone, is synthesized, is shown to acylate the active site of the TEM-1 β-lactamase from Escherichia coli rapidly, and resists deacylation for several days. The crystal structure of the enzyme−inhibitor complex was determined at 1.95 A resolution. The features of the three-dimensional structure of this acyl−enzyme species and mechanistic studies revealed that a fragmentation of the inactivator ensued on acylation of the active-site serine and that the ester carbonyl oxygen was outside the oxyanion hole. This ester carbonyl makes a strong hydrogen bond to the protonated form of the side chain of Glu-166, the general base for deacylation of the typical acyl−enzyme intermediates in the normal catalytic process. Furthermore, interactions within the active site mandated the existence of the for...
Photomechanical multistability in a polymer optical fiber Fabry-Perot device

We report on the progress of constructing a mesoscopic photomechanical unit (MPU)-a miniaturized device that acts as a sensor, all-optical logic unit, and mechanical positioner/actuator. We have to date made MPU's in polymer optical fiber (PMMA doped with DR1) that are 1 cm-4 cm long and have a diameter of 110 micrometers . This MPU is powered with a 18 mW laser diode at 685 nm or a 30 mW laser diode at 690 nm. These MPU's exhibit optical and mechanical bistability, multistability and regions of unstable oscillating/chaotic behavior. We report on both theoretical and experimental confirmation of these effects. In our MPU's, the fiber ends are shaped in an approximately retroreflector geometry to provide a higher reflectivity. The ends then form two reflectors that define a Fabry-Perot cavity. The refractive index, absorption and the length all change (through the photothermal heating mechanism) with light intensity: a nonlinear response. We also discuss the role of light induced isomerization. Aside from regions of multistability we also find unstable oscillating/chaotic behavior that is possibly caused by the mixing of the various nonlinear effects, stimulated Brillouin scattering and/or from the coupling of weaker Fabry- Perot cavities in the fiber caused by fiber imperfections. Polymers are better suited for devices based on the photomechanical mechanism since their coefficient of thermal expansion is typically an order of magnitude greater than most other materials. For example PMMA has a coefficient of thermal expansion roughly 90 times greater than that of fused silica and twice that of aluminum. We will also discuss how such devices can be built into optical logic units and smart materials.
On the analysis needs when verifying state-based software requirements: an experience report

Abstract In a previous investigation we formally defined procedures for analyzing hierarchical state-based requirements specifications for two properties: (1) completeness with respect to a set of criteria related to robustness (a response is specified for every possible input and input sequence) and (2) consistency (the specification is free from conflicting requirements and undesired nondeterminism). Informally, the analysis involves determining if large Boolean expressions are tautologies. We implemented the analysis procedures in a prototype tool and evaluated their effectiveness and efficiency on a large real world requirements specification expressed in an hierarchical state-based language called Requirements State Machine Language. Although our initial approach was largely successful, there were some drawbacks with the original tools. In our initial implementation we abstracted all formulas to propositional logic. Unfortunately, since we are manipulating the formulas without interpreting any of the functions in the individual predicates, the abstraction can lead to large numbers of spurious (or false) error reports. To increase the accuracy of our analysis we have continually refined our tool with decision procedures and, finally, come to the conclusion that theorem proving is often needed to avoid large numbers of spurious error reports. This paper discusses the problems with spurious error reports and describes our experiences analyzing a large commercial avionics system for completeness and consistency.
Mapping Brain Function To Brain Anatomy

In Imaging the human brain, MRI is commonly used to reveal anatomical structure, while PET is used to reveal tissue function. This paper presents a protocol for correlating data between these two imaging modalities; this correlation can provide in vivo regional measurements of brain function which are essential to our understanding of the human brain. We propose a general protocol to standardize the acquisition and analysis of functional image data. First, MR and PET images are collected to form three-dimensional volumes of structural and functional image data. Second, these volumes of image data are corrected for distortions inherent in each imaging modality. Third, the image volumes are correlated to provide correctly aligned structural and functional images. The functional images are then mapped onto the structural images in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional representations. Finally, morphometric techniques can be used to provide statistical measures of the structure and function of the human brain.
SHORT-TERM DELAY MITIGATION STRATEGIES FOR SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is typical of many large airports in that rapid growth in air travel has outpaced its available runway capacity, leading to serious delays. At the same time, SFO represents a unique circumstance because of the role of its local climate, and thus careful analysis is required to address its delay situation. The airport is in the process of planning a major runway reconfiguration project that would largely solve the problem of weather-related congestion delays, but this massive project will take many years. Presented are the results of an effort to design potential short-term strategies to reduce weatherrelated congestion delay at SFO while the runway reconfiguration proceeds. Designing measures to reduce delay outside the context of runway expansion is a complex task that requires balancing multiple considerations—issues of equity, access, legal jurisdiction—along with considerations of efficiency and airport performance. The kinds of thinking and analysis required ...