cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of supplier relationship management practices on buying firm performance: comparison of the United States and China

In 2007, Krause, Handfield, and Tyler examined the relationship between various aspects of social capital and buyer performance in the buyer-supplier dyad by surveying buying firms within the United States. This study extends the (Krause et al. in J Oper Manag 25:528–545, 2007) study by replicating it in two different contexts (industry and China). The original study was conducted in the automotive and electronic industries in the United States, while the current study was conducted in both manufacturing and service industries in the United States and China. We found that the difference of information sharing between the two United States populations is the only difference attributed to industry differences. Overall, study results indicate that buyer commitment positively impacted buying firm performance in China; while buyer commitment and shared values impacted buying firm performance in the United States. These findings suggest that certain aspects of social capital are important in China, but differences do exist between the two countries that may be attributed to culture. Therefore, researchers should consider the impact of country culture when conducting studies in China.
Age-related changes in adrenergic neuronal function of rabbit vascular smooth muscle.

Abstract The adrenergic control of vascular smooth muscle was compared in young and adult rabbits using a variety of in vitro techniques. Norepinephrine (NE) content and accumulation of 3H-NE were not different in blood vessels from the two age groups. In contrast, stimulation-evoked release of endogenous NE was reduced by 40–60% in vessels from the aged animals. Functional studies of smooth muscle contractions were carried out using isolated ring segments of the ear artery. There were no differences in the resting force-response relationship between vessels from young and adult rabbits. Maximum contractile responses to nerve stimulation, NE or KCl were not different in vessels from the two age groups, nor was the NE ED50. However, blockade of the neuronal uptake system with desmethylimipramine produced a greater shift in the NE concentration-response curve in vessels from the young animals compared to the shift in vessels from adult animals. This observation reflects a decline in neuronal NE uptake with age. Although maximal contractile responses to transmural nerve stimulation at 16 Hz were unchanged, responses to stimulation at lower frequencies were reduced in vessels from adult rabbits, an effect which was also enhanced when an antagonist of neuronal uptake was present. Thus, there is a decline in function of adrenergic nerves in adult animals, reflected in a decrease in stimulation-evoked NE release and a decrease in norepinephrine uptake revealed by functional studies. These two effects tend to balance each other, so that there is a small decrease in contractile response to adrenergic nerve stimulation which is exacerbated when neuronal uptake mechanisms are blocked.
Novel In Vitro and In Vivo Neural Interfaces: Normal and Accelerated Failure Assessment

The in vitro acute brain slice test bed offers the advantages of natural configurations and proportions of cells and tissues. As a function of time, electrode insertion activates signaling pathways in microglia, astrocytes, and neurons that result in biochemical changes that alter the biophysical characteristics of the tissue.Temperature- modulated acceleration, based onthe Arrhenius equation, is a common method to predict the lifetime of samples.
Comparison of Theoretical, Absolute Interaction Energies with Heats of Complexation in Carbon Tetrachloride

The absolute interaction energies for the methylbenzene complexes with chloranil, fluoranil, and tetrachlorophthalic anhydride are calculated by using net atomic charges and bond polarizabilities. The theoretical results are then compared to the experimentally determined heats of complexation in carbon tetrachloride. The trend of increasing complex strength with methyl substitution within each series is qualitatively predicted by this method, but the theoretical increase per methyl group is less than the experimental solution value by a factor of two to three. The overall correlation between the complex strength and the absolute interaction energy is poor. These results indicate that the contribution of the nonpolar solvent carbon tetrachloride to the overall complex strength is significant and perhaps greater than the absolute interaction energy of the substrate and ligand.
SU-GG-T-111: A Simulation Study of An Online Adaptive Treatment Technique for Tomotherapy to Reduce Intra-Fraction Motion Effects

Purpose: Many studies have shown that intra‐fractional motion has a great impact on radiotherapy treatment. Previous methods to accommodate for these effects include respiratory gating and 4D treatment planning. This study demonstrates an online adaptive treatment delivery technique for tomotherapy which can reduce these effects without increasing treatment duration or treatment planning workload. Method and Materials: For purposes of illustration the simulation was done for one‐dimensional tomotherapy treatments with only longitudinal target motion as a generalization of complete 3D motion. The motion trace was recorded from a normally breathing patient. One minute of respiratory data were collected before the treatment to generate the ARMA model using MATLAB System Identification Toolbox. During the delivery, the tumor displacement from the reference position is predicted by this model and binary‐MLC opening is calculated based on the history of previous projections and the offline‐optimized plan. Rigid‐body motion of the target volume is presumed. The maximum peak‐to‐peak amplitude of breathing was 4 cm. And the beam width, pitch, and modulation factor chosen are 1.5 cm, 2.1, and 3.0 respectively, which represent parameters that are expected to develop hot and cold spots if there is no motion management. Results: The simulation showed the maximum variation of delivered dose on target can reach 15% compared to planning dose without motion management. The online adaptive delivery can reduce this variation to 2∼4% and 3∼7% for one and two projection lag respectively. This technique also improves the dose conformity which suggests a smaller than traditional motion margin would be sufficient. Conclusion: The online adaptive treatment delivery was shown to be able to reduce the intra‐fractional motion effect in a one‐dimensional case. This method offers a more efficient solution than respiratory gating. The feasibility of this method in a more clinical relevant case is still under investigation.
Indigenous Mexican culture, identity and academic aspirations: results from a community-based curriculum project for Latina/Latino students

The Latina/Latino population is the largest minority group in the United States and has the highest high school dropout rate of any ethnic group. Nationally, just over one-half of Latina/Latino students graduate on time with a regular diploma, compared to nearly 80% of Whites. Because of the growing population and the wide achievement gap, there is utility in understanding factors, strategies and programs that facilitate the academic performance of Latina/Latino students in order to address a serious social justice issue in education. This study examines a community-based cultural program about indigenous Mesoamerican traditions and heritage. Results of the mixed-method evaluation study include quantitative and qualitative data for 225 high school students who were primarily Latina/Latino. Students participated in a program based on Mesoamerican ancestry that sought to enhance academic aspirations and reduce high school dropout intentions. Survey results indicated positive changes in ethnic identity and i...
Autoradiographic localization of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in rat nucleus accumbens: resistance to differential rearing conditions.

Abstract The radioligands [ 3 H]SCH 23390 and [ 3 H]spiroperidol were used to label dopamine D 1 and D 2 receptors, respectively, in rat brain slices. Striatal sections were incubated in one of various concentrations of radioligand in the presence or absence of (+)-butaclamol and the resulting labeling was determined by liquid scintillation spectrometry. Scatchard analyses of the data revealed K d values of 1.18 nM for D 1 receptors and 0.33 nM for D 2 receptors. Tissue sections taken from the entire rostrocaudal extent of the nucleus accumbens, as well as other brain regions, were then processed for autoradiographic analysis of D 1 and D 2 receptors using a radioligand concentration equal to 1.5 × K D . After apposing the slices to 3 H-sensitive film, topographical differences among brain areas were analysed using a quantitative densitometry system which determined the absolute amount of ligand binding relative to calibrated optical density standards. The nucleus accumbens exhibited a rostral-to-caudal density gradient for both D 1 and D 2 receptors. For D 1 receptors, the density was similar across most of the nucleus accumbens, although the most caudal portion examined had a lower density than rostral portions. In contrast, the density of D 2 receptors exhibited a more gradual gradient across the entire rostrocaudal extent of the nucleus accumbens. There was no significant rostrocaudal density gradient of either D 1 or D 2 receptors in either the olfactory tubercle or caudate-putamen in the same tissue sections. A lateral-to-medial gradient of D 2 receptors was also present in the nucleus accumbens. That is, while there was no difference in the density of D 1 receptors between the lateral core and medial shell subdivisions, the shell had a lower density of D 2 receptors than did the core. The density of D 1 and D 2 receptors in the mesolimbic and nigrostriatal systems was compared in groups of animals raised from 30 to 60 days of age in an impoverished condition, a group-caged condition or an enriched condition. While the brain weight of enriched condition animals was higher than impoverished condition animals, there were no significant differences in the density of D 1 or D 2 receptors among the different groups. Apparently, the densities of D 1 and D 2 receptors in the brain are resistant to differential rearing conditions.
Negative regulation of Shh levels by Kras and Fgfr2 during hair follicle development

Activating mutations in the KRAS oncogene are associated with three related human syndromes, which vary in hair and skin phenotypes depending on the involved allele. How variations in RAS signals are interpreted during hair and skin development is unknown. In this study, we investigated the developmental and transcriptional response of skin and hair to changes in RAS activity, using mouse genetic models and microarray analysis. While activation of Kras (Kras(G12D)) in the skin had strong effects on hair growth and hair shape, steady state changes in downstream RAS/MAPK effectors were subtle and detected only by transcriptional responses. To model the transcriptional response of multiple developmental pathways to active RAS, the effects of growth factor stimulation were studied in skin explants. Here FGF acutely suppressed Shh transcription within 90 min but had significantly less effect on Eda, WNT, Notch or BMP pathways. Furthermore, in vivo Fgfr2 loss-of-function in the ectoderm caused derepression of Shh, revealing a role for FGF in Shh regulation in the hair follicle. These studies define both dosage sensitive effects of RAS signaling on hair morphogenesis and reveal acute mechanisms for fine-tuning Shh levels in the hair follicle.
Walleye Sander vitreus and smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu interactions: an historic stable-isotope analysis approach

The carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) values of Sander vitreus scales differed pre and post- introduction in treatment lakes among years following the introduction of Micropterus dolomieu. No difference of δ 13 Ca ndδ 15 Ni nS. vitreus scales was found in control lakes where M. dolomieu were not introduced. In treatment lakes, S. vitreus δ 15 N increased and δ 13 C decreased. No relation- ship was found between S. vitreus and M. dolomieu abundance in the two treatment lakes. Size structure of S. vitreus and M. dolomieu was negatively correlated and condition of the two species was positively correlated. Although S. vitreus feeding habits may have changed in the treatment lakes after M. dolomieu introductions, evidence suggests that fitness-related factors (i.e. abundance and condition) of S. vitreus remained unchanged, indicating S. vitreus and M. dolomieu may coexist where M. dolomieu have been introduced.
Analyzing East/West Power Politics in Comparative Cultural Studies

In his article, "Analyzing East/West Power Politics in Comparative Cultural Studies," William H. Thornton acknowledges culture as a central force on the geopolitical map and undertakes at once to preserve the strategic potency of political realism and to move beyond the "billiard ball" externality of both neoand traditional realisms. Although Huntington and Fukuyama are taken seriously on the question of East/West power politics, Thornton develops a world view by grounding balance-of-power politics in national and local (not just civilizational) social reality. Further, Thornton argues against external democratic teleologies both Huntington and Fukuyama have imposed on the cultural Other. The thrust of Thornton's argumentation goes beyond the monolithic fallacies of political modernism, namely, political realism on the one hand and today's "reverse domino" globalization on the other. Once political realism takes this postmodern turn, it confronts the agonistic realities that killed the New World Order in its infancy. Although Huntington's Clash of Civilizations also confronted these grim realities, but did so in terms of a negative and retreatist realism. For Thornton, in the post-Cold War world that Huntington well describes but declines to fully engage, any effective realism must temper cultural agonistics with Bakhtinian cultural dialogics. William H. Thornton, "Analyzing East/West Power Politics in Comparative Cultural Studies" page 2 of 12 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 2.3 (2000):
Mechanics and adaptability of ridge-planting for corn and soya bean.

Abstract Numerous aspects of the ridge-till system for corn and soya bean production are discussed. Advantages reported for this system included early soil warm-up, reduced costs, erosion control, and improved timeliness. Disadvantages reported included the difficulty in building and maintaining ridges in row widths of less than 76 cm, inadequate erosion control on highly erodible land, and the need for extra equipment for preparing end rows. The equipment and the options needed to practice the ridge system effectively are identified, as are the proper procedures required for initiating and maintaining the ridge system. Suggestions for fertilization and pest control are included. Research has identified the major factors affecting the performance of specific tillage systems to be soil drainage, previous crop, and length of growing season. Data that show ridge-tillage to be well adapted to a wide variety of soil and climatic conditions in the eastern Corn Belt are presented. Finally, a procedure for assisting agricultural producers in determining whether the ridge-till system is well adapted to their specific soil, climatic and cropping conditions is identified and discussed.
Elicitor effects on the language obtained from young language impaired children

Language samples are typically obtained during speech and language evaluations by the speech-language pathologist to assess the level of expressive language development of young children. These sam...
Asymmetric topology control: Exact solutions and fast approximations

We study the problem of assigning transmission power to the nodes of ad hoc wireless networks to minimize power consumption while ensuring strong network connectivity (unidirectional links allowed). We give (1) an exact algorithm based on new integer linear program formulations, solving instances with up to 30 nodes in one minute, (2) a fast variant of a recent greedy approximation algorithm, finishing within 85 seconds on instances with up to 2000 nodes, (3) a comprehensive experimental study comparing new and previously proposed heuristics with the above exact and approximation algorithms, showing tradeoffs between the running time and the quality of the output. Thus we deal with the original power assignment problem introduced by Chen and Huang in 1989, who proved that a minimum spanning tree (MST) based approximation algorithm has ratio of 2. Our experimental results show that the recent 1.98-approximation algorithm improves the MST solution by an average of up to 15%, and comes within 4–16% of optimum, in average, on the instances where we can compute the optimum.
A test reaction for rapid‐mixing, rapid‐flow Raman cells

The design and construction of a four-jet rapid-mixing, rapid-flow Raman cell, suitable for following chemical or biochemical reaction events 20 ms and longer after mixing, is described. A suitable test reaction, the base-catalysed hydrolysis of 2,4-dinitrophenyl acetate in 10% methanol, has been characterized by a stopped-flow kinetic analysis. When this reaction is carried out in the rapid-mixing, rapid-flow Raman cell a resonance Raman peak of the 2,4-dinitrophenolate product, measured against a methanol peak as an internal standard, permits the calculation of the extent of product formation. Using the rate constant determined from the stopped-flow kinetic analysis, the dead time (the time after mixing) in the Raman flow cell can be calculated for the flow-rate employed. When the flow system is operating correctly, this dead time is in close agreement with that calculated from the known flow-rate and the combined volume of the mixing and flow cell. Since the reaction is monitored using the commonly available 457.9 nm Ar+ line, it can be used to test the operational efficiency of rapid-mixing, rapid-flow systems built in most Raman laboratories.
Continuous measurement of 14C-labeled substrate oxidation to 14CO2 by isolated tissues: An lonization chamber method

Abstract The vibrating reed electrometer and ionization chamber have been adapted for the continuous measurement of 14 C-labeled substrate oxidation to 14 CO 2 by isolated tissues. Substrate oxidation curves have been described for rat renal cortex and epididymal fat pad, frog gastric mucosa, and human erythrocytes. The VRE and IC should prove to be a useful tool in the study of tissue metabolism.
Dependency trees in sub-linear time and bounded memory

We focus on the problem of efficient learning of dependency trees. Once grown, they can be used as a special case of a Bayesian network, for PDF approximation, and for many other uses. Given the data, a well-known algorithm can fit an optimal tree in time that is quadratic in the number of attributes and linear in the number of records. We show how to modify it to exploit partial knowledge about edge weights. Experimental results show running time that is near-constant in the number of records, without significant loss in accuracy of the generated trees.
Predicting Returns: Runs Test for Financial Time Series

Market efficiency theory posits that stock returns are not predictable. One of the common test of this hypothesis is the runs test. It is a test of random walk similar to the Stata's already existing "runtest". However, "runs_test" is specific to daily returns of financial securities (i.e. stocks). "runs_test" provides the likelihood of a run for all possible lengths of runs. Likelihood is statistically tested against a distribution created with a Monte Carlo experiment. Likelihood of continued run is also provided. "runs_test" can be used to test whether a trading strategy that is based on runs can be profitable following an included example.
Self-Stabilizing Algorithms of Constructing Spanning Tree and Weakly Connected Minimal Dominating Set

In this paper, we present a self-stabilizing algorithm that computes the breadth first spanning tree in arbitrary graph, with 0(n3) time complexity using the unfair central daemon. We then propose a self-stabilizing algorithm to compute the weakly connected minimal dominating set in a graph using the same model and provide its correctness and complexity analysis; as far as we know, this is the first self-stabilizing algorithm to compute such sets.
Jurors' Responses To Unusual Inadmissible Evidence

Two experiments investigated jurors' ability to disregard unusual inadmissible evidence. Participants listened to an audio recording of a theft trial. Those in four experimental conditions heard cr...
Designing our town

MOOsburg is a community-oriented multi-user domain. It was created to enrich the Blacksburg Electronic Village (BEV) by providing real-time, situated interaction and a place-based model for community information. Three versions of MOOsburg have been developed: a classic text-based MOO, a MOO extended to drive a Web-browser, and a Java-based system. The most recent version of MOOsburg is fundamentally different from classic MOOs, supporting distributed system development and management and a direct manipulation approach to navigation. We are currently developing a variety of community-oriented applications, including a virtual science fair and a dispersed natural history museum.
Early laparotomy wound failure as the mechanism for incisional hernia formation.

Abstract Background Incisional hernia is the most common complication of abdominal surgery leading to reoperation. In the United States, 200,000 incisional hernia repairs are performed annually, often with significant morbidity. Obesity is increasing the risk of laparotomy wound failure. Methods We used a validated animal model of incisional hernia formation. We intentionally induced laparotomy wound failure in otherwise normal adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats. Radio-opaque, metal surgical clips served as markers for the use of x-ray images to follow the progress of laparotomy wound failure. We confirmed radiographic findings of the time course for mechanical laparotomy wound failure by necropsy. Results Noninvasive radiographic imaging predicts early laparotomy wound failure and incisional hernia formation. We confirmed both transverse and craniocaudad migration of radio-opaque markers at necropsy after 28 d that was uniformly associated with the clinical development of incisional hernias. Conclusions Early laparotomy wound failure is a primary mechanism for incisional hernia formation. A noninvasive radiographic method for studying laparotomy wound healing may help design clinical trials to prevent and treat this common general surgical complication.
Variant discovery in targeted resequencing using whole genome amplified DNA

Next generation sequencing and advances in genomic enrichment technologies have enabled the discovery of the full spectrum of variants from common to rare alleles in the human population. The application of such technologies can be limited by the amount of DNA available. Whole genome amplification (WGA) can overcome such limitations. Here we investigate applicability of using WGA by comparing SNP and INDEL variant calls from a single genomic/WGA sample pair from two capture separate experiments: a 50 Mbp whole exome capture and a custom capture array of 4 Mbp region on chr12. Our results comparing variant calls derived from genomic and WGA DNA show that the majority of variant SNP and INDEL calls are common to both callsets, both at the site and genotype level and suggest that allele bias plays a minimal role when using WGA DNA in re-sequencing studies. Although the results of this study are based on a limited sample size, they suggest that using WGA DNA allows the discovery of the vast majority of variants, and achieves high concordance metrics, when comparing to genomic DNA calls.
A Criterion for Bases of the Ring of Symmetric Functions

We give a criterion for bases of the ring of symmetric functions in n indeterminates over a commutative ring R with identity. A related algorithm is presented in the last section.
Neurally Derived Tissues in Xenopus laevis Embryos Exhibit a Consistent Bioelectrical Left-Right Asymmetry

Consistent left-right asymmetry in organ morphogenesis is a fascinating aspect of bilaterian development. Although embryonic patterning of asymmetric viscera, heart, and brain is beginning to be understood, less is known about possible subtle asymmetries present in anatomically identical paired structures. We investigated two important developmental events: physiological controls of eye development and specification of neural crest derivatives, in Xenopus laevis embryos. We found that the striking hyperpolarization of transmembrane potential (Vmem) demarcating eye induction usually occurs in the right eye field first. This asymmetry is randomized by perturbing visceral left-right patterning, suggesting that eye asymmetry is linked to mechanisms establishing primary laterality. Bilateral misexpression of a depolarizing channel mRNA affects primarily the right eye, revealing an additional functional asymmetry in the control of eye patterning by Vmem. The ATP-sensitive K+ channel subunit transcript, SUR1, is asymmetrically expressed in the eye primordia, thus being a good candidate for the observed physiological asymmetries. Such subtle asymmetries are not only seen in the eye: consistent asymmetry was also observed in the migration of differentiated melanocytes on the left and right sides. These data suggest that even anatomically symmetrical structures may possess subtle but consistent laterality and interact with other developmental left-right patterning pathways.
Comparison of Bacteroides-Prevotella 16S rRNA Genetic Markers for Fecal Samples from Different Animal Species

To effectively manage surface and ground waters it is necessary to improve our ability to detect and identify sources of fecal contamination. We evaluated the use of the anaerobic bacterial group Bacteroides-Prevotella as a potential fecal indicator. Terminal restriction length polymorphism (T-RFLP) of the 16S rRNA genes from this group was used to determine differences in populations and to identify any unique populations in chickens, cows, deer, dogs, geese, horses, humans, pigs, and seagulls. The group appears to be a good potential fecal indicator in all groups tested except for avians. Cluster analysis of Bacteroides-Prevotella community T-RFLP profiles indicates that Bacteroides-Prevotella populations from samples of the same host species are much more similar to each other than to samples from different source species. We were unable to identify unique peaks that were exclusive to any source species; however, for most host species, at least one T-RFLP peak was identified to be more commonly found in that species, and a combination of peaks could be used to identify the source. T-RFLP profiles obtained from water spiked with known-source feces contained the expected diagnostic peaks from the source. These results indicate that the approach of identifying Bacteroides-Prevotella molecular markers associated with host species might be useful in identifying sources of fecal contamination in the environment.
Genetic studies with Japanese quail

An inbreeding study and two selection experiments with Japanese quail are reported which have been conducted on a comparative basis with similar work in chickens. Japanese quail exhibit pronounced inbreeding depression of reproductive traits such as egg production, fertility, hatchability and viability. Compared to the domestic fowl, the quail populations were found to show three times more damage from inbreeding for their entire reproductive cycle. These findings raise some questions concerning the history of the quail's domestication, and the breeding techniques required for developing highly inbred laboratory populations of that species. Selection experiments for high body weight at 6 weeks of age have shown response patterns comparable to those found in chicken populations. Inbreeding effects have tended to obscure some of the genetic gains in egg number which could be demonstrated only in appropriate comparisons with control populations.
On the symmetry of the Goldie and CS conditions for prime rings

It is shown that: (a) If R is a prime right Goldie right CS ring with right uniform dimension at least 2, then R is left Goldie, left CS; (b) A semiprime ring R is right Goldie left CS iff R is left Goldie, right CS. All rings are associative having an identity and all modules are unitary. A right module M over a ring R is called CS (or extending) if every submodule of M is essential in a direct summand of M , or equivalently, if every complement submodule of M is a direct summand of M . A ring R is called right CS (resp., left CS), if RR (resp., RR) is a CS module. CS modules have been extensively studied by many authors. A ring R is defined to be a right (left) Goldie ring if R has ascending chain condition on right (left) annihilators and the right (left) uniform dimension of R is finite. A right Goldie ring R is (semi-)prime if and only if R has classical right quotient ring which is (semi-)simple artinian. For notation not defined here we refer the reader to [1], [2] and [3]. Theorem 1. A prime right Goldie, right CS ring R with right uniform dimension at least 2, is left Goldie, and left CS. Proof. Let n be the right uniform dimension of R. By assumption, n ≥ 2. Since R is right CS, R = e1R ⊕ · · · ⊕ enR where each eiR is uniform and {ei}i=1 is a system of orthogonal idempotents of R. Let Q be the classical right quotient ring of R. Then we have: R ∼=  e1Re1 e1Re2 · · · e1Ren e2Re1 e2Re2 · · · e2Ren . . · · · . . . · · · . . . · · · . enRe1 enRe2 · · · enRen  ⊆  e1Qe1 e1Qe2 · · · e1Qen e2Qe1 e2Qe2 · · · e2Qen . . · · · . . . · · · . . . · · · . enQe1 enQe2 · · · enQen  ∼= Q. Received by the editors May 12, 1998 and, in revised form, September 28, 1998 and December 9, 1998. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 16P60, 16N60, 16D80. c ©2000 American Mathematical Society
Small-angle neutron scattering and contrast variation: a powerful combination for studying biological structures.

The use of small-angle scattering (SAS) in the biological sciences continues to increase, driven as much by the need to study increasingly complex systems that are often resistant to crystallization or are too large for NMR as by the availability of user facilities and advancements in the modelling of biological structures from SAS data. SAS, whether with neutrons (SANS) or X-rays (SAXS), is a structural probe of length scales ranging from 10 to 10,000 A. When applied to biological complexes in dilute solution, it provides size and shape information that can be used to produce structural models that can provide insight into function. SANS enables the use of contrast-variation methods through the unique interaction of neutrons with hydrogen and its isotope deuterium. SANS with contrast variation enables the visualization of components within multisubunit complexes, making it a powerful tool for probing protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid complexes, as well as the interaction of proteins with lipids and detergents.
CONTROL OF HOVERING SPACECRAFT USING ALTIMETRY

The control of a spacecraft hovering over a uniformly rotating asteroid is analyzed. This work builds on the previous analysis of open-loop stability of hovering spacecraft trajectories (Scheeres 1999) by considering the effect of closed-loop control strategies on the overall stability of the hovering trajectory. We characterize the ability of one-dimensional altimetry measurements to stabilize the hovering spacecraft and find some ideal control methodologies that can yield stable hovering trajectories. These ideas are developed initially for the ideal case of a spherical asteroid and are then applied to a rotating ellipsoid and a rotating model of the asteroid Castalia (Hudson and Ostro 1994). The necessary modifications to the measurement and control laws in these more general gravitational cases are characterized.
Adherence to and Outcomes Associated with a Clostridium difficile Guideline at a Large Teaching Institution.

Purpose: The incidence and virulence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has recently increased. National CDI treatment guidelines stratify patients based on clinical symptoms and recommend treatment based on severity of illness. In 2009, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital (Park Ridge, Illinois) adopted guidelines with treatment algorithms identical to the national guidelines. The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients were being treated in accordance with the CDI guidelines and whether adherence impacted patient outcomes. Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive study. Subjects were identified by CDI-associated ICD-9 codes from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2011 and stratified by disease severity. Guideline adherence was assessed based on initial treatment selection, and subjects were then further categorized as undertreated (UT), overtreated (OT), or appropriately treated (AT). Secondary endpoints included need for therapy escalation, clinical cure, recurrence rates, 90-day all-ca...
Initial Management of Acute Pancreatitis: Critical Issues During the First 72 Hours

Although most patients with acute pancreatitis have a mild course, almost a quarter of patients will develop complications. It has become clear that the early management of patients with acute pancreatitis will likely affect outcome. Too often patients are admitted to the hospital with what appears to be mild disease only later to deteriorate with severe disease. This review will focus on the early management of patients with acute pancreatitis in an attempt to prevent severe disease, complications, and death.
Neuroendocrine (Merkel cell) carcinomas of the skin: an ultrastructural study of nine cases.

Nine neuroendocrine tumors of the skin were examined by light and electron microscopy. The patients (7 males and 2 females) had an average age of 57 years. Seven tumors were located in the head and neck region. Light microscopic examination showed sheets of cells. In 4 cases, a tendency to form small groups of cells was observed. Contact with the epidermis was seen in only 2 cases. The dominant ultrastructural feature was the presence of cytoplasmic processes that contained membrane-bound granules 100–200 nm. Three tumors recurred locally, and in 7 patients, regional nodal metastases occurred. Three patients died of disseminated disease.
Complications of Multiple Myeloma Therapy, Part 1: Risk Reduction and Management of Peripheral Neuropathy and Asthenia

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) and asthenia (fatigue) occur as both disease- and treatment-related complications in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Risk factors for treatment-related PN, which has an estimated incidence of 37% to 83% among patients with MM, include therapy duration, dose intensity, cumulative dose, and the presence of preexisting neuropathy. Asthenia is the most common adverse effect of treatment, occurring in approximately 76% to 96% of patients receiving therapy. The severity of PN and asthenia can range from mild to potentially debilitating. These conditions can be dose limiting; they may interfere with optimizing duration of therapy and may also substantially affect patient quality of life. Regular screening and monitoring, combined with patient education and effective management strategies, can reduce the risk of these treatment-related complications, as well as their consequences.
A Mercury orientation model including non-zero obliquity and librations

Planetary orientation models describe the orientation of the spin axis and prime meridian of planets in inertial space as a function of time. The models are required for the planning and execution of Earth-based or space-based observational work, e.g. to compute viewing geometries and to tie observations to planetary coordinate systems. The current ori- entation model for Mercury is inadequate because it uses an obsolete spin orientation, neglects oscillations in the spin rate called longitude librations, and relies on a prime meridian that no longer reflects its intended dynamical significance. These effects result in positional errors on the surface of ! 1.5 km in latitude and up to several km in longitude, about two orders of magnitude larger than the finest image resolution currently attainable. Here we present an updated orientation model which incorporates modern values of the spin orientation, includes a formulation for longitude librations, and restores the dynamical significance to the prime meridian. We also use modern values of the orbit normal, spin axis orientation, and preces- sion rates to quantify an important relationship between the obliquity and moment of inertia differences.
High-power broadly tunable picosecond IR laser system for use in nonlinear spectroscopic applications

We developed a high-power tunable picosecond IR laser system suitable for nonlinear spectroscopic investigations. We employ a Ti:sapphire regenerative amplifier that produces 1.9-ps, 17-cm-1, 800-nm pulses at 1 kHz as a pump source. White-light generation in ethylene glycol and optical parametric amplification in potassium titanyl phosphate are used to produce the IR pulses. The tuning range extends from 2.4 to 3.8 µm in the idler and 1.0 to 1.2 µm in the signal. A total efficiency (signal plus idler) as high as 20% was achieved. The spatial, spectral, and temporal characteristics of the IR beam are presented along with vibrational sum-frequency spectra from a glass/octadecyltrichlorosilane/air interface.
Using a Service Sector Segmented Approach to Identify Community Stakeholders Who Can Improve Access to Suicide Prevention Services for Veterans

ABSTRACT Veterans in need of social services may access many different community agencies within the public and private sectors. Each of these settings has the potential to be a pipeline for attaining needed health, mental health, and benefits services; however, many service providers lack information on how to conceptualize where Veterans go for services within their local community. This article describes a conceptual framework for outreach that uses a service sector segmented approach. This framework was developed to aid recruitment of a provider-based sample of stakeholders (N = 70) for a study on improving access to the Department of Veterans Affairs and community-based suicide prevention services. Results indicate that although there are statistically significant differences in the percent of Veterans served by the different service sectors (F(9, 55) = 2.71, p = 0.04), exposure to suicidal Veterans and providers' referral behavior is consistent across the sectors. Challenges to using this framework ...
Hexahedron Projection for Curvilinear Grids

This paper presents a method of dividing into triangle fans the most common projections of hexahedra from curvilinear meshes, so that they can be volume rendered in hardware, with a fragment progra...
Medicare’s New Bundled Payments: Design, Strategy, and Evolution

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is increasingly paying for health care through alternative payment models (APMs) that reward value and quality. Currently, more than 20% of Medicare fee-for-service payments flow through APMs, putting the Administration’s goals of 30% by 2016 and 50% by 2018 within reach.1 These APMs include accountable care organizations (ACOs), bundled payments, and advanced primary care medical homes. In this Viewpoint, we discuss the role of bundled payments.
THE UNLITIGATED CASE: A STUDY OF THE LEGALITY OF GUITAR TABLATURES

Guitar tablature Web sites have been the subject of recent cease-and-desist letters, forcing most to shut down. Litigation has been side-stepped with the arrival of new creative means to continue operation. The case that may have gone to court is discussed here, ranging from the appropriate legal claims of copyright infringement to the fairuse-defense arguments that would have been made. Policy solutions are considered to resolve the tension between the public's desire to use such tablatures and the copyright owners of the original artists. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Viscoelasticity and Self-Diffusion in Miscible Heteropolymer Blends

A theory has been developed for the viscoelasticity and diffusion of miscible fluid blends of entangled linear polymers with dissimilar chemical structure. The architecture and molecular dynamics of the temporary network formed by the intermeshing species are analyzed by assuming that the coupling frequency between two macromolecular components along a single chain is proportional to the fractional participation of these components in the blend as a whole. The population densities and lifetimes of the various types of entanglements among similar and dissimilar polymers, and the frictional properties of the interacting chains are related to the composition and the corresponding properties of the unmixed polymeric precursors. This information is used to derive mixing laws for the time-dependent linear relaxation modulus, the rubbery plateau modulus, the zero-shear viscosity, the recoverable compliance, and the self-diffusion coefficients in a binary heteropoloymer blend.
Nonlinear THz conductivity dynamics in P-type CVD-grown graphene.

We report strong THz-induced transparency in CVD-grown graphene where 92–96% of the peak-field is transmitted compared to 74% at lower field strength. Time-resolved THz pump/THz probe studies revea...
Villa de Branciforte: Innovation and Adaptation on the Frontier

Conceived in trepidation, plagued by ineptitude, and ultimately relegated to obscurity, the Villa de Branciforte marked the last Spanish colonial town to be founded in California, or for that matter, in the Americas. A hybrid of civilian and military enterprise, Branciforte was envisioned as California's grandest town only to become instead an early casualty of incompetence and Madrid's depleted exchequer. Yet, despite its misfortunes, the Villa was within a venerable and generally successful tradition of frontier endeavor. In certain instances, the resources of Spain's distinct urban institutions of settlement and pacification—the presidio, pueblo and mission—were joined in varying combinations to meet the demands of extraordinary circumstance. If the Villa de Branciforte failed in its assignment, it was primarily for want of sagacity.
Bcl-2 oncogene protein is preferentially expressed in Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin's disease of the nodular sclerosis subtype.

One hundred three cases of nodular sclerosis (NS) and mixed-cellularity Hodgkin's disease were evaluated for expression of bcl-2 oncogene protein, because previous studies have revealed expression of bcl-2 in these subtypes but only rarely in the nodular lymphocyte-predominance subtype. Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells and lacunar variants were positive for bcl-2 in 51 of 86 NS cases and 4 of 17 mixed-cellularity cases. In individual cases of NS, the percentage of RS cells and lacunar variants positive for bcl-2 ranged from minimal (in 5 cases) to 100% positive (mean, 34%). By univariate analysis, expression of the bcl-2 gene product in RS cells was observed in a significantly greater proportion of NS Hodgkin's disease cases than MC cases (P < .009), a finding that may have implications on the pathogenesis of this disorder.
Remarks on Some Applications

We now briefly sketch a few rather specific applied problems that suggest or even motivate a number of the questions taken up in this book. The aim will not be to give a full development, which would lie outside the scope and intent of the book, but rather to indicate how the problems arise and the mathematical questions suggested. References are given that will allow the intersted reader to look into the the details more extensively on his own. At times the description we give will be heuristic since there are still wide gaps in the mathematical development. This is especially so in an example from statistical mechanics. There is a brief discussion of a class of models in so-called “learning theory” in mathematical psychology. The last example is a resource flow model which is not probabilistic as usually given but obviously could be considered with a probabilistic interpretation. It is suggested formally by the Quesnay-Leontief models which have been of some interest in mathematical and statistical economics.
Effect of Adrenomedullin on Pulmonary Vascular Structural Remodeling Induced by High Pulmonary Blood Flow in Rats

Objective To explore the effect of adrenomedullin(ADM) on the pulmonary vascular structural remodeling in rats with pulmonary hypertension induced by high pulmonary blood flow.Methods Twenty-one male 6-week-old SD rats were randomly divided into control group(n=7),shunt group(n=7) and shunt with ADM group(n=7).Aortocaval shunting was produced in rats of shunt group and shunt with ADM group.In control group,the inferior vena cava and abdominal aorta were only exposed,but shunting procedure was not performed.After 8 weeks,ADM(1.5 μg·kg-1·h-1) was subcutaneously administered into rats of shunt with ADM group by mini-osmotic pump for 2 weeks.Pulmonary artery pressures of each rat were evaluated by using a right cardiac catheterization procedure.The ratio of right ventricular mass to left ventricular plus septal mass [ RV/(LV+SP) ] was calculated after weighting.The pulmonary artery micro-and ultra-morphologic changes of rats were observed.Results Compared with the rats of control group,pulmonary artery systolic pressure,pu-lmonary artery diastolic pressure,pulmonary artery mean pressure and RV/(LV+SP) in rats of shunt group were significantly increased(Pa0.01),the muscularization of small pulmonary vessels,relative medial thickness and relative medial area of the pulmonary arteries were also significantly increased(Pa0.01).Ultrastructural changes,including swelling of endothelial cells,irregularity of inner elastic lamina,and hypertrophy and the increased number of synthetic phenotype of smooth muscle cells,were found in pulmonary arteries of shunting rats.Pulmonary artery pressure and RV/(LV+SP) in rats of shunt with ADM group were significantly decreased compared with those of shunt group(Pa0.01),with the alleviation of pulmonary artery micro-and ultra-morphologic changes.Conclusions ADM subcutaneously administered by mimi-osmotic pump alleviated the development of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vascular structural remodeling induced by high pulmonary blood flow in rats.
Experimental Study on Cold-state Air Dynamic Fields in a 1025 t/h Boiler Furnace

Plasma or tiny-oil ignition technologies are at present widely used in large capacity boilers,which have a certain influence on mixing characteristics of circumferential,primary and secondary air in combustion systems with swing burners.To solve above problems,experimental studies were carried out on cold-state air dynamic fields in a 1 025 t/h boiler furnace using similar ignition technologies.Study results may serve as a reference for safety and stable operation of the unit using plasma or tiny-oil ignition technologies.
Epidemiologic characteristics of influenza outbreaks in Futian district of Shenzhen in 2008-2010

Objective To describe and analyze the prevalence characters of flu outbreaks in Futian district from 2008 to 2010.Method Descriptive epidemiological method was applied to analyze characteristics of flu outbreaks.Results It was found that 100 influenza outbreaks involving in 975 cases were reported,of which the outbreaks of flu virus of H1N1,type A and type B were 28,18 and 40,respectively.The average prevalence is 4.52%.The average spacing interval of initial case and reporting is 3.78 days.The outbreak peak is from March to June and September,the influenza H1N1,A and B are alternating throughout the year,and the peak of September was mainly caused by influenza H1N1.The outbreaks mainly occurred in primary schools,in which 63 outbreaks were reported involving 521 cases,accounting for 65.53% of the total number of incidence.Conclusions Influenza outbreaks are common in schools.It is necessary to strengthen the health intervention in school to prevent and control the outbreaks of influenza.