cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low Temperature Dormancy Affects the Quantity and Quality of the Female Sexual Attractiveness Pheromone in Red-sided Garter Snakes

Low temperature dormancy is a necessary requirement of the annual cycle of most nonmigratory, temperate vertebrates. The red-sided garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis, overwinters in communal dens during its prolonged winter dormancy (8 mo), and upon emergence, reproductive behavior of both sexes is maximal. Previous work on this species showed that male courtship behavior is maximally induced after simulated low temperature dormancy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether low temperature dormancy affects the pheromone profiles of individual female red-sided garter snakes. We collected females in the fall at den sites in Manitoba, Canada, and extracted pheromones from individuals at three different time points: fall (field), winter (lab), and spring (lab). Total skin lipid and pheromone fraction masses increased from fall to spring, and pheromone profiles were distinctly different in the fall and spring. Pheromone profiles became dominated by the long-chain, unsaturated methyl ketone components of the blend by the time snakes emerged in the spring. Further, the amounts of both saturated and unsaturated components increased from fall to spring, suggesting significant sex pheromone synthesis was induced by low temperature dormancy.
Chromatographic studies of metal complexes VII. Thin-layer chromatography of cobalt(III) complexes

Thin-layer chromatography of a variety of inert cobalt(III) complexes of different charges ( + 3, + 2, + 1, 0, −1, −3) shows that silica gel is charged negatively in contact with water. Cationic complexes do not move on an anionic silica gel bed; strong adsorption is observed between the complex cation and the negatively charged silanol group of the silica gel. Such strong binding can be reduced considerably by using electrolytes such as KI, KCl, K2SO4, etc. In the case of neutral and anionic complexes no such binding is observed. A close connection between RF values and charges of complexes was observed.
Technological Strategic Planning and Globalization in Higher Education

The purpose of this study is to analyze the perceptions of students and faculty members regarding educational use of communication technologies in two different countries with different cultures. Communications technologies examined in this article include various online interaction tools with strategic planning centers on SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats analysis. A comparison of external data for SWOT analysis is conducted for universities in different countries and cultures. Statistical data shows differences in the comparison of the Midwest University with other American universities and the Midwest University with the Bulgarian universities. The statistical findings suggest that collecting globally external data for SWOT analysis might benefit strategic planning and technological change in higher education. Universities in different countries and cultures can benefit to a much greater degree if they adopt such a study on a long-term basis as an administrative practice.
Broadband terahertz modulation using reconfigurable mesh filters

A broadband terahertz intensity modulator based on MEMS-reconfigurable mesh filters is presented and experimentally demonstrated. Modulator operation is based on reconfiguring the geometry of a multi-layer mesh filter from a capacitive configuration to an inductive configuration, which alters device scattering parameters from a low-pass filter to a high-pass filter, respectively. The geometry of the multi-layer mesh filter is chosen to allow cut-off frequencies beyond 3 THz, enabling terahertz modulation over a broad range of frequencies. Additionally, arrays of multi-contact electrostatic MEMS switches are integrated with the multi-layer mesh filter, enabling the required geometry reconfiguration within a fully integrated and high-speed device solution. We experimentally demonstrate more than 65% modulation depth over 1.5 THz frequency band, under a modulation voltage of 30 V and modulation speeds exceeding 20 KHz.
Bermuda's reef-front platform: Bathymetry and significance

Bermuda, unlike atolls in tropical oceans, has a broad shallow submerged platform extending 0.5 to over 3 n. miles seaward of an elliptical reef tract. On this platform is found: (1) a wide upper terrace lying at about 10 fathoms; (2) a ridge lying at about 8 fathoms locally encountered at the outer edge of the upper terrace; and (3) a sediment-covered narrow lower terrace lying at about 35 fathoms. Traverses around the entire platform with bottom and subbottom profiling equipment, and observations made during SCUBA dives suggest that the upper terrace is a relict feature cut prior to the Holocene rise of sea level. Honeycombed ridges of wind blown aeolianites, now interspersed with thin sediment pockets, were preserved with only slight modification by post-glacial submarine abrasion. Concentric and anastomosing ellipse-shaped reef and island tracts (most of them probably fossil dune ridges) record former strand lines that migrated back and forth across the truncated surface. Two origins are proposed for the outer ridge: it may be relict and composed of aeolianite, or it may represent coral reef growth that developed during a warmer period, possibly the post-glacial thermal maximum that probably coincided with inundation of the upper platform. Sampling will undoubtedly resolve this problem. The lower terrace was developed in the upper Bermuda pedestal during a lower still stand, as yet undated, and became covered subsequently by a prograding sediment wedge. Its presence at the same depth around the outer platform precludes tilting of major fault offsetting, but not settling of the volcanic neck since the time of notching. Both terraces, lying at depths common to terraces encountered in other areas, are directly related to Quaternary glacio-eustatic and climatic oscillations. Each represents a level occupied once or perhaps several times by fluctuating seas. Although there is evidence of a slow cutting back of the upper terrace at the expense of reefs and submerged ledges, the rate of planation of the carbonate platform appears to be a relatively slow process, even in a high energy, marginal coral growth area such as the one occupied by Bermuda. These observations bear on the problem of evaluating rates of Quaternary reef and atoll truncation in other areas.
Rapid Post‐Miocene tectonic rotation associated with the San Gregorio Fault Zone in central California

Paleomagnetic measurements of samples from the Mio-Pliocene Purisima Formation demonstrate that the Pomponio tectonic block of central coastal California has rotated clockwise by approximately 35° to 55° within the last 2.5 million years. The most likely interpretation of this data is that the Pomponio block is broken into several small blocks which have rotated by various amounts. The data suggest that rotations contribute to vertical deformation and secondary faulting within the central San Andreas Fault System, and that they play an important role in the accommodation of shear along the fault system.
The Importance of Funding Postsecondary Correctional Educational Programs

The correctional population in the United States has increased dramatically in the past two decades and shows no sign of tapering off. In addition, the recidivism rates of those inmates who are rel...
Molecular interactions coordinating the development of the forebrain and face

From an architectural point of view, the forebrain acts as a framework upon which the middle and upper face develops and grows. In addition to serving a structural role, we present evidence that the forebrain is a source of signals that shape the facial skeleton. In this study, we inhibited Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling from the neuroectoderm then examined the molecular changes and the skeletal alterations resulting from the treatment. One of the first changes we noted was that the dorsoventral polarity of the forebrain was disturbed, which manifested as a loss of Shh in the ventral telencephalon, a reduction in expression of the ventral markers Nkx2.1 and Dlx2, and a concomitant expansion of the dorsal marker Pax6. In addition to changes in the forebrain neuroectoderm, we observed altered gene expression patterns in the facial ectoderm. For example, Shh was not induced in the frontonasal ectoderm, and Ptc and Gli1 were reduced in both the ectoderm and adjacent mesenchyme. As a consequence, a signaling center in the frontonasal prominence was disrupted and the prominence failed to undergo proximodistal and mediolateral expansion. After 15 days of development, the upper beaks of the treated embryos were truncated, and the skeletal elements were located in more medial and proximal locations in relation to the skeletal elements of the lower jaw elements. These data indicate that a role of Shh in the forebrain is to regulate Shh expression in the face, and that together, these Shh domains mediate patterning within the frontonasal prominence and proximodistal outgrowth of the middle and upper face.
The educational impact of ACGME limits on resident and fellow duty hours: a pre-post survey study.

PURPOSE To assess the educational impact of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education resident work-hour limits implemented in July 2003. METHOD All trainees in all 76 accredited programs at two large teaching hospitals were surveyed between May and June 2003 (before work-hour reductions) and then between May and June 2004 (after work-hour reductions) about hours, education, and fatigue. Based on changes in weekly duty hours, 13 programs experiencing substantial reduction in hours were classified into a reduced-hours group. Differences in assessments of educational endpoints before and after policy implementation by trainees in the reduced-hours group were compared with those in other programs to control for potential temporal trends, using two-way ANOVA with interaction. RESULTS The number of respondents was 1,770 (60% response rate). The reduced-hours group reported a significant decrease in time spent directly caring for patients (from 48.5 to 42.3 mean h/wk, P = 0.03), but the volume of important clinical experiences, including procedures, was preserved, as was the sense of clinical preparedness. On 22 questions related to educational quality and adequacy, only three differences in differences were significant, with the reduced-hours group reporting a relative increase in opportunities for research, decrease in quality of faculty teaching, and decrease in educational satisfaction. The percentage of trainees reporting frequent negative effects of fatigue dropped more in the reduced-hours programs than in the other programs (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION This study shows that it may be possible to reduce residents' hours--and the perceived adverse impact of fatigue--while generally preserving the self-assessed quality, quantity, and outcomes of graduate medical education.
Network model for invariant object recognition

Abstract A network model is proposed for invariant object recognition. The overall complexity of the weight connection is lower than that of several established networks. The performance of the proposed model is comparable to that obtained with Zernike moments.
Pre- and postsynaptic adrenergic activation by norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors in the field-stimulated rat vas deferens.

Abstract Desipramine (DMI), protriptyline, chlorpromazine, amitriptyline and cocaine, alone or in the presence of prazosin, produced a dose-related inhibition of contractions induced by field stimulation of the rat vas deferens. The inhibition of contractions was readily reversed by yohimbine. In contrast, when yohimbine was first added to the bath, all agents, except chlorpromazine, produced a dose-related enhancement of contractions which were readily reversed by prazosin. The potencies of these agents for induction of contractile inhibition, after prazosin, and contractile enhancement, after yohimbine, were similar. Both of the latter contractile responses of DMI were markedly attenuated or absent in tissues taken from rats pretreated with reserpine and alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine. The data indicate that, in the rat vas deferens, inhibition of norepinephrine reuptake results primarily in presynaptic (α 2 ) receptor activation. Postsynaptic (α 1 ) adrenergic activation by inhibition of norepinephrine reuptake can be demonstrated in this tissue only after presynaptic (α 2 ) receptor blockade. The possible implications of the present studies to the delayed clinical onset of action of tricyclic antidepressants is discussed.
Principal Modes of Variation of Rain-Rate Probability Distributions

Abstract Radar or satellite observations of an area generate sequences of rain-rate maps. From a gridded map a histogram of rain rates can be obtained representing the relative areas occupied by rain rates of various strengths. The histograms vary with time as precipitating systems in the area evolve and decay and amounts of convective and stratiform rain in the area change. A method of decomposing the histograms into linear combinations of a few empirical distributions with time-dependent coefficients is developed, using principal component analysis as a starting point. When applied to a tropical Atlantic dataset (GATE), two distributions emerge naturally from the analysis, resembling stratiform and convective rain-rate distributions in that they peak at low and high rain rates, respectively. The two “modes” have different timescales and only the high-rain-rate mode has a statistically significant diurnal cycle. The ability of just two modes to describe rain variability over an area can explain why metho...
Scholarship of practice for a practice profession

Abstract At a time of shrinking resources, rapidly changing health care environments, and increased demands for solutions to pressing health issues, concerns regarding the relevance of nursing research for practice are again being raised. After the national debate surrounding definitions of scholarship across disciplines and having established respectability for past and current contributions to knowledge development, nursing may now begin to reconceptualize what constitutes scholarship in a practice profession. This article addresses two central questions related to the scholarship of nursing practice: (1) How is scholarship of practice in a practice of profession defined? and (2) What characteristics differentiate the new conceptualizations of scholarship of practice from traditional research models? The results include a delineation of scholarship of practice and a differentiation of characteristics between scholarship of practice and traditional research approaches. Implications for nursing education are also addressed. J Prof Nurs 17:46-54, 2001. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company
Compressive strength of sea ice sheets

Abstract A model has been developed for predicting the large-scale compressive strength of sea ice sheets. The only inputs which are required to calculate the strength are the air temperature, the ice thickness and the strain rate. The model makes use of the results of 283 small-scale strength tests and the relationships between the intrinsic and extrinsic properties of the ice sheet. A comparison of the results of the model to large-scale measured compressive strengths shows excellent agreement. A parametric variation is performed on all of the factors affecting the compressive strength. In addition, using available meteorological information for the Arctic, the compressive strength of a typical sea ice sheet is predicted throughout a winter's season.
Rules based process window OPC

As a preliminary step towards Model-Based Process Window OPC we have analyzed the impact of correcting post-OPC layouts using rules based methods. Image processing on the Brion Tachyon was used to identify sites where the OPC model/recipe failed to generate an acceptable solution. A set of rules for 65nm active and poly were generated by classifying these failure sites. The rules were based upon segment runlengths, figure spaces, and adjacent figure widths. 2.1 million sites for active were corrected in a small chip (comparing the pre and post rules based operations), and 59 million were found at poly. Tachyon analysis of the final reticle layout found weak margin sites distinct from those sites repaired by rules-based corrections. For the active layer more than 75% of the sites corrected by rules would have printed without a defect indicating that most rulesbased cleanups degrade the lithographic pattern. Some sites were missed by the rules based cleanups due to either bugs in the DRC software or gaps in the rules table. In the end dramatic changes to the reticle prevented catastrophic lithography errors, but this method is far too blunt. A more subtle model-based procedure is needed changing only those sites which have unsatisfactory lithographic margin.
General Class of Implicit Variational Inclusions and Graph Convergence on A-Maximal Relaxed Monotonicity

Based on the generalized graph convergence, first a general framework for an implicit algorithm involving a sequence of generalized resolvents (or generalized resolvent operators) of set-valued A-maximal monotone (also referred to as A-maximal (m)-relaxed monotone, and A-monotone) mappings, and H-maximal monotone mappings is developed, and then the convergence analysis to the context of solving a general class of nonlinear implicit variational inclusion problems in a Hilbert space setting is examined. The obtained results generalize the work of Huang, Fang and Cho (in J. Nonlinear Convex Anal. 4:301–308, 2003) involving the classical resolvents to the case of the generalized resolvents based on A-maximal monotone (and H-maximal monotone) mappings, while the work of Huang, Fang and Cho (in J. Nonlinear Convex Anal. 4:301–308, 2003) added a new dimension to the classical resolvent technique based on the graph convergence introduced by Attouch (in Variational Convergence for Functions and Operators, Applied Mathematics Series, Pitman, London 1984). In general, the notion of the graph convergence has potential applications to several other fields, including models of phenomena with rapidly oscillating states as well as to probability theory, especially to the convergence of distribution functions on ℜ. The obtained results not only generalize the existing results in literature, but also provide a certain new approach to proofs in the sense that our approach starts in a standard manner and then differs significantly to achieving a linear convergence in a smooth manner.
Photophysics and Photoinduced Electron-Transfer Reactivity of Ruthenium(II) Complexes with Oligo(thiophene-bipyridine) Ligands†,1

A novel series of mono-, di-, and trimeric ruthenium(II) complexes has been synthesized in which the quasi-linear polytopic ligand is constituted by 2,2‘-bipyridine (bpy) subunits linked in the 5,5...
Distinguishing clinical and imaging features of nodular regenerative hyperplasia and large regenerative nodules of the liver.

AIM: Nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) and large regenerative nodules (LRN) are distinct types of hepatocellular nodules that have been confused in the radiology literature. However, distinction is critical because their clinical significance is quite different. Our purpose was to review the clinical and imaging findings in a series of patients with NRH and LRN in order to identify distinguishing clinical and imaging features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective case series. The clinical and imaging features were compared in 36 patients with pathological proof of NRH and 23 patients with pathological evidence of LRN. RESULTS: NRH and LRN have different predisposing factors and imaging findings. NRH is often associated with organ transplantation, myeloproliferative disease, or autoimmune processes. Livers with NRH typically do not have enhancing nodules; none of the present patients with NRH had enhancing liver masses. In contrast, LRN are often associated with Budd-Chiari syndrome. Enhancing liver masses were noted in 19 (83%) of the 23 patients with LRN. The p values for the comparisons were less than 0.001 for both enhancing liver masses and hepatic vein thrombosis. CONCLUSION: NRH and LRN can have distinct clinical presentations and imaging appearances. LRN often result in enhancing liver nodules, whereas NRH usually does not. Clinical and imaging information enables the distinction of LRN and NRH in many cases.
Quantitative tract-based white matter heritability in twin neonates

Abstract Studies in adults indicate that white matter microstructure, assessed with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), has high heritability. Little is known about genetic and environmental influences on DTI parameters, measured along fiber tracts particularly, in early childhood. In the present study, we report comprehensive heritability data of white matter microstructure fractional anisotropy (FA), radial diffusion (RD), and axial diffusion (AD) along 47 fiber tracts using the quantitative tractography in a large sample of neonatal twins (n = 356). We found significant genetic influences in almost all tracts with similar heritabilities for FA, RD, and AD as well as positive relationships between these parameters and heritability. In a single tract analysis, genetic influences along the length of the tract were highly variable. These findings suggest that at birth, there is marked heterogeneity of genetic influences of white matter microstructure within white matter tracts. This study provides a basis for future studies of developmental changes in genetic and environmental influences during early childhood, a period of rapid development that likely plays a major role in individual differences in white matter structure and function.
Postbuckling of Shear Deformable Composite Flat Panels Taking Into Account Geometrical Imperfections

The postbuckling behavior of composite flat panels subjected to uniaxial/biaxial compressive loads is investigated. To this end a refined geometrically nonlinear theory of composite plates is developed. The effects played by transverse shear deformation, initial geometric imperfections, the character of the in-plane boundary conditions and lamination are studied and a series of pertinent conclusions are outlined. Throughout the paper, the results obtained within the transverse shear deformable plate model are compared with their classical counterparts and conclusions related to their range of applicability are presented.
Application of Feed Intake Principles to Poultry Care and Management

Abstract It is well documented that feed intake theories developed from research with other species are applicable in some form in the avian species. One of the first places that application of feed intake principles appears in the literature is in the science of nutrition. By the early 1950’s some nutritionists had begun to report nutrient requirements on a daily intake basis. In 1971, the National Research Council (NRC) listed nutrient requirements both as percentages of the diet and daily intake needs. In 1981 the NRC published a special bulletin entitled “Effect of Environment on Nutrient Requirements of Domestic Animals.” Although nutritionists have always been more or less aware of the influence of feed consumption on ration content needs, it is clear that the development of related knowledge has tended to heighten awareness of the need to carefully consider feed intake in ration formulation. Poultry management specialists and applicators have also developed interest in feed intake considerations. Today, the better managers (especially egg production managers) maintain accurate feed intake records along with time of hatch (age) and environmental notes to relate to production level. These data are analyzed sometimes by hand, but often by computer, and used to make daily or weekly adjustments in feed formulation, ventilation rate, and in some instances housing density and other management decisions.
Further comment on the association between crack opening and G sub I.

Crack opening displacement and fracture toughness analyzed for uniaxial tension and edge-cracked plate
799 “SPHEROCYTOSIS” IN SICKLE CELL ANEMIA

The hematologic hallmark of sickle cell disease is the irreversibly sickled cell (ISC) a shrunken, dehydrated cell which resists hypotonic lysis. Less well recognized in sickle cell disease is another population of cells geometrically “spherocytic” with decreased surface area to volume ratio and increased osmotic fragility. In 59 stable patients with HbSS, we determined hematologic values, ISC counts, the proportion of red cells identified by Nomarski optics as containing “pits”, and the proportion of osmotically labile cells. 80% of HbSS patients had an abnormal osmotic fragility curve characterized by a “tail” of hypotonically labile cells whereas none of the normal controls lysed in solutions less hypotonic than 0.5% saline. In patients with abnormal curves, 0.55% buffered saline hemolyzed 3.0 ± 2.7% of cells. HbSS patients with osmotically fragile cells had more ISC's (22 vs. 11%), lower Hgb's (7.7 vs. 8.5gm%), more reticulocytosis (20 vs. 15%) and lower Hb F values (7 vs. 12%) (p < 0.05 for all). Scanning electron microsopy of peripheral blood revealed ISC's and irregularly contoured spherocytic cells. In the group with abnormal fragility, the proportion of osmotically labile cells correlated inversely with Hgb, positively with reticulocyte count, positively with MCHC, and surgical splenectomy status (p < 0.05 for all); those with splenectomy had more spherocytic cells. This proportion did not correlate with “pit count”, age (after 2 years), the patient's sex, or MCV. These results indicate that in addition to ISC's, a second population of damaged erythrocytes characterized by increased osmotic lability circulate in patients with sickle cell disease and may be important in the pathogenesis of anemia.
Gestures for mixed-initiative news video browsing on mobile devices

Although small screen sizes and limited input methods are challenges for mobile devices, there are affordances like gestures and motion detection through on-device sensors. A prototype system has been implemented on a HTC Dream (T-Mobile G1) mobile phone demonstrating an "adaptive TV-channel" like mixed-initiative interface used to solicit user relevance feedback, provide recommendations and facilitate news video watching. The user is provided on-screen finger gesture operations to vote-up, vote-down or skip a video. Shaking the device resets the video sequence. This creates a cognitively palatable stream of videos and a seamless lower-latency user experience easily operated with one hand.
Tolerance Design for Four-Bar Function Generating Mechanisms with Joint Clearances Using Taguchi Method

This paper presents a method for tolerance design of four-bar function generating mechanisms with joint clearances using Taguchi method. Based on previous studies made by other researchers, we propose a model to quantify the effects of uncertain factors on the accuracy of four-bar function generating mechanisms. Taguchi’s approach is applied to select the optimal tolerance ranges for the design parameters of function generation mechanisms. Sensitivity maps are plotted to provide an insight to the effects of parameter errors on the performance variances of four-bar function generating mechanisms. To illustrate the efficiency of the proposed methodology, the tolerance design of a four-bar function generator with joint clearances is discussed.
The Moderating Effects of Cognitive Appraisal Processes on Self‐Attribution of Responsibility

Research indicates that self-attribution of responsibility for various types of problems is affected by a number of variables, including number of bystanders, persuasive communications, and focus of attention. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that attributions of responsibility are also influenced by cognitive appraisal of sufficiency of resources relative to the magnitude of the problem in question. When circumstances indicate that self is the most plausible locus of responsibility, attribution to self will occur only if the person also assesses his or her resources as being sufficient to fulfill the obligations implied upon locating responsibility for problem solution in self. The converse is also held to be true. Results confirmed this hypothesis. Implications of this theoretical approach for various theories that include attribution of responsibility to self as a critical factor are discussed.
An Empirical Analysis of Strategies and Efficiencies in Social Networks

This research examines hypotheses about the efficient and strategic uses of social networks by a specific group of white collar workers. We examine existing theory that relates network structure to performance and put forward two new hypotheses. The first addition merges explore/exploit theory with social networks, proposing that optimal network characteristics evolve over the course of a career from those favoring exploration to those favoring exploitation of knowledge and relationships. The second concerns efficient movement of information through a network, proposing that frequent short communication outperforms infrequent lengthy communication. Using a unique data set containing email patterns and accounting records for several dozen executive recruiters, we find statistically significant differences related to network (1) structure (2) flow and (3) age. Consistent with existing theory, more central position is associated with higher output. Consistent with the two proposed theories, exploration strategies among early career recruiters and exploitation strategies among senior recruiters are both positively associated with performance, while more frequent shorter messages are associated with higher output. Results of this research have the potential to create a more complete understanding of different types of efficiency associated with social networks.
Re-conceiving Entrepreneurship for Libraries: Collaboration and the Anatomy of a Conference

For librarians who have worked in the field and have become innovative out of necessity, developing and creating entrepreneurial activities are not unusual. Perhaps recognizing and celebrating those achievements could change common perspectives on the entrepreneurial abilities of librarians. This idea launched the collaborative efforts of two universities to demonstrate this to be so. The libraries at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, successfully collaborated on the planning and execution of a conference to celebrate entrepreneurism within the field of librarianship. In doing so, each organization was able to promote its unique talents and give signature to the notion that librarians can be, and in fact are, entrepreneurial. The collaborative value found in this project was derived from our sense of fulfillment of our social responsibility and of celebrating entrepreneurship within the profession. This conference serves as an example of embedded collaboration versus simple logistics, and the conference planning team now looks forward to future endeavors.
Donor-recipient lung size mismatch: A provocative data set

The article by Eberlein and colleagues in this issue of the journal provides a striking perspective on an important aspect of the daily practice of lung transplantation. In the early years of lung transplantation, pioneering surgeons were more concerned with surgical anastomoses and infection than the potential size disparity of lung volume between recipient and donor. In 1982, the seminal article by Reitz suggested little concern with regard to lung volume in heart–lung transplantation surgery. Similarly, Patterson and Cooper in 1988 presented animal and human data regarding bilateral lung transplantation with no attention given to the issue of size matching donor and recipient lungs. Subsequently, Starnes introduced the technique of living donor lobar lung transplantation in which decidedly smaller lung volumes were often utilized to rescue transplant candidates who were unlikely to survive to receive deceased donor lungs. In 1992, in a report from an American Thoracic Society workshop on lung transplantation, the only mention of size appeared in a table on donor selection guidelines recommending “similar total lung capacities” between donor and recipient. Eberlein and colleagues at the University of Iowa in an earlier series of studies analyzed data obtained from UNOS and demonstrated a correlation between lung size matching and major lung transplant outcomes, including survival, morbidity during the transplant hospitalization and incidence of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). They utilized a calculated predicted total lung capacity (pTLC) to compare donors and recipients and noted that the actual thoracic dimensions in certain categories of transplant recipient diagnosis led surgeons to opt for smaller (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) or larger (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) donor lungs. These factors hindered the generalizability of their earlier findings. In their current work, Eberlein et al focus on data from individuals whose indication for lung transplantation was pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Most such individuals have relatively normal lung function and thoracic volumes. In that sense, they may represent the purest subset of patients to test the hypothesis that size discrepancy affects outcome and survival after lung transplantation.
Primary writing tremor. A form of focal dystonia

Five patients exhibited severe tremor in the upper extremity, primarily when attempting to write or draw. Electromyography was performed to determine the patterns of muscle activity that were responsible for this tremor. Tremor was measured with an accelerometer and with a digitizing tablet. Two patients had postural tremor that was indistinguishable from mild, high-frequency essential tremor. All patients exhibited a severe 5-7-Hz tremor during the acts of writing and drawing. Muscles throughout the affected extremity exhibited rhythmic 5-7-Hz bursts of motor unit discharge, and the average level of motor unit activity was tonically increased in antagonistic muscles. This abnormal coactivation of antagonistic muscles produced subtle dystonic posturing of the affected limb that was overshadowed by severe tremor. Electromyography was useful in confirming the coexistence of tremor and dystonia in our patients. The nonspecificity of dystonia and postural tremor must be considered when discussing the nosology and pathophysiology of primary writing tremor.
Using Neural Pattern Classifiers to Quantify the Modularity of Conflict–Control Mechanisms in the Human Brain

Resolving conflicting sensory and motor representations is a core function of cognitive control, but it remains uncertain to what degree control over different sources of conflict is implemented by shared (domain general) or distinct (domain specific) neural resources. Behavioral data suggest conflict–control to be domain specific, but results from neuroimaging studies have been ambivalent. Here, we employed multivoxel pattern analyses that can decode a brain region’s informational content, allowing us to distinguish incidental activation overlap from actual shared information processing. We trained independent sets of “searchlight” classifiers on functional magnetic resonance imaging data to decode control processes associated with stimulus-conflict (Stroop task) and ideomotor-conflict (Simon task). Quantifying the proportion of domainspecific searchlights (capable of decoding only one type of conflict) and domain-general searchlights (capable of decoding both conflict types) in each subject, we found both domain-specific and domaingeneral searchlights, though the former were more common. When mapping anatomical loci of these searchlights across subjects, neural substrates of stimulus- and ideomotor-specific conflict– control were found to be anatomically consistent across subjects, whereas the substrates of domain-general conflict–control were not. Overall, these findings suggest a hybrid neural architecture of conflict–control that entails both modular (domain specific) and global (domain general) components.
Training potential witnesses to produce higher quality face composites

This study attempted to determine if training and familiarization with a face composite system would improve the quality of the produced composites. Subjects were trained in the use of the Mac-a-Mug Pro system over two sessions during which they constructed eleven composites (six from memory and five with the face in view). The results indicate that the composites produced while the target face was in view were significantly better than the composites produced from memory, and that both improved with practice. Initial training with the composite system prior to exposure to the first face or after the first face did not affect composite quality. These results have implications for the training of personnel at high risk of witnessing a crime.
Patient compliance with managed care emergency department referral: an orthopaedic view.

Objective. Patient compliance with emergency department (ED)-generated referral is an important part of the delivery of quality health care. Although many studies from non-managed care health centers have reported on ED patient compliance, no studies have reported on this in a managed care setting. The objective of this study is to examine patient compliance with ED-generated referral and to produce a benchmark of follow-up rates possible in a capitated managed care system. That is to say, in a health care system whose members pay a uniform per capita payment or fee, one that has salaried physicians, owns its own hospitals, and has a mechanism of transition from ED to outpatient clinic that ensures referral accessibility. Design. Retrospective review of consecutive ED patient compliance with ED-generated referral. Patients/methods. All consecutive patients who presented to a managed care hospital’s ED with an acute fracture and who were given an outpatient referral during the period from 23rd December 1998 to 23rd January, 1999. Of 8000 consecutive ED patients, 234 were included in the study. Compliance with ED-generated referral was determined from outpatient clinic records. Results. Of the 234 patients treated in the ED and referred, 222 (94.9%) complied with follow-up appointments. Conclusions. We have demonstrated that an ED patient follow-up compliance rate of 94.9% can be obtained. It is probable that the high compliance rate is due to the features of the system studied. The high rate may also be related to the specific diagnosis studied, although previous literature reports poor ED patient compliance for the same diagnosis in a different ED setting. Additional research is needed to determine whether the high compliance rate reported in this study can be obtained in ED settings that are not part of a similar managed care system and to determine the role of referral accessibility (or inaccessibility) in current ED settings.
Adult Motor Neuron Apoptosis Is Mediated by Nitric Oxide and Fas Death Receptor Linked by DNA Damage and p53 Activation

The mechanisms of injury- and disease-related degeneration of motor neurons (MNs) need clarification. Unilateral avulsion of the sciatic nerve in the mouse induces apoptosis of spinal MNs that is p53 and Bax dependent. We tested the hypothesis that MN apoptosis is Fas death receptor dependent and triggered by nitric oxide (NO)- and superoxide-mediated damage to DNA. MNs in mice lacking functional Fas receptor and Fas ligand were protected from apoptosis. Fas protein levels and cleaved caspase-8 increased in MNs after injury. Fas upregulation was p53 dependent. MNs in mice deficient in neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) resisted apoptosis. After injury, MNs increased nNOS protein but decreased iNOS protein; however, iNOS contributed more than nNOS to basal and injury-induced levels of NADPH diaphorase activity in MNs. NO and peroxynitrite (ONOO-) fluorescence increased in injured MNs, as did nitrotyrosine staining of MNs. DNA damage, assessed as 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and single-stranded DNA, accumulated within injured MNs and was attenuated by nNOS and iNOS deficiency. nNOS deficiency increased DNA repair protein oxoguanine DNA-glycosylase, whereas iNOS deficiency blocked diaphorase activity. MN apoptosis was blocked by the antioxidant Trolox and by overexpression of wild-type human superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1). In contrast, injured MNs in mice harboring mutant human SOD1 had upregulated Fas and iNOS, escalated DNA damage, and accelerated and increased MN degeneration and underwent necrosis instead of apoptosis. Thus, adult spinal MN apoptosis is mediated by upstream NO and ONOO- genotoxicity and downstream p53 and Fas activation and is shifted to necrosis by mutant SOD1.
Stabilization of Glutathione in Urine and Plasma: Relevance to Urinary Metal Excretion Studies

The present studies demonstrate the instability of glutathione (GS) in urine and plasma and illustrate the importance of developing procedures to stabilize GS in biological fluids. The rapid loss of urinary GSH was not prevented by inhibition of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidas (gamma-GTP) with L-(alpha S, 5S)-alpha-amino-3-chloro-4,5-dihydro-5-isoxazoleacetic acid (AT-125), by EDTA, or by sodium citrate. GS in urine could be stabilized for extended periods of time by acidification of samples immediately after collection. In order to accurately measure urine and plasma GS concentrations, samples were analyzed by a known additions technique. The relevance of these analytical procedures to metal excretion studies is discussed.
FlhF and Its GTPase Activity Are Required for Distinct Processes in Flagellar Gene Regulation and Biosynthesis in Campylobacter jejuni

FlhF proteins are putative GTPases that are often necessary for one or more steps in flagellar organelle development in polarly flagellated bacteria. In Campylobacter jejuni, FlhF is required for sigma(54)-dependent flagellar gene expression and flagellar biosynthesis, but how FlhF influences these processes is unknown. Furthermore, the GTPase activity of any FlhF protein and the requirement of this speculated activity for steps in flagellar biosynthesis remain uncharacterized. We show here that C. jejuni FlhF hydrolyzes GTP, indicating that these proteins are GTPases. C. jejuni mutants producing FlhF proteins with reduced GTPase activity were not severely defective for sigma(54)-dependent flagellar gene expression, unlike a mutant lacking FlhF. Instead, these mutants had a propensity to lack flagella or produce flagella in improper numbers or at nonpolar locations, indicating that GTP hydrolysis by FlhF is required for proper flagellar biosynthesis. Additional studies focused on elucidating a possible role for FlhF in sigma(54)-dependent flagellar gene expression were conducted. These studies revealed that FlhF does not influence production of or signaling between the flagellar export apparatus and the FlgSR two-component regulatory system to activate sigma(54). Instead, our data suggest that FlhF functions in an independent pathway that converges with or works downstream of the flagellar export apparatus-FlgSR pathway to influence sigma(54)-dependent gene expression. This study provides corroborative biochemical and genetic analyses suggesting that different activities of the C. jejuni FlhF GTPase are required for distinct steps in flagellar gene expression and biosynthesis. Our findings are likely applicable to many polarly flagellated bacteria that utilize FlhF in flagellar biosynthesis processes.
Numerical simulation of failure in particle composites

Abstract Progressive failure analysis of particle composites such as concrete requires a realistic description of the topology of the composite structure and the modelling of the interaction of the constituents at their interface. The interface model has to account for fundamental mechanisms such as adhesion, debonding and mobilized friction as well as realistic dilatancy characteristics. In conjunction with a decohesive softening material model for the cementitious matrix, macroscopical response characteristics of the composite material can be simulated. This paper describes issues at both the constitutive and macro-system levels.
STEATORRHEA AND HYPEROXALURIA OCCUR AFTER GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY IN OBESE RATS REGARDLESS OF DIETARY FAT OR OXALATE

Purpose: We determined the effect of dietary fat and oxalate on fecal fat excretion and urine parameters in a rat model of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.Materials and Methods: Diet induced obese Sprague-Dawley® rats underwent sham surgery as controls (16), or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (19). After recovery, rats had free access to a normal calcium, high fat (40%) diet with or without 1.5% potassium oxalate for 5 weeks and then a normal (10%) fat diet for 2 weeks. Stool and urine were collected after each period. Fecal fat was determined by gas chromatography and urine metabolites were evaluated by assay spectrophotometry.Results: Daily fecal fat excretion remained low in controls on either diet. However, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass rats ingested a food quantity similar to that of controls but had eightfold higher fecal fat excretion (p <0.001) and heavier stools (p = 0.02). Compared to controls, gastric bypass rats on the high fat diet with potassium oxalate had a fivefold increase in urine oxalate ...
Robust estimation of signal parameters with dependent data

This paper is concerned with robust estimation of signals of known form in additive non-Gaussian noise which has an autoregressive form of dependency structure. The signals are assumed to be of the linear regression model variety, and there are two main points to the paper. The first is that use of Huber's [10] ordinary regression M-estimates is not appropriate. The second point is that there do exist proper M-estimates for this problem, and they can be computed by robustifying a two-stage procedure introduced by Durbin [4].
Soil suction dispersion and statistical analysis with depth at the Medford Airport

The use of soil suction measurements has steadily increased in geotechnical practice. A current standard test procedure that describes the use of laboratory filter papers as passive sensors to measure the soil matric and total suction is ASTM D5298-94. The principal objective of the research presented here was to evaluate dispersion of suction measurements with depth using the filter paper method described in the ASTM standard. In a single test boring to a depth of 5.33 m, 35 samples were taken at intervals of 152.4 mm. Each sample was separated into four replicate samples. The matric and total suction of each of the 35 sample intervals were then measured, resulting in a total of 278 suction measurements. To manage this volume of tests, the sample size was split approximately in half, and each portion was separately tested. This approach led to severall insights into the test procedure, such as the effect of delay in transferring the filter paper from the specimen container into the metal container. Sampl...
Synthesis of diblock copolymers containing both polydiene and polyalcohol blocks

A wide range of functional diblock copolymers containing both functional polymer and hydrocarbon polymer, have been prepared by the combination of anionic polymerization and borane chemistry. The distinctive hydroboration reactivity between various polydienes enables us to selectively functionalize one polydiene segment in diblock copolymers which contain two different polydiene segments. In turn, the hydroborated polymers are valuable intermediate compounds which can be converted to a whole family of functional polymers with a variety of other functionalities under mild reaction conditions. The hydroxylated diblock copolymer is used as an example to demonstrate the chemistry. The two-phase nature of these copolymers is also shown by the observation of two distinctive glass transition temperatures associated with the individual polymer segments.