cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acceptance of a propofol and remifentanil infusion dosing algorithm to optimize postoperative emergence and analgesia

We implemented a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) based optimization algorithm recommending intraoperative Remifentanil and Propofol infusion rates to minimize time to emergence and maximize the duration of analgesia in a clinical setting. This feasibility study tested the clinical acceptance of the optimization algorithm’s recommendations during scoliosis surgical repair for 14 patients. Anesthesiologist accepted 359/394 (91%) of the recommendations given on the basis of the optimization algorithm. While following the optimization’s recommendations the anesthesiologist decreased Propofol infusions from an average of 164–135 mcg/kg/min [p = 0.002] and increased Remifentanil infusions from an average of 0.22–0.30 mcg/kg/min [p = 0.004]. The anesthesiologists appeared to accept and follow the recommendations from a PK/PD based optimization algorithm.
The Role of Adenoids in Pediatric Sinusitis

The risk factors for pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis (PCRS) and their relative importance are incompletely understood. Consensus among experts is that inflammation of adenoid tissue is an important contributing factor to PCRS, especially in younger children. Potential explanations for this association include exposure of adenoid tissue to both airborne and ingested antigens due to its position in the nasopharynx, the harboring of viruses or bacteria-laden biofilms that can inoculate the nasal and sinus mucosa, or mechanical obstruction of drainage of secretions from the nasopharynx and nasal cavities.
Short flow-time coefficients of CP-violating operators

Measurements of a permanent neutron electric dipole moment (EDM) potentially probe beyond-the-Standard Model (BSM) sources of $CP$-violation. At low energy the $CP$-violating BSM interactions are parametrized by flavor-conserving $CP$-violating operators of dimension higher than four. QCD calculations of the nucleon matrix elements of these operators are required to fully reconstruct the sources and magnitudes of the different $CP$-violating contributions to the nucleon EDM. Herein we study the quark-chromoelectric dipole moment (qCEDM) operator and the three-gluon Weinberg operator. The nonperturbative determination, using lattice QCD, of the nucleon matrix elements of these $CP$-violating operators is hampered by their short-distance behavior. Under renormalization these operators mix with lower-dimensional operators, which induces power divergences in the lattice spacing, as the continuum limit is approached. We study the short-distance behavior of the qCEDM and the Weinberg operators using the gradient flow. We perform a short flow time expansion and determine, in perturbation theory, the expansion coefficients of the linearly divergent terms stemming from the mixing with the pseudoscalar density and the topological charge, confirming the expectations of the operator product expansion. We introduce a new method to perform calculations at nonzero flow-time for arbitrary values of the external momenta. This method allows us to work in four dimensions for most of the calculations described in this paper, avoiding the complications associated with defining ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{5}$ in generic $d$ dimensions. We show that leading contributions in the external momenta can be reproduced by defining ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{5}$ using the t Hooft-Veltman-Breitenlohner-Maison scheme.
Mechanistic Interrogation of Alkyne Hydroarylations Catalyzed by Highly Reduced, Single-Component Cobalt Complexes

Highly reactive catalysts for ortho-hydroarylations of alkynes have previously been reported to result from activation of CoBr2 by Grignard reagents, but the operative mechanism and identity of the...
Sensemaking, Organizing, and Surpassing: A Handoff

In this essay, I reflect on the intellectual influences that led to the genesis of the Social Psychology of Organizing and assess the way forward. I stress that the Social Psychology aspired to provide an outline of an organizational epistemology. I particularly focus on the interplay between experience and understanding, highlighting the following features: self‐validating prophecy, partiality toward similarity, ambivalence between belief and doubt, and understanding as ongoing accomplishment. I conclude with a discussion of the three papers published in this Special issue.
Interpretable machine learning prediction of fire emissions and comparison with FireMIP process-based models

Abstract. Annual burned areas in the United States have increased twofold during the past decades. With more large fires resulting in more emissions of fine particulate matter, an accurate prediction of fire emissions is critical for quantifying the impacts of fires on air quality, human health, and climate. This study aims to construct a machine learning (ML) model with game-theory interpretation to predict monthly fire emissions over the contiguous US and to understand the controlling factors of fire emissions. By comparing the predicted fire PM2.5 emissions from the interpretable ML model with the Global Fire Emissions Database (GFED) observations and predictions from process-based models in the Fire Modeling Intercomparison Project (FireMIP), the ML model is also used to diagnose the process-based models to inform future development. Results show promising performance for the ML model, Community Land Model (CLM), and Joint UK Land Environment Simulator-Interactive Fire And Emission Algorithm For Natural Environments (JULES-INFERNO) in reproducing the spatial distributions, seasonality, and interannual variability of fire emissions over CONUS. Regional analysis shows that only the ML model and CLM simulate the realistic interannual variability of fire emissions for most of the subregions (r > 0.95 for ML and r = 0.14 ~ 0.70 for CLM), except for Mediterranean California, where all the models perform poorly (r = 0.74 for ML and r
William H. Durham and Early Pentecostalism

Scholars recognize William H. Durham as responsible for introducing a non-Wesleyan theology of sanctification into the early pentecostal movement. Because the controversy over Durham’s “finished work of Calvary” theology precipitated a rift in early Pentecostalism that had lasting institutional ramifications, Durham occupies a crucial place in pentecostal historiography. Yet, scholarly treatment of Durham has been hindered by misjudgments in three areas of inquiry. First, a series of unsupported historical details has led to a dubious timeline for the unveiling of the finished-work teaching. Second, the chronological errors have obscured the role of A.S. Copley in the early stages of pentecostal anti-Wesleyan theology. Third, a Durham-centered interpretation of the origins of Oneness Pentecostalism has distorted Durham’s basic soteriological insights.
Sweet-tasting and sweetness-modifying constituents of plants

Abstract The demand for new alternative sweeteners has increased due to certain health problems associated with the use of sucrose. Although the currently developed and commercially used sucrose substitutes are mostly synthetic compounds, the search for such compounds from natural sources is continuing and about 85 plant-derived sweetcompounds of 19 major structural types are known, which have been obtained from 25 different families of green plants. Some of these highly sweetnatural products are marketed as sweeteners or flavoring agents in several countries either as pure compounds or refined extracts. Several naturally occurring sweeteners have been chemically and enzymatically modified in order to increase their sweetness potency and/or improve their sweetness quality. In addition to natural sweet-tasting compounds, a number of naturally occurring sweetness-modifying compounds which induce or inhibit the sweet taste have also been isolated from plant sources. Several proteins and triterpenoids have sweetness-inducing properties. Over 60 triterpenoid glycosides have been reported from five plant species of the families Asclepidaceae and Rhamnaceae as sweetness-inhibitory (antisweet) principles.
Business Object Modeling, Validation, and Mediation for Integrating Heterogeneous Application Systems

When different business organizations come together to conduct a joint business in a virtual enterprise environment, their application systems need to have a convenient way to specify the services needed from other systems and to transfer data needed by these services. The transferred data needs to be validated and, in some cases, mediated to meet the constraints and data representation requirements of both the source and target application systems. Ideally, the validation and mediation tasks should be done outside of the legacy application systems so that these systems do not have to be modified. In this work, the Business Object Documents (BODs) introduced by the Open Applications Group (OAG) are used for specifying business operations and transferring data among application systems. We use an active object model to model BODs. The model captures not only the data attributes and methods associated with these business objects, but also events and rules for specifying and triggering the enforcement of attribute constraints and inter-attribute constraints and the activation of data mediation operations. The conceptual models of these BODs with their added semantics are used to generate entity classes, converters and skeletal programs needed for enforcing constraints and for converting data. These generated object classes and software components in Java constitute the platform-independent adapters through which heterogeneous application systems inter-operate over CORBA and RMI communication infrastructures. A distributed approach to data validation and mediation is used. It allows the generated code for validation and mediation to be distributed and processed at different sites, thus avoiding the potential network bottleneck of a centralized approach to the validation and mediation of business object documents.
Effect of Nitrofurans and Chlortetracycline on Microorganisms Associated with Shrimp

Nitrofuran AF-2 displayed greater inhibitory effect than did nitrofuran Z when a mixed bacterial culture, including several proteolytic bacteria, isolated from shrimp was subjected to these compounds in vitro. Nitrofuran Z exhibited greater bactericidal properties than did chlortetracycline in all cultures used. Only 10 μg of nitrofuran AF-2 per ml was sufficient to inhibit the growth of mixed bacteria in nutrient broth, whereas 50 μg of nitrofuran Z per ml was necessary to accomplish the same inhibition. A 50-μg amount of chlortetracycline per ml displayed about the same inhibitory effect as either 10 μg of AF-2 per ml or 20 μg of Z per ml. The isolated proteolytic bacteria showed greater suppression of growth when subjected to AF-2 than when subjected to Z; however, both nitrofurans were effective in preventing growth. The addition of either 1 μg of AF-2 per ml or 5 μg of Z per ml to nutrient broth inhibited the growth of Achromobacter aquarmarinus, whereas chlortetracycline was less effective, requiring about 20 μg to suppress growth to the same degree.
A Computational Study on Turbulent Flow and Heat Transfer in a Strongly Curved RC/D = 0.65 Turbine Blade Cooling Passage

It has been a common practice that serpentine cooling passages are used in gas turbine blade to enhance the cooling performance. Insufficient cooled blades are subject to oxidation, to cause creep rupture, and even to cause melting of the material. To control and improve temperature of the blade, we have to have a better understanding of flow behavior and heat transfer inside strongly curved U-bends. The interactions between secondary flows and separation lead to very complex flow patterns. To accurately simulate these flows and heat transfer, both refined turbulence models and higher-order numerical schemes are indispensable for turbine designers to improve the cooling performance. Previous studies have shown that the flow and heat transfer features through curved bends, even with moderate curvature, cannot be accurately simulated. It is the conventional belief and practice that the usage of a proper turbulence model and a reliable numerical method for achieving accurate computations. The three-dimensional turbulent flows and heat transfer inside a sharp U-bend are numerically studied by using a non-linear low-Reynolds number (low-Re) k-ω model in which the cubic terms are included to represent the effects of extra strain-rates such as streamline curvature and three-dimensionality on both turbulence normal and shear stresses. The finite volume difference method incorporated with the higher-order bounded interpolation scheme has been employed in the present study. For the purpose of comparison, the predictions with the linear low-Reynolds number k-ω model were also performed. The success of the present prediction indicates that the model can be applied to the flow and heat transfer through a coolant passage in an actual gas turbine blade. It is shown that the present non-linear model produces satisfactory predictions of the flow development inside the sharp U-bend comparing with linear Launder-Sharma model. In the present study, three turbulence models are used to predict Nysselt number distribution as well.© 2007 ASME
A "vertical" analysis of monetary policy in emerging markets

During emerging market crises, domestic agents might have sufficient collateral to borrow from the other domestic agents, but they are unable to borrow from foreigners because the country, as a whole, lacks international collateral. In this setting, we show that an (ex-post) optimizing central bank's response to an external crisis is to tighten monetary policy to support the exchange rate. Although this response can be rationalized ex-post, it has negative ex-ante consequences when domestic financial markets are underdeveloped: It reduces the already insufficient private sector incentives to insure against external crises. If a central bank could commit, it should instead expand monetary policy. Indeed, lacking the willingness, credibility, or feasibility to implement an expansionary monetary policy during crises has important drawbacks. It means that the central bank must resort to other, potentially more costly instruments to address the underinsurance problem, such as capital controls and international liquidity requirements.
Inequalities in the Overlooked Associations in Urban Educational Collaborations.

This study examines the relationships between families and staff from community agencies and organizations in a poverty level urban neighborhood in the Northeast. A central concern of this study is to address how the existing relationships between these groups may affect urban educational restructuring efforts that encourage collaborations of families, schools, and community institutions to support the social and academic development of children. If community agencies and organizations are to engage in successful collaborations with inner city schools, it is critical that they be able to work with the children and families affiliated with these institutions. Findings from this study suggest that though these educational collaborations may yield support for children and their families, there are reasons to proceed cautiously which stem from the existing relationships between families and staff from community agencies and organizations. The relationships between these groups often rest on inherent inequalities. These inequalities stem from inequitable structural conditions which place a large population of urban residents at an economic disadvantage and compel them to seek services. Structural conditions, accompanied by public policies embedded in assumptions regarding which family members are deserving of support, subsequently has influenced who receives services. Mothers and their children typically are recipients of services. The inequalities that are inherent to these relationships, likewise, carry through to the roles that families and staff assume with each other in their daily associations.
Bacterial Membrane Transport: Superfamilies of Transport Proteins

Bacteria have solute transport systems enabling them to accumulate needed nutrients, extrude unwanted byproducts and modify their cytoplasmic content of salts so as to maintain a composition conducive to growth and development. Most bacterial transport systems resemble their counterparts in eukaryotic cells, and similar principles operate in both cell types. Two widely spread superfamilies of solute transporters, the ion-coupled systems that take part in chemiosmotic circuits, and the ABC solute ATPases, whose operation is linked to ATP hydrolysis, are universally distributed among living cells and account for a large fraction of their membrane transport activities. Keywords: major facilitator superfamily; ABC solute ATPase superfamily; periplasmic binding protein; TolC; TonB
Digging into the Exchange-Correlation Energy: The Exchange-Correlation Hole

In this chapter, I summarize much of what is known about the exchange-correlation hole in density functional theory. The aim of this summary is to introduce the non-expert to key concepts in electronic density functional theory. For a much broader introduction, see the book by Parr and Yang [1]. For more detail, see the book by Dreizler and Gross [2], and other chapters in the current volume. Most of the references in this chapter are either classic papers in which a fundamental result has been established (and so are well worth reading), or are references to illustrative figures in my own work. I conclude with some simple exercises. Solutions are provided to the odd-numbered problems, while true experts will make short work of the even-numbered ones.
Juan Ignacio de Armas y la dialectología hispanoamericana

La filologie hispanique fut un des interets qui, pendant une bonne partie de la seconde moitie du 19 e siecle, occuperent une place parmi les multiples activites de l'ecrivain, periodiste et patriote cubain Juan Ignacio de Armas y Cespedes. L'A. analyse les opinions de cet auteur a propos de l'espagnol d'Amerique du sud
In Search of Molecular Rectifiers. The Donor−σ−Acceptor System Derived from Triptycenequinone and Tetrathiafulvalene

Several donor−σ−acceptor compounds (8, 9, 13, and 14) have been synthesized that contain a sterically hindered quinone tethered by a tetramethylene chain to a substituted tetrathiafulvalene. Compounds 13 and 14 show a dramatic increase (≈450 mV) in the oxidation potential of the dipyrrolo-TTF unit, suggestive of considerable electron withdrawal through the σ-bridge. Monolayers of 9 and 14 are metastable at the air−water interface.
Probing the effector and suppressive functions of human T cell subsets using antigen-specific engineered T cell receptors.

Activation of T cells through the engagement of the T cell receptors (TCRs) with specific peptide-MHC complexes on antigen presenting cells (APCs) is the major determinant for their proliferation, differentiation and display of effector functions. To assess the role of quantity and quality of peptide-MHC presentation in eliciting T cell activation and suppression functions, we genetically engineered human T cells with two TCRs that recognize HLA-A*0201-restricted peptides derived from either HIV or melanoma antigens. The engineered-TCRs are highly functional in both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells as assessed by the upregulation of activation markers, induction of cytokine secretion and cytotoxicity. We further demonstrated that engineered-TCRs can also be expressed on naive human T cells, which are stimulated through APCs presenting specific peptides to induce T cell proliferation and acquire effector functions. Furthermore, regulatory T cells (Tregs) ectopically expressing the engineered-TCRs are activated in an antigen-specific fashion and suppress T cell proliferation. In this system, the inhibitory activity of peptide-stimulated Tregs require the presence of dendritic cells (DCs) in the culture, either as presenters or as bystander cells, pointing to a critical role for DCs in suppression by Tregs. In conclusion, the engineered-TCR system reported here advances our ability to understand the differentiation pathways of naive T cells into antigen-specific effector cells and the role of antigen-specific signaling in Treg-mediated immune suppression.
Suppression of ErbB-2 in androgen-independent human prostate cancer cells enhances cytotoxic effect by gemcitabine in an androgen-reduced environment

We examined the efficacy of combination treatments utilizing cytotoxic drugs plus inhibitors to members of the ErbB-ERK signal pathway in human prostate cancer (PCa) LNCaP C-81 cells. Under an androgen-reduced condition, 50nM gemcitabine caused about 40% growth suppression on C-81 cells. Simultaneous treatment of gemcitabine plus 10microM AG825 produced 60% suppression (p<0.03); while, 85% growth inhibition (p<0.02) was seen if AG825 was added to gemcitabine-treated cells after a 24h-interval. Our data thus showed that in androgen-reduced conditions, inhibition of ErbB-2 increases the cytotoxic efficacy of gemcitabine in PCa cells. This finding has significant implications in the choice of drugs for combination therapy as well as the order of administration for treating cancer patients.
Binding of Vitamin D and Cholesterol to β-Lactoglobulin

beta-Lactoglobulin was isolated directly from acidic whey by bioselective adsorption on N-retinyl-Celite, yielding preparations of > or = 96% purity. Interactions of these preparations with vitamin D2, vitamin D3, ergosterol, cholesterol, and 7-dehydrocholesterol were examined by following changes in the fluorescence spectra. Both the excitation and emission spectra indicated that energy was transferred between the tryptophanyl residues of the protein and the chromophore of the ligand. Analyses of the fluorescence changes that occurred upon titration of beta-LG with the various ligands allowed determination of the dissociation constant for the complex and the number of moles bound per mole of protein. The affinity for vitamin D2 (dissociation constant of 4.91 nM) was 10-fold higher than that of the other compounds, except for ergosterol, which was 5-fold larger than the others. Also, the affinity was 10-fold higher than that typically reported for the retinoids. Furthermore, the value obtained for the number of moles bound per mole of protein was 2 mol.mol-1 for each of the ligands examined in this study; it has been well established that all of the retinoids are bound with a stoichiometry of 1.0. These results suggest that beta-LG may be a better carrier of vitamin D than of vitamin A.
Quantitative description of structural effects on melting points of substituted alkanes

Structural effects on the melting points of substituted alkanes, both branched and unbranched, ranging in length from 1 to 19 carbon atoms, were successfully correlated with a variant of the intermolecular force equation which included a variable capable of accounting for the packing energy contribution of the alkyl group. The final data set had 366 data points. The regression equation obtained accounted for 91·85% of the variance of the data with a standard error of 17·9 K. Twenty-nine data points could not be included in the correlation; nine of these are carboxamides. The contributions of the polar variables are slightly larger than those of the nonpolar variables while the contribution of structural variation in the substituent is greater than that in the alkyl group. It will be necessary to determine appropriate values of the packing parameter if compounds with chains longer than 20 carbon atoms are to be included in the model.
REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT AND MARKET RESPONSE TO PUBLIC UTILITY RATE DECISIONS

This paper examines the stock market's response to the public utility rate-case decisions, or settlements, in the context of the regulatory environment. Davidson (1984) finds that the market responds only to “surprise” settlements that are extreme. No adjustment is made, however, for the regulatory environment of the utility requesting a rate increase. The hypothesis of this paper is that a “surprise” is a function of the regulatory environment in which the decision is made. The results of the residual study support the hypotheses that after adjusting for regulatory environment, there is no significant market response to average settlements and above and below average settlements influence the market positively and negatively, respectively.
Day-to-day intraindividual reliability and interindividual differences in monoamines excretion.

The urine of 44 normal men was collected during 2 nights to evaluate components of biological variation i.e., intraindividual day-to-day variability and interindividual variability in monoamines excretion. Monoamines presented important interindividual variability [interindividual coefficients of variation (%): dopamine 18.3, norepinephrine 66.7, epinephrine 85.3, normetanephrine 22.4, metanephrine 76.8, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) 77.0, vanilmandelic acid (VMA) 64.3, homovanilic acid (HVA) 71.3, 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) 20.4]. The reliability of these amounts was high, with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.43 (P < 0.001) for MHPG free form to 0.65 (P < 10−6) for dopamine and normetanephrine (intraindividual coefficients of variation (%): dopamine 8.5, norepinephrine 39.9, epinephrine 45.9, normetanephrine 10.3, metanephrine 46.3, MHPG 37.5, VMA 30.7, HVA 41.0, 5-HIAA 12.3).
Manganese cycles and the origin of manganese nodules, Oneida Lake, New York, U.S.A.

Abstract Oneida Lake is a large shallow lake in central New York that is characterized by high algal productivity and concentrated deposits of freshwater manganese nodules. Budgets for Mn in the lake and its tributaries show a net loss of 23 metric tons of manganese within the lake per year with ∼95% deposited in manganese nodules and the rest incorporated in the sediments. Erosion of nodules in the shallow well-oxygenated central part of the lake produces fragments of nodules as well as Mn-coated sand grains that are transported to adjacent deeper, more reducing parts of the lake where they sink into the anoxic sediments and MnO2 is reduced to Mn2+. This produces a high concentration of Mn2+ in the pore waters of these sediments and Mn2+ diffuses back into the water column. Growth of manganese nodules in Oneida Lake is characterized by periods of rapid accretion ( > 1 mm 100 yr. ) alternating with periods of no-growth or erosion. Rapid growth of nodules may be aided by the stripping of Mn from the water column by algae and bacteria. In addition, the high algal productivity of Oneida Lake produces a high-pH high-oxygen environment during the summer months that is maintained throughout the water column in the central part of the lake by almost continuous wind mixing. Thus, the cycle of Mn within the lake involves an interaction of the weather, the biota, the sediments, the nodules, and Mn dissolved in the lake and interstitial waters.
Value Dissonance and Ethics Failure in Academia: A Causal Connection?

Ethics failure in academia is not new, yet its prevalence, causes, and methods to prevent it remain a matter of debate. The author’s premise is that value dissonance underlies most of the reasons ethics failure occurs. Vignettes are used to illustrate value dissonance at the individual and institutional levels. Suggestions are offered for ways academic institutions can assume greater responsibility as a moral agency to prevent the occurrence of ethics failure.
Shared Governance Principals: The Inner Experience

Today's principal operates in a climate of school restructuring and reform wherein bureaucratic structures are fast giving way to collaborative endeavors among groups of education professionals. But letting go of old roles and power while being accountable for decisions made by others can be challenging and stressful.
Canal wall reconstruction tympanomastoidectomy with mastoid obliteration.

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the authors' experience with canal wall reconstruction (CWR) tympanomastoidectomy with mastoid obliteration in the treatment of chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma. Study Design: Institutional review board approved retrospective case review. Methods: Retrospective review was performed of all patients undergoing CWR tympanomastoidectomy with mastoid obliteration from 1997 to 2004. Data included pre- and postoperative audiometry, findings at second look surgery with ossiculoplasty, and postoperative complications including wound infection and canal wall displacement. Results: One hundred thirty ears in 127 adults and children underwent the procedure. Mean time postoperative was 48 (range 2-94) months. A second look ossiculoplasty was performed in 102 (78%). Percentage of ears that remain safe without evidence of recurrence was 98.5. The postoperative infection rate decreased from an initial rate of 14.3% to 4.5% for the last 88 ears after protocol modification. Recurrence occurred in two (1.5%) patients, requiring conversion to a canal wall down mastoidectomy. Conclusions: A CWR technique can provide improved intraoperative exposure of the middle ear and mastoid without creating a mastoid bowl and reduces the incidence of recurrent disease. A single procedure is used for all patients with acquired cholesteatoma, including children.
Prediction of Gene Network Models in Limb Muscle Precursors

Abstract The ventrolateral dermomyotome gives rise to all muscles of the limbs through the delamination and migration of cells into the limb buds. These cells proliferate and form myoblasts, withdraw from the cell cycle and become terminally differentiated. The myogenic lineage colonizes pre-patterned regions to form muscle anlagen as muscle fibers are assembled. The regulatory mechanisms that control the later steps of this myogenic program are not well understood. The homeodomain transcription factor Pitx2 is expressed in the muscle lineage from the migration of precursors to adult muscle. Ablation of Pitx2 results in distortion, rather than loss, of limb muscle anlagen, suggesting that its function becomes critical during the colonization of, and/or fiber assembly in, the anlagen. Gene expression arrays were used to identify changes in gene expression in flow-sorted migratory muscle precursors, labeled by Lbx1EGFP, which resulted from the loss of Pitx2. Target genes of Pitx2 were clustered using the “David Bioinformatics Functional Annotation Tool” to bin genes according to enrichment of gene ontology keywords. This provided a way to both narrow the target genes and identify potential gene families regulated by Pitx2. Representative target genes in the most enriched bins were analyzed for the presence and evolutionary conservation of Pitx2 consensus binding sequence, TAATCY, on the − 20 kb, intronic, and coding regions of the genes. Fifteen Pitx2 target genes were selected based on the above analysis and were identified as having functions involving cytoskeleton organization, tissue specification, and transcription factors. Data from these studies suggest that Pitx2 acts to regulate cell motility and expression of muscle specific genes in the muscle precursors during forelimb muscle development. This work provides a framework to develop the gene network leading to skeletal muscle development, growth and regeneration.
The New HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) Medical Privacy Rule: Help or Hindrance for Clinical Research?

This article was prepared and accepted in 2002. The Federal Policy for Protection of Human Research Subjects, adopted by 17 federal agencies as a common regulatory framework (the “Common Rule”) for most federally sponsored human subjects research, acknowledges the centrality of privacy and confidentiality to the ethical conduct of research by mandating, both implicitly and explicitly, that institutional review boards (IRBs) address these concerns.1 Regulations adopted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) require IRBs to assess protections for privacy and confidentiality in a similar manner.2 Implicit in the requirement (of both the Common Rule and FDA regulations) that IRBs weigh the risks and benefits of proposed research is the expectation that risks to privacy and confidentiality will be among those the IRB considers. Moreover, both the Common Rule and FDA regulations require IRBs to make an explicit finding that a researcher has proposed adequate protections to minimize the possibility of a breach of privacy or confidentiality and the attendant risk that subjects could suffer embarrassment, stigmatization, or discrimination.3 Despite these regulatory mandates, critics state that the existing system of IRB oversight does not ensure that subjects’ privacy rights are respected fully and their confidentiality protected adequately. It is argued that heavily burdened IRBs, particularly those in academic settings, may devote insufficient attention to, and may lack the expertise to evaluate, risks to privacy and confidentiality in an electronic age in which barriers to data transmission are low and in which data stripped of names and other facial identifiers may yet be re-identified for questionable purposes through the use of computer algorithms and diverse databases publicly available from private and governmental sources.4 Claims that some commercially sponsored research may be little more than thinly disguised marketing have further heightened anxiety about an erosion of health …
Impact of competition and cost containment on the university hospital

Health care delivery in the United States is proceeding through rapid evolution driven by changes in how health care providers are reimbursed. The current dominant philosophy in government is to alter the health care field from a heavily regulated one to one characterized by competition. By reducing regulatory constraints and encouraging competition, government believes more efficient health care delivery will result. Health care payment systems now include the diagnosis related group method, all-payor rates and contracting for services with major insurance companies on discount, per diem, capitation and per case rates. Reduced use of resources assumes changes in the practice of medicine from an elaborate system of medical care to a more basic one. The implications are many and the possible effects severe. There will be reduced levels of support for medical education, particularly for fellows and for those beyond the third year of residency training. A decreased hospital census and the thrust to perform more services on an outpatient basis question the basic structure of medical education focused on the inpatient. Teaching hospitals will have to develop networking arrangements, a forced cooperativeness that threatens the autonomy of training and research programs. The recent entry of for-profit health care corporations into research may compromise the integrity of the university hospital as a center for clinical care, education and research.
Clinical-pathological findings and cytochemical characterization of myelomonocytic leukaemia in 5 dogs.

Abstract The initial clinical signs of 5 dogs diagnosed to have myelomonocytic leukaemia lacked specificity and one dog was asymptomatic. Clinical findings were variable but splenomegaly or spleno-hepatomegaly was detected. All dogs had either macrocytic or normocytic normochromic, non-responsive anaemia and thrombocytopenia. The total leukocyte count ranged from 10 400 to 422 400 per μl of blood with 4 dogs having increased numbers. Cellular morphology in Wright-stained blood and marrow films revealed the presence of predominantly myeloblasts with or without monoblastoid and monocytoid cells and indicated a diagnosis of myeloblastic leukaemia in 2 cases and of myelomonocytic (blast type) in 3 cases. However, cytochemical characterization of cells in blood and marrow smears for granulocytic (alkaline phosphatase) and monocytic (lipase and non-specific esterase) markers led to all being classified as myelomonocytic (blast type) leukaemia. The number of cells reacting positively for these markers was invariably increased in blood, in marrow, or in both. In this regard, staining for peroxidase, chloroacetate esterase, phospholipid, and glycogen was found to have no or limited differential value. The clinical outcome was poor. Because of the advanced stage of the disease, 2 dogs were not treated and 2 of the 3 dogs given anti-cancer treatment survived for less than 2 weeks. One dog responded objectively to cytoreductive therapy and survived 8 months. Myelomonocytic transformation of an essentially monoblastic leukaemia is thought to have occurred in this case over a period of 3 months while on maintenance therapy with fatal outcome 5 months later.
Curvatures of left invariant metrics on lie groups

This article outlines what is known to the author about the Riemannian geometry of a Lie group which has been provided with a Riemannian metric invariant under left translation.
Preparation of nanostructured nitrogen-containing carbon catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction from SiO2- and MgO-supported metal particles

Abstract Nitrogen-containing carbon was prepared from the vapor deposition of acetonitrile at 900 °C over silica- or magnesia-supported Fe, Co, and Ni particles. The byproducts of pyrolysis were monitored by mass spectrometry. The carbon formed from silica precursors was washed with KOH to remove the silica and HCl to remove metal particles, whereas the carbon formed from magnesia samples was washed with HCl to remove the support and the metal. The solid carbon product was characterized with N2 physisorption to measure surface area and pore volume distribution, X-ray diffraction to determine the crystalline phases present, and temperature-programmed oxidation to determine ash and nitrogen content. Magnesia was more readily removed from the carbon compared with silica. A significant amount of metal, encased in carbon, remained in the samples after washing. The Co particles led to a higher content of bulk nitrogen in the carbon, as high as 2.9% based on oxidation measurements. Electron microscopy imaging confirmed that all of the metal particles catalyzed the formation of various types of carbon nanofibers, with the diameter and structure of the fibers varying with different metal–support precursor combinations. A possible application for these fibers is oxygen reduction reaction catalysts for proton-exchange membrane fuel cell cathodes.
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance of the Lattice Damage in Boron-Implanted Intrinsic Silicon

The nature of the lattice damage in boron-implanted intrinsic silicon has been studied as a function of 140-keV 11B+ ion fluence using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). At most of the boron fluences, the observed EPR spectra consisted primarily of neutral 4-vacancies (Si-P3) and of unresolved E spectra (defects unknown). Concentrations (number/cm2) for the Si-P3 and ? paramagnetic defects have been determined as a function of ion fluence for fluences ranging from 5 × 1012 to 1016 11B+/cm2. At the highest fluences the beginning of an isotropic resonance indicative of amorphous silicon was also observed. However, only a trace of the amorphous resonance was observed, and this resonance was found to be broadened and shifted to a lower magnetic field with a g value of 2.0071 instead of the usual 2.0055. Also observed at the higher fluences was the new anisotropic spectrum (labeled Si-SL3) arising from a defect having D2d symmetry. Finally, isochronal annealing studies indicate that the Si-P3 and ? concentrations decrease toward zero by a 225° C anneal in a manner similar to that previously observed for oxygen-implanted-silicon. No paramagnetic defects were observed in the 600 to 900° C range. It is concluded that any electrical activity annealing in the 600 to 900° C range is primarily a result of a decrease in the number of compensating non-paramagnetic or diamagnetic defect centers.
Bank financing and shareholder wealth

Abstract This article shows that European firms do their shareholders a disservice if they use bank financing, especially if that financing comes with restrictive covenants and floating interest rates. The restrictive covenants discourage expansion and the floating interest rates make the firm's cash flows less stable. The better way to finance the firm is with fixed-rate bonds. With bond financing, the covenants are less restrictive and the firm's interest expense is more stable. The simulation approach which the authors have developed gives estimates of how much each attribute of the financing affects the company's share price. The effects that they found are large — for example, choosing fixed-rate bond financing over floating-rate bank financing adds 17.4 per cent to the stock price. Interest expense is an important component of cost in the author's simulation, and making it fixed instead of floating brings enough stability to the firm's cash flow to deliver a large increase in the stock price. Also, postponing a new factory, as managers might do to avoid violating the restrictive covenants of bank loans, lowers the stock price 19.7 per cent. In the simulation, the firm has adequate capacity at the beginning, but in many scenarios becomes capacity-constrained after one or two years. Stock market investors gain if the company buys the factory sooner, because they place a high value on growth and market share.
Topical acidification promotes healing of experimental deep partial thickness skin burns: a randomized double-blind preliminary study

The effects of three buffered solutions with pH values of 3.5, 7.42 and 8.5, respectively, on the healing rate of deep partial skin thickness burns, was followed for 21 days in 16 guinea-pigs. Two symmetrical burns were inflicted on the back of each animal and then each individual wound was dressed with an irrigation disc dressing; solutions were coded (no. 1 to no. 3) and the animals were randomly divided and blindly treated as follows: Group A, solution no. 1 v. solution no. 2 (n = 4); Group B, solution no. 2 v. solution no. 3(n = 4); Group C, solution no. 1 v. solution no. 3(n = 4); Group D, non-irrigated disc dressings (n = 4). The solutions were applied to the surface of the burn wounds at a rate of 0.15 ml/cm2. Dressings were changed every 7 days to assess contraction and epithelialization by a sonic digitizer. On post-burn day 21 the newly formed scar tissue was measured in all wounds. After computation of the healing rate at the end of the study, the data were then related to the coded treating agent. Contraction did not differ in all test groups during the study. Epithelialization was significantly faster in the pH 3.5-treated burns than in the other treated wounds (P less than 0.001). The present study indicates that topical acidification of experimental deep partial skin thickness burns promoted healing. The precise mechanism should be elucidated.
On the benefits of collaboration: consumer psychology, behavioral economics and relational frame theory

Consumer behavior is a pervasive feature of the human circumstance, and its study has long been pursued by behaviorally oriented psychologists, among whom may be counted John B. Watson. Relatively few behaviorists have addressed these issues, however, with the result that the field of consumer behavior is crippled by dualistic propositions and weak methodologies (Foxall GR. 1992. The consumer situation: an integrative model for research in marketing. Journal of Marketing Management8: 383–404; 1998. Radical behaviorist interpretation: generating and evaluating an account of consumer behavior. The Behavior Analyst21: 321–354). As such, the field is ready for a reformulation of its basic premises and the adoption of more rigorous, experimental procedures. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
East Baltic amber in the fourth and third millennia B.C.

(1985). East Baltic amber in the fourth and third millennia B.C. Journal of Baltic Studies: Vol. 16, Studies in Baltic Amber, pp. 231-256.
Contribution of phenobarbital antibody-binding capacity to increased serum levels of [3H]phenobarbital.

Abstract Mice were actively immunized by administration of a barbiturate conjugated to bovine γ-globulin. The immunization procedure resulted in production of an immunoglobulin G specific for barbiturates and which in vivo resulted in increased serum levels of [3H]phenobarbital following drug administration. The absolute magnitude of the higher drug levels was directly related to antibody-binding capacity. The binding of [3H]phenobarbital to antibody prevented participation of the drug in normal distribution and metabolic and excretory processes, thereby prolonging its half-life.
Where the sign of the metric makes a difference.

The groups Pin(n,m) and Pin(m,n) are not isomorphic, and the obstruction classes to their respective bundles are different. It follows that for nonorientable superstring theories the contributions to a Polyakov path integral from surfaces with positive metric are different from the contributions from those with negative metrics.
Assembly of T7 Capsids from Independently Expressed and Purified Head Protein and Scaffolding Protein

Abstract Prohead-like capsid shells containing the scaffolding and head proteins of bacteriophage T7 were isolated after both proteins were expressed from the cloned genes in the same cell. When the head – tail connector protein was also expressed, the isolated capsids contained neither connector nor scaffolding protein and resembled mature phage capsids rather than proheads. However, only a small fraction of the head protein was converted to stable capsid structures in either case. Purified scaffolding protein (expressed individually from the cloned gene) appeared to be a monomer in solution; purified head protein appeared to be a tetramer. The purified proteins reacted in the presence of polyethylene glycol or dextran to produce prohead-like capsid shells and also polycapsids consisting primarily of head protein, similar to the polycapsids observed after infection by T7 mutants lacking connector or core proteins. Neither capsids nor polycapsids were produced in the absence of scaffolding protein. Polycapsids were usually the predominant product even when scaffolding protein was in excess, and a small fraction of scaffolding protein catalyzed the conversion of an excess of head protein to polycapsids. Our results suggest that the first step in the natural pathway to prohead formation is the assembly of incomplete prohead shells, which are normally closed by insertion of a connector – core complex. In the absence of a functional connector – core complex, incomplete capsid shells apparently react further to form polycapsids or completely closed capsid shells.
Effects of tetrodotoxin and ouabain on electrically stimulated cerebral cortex slices

Abstract Isolated slices of guinea pig cerebral cortex were subjected to alternating electrical pulses and found to gain non-inulin Na + and to lose non-inulin K + . Creatine phosphate levels dropped 80 per cent during electrical stimulation. These changes were largely reversed after cessation of pulses. Tetrodotoxin at 1 × 10 −6 M largely prevented the effects of electrical stimulation by its action at the cell membrane. Ouabain prevented the post-stimulation gain in K + and extrusion of Na + , suggesting interference with active cation transport. In the presence of ouabain, creatine phosphate levels dropped after stimulation had ceased, suggesting secondary inhibition of energy-producing mechanisms.