cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lymphoma of the Prostate and Bladder Presenting as Acute Urinary Obstruction

Lymphoma of the prostate is uncommon, and synchronous bladder involvement is even rarer. We report a case of bladder outlet obstruction due to prostate and bladder involvement by lymphoma, and briefly review the literature. CASE REPORT A 70-year-old white male presented with gross hematuria and acute onset of severe obstructive voiding symptoms. Physical examination was significant for a nontender 6 8 5 cm. prostate with obliteration of the median furrow, distinct lateral sulci and lack of nodularity. A Foley catheter was placed and cystoscopy with clot evacuation was performed. Basic laboratory values were normal except for an increased calcium level of 13.9 mg./dl. (normal 8.4 to 10.2). Prostate specific antigen was 2.0 ng./ml. Urine cytology revealed no atypical cells. Computerized tomography of the chest, abdomen and pelvis showed a 1.5 cm. right axillary lymph node, irregular thickening of the bladder wall and diffuse prostate enlargement. Calcitonin, furosemide and intravenous hydration controlled the hypercalcemia. After the hematuria abated, cystoscopy demonstrated trilobar hyperplasia of the prostate and 2, 1.0 cm. irregular tan areas in the bladder. Bladder and transperineal prostate biopsies were obtained. Pathological evaluation of the left prostate cores revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (figs. 1 and 2). Bladder biopsies exhibited an atypical lymphoid infiltrate consistent with lymphoma (figs. 3 and 4). The axillary lymph node was excised and confirmed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The patient responded well to a combined regimen of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone and was without evidence of disease 10 months after diagnosis, with resolution of the bladder outlet obstruction.
Homodyne near-degenerate four-wave-mixing microscopy for graphene imaging and biomedical applications

Homodyne detection of near-degenerate four-wave-mixing with a single laser pulse is used to imaging graphene in biological samples.
142 ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY CHANCES IN CHILDREN WITH PULMONARY HYPERTENSION DUE TO UPPER AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION

When right ventricular ejection time (RVET) and RV pre-ejection period (RPEP) are measured by echocardiography, a RPEP/RVET ratio greater than 0.35 has been associated with increased pulmonary vascular resistance (Circulation 52:642, 1975). 4 children with alveolar hypoventilation due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids, or posteriorly displaced tongue, were studied. Onset of upper air-way obstruction ranged from birth to 2-1/2 years. The patients had a low PaO2 (39-78 mm Hg), elevated PaCO2 (50-56 mm Hg) during sleep, right atrial and right ventricular hypertrophy by electro-cardiogram (ECG) and vectorcardiogram (VCG), and cardiomegaly by roentgenogram. Pulmonary artery pressures (PAP) during cardiac catheterization ranged from 80/30 to 80/50 mm Hg (m=55) and RPEP/RVET was greater than 0.5 in each case (normal 0.24±0.06). One patient, who was not catheterized, had an RPEP/RVET of 0.37. Oxygen administration or intubation during cardiac catheterization reduced PAP to 40/10 (m=30) and 50/10 (m=30) in two cases, and RPEP/RVET decreased simultaneously to less than 0.3. The other children underwent tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. RPEP/RVET decreased postoperatively from 0.5 to 0.3 and 0.37 to 0.3 respectively, and sleeping blood gases, ECG, VCG and chest roentgenogram reverted to normal. Echocardiography is non invasive, reflects changes in PAP and can be used for sequential evaluation of children with upper airway obstruction. Further experience may yield objective criteria for operative intervention.
Inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide in heart failure and potential modulation by vagus nerve stimulation

In heart failure, an inflammatory response may occur. The relationship between inflammatory cytokines, NOS and heart failure progression remains uncertain. Parasympathetic activation can affect heart rate and AV conduction. In heart failure, a relationship between the vagus nerve and the inflammatory response has been proposed. Vagal nerve stimulation can modulate the inflammatory response and affect specific inflammatory mediators including nitric oxide that may be contributory to continued or progressive heart failure. Therefore, vagal nerve stimulation may have beneficial effects that are independent from heart rate or AV conduction in heart failure. Challenges remain regarding the relationship between specific inflammatory markers and heart failure and how to best modulate the cytokines and NOS in patients to achieve beneficial effects. Future studies need to evaluate whether modulating inflammatory cytokines and NOS via vagal nerve stimulation can improve cardiac performance and outcomes in patients with heart failure.
High-performance liquid chromatographie identification of enkephalin-like peptides in the cochlea☆

Abstract Met-enkephalin was identified in cochleae from guinea pigs by a combined reversed-phase high-performance liquid Chromatographie separation and subsequent radioimmunoassay of the Chromatographie fractions. A second Met-enkephalin-immunoreactive fraction was found in the cochlea, with a retention time shorter than that of Met-enkephalin. These findings confirm and extend earlier cytochemical observations, and suggest the differential immunocytochemial staining seen under inner and outer hair cells in the cochlea may be related to different peptides in the two efferent systems innervating the cochlea. Different molecular forms of enkephalin-related peptides may serve different functional or metabolic roles in complex efferent or local regulation of peripheral sensory processing.
Processing Time Declines Exponentially during Childhood and Adolescence.

One hundred ninety-two 7.5- to 21-year-olds and 384 adults (17- to 43-years-olds) were tested on six speeded tasks: a) a simple response time task in which they released a button upon presentation of a stimulus, b) a tapping task in which they pushed a button as rapidly as possible for 5 s, c) a pegboard task in which they transferred 10 pegs from one row to another, d) a modified form of the coding subtest from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC), e) a matching task in which they judged if pairs of pictures were identical physically or in name, and f) a mental addition task in which they judged the accuracy of problems such as 2+3=6
Clinical, Molecular, and Genetic Correlates of Lymphatic Spread in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract Background While it is well known that clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) that presents with lymphatic spread is associated with an extremely poor prognosis, its molecular and genetic biology is poorly understood. Objective Define the clinicopathologic, molecular, and genetic biological characteristics of these tumors in comparison to nonmetastatic (N0M0) renal cell carcinomas. Design, setting, and participants A retrospective study defined clinicopathologic features, expression of 28 molecular markers, and occurrence of chromosomal aberrations for their correlation with lymphatic spread in three cohorts of 502, 196, and 272 patients, respectively. Measurements Fisher exact test or the χ 2 test were used to compare categorical variables; continuous variables were compared with the Mann-Whitney U test or student t test. Cut-off values were calculated based on receiver operating characteristic curves and the Youden Index. Uni- and multivariate regression analyses were used to investigate the correlation with lymphatic spread. Results and limitations In clinical analyses, a predictive model consisting of smoking history ( p =0.040), T stage ( p p p p p =0.043) and high epithelial vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 ( p =0.033) protein expression were associated with a higher risk of lymphatic spread, and loss of chromosome 3p ( p Conclusions The low rates of CAIX expression and loss of chromosome 3p suggest that lymphatic spread in ccRCC occurs independently of von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor inactivation.
Methods to Quantify the Relation between Disease Progression in Paired Eyes

The authors compared, in the context of diabetic retinopathy, alternative methods of quantifying the extent to which disease progression in one eye increases the risk of subsequent progression in the other eye. Data were gathered on 478 US patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus who participated in the 1983-1988 Sorbinil Retinopathy Trial and were followed up for a median of 41 months. During that time, diabetic retinopathy progressed in 93 right eyes and 77 left eyes. Crude incidence rates of progression for right eyes were 7.7 times higher after the left eye had progressed and, for left eyes, were 4.4 times higher after the right eye had progressed. In eye-specific proportional hazards models that adjusted for increasing rates of progression over time and for baseline risk factors, the comparable relative risks associated with progression in the other eye were 2.6 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5, 4.7) for right eyes and 1.4 (95% CI: 0.72, 2.9) for left eyes. Two alternative proportional hazards models that included data on both eyes and accounted for their correlation produced estimated relative risks of 1.9 (95% CI: 1.2, 2.9) and 2.7 (95% CI: 1.8, 3.5), respectively. The more complex models for joint survival integrate information on both eyes and provide more stable estimates than do separate analyses of right or left eyes.
Overselling the case against normativism

Though we are in broad agreement with much of Elqayam & Evans' (E&E's) position, we criticize two aspects of their argument. First, rejecting normativism is unlikely to yield the benefits that E&E seek. Second, their conception of rational norms is overly restrictive and, as a consequence, their arguments at most challenge a relatively restrictive version of normativism.
Transient Effect of L-5-Hydroxytryptophan on Pituitary Function in Men and Women

To further elucidate the role of serotonin in the secretion of pituitary hormones, a loading dose of 0.8 mg/kg for 1 h, followed by a maintenance dose of 0.1 mg/kg-h of L-5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) for 23 h were administered iv to five normal men and five normal women. Five additional men received repeated loading doses of 5-HTP 4 and 6 h after the initial one, with or without the maintenance dose. The initial studies demonstrated a significant, but transient, increase in plasma PRL, GH, cortisol (P < 0.01) and TSH (P < 0.05) in the five men and a consistent and significant transient increase only in PRL and cortisol in the five women. Plasma LH and FSH values were not affected by 5-HTP administration. The constant administration of 5-HTP revealed a blunting effect on the nocturnal rise of TSH in men. The continuous administration of 5-HTP failed to maintain the rise induced by the loading dose. Individuals receiving additional loading doses of 5-HTP demonstrated a subsequent increase in GH and cortisol,...
Genetically encoded self-assembly of large amyloid fibers

“Functional” amyloids are found throughout nature as robust materials. We have discovered that “template” and “adder” proteins cooperatively self-assemble into micrometer-sized amyloid fibers with a controllable, hierarchical structure. Here, Escherichia coli is genetically engineered to express a template protein, Gd20, that can initiate self-assembly of large amyloid fibrils and fibers. Through atomic force microscopy (AFM) we found that expression of Gd20 produces large amyloid fibrils of 490 nm diameter and 2–15 μm length. Addition of an extracellular adder protein, myoglobin, continues self-assembly to form amyloid tapes with widths of ∼7.5 μm, heights of ∼400 nm, and lengths exceeding 100 μm. Without myoglobin the amyloid fibrils are metastable over time. When myoglobin is present, the amyloid fiber continues self-assembling to a width of ∼18 μm and height of ∼1 μm. Experimental results demonstrate that large amyloid fibers with a tailored stiffness and morphology can be engineered at the DNA level, spanning four orders of magnitude.
Aortic injury is common following pulmonary vein isolation.

Background Esophageal injury has been documented following pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), but damage to other mediastinal structures such as the aorta is seldom reported. Hyperenhancement of the aorta is occasionally seen on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with late gadolinium enhancement (CMR LGE) in patients undergoing PVI. Objective To determine the frequency of aortic wall LGE following PVI. Methods Patients undergoing PVI with pre- and post-CMR LGE at our institution between January 2009 and September 2011 were retrospectively identified. Patients undergoing MiniMaze at our institution between March 2006 and September 2010 with pre- and post-CMR LGE were retrospectively identified and used as a control group. Studies were assessed for hyperenhancement, which is defined as LGE of the aorta or left atrium (LA) at 10 SD above the mean signal intensity of the aortic blood pool. Results Forty-seven patients undergoing PVI and 14 patients undergoing MiniMaze were included in this analysis. A significant increase in the number of patients with aortic wall LGE was found post-PVI compared with pre-PVI (28 of 47 vs 14 of 47; P = .018). Ninety-six percent (26 of 27) of those with aortic wall enhancement post-PVI also had post-PVI LA enhancement. Eighty-six percent (24 of 28) of patients with aortic wall LGE post-PVI had direct contact of the LA and aorta on the pre-PVI CMR. Patients undergoing MiniMaze did not exhibit a significant increase in LA or aortic enhancement following surgery. Conclusions Rates of aortic wall LGE were increased among patients undergoing PVI but not MiniMaze, despite a trend toward larger LA in the latter group. The clinical implications of aortic LGE remain undefined. However, these data suggest that hyperenhancement of the aorta following PVI is common.
Sensitivity, cooperativity and gain in chemotaxis signal transduction.

We thank M. Levit, B. Bassler, A. Newton, U. Alon and T. Silhavy for helpful discussions. This work was supported by Public Health Service research grant GM57773.
The piggyBac transposon holds promise for human gene therapy

Ever since their molecular isolation in eukaryotic organisms, transposons have been precious implements of the geneticist's toolkit. The properties that make transposons so useful are their ability to move from one chromosomal position to another and the relatively minimal requirements for transposition to occur in the test tube and in living cells (1). In particular, transposons can be harnessed to stably integrate sizeable pieces of DNA into a host's chromosome (2, 3). This quality provides a tremendous potential for transgenesis and large-scale insertional mutagenesis. Transposon-mediated DNA delivery, although first limited to a small number of invertebrate species, has become progressively more applicable to vertebrates, including mammalian cells (3–5). This progress has opened the door to the development of a new generation of vectors for human gene therapy and mammalian forward genetics that are potentially more easily controlled, more versatile, and safer than viral vectors (5). However, applications of transposon vectors for clinical trials in gene therapy, and the predictable manipulation of mammalian genomes, have been hindered by their low integration efficiency relative to viral vectors. In this issue of PNAS, Wu et al. (6) move one step further in the quest for a superior gene delivery tool in mammals. They identified piggyBac (PB) as the most active and flexible transposon system yet tested for transformation of mammalian cells.
Squeeze Cast Metal Matrix Composites: Evaluation of Their Strength, Damping Capacity and Corrosion Resistance

Several graphite fiber reinforced (planar random) metal matrix composites employing copper, aluminum, tin and babbitt matrices were fabricated by a newly devel oped high-pressure squeeze casting method. The fiber volume fraction of these composites ranged from 5 to 55%. These composites had relatively weak fiber-to-matrix bonding because of the near-absence of interfacial reaction between fiber and matrix materials. The tensile strength of these composites increased with fiber volume fraction up to about 25% followed by a gradual decrease for higher fiber volume fractions.Experiments were designed to evaluate various mechanical and physical properties of high pressure squeeze cast composites including the damping capacity and corrosion re sistance. Measurements of logarithmic decrement values at reasonant frequencies on can tilevered beam specimens have demonstrated that the damping capacity of the composites is much superior to that of wrought 6061-T6 Al and mechanically alloyed aluminum. Results on corr...
Stretching psychophysiological models of TMD

P sychophysiological models of chronic pain conditions, particularly those believed to have a musculoskeletal component (e.g., low back pain, temporomandibular disorders), have emerged over the past two decades due, in part, to the inadequacy of structural models to explain the etiology, maintenance, exacerbation, and/or remediation of these conditions." Psychological factors increasingly have been recognized by many theorists dealing with the etiology and treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Although other psychological factors have received some attention, to date, psychophysiological models of TMDs appear to be the most popular psychologically based explanations for the development and/or maintenance of TMDs. Rudy6 suggests that one of the primary reasons for the acceptance of psychophysiological aspects of TMDs is that this model was initially proposed by a dentist, Daniel Laskin.s The focus article by Ohrbach and McCall suggests that all is not well with current psychophysiological conceptualizations of TMD, particularly from a research or empirical perspective. They highlight the numerous methodological, conceptual, and interpretational difficulties with previous psychophysiological studies. Their particular emphasis on the current lack of empirical support for the direct association between stressrelated electromyography (EMG) and pain severity levels is important and overdue. Ohrbach and McCall, however, do not abandon the psychophysiological model of TMD. Rather, they propose a revised theory of stress-hyperactivity and pain
Proust, Bakhtin, and the Dialogic Albertine: Voice and Fragmentation in The Captive

This article provides a Bakhtinian reading of Proust's The Captive, the fourth novel of In Search of Lost Time, while at the same time it demonstrates how several of Bakhtin's key terms come to life in Proust's modern, selfconscious novel in a striking way. In particular, the character of Albertine is a fully Bakhtinian figure in the novel: she is at once intertextual (tied to photography and film), chronotopic (scattered through time and space as a living embodiment of narrative), and dialogic (many Albertines in a series). Proust's narrator's fragmentation of consciousness, particularly with regard to Albertine, as well as the novel's multiple voices and discourses, create a strong intertextual link between the two writers and their works. This article is available in Studies in 20th Century Literature: http://newprairiepress.org/sttcl/vol24/iss2/6 Proust, Bakhtin, and the Dialogic Albertine: Voice and Fragmentation in The Captive
Determination of Cadmium with a Portable, Battery-Powered Tungsten Coil Atomic Absorption Spectrometer

A portable atomic absorption spectrometer is described that is powered by a 12 V car battery. The atomization device is a tungsten coil extracted from a common projector lamp bulb. The coil is housed in a glass cell, and the atomization environment is purged with 10% H2 in Ar (available as a standard commercial welding gas) to prevent oxidation. The detection system is a miniature charge-coupled device (CCD) spectrometer mounted on a PC board. The device is controlled by a laptop computer. Background correction measurements are performed by the near-line method. Aqueous standard solutions provide a Cd detection limit of 3 mu g/L (60 pg) for a 20 mu L sample volume. Accuracies for the determination of Cd in urine, soil, and stream water are typically better than 90%, with relative standard deviations in the 10% range.
Comparative sensor analysis for an electronic wearable and non-invasive respiratory signal acquisition system

The capability of three different sensors was analyzed in this study with the aim to build a simple electronic, wearable and non-invasive system to accurately capture human respiratory signals in free-living conditions. Two of the sensors were based in the piezoelectric effect and the third one was resistive in nature. These sensors were compared to the Respiratory Inductive Plethysmograph (RIP) technique used as a gold standard. RIP utilizes elastic belts to capture the expansion and contraction of the lungs based on changes in the belt inductance. The possibility of using less expensive sensors was explored in this study and the compared to the RIP reference respiration signal. Results suggest that data collected using a single piezoelectric belt correlates significantly with the reference signal (ρ>O.81), regardless of the position of the sensor for passive activities like sitting and reading. However, lower correlation was observed for activities (such as like walking and eating) that involve substantial motion of body parts.
Correlation of TP53 Mutations and p53 Expression in Ovarian Tumors

To characterize the involvement of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene in ovarian cancer, mutation analysis of exons 2-11 of TP53 and immunodetection of its protein product, p53, were done in 48 ovarian tumors. Normally, p53 is not immunodetectable. Missense TP53 mutations have been reported to result in p53 accumulation and detection, but mutations generating premature stop codons have not. Mutations were identified in 19 of 41 malignant tumors but not in 5 benign tumors and 2 tumors of low malignant potential. Fifteen of the 19 tumors with mutations also stained positively by immunohistochemistry or Western blot or both. They included 11 missense mutations, 1 in-frame duplication (474ins6), and 3 frameshift mutations generating premature stop codons. The three tumors with frameshifts also had a wild-type TP53 allele and displayed normal size but not truncated p53 by Western blot. This indicates that these tumors express wild-type p53. The significance of TP53 mutations in the development of the three tumors is questionable unless there is a mechanism for inactivating wild-type p53. Nine of the 19 mutations found here, including the 3 frameshifts, were previously not reported in ovarian cancer. Thirteen of the 19 mutations were single nucleotide substitutions with 6 transitions and 7 transversions. The ratio of transversions to transitions (1.2) was different from literature reports (0.5) (P < 0.01). Thus, the spectrum of TP53 mutations in our study differed from other ovarian tumor reports. This difference may be due to population-based differences in the molecular epidemiology of TP53 mutations.
Spectroscopic Determination of Triclosan Concentration in a Series of Antibacterial Soaps: A First-Year Undergraduate Laboratory Experiment.

The antibacterial chemical triclosan is a common component in personal care products but recently the subject of many reports concerning environmental toxicity and health impacts. Although triclosan concentration in a soap can be determined simply via high-performance liquid chromatography, this is a technique not routinely available in the general chemistry laboratory. Here we report an experiment, suitable for the first-year undergraduate laboratory, to determine the percentage of triclosan in a series of antibacterial soaps using UV–vis spectroscopy following conversion of the triclosan to an azo-dye through reaction with nitrite and 4-sulfanilic acid. Additional experiments that build on this and look at either triclosan removal from solution or the impact of triclosan on a biological system are also discussed. Although designed for first-year undergraduate students, this laboratory is also adaptable to science outreach programs.
The uniqueness of protein sequences.o-Uniqueness and infrequent peptides

Concepts of the uniqueness of the amino acid sequences of proteins were defined in a prior report (Saroff, H. A. and F. A. Kutyna. 1981. “The Uniqueness of Protein Sequences: A Monte Carlo Analysis.”Bull. math. Biol. 43, 619–639), which presented a detailed discussion ofi-uniqueness, i.e. the tendency of small peptides to be repeated within an amino acid sequence of a protein. We now report on the quantitative analysis ofo-uniqueness, which evaluates the tendency of small peptides to be repeated amongst different proteins, usually of a single species. A detailed analysis of theo-uniqueness of several proteins is presented to illustrate the method and the range of values encountered. Uniqueness data on sequences of human proteins in a data bank of sequences containing about 32,500 amino acids are made available in the form of a microfiche. Analysis of biologically active subsequences such as the angiotensins and the enkephalins suggest a tendency of the subsequences contributing to the property ofo-uniqueness to cluster in portions of the parent protein sequence which are biologically active. This property may provide a general method for predicting biologically active areas of proteins. Current data may already be adequate to permit useful predictions, and the rapidly accumulating and interrelated new data on nucleic acid and protein sequences will further enhance the power ofo-uniqueness analysis.
Complement activation in muscle fiber necrosis: Demonstration of the membrane attack complex of complement in necrotic fibers

The membranolytic C5b-9 complement membrane attach complex (MAC) is assembled after activation of either the classic or the alternative complement pathway. The quaternary configuration of the MAC macromolecule presents neoantigenic determinants not present on precursor molecules. Consequently, antibodies specific for these neoantigen(s) do not detect nonspecifically bound native complement precursors of MAC. By means of antibodies rendered specific for MAC neoantigen(s), MAC was localized by the immunoperoxidase reaction in cryostat sections of human muscle. In 66 biopsy specimens containing necrotic muscle fibers (Duchenne dystrophy, 13; other dystrophies, 15; inflammatory myopathies, 31; miscellaneous myopathies, 7) all of the necrotic fibers reacted for MAC neoantigen(s). C3 and C9 were also consistently localized in necrotic fibers, but localization of C1q, C4, and IgG was variable and often did not exceed background staining. None of the nonnecrotic fibers reacted for immunoglobulin or complement. Detection of MAC neoantigen(s) in necrotic fibers in a wide variety of muscle disease unambiguously shows that (1) the lytic complement pathway is consistently activated and participates in muscles fiber necrosis in vivo, and (2) complement reaction products are generated than can stimulate cellular infiltration and phagocytosis of the necrotic fiber. The findings also suggest that cell necrosis in general may involve participation of complement.
Factors Mediating the Effects of Others' Responses on the Self*

Either positive or negative feedback was given to seventy-two college students about performance on an ability test. As is usually found, feedback was highly related to students' subsequent self-assessments. Positive and negative feedback were of roughly equal importance when the source of feedback is ignored. However, considering source, negative feedback had greater impact when coming from peers; positive feedback was stronger when coming from a person of higher status.
Sex pheromone communication in the screwworm,Cochliomyia hominivorax: Ontogenetic and strain effects

A laboratory behavioral assay was used to examine ontogenetic and strain effects on sex pheromone production and reception in the screwworm, which employs a female-produced contact pheromone to stimulate male copulatory attempts. Pheromone levels peaked between three and six days after adult emergence in females of two strains that had been colonized fewer than 50 generations. Pheromone was detectable at low levels in newly emerged flies of both sexes but disappeared from males by two days of age, when males first became responsive to females. A similar decline in pheromone with ontogenetic age was previously described for females of a strain colonized over 100 generations. Interstrain tests between the two newer strains, which differed by 35 generations in duration of colonization, demonstrated lower female pheromone activity but higher male responsiveness to pheromone in the older strain, despite the similar shape within these strains of curves relating female age and pheromone activity. The data suggest that conditions of screwworm colonization result in gradual loss of the pheromone peak that develops three to six days after emergence in newly colonized females. Higher male responsiveness associated with longer colonization involved change in both thresholds and dose dependency and may be relevant to control of the screwworm via the sterile insect technique.
Supply chain perspectives to knowledge management: research propositions

The purpose of the paper is to suggest a novel approach that groups the theories of systems, information and bounded rationality into organizational knowledge management. We base our discussion on knowledge process mapping akin to the supply chain perspective. This is done to understand the governing principles of knowledge movement within an organizational system, and how the different functions within that system behave and interact among themselves in managing knowledge. We attempt to understand the impact of organizational structure in knowledge transfer and utilization among the different participating functions in the perspective of systems theory. Based on this framework the paper then makes use of information theory to comprehend the ideas behind an effective process of knowledge movement in any organization, and the probable factors that influence such movements. Lastly the concepts of bounded rationality are brought in, to examine the behaviors and interactions of these functions in creating, exploiting and sharing knowledge towards an effective knowledge management system.
Two Viral Kinases are Required for Sustained Long Distance Axon Transport of a Neuroinvasive Herpesvirus

Axonal transport is essential for the successful establishment of neuroinvasive herpesvirus infections in peripheral ganglia (retrograde transport) and the subsequent spread to exposed body surfaces following reactivation from latency (anterograde transport). We examined two components of pseudorabies virus (US3 and UL13), both of which are protein kinases, as potential regulators of axon transport. Following replication of mutant viruses lacking kinase activity, newly assembled capsids displayed an increase in retrograde motion that prevented efficient delivery of capsids to the distal axon. The aberrant increase in retrograde motion was accompanied by loss of a viral membrane marker from the transported capsids, indicating that the viral kinases allow for efficient anterograde transport by stabilizing membrane-capsid interactions during the long transit from the neuron cell body to the distal axon.
Effectiveness of a Prudhoe Bay crude oil and its aliphatic, aromatic and heterocyclic fractions in inducing mortality and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in chick embryo in ovo

Prudhoe Bay crude oil (PBCO) and its aliphatic, aromatic and heterocyclic fractions were tested on the developing chick embryo for (i) embryotoxicity (ii) their ability to induce hepatic and renal cytochrome P450 levels as well as hepatic, renal and pulmonary aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activities. On the basis of its concentration in PBCO, the aromatic fraction was responsible for most of the embryotoxicity as well as for the enzyme inducing ability. The NOS fraction constituted less than 7% (w/v) of PBCO but, on a weight equivalent basis, was roughly as potent as the aromatic fraction in causing embryotoxicity and in inducing cytochrome P450 levels and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase. The aliphatic fraction was found to be essentially inactive. The results are consistent with the concept that elevation of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase levels by certain components of PBCO may lead to increased embryotoxicity.
Subcortical projections of six visual cortical areas in the owl monkey, Aotus trivirgatus

Subcortical projections of six visual cortical areas (Areas 17 and 18, the Middle Temporal, Dorsomedial and Medial Areas, and the Posterior Parietal Region) in the owl monkey, Aotus trivigatus, were investigated with autoradiographic methods following injections of tritiated proline. No contralateral projections were demonstrated. While some brainstem structures received input from all six subdivisions of cortex, each cortical area appeared to exhibit its own unique pattern of subcortical projections. All six cortical areas were found to project to the superior and inferior divisions of the pulvinar, reticular nucleus of the thalamus, pretectum and superior colliculus. Other subcortical targets of one or more visual cortical areas were the basal ganglia, claustrum, zona incerta, one or more of the intralaminar nuclei, lateral posterior nucleus, pregeniculate nucleus, dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, and pontine nuclei. Furthermore, details of corticofugal projections to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, pretectum and superior colliculus varied with the cortical area studied. The projections to the reticular nucleus, pregeniculate nucleus, dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, the inferior and a portion of the superior division of the pulvinar and the superior colliculus were found to be topographically organized. The targets of the subcortical projections were compared with those of the retina, as revealed by autoradiographic methods following tritiated proline injections of the eye and were found to overlap to varying extents in the superior colliculus, pretectum and dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus and to be segregated in the pregeniculate nucleus. The results substantiate the validity of previous studies in the owl monkey that suggest that the visual cortex is subdivided into several functionally distinct areas; and illustrate the complexity of corticofugal influence on visual processing.
A Chemical Heat Pack-Based Method For Consistent Heating of Intravenous Fluids.

Background.—Transfusion of cold intravenous fluids (IVF) can exacerbate hypothermia. Civilian and military guidelines recommend heated IVF for hypothermic patients; however, there is currently no ideal IVF heating system for use in resource-limited settings. Objective.—Development of a system that uses flameless ration heaters (FRH) and an insulated sleeve for the consistent delivery of IVF at physiologically appropriate temperatures (401–421C) over the range of ambient conditions typical of the prehospital and wilderness environments. Methods.—The temperatures of 0.9% normal saline (NS) 1-L bags were measured under 3 ambient conditions: 31C, 101C, and 201C. The IVF was placed in an insulated pouch along with a predetermined number of activated FRH (5 FRH for 31C, 4 FRH for 101C, and 3 FRH for 201C) for 10 minutes before removing the FRHs. The insulated IVF bag was drained through 280 cm of intravenous tubing at a flow rate of 77 mL/min. Raw temperature data for internal and delivery temperatures were collected and analyzed. Results.—The temperature of the IVF throughout the delivery of 1 L of NS under the 3 ambient conditions was as follows (mean ± SD): at 31C ambient, 471 2.11C internal and 42.61C 1.41 Ca t delivery; at 101C ambient, 52.31 2.71C and 45.21 1.61C; and at 201C ambient, 45.51 11C and 39.71 0.71C. Conclusions.—The IVF heating system described here reliably delivered physiologically appropriate temperature intravenous fluids in 2 of the 3 ambient treatment conditions. With the appropriate number of FRH for the ambient conditions, this system enables the delivery of warmed IVF to provide active warming, which may be clinically beneficial in the prevention and treatment of hypothermia.
HeiTP-a transport protocol for ST-II

The Heidelberg transport protocol (HeiTP) is a transport layer protocol for multimedia communication in the Internet. HeiTP is designed to run on top of the ST-II protocol and assumes that multimedia data travel along a privileged path in which services can be guaranteed via reservation or preallocation of the resources involved in the communication. How HeiTP supports the negotiation of quality of service (QOS) parameters and multidestination connections, and how error handling is dealt with in a flexible way are addressed. A mapping of the HeiTP interface to an extended version of the X/Open Transport Interface (XTI) that supports multimedia is also presented. >
A new device model of VDMOSFET for SPICE simulations

The authors present a novel SPICE model for VDMOSFET which is based on analytical expressions for I-V and C-V characteristics of the device. The device model parameters were extracted from measured I-V and C-V characteristics of Siliconix VNDU 12 and DC52 VDMOSFETs. The model has been incorporated in the source code of SPICE3C1 which runs on IBM PC or compatible. Simulations using this model agree well with experimental data for both DC and transient responses. The model can be used in the simulation and design of switching power supplies and other circuits which use power MOSFETs. >
Quantitative staging of embryonic development of the grasshopper, Schistocerca nitens

During development of the grasshopper embryo, it is feasible to examine the structure, pharmacology, and physiology of uniquely identified cells. These experiments require a fast, accurate staging system suitable for live embryos. We present a system comprising (1)subdivision of embryogenesis into equal periods, (2) expression of stage in percent of complete embryogenesis time, (3) characterization of stages by light micrographs (and descriptive text), and (4) illustration of stages at the egg, embryo, and limb levels of resolution. Advantages of a percent-system include communicability, flexibility in temporal resolution, accurate assignment of elapsed time in developmental processes, and uniform coverage of the period of embryogenesis. The stages described are at 5% intervals with an estimated error of ± 1%.
Matching Pursuits Decomposition for Discrimination of Unexploded Ordnance: Isolated and Overlapping Signatures

A method of generating features for classification of unexploded ordnance using matching pursuits decomposition is proposed as a possible alternative, or complement, to the use of a standard dipole model. The proposed matching pursuit decomposition with an application-specific dictionary was evaluated using measured signatures from both isolated anomalies and overlapping signatures interpolated from multiple, isolated anomalies. Results indicate that matching pursuits decomposition provides computationally inexpensive and consistent representations of the anomalies in feature space, suggesting the potential utility of such an approach for UXO classification.
A first RF digitally-controlled oscillator for SAW-less TX in cellular systems

A first digitally-controlled oscillator for mobile stations is presented. Combining a MTM capacitor and two NMOS transistor arrays for the varactor as an RF DAC, a highly linear oscillator gain is achieved, and is insensitive to process shift. With a sigma-delta dithering, a fine frequency resolution is obtained while having negligible phase noise degradation. The measured -167dBc/Hz at 20MHz offset from 915MHz carrier proves that this DCO system can be used in a SAWless transmitter for mobile phones.
On the estimation of systematic error in regression-based predictions of climate sensitivity

An extension of a regression-based methodology for constraining climate forecasts using a multi-thousand member ensemble of perturbed climate models is presented, using the multi-model CMIP-3 ensemble to estimate the systematic model uncertainty in the prediction, with the caveat that systematic biases common to all models are not accounted for. It is shown that previous methodologies for estimating the systematic uncertainty in predictions of climate sensitivity are dependent on arbitrary choices relating to ensemble sampling strategy. Using a constrained regression approach, a multivariate predictor may be derived based upon the mean climatic state of each ensemble member, but components of this predictor are excluded if they cannot be validated within the CMIP-3 ensemble. It is found that the application of the CMIP-3 constraint serves to decrease the upper bound of likelihood for climate sensitivity when compared with previous studies, with 10th and 90th percentiles of probability at 1.5 K and 4.3 K respectively.
US Food assistance programs and trends in children's weight

OBJECTIVES. High rates of overweight and obesity among low-income children have led some to question whether participation in US domestic food assistance programs contributes to this health problem. We use multiple years of data to examine trends in children's body weight and participation in the Food Stamp Program (FSP) or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Specifically, we assess whether a consistent relationship between program participation and body weight exists over time. METHODS. Data from multiple waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) are used to examine the relationship between children's body weight and food assistance programs between 1976 and 2002. Linear regression models are used to estimate BMI and logit models are used to predict the probabilities of at-risk of overweight and overweight. Food assistance program participants (either FSP or WIC participants depending on age) are compared with income eligible non-participants and higher income children. RESULTS. Results show no systematic relationship over time between FSP participation and weight status for school-aged children (age 5-17). For children aged 2-4, no differences in weight status between WIC participants and eligible non-participants were found. However, recent data show some differences between WIC participants and higher income children. CONCLUSIONS. Our analysis does not find evidence of a consistent relationship between childhood obesity and participation in the FSP or WIC programs.
"More of a Street Cop Than a Detective": An Analysis of the Roles and Functions of Parenting Coordinators in North Carolina

This research project examined roles and functions of parenting coordinators (PCs) identified by AFCC's Guidelines for Parenting Coordination and other literature. The researcher used a semi-structured interview schedule that included information about practices, procedures, and a series of five case-based vignettes that contained commonly occurring ethical and legal dilemmas in PC practice. The results found that PCs generally saw their role as enforcers of existing orders and primarily used skills in conflict management, parent education, and information coordination with other professionals. PCs would use arbitration powers to make minor decisions or refer to court as a last resort.
Genetic rescue of follicle-stimulating hormone beta-deficient mice.

FSH is an α:β heterodimeric pituitary glycoprotein that shares a common α-subunit with LH and TSH. To study the role of FSH in mammalian reproduction, we have previously generated an FSH-deficient mouse model using embryonic stem (ES) cell technology by introducing a null mutation in the unique FSHβ gene. Male mice deficient in FSH are fertile despite their small testes and reduced sperm number and motility. In contrast, FSH-deficient female mice are infertile due to a block in folliculogenesis at the preantral stage. In this set of experiments, we have rescued the mutant phenotypes of FSHβ-deficient mice by two genetic strategies. In the type I rescue mice, we introduced into the FSHβ-deficient background a 10-kb human FSHβ transgene that is selectively expressed in pituitary gonadotropes. The presence of this transgene [and thus the interspecies hybrid (i.e. mouse α:human FSHβ hormone)] in the background of mouse FSHβ deficiency completely restored the testis size, sperm number, and motility defects to ...
Adaptive DOB control for AUVs

This paper presents the theory and experimental work of the adaptive plus disturbance observer (DOB) controller on underwater robot. This control scheme consists of DOB as an inner-loop compensator and a non-regressor based adaptive controller as an outer-loop controller. It is regressor-free, and is robust with respect to external disturbance as well as the variation of the nominal model used to construct DOB. The performance and characteristics of this controller are shown through comparison tests among four different controllers: PID controller, PID plus DOB controller, adaptive controller and adaptive plus DOB controller.
Hardness of Polycrystalline Tungsten and Molybdenum Oxides at Elevated Temperatures

Vickers hardness of WO{sub 3} W{sub 18}O{sub 49} and MoO{sub 2} is reported for temperatures up to 800{degrees}C. Polycrystalline samples of the oxides were prepared by hot-pressing, and hardness was determined using a Vickers hardness tester modified for high-temperature applications. The hardness of a heavily deformed tungsten rod was also measured as a reference.
A systematic and efficient method of computing normal modes for multilayered half-space

SUMMARY We present a systematic and efficient approach for computing the dispersion curves (i.e. phase velocities for a given frequency) as well as the eigenfunctions of normal modes in a multilayered half-space medium. Our approach is superior to previous approaches in the following aspects. First, it is a simple and self-contained algorithm for simultaneously determining both the phase velocities and the corresponding eigenfunctions. From the basic principle that the normal modes are nun-trivial solutions of the free elastodynamic equation under appropriate boundary conditions, we naturally derive the phase velocities and eigenfunctions. Second, because we use the reflection/transmission coefficients of Luco & Apsel’s version (Luco & Apse1 1983), which intrinsically exclude the growth terms, our algorithm not only exhibits the physical mechanism of the formation of normal modes, i.e. constructive interference, as Kennett’s did (1979,1983), but also is numerically more stable for high-frequency cases. Furthermore, we derive a high-frequency asymptotic solution of the fundamental Rayleigh mode. Therefore, our approach can provide efficient and accurate solutions in any frequency range, and it is expected to be a powerful and useful tool for simulating the LR and RR phases and complete seismograms at regional distances.