cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adipocytokine expression associated with miRNA regulation and diagnosis of NASH in obese patients with NAFLD.

Background & Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is strongly associated with visceral adiposity. The secretion of adipocytokines from white adipose tissue (WAT) promoting necroinflammation, and/or fibrosis may play important roles in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatits (NASH). In a previous study, reduced expression of a number of miRNA species in WAT concomitant with histological diagnosis of NASH was successfully demonstrated. In this study, we measure the expression of several predicted miRNA regulatory targets relevant to NAFLD and NASH including mTOR, FAS, IL20, SEMA4C, ADAMTS6 and IL13RA. We then examine hepatic receptor expression by immunohistochemical staining and qPCR. Methods: White adipose tissue was collected from 24 obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery with biopsy-proven NAFLD. Extracted total RNAs from the adipose tissue were reverse transcribed and profiled for gene expression by qPCR for specific individual mRNA targets defined after identification by any two of three of the major prediction services: miRanda, TarBase or PicTar. All liver biopsies were read by a singly hepatopathologist. The same liver tissue was used to stain for hepatic receptor expression for FASLG and IL20. Additionally, the same tissue was used for qPCR for FASLG and IL20. Results: Increases in the expression of IL13RA, mTOR, IL20, SEMA4C and FAS were detected and negatively correlated with putative regulatory miRNA. Hepatic receptor expression for FAS and IL20 was noted to correlate with markers of inflammation and severity of NAFLD. Conclusion: These data are consistent with the hypothesis that specific adipocytokines secreted by WAT will impact hepatic tissue and participate in the pathogenesis of NASH.
The First Known Case of Seconday Syphilis in a Heart Transplant Recipient with an Extraordinary Number of Spirochetes Found on Skin Biopsy

A sixty-nine-year-old male patient, without a significant prior medical history, presented with a rapidly enlarging, 2 cm non-tender nodule on the right lower eyelid. The lesion persisted in spite of an incision and drainage. Following an excision, the histology revealed a diffuse infiltrate of atypical mononuclear cells within the dermis. The cells were large, monomorphic, with irregular to convoluted nuclei, prominent nucleoli, amphophilic cytoplasm. They were very mitotically active. Immunohistochemical stains for CD45, CD3, and CD30 were strongly positive. Pancytokeratin, CD20, and ALK (Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase fusion protein) were negative. The histopathologic diagnosis was CD30 (Ki-1) positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma. The margin was positive for involvement by lymphoma. The lesion was re-excised with no evidence of residual involvement by lymphoma. A primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma was favored over systemic involvement based on the clinical presentation of a single eyelid nodule and ALK negativity. He was referred to a hematology-oncologist for further management. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma is a distinctive type of malignant lymphoma with a relatively favorable prognosis. It frequently involves the skin, however, to the best of our knowledge, presentation of this lymphoma type as a single lesion on the eyelid is extremely rare.
Where do molecular biology graduate students find information

Molecular biology graduate students read the traditional, highly regarded scientific journals, yet do not fully utilize bibliographic databases to find information. Instead, molecular biology graduate students rely on the extensive reservoir of information in bioinformatics databases as well as that within the National Library of Medicine's PubMed. Graduate students learn about bioinformatics databases in their laboratories, not the campus library, thereby bypassing the library and adopting the laboratory as their information community. The data presented suggest that science and technology librarians must expand their knowledge base to include these resources as well as provide instruction that is both palatable and transparent to the next generation of leaders in the field of molecular biology.
Bitonic dose-response functions for reinforcing and self-reported effects of nitrous oxide in humans.

The reinforcing and self-reported effects of nitrous oxide (10%, 30%, and 50% N2O in O2) were examined in 13 humans. During each of three sessions, subjects sampled one dose of N2O and 100% O2 (placebo) for 10 min each, separated by 30-min recovery periods. The agents were identified by letter code, and later in the session, subjects chose nine times, once every 5 min, among N2O (e.g., “Agent A”), placebo (e.g., “Agent B”), or “neither” (also 100% O2, identified as “drug-free air”). Self-reported and psychomotor effects were measured at various times. Dose–response functions varied across subjects and included bitonic, monotonic increasing, monotonic decreasing, U-shaped, and flat dose–response functions for reinforcing and/or self-reported effects. For subjects who showed bitonic reinforcing effects, the descending limb of the dose–response function could not be attributed to behavioral impairment. This study replicates previous studies showing dose-dependent effects of N2O, as well as between-subject variability in N2O effects. Bitonic dose–response functions for some subjects extend the generality of the phenomenon of bitonicity of drug effects to N2O effects in humans.
What the Nonneurologist Can Do to Treat Headache

Nonneurologists who treat patients with headaches should be able recognize common headache types and to initiate therapy for tension-type headaches and migraines. Patients with complicated headache scenarios should be referred to a neurologist for consultation.
Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of renal tumors: technique, limitations, and morbidity.

Abstract Objectives To evaluate our evolving experience with percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) renal tumor ablation and focus on our technique to ensure maximal treatment efficacy and reduce the possibility of complications. Methods Fifteen patients with small (less than 4 cm) posterior or lateral contrast-enhancing (more than 10 Hounsfield units) renal tumors were candidates for RF treatment. Of these patients, 12 (13 tumors) received computed tomography-guided percutaneous RF ablation. General anesthesia was administered in all but our first 2 patients, who received intravenous sedation. After treatment, patients were closely followed up with computed tomography scans at 6 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months, and every 6 months thereafter. Successful ablation was defined as a lesion along with a margin of normal parenchyma that no longer enhanced (less than 10 Hounsfield units) on follow-up contrast imaging. Results The mean tumor size was 2.4 ± 0.6 cm. The average procedure time was 95 minutes (range 60 to 150) and length of stay 0.9 days. All patients underwent the procedure without any major complications. At a mean follow-up of 4.9 months, 12 (93%) of 13 tumors were successfully ablated. In 3 patients, the procedure was not performed because of intervening bowel or lung parenchyma when positioned in the prone position before the procedure. Conclusions Computed tomography-guided percutaneous RF ablation of small renal tumors is a viable minimally invasive treatment option with a high short-term success rate and low morbidity. This new technology must be uniformly applied to assess its long-term efficacy.
Relative intensity calibration of a Ge(Li) gamma-ray spectrometer

Abstract Portions of the gamma-ray spectra of 182 Ta and 180m Hf have been remeasured with a Ge(Li) spectrometer system to determine accurate relative intensities. For 182 Ta the eleven strongest transitions in the energy range of 100–1300 keV were measured. The I γ (443)/ I γ (501) remeasured to be 5.70±0.15. The intensity values derived from remeasured to be 5.70±0.15. The intensity values derived from these measurements are recommended for use with an IAEA standard intensity set in the calibration of relative photopeak efficiencies for Ge(Li) detectors. An overall accuracy of ±4% for the relative intensity calibration over the energy range of 100–1300 keV can be expected and ±3% for the 500–2800 keV energy range.
Through a Howling Wilderness: Benedict Arnold's March to Quebec, 1775 – By Thomas A. Desjardin

Few American soldiers have experienced greater deprivation, misery, and despair than those on the expedition that Colonel Benedict Arnold led to Canada during the War of Independence, and still few...
A toxicokinetic comparison of norditerpenoid alkaloids from Delphinium barbeyi and D. glaucescens in cattle.

Cattle are poisoned by N-(methylsuccinimido) anthranoyllycoctonine type (MSAL-type) and 7,8-methylenedioxylycoctonine type (MDL-type) norditerpenoid alkaloids in Delphinium spp. Alkaloids in D. glaucescens are primarily of the MSAL-type, while D. barbeyi is a mixture of MSAL and MDL-types. The objectives of this study were to determine and compare the toxicokinetics of selected alkaloids from D. glaucescens and D. barbeyi in cattle. The two species of larkspur were dosed to three groups of Angus steers via oral gavage at doses of 8 mg kg−1 MSAL-type alkaloids for D. barbeyi and either 8.0 or 17.0 mg kg−1 MSAL-type alkaloids for D. glaucescens. In cattle dosed with D. barbeyi, serum deltaline (MDL-type) concentrations peaked at 488 ± 272 ng ml−1 at 3 h and serum methyllycaconitine (MSAL-type) concentrations peaked at 831 ± 369 ng ml−1 at 6 h. Deltaline was not detected in the serum of cattle dosed with D. glaucescens. Serum methyllycaconitine concentrations peaked at 497 ± 164 ng ml−1 at 18 h, and 1089 ± 649 ng ml−1 at 24 h for the 8 mg kg−1 and 17 mg kg−1 doses of D. glaucescens respectively. There were significant differences between the maximum serum concentrations and the area under the curve for the two doses of D. glaucescens but not D. barbeyi. Results from this experiment support the recommendation that approximately 7 days are required to clear 99% of the toxic alkaloids from the serum of animals orally dosed with D. barbeyi or D. glaucescens, and that MDL-type alkaloids play an important role in the toxicity of Delphinium spp. in cattle. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Conformational analysis of some phenethylamine molecules.

Abstract A set of empirical potential functions (EPF), previously used in conformational energy calculations of polymers, was employed in the study of the conformational properties of a number of methyl-substituted phenethylmines, as well as phenylmethylamine, phenyl- n -propylamine, and 3,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine. The conformational free energy was computed for each of these molecular species in four states: neutral charge-vacuo (I), neutral charge-aqueous solution (II), positive charge-vacuo (III), positive charge-aqueous solution (IV). The molecules generally adopt one of two stable conformations: a folded conformation with the amine chain perpendicular to the ring, and the amine group nearest to the ring; and an extended conformation with the amine chain perpendicular to the ring, and the amine group far from the ring. The folded conformation is usually preferred for states I, II and III, while the extended form is adopted for state IV. By using empirical potential functions it was also possible to calculate the conformational entropies associated with the minimum energy conformations, thereby allowing the Boltzmann probabilities to be determined. These probabilities are a measure of the population density of each of the various low energy regions. Some of the molecules studied have a steric “bulge” below the plane of the benzene ring. All of the compounds studied which possess this “bulge” are psychotropically inactive, and, in most cases, also pharmacologically inactive. All active compounds studied do not possess this “bulge”.
The Phoenician Contingent in the Campaign of Psammetichus II Against Kush

Graffiti inscribed on seated figures of Rameses II at Abu Simbel concern participation by Greek, Carian, and Phoenician forces in the Nubian campaign of Psammetichus II in 593 B.C.E. This study considers the major Phoenician graffiti as primary sources. The Phoenician texts do not mention Psammetichus, but do place Amasis in a commanding role. The Phoenician claim to victory comports with the Egyptian claim. The Greek inscriptions illuminate the Phoenician narratives. Unsolved historical problems include: (1) the command structure; (2) whether Amasis in these texts is the later Pharaoh; and (3) the relationship between this campaign and a later expedition against Kush by Ahmose II in 529 B.C.E. Herodotus’ account of Phoenician settlement in Memphis gains clarity from Greek papyri, and Phoenician finds at two Egyptian sites are contemporary with the 593 B.C.E. campaign. The Phoenician contingent possibly fulfilled covenant obligations to Egypt, and Phoenician settlement in Memphis perhaps involved a compensatory land grant.
The story of IFF (Identification Friend or Foe)

At the beginning of the Second World War, the need for a system for identifying friendly aircraft became very apparent. The system which was developed was known as IFF: identification friend or foe. The development of IFF, from the beginning, and its various forms are described in the paper. The collaboration between the British and Americans later on in the war, to manufacture the Mark V sets, is also described.
Data structures and control mechanisms for multi-target swarming simulators

Data structures and control mechanisms for multi-target swarming software simulators are presented. The advantage of the proposed approach is that a swarm, besides local self-organisation, is able to accept higher level directives on target priorities. Also, the presented mechanisms enable a swarm to dynamically change its participants' assignment on every target appearance or removal in simulation.
Rheological properties of silica sol-gel materials

Rheological properties of silica sol-gel materials were determined using dynamic and steady shear flow measurements. During aging, transitions from Newtonian to shear thinning to thixotropic flow behavior were observed. Yield stresses were also observed during the later stages of aging. Measurements of storage and loss moduli indicated that dissipative (viscous) processes dominated during the Newtonian flow period. Elastic interactions became increasingly important during the shear thinning and thixotropic flow periods. These changes in rheological properties during aging reflected the structural evolution from a dilute sol (containing isolated, non-interacting polysilicate species) to the development of polysilicate structures with a three-dimensional network character. As observed by previous workers, silica sols prepared with acid catalyst and low water content exhibited “spinnability” after sufficient aging. Optimum spinnability was observed when the flow behavior was highly shear thinning, but not thixotropic. Freestanding fibers could be formed with sols having high polysilicate species concentration.
Measuring tensile properties of deeply-undercooled and rapidly-solidified miniature samples of nickel aluminides

Description des essais de traction sur des petits echantillons. Analyse des courbes contrainte-deformation en fonction de la microstructure de solidification des systemes d'alliage de surfusion
Christian theism and the free will defense: A problem

Theism maintains that God is a moralagent. Classical Christian theism also maintains that God is unable tosin. The latter claim is entailed by the proposition that the being whois God is essentially God, and this proposition is one which would beendorsed by all or most classical theologians. It would thus appearthat the claim that God is unable to sin is an important, if notfundamental, part of classical Christian theism. It follows that, at acrucial point, classical Christian theism is incompatible with theassumption that moral agency logically involves the ability to sin -an assumption which is an essential part of the free will defense asthat defense is normally presented. Since (as I suggested earlier) theuse of the free will defense also plays a very important role in clas-sical Christian theism, classical Christian theism would appear toexhibit a major incoherance. While the difficulty can be overcome byemploying a modified version of the free will defense, the modifiedversion is not as attractive as the original.
Detection of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in the Blood and Peripheral Tissues of Wild Hawaiian Rats (Rattus rattus) by a Quantitative PCR (qPCR) Assay

The nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a rat lungworm, a zoonotic pathogen that causes human eosinophilic meningitis and ocular angiostrongyliasis characteristic of rat lungworm (RLW) disease. Definitive diagnosis is made by finding and identifying A. cantonensis larvae in the cerebral spinal fluid or by using a custom immunological or molecular test. This study was conducted to determine if genomic DNA from A. cantonensis is detectable by qPCR in the blood or tissues of experimentally infected rats. F1 offspring from wild rats were subjected to experimental infection with RLW larvae isolated from slugs, then blood or tissue samples were collected over multiple time points. Blood samples were collected from 21 rats throughout the course of two trials (15 rats in Trial I, and 6 rats in Trial II). In addition to a control group, each trial had two treatment groups: the rats in the low dose (LD) group were infected by approximately 10 larvae and the rats in the high dose (HD) group were infected with approximately 50 larvae. In Trial I, parasite DNA was detected in cardiac bleed samples from five of five LD rats and five of five HD rats at six weeks post-infection (PI), and three of five LD rats and five of five HD rats from tail tissue. In Trial II, parasite DNA was detected in peripheral blood samples from one of two HD rats at 53 minutes PI, one of two LD rats at 1.5 hours PI, one of two HD rats at 18 hours PI, one of two LD rats at five weeks PI and two of two at six weeks PI, and two of two HD rats at weeks five and six PI. These data demonstrate that parasite DNA can be detected in peripheral blood at various time points throughout RLW infection in rats.
Polycomb group proteins

We welcome correspondence on any article in the journal, but reserve the right to reduce the length of any letter to be published. All Correspondence containing data or scientific argument will be refereed. Items for publication should either be submitted to Current Biology, Elsevier Science London, 84 Theobald's Road, London, WC1X 8RR, UK, or e-mailed to cbiol@current-sbiology.com
Localization of RNA polymerase binding sites on T7 DNA.

Abstract Binding sites on T7 + DNA for Escherichia coli RNA polymerase have been positioned by a combination of techniques involving: (1) protection by RNA polymerase at known Hin d II sites, and (2) binding studies with T7 + DNA predigested with Hin d II. A single small T7 Hin d II fragment of 80 nucleotide pairs is retained on a nitrocellulose filter as a binary complex with RNA polymerase holoenzyme from among complete Hin d II digestion mixtures of T7 + DNA. This binding site appears analogous to the T7 A2 promoter. The binding sites corresponding to the A1 and A3 promoters are effectively destroyed by the action of Hin d II. RNA polymerase specifically blocks the action of Hin d II at two loci on T7 + DNA, both of which have been positioned by mapping techniques. Evidence suggests these are analogous to the A1 and A3 promoters. Two additional weak but specific RNA polymerase DNA binding sites have also been positioned on the T7 genome.
Regulation of murine plasmacytoma transferrin receptor expression and G1 traversal by plasmacytoma cell growthfactor

Many plasmacytomas arising in BALB/c mice require a specific, macrophage-derived growth factor in order to proliferate in vitro. Since transferrin receptor expression is normally regulated by tissue-specific growth factors and because expression of these receptors is required for cell proliferation, we examined the interaction of plasmacytoma growth factor (PCT-GF) on transferrin receptor expression and cell cycle progression in several PCT-GF-dependent and independent plasmacytoma cell lines maintained in vitro. We found that removal of PCT-GF results in a rapid and specific loss of transferrin receptor expression with concomitant G1 arrest in early G1. The time required for G1 arrest to become maximal correlates closely to the initial level of surface transferrin receptor expression and the rate of decay following removal of PCT-GF. The calcium channel blocker diltiazem interferes with the ability of PCT-GF to maintain transferrin receptor expression in PCT-GF-dependent cell lines and causes a G1 arrest of the cell population. When added to a PCT-GF-independent cell line, diltiazem also inhibited transferrin receptor expression and caused G1 arrest. Thus, both PCT-GF-dependent and -independent plasmacytoma cell lines require transferrin receptor expression for growth. In factor dependent cell lines, transferrin receptor expression requires exogenous PCT-GF, while in factor-independent cells, transferrin receptor expression is constitutive. In both cell types, intracellular calcium levels may play a role in receptor expression.
Perceptions of emotional eating behavior. A qualitative study of college students.

Abstract Approximately one-third of college students are overweight or obese and the average student gains 5 kg during college. Previous research has identified a relationship between emotional eating and weight gain in young adults, but outside the realm of eating disorders, few studies qualitatively capture why individuals cope with emotions by eating. Exploratory qualitative research was conducted, including 3-day food journals and indepth interviews, with proportionate quota sampling of eight male and eight female undergraduate students to gain an understanding of students’ perceptions of their emotional eating behaviors. Participants were purposively selected based on their emotional eating scores on the Weight Related Eating Questionnaire from a larger survey assessing student eating behaviors. Participants’ (n = 16) mean age was 19.6 ± 1.0 years and all self-reported their race to be white. Mean Body Mass Index (BMI) for females and males was 24.1 ± 1.2 kg/m2 and 24.8 ± 1.7 kg/m2, respectively. Findings from the qualitative analyses indicated gender differences and similarities. Females identified stress as the primary trigger for emotional eating, frequently followed by guilt. Males were primarily triggered by unpleasant feelings such as boredom or anxiety turning to food as a distraction; however, males were less likely to experience guilt after an emotional eating episode than females. During emotional eating episodes, both genders chose what they defined as unhealthful foods. These findings indicate a multidisciplinary intervention focusing on emotion and stress management in addition to dietary behavior change should be developed to reduce the potential for weight gain associated with emotional eating in the college-aged population.
Using the statistical analysis system as an educational audit software system

Abstract This paper describes the use of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS), a widely-available statistical analysis software package, as an audit software package in a classroom setting. After describing the capabilities of the package as an audit tool, the paper discusses a classroom application and presents an evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of the system.
Least-cost partition algorithms

Abstract Attaching a cost function to integers appearing in partitions of an integer n gives rise to a natural least-cost or greatest-profit problem. We present several modifications of the standard O( n 2 ) dynamic programming algorithm for the least-cost problem. One modification results in an average complexity of order O( n 3/2 by restriction of possible substitutions; a second in an efficient print algorithm for display of the resultant partition. A third, a prepass eliminating some equations from consideration, guarantees O( n ) or O( n log n ) efficiency in a number of important special cases; in particular, we can guarantee such efficiency whenever the unit cost function is even approximately monotonically increasing or decreasing. We also give a related algorithm for the problem of partitioning an integer by integers no larger than some upper bound p , of complexity polynomial in p . Finally, we show that no modification of the dynamic programming algorithm (using only pair comparison and information from the permutation of integers induced by sorting the unit costs) is worst-case better than ω( n 2 ).
Code design for rank-deficient correlated channels

Design criterion for i.i.d. MIMO channels is well-known, and a large body of literature is found on codes designed for these channels. However, in reality, there is usually correlation between antennas. Reviewed is the performance of a modulation scheme in a spatially correlated channel. Proposed is a systematic method to design codes that achieve maximum diversity of that channel as well as keeping other good properties of a code, such as higher rate, lower decoding complexity, and unit peak-to-average power ratio for equi-magnitude constellations.
Role of Plasmin, Thrombin, and Antithrombin III as Etiological Factors in Delayed Cerebral Vasospasm

The fibrinolytic enzyme plasmin at 0.25 units/ml produced a contraction of isolated canine basilar arteries that developed slowly and was sustained for at least 2 hours. Plasmin and thrombin (1 unit/ml) acted synergistically to enhance the contractile response. In contrast to plasmin, the marked contraction elicited by thrombin ended within 1 hour, and afterward the artery was completely tachyphylactic to thrombin. Fibrin clot, fibrinopeptides, and fibrin degradation products did not prolong significantly the effect of thrombin or prevent the tachyphylaxis. Plasmin and thrombin may occupy a common membrane receptor because exposing the artery briefly to trypsin (24 micrograms/ml) thereafter abolished the contractile effect of plasmin and thrombin without affecting the action of other agonists. Antithrombin III (1.0 unit/ml) relaxed basilar arteries that were precontracted with plasmin (0.5 unit/ml), thrombin (1.0 unit/ml), serotonin (10(-5) M), uridine triphosphate (10(-4) M), or KCl (8 X 10(-2) M). The results suggest that the vasoconstrictor effect of thrombin might contribute to hemostasis after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) but, because of tachyphylaxis, not to delayed vasospasm. On the other hand, the constrictor action of plasmin might appear late in the course of SAH in association with clot lysis and tissue repair. Last, the level of the vasorelaxant antithrombin III in cerebrospinal fluid could control the appearance and severity of cerebral arterial spasm in SAH.
A probabilistic relational model and algebra

Although the relational model for databases provides a great range of advantages over other data models, it lacks a comprehensive way to handle incomplete and uncertain data. Uncertainty in data values, however, is pervasive in all real-world environments and has received much attention in the literature. Several methods have been proposed for incorporating uncertain data into relational databases. However, the current approaches have many shortcomings and have not established an acceptable extension of the relational model. In this paper, we propose a consistent extension of the relational model. We present a revised relational structure and extend the relational algebra. The extended algebra is shown to be closed, a consistent extension of the conventional relational algebra, and reducible to the latter.
Efficient architecture for generalized minimum-distance decoder of Reed-Solomon codes

Generalized minimum distance (GMD) decoding of Reed-Solomon (RS) codes can correct more errors than conventional hard-decision decoding by running error-and-erasure decoding multiple times for different erasure patterns. The latency of the GMD decoding can be reduced by the Kotter's one-pass decoding scheme. This scheme first carries out an error-only hard-decision decoding. Then all pairs of error-erasure locators and evaluators are derived iteratively in one run based on the result of the error-only decoding. In this paper, a more efficient interpolation-based one-pass GMD decoding scheme is studied. Applying the re-encoding and coordinate transformation, the result of erasure-only decoding can be directly derived. Then the locator and evaluator pairs for other erasure patterns are generated iteratively by applying interpolation. In addition, a simplified polynomial selection scheme is proposed to pass only one pair of locator and evaluator to succesive decoding steps. Efficient architectures are employed for the interpolation-based GMD decoder and detailed analysis is provided for the area requirement and decoding latency. With 15% less hardware requirement, the interpolation-based one-pass GMD decoder can reduce the decoding latency to 96% of the Kotter's decoder for a (255, 239) RS code. In terms of speed-over-area ratio, our design is 22% more efficient.
Board response to majority outsider regulation

I compile a balanced panel of 2174 publicly traded firms and track their board structure from 1999 to 2006. I detail how boards responded to new regulation (introduced in 2002 and enacted in 2003) that required boards of firms traded on the NYSE and NASDAQ exchanges to have a strict majority of outside directors. I examine how noncompliant boards moved into compliance and compare their behaviour to compliant firms. Noncompliant firms increased independence, but did not increase board size during the regulatory adjustment period. In addition to offering a detailed look at the data, I create a stylized model of board composition and size and suggest how the responses of noncompliant firms to the exogenous regulatory shock can be used to estimate the curvature of a board ‘production function’.
Ventricular pump performance in patients with obstructed right ventricular-pulmonary artery conduits

Abstract Postoperative data were obtained from 18 patients with partially obstructed right ventricular (RV) to pulmonary artery (PA) conduits, who were studied 1 to 9 years following a Rastelli operation. Age at operation was 1 to 8 months in seven patients (group I: infant group) and 2 to 9 years in the remaining 11 patients (group II: childhood group). The diagnosis was pulmonary atresia in eight patients, truncus arteriosus in seven, and transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary stenosis in three. Porcine-valved conduits were inserted in 17 patients and an aortic homograft in one. All but seven patients were free of symptoms at the time of postoperative study. Neither peak RV pressures nor RV to PA gradients were different between groups. RV ejection fraction (EF) was decreased in group II (0.43 ± 0.11) but was normal (0.60 ± 0.10) in group I. In addition, there was a significant inverse relationship between RVEF and age at repair ( r = 0.714; p p 5 EF units with exercise was associated with a resting gradient from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery of > 50 mm Hg. These data indicate that RVEF is usually abnormal in patients with obstructed RV to PA conduits, who are operated upon after infancy. The progressive decrease in RVEF with age indicates the inadequacy of hypertrophy to normalize RV pump function with time. Further data after relief of RV outflow obstruction are needed to discern risk factors for permanent RV dysfunction in this clinical setting.
Immunology and immunotherapy in neurosurgical disease.

OBJECTIVE For many years, the central nervous system (CNS) has been described as "immunologically privileged" and devoid of conventional immune reactivity. However, our more current understanding of neuroimmunology supports a different view. Although immune mechanisms within the CNS may behave differently from those located at peripheral anatomic sites, it is now widely accepted that biologically relevant immune responses can and do occur within the brain and that these responses can play important roles in CNS disease. The objective of this present review is to explore key aspects of recent insights into the cellular interactions involved in neuroimmunology, which may suggest more rational approaches to the immunotherapy of neurosurgical disorders. CONCLUSION Modern advances in molecular medicine and basic immunology have yielded a plethora of new data about CNS immunobiology. The design of effective immunotherapeutic strategies for CNS diseases requires a contemporary understanding of the basic tenets of how the immune system works. The current renaissance in this field may give neurosurgeons hope that, in the future, immunotherapy-based paradigms may be able to successfully treat neurosurgical diseases that are currently refractory to traditional therapies.
Task prioritisation in multitasking during driving: opportunity to abort a concurrent task does not insulate braking responses from dual‐task slowing

In typical dual-task driving studies, participants concurrently perform pairs of driving-related and -unrelated tasks (e.g. vehicle braking and mental arithmetic). Requiring responses to both may implicitly equate their importance. In real-life driving, however, the potential for collision dictates that a concurrent task should be assigned far lower priority than driving. To better reflect naturalistic driving conditions, we not only instructed participants to assign maximum priority to braking in a simulated driving task, but also encouraged them to ignore the concurrent task altogether on dual-task trials. Despite these instructions, responses to the concurrent task often preceded braking, which suffered from dual-task interference. We also found that redundant signals to the lead vehicle's brake lights resulted in faster braking responses and an increased likelihood that the braking response would occur first. The results are consistent with the Central Bottleneck (CB) model of dual-task interference and may help guide the design of driver-assistance systems. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Individual FM Systems for Children: Where Are We Now?

FM systems have been used for children with hearing loss for over 30 years. Over time, their use has expanded to include children with normal hearing who have special listening needs. This paper provides a brief discussion of current issues in FM system use for children.
The complexity of a "complex mass" and the simplicity of a "simple cyst".

ynecologic sonography has made considerable strides in the last 20 years. Initially, the resolution of abdominal transducers increased. Then transvaginal probes were introduced, were perfected, and have become the principal tools for evaluating the female pelvis. Correlations of sonographic images with pathologic findings have led to a substantial understanding of adnexal abnormalities. In fact, you could say, the field collectively has a learning curve just as individuals have a learning curve. The development of scoring systems to characterize and define ovarian lesions first based on morphologic characteristic and later including color Doppler flow data brought us closer to a relatively reliable distinction between benign and malignant lesions or at least a negative predictive value in the range of 97% to 99%.1–3 Despite the above achievements, it is disheartening to see today some gynecologic sonographic reports that may have been appropriate 20 years ago when resolution was more limited, as was our field’s level of understanding. We frequently see, in reports of a gynecologic patient, the wording “a left adnexal complex mass measuring 4 × 5 × 4 cm was seen.” We desperately look for a more detailed description of the finding—in vain, because there is none. Then we search for the results of a Doppler study of the vessels in or around the finding. Again, none are reported. The most alarming message comes at the end of the report in the paragraph entitled “Impression,” where we see a long list of differential diagnoses, which invariably end with the statement, “. . . ovarian malignancy cannot be ruled out.” Looking at the pictures on which these reports are issued, we can often see benign-appearing adnexal lesions such as corpora lutea, cystic teratomas, endometriomas, and even simple cysts. Much of the time, however, the diagnosis can be made with a great deal more accuracy than the clinician is currently getting. We agree that not all hemorrhagic corpora lutea, endometriomas, or benign cystic teratomas are “classic” in their sonographic appearance, but most of them are distinctive enough. Therefore, this practice of giving a differential diagnosis that includes virtually every adnexal abnormality is no longer appropriate. As a field we can do better—most of the time. What should the referring provider do reading such a report? When the adnexal mass was detected at the palpatory examination, the gynecologist knew all too well the differential diagnoses pertaining to this mass, including the possibility of cancer. The patient was sent for the sonographic scan for help in the diagnostic process, not for the purpose of reading the list of diagnoses the gynecologist knew in the first place. Imaging laboratories can and should do better much of the time.
THE SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF SOME AZA ANALOGS OF AMINO ACIDS. II. 4-AZALYSINE, AN INHIBITORY ANALOG OF LYSINE.

Abstract An acetamidoacrylic acid condensation with ethylenediamine, followed by hydrolysis of the intermediate, gave a mixture of products from which 4-azalysine was separated by fractional recrystallization. This amino acid analog inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli 9723 and a number of lactic acid bacteria. The inhibition of growth of Leuconostoc dextranicum 8086 by 4-azalysine was competitively reversed by lysine over a 30-fold range of concentrations with an inhibition index of about 10.
Simulation Framework and Performance Analysis of Multimedia Broadcasting Service over Wireless Networks

The recent development of high-speed data transmission over wireless networks enables multimedia broadcasting service to mobile users. Multimedia broadcasting service involves interactions among different system and network components, so it is crucial for the service provider to verify the correctness of system/service model and design, and their behaviors before a new type of service is deployed. However, due to limitations of using network simulations or scaled experimental testbeds, there has been none of research on such verification and simulation framework in 3G broadcasting networks. Therefore, we propose a simulation and analysis framework for multimedia broadcasting service over wireless networks. With concrete modeling of wireless physical channel, network, and data processing on a client device, it enables the prediction of various interesting system parameters and perceived quality of multimedia streams to users. Different models of system and network components can be plugged easily in our simulation framework for further extensions. Using this framework, we analyze the processing performance for decoding scalable videos on mobile devices in CDMA2000 wireless networks.
Emergency (911) Dispatcher Decision Making: Ecological Display Development

Emergency dispatchers must make complex life or death decisions under extreme time pressure. Using Ecological Task Analysis (ETA), a technique normally applied to aerospace human factors problems, a new display was designed that would better assist their decision making task. The major design constraints were identified to be the beat number and priority of incidents, available units, and the spatial relationship of the those units to the incident. Using these and other less formal factors, a GUI interface was designed and an evaluation was conducted at the Richmond, CA police dispatch center. The results suggest that the GUI display may reduce training times and increase situational awareness.
Luteotrophic function of autografts of the rat hypophysis.

WESTMAN and Jacobsohn (1938) in experiments with hypophyseal stalk-sections in rats, reported certain results that have been difficult to explain. Adult, cyclic females were operated on during estrus or proestrus by the authors’ usual technique. This included the placing of a barrier of metal foil between the cut end of the stalk and the hypophyseal capsule (Jacobsohn, personal communication). Although the intended purpose of the barrier was to prevent regeneration of nerve fibers, regeneration of the hypophyseal portal veins must have been equally impossible. Control animals were totally Irypophjrsectomized. In all cases the cervix uteri was electrically stimulated 2 to 5 hours after operation. The uteri were traumatized 5 or 6 days later and were subsequently examined for deciduomata. Whereas the 7 completely Irypophysectomized animals were negative, the 5 stalk-sectioned rats were positive. With the stalk having been cut before the time of cervical stimulation, how could the latter have induced pseudop...
Kerr-lens mode locking with minimum nonlinearity using gain-matched output couplers

Broadband Kerr-lens mode locking is demonstrated at greatly reduced mode-locking strength with a gain-matched output coupler that compensates for gain filtering. Already at very low pump powers, slightly above the cw lasing threshold, we are able to initiate robust mode locking and generate <8fs output pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser with good beam quality. Because dielectric coatings offer flexible design capabilities, this approach is applicable to various lasers with different gain media to extract pulses covering the full gain spectrum with minimum saturable absorber action.
Filtering Complex Turbulent Systems

Preface 1. Introduction and overview: mathematical strategies for filtering turbulent systems Part I. Fundamentals: 2. Filtering a stochastic complex scalar: the prototype test problem 3. The Kalman filter for vector systems: reduced filters and a three-dimensional toy model 4. Continuous and discrete Fourier series and numerical discretization Part II. Mathematical Guidelines for Filtering Turbulent Signals: 5. Stochastic models for turbulence 6. Filtering turbulent signals: plentiful observations 7. Filtering turbulent signals: regularly spaced sparse observations 8. Filtering linear stochastic PDE models with instability and model error Part III. Filtering Turbulent Nonlinear Dynamical Systems: 9. Strategies for filtering nonlinear systems 10. Filtering prototype nonlinear slow-fast systems 11. Filtering turbulent nonlinear dynamical systems by finite ensemble methods 12. Filtering turbulent nonlinear dynamical systems by linear stochastic models 13. Stochastic parameterized extended Kalman filter for filtering turbulent signal with model error 14. Filtering turbulent tracers from partial observations: an exactly solvable test model 15. The search for efficient skilful particle filters for high dimensional turbulent dynamical systems References Index.
The Reliability of Morphological Analyses in Language Samples.

It is currently unclear to what extent a spontaneous language sample of a given number of utterances is representative of a child’s ability in morphology and syntax. This lack of information about ...
Solar Surface Magneto-Convection

We review the properties of solar magneto-convection in the top half of the convection zones scale heights (from 20 Mm below the visible surface to the surface, and then through the photosphere to the temperature minimum). Convection is a highly non-linear and nonlocal process, so it is best studied by numerical simulations. We focus on simulations that include sufficient detailed physics so that their results can be quantitatively compared with observations. The solar surface is covered with magnetic features with spatial sizes ranging from unobservably small to hundreds of megameters. Three orders of magnitude more magnetic flux emerges in the quiet Sun than emerges in active regions. In this review we focus mainly on the properties of the quiet Sun magnetic field. The Sun's magnetic field is produced by dynamo action throughout the convection zone, primarily by stretching and twisting in the turbulent downflows. Diverging convective upflows and magnetic buoyancy carry magnetic flux toward the surface and sweep the field into the surrounding downflow lanes where the field is dragged downward. The result is a hierarchy of undulating magnetic Ω- and U-loops of different sizes. New magnetic flux first appears at the surface in a mixed polarity random pattern and then collects into isolated unipolar regions due to underlying larger scale magnetic structures. Rising magnetic structures are not coherent, but develop a filamentary structure. Emerging magnetic flux alters the convection properties, producing larger, darker granules. Strong field concentrations inhibit transverse plasma motions and, as a result, reduce convective heat transport toward the surface which cools. Being cooler, these magnetic field concentrations have a shorter scale height and become evacuated. The field becomes further compressed and can reach strengths in balance with the surrounding gas pressure. Because of their small internal density, photons escape from deeper in the atmosphere. Narrow evacuated field concentrations get heated from their hot sidewalls and become brighter than their surroundings. Wider magnetic concentrations are not heated so they become darker, forming pores and sunspots.
Report by David M. Eisenberg, M.D., on educational issues pertaining to complementary and alternative medicine in the United States.

In the second of his two presentations, David Eisenberg, M.D., addressed the challenge of educating today's physicians and the next generation of medical students in the area of complementary and alternative medicine.
FFR and Coronary Flow Reserve : Friends or Foes?⁎

The FAME (Fractional Flow Reserve Versus Angiography for Multivessel Evaluation) study has re-emphasized the importance of assessing functional consequences of coronary stenoses ([1,2][1]). In that multicenter trial involving 1,005 patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD),
Buckling of Moderately Thick Composite Cylindrical Shells under Destabilizing Loads

The instability of perfect, laminated, circular cylindrical shells with fixed ends under the action of uniform axial compression, lateral pressure, and torsion is investigated. The analysis is based on nonlinear kinematic relations where the effect of transverse shear deformation is taken into account. Three theories (higher order shear deformation theory, first-order shear deformation theory, and classical) are compared to determine their range of applicability in predicting critical conditions for moderately thick cylindrical shells under the action of various loads. Also, the effects of stacking sequence, radius-to-thickness ratio, and length-to-radius ratio are assessed. The results obtained indicate that the first-order shear deformation theory with a proper shear correction factor is a good candidate for the analysis of moderately thick laminated cylindrical shells.
Growing the Good Stuff: One Literacy Coach’s Approach to Support Teachers With High-Stakes Testing

This ethnographic study reports on one elementary literacy coach’s response to high-stakes testing and her approach to support third- through fifth-grade teachers in a Title I school in Texas. Sour...