cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of epispadias repair on bladder growth in boys with classic bladder exstrophy

Abstract Objective Growth of the bladder in children with bladder exstrophy is primarily responsible for later ability to void continently. Improvement in bladder capacity has been noted in some boys following epispadias repair. Does the timing of epispadias repair influence the ability of the bladder to grow? Methods Data were collected regarding bladder volume measurements, obtained under anesthesia using a standard technique, during yearly follow-up of boys with classic bladder exstrophy. Volume prior to epispadias repair was compared to the next volume measure following repair. Timing of epispadias repair was compared to changes in bladder capacity in 30 boys. Monthly increases in bladder capacity were calculated in boys repaired at Results Patients who had surgery prior to 12 months of age had the highest rate of monthly increase in bladder capacity (2.40 cc/month). Monthly growth rates were 1.91 cc/month for patients repaired at 13–24 months and 1.18 cc/month for those repaired at 25–48 months. Conclusions Epispadias repair does lead to early increase in bladder capacity in boys with classic bladder exstrophy. The monthly increases in bladder capacity are greater in boys
Effects of Zero Sequence Modeling and Transposition on Switching Surge Overvoltages

Zero-sequence frequency dependent parameters for a transmission line with both ground wires and earth return paths and the effects of nontransposition are modeled on an analog transmission system simulator. The effects of this detailed modeling on the overvoltages experienced by a 200 mile 765 kV transmission system. link are investigated, for a variety of switching surge and fault initiation operations, in terms of the resulting overvoltage probability density distributions.
Thermo-Optic Behavior of Polyacrylamide Electrophoresis Gels

Electrophoresis is an important separation method for proteins and nucleic acids. Electrophoresis enables separation of polyionic macromolecules by molecular weight, shape, secondary structure, and electric charge. For proteins, 5–20% polyacrylamide gels are almost universally used. The gels function both as anticonvective and as sieving media. The sieving properties are conveniently varied by varying gel composition. Because polyacrylamide gels absorb in the ultraviolet, direct absorbance measurements are rarely used. Instead, proteins or nucleic acids are detected and quantified by staining them with dye or colloidal metals.
Association study of type 2 diabetes genetic susceptibility variants and risk of pancreatic cancer: an analysis of PanScan-I data

Objective To examine associations between recently identified common type 2 diabetes (T2D) susceptibility genetic variants and pancreatic cancer risk.
Luminol-induced neutrophil chemiluminescence

Abstract Our studies suggest that luminol directly enhances the chemiluminesce of human neutrophils. We show that a significant peak in chemiluminescence production in a particle-free system occurs between and 5 and 15 min following exposure of cells to micromolar concentrations of luminol. The response is directly related to dose over a wide range of luminol concentrations and can be inhibited by superoxide dismutase (90%), catalase (100%) and sodium azide (40%). Evidence is presented which suggests that the effect of luminol eliciting a peak in neutrophil chemiluminescence is mediated within intact cells rather than at the cell membrane. Luminol may produce a peak in chemiluminesce by stimulating very low levels of hexose monophosphate shunt activity and superoxide generation or it may simply amplify light production generated by the production of excited oxygen radicals resulting from surface interactions.
Analysis of winter wheat yield in the production system based on tramlines (technological tracks)

A comparison of the results related to the yield concerning the experiment settings within the three-year period without and with tramlines proves the hypothesis that the wheat yield increases by 20 or more percent on account of the application of tramlines. The average yield of 7.78 tha−1 achieved by the use of this technology is by 20.62 % higher compared to the yield of 6.45 tha−1 achieved using the conventional wheat growing method, which does not apply tramlines. Yield increase is due to timely and proper fertilization and crop protection, as well as the performance of full-range working operations. The transversal yield variability expressed as s variation coefficient for both settings is significantly lower compared to the variability of a centrifugal spreader, which is in broad use for fertilizing. It is necessary to apply pneumatic spreaders even in the cases when tramlines cannot be used. They distribute fertilizers evenly, and it is well known that this has a decisive influence on high and stable yield. Outstandingly high hectolitre masses and 1,000 grains masses with low variation coefficients showed no significant deviation for both settings. The analysis of the results showed a substantial effect of margin rows on the yield increase related to the setting with tramlines. The average yield was 9.69 tha−1 and it ranged from 8.39 to 12.02 tha−1 in different samples.
Predicting future locations using prediction-by-partial-match

We implemented the Prediction-by-Partial-Match data compression algorithm as a predictor of future locations. Positioning was done using IEEE 802.11 wireless access logs. Several experiments were run to determine how to divide the data for training and testing and how to best represent the data as a string of symbols. Our test data consisted of 198 datasets containing over 28,000 pairs, obtained from the UCSD Wireless Topology Discovery project. Tests of a first-order PPM model revealed a 90% success rate in predicting a user's location given the time. The third-order model, which is given the previous time and location and asked to predict the location at a given time, is correct 92% of the time.
The Effects of Ouabain on Steroid Production by Rat Adrenal Cells Stimulated by Angiotensin II, αl–24 Adrenocorticotropin, and Potassium

Aldosterone and corticosterone production by rat adrenal glomerulosa cells was significantly (P < 0.01) increased by the cardiac glycoside, ouabain octahydrate, at a concentration of 10-5 M. Concentrations greater or less had no effect. Ouabain had a biphasic effect when added to cells maximally stimulated by angiotensin II (2.4 × 10-8 M) and αl–24 ACTH (1.4 × 10-10 M); 10-5 M ouabain raised aldosterone output significantly above the already elevated levels (P < 0.05), while 10-3 M ouabain blocked stimulation of aldosterone production by angiotensin II or ACTH completely (P < 0.001). Ouabain at a dose of 10-4 M completely inhibited aldosterone output in response even to large doses of αl–24 ACTH (1.4 × 10-7 M) and significantly reduced glomerulosa cell responses to increasing doses of angiotensin II. In contrast, increasing extracellular potassium concentration caused a dose-dependent reversal of the 10-4 M ouabain block so that at the highest potassium doses used (13 and 18 meq/liter), aldosterone and co...
Optimal control of a single stage production system subject to random process shifts

We consider a single stage production system with Poisson demand and exponential processing times. After producing a good item, the production process can shift to an “out-of-control” state with a given probability and start producing bad items. The state of the process is known only when the next stage (or customer) receives the item. Once an out-of-control process is detected, process correction is instantaneous. Customers arriving to an empty system get backlogged. In this framework, we examine FIFO (First In First Out) and LIFO (Last In First Out) issuing policies. The objective is to minimize the total expected discounted or average costs over an infinite time horizon. We characterize the structure of the optimal production policy for FIFO and LIFO, show that LIFO is better than FIFO and, in general, better than a large class of issuing policies. A numerical example illustrates that savings up to 20 percent can be obtained from using LIFO over FIFO. We also derive conditions under which maintaining z...
Increased yield and disease resistance of giant hill potatoes

In the San Juan district of San Benito county, California, nearly all plantings of potatoes show a dying of the vines in 70 to 100 days from planting, associated with heavy infection of Verticillium and Rhizoctonia. Longer lived selections proved to be giant hill. These have lived up to 136 days, have been relatively free of Verticillium, and have yielded an average of 63 per cent greater gross weight of tubers at 123 to 136 days from planting than normal plants. Tubers from giant hill plants have the disadvantage of more overgrowths, larger size, are more spindle shaped, and have deeper eyes. Other characteristics by which giant hill plants differ from normal are: longer, heavier, and more branched vines, fewer stems per hill, increased number and length of stolons, more cracking of stem surface in soil, indeterminate type of stem growth, smaller leaves with a tendency to curl up, longer dormant period of tubers, less yield of tubers up to go days from planting, slower rate of seed piece decay, less susceptibility of stems and tubers to Rhizoctonia, less susceptibility of foliage to early and late blight, and perhaps greater drought and frost resistance. Strains of giant hill appear to differ greatly with respect to most if not all characteristics observed.
Cerebellar control of constrained and unconstrained movements. I. Nuclear inactivation.

The aim of this study was to determine in monkeys if inactivation of dentate and lateral interposed deep cerebellar nuclei preferentially impairs certain movements relative to others. Constrained m...
Lunar seismic search for strange quark matter

Abstract It was pointed out in 1984 by Witten that strange quark matter (SQM) – matter made of up, down, and strange quarks (rather than just up and down, as are protons and neutrons) – might well be stable and the lowest energy state of matter. The reason is that it would be electrically neutral and have less Pauli-Principle repulsion. Binding would increase with numbers of quarks, and might not begin below thousands. It would have nuclear density. Neutron stars would be strange quark stars; and it might conceivably constitute dark matter. One way to detect ton-range SQM nuggets (SQNs) would be from seismic signals they would make passing through the Earth. We give a rough estimate on the relative advantage of attempting to detect SQNs on the Moon over Earth (about 50 times more detections).
Despite Insurgency: Reducing Military Prerogatives in Colombia and Peru

Colombia and Peru made significant progress in reducing the institutional prerogatives of their respective militaries in the 1990s and 2000s while reforming their economies in a neoliberal direction. They accomplished this despite internal armed threats to state authority and stability. The end of the Cold War, U.S. promotion of “market democracies,” and the international centrality of free markets and formal democratic governance coincided with the rise to power in Peru and Colombia of “neoliberal policy coalitions.” The internal insurgency mitigated the emergence of antiglobalization or antidemocratic reform factions in the military and civil society. The armed forces unified behind their counterinsurgency mission, and opposition in civil society was weakened, creating greater space for neoliberal elites to reform their economies and reduce military prerogatives.
Minimum lifecycle cost design under multiple hazards

Abstract Design of structures against multiple hazards has become an important consideration for many important engineering facilities such as major structures and bridges. A central issue is proper consideration of the uncertainty in the demand and capacity and the balance of reliability against costs. In this study this problem is investigated based on minimization of expected lifecycle cost. The uncertainties in the loads and resistance are modeled by random processes and random variables. Costs of construction, consequences of structural limit states including damage, revenue loss, death and injury as well as discounting cost over time are considered. The importance of various design parameters is first examined by a parametric study. The method is then applied to design of a multistory office building against winds and earthquakes in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Charleston. The sensitivity of optimal design to important but uncertain design parameters such as structural life, discount rate and death and injury cost is investigated. The question of uniform reliability against different hazard is also examined. It is found that an optimization-based design is a viable approach to design against multiple hazards. The design is highly dependent on failure consequence and moderately sensitive to assumption of structural life span and discount rate. It may or may not be sensitive to death and injury cost assumption dependent on location and hazard risk characteristics. Uniform reliability against different hazards is not required. The design is often dominated, but not controlled, by the hazard that has large uncertainty and causes large consequences.
Evaluation of two endemic and five commercial entomopathogenic nematode species (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae) against annual bluegrass weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) larvae and adults

Abstract The annual bluegrass weevil, Listronotus maculicollis, is a highly destructive pest of golf course turfgrass in the northeastern United States. We assessed the virulence of entomopathogenic nematodes to larvae and adults of L. maculicollis as an initial step in developing a biological control program for this pest. Two endemic and five commercially available nematode species were tested in soil and field infested turf core assays. Adult susceptibility was generally low to moderate (11–65% mortality) and was not affected by the age or overwintering condition of the insect. A mixture of two nematode species with different foraging behaviors (Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) achieved the highest levels of adult control, but required 6 days to obtain 50% mortality at five times standard field application rate (125 nematodes/cm2). Conversely, fourth- and fifth-instar larvae were highly susceptible to nematodes. Steinernema feltiae, S. carpocapsae, and S. kraussei significantly reduced fourth instars in both years of the study. The same three species along with the commercial strain of H. bacteriophora significantly reduced high densities of fifth instars to below field damage thresholds. In general, Steinernema spp. trended towards greater control than Heterorhabditis spp. for both fourth and fifth instars. No difference was observed among the virulence of endemic and commercial nematode strains to any L. maculicollis stage tested. The data indicate that Steinernema spp. could provide high levels of control when applied curatively against L. maculicollis larvae.
Animated conversation: rule-based generation of facial expression, gesture & spoken intonation for multiple conversational agents

We describe an implemented system which automatically generates and animates conversations between multiple human-like agents with appropriate and synchronized speech, intonation, facial expressions, and hand gestures. Conversation is created by a dialogue planner that produces the text as well as the intonation of the utterances. The speaker/listener relationship, the text, and the intonation in turn drive facial expressions, lip motions, eye gaze, head motion, and arm gestures generators. Coordinated arm, wrist, and hand motions are invoked to create semantically meaningful gestures. Throughout we will use examples from an actual synthesized, fully animated conversation.
Chromatography of nuclear 4-7-S RNA on DEAE-sephadex columns.

Abstract Chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex columns is a useful method for large-scale purification of components of nuclear 4–7-S RNA inasmuch as 30 mg of RNA were satisfactorily fractionated by this method. Nuclear 4–7-S RNA was separated into several distinct peaks by elution with a 0.5–0.8 M NaCl gradient at pH 3.4, 5.1 or 7.6. Of the various components, 4-S, 5-S and U2 RNA were highly purified by chromatography at pH 7.6 as shown by analytical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. At pH 5.1 or 3.4, U1 RNA was isolated in a highly purified state in a yield of 7% of total 4–7-S RNA. The 4.5-S nuclear RNA which was obtained as an electrophoretically homogeneous fraction by disc gel electrophoresis was fractionated into at least two components by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex columns. In addition, the 5-S nuclear RNA was separated into three components.
Simple Tracking Filters: Closed-Form Solutions

A closed-form steady-state solution is presented for a three-state tracking filter with continuous position measurements and exponentially correlated target acceleration. Some other related closed-form solutions are discussed, and some comparative performance data is presented for the discrete measurement case.
Communicator Attributes and Persuasion Recipients' Access to Attitude-Relevant Information in Memory

Message recipients' recall of attitude-relevant beliefs and experiences was expected to affect message processing such that high-retrieval recipients base their opinions relatively more on an analysis of message validity, whereas recipients who could recall few beliefs and experiences base their opinions on noncontent features such as source cues. Indeed, high-retrieval recipients were unaffected by the likability of the message source, they demonstrated relatively good recall of the message position and arguments, and cognitive response data indicated that persuasion was enhanced by positive rather than negative reactions to message content. In contrast, low-retrieval recipients were more persuaded by likable and by expert sources than unlikable and nonexpert ones. Further, these recipients showed relatively poor recall of the message position and arguments, and cognitive response data suggested that persuasion was enhanced by positive rather than negative reactions to the communicator.
Flow cytometric DNA and 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase in endometrium.

One hundred endometrium specimens have been studied with flow cytometry for DNA analysis (FCDA) and a proliferative enzyme marker, 5′-nucleotide phosphodiesterase (5′-NPD). FCDA data showed that aneuploidy was present in only 5 of 40 cancer specimens. However, with corrected histograms, a higher DNA value was observed in the G2/M (6%) of all cancer compared with noncancer specimens (4%). Thus, FCDA can be a useful diagnostic aid for endometrial cancer. The determination of 5′-NPD was done with a quenching method based on the use of 5′-(5-iodo-3-indoxyl)-thymidine phosphodiester as a substrate and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole for DNA. This method could qualitatively define which population of the cell cycle had a higher enzyme level and also quantitatively gave the enzyme units per cell. It was found that 12.5% of all cancer specimens had 5′-NPD activity in the G0/G1 cells and 87.5% in the S and/ or G2/M cells, whereas in the noncancer specimens 5′-NPD was found in 28.5% of the G0/C1 cells and 71.5% of the specimens had 5′-NPD in the S and/or G2/M cells. Furthermore, the concentration of 5′-NPD was found to be five times higher in the G2/M cells of the cancer specimens than that in the noncancer specimens. However, in the hyperplasia specimens, the activity was only two times higher in the same cell cycle fraction than in the normal specimens. The results of this investigation provided for the first time evidence that this exonuclease activity alters in the cell cycle fractions and that a decrease in the enzyme activity in G0/G1 cells and an increase in G2/M cells may be a useful marker for neoplastic development in human endometrial cancer.
Incidence and outcome of overt gastrointestinal bleeding in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, clinical patterns, and outcomes of gastrointestinal bleeding in consecutive patients treated at one bone marrow transplant center. We reviewed the clinical course of 579 consecutive bone marrow transplant recipients who underwent therapy from January 1986 through December 1993. These patients were evaluated for overt gastrointestinal bleeding, defined as hematemesis, melena, hematochezia, or a combination. Overt gastrointestinal bleeding was identified in 43 of 579 patients (7.4%), including 25 men and 18 women undergoing transplantation for hematologic disorders (N=29) and solid tumors (N=14). After high-dose cytotoxic chemotherapy, patients were given allogeneic (N=10) or autologous (N=33) hematopoietic progenitor cell support obtained from bone marrow, peripheral blood, or both. H2 blockers, sucralfate, or a combination were administered to all patients as prophylactic therapy. Bleeding manifestations included hematemesis (N=24), melena (N=8), hematochezia (N=7), and combinations (N=4). The median time from bone marrow infusion to the onset of overt gastrointestinal bleeding was 7.5 days (range: 0–45 days). Fourteen patients had evidence of orthostatic hypotension attributable to gastrointestinal bleeding. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed in 26 patients; 18 had diffuse esophagitis and gastritis. Two patients with bleeding ulcers underwent successful electrocautery. Colonoscopy was performed in five patients and revealed a cecal ulcer in one subject, tumor recurrence in one patient, and colitis in another. No patients underwent surgical intervention. Only one patient died as a result of gastrointestinal bleeding. Overt gastrointestinal bleeding is uncommon in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation; most episodes are self-limited and do not contribute to overall mortality. Endoscopy is primarily diagnostic as most patients do not have lesions amenable to therapeutic procedures.
Testing and Beyond: Strategies and Tools for Evaluating and Assessing Infants and Toddlers

Purpose This article is a condensation of the recent American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) document entitled Roles and Responsibilities of Speech-Language Pathologists in Early Intervention: Guidelines (ASHA, 2008). The article presents information on recommended and evidence-based practices related to the screening, evaluation, and assessment of infants and toddlers with, or at risk for, communication deficits. It is intended to be used by clinicians to enhance their practices. Method The Guidelines document was developed using the available research evidence, expert clinical perspectives, and, when possible, family perspectives related to the screening, evaluation, and assessment process. The current article includes key definitions and an overview of recommended practices in screening, evaluation, assessment, and results interpretation. Implications The article provides important and timely information for professionals and families related to the screening, evaluation, and assessment of ...
Spatial and Temporal Ecology of Fish Larvae in Seasonal and Perennial Tributaries of The Sacramento River, Calfiornia

Mediterranean climates with their pattern of seasonal rainfall and predictable annual flooding produce a wide variety of seasonally inundated aquatic habitats. Many studies have shown the benefits of these temporary habitats, such as floodplains, for the early life stages of fishes but little work has examined the use of seasonal streams or the differences in the abundance and distribution of native fish larvae between seasonal and perennial stream habitats. We compared the spatial and temporal distribution of fish larvae among two seasonal and two perennial tributaries of the Sacramento River, CA, USA during the winter and spring of 2004 and conducted a detailed examination of the distribution of fish larvae in Mud Creek, a seasonal stream, in 2006 and 2007. In 2004, both seasonal streams had higher average water temperatures (19.0°C and 16.8°C) and an earlier initial appearance of fish larvae (early March) than the perennial streams (15.5°C and 13.3°C; late March and early May). One of the seasonal stre...
Internal dropwise condensation: Modeling and experimental framework for horizontal tube condensers

Abstract Many researches have been focused on internal condensation with machined microstructure patterns on internal surfaces that can improve heat transfer performance up to 400% comparing to smooth surfaces. However, microstructure patterns are not effective for all geometries such as micro-channels and other complicated shapes. This study uses a dropwise condensation (DWC) promoter that can be easily applied to different geometries to improve internal condensation heat transfer. The main objectives of this study are to investigate internal condensation heat transfer by the dropwise condensation promoter via (i) developing an internal dropwise condensation model and (ii) conducting internal condensation experiments with the dropwise condensation promoter. The dropwise condensation model was modified to the available internal condensation model. The experiments for internal steam condensation were conducted for aluminum and copper tubes with external fins and an internal coating for dropwise condensation. The experimental results are compared to the results from several correlations in the literature and the model developed in this study. It is found that most correlations in the literature overestimate internal condensation heat transfer coefficients at low mass fluxes. The dropwise condensation model shows that dropwise condensation promoters can enhance internal condensation heat transfer coefficients. This conclusion is verified by experimental results demonstrating that the hydrophobic dropwise condensation promoter used in this study can enhance internal condensation heat transfer coefficients by 50%.
Stabilization and speedup of convergence in training feedforward neural networks

Abstract We review the training problem for feedforward neural networks and discuss various techniques for accelerating and stabilizing the convergence during training. Among other techniques, these include a self-adjusting step gain, bipolar sigmoid activation functions, training on all classes in parallel, adjusting the exponential rates in the sigmoids, bounding the sigmoid derivatives away from zero, training on exemplars to which noise has been added, adjusting the initial weight set to a subdomain of low values of the sum-squared error, and adjusting the momentum coefficient over the iterations. We also examine methods to assure the generalization of the learning, which include the pruning of unimportant weights and adding noise to exemplars for training.
Paraffin-tipped polyethylene tubing for feedingof premature babies, infants, and children

Summary The sharp end of polyethylene tubesused for feeding of premature infants can injure the nasopharyngeal wall and the gastric mucosa. A simple method for preparing a less traumatic paraffin tip is described.
Existence of vote maximizing equilibrium in one dimension

Abstract Within the context of a one-dimensional model of electoral competition involving any finite number of vote maximizing parties, conditions are found ensuring existence of a unique, pure strategies equilibrium in which all parties choose distinct positions. Vote abstention occurs only because of alienation and the likelihood of abstention increases continously with the amount of alienation. It is assumed alternatively that either the electorate is uniformly distributed or that the likelihood of abstention depends on how well the position of a party matches that of a voter vis-a-vis other voters as measured by the traction of the electorate having positions between that of the voter and the ‘closest’ party. An illustrative example, using a particular abstention function, is provided in which distinct equilibrium positions are found for any finite number of parties. In the example, voter turnout is shown to increase with the number of parties.
User Request Evaluation Tool and Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications: Integration Benefits Assessment

Explored are the benefits of integrating User Request Evaluation Tool (URET) and Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC). Controller-pilot voice-communication messages and aircraft traffic flows and conflicts are analyzed in great detail in one representative, URET-operating en route sector. On the basis of the mapped URET data and the real-world communication messages, a base case and two alternative scenarios were analyzed to estimate the number of clearances that are given to pilots to resolve aircraft conflicts a sufficient time before the start of the conflict, and to determine the reduction in frequency congestion possible if such messages were sent via data link. It was found that the highest frequency use, which corresponded to the first traffic peak, was reduced 27% after the second-scenario messages were removed from the base-case scenario. After removing the non-time-critical conflict-resolution messages, the total reduction was 59%. Frequency use during the highest number of aircraft...
School Uniforms: A Qualitative Analysis of Aims and Accomplishments at Two Christian Schools

Employing rigorous qualitative research methodology, we studied the implementation of two schools' uniform policies. Their primary intents were to eliminate competition, teach young people to dress appropriately, decrease nonacademic distractions, and lower the parental clothing costs. The young people differed with adults regarding whether or not the objectives relating to competition and distractions were met. Both adults and young people agreed that the goal of learning to dress more appropriately was met, yet they differed on how accomplishment was achieved—and also on how they understood appropriate dress. Data from both schools was generally comparable, with four notable differences.
Iron chlorosis and the iron status of soils

Abstract The iron status of soils and its relation to iron uptake and iron‐chlorosis is discussed. In many soils, the soluble iron level is so low that rather than having to screen against iron uptake, plants are likely limited in their iron uptake by diffusion. The relationship between the plant root‐soil‐iron environment and the plant's ability to alter this environment is related to the development of iron‐chlorosis.
Success factors of line extensions of fast‐moving consumer goods

Among the range of strategies available to a company, line extensions are an important way to keep a brand alive and to realize incremental financial growth. In order to be successful at introducing new extensions managers should understand line extensions’ key success factors. In this study three market‐related factors’ impact on line extension success were investigated, i.e. the level of competition in the market place; retailer power; and consumers’ variety seeking behavior. Data collected from 49 marketing and product managers in the fast‐moving consumer goods industry showed that line extensions have very little added value over existing products, and that cannibalization is very much related to a line extension’s success. Of all line extensions, those involving new flavors and new packaging/sizes were most successful. Extensions that improved product quality were found to be unsuccessful. The market‐variables: level of competition; retailer power; and variety seeking behavior all had a negative influence on line extension success. Dominant brands were hurt more by variety seeking behavior’s negative impact than less dominant brands.
Suicide mortality after spinal cord injury in the United States: injury cohorts analysis.

Objectives: To compare 12-year suicide-specific mortalities of 3 different injury cohorts, identify the risk factors for suicide mortality after spinal cord injury (SCI), and investigate whether suicide mortality is higher among those with SCI than in the general population. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: United States hospitals (nZ28) designated as SCI Model Systems. Participants: Participants (NZ31,339) injured between January 1, 1973, and December 31, 1999. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure: Suicide death after SCI. Results: The crude annual suicide mortality rate during the first 12 years after SCI was 91 per 100,000 person-years for 1973 to 1979 injury cohort, 69 per 100,000 person-years for 1980 to 1989 injury cohort, and 46 per 100,000 person-years for 1990 to 1999 injury cohort. Suicide mortality was associated with race, injury severity, and years since injury. The standardized mortality ratios for the 3 cohorts were 5.2, 3.7, and 3.0, respectively. Conclusions: Suicide mortality among those with SCI decreased over 3 injury cohorts, but it still remained 3 times higher than that of the general population.
Reconstitution of Outer Membrane Protein Assembly from Purified Components

β-Barrel membrane proteins in Gram-negative bacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts are assembled by highly conserved multiprotein complexes. The mechanism by which these molecular machines fold and insert their substrates is poorly understood. It has not been possible to dissect the folding and insertion pathway because the process has not been reproduced in a biochemical system. We purified the components that fold and insert E. coli outer membrane proteins and reconstituted β-barrel protein assembly in proteoliposomes using the enzymatic activity of a protein substrate to report on its folding state. The assembly of this protein occurred without an energy source, but required a soluble chaperone in addition to the multiprotein assembly complex.
A new fatigue tester for prosthetic heart valves

Abstract As a result of the initial experience obtained with a valve-loading simulator of this type it is concluded that the inversion principle of cycling the valve rather than the fluid is entirely feasible and practical in the frequency range of 30 cps. Peak pressures and flows can be controlled by adjusting the driving eccentricity or the tube configuration. The device is relatively inexpensive, involves no precision parts in its construction, and is capable of simultaneously subjecting a considerable number of test valves to cyclic pressures. It has been possible to use the central transverse strut of the center-hinged valves as a convenient sensing point, which, in conjunction with wire resistance strain gauges has provided a simple and effective pressure-sensing system. In other types of valves such an obvious sensing location may not be available. If not, a somewhat different system may be required for pressure instrumentation.
Transcutaneous Raman spectroscopy of bone global sampling and ring/disk fiber optic probes

We have used fiber optic probes with global illumination/collection (PhAT probe, Kaiser Optical Systems) and ring illumination/disk collection configurations for transcutaneous Raman spectroscopy of bone tissue. Both illumination/collection schemes can be used for recovery of spectra of subsurface components. In this paper the global illumination configuration provides minimum local power density and so minimizes the probability of damage to specimens, animals or human subjects. It also allows non-destructive subsurface mapping under certain conditions. The ring/disk probe utilizes a ring of laser light and collects Raman scatter from within the diameter of the ring. This design distributes the laser power for efficient heat dissipation and provides a better collection ratio of subsurface to surface components than the global illumination design. For non-invasive tissue spectroscopy the ring/disk design also provides better rejection of fluorescence from melanocytes. We have tested the performance of these Raman probes on polymer model systems and chicken tibiae.
Tumoristatic effects of endostatin in prostate cancer is dependent on androgen receptor status.

BACKGROUND Although anti-angiogenic therapy is a promising new line of therapy for prostate cancer, we recently reported that stable expression of endostatin arrested the progression of prostate cancer to poorly differentiated state and distant metastasis in TRAMP mice. However, the same therapy failed to provide any benefit when given either during or after the onset of metastatic switch. The present study determined the possible mechanisms behind the selective advantage of endostatin therapy in early-stage disease. METHODS Angiogenesis-related gene expression analysis was performed to identify target genes and molecular pathways involved in the therapy effects. Based on the results from in vivo studies, and recapitulation of the in vivo data in vitro using tumorigenic and non-tumorigenic human prostate cancer cells that are either androgen-sensitive or androgen-independent, analyses of possible mechanisms of the selective advantage of early treatment were performed using assays for cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and cell signaling. The identified mechanisms were further confirmed in vivo. RESULTS Results indicated that cells with high androgen receptor (AR) expression were more sensitive to endostatin treatment than androgen-independent cells with low or no AR expression. Endostatin was found to significantly downregulate the expression of growth factors, receptor tyrosine kinases, proteases, and AR both in vitro and in vivo only when the cells express high-levels of AR. Cell proliferation was not influenced by endostatin treatment but migration was significantly affected only in androgen-sensitive cells. Targeted downregulation of AR prior to endostatin treatment in androgen-sensitive cells and overexpression of AR in androgen-independent cells indicated that the effect of endostatin via AR downregulation is mediated by a non-genotropic mechanism on Ras and RhoA pathways, and independently of AR on MAPK/ERK pathway. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that systemically stable endostatin expression delays the onset of metastatic switch by acting on multiple pathways involving AR. Prostate 69:1055–1066, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Position-sensitive counter telescope for light and heavy ions☆

Abstract A position-sensitive counter telescope of 600 mm length has been developed for use in an Enge split-pole spectrograph. The device has an intrinsic position resolution of less than 0.25 mm for light and heavy ions at 45° incidence. Particle identification is provided by a gridded, 22 mm high and 140 mm deep ionization chamber which yields a total energy (E) readout from the cathode plate. Also provided are ΔE signals and a veto signal from a segmented anode. The total energy resolution for 60 MeV 16O ions is 1%, the ΔE resolution 4.4%. The ionization chamber is backed by a fast scinillator which stops penetrating ions. Electrons from short sections of the ion trajectories are selected for position sensing by a drift field, which is perpendicular to the trajectory and to the cathode of the ionization chamber, and by two ⩽ 1 mm gaps in its anode. Proportional counter anode wires are mounted just below these collimation gaps, within 3 mm of the bare wires of a helical delay line. The helix transmits the fast pulses induced by the electron avalanches to conventional timing electronics. The detector derives its first position signal from the anode wire in the spectrograph focal plane and the second one from an anode about 70 mm downstream the ion trajectory. (The two related position measurements are complete in about 4 μs.) An angular resolution of 0.3° referred to the reaction angle was obtained. The detector has operated without loss in resolution at up 20 000 counts per second.
Isolated Central Nervous System Metastasis from Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

Although systemic metastases from transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder occur frequently, involvement of the central nervous system is uncommon. We describe a patient with an isolated cerebral metastasis who had previously undergone resection of a Grade III, Stage B2 carcinoma of the bladder. We have been able to find only one previous case report of a solitary intracerebral metastasis from transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder without evidence of primary recurrence or additional sites of spread. Central nervous system metastasis from bladder carcinoma must be considered in the differential diagnosis of solitary intracerebral lesions.
Technical Note-Cyclic Dynamic Programming: A Procedure for Problems with Fixed Delay

A dynamic decision problem in which the effect of control action is either delayed for a number of time periods or has an effect that lasts for a fixed period leads, in the conventional formulation, to a high-dimensional dynamic-programming problem. This paper develops a method for exploiting the inherent structure of such problems that leads to low-dimensional "cyclic dynamic programming" problems that are easier to solve than the problem that is obtained by the conventional approach.
Linear decentralized systems with special structure

Certain fundamental structures associated with linear systems having internal symmetries are outlined. It is shown that the theory of finite-dimensional algebras and their representations are closely related to such systems. It is also demonstrated that certain problems in the decentralized control of symmetric systems are equivalent to long-standing problems of linear systems theory. Even though the structure imposed arose in considering the problems of twin-lift helicopters, any large system composed of several identical intercoupled control systems can be modeled by a linear system that satisfies the constraints imposed. Internal symmetry can be exploited to yield new system-theoretic invariants and a better understanding of the way in which the underlying structure affects overall system performance.
Study of magnetic interactions in HoFe O 3

The Ho-Fe and Ho-Ho interaction parameters are discussed in reference to optical Zeeman spectroscopic data and magnetization data on HoFe${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$. A molecular-field model is presented that incorporates these parameters in a systematic manner permitting accurate calculations of the ground-state pair Zeeman splitting constant and magnetization in the temperature region below about 60 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. By applying the model to existing data the authors are led to the tentative conclusion that Ho-Fe exchange is dominantly antisymmetric. In addition, the effect of an applied magnetic field upon the reorientation transition is explored in detail. The interesting result obtained is that previously unexplained anomalies in the magnetization data are found to be attributable to a spin orientation, and that both the usual reorientation transition and the field-driven transition are contained in the same molecular-field interaction theory.
Sea water or its components alter experimental irritant dermatitis in man

Background/aims: Ocean bathing has been considered “healthy” for skin, but its efficacy remains testimonial in nature. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of sea water and its main components on experimental irritant contact dermatitis induced by sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) cumulative irritation. Methods: After open application of 2% SLS for 10 min on volar forearm sites, solutions of sea water, 500 mM NaCl, 10 mM KCl, 55 mM MgCl2, 10 mM CaCl2, or deionized water were separately applied using filter paper discs for 20 min. The procedures were repeated daily for 2 weeks. The effects of the treatment were assessed daily using measurements of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), as an indicator of epidermal barrier function, and capacitance, as a parameter of stratum corneum water content. Results: Sea water, NaCl, and KCl significantly inhibited the increase of TEWL as compared with deionized water (P<0.003, P<0.05, P<0.05, respectively). Sea water and NaCl inhibited the decrease of capacitance as well (P<0.03, P<0.01). Conclusion: The effect of sea water may be attributed to skin barrier preservation by NaCl and KCl, and an emollient effect by NaCl.
Crowd-Sensing with Polarized Sources

The paper presents a new model for crowd-sensing applications, where humans are used as the sensing sources to report information regarding the physical world. In contrast to previous work on the topic, we consider a model where the sources in question are polarized. Such might be the case, for example, in political disputes and in situations involving different communities with largely dissimilar beliefs that color their interpretation and reporting of physical world events. Reconstructing accurate ground truth is more complicated when sources are polarized. The paper describes an algorithm that significantly improves the quality of reconstruction results in the presence of polarized sources. For evaluation, we recorded human observations from Twitter for four months during a recent Egyptian uprising against the former president. We then used our algorithm to reconstruct a version of events and compared it to other versions produced by state of the art algorithms. Our analysis of the data set shows the presence of two clearly defined camps in the social network that tend of propagate largely disjoint sets of claims (which is indicative of polarization), as well as third population whose claims overlap subsets of the former two. Experiments show that, in the presence of polarization, our reconstruction tends to align more closely with ground truth in the physical world than the existing algorithms.
Factor market effects upon product market equilibrium

Conventional duopoly models typically assume agents possess specific conjectures concerning other agents’ behavior. In this paper equilibrium conjectures are endogenous and are a result of a joint factor market and product market equilibrium. Factor markets affect product markets since potential managers or owners of firms engage in product market competition and compete for corporate control in labor or capital markets. The resulting factor and product market joint equilibrium (FPE) endogenizes conjectures and can thus potentially endogenize market structure. This approach provides economic rationales for both Stackelberg and consistent conjectural equilibria. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Photo-sensitivity of oxidised cholesterol Black Lipid Membrane incorporated with acid and basic dyes.

The dark resistance and capacitance of oxidised cholesterol Black Lipid Membrane was measured in presense of acidic and basic dyes. The resistance of the membrane decreases almost 10-fold while the capacitance increases with increasing concentration of dyes. The results have been interpreted in terms of solubilization of the dyes by the Black Lipid Membrane. Exposure of the BLMs containing dyes to visible light filtered through 5 % CuSO4 solution, produced trans membrane emf. These photo-emfs are attributed to the production of charge carriers and their subsequent separation. Similarities between the dye modified BLMs and dye coated electrodes have been noted.
Kolmogorov's refined similarity hypotheses.

Using velocity data obtained in the atmospheric surface layer, we examine Kolmogorov's refined hypotheses. In particular, we focus on the properties of the stochastic variable V=\ensuremath{\Delta}u(r)/(r${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}}_{\mathit{r}}$${)}^{1/3}$, where \ensuremath{\Delta}u(r) is the velocity increment over a distance r, and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}}_{\mathit{r}}$ is the dissipation rate averaged over linear intervals of size r. We show that V has an approximately universal probability density function for r in the inertial range and discuss its properties; we also examine the properties of V for r outside the inertial range.