cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thromboembolic Complications After Fontan Operations

Background Despite the increasing recognition of thromboembolic complications of the Fontan procedure, data characterizing such events are limited. The total cavopulmonary connection is believed to be less prone to this complication than other modifications of Fontan operations. We examined our experience with thromboembolism after Fontan operations to better characterize these events and their relation to the type of Fontan operation performed. Methods and Results We retrospectively identified 70 patients who underwent a Fontan operation between January 1978 and March 1994. Patients were divided into three groups: (1) total cavopulmonary connection, (2) atriopulmonary connection, and (3) conduit interposition. Fourteen patients (20%) developed a thromboembolic complication during a mean (±SD) follow-up of 5.2±4.7 years. The rate of thrombosis was similar in each group. The time from Fontan operation to thrombosis averaged 6.1±5.0 years. The overall rate of thromboembolic events was 3.9 per 100 patient-ye...
A method to eliminate the asymptomatic carrier state of Aeromonas salmonicida in salmonids

. The rate of assimilation in chinook salmon of an aryl-fluoroquinolone antibacterial from the environment as a function of time and of added chemicals (surfactants and hyperosmotic saline) was measured. A 0·01% Tween 80 antibacterial solution provided the highest serum levels of the aryl-fluoroquinolone. This surfactant and four levels of antibacterial were used to evaluate the efficacy for elimination of the Aeromonas salmonicida carrier state in juvenile spring chinook salmon. All treatments, excepting the control, completely eliminated the asymptomatic carrier state within 48h post-treatment. The carrier populations were monitored for 10 days and no reinfection was detected.
Three Hawaiian calderas: An origin through loading by shallow intrusions?

The calderas of Kilauea and Mauna Loa are highly dynamic structures, and in the <200-year historic period have varied in volume by a factor of 2, and gained or lost 1 km3 per century. The deeply eroded caldera of the extinct Koolau Volcano in Oahu is wider than active Hawaiian calderas, and its lavas have a strong centripetal dip and funnel structure not evident at Kilauea or Mauna Loa. The differences can be attributed to the different erosion depths, and the time integrated subsidence profile of Kilauea is also a stepped funnel (having its apex at Halemaumau). Koolau caldera is the focus of an extraordinarily intense dike complex, and an intriguing feature is the great diminution in dike concentration into the caldera. It is thought that dike injection in any part of the complex generally continued until it reached 50% to 65%. In outer parts of the caldera, the complex was maintained at or rebuilt to this value despite subsidence. In the center of the caldera (where the positive Bouguer anomaly is centered), subsidence evidently greatly outpaced the capacity of dike injections to rebuild the complex. Assuming the same dike injection rate as Kilauea and Mauna Loa yields a volumetric subsidence rate in Koolau caldera exceeding 1 km3 per century. Hawaiian calderas are much more dynamic than calderas of silicic volcanoes, shaped by frequent small events instead of a few great ones. The temporal and volumetric correspondence of historical subsidence events with eruptions is poor, and this and the high subsidence rates argue for a caldera-forming mechanism that consumes the subsided rocks. It is suggested that subsidence is caused by the great localized excess load of intrusive rocks, carrying the center of the volcano into the thermally weakened lithosphere above the Hawaiian hot spot. It is envisaged that under steady state conditions the magma chamber rises, as the injection of intrusions causes the level of neutral buoyancy (at which the chamber is located) to ascend, and keeps pace with subsidence.
Reversible oxygen gas sensor based on electrochemiluminescence

A novel and robust oxygen gas sensor based on electrochemiluminescence of Ru(bpy)33+/+ ion annihilation in an ionic liquid is presented. Real-time detection of environmental oxygen concentration together with selective, sensitive and reversible performance is demonstrated.
Interventions for intimate partner violence: A historical review.

Intimate partner violence (IPV), also known as domestic abuse or relationship violence, has generated a large research literature for the last half-century, particularly in the areas of criminal justice, psychology, and the social sciences. Interventions for victims and perpetrators of IPV have largely been sequestered to separately evolving efforts of law enforcement and the psychotherapeutic community (Chang et al. Women’s Health Issues, 15(1), 21–30, 2005; Dalton Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 15(1), 59–75, 2007; Dobash and Dobash 2000; Feder et al. 2008; Gerbert et al. Journal of Family Practice, 49(10), 889–895, 2000; Wathen and MacMillan. Journal of the American Medical Association, 289(5), 589–600, 2003). This article presents a brief overview of the historical evolution and development of these discrete perspectives and identifies and assesses current collaborative interventions rooted in these historical precedents. In conclusion, the authors provide a summative discussion of the most current findings of research into IPV interventions, with a particular focus on the changing roles of race and gender in both the criminal prosecution of IPV and services provided to IPV perpetrators and victims.
Planning the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program

A new research frontier—continental scientific drilling—has the potential to substantially increase our knowledge of fundamental problems throughout the solid Earth sciences. A consensus of interdisciplinary Earth scientists is growing worldwide supporting the establishment of an International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICSDP) as a logical next step in the development of the Earth sciences. After all, the continents are where most of the Earth's history is recorded, most of our resources are found, and most of the world's population lives. In the development of all of the sciences there have been thresholds that, when crossed, led to rapid and exciting new advances and the creation of new paradigms. Usually, these thresholds were crossed when new methods were developed that yielded new observations and better testing of old hypotheses. Crossing that threshold in ocean drilling with the development of the Deep Sea Drilling Program (DSDP) and the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) revolutionized marine geology and geophysics and mademajor contributions to our understanding of fundamental aspects of the Earth's crust and upper mantle. The time has come to cross the threshold of scientific drilling on land.
Thrombin induced secretion of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and its effect on nuclear signaling in endothelium.

The procoagulant thrombin stimulates endothelial cells (EC) to undergo rapid cytoskeleton changes via signaling pathways that induce multiple phenotypic changes, including alterations in permeability, vasomotor tone, adhesion molecule synthesis, and leukocyte trafficking. We studied a novel role of thrombin's action on the endothelium that results in MIF secretion, which is linked to myosin light chain (MLC) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK½)-dependent nuclear signaling. In bovine pulmonary artery EC (BPAEC), thrombin treatment induced intracellular MLC phosphorylation within 15 min, followed by a significant increase in MIF secretion within 30 min. Thrombin treatment induced biphasic ERK½ phosphorylation with an early phase occurring at 15 min and a later phase at 120 min. To understand the role of MIF secretion in thrombin-induced biphasic activation of ERK½, BPAE cells were treated with (i) recombinant MIF, and (ii) the medium collected from thrombin-treated BPAE cells. These studies demonstrated a sustained monophasic ERK½ phosphorylation. Inhibition of MIF secretion by MIF siRNA or antisense-MIF treatment, along with a neutralizing antibody, attenuated the thrombin-induced second phase ERK phosphorylation, suggesting a direct involvement of MIF in the second phase of ERK½ activation. Pretreatment of BPAE cells with an ERK kinase inhibitor and with antisense-MIF significantly inhibited thrombin-induced nuclear factor kappa (NF-κB) activation. These results indicate that MIF secretion and ERK phosphorylation both play a necessary role in thrombin induced NF-κB activation. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 1279–1288, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Antagonism of Catecholamine Receptor Signaling by Expression of Cytoplasmic Domains of the Receptors

The actions of many hormones and neurotransmitters are mediated by the members of a superfamily of receptors coupled to heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins). These receptors are characterized by a highly conserved topographical arrangement in which seven transmembrane domains are connected by intracellular and extracellular loops. The interaction between these receptors and G proteins is mediated in large part by the third intracellular loop of the receptor. Coexpression of the third intracellular loop of the alpha 1B-adrenergic receptor with its parent receptor inhibited receptor-mediated activation of phospholipase C. The inhibition extended to the closely related alpha 1C-adrenergic receptor subtype, but not the phospholipase C-coupled M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor nor the adenylate cyclase-coupled D1A dopamine receptor. These results suggest that the receptor-G protein interface may represent a target for receptor antagonist drugs.
A new ultrasound scoring system for assessing the severity of constipation in children

Pelvic ultrasound (US) has been used in various different ways to assess severity of constipation. We evaluated the use of a new US scoring system to determine if there is any correlation between symptom severity and US findings. Data were collected prospectively on all children attending the constipation clinic from January 2007 to July 2008. All patients completed a standardised symptom severity score sheet (SSS) for constipation. US was done with the probe placed 2 cm above the pubic symphysis. A new US scoring system designed to assess the faecal loading and its effect on the bladder was used. Patients with severe symptoms were followed up with few patients requiring as many as four follow up visits. During each follow-up visit SSS and US scoring was completed. A total of 500 patients were studied (male 317, female 183) with a median age of 8 years (8 months, 18 years). Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software (version 15.0). Pearson’s correlation was used to assess the correlation between SSS and US score. P value <0.05 was considered to represent a statistically significant correlation between symptoms and ultrasound findings. US is an easy and quick tool that can be used in the out-patient setting to assess severity of constipation. The new US scoring system is a reliable method that can be used in conjunction with clinical examination for assessing the long-term improvement of children who are undergoing treatment for chronic constipation.
Paradoxical Response of the Unblocked Hyperthyroid Gland to Iodide

Studies were carried out on 16 patients with hyperthyroidism in order to assess the effect of large doses of potassium iodide on the rate of reduction of radioactivity in the unblocked thyroid gland. In 8 patients, glandular depletion of radioactivity was enhanced by potassium iodide, while in the remaining half the appearance of the secretion rate remained unchanged. At no time was inhibition of the biological half-life observed; in all patients, however, the serum thyroxine concentration and resin sponge 131I-T3 uptake values declined, indicating that thyroid function had been depressed. It is conceivable that iodide may have inhibited the rate of thyroxine release, but the net loss of radioactivity suffered from failure of glandular reincorporation of radioiodide in some patients may have exceeded the fraction of retained 131I and thereby resulted in the pattern of an accelerated release of radioactivity. These data suggest that, in the unblocked hyperthyroid gland, impairment of thyroxine synthesis is...
γ-deuteron Compton scattering in effective field theory

Abstract The differential cross section for γ-deuteron Compton scattering is computed to next-to-leading order (NLO) in an effective field theory that describes nucleon-nucleon interactions below the pion production threshold. Contributions at NLO include the nucleon isoscalar electric polarizability from its 1 m π behavior in the chiral limit. The parameter-free prediction of the γ-deuteron differential cross section at NLO is in good agreement with data.
Gettin’ Down Home With the Neelys: gastro-porn and televisual performances of gender, race, and sexuality

This article illuminates how performances of gender, race, and sexuality are integrated with representations of food and food performance in contemporary American cooking television. Interrogating the intersections of food, gender, race, sexuality, and performance, this essay explores how the cable-television show, Down Home with the Neelys, depicts a nouveau gastro-porn anchored in the perceived pornographic level of blackness itself. The author reveals the ways that food and performances of food become a medium of gendering and racialization employed by American popular media. Through the lens of reality television, shows like Down Home (re)produce a certain type of black heterosexuality and gendered enactments of domesticity and space, while challenging dominant televisual reflections of black love and labor. The author argues that the Neelys self-consciously employ a vernacular aesthetic performative of “down home” (a uniquely classed, temporally–spatially situated, and sexualized blackness) to exploi...
The spatial structure of local surficial sediment characteristics on Georges Bank, USA

Abstract Georges Bank is one of the world’s most productive marine ecosystems, but the lack of accurate broad-scale sediment maps presently limits habitat assessments and spatial fisheries management. From 1999 to 2009 we surveyed 36,669 km2 of Georges Bank using 2.8 and 0.6 m2 quadrats viewed with live underwater video (video quadrats). The sediment types observed in 61,604 quadrats were used to map and evaluate spatial structure of local surficial sediment coarseness, dominance, heterogeneity, and maximum size characteristics at a 1 km2 spatial resolution. Sand dominated sediment covered 62% of the study area, and there was a logarithmic decline in coverage by larger, coarser and more heterogeneous sediments. Gravel dominated sediments covered 38% of the study area and were more than twice as abundant as previously estimated. A 12,890 km2 swath of gravel dominated seabed stretched from Cape Cod to northeastern Georges Bank consistent with estimates of prehistoric glacial extent. Within the swath there were 14 large gravel outcrops (15–2743 km2) . This work increases the spatial resolution of sediment information available for habitat assessments and spatial fisheries management on Georges Bank by two orders of magnitude. The four sediment characteristics we evaluated support further detailed investigations of the Bank’s benthos, including the influences of surficial sediment characteristics on species and community distributions, and more spatially accurate estimates of seabed roughness. Finally, this work demonstrates the use of video quadrats as an alternative to traditional grab sampling and modern acoustic sampling for continental shelf-scale mapping.
Hepatitis C Virus-Induced Cancer Stem Cell-Like Signatures in Cell Culture and Murine Tumor Xenografts

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a prominent risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Similar to most solid tumors, HCCs are believed to contain poorly differentiated cancer stem cell-like cells (CSCs) that initiate tumorigenesis and confer resistance to chemotherapy. In these studies, we demonstrate that the expression of an HCV subgenomic replicon in cultured cells results in the acquisition of CSC traits. These traits include enhanced expression of doublecortin and CaM kinase-like-1 (DCAMKL-1), Lgr5, CD133, α-fetoprotein, cytokeratin-19 (CK19), Lin28, and c-Myc. Conversely, curing of the replicon from these cells results in diminished expression of these factors. The putative stem cell marker DCAMKL-1 is also elevated in response to the overexpression of a cassette of pluripotency factors. The DCAMKL-1-positive cells isolated from hepatoma cell lines by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) form spheroids in Matrigel. The HCV RNA abundance and NS5B levels are significantly reduced by the small interfering RNA (siRNA)-led depletion of DCAMKL-1. We further demonstrate that HCV replicon-expressing cells initiate distinct tumor phenotypes compared to the tumors initiated by parent cells lacking the replicon. This HCV-induced phenotype is characterized by high-level expression/coexpression of DCAMKL-1, CK19, α-fetoprotein, and active c-Src. The results obtained by the analysis of liver tissues from HCV-positive patients and liver tissue microarrays reiterate these observations. In conclusion, chronic HCV infection appears to predispose cells toward the path of acquiring cancer stem cell-like traits by inducing DCAMKL-1 and hepatic progenitor and stem cell-related factors. DCAMKL-1 also represents a novel cellular target for combating HCV-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.
Arch debranching versus elephant trunk procedures for hybrid repair of thoracic aortic pathologies.

Background We compared outcomes of arch debranching (AD) and elephant trunk (ET) techniques when used with thoracic endovascular aortic repair. Methods A review was performed of consecutive patients with proximal thoracic aortic pathologies repaired with a hybrid approach. Results Between 2005 and 2009, 58 patients underwent first-stage ET (n = 21) or AD (n = 37). Cardiopulmonary bypass was utilized in 100% of ET procedures and 68% of AD procedures (p Conclusions Arch debranching achieves equivalent results to standard elephant trunk repair but with a decreased need for cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest.
Context Aware Identity Management Using Smart Phones

Cell phones are personal devices that are seldom used by more than one individual. Today's smart phone not only serves as the key computing and communication mobile device of choice, but it also comes with a rich set of embedded sensors. In other words, smart phones can be considered less of a "phone" in the traditional sense and more of an identity management device. Furthermore the unique array of sensors on a smart phone can communicate its owner's identity to the world. Smart phones are pervasive computing devices that ubiquitously accompany humans and must adapt accordingly. In this paper, we propose architecture to fully leverage the capabilities to achieve a seamless identity management system. We use the sensor data from the smart phone to generate the context and identify the user to the outside world.
PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT OF InGaN-BASED LASER DIODES USING A STEP-GRADED AlxGa1-xN ELECTRON BLOCKING LAYER

A step-graded AlxGa1-xN electron blocking layer (EBL) is introduced to the InGaN-based edge-emitting blue-violet laser diode (LD) structure to suppress the undesired built-in interface polarization charges. When compared to a conventional abrupt Al0.18Ga0.82N EBL design, the step-graded AlxGa1-xN EBL design may help reduce the electron accumulation at the edge of the active region and hence improve the quantum efficiency in LD operation. The effects of the step-graded AlxGa1-xN EBL on the fabricated device performance are also investigated. LDs with the step-graded AlxGa1-xN EBL demonstrated significantly reduced threshold current density and increased slope efficiency under the continuous-wave operation.
Turbulent ignition of non-premixed hydrogen by heated counterflowing atmospheric air

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of turbulence on the temperature of a heated air jet required to ignite a counterflowing cold hydrogen/nitrogen jet at atmospheric pressure. At high fuel concentration, the ignition temperature was found to be insesitive to the turbulent intensity. This is consistent with previous results on laminar flows, which found the dominant chemistry govering the second explosion limit, around atmospheric pressure, to be sufficiently rapid when compared with the transport rates for the ignition temperature to be insensitive to the local strain rate of the flow. The present results indicate that this is true whether the strain rate is manifested through the steady bulk strain rate of the flow or the unsteady straining dure to turbulent eddies. At lower hydrogen concentrations, however, ignition was found to be intermittent in that the flow is repeatedly ignited and extinguished over a range of temperatures. With decreasing fuel concentration, increasing turbulent intensity, or increasing bulk strain rate, the difference between the air temperatures when ignition events were first observed and when extinction was totally inhibited is increased, widening the range of intermittent ignition. This behavior can be explained using laminar flow calculations with detailed chemical kinetics and transport. These calculations show that there is only minimal S-curve hysteresis between ignition and extinction for low fuel concentrations. In turbulent flows, there is a fluctuating instantaneous strain rate experienced by the ignition kernel, which is the sum of the bulk and eddy strain rates. Consequently, in these flows the strain rate can alternately traverse beyond the ignition and extinction turning points, causing the flow to intermittently ignite and extinguish.
Raman spectroscopic studies of diamond in Intralipid

Raman spectroscopic measurements were performed to determine the presence of a diamond located within an Intralipid scattering medium. The Raman signature of the diamond was recorded for varying thicknesses and concentrations of the Intralipid by use of a 514-nm argon-ion laser and a cw 785-nm Ti:sapphire laser. Results show how Raman spectroscopy can be used as a diagnostic tool for identifying objects embedded within scattering media. In particular, future applications could include tissue diagnostics performed in vivo.
Acoustic emission detection of fatigue damage in cruciform welded joints

Abstract Weld seams are critical points for the initiation of fatigue cracks in steel structures subjected to cyclic loads. Semi-elliptical surface cracking at the toes of a fillet weld is not easily found when it is partially through the thickness and subcritical. In this study the acoustic emission (AE) method is used to detect crack propagation in cruciform fillet welded joints that are representative of typical fatigue sensitive details in steel bridge superstructures. The effect of geometry and fatigue load on the AE data is investigated by varying the width of the base plate and the stress ratio. AE data filtering based on load pattern, source location, and waveform feature analysis was implemented to minimize noise-induced AE signals and false indications due to wave reflections. AE time domain features such as amplitude ( b -value), counts, signal strength, and absolute energy are employed to study the influence of geometry and fatigue load on the AE data.
The effect of dispersal on the population dynamics of a gall‐forming midge and its parasitoids

Summary 1. Theoretical studies predict that limited amounts of dispersal of individuals in host-parasitoid systems can both enhance the stability of the subpopulations and promote the co-existence of competing parasitoid species. We investigated the effects of dispersal on the population dynamics and parasitoid community structure of a natural host-multi-parasitoid system consisting of the midge Rhopalomyia californica that forms galls on the shrub Baccharis pilularis and the parasitoids that attack the midge. 2. An experiment involving the release of midges into a field with a low background density of galls demonstrated that the midges, on average, travelled approximately 1·7m in their lifetime. This suggests that the appropriate spatial scale at which to look at the effects of dispersal is relatively small. 3. Dispersal of midges and parasitoids between individual bushes was experimentally eliminated in a caging experiment. The midge populations in all of the uncaged replicates displayed dynamics that were similar to each other, while the dynamics of the midge populations in the caged replicates diverged. The midge dynamics on the uncaged bushes were not significantly more stable than those on the caged bushes. 4. Dispersal among bushes was found to play a major role in co-existence of the competing parasitoid species. There was a dramatic drop in the parasitoid species diversity on the caged bushes, with only a single parasitoid species, Platygaster californica, persisting at high numbers in the caged populations. In accordance with theoretical models, P. californica is the parasitoid species in the community that has the highest attack rate and is most effective at searching for hosts in a restricted area. Alternative explanations for this pattern are discussed.
Mechanism of gas absorption enhancement in a slurry droplet containing reactive, sparingly soluble microparticles

Abstract The absorption of a gaseous species by a slurry droplet containing reactive and sparingly soluble microparticles is numerically simulated. The problem studied is relevant to spray flue gas desulfurization systems and the objective of this study was to elucidate the effect of the reactive solid particles on the parameters that determine the mass transfer processes. Spherical droplets with internal circulation similar to Hill’s vortex flow were considered. Quasi-steady conservation equations representing the absorbed and dissolved reactant species and equations representing the dissolution of particles were numerically solved using the droplet internal circulation streamline as a coordinate. Second-order and instantaneous chemical reactions were both addressed. The results show that the reactant microparticles enhance the absorption rate by increasing the gradient of the absorbed species beneath the droplet surface. The relative effect of solid particles depends strongly on the droplet internal circulation and diminishes as stronger recirculation occurs.
Hydrodynamic Systems of Orthoconic Nautiloid Cephalopods: Independent Check on Phylogeny: ABSTRACT

Seldom is it possible to use direct evidence of the physiology of extinct marine organisms as a means of investigating the phylogenetic relationships at any taxonomic level. Hydrodynamic mechanisms of orthoconic cephalopods are an exception because the form and structure of aragonite deposits used as hydrodynamic devices reflect the genetically controlled physiology of the animal. Data on cameral and siphuncular deposits (hydrodynamic devices) of Pennsylvanian (Desmoinesian/Westphalian C) orthocones from the Boggy Formation (=Buckhorn asphalt) of southern Oklahoma provide a test of existing phylogenetic relationships established by standard paleontological methods. The analysis reveals that early growth stages of many taxa considered to be related at the family level have similar to identical morphologies of cameral deposits, while some do not. In all cases, the form of the cameral deposits changes among taxa during later growth stages. In one case, congeneric taxa are shown to belong to different genera on the basis of gross differences in deposits designed to function hydrodynamically. End_of_Article - Last_Page 286------------
Extreme Events in Nonlinear Random Seas

In this paper, the occurrence of extreme events due to the four-wave resonance interaction in weakly nonlinear water waves is investigated. The starting point is the Zakharov equation, which governs the dynamics of the spectral components of the surface displacement. It is proven that the optimal spectral components giving an extreme crest are solutions of a well-defined constrained optimization problem. A new analytical expression for the probability of exceedance of the wave crest is then proposed for the prediction of freak wave events.
The context effect does not require a fourth base pair

The translational activity of a transfer RNA at a codon varies at different message sites, although the codon does not vary. The source of this effect, which may help to determine the level of gene expression, is generally agreed to be in nearby message sequences. By making every possible nucleotide combination between position 33 of the transfer RNA and the major context nucleotide of the message, it was shown that base-pairing between the two nucleotides is not the source of this context effect on translation in vivo.
An analysis of blood pressure trends based on annual observations of the same subjects.

Abstract Annual blood pressure data for each of 242 men were analyzed on the assumption that some of the individual, temporal trends in systolic pressure could be characterized by two linear processes, the second of which was steeper than the first. The group of 56 men who met the criteria for two factor processes could be further sub-divided into two groups, depending upon whether the second process started before or after the age of 40. Additional evidence is presented which suggests that these may be distinct sub-groups.
A complex repeated DNA sequence within the Drosophila transposable element copia

A 320 nucleotide repeated DNA sequence within the copia coding element of Drosophila melanogaster has been identified and characterized. This sequence has been localized by DNA-DNA hybridization and electron microscopic analysis of heteroduplexes to the approximate middle of the 5 kb copia coding region. The primary sequence of this repeated DNA has been determined. The sequence is composed of three related subunits, 35-37 nucleotides in length (A, B and C). This 105 nucleotide higher order repeat has apparently been duplicated twice to yield a complex repeated sequence, ABCA'B'C'A"B"C", which exhibits divergence among the individual subunits. This sequence is AT rich, as are the direct terminal repeats which flank the copia coding region, but does not contain any apparent homology with the terminal repeats. This repeated sequence contains three presumptive polyadenylation signals and two 25 nucleotide, imperfectly matched, inverted repeat sequences adjacent to two of the polyadenylation sequences.
Impact of Online Firm Generated Content (FGC) on Supply Chain Performance: An Empirical Analysis

Consumer generated contents on social media can provide insights and intelligence for firms to improve their performance. In this paper, we highlight the significance of firm generated content (FGC) on social media in supply chain context. Drawing upon social capital theory, this study uses an advanced sentiment analysis approach to examine the impact of FGC effect on supply chain performance. Information sharing and collaboration are identified as two key FGC elements affecting supply chain performance. We discuss and explain major implications of these FGC elements in this paper. Based on the insight gained from the analyses, this paper not only can help academicians understand how FGC can influence the outcome of a supply chain, but also can guide practitioners to adjust their supply chain strategies to have a sustainable competitive advantage.
EXPECTATIONS AND ADAPTATIONS IN CROSS‐CULTURAL EDUCATION: AN AMERICAN‐STYLE MBA PROGRAM IN SPAIN

This study analyses interviews with Spanish students and American and British faculty in an MBA program in Spain. Predictions about cultural differences were derived from Hofstede's (1980a) study of cultural values. Cultural differences were expected primarily on dimensions of uncertainty avoidance and masculinity‐femininity. Different processes of acculturation were expected for students and for faculty, and the language of instruction (English) was expected to place an additional burden on students. Interviews showed the utility of Hofstede's concepts for understanding classroom interaction, especially pertaining to aspects of the masculinity‐femininity dimension and to the role of language. Relatively few differences were associated with the dimension of uncertainly avoidance. Also, acculturation appeared to proceed only through the early stages of cultural adaptation for students and for faculty. The discussion leads to recommendations for both longitudinal and comparative studies for understanding the role of culture in education.
Reproductive health care experiences of women with physical disabilities: A qualitative study

Abstract Objective: To explore the reproductive health care experiences of women with physical disabilities and how reproductive health care experiences could be improved. Design: A qualitative interview study was conducted. Participants: Ten women, ages 28 to 47 years, with physical disabilities, including multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and paralysis, were recruited through the investigators' contacts with local disability groups. Results: Interviewees encountered numerous barriers to quality reproductive health care services, including inaccessible equipment and facilities, limited contraceptive options, health care providers' insensitivity and lack of knowledge about disabilities, and limited information tailored to their needs. Providers sometimes appeared surprised that they would be sexually active, and did not ask about contraceptive use or assess for sexually transmitted diseases. Although most interviewees had private health insurance, some had problems seeing preferred providers. Accessing reproductive health care services is so difficult that some women avoid regular gynecologic visits. Suggestions for improving services included involving women with disabilities in teaching health care providers about their special needs and self-advocacy training to help disabled women become more knowledgeable partners in their own health care. Conclusions: Additional research should address the gaps in knowledge about the reproductive health care needs of women with disabilities.
On the power of Wilks' U-test for MANOVA

Abstract Let V1,…, Vm, W1,…, Wn be independent p × 1 random vectors having multivariate normal distributions with common nonsingular covariance matrix Σ and with EWα = 0, α = 1,…, n. In this canonical form of the multivariate linear model, the problem is to test H: EVα az μα = 0, α = 1,…, m vs K: not H. It is shown that when the rank of the noncentrality matrix (μ1…μm) Σ−1 (μ1…μm) is one, the power of Wilks' U-test (the likelihood ratio test) strictly decreases with the dimension p and the hypothesis degrees of freedom m. This generalizes results known for the noncentral F-test in the univariate case.
Head Injury and Posttraumatic Movement Disorders

WE REVIEW THE phenomenology, pathophysiology, pathological anatomy, and therapy of posttraumatic movement disorders with special emphasis on neurosurgical treatment options. We also explore possible links between craniocerebral trauma and parkinsonism. The cause-effect relationship between head injury and subsequent movement disorder is not fully appreciated. This may be related partially to the delayed appearance of the movement disorder. Movement disorders after severe head injury have been reported in 13 to 66% of patients. Although movement disorders after mild or moderate head injury are frequently transient and, in general, do not result in additional disability, kinetic tremors and dystonia may be a source of marked disability in survivors of severe head injury. Functional stereotactic surgery provides long-term symptomatic and functional benefits in the majority of patients. Thalamic radiofrequency lesioning, although beneficial in some patients, frequently is associated with side effects such as increased dysarthria or gait disturbance, particularly in patients with kinetic tremor secondary to diffuse axonal injury. Deep brain stimulation is used increasingly as an option in such patients. It remains unclear whether pallidal or thalamic targets are more beneficial for treatment of posttraumatic dystonia. Trauma to the central nervous system is an important causative factor in a variety of movement disorders. The mediation of the effects of trauma and the pathophysiology of the development of posttraumatic movement disorders require further study. Functional stereotactic surgery should be considered in patients with disabling movement disorders refractory to medical treatment.
Beta amyloid is neurotoxic in hippocampal slice cultures

Abstract We examined the neurotoxicity of the 40 amino acid fragment of beta amyloid peptide (Aβ1–40) in cultured hippocampal slices. When injected into area CA3, Aβ1–40 produced widespread neuronal damage. Injection of the reverse sequence peptide, Aβ40-1, or vehicle alone produced little damage. The distribution Aβ1–40 was highly correlated with the area of neuronal damage. Thioflavine S and electron microscopic analysis confirmed that injected Aβ1–40 formed 7–9 nm AD type amyloid fibrils in the cultures. Aβ1–40 also altered the number of GFAP immunoreactive astrocytes and ED-1 immunoreactive microglia/macrophages within and around the Aβ1–40 deposit. The observed neurotoxicity of Aβ1–40 in hippocampal slice cultures provides evidence that this peptide may be responsible for the neurodegeneration observed in AD.
Using Cultural Diversity in Teaching Economics: Global Business Implications

Globalization and increasing cross-cultural interactivity have implications for education in general and may also present valuable pedagogical opportunities in the practice of teaching economics for business students. Therefore, the author investigated this proposition and offers some empirical observations from research and teaching experiments. In this article, the author describes a procedure for using cultural-diversity measures in teaching economic principles courses. The author performed experiments to test the impact of a teaching approach that explicitly includes cultural-diversity measurements in classroom discussions and statistically tested student-learning outcomes using this approach. The findings support the contention that a valuable opportunity exists to enhance traditional teaching approaches by introducing measures of cultural diversity. The author concludes with analytical comments and suggestions for further research.
Abnormal Wall Strain at Distal End-to-Side Anastomoses

Cyclic stretch has been demonstrated to induce proliferative and secretory activities by cultured arterial endothelial and smooth muscle cells, cellular processes that contribute to the development of intimal hyperplasia. A model of an end-to-side anastomosis was developed to examine the hypothesis that regions of the artery at such anastomoses are subjected to facally increased cyclic stretch, which may stimulate the development of intimal hyperplasia. Polytetrafluoroethylene grafts were anastomosed end to side to latex rubber tubes that have elastic properties similar to those of the human femoral artery. Pulse waves with physiologic pressure, rate, and contour were applied, and systolic and diastolic diameters were measured in two planes at longitudinal intervals. Circumferential strain imposed on the latex “artery” was calculated at each interval. Strain imposed perpendicular to the suture line was also measured. Circumferential strain was consistently maximal at a distinct region of the “artery” along the proximal third of the anatomosis (6.0±1.1% vs. 3.3±0.5% at other regions of the “artery”). The maximal strain across the suture line was found at precisely the same region (3.9±0.3% vs. 2.0±0.4%). The anastomotic region of the recipient artery in a distal end-to-side anastomosis is subjected to cyclic circumferential strains two times greater than those experienced by the remainder of the artery. This corresponds to a common location of intimal hyperplasia. Such strains may be a stimulus for intimal hyperplasia.
The cognitive underpinnings of creative thought: A latent variable analysis exploring the roles of intelligence and working memory in three creative thinking processes

Abstract The field of creativity has largely focused on individual differences in divergent thinking abilities. Recently, contemporary creativity researchers have shown that intelligence and executive functions play an important role in divergent thought, opening new lines of research to examine how higher-order cognitive mechanisms may uniquely contribute to creative thinking. The present study extends previous research on the intelligence and divergent thinking link by systematically examining the relationships among intelligence, working memory, and three fundamental creative processes: associative fluency, divergent thinking, and convergent thinking. Two hundred and sixty five participants were recruited to complete a battery of tasks that assessed a range of elementary to higher-order cognitive processes related to intelligence and creativity. Results provide evidence for an associative basis in two distinct creative processes: divergent thinking and convergent thinking. Findings also supported recent work suggesting that intelligence significantly influences creative thinking. Finally, working memory played a significant role in creative thinking processes. Recasting creativity as a construct consisting of distinct higher-order cognitive processes has important implications for future approaches to studying creativity within an individual differences framework.
External stimulus control of target-directed attack and biting elicited by tailshock

Two experiments evaluating the effects of external stimuli on attack and biting in rats elicited by electric tailshock are reported. In the first experiment, stimuli presented to four groups of test subjects consisted of a stimulus animal, a stimulus animal plus taped vocalizations of a rat experiencing shock, an inanimate object, and an inanimate object plus taped vocalizations. Subjects in a fifth (control) group were tested in the absence of these stimuli. The presence of another animal in the test situation significantly increased the amount of target-directed responding. A decrease in responding, rather than increase, was shown by the subjects tested under the stimulus-object plus taped-vocalization conditions. Experiment 2 investigated the salient features of the stimulus animal and found a combination of both olfactory and visual cues to be most effective in eliciting target-directed responding. These studies indicate that the amount of target-directed attack and biting shown in this situation may be related causally to the type of sensory input received by the test animal.
Brain cyclic nucleotide and energy metabolite responses to subanesthetic and anesthetic concentrations of halothane

Adults rats were exposed to 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% halothane, delivered in air, for 1 h. Whole brain 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) of halothane-exposed rats showed only a slight increase relative to control values. 3′,5′-Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) was increased significantly in halothane-exposed rats, and the response was directly related to the halothane concentrations. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and phosphocreatine (PC) remained unchanged relative to control values. Correspondence of these values to apparent discrepancies in the literature is discussed.
Suppressive CD8+ T Cells Arise in the Absence of CD4 Help and Compromise Control of Persistent Virus

There is an urgent need to develop novel therapies for controlling chronic virus infections in immunocompromised patients. Disease associated with persistent γ-herpesvirus infection (EBV, human herpesvirus 8) is a significant problem in AIDS patients and transplant recipients, and clinical management of these conditions is difficult. Immune surveillance failure followed by γ-herpesvirus recrudescence can be modeled using murine γ-herpesvirus (MHV)-68 in mice lacking CD4+ T cells. In contrast with other chronic infections, no obvious defect in the functional capacity of the viral-specific CD8+ T cell response was detected. We show in this article that adoptive transfer of MHV-68–specific CD8+ T cells was ineffective at reducing the viral burden. Together, these indicate the potential presence of T cell extrinsic suppressive factors. Indeed, CD4-depleted mice infected with MHV-68 express increased levels of IL-10, a cytokine capable of suppressing the function of both APCs and T cells. CD4-depleted mice developed a population of CD8+ T cells capable of producing IL-10 that suppressed viral control. Although exhibiting cell surface markers indicative of activation, the IL-10–producing cells expressed increased levels of programmed death-1 but were not enriched in the MHV-68–specific compartment, nor were they uniformly CD44hi. Therapeutic administration of an IL-10R blocking Ab enhanced control of the recrudescent virus. These data implicate IL-10 as a promising target for the restoration of immune surveillance against chronic γ-herpesvirus infection in immunosuppressed individuals.
Role of zinc in maternal and child mental health

Mental health problems in women, children, and adolescents are a significant public health issue. Given current barriers to the effective treatment of these problems, researchers are looking to the field of nutrition for potential alternatives to better understand and address mental health issues. The purpose of this article was to review current evidence on the relation between zinc and mental health disorders with a focus on 2 mental health problems that commonly affect women and children: depression and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A literature search of the databases Medline and PsychInfo was conducted with the use of key terms. The review included articles from 1975 to May 2008, but focused on articles published in recent years. Relations between zinc concentrations and behavior in animals; the relation between zinc deficiency, depression, and ADHD in patient and community samples; and the potential biological mechanisms for these relations were explored. The data support a relation between low concentrations of zinc and mental health problems, especially in at-risk populations. Evidence for the potential use of zinc in treating mental health problems comes mainly from patient populations and is strongest when zinc is given in combination with pharmacologic treatment. Less conclusive evidence exists for the effectiveness of zinc alone or in general community samples. Recommendations for further research in this area are provided.
Power-efficient data dissemination in wireless sensor networks

This paper presents a new event-based communication model for wireless multi-hop networks of energy-constrained devices such as sensor networks. The network is arranged as an event dissemination tree, with nodes subscribing to the event types they are interested in. An event scheduler dynamically allocates and multiplexes upstream and downstream time slots for each event type. Power consumption among wireless nodes is reduced by allowing each node to power down its radio during the portions of the schedule that do not match its particular event subscription. The event dissemination schedule can be determined in both a centralized and distributed fashion, and is highly dynamic to suit the changing rates at which events are generated and distributed through the network. The paper also presents preliminary performance results that demonstrate the power savings achieved by the proposed protocols.