cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accounting education in the post-COVID world: looking into the Mirror of Erised

Using the pause created by the COVID-19 pandemic, this essay expands upon the reflections offered by many accounting academics across the world. Many questions about where we find ourselves in our ...
Outcomes Following Transcorneal Diode Laser Ablation of Uveal Cysts: 48 Horses (2006-2020)

Abstract Uveal cysts can lead to undesirable behaviors and poor performance in horses. Transcorneal laser ablation has been proposed as a safe and effective treatment for uveal cysts suspected of causing behavioral changes but outcomes have been reported in only a small number of horses. In this retrospective study, records were identified for horses who had undergone transcorneal cyst ablation using a diode laser. Information was collected regarding signalment, behavioral or performance issues reported prior to the procedure, and complications. Owners were contacted to provide follow-up information regarding resolution of behavioral issues. Seventy eyes from 48 horses were treated. Undesirable behaviors or performance issues were reported prior to the procedure in 35 horses, and follow-up information was provided for 22 of those horses. Of these 22 horses, 59% of owners reported significant improvements in behavior or performance, 27% reported some improvement, and 14% reported no improvement. No significant complications were reported in association with the procedure. Although follow-up data were available for only a subset of horses, transcorneal diode laser ablation was an effective means of resolving owner-reported behavioral or performance complaints believed to be caused by uveal cysts for many of the horses in this group. Further work is needed to assess effects of uveal cysts on equine behavior and to characterize effects of transcorneal diode laser ablation prospectively.
Trade-Offs in Phosphorus Acquisition Strategies of Five Common Tree Species in a Tropical Forest of Puerto Rico

Tree species that are successful in tropical lowlands have different acquisition strategies to overcome soil phosphorus (P) limitations. Some of these strategies belowground include adjustments in fine-root traits such as morphology, architecture, association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and phosphatase activity. Trade-offs among P-acquisition strategies are expected because of their respective carbon cost. However, empirical evidence remains scarce which hinder our understanding of soil P-acquisition processes in tropical forests. Here, we measured seven fine-root functional traits related to P acquisition of five common tree species in three sites of the Luquillo Experimental Forest in Puerto Rico. We then described species-specific P-acquisition strategies and explored the changes in fine-root trait expression from 6 months before to 6 months after two consecutive hurricanes, Irma and Maria, passed over the island. We found that variations in root trait expression were driven mainly by the large interspecific differences across the three selected sites. In addition, we revealed a trade-off between highly-colonized fine roots with high phosphatase activity and fine roots that have a high degree of branching. Furthermore, the former strategy was adopted by pioneer species (Spathodea campanulata and Cecropia schreberiana), whereas the latter was adopted by non-pioneer species (mostly Dacryodes excelsa and Prestoea montana). Additionally, we found that root trait expression did not change comparing 6 months before and after the hurricanes, with the exception of root phosphatase activity. Altogether, our results suggest a combination of structural and physiological root traits for soil P acquisition in P-poor tropical soils by common tropical tree species, and show stability on most of the root trait expression after hurricane disturbances.
Overview of Interdependency Models of Critical Infrastructure for Resilience Assessment

AbstractCritical infrastructure systems are interdependent to ensure normal operations for supporting a national economy and social well-being. In the wake of a disaster, such interdependencies may...
Structural characteristics of transition-iron-carbide precipitates formed during the first stage of tempering in 4340 steel

Abstract Microstructural and crystallographic characteristics of fine-scale transition-iron-carbide precipitates formed in martensite during tempering of 4340 steel at 200 °C for 3.6 ks were studied via transmission electron microscopy. Precipitates of near-equiaxed shapes and about 10 nm in size were observed, and rows of closely spaced precipitates were aligned predominantly along martensite directions. Aggregates of aligned precipitates were up to 150 nm in length, although occasional kinks were present that disrupted the alignment, and some of the adjacent precipitates possessed somewhat different crystallographic orientations. Electron-diffraction results were analyzed in detail and found to be consistent with both epsilon-carbide and eta-carbide phases. Similarities between these two phases were highlighted and discussed. Experimental electron-diffraction data were compared with data from five different unit cells, and each was found to be consistent within uncertainty ranges of ± 0.003 nm for interplanar spacings, ± 2° for angles between plane normals, and a few degrees for the orientation relationship between precipitates and the matrix.
Dynamic general equilibrium tax models with adjustment costs

This paper deals with some modifications in the dynamic structure of general equilibrium tax models.
Perturbation Theory Based on a Nodal Model

The standard point kinetics equations and formally exact expressions for reactivity, prompt neutron lifetime, and effective delayed neutron fractions are derived from the matrix form of the nodal code QUANDRY. Perturbation theory expressions for reactivity based both on the standard quadratic-transverse-leakage form of QUANDRY and on the coarse-mesh finite difference (CMFD) form, made accurate by the use of discontinuity factors, are derived. With three-dimensional CMFD QUANDRY transient calculations taken as numerical standards, the accuracy of several standard point kinetics methods as well as the improved quasi-static method is tested. Results suggest that point kinetics methods are poor for rod ejection calculations, even if a precalculated table of rod worth versus position is used to infer the reactivity contribution of the moving rods. For transients not involving rod motion, the point kinetics equations are more accurate. Use of core-averaged (rather than node-dependent) temperature coefficients, however, can produce significant errors. The quasi-static scheme appears to yield acceptably accurate results but, for the tests run, consistently required more computing time than needed for the full three-dimensional solutions.
Abstract 13238: Simvastatin Upregulates Endothelial Cell Integrin β4 Expression by Promoter Activation and Epigenetic Modification

Introduction: We previously reported that protection conferred by simvastatin in murine acute lung injury (ALI) is mediated by the upregulation of endothelial cell integrin β4 (ITGB4). However, the mechanisms underlying these effects are unknown. To explore this further, we investigated ITGB4 promoter regulation and epigenetic modifcations by simvastatin. Methods: Human pulmonary artery EC were transfected with luciferase reporter promoter deletion constructs prior to treatment with simvastatin (5 μM) to identify specific 5’ regions within the ITGB4 gene responsible for statin-mediated ITGB4 expression. Regions of interest were then subjected to chromatin immuoprecipitation (ChIP) to identify candidate transcription factors (TFs). In separate experiments, ECs were pretreated with either a histone deacteylation inhibitor, trichostain (TSA, 5 μM, 2h), or a histone methylation inhibitor, 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine (5-Aza, 5 μM, 2h) prior to treatment with simvastatin (5 μM, 16 h) followed by ITGB4 mRNA and prote...
Combining empirical and analytical learning with version spaces

ABSTRACT This paper describes an approach to combining empirical and analytical learning using incremental version-space merging (Hirsh, 1989). The basic idea is to use analytical learning to generalize training data before doing empirical learning. The combination operates like empirical learning given no knowledge, but can utilize knowledge when provided, and thus exhibits behavior along a spectrum from knowledge-poor to knowledge-rich learning.
Human perceptual-motor performance

While our knowledge of skilled performance has been advanced on many fronts through the study of tracking performance, and while there is much interest in tracking per se from the perspective of man-machine system design, the ultimate goal of much research on perceptual-motor skills concerns the understanding of the acquisition and performance of so-called voluntary movements. The chapter describes the performance of a subject in a simple tracking task in which the signal to be followed is essentially unpredictable. Under these conditions we know enough to formulate rather detailed models or specifications for what mechanisms or processes are needed to produce performance equivalent to that of our human subject, and these models involve very little “intelligence.” Finally, the full richness of human skilled performance depends on capacities not captured by strict stimulus-bound representations derived largely from the study of tracking tasks.
Diluted Magnetic Quantum Dots

Epitaxial quantum dots either made of DMS or placed in an environment made of DMS are subjects of this chapter. Emphasis is put on (Cd,Mn)Se- and (Cd,Mn)Te-based heterostructures. The growth by self-assembly is discussed. Dynamic aspects of the interaction between carriers and magnetic ions are reviewed and a close analogy between DMS quantum dots and bound magnetic polarons is pointed out. Single dot spectroscopy and, in particular, spectroscopy of a single dot containing a single magnetic ion is described and discussed.
Endometrial regeneration after curettage

Abstract The speed and completeness of endometrial regeneration were studied in 30 grossly normal uteri curetted at various times in the menstrual cycle and removed one to 18 days after curettage. Regeneration appeared normal if curettage was done as early as the second cycle day, but when performed later in the proliferative phase of the cycle there was a lag of at least 2 to 3 days in the regenerative process and the restored mucosa appeared less fully developed (thinner) than normal. Regeneration of secretory endometrium in most instances appeared even more markedly delayed, but the eight specimens in this group were inadequately distributed as to cycle day and number of days postcurettage. A few proliferative or hyperplastic endometria from anovulatory women demonstrated excellent regenerative ability.
Direct-Mode Chemical Reactions II: Classical Theories

Other chapters of this book discuss accurate and approximate quantum-mechanical treatments of chemical reactions. Most of our understanding of chemical reactions, however, is based on classical models—both trajectory calculations (exact classical mechanics) and simpler classical models (approximate trajectories). Computational aspects of classical trajectory methods as applied to atom-molecule reactive collisions are discussed in Chapter 16 of this book. The present chapter emphasizes physical aspects of exact and approximate classical dynamical calculations for direct-mode chemical reactions. In particular it discusses the dependence of calculated reaction attributes on features of the potential energy hypersurfaces and the reliability of calculated reaction attributes. The reliability of the calculated results depends not only on the accuracy of the potential surface employed but also on the dynamical errors in the calculations. When numerically integrated exact classical trajectories are employed the dynamical approximation is simply the classical propagation of the motion. When simplified models are employed there are additional dynamical approximations whose validity must be examined carefully for the reaction or class of reactions under consideration. Statistical theories are sometimes applied to direct-mode reactions but are more generally applicable to complex-mode reactions, and are discussed in that context in Chapter 19.
Discourse, Conversation, and Character Education

In 1996, the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) of the United States Department of Education issued a nationwide call for character education programs that would improve the char...
Mapping a single-assignment language onto the Warp systolic array

Single-assignment languages offer the potential to efficiently program parallel processors. This paper discusses issues that arise in mapping SISAL programs onto the WarpSM array, a linear systolic array in use at Carnegie Mellon. A Warp machine with ten cells can deliver up to 100 million floating point operations per second.
Current and Emerging Medical Therapies for Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis likely involves various pathophysiological disorders and is increasingly prevalent as complications of surgeries, medications, and chronic diabetes. Key to diagnosis is evidence of delayed gastric emptying, generally based on standardized scintigraphy, and ruling out distal obstruction or other dysmotilities. Initial medical management includes reviewing potentially exacerbating medications and ruling out other reversible causes, achieving tighter glucose control in diabetics, and implementing dietary and lifestyle changes. While current available medications are limited, symptomatic control is aimed at improving gastric emptying, alleviating nausea and vomiting, and treating associated abdominal pain. Other potential therapies are aimed at reducing acid production, improving gastric accommodation or pyloric dysfunction, and treating bacterial overgrowth. Future studies should be aimed toward identification of subpopulations of gastroparetics who are better responders to the various medications based on differences in underlying pathophysiology and adopting standardized study end point measures that may allow for comparisons across trials. This chapter will review current treatment options, upcoming promising medications, and some of the hurdles in advancing the field forward.
On Cardinal Spline Smoothing

Publisher Summary The chapter describes the methods, with some changes, that were used by the author to solve the numerical problem assigned to him at the Ballistics Research Laboratories in Aberdeen, Maryland, during the Second World War. The problem was to smooth very extended equidistant tables of drag functions (or drag coefficients) by approximating them by very smooth functions that were easily computable with their first and second derivatives. The first question answered was—when may a “moving average” operation legitimately be called a smoothing formula. The chapter adapts the idea of E. T. Whittaker to the problem of smoothing a bi-infinite sequence of equidistant data. The result is the cardinal spline smoothing process. Several smoothing ( or graduation ) methods discussed in the chapter are all of the “moving average” type.
Bone marrow progenitors cultured in the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor versus macrophage colony-stimulating factor differentiate into macrophages with distinct tumoricidal capacities.

Bone marrow-derived cells from C3H/HeJ mice were cultured in the presence of recombinant murine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rGM-CSF) or highly purified murine macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) for 7 days. Following this 7-day culture period, mature macrophages were harvested and replated at precise densities in the absence of exogenous rGM-CSF or CSF-1, and assayed in a two-signal tumoricidal assay. Cultures were stimulated with medium only or with combinations of recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) as the "priming" signal, and/or butanol-extracted lipopolysaccharide (But-LPS) as the "triggering" signal for 24 hr. At this time, 51Cr-labeled, P815 tumor target cells were added, and the percent tumor cell cytotoxicity was determined after 16 hr. Macrophages derived under the influence of rGM-CSF exhibited significant tumoricidal capacity with medium alone (16 +/- 5%). The addition of "priming" signal only (i.e., rIFN-gamma, 10.0 U/ml) significantly increased tumoricidal capacity to 31 +/- 9%. Treatment with But-LPS alone did not alter the basal tumoricidal activity of rGM-CSF-derived macrophages. Combinations of rIFN-gamma (10.0 U/ml) and But-LPS (0.5-5.0 micrograms/ml) generated highly tumoricidal macrophages (50-60% tumor cell cytotoxicity). In contrast, medium-treated CSF-1-derived macrophages exhibited a significantly lower basal level of tumor cytotoxicity (6 +/- 3%). Unlike rGM-CSF-derived macrophages, treatment of CSF-1-derived macrophages with high concentrations of rIFN-gamma alone did not increase significantly the level of cytotoxicity above that of medium-treated cultures. However, CSF-1-derived macrophages responded to the highest concentrations of But-LPS (5.0 micrograms/ml) to increase tumoricidal activity from 6 +/- 3% to 17 +/- 5%. Optimal tumoricidal activity (44 +/- 17%) was observed when CSF-1-derived macrophages were treated simultaneously with high concentrations of both rIFN-gamma and But-LPS. Thus, macrophages derived from bone marrow progenitors in either rGM-CSF or CSF-1 exhibited tumoricidal capacities that differed in basal activity as well as in their requirements for and sensitivities to "priming" and "triggering" signals.
Dichloro[[2-(1-methylethoxy-O)-5-(methylpolyethyleneglycolylhemisuccinoul)phenyl]methylene]tricyclohexylphosphine Ruthenium

[321922-26-3] (C2H4O)nC33H51Cl2O5PRu) (recyclable and reusable Ru catalyst for olefin metathesis) Solubility: soluble in CH2Cl2, CHCl3, and water; insoluble in diethyl ether. Form Supplied in: brownish powder; commercially available. Preparative Methods: the polymer supported Ru carbene complex 1 can be conveniently prepared by the reaction of the corresponding styrene ligand 21 (1 equiv) with Grubbs catalyst Cl2Ru( CHPh)(PCy3)232 (1 equiv) in refluxing CH2Cl2 (eq 1). It is isolated by precipitation with dry ether. (1)
Listening to Cassandra: The Difficulty of Recognizing Risks and Taking Action

A breach was made in the walls [of Troy]; wheels were placed under the [wooden] horse; hempen ropes were fastened to its neck. And thus the deadly contrivance entered the sacred bounds of Troy, while youths and maidens tugged at the ropes, sang hymns, and stroked the horse joyfully with their hands. Four attempts had to be made to drag it through the opening, and each time, as it stuck, a sound of arms [from the warriors hidden within] came out of its belly. But the Trojans, befuddled and robbed of their wits, ignored everything, not stopping until the monster took its position in their sacred acropolis.
Relational data modeling for geographic information systems

This paper addresses data modeling problems inherent in the use of geographic information systems (GIS) that are not adequately covered by traditional modeling techniques. GIS technology has only recently begun to be used for traditional system development by large numbers of organizations and there are few procedures for modeling GIS data and applications in a business context. This circumstance is partially a result of the fact that GIS developers have traditionally been knowledgeable end users or facilitators and they have generally been called on to build standalone systems, often for their own use. This paper discusses geographic systems and proposes relational modeling techniques that document organizational data integrity rules when systems that include spatial data are developed for more widespread use.
Surfacing Perversions of Democracy in the Workplace: A Contemporary Psychoanalytic Project

Can democratic institutions contain conflict, division, and uncanny emotions with cultures of management that are frequently undemocratic? What distinguishes those institutions and organizations capable of containment from others? And, what are the psychodynamics at work in the perversion of democratic processes inside organizations? In this paper, we explore the psychodynamics of democracy in the workplace with a particular focus on unconscious and collusive forms of perverting democratic processes at work. We suggest that interpersonally and collectively the dialectical interplay between (1) autistic–contiguous, (2) paranoid–schizoid, and (3) depressive modes of experience and organized perceptions, which are necessary to the containment of divisions and conflicts in democratic organizations, is vulnerable to stress, anxiety, and psychological defenses that foster regression and collapse into more oppressive, authoritarian, and sadistic political cultures. With the objective of understanding perversions to democracy in the workplace, we find that a contemporary psychoanalytic view of organizations is more instructive than mainstream organization theory or that found in Foucault's writings on power and institutions.
The electromagnetic properties of superconductors

The London-Ginzburg-Landau concept of superconductivity as a macroscopic quantum state is reviewed. Experimental measurements are then discussed of resistance below ${T}_{c}$, and of enhanced diamagnetism above ${T}_{c}$, both caused by thermodynamic fluctuations away from the Ginzburg-Landau state of lowest free energy. Next the limitations on superconductivity at nonzero frequencies are reviewed: normal electron dissipation $\ensuremath{\propto}{\ensuremath{\omega}}^{2}$, and strong absorption above the energy gap frequency. Sum rule arguments relate the superfluid response at low frequencies to the gap; effects of strong electron-phonon coupling are also found. Finally, results of recent work on the resistive state of superconducting filaments above the critical current are summarized.
An age-structured bio-economic model of invasive species management: insights and strategies for optimal control

Controlling invasive species is a highly complex problem defined by the biological characteristics of the organisms, the landscape context, and a management objective of minimizing invasion damages given limited financial resources. While bio-economic optimization models provide a promising approach for invasive species control, current spatio-temporal optimization models omit key ecological details such as age structures—which could be essential to predict how populations grow and spread spatially over time and determine the most effective control strategies. We develop a novel age-structured optimization model as a spatial-dynamic decision framework for controlling invasive species. In particular, we propose a new carrying capacity sub-model, which allows us to take into account the biological competition among different age classes within the population. The potential use of the model is demonstrated on controlling the invasion of sericea (Lespedeza cuneata), a perennial legume threatening native grasslands in the Great Plains. The results show that incorporating age-structure into the model captures important biological characteristics of the species and leads to unexpected results such as multi-logistic population growth with multiple, sequential, and overlapping phases of logistic form. These new findings can contribute to understanding time-lags and invasion growth dynamics. Additionally, given budget constraints, utilizing control measures every 2–3 years is found to be more effective than yearly control because of the time to reproductive maturity. Results of the bio-economic optimization approach provide both ecological and economic insights into the control of invasive species. Furthermore, while the proposed model is specific enough to capture biological realism, it also has the potential to be generalized to a wide range of invasive plant and animal species under various management scenarios in order to identify the most efficient control strategies for managing invasive species.
Surface morphology of zinc oxide nanorods grown by hydrothermal deposition technique

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods grown by hydrothermal techniques are of great interest in photonic and electronic device applications because they offer low cost, low temperature deposition techniques compared to conventional molecular beam vapor deposition and sputtering methods. Our studies of ZnO nanorods grown by hydrothermal technique on indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates at 90 °C for 9 hours resulted in uniform growth of hexagonally shaped closed nanorod structures. We used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to map changes in surface morphology of ZnO nanorods grown on various substrates. In this work we investigated the effects of temperature and the choice of conductive substrate on the size and shape of ZnO nanorods grown by hydrothermal growth. In particular, we studied the changes in surface morphology of ZnO nanorods deposited on ITO, ZnO coated glass, Aluminum coated glass, conducting transparent oxide (CTO) glass and mylar substrates. We will present quantitative data on changes in diameter and shape of ZnO nanorods as the growth substrate is varied. We will also discuss the surface morphology of ZnO nanorods grown by hydrothermal techniques at 95 °C on ZnO thin film substrate fabricated by sputter coating of ZnO on glass substrate. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Poetry, Rhetoric, and Fiction in Plato's Phaedrus

Difficulties often felt when trying to identify a main theme for the Phaedrus or to explain the attitude it implies toward an art of rhetoric are reduced once one applies general categories of poetic and rhetorical discourse to a series of competitive erotic speeches constituting the first part of the dialogue. Positive results include a unified literary reading of the dialogue as offering a particular theory of fiction while suggesting a critical reconsideration of the usual modern delimitation of its philosophical significance.
The “Five W’s” of OFDM for Optical Access: What, Why, Where, When and How?

The “Five W’s” of OFDM-based optical access are addressed, covering technology principles and recent progress, application scenarios for future PON systems, the near-term development timeline, and the practical outlook for key DSP-based enabling technologies.
Response of Japanese Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) to Leaf Volatiles of Susceptible and Resistant Maple Species

We studied the close range olfactory response of Japanese beetles, Popillia japonica Newman, to constitutive or feeding-induced volatiles from leaves of 4 maple species differing in susceptibility to defoliation. In pitfall arenas, intact leaves of susceptible species, Acer palmatum Thunberg and A. platanoides L., were not significantly more attractive than those of resistant maples, A. rubrum L. and A. saccharinum L. Consistent with these results, the compounds emitted by intact maple leaves were generally similar across resistance groupings. For each maple species, leaves that had been damaged overnight by Japanese beetles attracted significantly more beetles than did undamaged leaves. Beetles did not discriminate between damaged leaves of susceptible and resistant maple species. Significant differences were noted, however, in the types of feeding-induced compounds emitted by susceptible and resistant maple leaves. Specifically, leaves of susceptible species emitted relatively higher amounts of esters with fruit-like odors and the floral fragrance compound linalool, whereas leaves of resistant maples emitted more terpene hydrocarbons. Possible roles of volatile compounds as attractants and feeding stimulants, or as feeding deterrents, for the Japanese beetle are discussed.
Postoperative esophageal leak management with the Polyflex esophageal stent.

Objective Leak after esophageal anastomosis or perforation repair prolongs hospitalization, prevents oral hydration and nutrition, and can produce localized infection or sepsis. This investigation reviews our experience treating postoperative esophageal leaks with the Polyflex esophageal stent (Boston Scientific, Natick, Mass). Methods Over a 30-month period, patients with a postoperative esophageal leak were treated with the Polyflex stent for leak occlusion. Leak occlusion was confirmed by means of esophagraphy. Patients were followed until their stent was removed and their esophageal leak had resolved. Results Twenty-one patients had 27 stents placed for leak occlusion after esophagectomy (n = 5), esophageal perforation (n = 5), surgical (n = 4) or endoscopic (n = 2) antireflux procedure, and esophageal diverticulectomy (n = 3) or myotomy (n = 2). The mean interval between surgical intervention and stent placement was 12 ± 8 days (range, 3–31 days). Occlusion of the leak occurred in 20 patients. One patient experienced a dehiscence of the surgical esophageal perforation repair requiring esophageal diversion. Stent migration requiring repositioning (n = 3) or replacement (n = 4) occurred in 5 (24%) patients. Twenty (95%) stents were removed without residual leak (mean, 51 ± 43 days; range, 15–175 days). One patient had a stricture after stent removal that required endoscopic dilatation. One patient in this series died. Conclusions The Polyflex esophageal stent is an effective method for occluding a postoperative esophageal leak. It rapidly eliminates contamination of the mediastinum, pleura, and peritoneum; allows oral hydration and nutrition; and is easily removable. These stents also offer an appealing alternative to traditional esophageal diversion and subsequent reconstruction in patients with a persistent esophageal leak.
Application of the T pouch as an ileo-anal reservoir.

We recently reported our initial clinical experience with a novel form of urinary diversion, that is the T pouch. 1 The T pouch incorporates a unique antireflux mechanism and eliminates the complications associated with an intussuscepted nipple valve. We describe the application of this concept with conversion of a ureterosigmoidostomy into a new ileo-anal reservoir with an antireflux mechanism. Others have reported followup of as long as 40 years. 2 To our knowledge 61 years is the longest interval to be reported between construction of a ureterosigmoidostomy and its revision. CASE HISTORY P. K., a 64-year-old woman with a history of bladder exstrophy, underwent cystectomy and ureterosigmoidostomy at age 3 years. At 18 years she underwent right nephrectomy for intractable pyelonephritis, and was well until she was 55 years old and had recurrent episodes of pyelonephritis, which necessitated suppressive antibiotic therapy. Multiple drug allergies developed, and she was ultimately hospitalized for urosepsis. Renal ultrasound demonstrated moderate to severe left hydroureteronephrosis. A furosemide nuclear scan was consistent with obstruction. Creatinine was 1.6 mg./dl. (normal 0.3 to 0.9) and blood chemistry study revealed severe hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. Colonoscopy showed no evidence of malignancy. The patient was satisfied with the voiding pattern and declined any form of external urinary diversion. Conversion of the ureterosigmoidostomy to an ileoanal reservoir incorporating the T pouch antireflux mechanism to the sigmoid colon was performed. At the time of surgery a 24F Medina tube was placed into the anus and, after copious irrigation with a diluted povidone-iodine solution, sutured in place. The Medina tube served as a tactile cue for proper placement of the proctostomy. The colon was mobilized and the previous ureterocolostomy was excised at its junction and sent for frozen section to rule out neoplastic degeneration. A 15 cm. proctostomy was then made at the tip of the Medina tube 10 cm. proximal to the transition zone between the rectum and anus. A portion of sigmoid colon was isolated 4 to 6 cm. proximal to the proctostomy and intussuscepted to prevent urine reflux into the proximal colon. A T pouch was then constructed using techniques previously described. 1 A 20 cm. segment of distal ileum was placed in an inverted V configuration with each limb of the V measuring 10 cm. A more proximal 10 cm. segment of ileum was isolated as the afferent limb. Adhering to the principles outlined for the T pouch, the antireflux mechanism was created by anchoring the distal 3 to 4 cm. of afferent limb into a serosal lined trough. This trough was constructed by maintaining the windows of Deaver to the afferent limb, which allowed for permanent fixation to the serosa of the ileal pouch. The ileal trough was then closed by over sewing the adjacent ileal flaps that are created when the bowel is detubularized (part A of figure). The ileum was left open to be laid onto the rectum as a pouch
A framework for estimating manufacturing cost from geometric design data

In the early stages of a product development process, the estimated manufacturing cost is the primary information needed to determine the profitability of a product. The more reliable is the cost estimating process, the more likely the right decision will be made. In this research, a framework to estimate the lowest product manufacturing cost from its AND/OR tree representation of alternate processes is developed. Although, the manufacturing cost considered is focused on processing and material handling costs, the framework also makes provision for the inclusion of other sources of costs such as fixture and set-up costs. To show the full scope of the system, the aggregate estimates of these other sources of costs have also been modelled and included in the framework. Unlike some earlier research which analyses a single arbitrary process sequence, the cost estimation system developed chooses the best process sequence from among all feasible alternative sequences. The process sequence selection is based on ...
Gain and carrier-induced refractive index change in group-III nitride quantum wells

This paper analyses the gain and carrier-induced refractive index change in group-III nitride quantum wells. An approach based on the semiconductor Bloch equations with carrier-carrier collisions treated at the level of quantum kinetic theory is used. The influences of the strong carrier-carrier Coulomb interaction and the quantum-confined Stark effect on laser threshold and output beam quality are discussed.
The Breviari d'Amor: Rhetoric and Preaching in Thirteenth-Century Languedoc

Abstract Altough little known in medieval history, the Breviari d'Amor of Matfre Ermengaud was deeply influenced by medieval preaching. An Occitan encyclopaedia, the Breviari includes a short guide to preaching, entitled ““De predicacio et en quel manieira deu hom predicar”” which derives from the Cura pastoralis of Gregory the Great. ““De predicacio”” is no mere translation, but a subtle adaptation: it indicates not only how the Breviari is aimed toward lay education in the popular language, but also to what point it responds to its historic and religious context. This study, therefore, considers the Breviari as a text deeply engaged in the matter of preaching in Languedoc at the end of the thirteenth century.
Major vault protein/lung resistance-related protein (MVP/LRP) expression in nervous system tumors.

Lung resistance-related protein (LRP) was identified as the major vault protein (MVP), the main component of multimeric vault particles. It functions as a transport-associated protein that can be associated with multidrug resistance. In previous studies, expression of MVP/LRP has been documented in tumors of various types. In general, good correlations have been reported for expression of MVP/LRP and decreased sensitivity to chemotherapy and poor prognosis. MVP/LRP expression has been documented in glioblastomas, but its expression in nervous system tumors in general has not been well characterized. Immunohistochemistry using anti-human MVP/LRP antibody (LRP-56) was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissue from 69 primary central nervous system tumors. Expression of MVP/LRP was observed in 81.2% (56/69) of primary nervous system tumors, including astrocytomas (11/13), oligodendrogliomas (1/2), oligoastrocytomas (5/5), ependymoma (1/1), meningiomas (35/45), schwannomas (2/2), and neurofibroma (1/1). Various degrees and distributions of immunoreactivity to MVP/LRP were observed. Neither the presence nor the degree of immunoreactivity to MVP/LRP showed any correlation with either tumor grade or the presence of brain invasion.
An MIS course integrating information technology and organizational issues

Integrating technologies and applications to provide better access to, and sharing of, corporate data and to coordinate enterprise-wide tasks and processes is a critical means to adding business value through information technology. Consequently, potential employers seek information systems professionals whose skills focus on the integration of information technologies, information resources, and business strategy. However, these companies also perceive that universities are not providing graduates the necessary integration skills.This paper describes a course, Business Systems Integration, that addresses the gap between the information systems integration skills that employers desire and those that universities teach. The course approaches information systems integration from three perspectives: 1) integrating information technologies, 2) integrating the content of the MIS curriculum, and 3) integrating organizations via cross-functional business processes. Attaining a practical level of knowledge about systems integration requires a sufficiently complex, real-world environment; thus the course relies on an extensive organizational simulation as the primary pedagogical method. That simulation is described in this paper.
Unanimity and Resource Monotonicity

In the context of indivisible public objects problems (e.g., candidate selection or qualification) with “separable” preferences, unanimity rule accepts each object if and only if the object is in everyone’s top set. We establish two axiomatizations of unanimity rule. The main axiom is resource monotonicity, saying that resource increase should affect all agents in the same direction. This axiom is considered in combination with simple Pareto (there is no Pareto improvement by addition or subtraction of a single object), independence of irrelevant alternatives, and either path independence or strategy-proofness.
Preparation of submicrometre polyimide particles by precipitation from solution

Abstract The formation of submicrometre particles of high temperature polyimides by precipitation from a homogeneous solution in a mixed solvent of water and N-methyl pyrrolidone (H2O/NMP) was investigated. The two polyimides consisted of those based on benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride/2,2′-bis(4-aminophenyl)propane (BTDA-Bis A) and pyromellitic dianhydride/1,1-bis(4-aminophenyl)-1-phenyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (PMDA-3F diamine). Phase diagrams of the BTDA-Bis A polyimide/NMP/H2O ternary system were obtained for two solvent compositions through cloud point measurements. The observed mixed solvent composition dependence of the cloud point behaviour suggests that the water weight fraction plays a fundamental role in the solubility characteristics of polyimides. Preliminary precipitation studies indicate that the size distribution of the polyimide particles is governed by the cooling rate below the cloud point curve. At an average cooling rate of 23°C min−1, narrow size distribution particles of 0.2 and 0.5 μm average diameter were obtained for the PMDA-3F diamine and the BDTA-Bis A polyimides, respectively. For slower cooling rates of 10 or 2°C min−1, the particle size distributions were notably broader, probably as a result of nucleation and growth over a larger temperature range.
Dual-indentation technique for the assessment of strength properties of cohesive-frictional materials

Abstract We propose a dual indentation technique for the assessment of the cohesion and friction angle of cohesive-frictional materials of the Mohr–Coulomb type. The technique is based on a computational implementation of the yield design theorems applied to conical indentation tests with different apex angles. The upper bound solutions are found to be very close to flat indentation solutions available for cohesive-frictional materials. On this basis we derive fundamental hardness-to-cohesion solutions in function of the friction angle and the apex angle. By studying the property of these dimensionless relations, we show that the ratio of two hardness measurements obtained from indentation tests with different apex angles, allows one to determine the friction angle. This dual indentation method is applied to Berkovich and Corner Cube indenter assimilated to equivalent cones of different apex angle. The method is validated for a ‘model’ material, metallic glass, which has recently been identified as a cohesive-frictional materials. The only input to the method are two hardness values which we obtain by microindentation on metallic glass. The outcome are values of the cohesion and friction angle, which are found to be in excellent agreement with reported cohesion and friction angle values of metallic glass obtained by macroscopic triaxial testing and comprehensive finite-element backanalysis of indentation curves.
The Lateral Superior Olive: A Functional Role in Sound Source Localization

Sound location in azimuth is signaled by differences in the times of arrival (interaural time difference, ITDs) and the amplitudes (interaural level differences, ILDs) of the stimuli at the ears. Psychophysical studies have shown that low- and high-frequency sounds are localized based on ITDs and ILDs, respectively, suggesting that dual mechanisms mediate localization. The anatomical and physiological bases for this "duplex theory" of localization are found in the medial (MSO) and lateral (LSO) superior olives, two of the most peripheral sites in the ascending auditory pathway receiving inputs from both ears. The MSO and LSO are believed to be responsible for the initial encoding of ITDs and ILDs, respectively. Here the author focuses on ILDs as a cue to location and the role of the LSO in encoding ILDs. Evidence from disparate fields of study supports the hypothesis that the LSO is the initial ILD processor in the mammalian auditory system.
Assessment of thermodilution cardiac output in small subjects

Abstract Thermodilution cardiac output determinations were compared with dye-dilution measurements in normovolemic and hypovolemic puppies. Good correlation was achieved with small volumes of cold and warm saline. Injectate volumes and significant caval displacement of the injectate port did not significantly affect thermodilution output measurements. This study demonstrates that thermodilution is a reliable and practical method of cardiac output determination in small subjects and suggests that this technique may be useful in the clinical mangement of neonates and small infants.
Topographic effects on film thickness

Abstract During integrated circuit fabrication, when thin films are deposited under mass transfer control with large surface mobilities (giving conformai coverage), the deposited thickness is lower over topographic features than over smooth planar regions. A simple surface area model is developed and demonstrated experimentally using PECVD nitride. The effect is significant for high density structures.
Augmentation of Left Ventricular Contraction Pattern in Coronary Artery Disease by an Inotropic Catecholamine: The Epinephrine Ventriculogram

In order to assess potential improvement in abnormal left ventricular (LV) wall motion, eighteen subjects — sixteen with obstructive coronary artery disease and LV asynergy and two with no evidence of organic heart disease — were studied by cardiac catheterization and cineangiography. Ventriculograms were performed at rest and during a constant infusion of l-epinephrine (EPI) at 1-4 µg/min after an average of nine minutes steady state. EPI infusion induced augmentation of LV contraction pattern in both normal subjects and in all normal zones in the sixteen subjects with asynergy, and in no instance was contraction in a normal zone rendered abnormal. Eleven of sixteen patients showed improved contraction in previously asynergic areas, two of whom also demonstrated paradoxical motion in an abnormal zone. Of a total of forty-four resting asynergic zones, twenty-three exhibited an improved contraction pattern with EPI, one showed depressed contraction, two demonstrated both an increase and deterioration in the same zone (paradoxical motion), and eighteen showed no change. Quantitative motion analysis generally corroborated these qualitative ventriculographic observations. Heart rate, LV systolic pressure and LV end-diastolic pressure increased slightly with EPI, but were not significantly changed from control values. While there was wide variation in end-diastolic volume in the subjects with asynergy, EPI resulted in an increase in both stroke volume and ejection fraction, the latter significantly ( P < 0.05). In the four subjects who subsequently underwent aneurysmectomy, preoperative lack of improvement with EPI correlated with a pathologic diagnosis of fibrosis. Other than angina pectoris of brief duration in two subjects, EPI provoked no untoward reactions, arrhythmias or complications. It is concluded that LV motion abnormalities can be improved or changed in certain cases by the inotropic stimulus of EPI, suggesting residual contractile ability; the agent may differentiate between zones of potentially functional cardiac muscle and frank fibrosis.
Oxygen-diffusion-induced phase boundary migration in copper oxide thin films

The transition of copper oxide thin films from CuO to ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}$O during vacuum annealing has been studied by transmission electron microscopy and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy. Dark field images show that isolated and large ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}$O grains emerge from the small CuO grain matrix. The abrupt change in oxygen concentration across the phase boundary between CuO and ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}$O in the reaction is different from the continuous change of $\ensuremath{\delta}$ in oxidation and reduction of the superconducting $\mathrm{Y}{\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{7\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\delta}}$ oxide. The growth of ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}$O grains is linear with time and has an activation energy of 1.1 eV. We propose that the discontinuous morphology of grain growth of ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}$O is due to the migration of the ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}$O-CuO phase boundary induced by oxygen out-diffusion along the moving phase boundary.
Effect of Explicit Examiner Expectancy upon WAIS Performance

Previous research on the effect of teacher expectancy on pupils' intelligence-test performance has concerned very indirect relationships between the expectancy and its consequence. The present stud...