cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Framing information to enhance corporate reputation: The impact of message source, information type, and reference point

Abstract This paper investigates how the presentation of performance information affects stakeholders' attitudes towards firms that seek to enhance their reputation. Specifically, we investigate the effect of three information characteristics on stakeholder attitudes toward the firm: the message source, information type (numeric vs. verbal information), and reference point (trend vs. competitor comparisons). An experiment employing a 3×2×2 design is utilized, showing that the source of the information interacts with both the reference point and information type to affect attitude change. The “consistency” between source and information type or reference point determines the impact on degree of attitude change. Our results have important implications for managers, demonstrating that reputation does not have to be merely a passive reflection of a firm, but can be the target of a firm's active management.
Active surveillance for renal angiomyolipoma: outcomes and factors predictive of delayed intervention.

Objective To present the outcomes of active surveillance (AS) for renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs) and to assess the clinical features predicting delayed intervention of this treatment option. Patients and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of patients diagnosed with AMLs on computed tomography (CT) who were managed with AS at our institution. The AS protocol consisted of 6- and 12-month, then annual follow-up visits, each one including a physical examination and CT imaging. Discontinuation of AS was defined as the need or decision for an active procedure during the follow-up period. Causes of delayed intervention, as well as the type of active treatment (AT), were recorded. Clinical features at presentation of patients failing AS were compared with those who remained under AS at the time of the last follow-up. Predictive factors of delayed intervention were analysed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression models. Results Overall, 130 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 102 (78.5%) were incidentally diagnosed, while 15 (11.5%) and 13 patients (10%) presented with flank pain and haematuria, respectively. After a mean (sd) follow-up of 49 (40) months, 17 patients (13%) discontinued AS and underwent AT. Patients who underwent delayed intervention were more likely to present with a higher body mass index, larger tumours and symptomatic disease. Angioembolization represented the first-line AT after AS (64.7%), whereas partial nephrectomy was adopted in 29.4% of patients. On the univariate analysis, risk factors for delayed intervention included tumour size ≥4 cm, symptoms at diagnosis, and history of concomitant or contralateral kidney disease. On the multivariate analysis, only tumour size and symptoms remained independently associated with discontinuation of AS. Conclusions Tumour size and symptoms at initial presentation were highly predictive of discontinuation of AS in the management of AMLs. Selective angioembolization was the first-line option used for AT after AS was discontinued.
Catecholamine response of chickens to exogenous insulin and tolbutamide.

Abstract 1. 1. An investigation was made of what role adrenomedullary secretions play in “protecting” chickens from the hypoglycemic effects of exogenous insulin. 2. 2. Adult single-comb White Leghorn chickens were injected either with saline, beef insulin, chicken insulin or sodium tolbutamide. Doses of the hypoglycemic agents were selected to produce equivalent nadirs and durations of hypoglycemia over a 60-min observation period. 3. 3. Plasma norepinephrine levels were depressed consistently only in the group injected with chicken insulin (0·74 ± 0·23 vs 0·10 ± 0·09 μ g/l while epinephrine levels increased eightfold (3·4 vs 27·3 μ g/l .) but were unchanged ( 3·4 vs 4·1 μ g/l . ) in both tolbutamide and saline groups. 4. 4. It was concluded that catecholamine release may afford adult chickens some resistance to pharmacological doses of insulin but hypoglycemia per se is not a major determining factor in evoking epinephrine secretion. The distinction between hypoglycemic action and insulin release by tolbutamide is suggested in Aves.
The social‐interactional organisation of narrative and narrating among stroke patients and their spouses

This study examines interviews with men who have experienced strokes.‘Control interviews' with persons who had experienced health problems not related to stroke were also conducted, and they are considered here as well. Unlike most studies of stroke patients' linguistic competence, which examine subjects in isolation and in clinical settings, these interviews were conducted in the patients' homes, with the patients' spouses present in all of the interviews. The analysis concerns the ways in which the spouses participate in the telling of narratives that describe the unfolding of the stroke event as such. At the beginning of every interview with stroke patients the interviewers asked what happened during the stroke proper. The spouses' participation in these stories is significant and sustained, whereas the patients' own mastery of such narratives is meagre although the narratives comprise details from their personal somatic experience. We specify several discreet interactional patterns that make up the stroke patients' dearth of agency in these tellings, compare the interactional dynamics in the interviews with ‘control’ patients, and discuss the significance of these interactional minutiae for the patients' well-being and also for sociological investigations of ‘the brain’ and related issues.
The synthesis of radioactive 3-methylthiopropionate and other alkylthio fatty acids.

Abstract Aprocedure is described for the synthesis of radioactive 3-methylthiopropionate, a recently isolated metabolite of mammalian methionine metabolism. The method is a two-step synthesis whereby correspondingly labeled methionine is degraded by ninhydrin to 3-methylthiopropionaldehyde and then specifically oxidized to 3-methylthiopropionate without oxidation of the sulfur atom by the yeast enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase. Radiochemical purity of the isolated product was established by paper, thin-layer, and gas-liquid chromatography. This procedure is economical and readily applicable to the synthesis of other alkylthio fatty acids for the study of S -methylcysteine and ethionine metabolism and probably for the synthesis of radioactive intermediates of branched chain amino acids.
Developing a single comparison stimulus for matching breathy voice quality.

Purpose In this experiment, a single comparison stimulus was developed as a reference in a perceptual matching task for the quantification of breathy voice quality. Perceptual judgments of a set of...
Fish Consumption and Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death

Studies show conflicting results regarding the protective effect of dietary fish and fish oil on certain types of cardiovascular disease. A recent epidemiologic study supports the hypothesis that moderate consumption (1–2 meals/week) of fish lowers the risk of sudden cardiac death in humans.
The United States and Latin America in the 1990s: Beyond the Cold War

A comprehensive examination of both unresolved tensions in inter-American relations and the specific problems facing U.S. and Latin American policymakers in the 1990s."-- American Political Science Review "These well-integrated essays analyze the key issues in contemporary inter-American relations very clearly. The authors address their themes with subtlety and insight, in this first overall assessment of North-South relations in the Western Hemisphere during the post-Cold War period."--Christopher Mitchell, New York University "A superb contribution...At a time when U.S.-Latin American relations face a critical turning point, policymakers would benefit from a careful reading of this fine book."--Eduardo A. Gamarra, Florida International University
Diffuse Cosmic X- and Gamma Radiation: The Isotropic Component

The ability of the various theories to explain the three main spectral features at 1/4 keV, 60 keV and 1 MeV is summarized in Tables II and III. Clearly, confirmation of the reality of these features, especially the soft X-ray and γ-ray excesses, is one of the key elements in enabling us to decide between the competing theoretical interpretations. None of the proposed interpretations are easily explained in terms of the available energy in cosmic rays (except perhaps the Seyfert galaxy proposal, and this runs into difficulties). It seems that one either has to regard normal galaxies at the present epoch as prolific sources of cosmic rays (∼ 1060 erg/galaxy in protons), as is required by the Brecher-Morrison model, or to argue that at early stages in their evolution far more energy is available than at present. One ends up with much the same energy requirement in this approach. One could conceivably identify such an early phase with the radio galaxy or QSO phenomena: in any event, cosmological evolution plays a major role. Cosmology does ease the energy requirements, but only for the inefficient mechanisms, such as nonthermal bremsstrahlung or π° -production. It seems that one still needs the metagalactic cosmic ray flux to be ∼ 10-2 of the galactic flux in the diffuse inverse Compton models, and 10-2–10-4 in the nonthermal bremsstrahlung models. Faced with problems of energetics, one is tempted to turn to the most energetic objects in the Universe, namely Seyfert nuclei and QSO's, to provide the basic energy source, whether directly or indirectly, for the diffuse X-ray background. A direct connection could be more readily investigated when X-ray observations are available of more extra-galactic sources. Another approach, complementary to that of looking for remote discrete sources, is to seek angular fluctuations, or limits on such fluctuations in the diffuse X-ray background. The best results presently available are those from the X-ray experiment on board OSO 3. Schwartz (1970) reports a limit of δI/I∼four percent on small-scale (∼10°) fluctuations over 10–100 keV over about one-quarter of the sky. If one assumes a astrophysics, namely the origin of cosmic rays, is intimately linked to the origin of the X-ray background. It may well be that no single mechanism suffices to account for the entire spectrum of isotropic X- and γ-radiation. Nature is sufficiently perverse for there to be a reasonable probability that several different processes are contributing, and considerable ingenuity will be required to ascertain which mechanism, if any, is assigned the dominant role in a given spectral region.
Medical research: Ebola therapy protects severely ill monkeys

A blend of three monoclonal antibodies has completely protected monkeys against a lethal dose of Ebola virus. Unlike other post-infection therapies, the treatment works even at advanced stages of the disease.
Two-wavelength-difference measurement of gravitationally induced quantum interference phases

One of the significant successes in the field of neutron interferometry has been the experimental observation of the phase shift of a neutron de Broglie wave due to the action of the Earth's gravitational field. Past experiments have clearly demonstrated the effect and verified the quantum-mechanical equivalence of gravitational and inertial masses to a precision of about 1%. In this experiment the gravitationally induced phase shift of the neutron is measured with a statistical uncertainty of order 1 part in 1000 in two different interferometers. Nearly harmonic pairs of neutron wavelengths are used to measure and compensate for effects due to the distortion of the interferometer as it is tilted about the incident beam direction. A discrepancy between the theoretically predicted and experimentally measured values of the phase shift due to gravity is observed at the 1% level. Extensions to the theoretical description of the shape of a neutron interferogram as a function of tilt in a gravitational field are discussed and compared with experiment.
PAPTi: A Peptide Aptamer Interference Toolkit for Perturbation of Protein-Protein Interaction Networks

Signaling proteins often form dynamic protein-protein interaction (PPI) complexes to achieve multi-functionality. Methods to abrogate a subset of PPI interfaces without depleting the full-length protein will be valuable for structure-function relationship annotations. Here, we describe the use of Peptide Aptamer Interference (PAPTi) approach for structure-function network studies. We identified peptide aptamers against Dishevelled (Dsh) and β-catenin (β-cat) to target the Wnt signaling pathway and demonstrate that these FN3-based MONOBODYs (FNDYs) can be used to perturb protein activities both in vitro and in vivo. Further, to investigate the crosstalk between the Wnt and Notch pathways, we isolated FNDYs against the Notch Ankyrin (ANK) region and demonstrate that perturbing the ANK domain of Notch increases the inhibitory activity of Notch towards Wnt signaling. Altogether, these studies demonstrate the power of the PAPTi approach to dissect specific PPI interactions within signaling networks.
Infrared Flight Simulation Using Computer Generated Imagery

A sophisticated deterministic interactive software model for computer generation of three-dimensionally projected infrared scenes has been developed. Scenes can be produced using either a self-emission or near infrared reflectance model. The software allows for generation of flight paths through a data base consisting of both feature and topography and near real-time display of stored precomputed images. The emphasis in the model development has been in computer generation of infrared scenes which accurately reproduce the characteristics of real-world imagery. The software combines computer graphics and infrared physics to produce synthetic scenes with the statistical properties of real scenes. Options exist for generation of images in near-infrared, 3-5 or 8-12 micron spectral bands including atmospheric attenuation effects. The three-dimensional projection algorithms allow for viewing of the scenes from any geometry and include concave and convex surfaces as well as hidden objects. Features exist for insertion of additional objects into the three-dimensional scenes. Thus targets, buildings, and other natural or man-made objects can be inserted with any orientation anywhere in the scenes. This allows full simulation of varying depression angles, range closure, and fly-over. The three-dimensional infrared background clutter model is an evaluation tool capable of both assessing system performance in clutter and increasing our understanding of clutter itself. The model in its current form represents a powerful tool for the fundamental understanding of infrared clutter. Possible applications include, but are most certainly not limited to, sensor operator training in the area of target discrimination with dynamic imagery, evaluation of automatic target recognizer (ATR) algorithms, and simulations allowing pilots to pre-fly missions.
Single-electron quantum dots in silicon MOS structures

We present experimental results for two types of quantum dots, which are embedded within a silicon metal-oxide-semiconductor structure. Evidence is found for single-electron charging at low temperature, and for an asymmetric shape of the dot. First results of simulations of these dots are presented.
Urban Lawyers: The New Social Structure of the Bar. By John P. Heinz, Robert L. Nelson, Rebecca L. Sandefur, and Edward O. Laumann

Urban Lawyers: The New Social Structure of the Bar. By John P. Heinz, Robert L. Nelson, Rebecca L. Sandefur, and Edward O. Laumann. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005. Pp. 376. $50.00 cloth. Reviewed by Annette Nierobisz, Carleton College In the last 25 years, there has been an unprecedented surge of lawyers in Canada and the United States. Accompanying this growth has been a body of sociolegal scholarship devoted to understanding the repercussions of this expansion. An early contribution to this field of study was Heinz and Laumann's Chicago Lawyers (1982). In Urban Lawyers: The New Social Structure of the Bar, Heinz et alia revisit and extend this earlier work, seeking to understand how recent structural and demographic changes in the Chicago bar have shaped lawyers' lives, legal organizations, and the social organization of the legal profession. Heinz et alia's insights are derived from a comparison of two surveys of the Chicago bar. The first was conducted with 777 lawyers in 1975, a time when the legal profession was on the cusp of change but still numerically and demographically stable. By the mid-1990s a different story emerges, which the authors bring to light through their survey of 787 Chicago lawyers conducted in late 1994 and early 1995. The comparative nature of these data are invaluable because they allow the reader to pinpoint how exactly the Chicago bar has changed. This is one of the most important contributions of the book. Heinz et alia outline various sociodemographic changes in the profession, including the increased involvement of women, African Americans, and Latinos in the 20-year period under study. While these changes are not unique to the legal profession, the authors show that these groups are situated in marginal roles in law firms and are found in lower-status practice settings. This finding lends weight to larger theoretical debates on the ways in which the increased incorporation of women and other minorities in professional occupations reproduces, albeit indirectly, existing systems of social stratification. Urban Lawyers catalogues the various ways in which the Chicago bar has become more stratified and, in the process, less cohesive. At the professional level, changes are found in the growing divide between prestigious and less-prestigious fields of law, in the increasing corporatization of law firms, in the types of careers that contemporary Chicago lawyers have, and in the levels of remuneration awarded to different categories of lawyers. An interesting finding is that a greater proportion of Chicago lawyers focus their work on corporate clients and, consequendy, their economic values have become more conservative, or sympathetic to business interests. This raises intriguing questions about the social consequences of more lawyers devoting more time to work for corporate clients than for personal clients, and the larger implications of greater prestige being awarded to this type of work. …
Template based nanofabrication : mechanical characterization of film-substrate interface

This paper presents the results of investigations of thin film alumina templates fabricated on silicon and other substrates. Such templates are of significant interest for the low-cost implementation of semiconductor and metal nanostructure arrays. In addition, thin film alumina templates on silicon have the potential for nanostructure integration with silicon electronics. Formation of thin film alumina templates on silicon substrates was investigated under different fabrication conditions, and the dependence of pore morphology and pore formation rate on process parameters was evaluated. In addition, process conditions for improved pore size distribution and periodicity were determined. The template/silicon interface, important for nanostructure integration on silicon, was investigated using different techniques. Thin film alumina templates on non-silicon substrates such as glass, indium-tin-oxide-coated glass and silicon carbide were also investigated.
Problem-Based Learning: From the Medical Environment to Management Education

Problem-based learning provides an approach to medical education that is more authentic than traditional classroom learning in the clinical environment. With the increased interest in action learni...
A Comparison of the Effects of Divalent and Trivalent Cations on Parathyroid Hormone Release, 3′,5′-Cyclic-Adenosine Monophosphate Accumulation, and the Levels of Inositol Phosphates in Bovine Parathyroid Cells

We compared the effects of a series of di- and trivalent cations on various aspects of parathyroid function to investigate whether these polyvalent cations act on the parathyroid cell through a similar mechanism. Like high extracellular concentrations of Ca2+, high levels of barium (Ba2+), strontium (Sr2+), gadolinium (Gd3+), europium (Eu3+), terbium (Tb3+), and ytterbium (Yb3+) [corrected] each inhibited low calcium-stimulated PTH release and showed IC50 values (the concentration producing half of the maximal inhibitory effect) of 1.12 mM, 1.18 mM, 2.2 microM, 2.5 microM, 0.89 microM, and 15 microM, respectively. The inhibitory effects of both divalent (Ca2+ and Ba2+) and trivalent (Gd3+) cations were reversible by 76-100% after removal of the cation, suggesting that the polyvalent cation-mediated reduction in PTH release was not due to nonspecific toxicity. The same di- and trivalent cations produced an 80-90% decrease in agonist-stimulated cAMP accumulation with a similar order of potency as for their effects on PTH release. Preincubation overnight with pertussis toxin totally prevented the inhibitory effects of the trivalent cations on cAMP accumulation. The same di- and trivalent cations also increased the accumulation of inositol monophosphate, inositol bisphosphate, and inositol trisphosphate. Their effects on this parameter differed from those on PTH release and cAMP accumulation in several respects. First, Ba2+ and Sr2+, rather than being equipotent with Ca2+, were about 2-fold less potent in increasing the levels of inositol phosphates. Second, the trivalent cations were 5-50-fold less potent in raising inositol phosphates than in modulating PTH release and cAMP accumulation, and all were nearly equipotent. These results show that trivalent cations of the lanthanide series mimic the actions of divalent cations on several aspects of parathyroid function, and likely do so by interacting with the cell surface "Ca2(+)-receptor-like mechanism" through which extracellular Ca2+ has been postulated to act. The pharmacology of the effects of these polyvalent cations on cAMP and PTH release are similar and differ from that for their actions on inositol phosphate metabolism, raising the possibility that there might be more than one form of the putative Ca2+ receptor.
From tetraquarks to hexaquarks: A systematic study of heavy exotics in the large N c limit

A systematic study of multiquark exotics with one or {ital N}{sub {ital c}}{minus}1 heavy quarks in the large {ital N}{sub {ital c}} limit is presented. By binding a chiral soliton to a heavy meson, either a normal {ital N}{sub {ital c}}-quark baryon or an exotic ({ital N}{sub {ital c}}+2)-quark baryon is obtained. By replacing the heavy quark with {ital N}{sub {ital c}}{minus}1 heavy antiquarks, exotic (2{ital N}{sub {ital c}}{minus}2)-quark and 2{ital N}{sub {ital c}}-quark mesons are obtained. When {ital N}{sub {ital c}}=3, they are just the normal triquark baryon {ital Qqq}, the exotic pentatquark baryon {ital Q{bar q}} {bar q} {bar q} {bar q}, tetraquark dimeson {ital {bar Q}} {ital {bar Q}qq}, and the hexaquark dibaryon {ital {bar Q}} {ital {bar Q}{bar q}} {ital {bar q}} {bar q} {ital {bar q}}, respectively. Their stabilities and decays are also discussed. In particular, it is shown that the ``heavy to heavy`` semileptonic decays are described by the Isgur-Wise form factors of the normal baryons.
Ferrite film recording surfaces for disk recording

Ferrite thin films have been prepared using a chemical deposition process; hematite and substituted hematite films were formed by spin coating a diluted solution of the metal nitrates on a substrate and subsequently heating the substrate in air to 300 °C to crystallize the film. Magnetic ferrite films were formed by reducing the films in a wet hydrogen atmosphere. Process parameters, which have evolved from studies on spin coating and reduction on 7.62- and 35.56-cm substrates, have been determined that result in desirable magnetic properties. Experimental studies of film composition and morphology are reported. It has been determined both theoretically and experimentally that film thickness near 0.125 µm is optimum for high-density recording with heads with gap lengths of approximately 1 µm spaced about 0.5 µm from the film. A TiO2, undercoat (0.125 µm) on the Al-Mg alloy substrate was prepared by chemical vapor deposition and resulted in improved magnetic properties. Magnetic properties of the films and magnetic recording performance of disks using Ti and AI substrates with the TiO2, undercoat are reported.
Fumonisin B1 promotes aflatoxin B1 and N-methyl-N'-nitro-nitrosoguanidine-initiated liver tumors in rainbow trout.

Abstract Laboratory studies have described the carcinogenicity of fumonisin B1 (FB1) in rodents and epidemiological evidence suggests an association between FB1 (a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium moniliforme) and cancer in humans. This study was designed to reveal in rainbow trout, a species with very low spontaneous tumor incidence, if FB1 was (i) a complete carcinogen, in the absence of an initiator; (ii) a promoter of liver tumors in fish initiated as fry with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1); and (iii) a promoter of liver, kidney, stomach, or swim bladder tumors in fish initiated as fry with N-methyl-N′-nitro-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). FB1 was not a complete carcinogen in trout. No tumors were observed in any tissue of fish fed diets containing 0, 3.2, 23, or 104 ppm FB1 for a total of 34 weeks (4 weeks FB1 exposure, 2 weeks outgrowth on control diet, followed by 30 weeks FB1 diet) in the absence of a known initiator. FB1 promoted AFB1 initiated liver tumors in fish fed ≥23 ppm FB1 for 42 weeks. A 1-week pretreatment of FB1 did not alter the amount of liver [3H]AFB1 DNA adducts, which suggests that short-term exposure to FB1 will not alter phase I or phase II metabolism of AFB1. In MNNG-initiated fish, liver tumors were promoted in the 104 ppm FB1 treatment (42 weeks), but FB1 did not promote tumors in any other tissue. Tumor incidence decreased in kidney and stomach in the 104 ppm FB1 treatment of MNNG-initiated trout. The FB1 promotional activity in AFB1-initiated fish was correlated with disruption of sphingolipid metabolism, suggesting that alterations in associated sphingolipid signaling pathways are potentially responsible for the promotional activity of FB1 in AFB1-initiated fish.
Statistical Analysis of Joint Effects of Major Genes and Polygenes in Quantitative Genetics

In this paper we analyze a quantitative genetic character which is controlled by both major genes and polygenes. Assuming that there are no epistatic effects, no linkage and no genetic-environmental interactions, we follow TAN and CHANG (1972) to derive the probability distributions for segregating populations. The numbers of major genes and polygenes, and the additive and dominance effects of major genes and polygenes are then estimated by using the procedures developed in TAN and CHANG (1972) and the POWELL-FLETCHER search procedure for maximum values. In this paper, we consider the case involving data from P1, P2, F2, B1 (Backcross to P1) and B2 (Backcross to P2) as this type of experiment is common in practical applications. The analyses are applied to a simulated model generated by using binomial, multinomial and normal variables and to the data of an experiment on kernel weight of sorghum plant provided to the authors by Professor GEORGE H. L. LIANG of Kansas State University. The analysis of these data indicate clearly that the method derived in this paper is useful and desirable.
Über Todesursachen und Lebensdauer bei genuiner Epilepsie

Auf Grund derSektionsprotokolle undKrankengeschichten sind von502 genuinen Epileptikern die Todesursachen zusammengestellt worden. Das Ergebnis wird mit alteren Arbeiten verglichen.
Microbial Food Webs in Marine Sediments. I. Trophic Interactions and Grazing Rates in Two Tidal Flat Communities

The role of grazing by marine sediment flagellates, ciliates, and meiobenthic animals in controlling production of their bacterial and diatom prey was investigated. Several novel or modified techniques were used to enumerate prey (bacteria and diatoms), measure bacterial production, quantify proto- and micrometazoan predators, and evaluate rates of bacterivory and herbivory. The results indicated that, in a temperate, marine intertidal nat composed of fine sand, colorless nanoflagellates, ciliates, and nematodes were the most important bacterivores. Together, these organisms were responsible for removing up to 53% of bacterial production, by grazing. The observed rates of bacterivory were high enough to hypothesize that periods of grazing control of bacterial production might occur regularly in similar habitats. Colorless microflagellates, ciliates, and nematodes had high rates of diatom consumption. The combined small diatom consumption rate was equivalent to 132% of diatom standing stock per day. Trophic interactions between diatoms and micro-and meiobenthos might be a factor limiting growth of small (around 10 mu m) diatoms. In coarse sands of an open beach, all micrograzers except pigmented nanoflagellates were rare, whereas bacterial and diatom assemblages were rather abundant and active. In this type of sediment, the micrograzers were able to consume only a marginal percentage of bacterial production (< 1%) and diatom standing stock (3.8%), thus playing a minor role in controlling the dynamics of their prey.
Deregulated protein kinase A signaling and myospryn expression in muscular dystrophy.

Alterations in signaling pathway activity have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a degenerative muscle disease caused by a deficiency in the costameric protein dystrophin. Accordingly, the notion of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex, and by extension the costamere, as harboring signaling components has received increased attention in recent years. The localization of most, if not all, signaling enzymes to this subcellular region relies on interactions with scaffolding proteins directly or indirectly associated with the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. One of these scaffolds is myospryn, a large, muscle-specific protein kinase A (PKA) anchoring protein or AKAP. Previous studies have demonstrated a dysregulation of myospryn expression in human Duchenne muscular dystrophy, suggesting a connection to the pathophysiology of the disorder. Here we report that dystrophic muscle exhibits reduced PKA activity resulting, in part, from severely mislocalized myospryn and the type II regulatory subunit (RIIα) of PKA. Furthermore, we show that myospryn and dystrophin coimmunoprecipitate in native muscle extracts and directly interact in vitro. Our findings reveal for the first time abnormalities in the PKA signal transduction pathway and myospryn regulation in dystrophin deficiency.
Pulmonary capillaritis in lung transplant recipients: treatment and effect on allograft function.

The clinical outcomes of lung transplant recipients presenting with post-transplant pulmonary capillaritis have not been well described. We retrospectively reviewed 40 cases of biopsy-proven pulmonary capillaritis in lung transplant recipients. Patients presented with a clinical syndrome characterized by dyspnea, hypoxemia, abnormal chest X-ray, and a decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ); 25% presented with hemoptysis, and 18% with fulminant respiratory failure. Therapy with intravenous corticosteroids resulted in clinical improvement in 17 cases (43%). A response to plasmapheresis was seen in 12 (67%) of 18 cases refractory to corticosteroids. There were 5 deaths within 3 months of diagnosis. Nine (82%) of 11 lung transplant recipients who presented with capillaritis within 4 weeks post-transplant were alive at 1 year; all but 1 patient achieved expected percent predicted FEV 1 values. Only 3 (14%) of 21 who presented with capillaritis > 1 month after transplant had a >20% decrease in the FEV 1 after 12 months. These results suggest that post-transplant pulmonary capillaritis is (1) likely a form of acute allograft rejection clinically and histologically distinct from typical acute rejection, (2) less responsive to corticosteroid therapy than typical acute rejection, and (3) not associated with long-term adverse effects on allograft function.
The coming of age of literary gerontology

Abstract Literary scholars are beginning to recognize the importance of aging in the creative process and to make significant contributions to gerontological theory. To that end they are examining the impact of aging on literature, both in creative works and in the lives of the creators. Categories of these studies include: (I) analyses of literary attitudes towards aging, (2) humanistic approaches (3) psychoanalytic explorations of literary works and their authors, (4) applications of gerontological theories of autobiography, life review, and midlife transitions, and (5) studies of the creative process. Although relatively few in number, the quality of recent essays and books gives hope for the future legitimacy of the field of literary gerontology.
Hysterectomy for uterine adenocarcinoma in the elderly: Tumor characteristics, and long-term outcome

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the tumor recurrences and survival in elderly patients ≥75years of age with uterine endometrioid carcinoma treated with surgical staging with/without adjuvant radiation therapy (RT). Methods We identified 675 surgically staged patients with FIGO stage I–II uterine endometrioid carcinoma who were treated between 1985 and 2009. Their medical records were retrospectively reviewed in this IRB-approved study. Patients were classified as ≥75years vs. Results 121 patients (18%) were ≥75years old at the time of hysterectomy. For this group of elderly patients, median age was 79. All patients were surgically staged and some received adjuvant RT. Older patients were found to have higher FIGO stages (p Conclusion Despite similar surgical staging and adjuvant radiation treatment, patients ≥75years old diagnosed with FIGO stage I–II uterine endometrioid carcinoma were found to have more adverse pathologic features and worse relapse-free, disease-specific and overall survival than younger patients. Age ≥75years alone may not be an independent significant prognostic factor affecting tumor recurrence.
Failure to achieve assent in a communicative patient: what are the caregiver's obligations?

Disclosure of facts related to an individual’s health care, including level and location of care, are central to the fulfillment of informed consent. When an individual is unable to provide informed consent because they lack the decision-making capacity to process the information and/or they have been deemed legally incompetent, the health care team should obtain assent from the individual whenever possible. Questions remain as to how to proceed when assent cannot be gained and the decision involved causes a level of distress for the individual that is difficult to resolve. A focus on maintaining hope and support with a clear transition and follow-up plan are important variables to consider for an ethical, caring response.
Assessment of grasshopper abundance in cereal crops using pan traps

Grasshoppers and locusts frequently invade cereal crops from adjacent source habitats. The lack of a simple, reliable sampling method for grasshoppers in cereal crops has hindered both the study of grasshopper dispersal into crops and the evaluation of various management alternatives. Water-filled pan traps were tested as a means of assessing grasshopper abundance. In comparisons of species proportions in sweep net and pan trap samples in fallow fields, there was a good correlation between the two methods, but some differences were noted. In particular, proportions of Chorthippus curtipennis tended to be greater in sweep samples than in pan traps. As a demonstration of the potential of pan traps for study of spatiotemporal dynamics of grasshopper and locust invasion of crops, a grid of pan traps was placed within a field of barley. Geostatistical methods were used to produce maps of grasshopper abundance within the barley field on five occasions during the growing season. Overall, pan traps show promise a...
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the efficacy of oral psoralen plus ultraviolet A for the treatment of plaque-type psoriasis using the Psoriasis Area Severity Index score (improvement of 75% or greater) at 12 weeks

Background Psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) for the treatment of psoriasis has never been evaluated using the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The lack of such data limits our capacity to estimate PUVA's efficacy relative to other treatment options that are available today. Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of PUVA therapy for patients with plaque-type psoriasis. Methods This study involved 40 patients with psoriasis; 30 received PUVA and 10 received UVA with placebo. PASI scores were assessed at baseline and every 4 weeks thereafter for 12 weeks. Results By nonresponder imputation, 60% (18 of 30) in the PUVA group achieved 75% or more improvement in PASI score after 12 weeks of treatment compared with 0% (0 of 10) in the UVA plus placebo group (P Limitations The study was relatively small with only 40 patients enrolled and 28 patients who completed the protocol. Further studies that involve head-to-head comparison of PUVA with other treatment modalities are needed. Nonresponder imputation, last observation carried forward with intent to treat, and per protocol analyses each have separate advantages and limitations when determining clinical significance. Conclusions This study supports the observation that PUVA is a highly efficacious treatment for chronic plaque psoriasis.
Duneton, Claude. Parler Croquant

Ci-tiu libro estas facile legebla de ciuj, kiel romano. Estas la kontrauo de teknika verko. Fakuloj ne-nion lernos el gi, krom, eble, pri la moderna Francujo. La tiel nomita moderna franca lingvo estas fakte produkto de senskrupula politiko de grupeto de Parizregionanoj, lancita dum la 'Granda Jarcento' kaj nur transdonita, ce la Revolucio de 1789, de unu grupeto al alia, simila: la grandburgaro de Parizo. Duneton, infano en Correze, lernis, en la lernejo, honti pri sia dialekto. Ciuj junaj francoj simile lernis. La kampanjo, generale sukcesa, celis mortigi la regionajn lingvojn, ec la nordfrancajn dialektojn, fratojn de la 'franca' (Pariz-regiona). La grandburga gajno el la kampanjo estis granda: ekzemple, oni el-radikigis la provincanojn, forigante ilin el siaj kulturo kaj regiono. Tiam, ili vole-nevole elmigris al la cefurbo, provizante tie, al la fabrikposedantoj, malmultekostan laboristaron. Oni komparu tian mov-adon de la provincanoj al Parizo kun tiu de la portorikanoj al Novjorko, kaj ilia foja posta reiro al Portoriko kun usone diftonga hispana lingvo.La plej bonaj pagoj traktas la stilon kaj problemojn de traduko. La plej malforta parto temas pri solvoj al la problemoj. Car la rega franca lingvo de la 'fasisto' Richelieu ja fakte venkis; la regionaj lingvoj estas mortantaj. Duneton sugestas 'malkoloniigon de la spiritoj', sed kiel savi la regionajn lingvojn ? Per uzo ce radio kaj televido, en la edukado ? Sed jam tro malfruas. Estas iluzia revo. La okcitana, ekzemple, agonias, car gi cesis esti la denaska lingvo de junaj okcitanoj. Igi gin lerneja lingvo ne redon-us al gi la vivon, kiun gi perdis. La regionaj lingvoj nur regajnos la vivon, se la lernejanoj ekuzos ilin, guste ekster la lernejo.Sed la lingvaj problemoj de la lando ne estas solvitaj. La franca estas vere nacia lingvo, nur kiam gi estas parolata. Surpapere, estas alia afero. Lingvistoj kiel A. Valdman montris la kreskantan diferenc-on inter la skriba kaj la parola lingvoj. Oni povos baldau paroli, kiel en Haitio, pri diglosio. La skriba franca estas "malvarma, lernejeca". Eksterlandaj studentoj malfacile komprenas la situacion, aparte la anglalingvanoj, por kiuj ne ekzistas tia fremdigo disde la skriba lingvo. Guste pro tio, estas la angla-lingvanoj, kiuj provizas, por la francoj, la novajn vortojn, kiujn la Akademio ne volas provizi.La solvo, por Duneton, estas politika: forigi la potencon de la malnova reganta burgaro. Ci-tiu libro estas parto de la solvo, car la aŭtoro estas majstra pedagogo. Li neniam tedas. Li naskigis kamparano.
Proton-Proton Scattering at 3.4, 6.8, and 7.5 Mev

Using a gas target and photographic plates as detectors, absolute differential $p\ensuremath{-}p$ scattering cross sections in the angular range of 45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 10\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} at 6.8 and 7.5 Mev were measured with an accuracy of two percent. The apparatus was checked by obtaining data at 3.4 Mev in the angular range of 15\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The data obtained at this energy range were in agreement with the precise Van de Graaff data. The 6.8- and 7.5-Mev data show that the $S$-wave cross sections at these energies are consistent with the extrapolation of the precise Van de Graaff data to this energy region. No indication of a $P$-wave effect was observed in either the low or high energy data.
Salicylate and cocaine: interactive toxicity during chicken mid-embryogenesis.

Increased free radical production, due to ischemia and reperfusion, has been postulated as a cause of cocaine's (COC) developmental toxicity. Salicylate reacts with hydroxyl free radicals (*OH) to form stable, quantifiable reaction products, which can be measured with high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). To determine if chicken embryos' brains and hearts were exposed to increased *OH concentrations after injection of COC, an injection of a nontoxic dose of sodium salicylate (NaSAL, 100 mg/kg egg, or 5 mg/egg), followed by 5 injections of COC (13.5 mg/kg or 0.675 mg/egg, every 1.5 h), was administered to eggs containing embryos on the 12th day of embryogenesis (E12). In addition to finding increased *OH concentrations in E12 embryonic hearts and brains, we observed that the developmental toxicity of COC, manifest as vascular disruption (hemorrhage) and lethality, was enhanced by NaSAL injection. These results confirm and extend results of similar experiments performed upon older embryos (E18), and indicate that increased zOH concentration in embryonic tissues after COC exposure and toxic interactions of COC and NaSAL can also occur at an earlier stage of development. The results are discussed in light of possible exposure of human fetuses to both COC and salicylates, since COC-abusing pregnant women can be misdiagnosed with pre-eclampsia and aspirin is used to treat this syndrome.
BCI: A biophysical composition index for remote sensing of urban environments

Understanding urban environments and their spatio-temporal changes is essential for regional and local planning and environmental management. To facilitate monitoring and analyzing urban environments, remotely sensed data have been applied extensively because of its synoptic view and repeat coverage over large geographic areas. Compared with traditional per-pixel and sub-pixel image analyses, spectral indices have apparent advantages due to their easy implementation. However, most spectral indices are designed to highlight only one land cover, and confusion between other land cover types, in particular impervious surfaces and bare soil, has not been successfully addressed. This study proposes a biophysical composition index (BCI) for simple and convenient derivation of urban biophysical compositions for practical applications following Ridd's conceptual vegetation – impervious surface – soil triangle model by a reexamination of the Tasseled Cap (TC) transformation. Further, this research explores the applicability of BCI in various remotely sensed images at different spatial resolutions. Results indicate that, BCI has a closer relationship with impervious surface abundance than those of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized difference built-up index (NDBI) and normalized difference impervious surface index (NDISI), with correlation coefficients of approximately 0.8 at various resolutions. Also, the performances of BCI in quantifying vegetation abundance are comparable with NDVI at all three spatial scales. Additionally, with much higher values of separability metrics than any other index, the study confirms that BCI was shown to be the most effective index of the four evaluated for separating impervious surfaces and bare soil.
Design of Control Law for Rotating Stall Subject to Actuator Constraints

Presented in this paper is an analytical study of the closed-loop stability of rotating stall control in an axial flow compressor subject to a nonlinear spatial actuation constraint. To account for the actuator constraints during the design, the problem is formulated as an absolute stability problem for a linearized spatial domain model of an axial flow compressor in series with the saturation element. In particular, the circle criterion is extended to accommodate the complex nature of the spatial domain. A graphical interpretation of the circle criterion results, which allows classical control design techniques to be used in the design of the gain and phase for a complex gain control law that increases the region of absolute stability guaranteed by this closed-loop system-stability criteria. This allows for the actuator constraints to be accounted for during the design using classical control techniques. A comparison of the estimated domain of attraction from the circle criterion and the domain of attraction obtained through simulation of the full nonlinear compressor model are presented.
Persistent Poverty and the Failure of Area-Based Initiatives in the U.S.

Recent poverty statistics in the U.S. have raised fundamental questions regarding the effectiveness of anti-poverty programs over the last four decades. While discussing the historical backdrop against which many of the area-based initiatives were designed, this paper provides an analysis of changes in poverty rates in the U.S., particularly in California and Los Angeles County. The findings suggest that the changing nature of poverty, including its spatial diffusion over the last three decades, may require alternatives to the re-emerging spatial targeting practices of centrist governments in the U.S. and the U.K.
Nitric oxide in respiratory failure in the newborn infant

Nitric oxide given as an inhalation (INO) is a novel selective pulmonary vasodilator without effects on the systemic circulation. Preliminary observations indicated that INO treatment was associated with improvements in oxygenation in near-term newborn infants with hypoxic respiratory failure and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Subsequently, at least eight prospective randomized controlled trials evaluating the use of INO in the near-term neonate with hypoxic respiratory failure have been presented or published. A meta-analysis of these trials has provided evidence that INO improves the PaO 2 in the INO-treated infants by 52.8 mm Hg (weighted mean difference) compared with controls (95% CI, 38.2, 67.4), and significantly decreases the oxygenation index by 16.9 compared with controls (95% CI, −22.2, −11.6). The incidence of death or need for ECMO is significantly reduced by treatment with INO, relative risk 0.71 compared to control (95% CI, 0.57, 0.87), with the majority of the improvement observed in the reduction in the need for ECMO. A single study of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) did not show a benefit for early INO therapy, with treated infants having a greater requirement for ECMO ( P =.043). At present, there are no long-term evaluations of infants who have received INO as part of these prospective trials. INO improves oxygenation and reduces the need for ECMO in the near-term hypoxic neonate, but further research is required to evaluate the ultimate safety and benefit of this therapy.