cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Business-to-Business (B2B) Electronic Commerce

Electronic commerce has been a major driving force in the development of the Internet economy over the past few years and has attracted the attention of large and small businesses across the globe. Business-to-business electronic commerce is growing at an estimated rate of between 50% and 100% per year driven by unprecedented opportunities to reduce cost and increase the efficiency of various types of business processes. With an estimated global value of $430 billion in 2000, the total value of business-to-business electronic activity is expected to reach $8.5 trillion by the end of 2005; will exceed the value of business-to-consumer electronic commerce 15-fold; and is expected to comprise 24% of all business transactions if the current trends persist. However, these numbers belie mixed experiences and degrees of success by organizations implementing electronic business systems. The initial rush to move into the digital business environment of the late 1990s has been replaced by a more cautious approach in which companies are carefully examining the rationale of developing mission-critical systems using nascent technologies for which the benefits and risks are not clearly understood. This chapter begins with a brief discussion on general business and technological foundations of business-to-business electronic commerce (e-B2B). Following are sections describing the motivation for companies to participate in electronic business and the various e-B2B strategies companies engage in, and a section on related technologies that have been employed in recent years. The final two sections examine some of the challenges associated with implementing e-B2B systems that companies should consider and a perspective on the implementation experience to date. Keywords: B2B E-commerce; bartering; customer relationship management (CRM); E-marketplace; exchange/trading mall; supply chain management
Immunocytochemical localization of gamma 2 short and gamma 2 long subunits of the GABAA receptor in the rat brain

The distribution of the short (gamma 2S) and long (gamma 2L) subunits of the GABAA receptors in the rat brain has been revealed by light microscopy immunocytochemistry with novel subunit-specific antibodies (anti-gamma 2S and anti-gamma 2L). We have also used other subunit-specific antibodies including anti-gamma 2IL2 (which recognizes both gamma 2S and gamma 2L), anti-alpha 1COOH, and the monoclonal antibody 62-3G1 to beta 2/3 for comparing the regional and cellular distribution of the most abundant GABAA receptor subunits in the rat brain. The distributions of gamma 2S and gamma 2L immunoreactivities are similar throughout the brain although the relative intensity of both signals varies depending on the brain area and neuronal type. In the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and olfactory bulb (particularly mitral, periglomerular, and tufted neurons), gamma 2S was more abundant than gamma 2L. In contrast, the inferior colliculus, medulla, and the cerebellar Purkinje cells displayed more gamma 2L than gamma 2S immunolabeling. An important difference in the distribution of the various subunits was found in cerebellum: gamma 2S and gamma 2L were predominantly localized in the molecular layer, whereas alpha 1 and beta 2/3 were more abundant in the granular layer. In the thalamus, gamma 2L and gamma 2S were less abundant than either alpha 1 or beta 2/3 subunits. The results showed that there is colocalization of gamma 2S and gamma 2L subunits in some brain areas and neuronal types, as well as areas of mismatch. Colocalization and mismatches were also found among alpha 1, beta 2/3, and gamma 2, probably resulting from the heterogeneity in the subunit composition of the GABAA receptors through the brain.
Progesterone blockade of estrogen activation of mu-opioid receptors regulates reproductive behavior.

The μ-opioid receptor (MOR), a G-protein-coupled receptor, is internalized after endogenous agonist binding. Although receptor activation and internalization are separate events, internalization is a good assay for activation because endogenous opioid peptides all induce internalization. Estrogen treatment of ovariectomized rats induces MOR internalization, providing a neurochemical signature of estrogen activation of the medial preoptic nucleus. MOR activation appears to be the mechanism via which estrogen acts in the medial preoptic area to prevent the display of female reproductive behavior during the first 20–24 hr after estrogen treatment. Naltrexone, an alkaloid universal opioid receptor antagonist, prevented MOR internalization, suggesting that estrogen induces the release of endogenous opioid peptides that in turn activate the MOR. Enkephalins and β-endorphin are nonselective endogenous MOR ligands. The most selective endogenous MOR ligands are the endomorphins. Infusions of selective MOR agonists, H -Tyr-d-Ala-Gly- N -Met-Phe-glycinol-enkephalin (DAMGO) or endomorphin-1, into the medial preoptic nucleus attenuated lordosis, and their effects were blocked with the MOR antagonist H -d-Phe-Cys-Tyr-d-Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH 2 (CTOP). Infusion of endomorphin-1 internalized MOR. To determine whether progestin also acts via the MOR system to facilitate reproductive behavior, ovariectomized rats were primed with 17β-estradiol and progesterone. Progestin facilitation of lordosis was correlated with a reduction of estrogen-induced MOR internalization. Progestin reversed estrogen-induced MOR internalization, suggesting that progesterone blocked estrogen-induced endogenous opioid release, relieving estrogen inhibition and facilitating lordosis. These results indicate a central role of MOR in the mediation of sex steroid activation of the CNS to regulate female reproductive behavior.
Muddling through: a response to Yates and Goldstein.

In response to comments by Yates and Goldstein in the same issue of the Journal critical of the authors work (in collaboration with Townes and Campbell) on birth planning decision making the development of that research is recounted. It is argued that in the course of developing a decision aid that people could and would use deviations from formal decision theoretic considerations were necessary and that the final result is not unreasonable. (authors modified)
Measuring QoL with SF-36 in Older Americans with TBI

This study demonstrated reliability and factor structure of the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) among older Americans with Traumatic brain injury (TBI), and evaluated effects of injury severity and race on SF-36's items and latent domains. A representative sample of 654 older, racially diverse patients with TBI was selected from the South Carolina Traumatic Brain Injury Follow-up Registry. Reliability and factor structure of SF-36 were evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Multiple-indicator multiple-causes (MIMIC) models were used to study effects of injury severity and race on items (differential item functioning, DIF) and latent domains (population heterogeneity) of SF-36. SF-36 was reliable and its current eightfactor structure was confirmed. While TBI severity did not impact latent domain scores of SF-36, race did. Blacks had higher vitality and lower role-emotional scores than whites. The measurement model was invariant to injury severity and race (free of DIF), and DIF did not contribute to the differences of vitality and role-emotional between black and white older TBI patients. SF-36 was valid to measure quality of life (OoL) after TBI in racially diverse elderly population. Blacks tend to assert to strong coping behaviors in the presence of physical stress while admitting low performance due to emotional stress. In QoL research where the primary outcomes are usually composite scores from instruments, MIMIC models have advantages over conventional multivariable regression models in testing the validity of the instruments and assessing covariate effects on latent traits of instruments while controlling for DIF effects.
(+)-Sorangicin A Synthetic Studies. Construction of the C(1−15) and C(16−29) Subtargets

Effective stereocontrolled syntheses of subtargets (−)-2 and (−)-4, comprising respectively the C(16−29) and C(1−15) tetrahydropyran and dihydropyran moieties of the potent antibiotic (+)-sorangicin A (1), have been achieved. The cornerstone for the synthesis of (−)-2 involved an aldol tactic exploiting 1,4-induction, followed in turn by an acid-mediated cyclization/ketalization and hydrosilane reduction promoted by TMSOTf, while construction of (−)-4 entailed a stereoselective conjugate addition/α-oxygenation sequence.
Two-piece orbital prosthesis

Abstract Many different approaches have been advocated in the literature for the fabrication of orbital prostheses. An alternate technique using a two-piece system and magnetic retention between the two has been described. This technique has been successful in the prosthetic rehabilitation of patients treated for orbital exenteration.
Replication Cycle of the Blue-Green Algal Virus LPP-I

THE infection of the blue-green alga Plectonema boryanum by a virus was first recorded by Safferman and Morris1, and we have described methods of culture for the alga and the virus and also the mode of infection of the cell2,3. The virus has a long “tail” by which it attaches itself to the cell wall3; the DNA is then apparently injected into the cell after the manner of some bacteriophages. This communication deals with what happens after the injection of the DNA, and describes the replication cycle of the virus as far as this can be elucidated by electron microscopy.
Intervention Effectiveness in Reducing Prejudice Against Transsexuals

The transgender community encounters pervasive prejudice, discrimination, and violence, yet social science literature lacks research that focuses on reduction of antitransgender prejudice. This experimental study examined the effectiveness of three interventions aimed at decreasing negative attitudes toward transsexuals, correcting participants’ beliefs in myths about transsexuality, and reducing their predicted discriminatory behaviors. Results revealed a significant decrease in negative attitudes and beliefs in myths. However, no individual intervention proved more effective than the others. The interventions led to no change in predicted discriminatory behaviors.
Quality Feedback: The Essential Ingredient for Teacher Success

The decisions evaluators make regarding how to work with teachers through the annual evaluation process can have a positive impact on teacher growth and student learning. In this article, the author examines the quality of feedback and how administrators use and provide this feedback to teachers through the evaluation process. What constitutes quality feedback? How does quality feedback support teachers' instruction? How can the supervision and evaluation process offer both teachers and administrators an opportunity to work together to improve student learning? The evaluation process should support the goal of maintaining a high level of quality instruction. In the end, the goal is to increase student learning by improving the effectiveness of teaching.
Correlation effects and entropy-driven phase separation in athermal polymer blends

Polymer reference interaction site model (PRISM) theory with the Percus–Yevick closure approximation has been applied to investigate the intermolecular correlations, effective chi‐parameters, and spinodal phase separation of athermal binary polymer blends. These model mixtures are composed of structurally asymmetric semiflexible chains interacting via purely hard core potentials. In strong contrast to PRISM predictions for the idealized Gaussian thread model, nonlocal entropy‐driven phase separation is predicted under certain conditions. By examining the intermolecular pair correlation functions we identify the physical driving force as local packing frustration associated with the different backbone stiffnesses of the blend components, which is propagated to macromolecular scales by chain connectivity and persistence. These entropic packing effects display many nonuniversal features including a sensitive dependence on chain length, blend composition, monomer volume difference, and both the mean and relative aspect ratios of the polymers. The sensitivity of the athermal blend fluctuation phenomena to local chain rigidity and nonzero liquid compressibility is emphasized. For model parameters characteristic of most flexible polymers of experimental interest the athermal packing frustration effect is found to generate only a small amount of thermodynamic incompatibility. Perturbative estimates of the enthalpic chi‐parameters associated with (local) structural asymmetries suggest they are much more important than the purely entropic contribution for hydrocarbon alloys such as the polyolefins. Recent incompressible field theories for athermal conformationally asymmetric blends are derived within the liquid state integral equation framework by identifying an alternative, mean‐field‐like closure approximation coupled with the imposition of a zero compressibility constraint.
Grain Boundary Segregation and Thermal History Effects on Properties of La1.85Sr0.15CuO4-y Superconductors

The grain boundary segregation of Sr in the La1.85Sr0.15CuO4-y system, and its effects on polycrystalline diamagnetic properties, have been characterized. Equilibration at 1000°C reduces grain boundary segregation compared to that which is present at 700°C. Results indicate that critical currents in randomly oriented polycrystalline materials will be improved if annealing treatments can be optimized to minimize grain boundary segregation without degrading lattice oxygen stoichiometry.
Lower Cretaceous Carbonate Beaches: ABSTRACT

Several carbonate beach sequences have been recognized and studied in Lower Cretaceous shallow-marine shelf limestones of the Edwards Formation, Central and West Texas. These sandstone bodies are local features associated with exposed insular areas developed in response to remnant structural features combined with biologic and normal sedimentologic processes (sand banks and rudist reefs). From top to bottom, 4 zones are recognized: backshore, beach foreshore, upper offshore, and lower offshore. The backshore consists of laminated, mud-cracked, fine-grained supratidal dolomite with gypsum molds and associated paleosoils. Thin washover deposits of coarse calcareous sands are common. The beach foreshore consists of a coarse rudist carbonate grainstone with a subaerial crust developed at the top. The dominant sedimentary structures are inclined laminations, accretion bedding, and "keystone vugs." Collapsed beachrock slabs are common. The upper offshore consists of poorly sorted rudist carbonate packstone with some finely interbedded coarse rudist carbonate grainstone and pellet carbonate packstone. This zone may contain festoon crossbedding trending normal to the direction of beach accretion. Beach rock cobbles derived from the beach foreshore zone above are common. The lower offshore zone consists of an echinoid-pellet carbonate packstone with common burrows and some festoon crossbedding. Useful criteria for the recognition of ancient carbonate beaches are: vertical sequence of sedimentary structures, from accretion beds at top to burrows at base; vertical sequence of texture and fabric from coarse, well-sorted grainstones at top to poorly sorted fine-grained packstones at base; presence of evaporative supratidal facies at the top of the sequence; and association of keystone vugs and beachrock slabs with the accretion-bedded part of the sequence. End_of_Article - Last_Page 641------------
Crossing the Cultural Chasm

Shared decision making and cultural competence are inherently relativistic concepts. Two patient encounters illustrate the conflict of these important themes of general internal medicine and the ch...
The Verbal Image: Student Perceptions of Political Figures.

This study investigated the dimensions of college students’ verbal images of national political candidates as shown by hierarchical factor analysis of antonymous verbal scales. Two alternate sets of 74 scales each were administered to 188 subjects responding to four Presidential candidates as stimulus symbols. Data were submitted to varimax and hierarchical factor solutions for each set and the alternate factor structures were compared. Factor scores and their intercorrelations were obtained to test validity between factor pairs of alternate sets and the actual orthogonality of factors within each set. Results are interpreted in terms of (1) factor structures as indices of student political values, (2) the validation of a theoretical construct, verbal image, and (3) the viability of the method for study of internal variables in communication
The interconnection of dead-reckoning and radar data for precision navigation and prediction

Abstract A simplified method for the interconnection of radar and dead-reckoning data has been presented and used to illustrate the application of this principle to ship and aircraft navigation problems. This interconnection facilitates the interpretation of radar data and increases the accuracy of the dead-reckoning data. Furthermore, the prediction of time of arrival of a craft at a stationary or a moving object is readily computed.
Ultralow-Voltage Process-Variation-Tolerant Schmitt-Trigger-Based SRAM Design

We analyze Schmitt-Trigger (ST)-based differential-sensing static random access memory (SRAM) bitcells for ultralow-voltage operation. The ST-based SRAM bitcells address the fundamental conflicting design requirement of the read versus write operation of a conventional 6T bitcell. The ST operation gives better read-stability as well as better write-ability compared to the standard 6T bitcell. The proposed ST bitcells incorporate a built-in feedback mechanism, achieving process variation tolerance - a must for future nano-scaled technology nodes. A detailed comparison of different bitcells under iso-area condition shows that the ST-2 bitcell can operate at lower supply voltages. Measurement results on ten test-chips fabricated in 130-nm CMOS technology show that the proposed ST-2 bitcell gives 1.6× higher read static noise margin, 2× higher write-trip-point and 120-mV lower read-Vmin compared to the iso-area 6T bitcell.
Interannual Variability and Climatic Noise in Satellite-Observed Outgoing Longwave Radiation

Abstract The interannual variability (IAV) in monthly averaged outgoing infrared radiation (IR, from the NOAA polar orbiting satellites) is observed to be larger during summer than during winter over the north Pacific Ocean. A statistical analysis of the daily observations shows the daily variance to be similar during both seasons while the autocorrelation function is quite different. This leads to a seasonal difference in estimates of the climatic noise level, i.e., the variances expected in summer and winter monthly averages due to the number of effectively independent samples in each average. Because of a less vigorous tropospheric circulation, monthly means of IR during summer are affected by the passage of fewer synoptic-scale disturbances and their attendant cloudiness. Fewer independent samples imply a larger variance in the time averages. While the observed IAV is less in winter, the ratio of the observed IAV to the climatic noise level is larger, suggesting that signals of climatic variability in...
Sustained oscillations in a symmetric cooperative-competitive neural network: Disproof of a conjecture about content addressable memory

Abstract Cohen and Grossberg proved that a large class of neural networks with symmetric interaction coefficients admit a global Liapunov function guaranteeing that their trajectories approach equilibrium points. Such networks function as content-addressable memories, and the equilibria are the stored memories. Cohen and Grossberg also conjectured, based upon substantial computational evidence, that networks within a class of mixed cooperative-competitive networks with symmetric interaction coefficients also have this property. This conjecture is here disproved. In particular, a class of homogeneous, distance-dependent, on-center off-surround neural networks are constructed which supports persistent oscillations for appropriate initial data. Such a class is constructed in each even dimension. Similar systems, which have been used to model the dynamics of the hippocampus, are compared to this class of networks to clarify the origins of oscillatory class of behavior in this class of systems.
Family physicians' awareness and knowledge of the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA).

Historically, physicians have expressed concern about their patients’ risk of genetic discrimination, which has acted as a barrier to uptake of genetic services. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) is intended to protect patients against employer and health insurance discrimination. Physicians’ awareness and knowledge of GINA has yet to be evaluated. In 2009, we mailed surveys to 1500 randomly selected members of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Questions measured physicians’ current knowledge of GINA and their level of concern for genetic discrimination. In total, 401 physicians completed the survey (response rate 26.9%). Approximately half (54.5%) of physicians had no awareness of GINA. Of physicians who reported basic knowledge of GINA, the majority were aware of the protections offered for group health insurance (92.7%), private health insurance (82.9%), and employment (70.7%). Fewer physicians were aware of GINA’s limitations regarding life insurance (53.7%) and long-term care insurance (58.8%). Physicians demonstrated highest levels of concern for health insurance, life insurance, and long-term care insurance discrimination, with less concern for employer and family/social discrimination. Level of concern for the risk of genetic discrimination did not correlate significantly with awareness of GINA. Approximately 17 months after GINA was signed into federal law, physicians’ knowledge remained limited regarding the existence of this legislation and relevant details. Physicians who are aware of GINA continue to have significant concerns regarding the risk of genetic discrimination. This study reveals the need to further educate physicians about the existence of GINA and the protections offered.
The disenchantment of affect

In computing design, experience is often broken down, compartmentalized, and engineered: a process that often disenchants the original experience. In this paper, we demonstrate the possibility to design for experience, not by formalizing and rationalizing it, but instead by supporting open-ended engagement and appropriation. We illustrate this approach through Affector, a case study in affective computing, in which we focus on user interpretation and construction of emotional experience over its computational modeling. We derive design and evaluation strategies for enchantment that focus on supporting the ongoing construction and interpretation of experience by human participants over the course of interaction. We suggest that enchanting experiences may be designed only by approaching enchantment obliquely: not by engineering it in, but by providing opportunities where it may emerge.
A scalable CMOS sensor array for neuronal recording and imaging

We present a CMOS sensor array with 768 low-noise recording sites for neural recording with 2,048 intercalated angle-sensitive pixels (ASP) for optical read-out. The design is highly scalable due to electrode-level digitization with serial data stream-out. The front-end amplifiers use chopping to reduce flicker noise and achieve an input-referred noise of 4.1µV rms over a 4.2kHz bandwidth while occupying an area of only 800µm2. Digitization is performed by using a distributed ramp ADC that samples every sensor site at 10kHz. Each electrode is plated with platinum to increase the interface capacitance and ensure biocompatibility. The large number of electrodes, 50µm electrode-pitch, and combined optical information will enable sophisticated optogenetic neurophysiological research on a chip.
Phospholipid vesicles containing bovine heart mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase and subunit III-deficient enzyme: Analysis of respiratory control and proton translocating activities

Abstract Phospholipid vesicles containing bovine heart mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COV) or subunit III ( M r 29884)-deficient enzyme (COV-III) were characterized for electron transfer and proton translocating activities in order to investigate the relationship between the respiratory control ratio (RCR) and the apparent proton translocated to electron transferred stoichiometry ( H + e − ratio) in these preparations. We did not observe a quantitative correlation between the RCR value and the H + e − ratio in the preparations. Significant deviation between these two parameters was observed in COV-III and also in COV. However, a new parameter, RCR val , did show a linear relationship with the H + e − ratio of each preparation. Subunit III (SIII)-deficient cytochrome c oxidase isolated by either native gel electrophoresis or chymotrypsin treatment and incorporated into COV-III exhibited H + e − ratios of 0.34 ± 0.10, compared to 0.63 ± 0.09 for COV, emphasizing that the 50% decrease of proton translocating activity is independent of the method of removal of SIII from the enzyme. COV and COV-III also showed similar rates of alkalinization of the extravesicular media after the initial proton translocation reaction (0.07–0.09 neq OH − /s), suggesting that these two preparations had similar endogenous proton permeabilities. In contrast, cytochrome c oxidase (COX) treated with Triton X-100 (3 mg/mg COX) and incorporated into phospholipid vesicles [COV (+TX)]exhibited slower rates of alkalinization (0.04 neq OH − /s), while having a H + e − ratio similar to that of COV (0.66 ± 0.10). The passive proton permeabilities of these preparations were tested by valinomycin-induced K + H + exchange activity. COV (+TX) and COV-III exhibited similar pseudo-first-order rate constants (10 peq OH − /s), while COV had a 20-fold higher rate constant. These results taken together suggest that the different preparations of COX-containing phospholipid vesicles have different biophysical properties. In addition, the decrease in proton-pumping activity observed in COV-III is due to removal of SIII from COX, suggesting that SIII may act either as a passive proton-conducting channel or as a regulator of COX conformation and/or functional activities.
U-duality twists and possible phase transitions in 2+1 D supergravity

We study 2+1D toroidal compactifications of M-theory with twists in the U-duality group. These compactifications realize many symmetric-manifolds from the classification of 2+1D extended supergravity moduli spaces. We then focus on the moduli space SU(2, 1)/U(2) obtained by dimensional reduction of pure N = 2 supergravity in 3+1D. This space is realized with an explicit example. Assuming that there are no quantum corrections, we conjecture that the classical discrete duality group has to be augmented with an extra strong/weak coupling duality. This implies the existence of new phases of the theory in which the original 8 compactification radii are all fixed at the Planck scale.
Association between the unemployment rate and inpatient cost per discharge by payer in the United States, 2005-2010.

Several reports have linked the 2007–2009 Great Recession in the United States with a slowdown in health care spending and decreased utilization. However, little is known regarding how the recent economic downturn affected hospital costs per inpatient stay for different segments of the population. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between changes in the unemployment rate and inpatient cost per discharge for Medicare and commercial discharges. We used retrospective data at the Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA)-level from 46 states that contributed to the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases from 2005 to 2010. Unemployment data was derived from the American Community Survey. An instrumental variable two-stage least squares approach with fixed- or random-effects was used to examine the association between unemployment rate and inpatient cost per discharge by payer because of potential endogeneity. The marginal effect of unemployment was associated with an increase in inpatient cost per discharge for both payers. A one percentage point increase in the unemployment rate was associated with a $37 increase for commercial discharges and a $49 increase for Medicare discharges. We find evidence that the inpatient cost per discharge is countercyclical across different segments of the population. The underlying mechanisms by which unemployment affects hospital resource use however, might differ between payer groups.
Perceptions of Nonshared Childhood Environment in Bulimia Nervosa

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of this research was to identify perceptions of nonshared childhood environmental factors associated with bulimia nervosa and the comorbid personality traits associated with this disorder. Method Twenty-nine individuals with bulimia nervosa and 27 normal controls compared themselves to a sibling on a measure specifically designed to assess perceptions of nonshared environmental factors in parental, peer, and sibling relationships. Also, bulimic individuals' primary clinicians completed a series of ratings for each of the DSM-III personality disorders. Results Bulimic individuals were more likely than controls to rate their fathers as showing less affection and more control toward them than toward their sibling. Among bulimic individuals, borderline personality disorder ratings were associated with the perception that both mother and father showed less affection toward the bulimic individual than toward her sibling. Avoidant and depressive personality ratings were associated with perceptions of unique experiences with peers. Conclusion These data provide preliminary evidence suggesting that the paternal relationship may be a source of nonshared environmental experience associated with bulimia nervosa. Borderline personality disorder among bulimics appears related to more pervasive within-family experiences across both the maternal and paternal relationship, while depressive and avoidant personality seems related to unique peer experiences.
Differential absorption of amoxicillin from the human small and large intestine

Differences in extent of amoxicillin absorption from various regions of the gastrointestinal tract were determined and compared with the same dose administered orally. Nine healthy men were intubated at a proximal (duodenum or jejunum) or distal (ileum or colon) site with use of a 15-foot double lumen nasointestinal tube. Amoxicillin solutions (375 mg in 120 ml water) were delivered on 2 successive days as a bolus or a 4-hour infusion. Subjects were reintubated at another site and amoxicillin administration was repeated. Subjects with colonic intubation received only infusions. Finally, all subjects received an oral dose of amoxicillin solution. Plasma samples were obtained at 16 time points over a 10-hour period and assayed for amoxicillin by use of an HPLC method. Area under the concentration-time curve and the maximum plasma concentration were computed to evaluate amoxicillin absorption. Amoxicillin absorption was rate and site dependent in the gastrointestinal tract. The drug was well absorbed in the duodenum and jejunum, with no significant differences in absorption when administered as a bolus or 4-hour infusion, but absorption was decreased and rate dependent in the ileum, where more drug was absorbed as an infusion compared with a bolus. Amoxicillin was unabsorbed when infused in all colonic regions.
Crew resource management training for surgeons: feasibility and impact

This paper describes a prospective, within-subjects study to measure the before-after effect of training five general surgery attendings on crew resource management (CRM) strategies on the resultant use and perceived utility of those strategies. Subjects were trained via a 1-h lecture on seven CRM skills after their second observed case, and participated in a 15 min debriefing with the trainers immediately following their fourth through sixth observed cases. These interventions led to a significant increase in frequency (by 26–70%) of preoperative briefing elements over baseline. There was a significant correlation between the use of CRM practices and their perceived utility in improving team coordination and reducing error.
Induction of collagenase and stromelysin gene expression by mechanical injury in a vascular smooth muscle-derived cell line

We describe a novel system for studying the production of matrix metalloproteinases types I and Ill (collagenase and stromelysin) by a vascular smooth muscle cell line (Rb-1 cells) in response to mechanical injury. Highly confluent Rb-1 cells are disrupted by passing a plastic comb around the plate to clear a series of circumferential paths, which are bordered by two ridges of displaced cells. Over the next 24 hours, cells migrate into the cleared areas. Northern blot analysis demonstrates the accumulation of mRNAs for collagenase and stromelysin during this process, although they are undetectable prior to injury. Cotreatment with all-trans-retinoic acid (10−6 M) markedly decreases the level of mRNAs induced by injury, whereas dexamethasone (10−7 M) causes only a slight reduction. In situ hybridization studies for stromelysin mRNA and immunohistochemical staining for collagenase protein on plates of injured cells showed the highest levels of stromelysin mRNA in cells in the ridges left by the injury; lower levels were observed in some cells migrating into the clear region. The same pattern of expression was observed when cells were stained with antiserum to collagenase protein. Nuclear run-on assays demonstrated increases in transcription of stromelysin and collagenase genes following injury. Transient transfection of cells with a vector containing the luciferase gene driven by a wild-type promoter comprising 1.8 kb of the 5′ flanking region of the rabbit collagenase gene showed increased activity associated with injury. We conclude that: (1) mechanical injury is associated with induction of mRNAs for the metalloproteinases collagenase and stromelysin, (2) retinoic acid effectively antagonizes this responses, and (3) the increase in steady state mRNA levels is, at least in part, transcriptionally mediated. Thus our data suggest a role for mechanical forces in initiating the changes in gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells following arterial injury in vivo. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Determination of vibration characteristics of multiple-load-path blades by a modified Galerkin's method

Abstract A modified Galerkin's method is developed to determine the natural vibration characteristics of multiple-load-path rotor blades. The development follows parallel to the CAMRAD program procedure for a single load-path-blade. Two types of finite series expansion functions are utilized: exact transcendental solutions to nonrotating uniform beam problems, and polynomial functions. A computer program based on this method is developed to determine the free vibration characteristics of multiple-load-path blades undergoing coupled flapwise bending, chordwise bending, twisting and extensional motions. Numerical results are obtained for two rotors. The first has constant properties along the span and the second is modelled from a nonuniform experimental rotor with discontinuous properties. Natural frequencies compare well with those predicted using a finite element approach, and with the experimental results for the second rotor.
Facial asymmetry quantification for expression invariant human identification

We investigate facial asymmetry as a biometric under expression variation. For the first time, we have defined two types of quantified facial asymmetry measures that are easily computable from facial images and videos. Our findings show that the asymmetry measures of automatically selected facial regions capture individual differences that are relatively stable to facial expression variations. More importantly, a synergy is achieved by combining facial asymmetry information with conventional EigenFace and FisherFace methods. We have assessed the generality of these findings across two publicly available face databases: Using a random subset of 110 subjects from the FERET database, a 38% classification error reduction rate is obtained. Error reduction rates of 45-100% are achieved on 55 subjects from the Cohn-Kanade AU-Coded Facial Expression Database. These results suggest that facial asymmetry may provide complementary discriminative information to human identification methods, which has been missing in automatic human identification.
The Terms-of-Trade Effects of Moving to World Prices on Countries of the Former Soviet Union

In this paper we provide the first documented estimates of the terms-of-trade impact on all 15 countries of the former Soviet Union of shifting to international prices in their trade. We decompose the total impact of a change in the terms-of-trade into a change in the interrepublic and extrarepublic terms-of-trade. The broad pattern is that raw material and energy exporters, notably Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan, are estimated to gain, whereas countries that concentrate on food and machinery exports, notably the Baltic states, Belarus, and especially Moldova, are estimated to be the biggest losers. J. Comp. Econom., February 1994, 18(1), pp. 1-24. Trade Policy Division, Policy and Research Department, The World Bank, Washington, DC 20433.
Variation in the use of intraoperative cholangiography during cholecystectomy

Background The role of intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) in prevention of common bile duct (CBD) injuries and the management of CBD stones is controversial, and current variation in use of IOC has not been well described. Study Design Multilevel hierarchical models using data from the Texas Hospital Inpatient Discharge Public Use data files (2001 to 2008) were used to evaluate the percentage of variance in the use of IOC that was attributable to patient, surgeon, and hospital factors. Results A total of 176,981 cholecystectomies were performed in 212 hospitals in Texas. There was wide variation in IOC use, ranging from 2.4% to 98.4% of cases among surgeons and 3.7% to 94.8% of cases among hospitals, even after adjusting for case mix differences. The percentage of variance in IOC use attributable to the surgeon was 20.7% and an additional 25.7% was attributable to the hospital. IOC use was associated with increased age, gallstone pancreatitis or CBD stones, Hispanic race, decreased illness severity, insurance, and later year of cholecystectomy. ERCP (24.0% vs 14.9%, p Conclusions Uncertainty regarding the benefit of IOC leads to wide variation in use across surgeons and hospitals. The surgeon and hospital are more important determinants of IOC use than measured patient characteristics. Our study highlights the need for further evaluation of comparative effectiveness of IOC in the prevention of CBD injuries and retained stones, taking into account patient risk factors, surgeon skill, cost, and availability of local expertise.
The initial velocity of the emerging free boundary in a two-phase Stefan problem with imposed flux

Consider the one-dimensional, two-phase Stefan problem with an imposed flux, in which the phase change front originates at the material boundary. We prove that, subject to suitable assumptions on the initial temperature and imposed flux, the initial speed of the phase change front is equal to the jump between the surface and initial fluxes at the boundary. Similarly, we prove that the front $X(t)$ is continuously differentiable in the closed interval $[0,t^ * ]$ for some $t^ * > 0$.
Microdamage simulation in a bone tissue using finite element analysis

Abstract The effect of microcracks in a rat tibia under torsional loading was investigated using a finite element analysis. A global damage parameter (stiffness loss) and a local damage parameter (reduction in tresca stress) were used to estimate the severity of the damage due to circumferential and radial type microcracks. Results show the varying amounts of damage caused by isotropic and transversely isotropic properties of both types of microcracks. The present damage model can be used for finite element simulation of microdamage in a bone tissue.
Generalized formal models for faceted user interfaces

Faceted metadata and navigation have become major topics in library science, information retrieval and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). This work surveys a range of extant approaches in this design space, classifying systems along several relevant dimensions. We use that survey to analyze the organization of data and its querying within faceted browsing systems. We contribute formal entity-relationship (ER) and relational data models that explain that organization and relational query models that explain systems' browsing functionality. We use these types of models since they are widely used to conceptualize data and to model back-end data stores. Their structured nature also suggests ways in which both the models and faceted systems might be extended.
Assessment of soil erosion and conservation on agricultural sloping lands using plot data in the semi-arid hilly loess region of China

Abstract Study region Semi-arid hilly loess region of China. Study focus The objectives of this study were to investigate soil and water loss on agricultural sloping lands and to evaluate the effectiveness of soil conservation practices in controlling erosion using plot data. Runoff and soil loss were measured from the short slope plots (SSP) (7 m long) and the long slope plots (LSP) (20 m long) at various slope angles as well as from cropland and soil conservation plots (SCP) under natural rainfalls. New hydrological insights for the region The results revealed that runoff per unit area slightly increased with slope angle on SSP, but reached a maximum at 15° and then decreased with slope angle on LSP. Soil loss per unit area increased with slope angle on both SSP and LSP. An average of 36.4% less runoff but only 3.6% less soil loss per unit area was produced on LSP than on SSP. The S factor calculated using the slope factor equations in USLE/RUSLE was significantly greater than that estimated from the measured soil loss on the plots. Rainstorms with recurrence intervals greater than 2 years were responsible for more than two thirds of the total soil and water loss. The effectiveness in reducing surface runoff by five types of conservation practices was mixed. However, all the conservation practices yielded much less soil loss than cropland.
The c-Jun δ-Domain Inhibits Neuroendocrine Promoter Activity in a DNA Sequence- and Pituitary-specific Manner

The transcription and transformation activity of c-Jun is governed by a 27-amino acid regulatory motif, labeled the δ-domain, which is deleted in v-Jun. We have previously shown that c-Jun is a potent inhibitor of the rat prolactin (rPRL) promoter activity induced by either oncogenic Ras or phorbol esters. Here, we have characterized the structural and cell-specific requirements for this c-Jun inhibitory response, and we show that this c-Jun inhibitory response mapped to the rPRL footprint II repressor site, was pituitary-specific and required the c-Jun δ-domain. Moreover, alteration of any one of these features (e.g., cis-element, trans-factor, or cell-specific background) switched c-Jun to a transcriptional activator of the rPRL promoter. In HeLa nonpituitary cells, c-Jun alone activated the rPRL promoter via the most proximal GHF-1/Pit-1 binding site, footprint I, and synergized with GHF-1. Finally, recombinant GHF-1 interacted directly with c-Jun but not c-Fos proteins. These data provide important fundamental insights into the molecular mechanisms by which the c-Jun δ-domain functions as a modulatory switch and further imply that the functional role of c-Jun is dictated by cell-specific influences and the δ-domain motif.
Femtosecond incoherent photon echo from rhodamine B in propylene glycol. Inhomogeneous broadening and spectral diffusion at room temperature

Abstract Two-pulse degenerate four-wave mixing (photon-echo) experiments using “incoherent” light are reported for rhodamine B in propylene glycol and ethanol at 295 K. The signal detected in a particular direction is strongly asymmetric with respect to the time delay between the two pulses, implying that the electronic spectrum is inhomogeneously broadened on the time scale of the “waiting time” between interactions of the material system with the second and third electric fields. Similar experiments on nile blue yield a symmetric signal response characteristic of a homogeneously broadened system. The effective waiting times in experimental configurations employing parallel and perpendicularly polarized excitation pulses are discussed.
An All‐Organic Non‐aqueous Lithium‐Ion Redox Flow Battery

A non-aqueous lithium-ion redox flow battery employing organic molecules is proposed and investigated. 2,5-Di-tert-butyl-1,4-bis(2-methoxyethoxy)benzene and a variety of molecules derived from quinoxaline are employed as initial high-potential and low-potential active materials, respectively. Electrochemical measurements highlight that the choice of electrolyte and of substituent groups can have a significant impact on redox species performance. The charge-discharge characteristics are investigated in a modified coin-cell configuration. After an initial break-in period, coulombic and energy efficiencies for this unoptimized system are ∼70% and ∼37%, respectively, with major charge and discharge plateaus between 1.8-2.4 V and 1.7-1.3 V, respectively, for 30 cycles. Performance enhancements are expected with improvements in cell design and materials processing.
Fluorescence spectroscopy as a probe of the effect of phosphorylation at serine 40 of tyrosine hydroxylase on the conformation of its regulatory domain.

Phosphorylation of Ser40 in the regulatory domain of tyrosine hydroxylase activates the enzyme by increasing the rate constant for dissociation of inhibitory catecholamines from the active site by 3 orders of magnitude. To probe the changes in the structure of the N-terminal domain upon phosphorylation, individual phenylalanine residues at positions 14, 34, and 74 were replaced with tryptophan in a form of the protein in which the endogenous tryptophans had all been mutated to phenylalanine (W3F TyrH). The steady-state fluorescence anisotropy of F74W W3F TyrH was unaffected by phosphorylation, but the anisotropies of both F14W and F34W W3F TyrH increased significantly upon phosphorylation. The fluorescence of the single tryptophan residue at position 74 was less readily quenched by acrylamide than those at the other two positions; fluorescence increased the rate constant for quenching of the residues at positions 14 and 34 but did not affect that for the residue at position 74. Frequency domain analyses w...