cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical impact of endoscopic ultrasonography on the management of malignancies.

Background & Aims: There are limited data evaluating the clinical impact of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). We assessed the impact of EUS on management of known or suspected malignancies. Methods: Physicians requesting EUS were contacted before the examination and asked: "How would you manage this patient if EUS were not available?" Pre-EUS responses were recorded on standardized forms, and compared with management recommendations as determined by the same requesting physician after EUS. Endosonographers performing the study were blinded to the pre-EUS responses. Results: Responses were obtained from requesting physicians before and after EUS in 90 patients. Requesting physicians were composed of surgeons (33%), non–EUS-performing gastroenterologists (58%), oncologists (3%), internists (4%), and a pulmonologist (1%). After EUS, referring clinicians altered management plans in 46 of 90 patients (51%). By anatomic site, management changes occurred in 12 of 22 patients (56%) undergoing esophageal EUS, 9 of 15 (60%) undergoing gastric EUS, 21 of 43 (49%) undergoing pancreatic EUS, and 4 of 10 (40%) undergoing rectal EUS. There were no significant differences in the frequency of post-EUS management changes with respect to examination site ( P = .76). EUS fine-needle aspiration (FNA) altered management in 9 of 20 (45%) patients. Management changes involved less complex or decreased risk-associated approaches in the majority (70%), and included 14 of 50 (28%) patients in whom surgical procedures were no longer planned. Conclusions: Based on EUS examination findings, clinicians requesting EUS alter patient management in one half of cases, and more often pursue a less-complicated approach. EUS substantially impacts clinical care, and should be used in appropriate settings to guide patient management.
Statistical calibration of climate system properties

looking projections that may be used in policy decisions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Cli mate Change's (IPCC's) Third assessment report' (Watson and the Core Writing Team, 2001) summarized some of the key unanswered questions that complicate predictions of future global climate. Four of the uncertainties identified include the following problems: (a) climate sensitivity, as measured by the change in surface air temperature at equilibrium under a specified external 'forcing' (a climate forcing represents a perturbation to the energy budget of the climate system that moves it away from its current equilibrium; this forcing is typically a change in the radiative transfer component of the energy budget and is measured in watts per square metre for the net change in the radiative flux at the top of the atmosphere; for further discussion see Watson and the Core Writing Team (2001));
Congruence subgroups, elliptic cohomology, and the Eichler-Shimura map

In 1986 Landweber [7] introduced the connective and periodic elliptic cohomology theories whose coefficient rings can be interpreted as a ring of modular functions for certain congruence subgroups of SL2(Z). One of the open questions in the subject has been to produce a geometric definition of these theories. Nishida [8] defines a spectrum XΓ based on the congruence subgroup Γ, which is related to the connective elliptic cohomology theory when Γ = Γ0(2). XΓ has a stable summand XΓ−, and he proposes that the Eichler-Shimura map gives a real vector space isomorphism from the modular forms of Γ of weight 2k + 2 to the real cohomology of XΓ− in dimension 4k + 1 for Γ = Γ0(2). One of our main results is a proof of this claim when k > 0 for Γ = Γ0(p) and when k ≥ 0 for Γ = Γ0(2) or Γ = SL2(Z). Using obstruction theory, we are able to construct a non-trivial geometric map from ∑3XΓ− to the 3-connected cover of the spectrum representing the connective theory which is an equivalence through dimension 4. We also produce a stable splitting of XΓ and of the spectrum representing the periodic theory introducd by Baker [2].
Americans create hybrid spaces in Costa Rica: a framework for exploring cultural and linguistic integration

Abstract This study explores the ways in which English-speaking immigrants negotiate new linguistic and cultural landscapes. I examine immigration and intercultural communication in a more complex and nuanced manner by researching the ways in which expatriates or ‘high-end’ immigrants relocate and interact with host cultures. I conducted 11 months of ethnographic fieldwork and 40 in-depth interviews in Costa Rica to explore this phenomenon. I employ critical discourse analysis to analyze the data in the theoretical framework of hybridity as the participants create interesting linguistic and cultural spaces in Costa Rica. In these moments of contingency and conflict we are forced to renegotiate the concept of immigration and construction of immigrant. This study illustrates both practical and theoretical intercultural implications as relatively affluent English-speaking migrants have begun to move outside their homelands. This movement of people creates a need for scholars to rethink definitions of immigra...
Sequelae of Untreated Venous Insufficiency

Untreated venous insufficiency results not only in a gradual loss of cosmesis but also in variety of complications including persistent pain and discomfort, hemorrhage, superficial thrombophlebitis, and progressive skin changes that may ultimately lead to ulceration. In rare instances, chronic soft tissue changes may lead to stiffness of the ankle joint, fixed plantar flexion, and periostitis. This article reviews the variety of complications caused by venous insufficiency.
Atomic Transmutation and Stellar Temperatures

GAMOW and Landau1 suggest either that lithium of mass 7 can be present only occasionally on a star's surface, or that no regions with temperatures of more than several millions of degrees can exist in the interior of a star; their argument is that at higher temperatures lithium could not find its way by diffusion from “the internal regions of the star, where the production of different elements takes place” to the surface, before being disintegrated. Eddington2 has replied by noticing that the presence of ascending currents may decrease the time required for the ascent of the lithium, so as to remove the difficulty in accepting the central temperatures of the order of 2 × 107 found for his models, “whilst negativing any suggestion of considerably higher temperatures”.
Nicotinamide Protects against Ethanol-Induced Apoptotic Neurodegeneration in the Developing Mouse Brain

Background Exposure to alcohol during brain development may cause a neurological syndrome called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Ethanol induces apoptotic neuronal death at specific developmental stages, particularly during the brain-growth spurt, which occurs from the beginning of third trimester of gestation and continues for several years after birth in humans, whilst occuring in the first two postnatal weeks in mice. Administration of a single dose of ethanol in 7-d postnatal (P7) mice triggers activation of caspase-3 and widespread apoptotic neuronal death in the forebrain, providing a possible explanation for the microencephaly observed in human FAS. The present study was aimed at determining whether nicotinamide may prevent ethanol-induced neurodegeneration. Methods and Findings P7 mice were treated with a single dose of ethanol (5g/kg), and nicotinamide was administered from 0 h to 8 h after ethanol exposure. The effects of nicotinamide on ethanol-induced activation of caspase-3 and release of cytochrome-c from the mitochondria were analyzed by Western blot ( n = 4–7/group). Density of Fluoro-Jade B–positive cells and NeuN-positive cells was determined in the cingulated cortex, CA1 region of the hippocampus, and lateral dorsal nucleus of the thalamus ( n = 5–6/group). Open field, plus maze, and fear conditioning tests were used to study the behavior in adult mice ( n = 31–34/group). Nicotinamide reduced the activation of caspase-3 (85.14 ± 4.1%) and the release of cytochrome-c (80.78 ± 4.39%) in postnatal mouse forebrain, too. Nicotinamide prevented also the ethanol-induced increase of apoptosis. We demonstrated that ethanol-exposed mice showed impaired performance in the fear conditioning test and increased activity in the open field and in the plus maze. Administration of nicotinamide prevented all these behavioral abnormalities in ethanol-exposed mice. Conclusions Our findings indicate that nicotinamide can prevent some of the deleterious effects of ethanol on the developing mouse brain when given shortly after ethanol exposure. These results suggest that nicotinamide, which has been used in humans for the treatment of diabetes and bullous pemphigoid, may hold promise as a preventive therapy of FAS.
A Review of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Affirmative Counseling Assessments

Three recently developed lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) counselor assessments are addressing long-standing mental health disparities and advancing LGB affirmative research, training, and practice...
Regulation of the G2–M cell cycle progression by the ERK5–NFκB signaling pathway

Elucidation of mechanisms regulating cell cycle progression is of fundamental importance for cell and cancer biology. Although several genes and signaling pathways are implicated in G1–S regulation, less is known regarding the mechanisms controlling cell cycle progression through G2 and M phases. We report that extracellular signal–regulated kinase 5 (ERK5), a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinases, is activated at G2–M and required for timely mitotic entry. Stimulation of ERK5 activated nuclear factor κB (NFκB) through ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (RSK2)-mediated phosphorylation and degradation of IκB. Furthermore, selective inhibition of NFκB at G2–M phases substantially delayed mitotic entry and inhibited transcription of G2–M–specific genes, including cyclin B1, cyclin B2, Plk-1, and cdc25B. Moreover, inhibition of NFκB at G2–M diminished mitosis induced by constitutive activation of ERK5, providing a direct link between ERK5, NFκB, and regulation of G2–M progression. We conclude that a novel ERK5–NFκB signaling pathway plays a key role in regulation of the G2–M progression.
Managing a research career

Purpose – To discuss the importance of the research aspect of an academic staff member's career.Design/methodology/approach – The viewpoint draws on the author's own experience as well as a literature review relating to the value of research.Findings – Concludes that research is a point of differentiation and must be managed by the faculty member. Research is the international currency that a faculty members carries with them throughout his/her career.Originality/value – Very little is published about the importance of managing a research career and how to manage one's research career.
The effects of serotonin and octopamine on behavioral arousal in the crayfish

1. In the crayfish, behavioral arousal is known to elicit walking and to enhance compensatory eye movements. 2. To see if serotonin and octopamine modulate arousal, we measured their effects on walking and eye movements in tethered crayfish, Procambarus clarkii. Serotonin strongly suppresses both walking and eye movements. 3. In contrast, octopamine elicits an arousal-like state of continuous jittery leg movements and increased eye movements. 4. Serotonin's effect on arousal is uncertain, but octopamine remains a plausible modulator of behavioral arousal.
A laser pyrolysis/laser fluorescence technique for combustion chemical kinetics

A new two-laser method for the real-time measurement of radical/molecule reaction ratesat temperatures of 800–1400 K is described. A mixture of SF6, N2, H2O2, and H2O at 40 torr is irradiated by a pulsed infrared CO2 laser (1J/cm2). Absorption by the SF6 and subsequent thermalizing collisions heat the mixture, and some of the H2O2 decomposes to OH. A pulsed dye laser, fired after a variable time delay, produces a laser-induced fluorescence signal in OH, which is used to determine its density and rotational temperature. After expansion wave cooling, the heated region reaches a temperature, relatively uniform in both position and time, during which period bimolecular reaction rates can be measured. As an example, a rate constant of 1.3±0.4×10−12cm−3s−1 for OH+CH4 at 1030 K±50 K was measured. Details of the heating dynamics and considerations important for kinetics measurements are discussed.
BASIC versus natural language: is there one underlying comprehension process?

This study determined the response time (RT) for subjects to comprehend eight different BASIC statements and eight corresponding English procedural statements. First, there was no significant interaction between language and statement, and there was a high correlation (r = .85) between English and BASIC RT performance. Second, the microstructure of each statement (the number of actions required) and the macrostructure (the number of other statements in the program) were strongly related to RT performance for both BASIC and English. Apparently, comprehension of procedural statements is related to underlying structural characteristics common to both languages.
The Life Cycle of Baroclinic Eddies in a Storm Track Environment

Abstract The life cycle of baroclinic eddies in a controlled storm track environment has been examined by means of long model integrations on a hemisphere. A time-lagged regression that captures disturbances with large meridional velocities has been applied to the meteorological variables. This regressed solution is used to describe the life cycle of the baroclinic eddies. The eddies grow as expected by strong poleward heat fluxes at low levels in regions of strong surface baroclinicity at the entrance of the storm track, in a manner similar to that of Charney modes. As the eddies evolve into a nonlinear regime, they grow deeper by fluxing energy upward, and the characteristic westward tilt exhibited in the vorticity vanishes by rotating into a meridional tilt, in which the lower-level cyclonic vorticity center moves poleward and the upper-level center moves equatorward. This rather classical picture of baroclinic evolution is radically modified by the simultaneous development of an upper-level eddy downs...
Gender Schema and Prejudicial Recall: How Children Misremember, Fabricate, and Distort Gendered Picture Book Information

Abstract Children's perceptions of gender are greatly influenced by the illustrations/text they encounter in picture books. While transacting with authentic literature, children build gender schema that guide processing of subsequent information. This knowledge can bias memory to a point where children misremember or distort information to make it fit their existing schema. Elementary school children were presented two Caldecott Award-winning picture books and asked to retell the stories and answer criterion-specific questions related to gender-consistent/inconsistent information contained in each story. Responses were qualitatively examined and revealed patterns of spurious recall. Children tended to misremember or distort gender-inconsistent story information. Story retellings included wrongful stereotyped interpretation of main character(s) behaviors and emotions. Follow-up interview questions revealed rationales for any misremembrance and generated responses consistent with gender bias. The influence ...
Characterizing the Decision Process Leading to Enrollment in Master's Programs: Further Application of the Enrollment Process Model.

ABSTRACT As part of an ongoing market research function, the administration at a private university's business school implemented a project to better understand the composition of its master's students. This research was an extension of a similar study conducted for the school's doctoral programs. Like the earlier study on doctoral students, a behavioral approach that employed a theoretical model of the decision process leading to enrollment was applied to master's students. This enrollment process model was utilized to guide the implementation of a survey that sampled the school's current students. Application of this model to questionnaire development procedures is also presented. Based on the information collected, the decision process leading to enrollment in the master's business programs was characterized. Quadrant analysis was applied to selected data derived from the enrollment process model in order to develop a two dimensional profile of students. In practice, this depiction provided insight to ...
Lifelong accumulation of bone in mice lacking Pten in osteoblasts

Bone formation is carried out by the osteoblast, a mesenchymal cell whose lifespan and activity are regulated by growth factor signaling networks. Growth factors activate phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), which enhances cell survival and antagonizes apoptosis through activation of Akt/PKB. This process is negatively regulated by the Pten phosphatase, which inhibits the activity of PI3K. In this study, we investigated the effects of Akt activation in bone in vivo by conditionally disrupting the Pten gene in osteoblasts by using Cre-mediated recombination. Mice deficient in Pten in osteoblasts were of normal size but demonstrated a dramatic and progressively increasing bone mineral density throughout life. In vitro osteoblasts lacking Pten differentiated more rapidly than controls and exhibited greatly reduced apoptosis in association with markedly increased levels of phosphorylated Akt and activation of signaling pathways downstream of activated Akt. These findings support a critical role for this tumor-suppressor gene in regulating osteoblast lifespan and likely explain the skeletal abnormalities in patients carrying germ-line mutations of PTEN.
AN APPLICATION OF THE RAYLEIGH OPTICS OF THE ULTRACENTRIFUGE TO MOLECULAR WEIGHT DETERMINATIONS BY THE ARCHIBALD METHOD.

Abstract For Archibald molecular weight calculations measurements are made along a single Rayleigh fringe. The displacement of the fringe measured as a function of the radial distance, x , is used to obtain the concentration gradient d c /d x by fitting a second-degree polynomial in x , extrapolating and differentiation. Good agreement with published values of the molecular weight was obtained with solutions of RNAase and of bovine serum albumin. Also described is a graphical method for obtaining d c /d x from a tangent to the fringe drawn upon a photographic enlargement.
Response of Calves Fed ad Libitum to Variations in Milk Diet Composition

Abstract Sixteen calves were fed milks ad libitum 2 through 22 days of age to study the effect of differences in composition and energy concentrations upon intake, growth, and efficiency of energy utilization for body weight gains. Diets were whole milk, whole milk diluted with 1.17 parts of water, nonfat milk, and nonfat milk diluted with equal parts of water. Weight gains on the respective diets averaged 20.4, 16.2, 15.9, and 11.9 kg, and all differed significantly (P
Fabrication of nano-gap electrodes and nano wires using an electrochemical and chemical etching technique

This paper reports a simple and controllable technique to fabricate nano-gap electrodes using a combined electrochemical and chemical etching. A line of metal is initially patterned using a conventional lithography process at the width of 2 µm. The line is then continuously etched until it is discontinued at the desirable gap. We have been successfully fabricated a <10 nm gap between two Au electrodes. Meanwhile for Cr electrodes a controllable gap of <5 nm has been achieved.
Differential Requirements for Shh in Mammary Tissue and Hair Follicle Morphogenesis

Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) is a secreted morphogen that directs patterning and cellular differentiation through binding to its receptor Patched (Ptc). It is required for the development of skin-derived organs, such as hair, whiskers, and teeth. The mammary gland is a skin-derived organ that develops mainly during adult life in which Shh is expressed from puberty to lactation. We have investigated the role of Shh in mammary gland morphogenesis and differentiation by two transplantation approaches. Since Shh-null fetuses die at late embryogenesis, we transplanted Shh-null mammary anlagen into cleared fat pads and under the renal capsule of wild type host mice. Pregnancy-mediated functional differentiation of Shh-null mammary epithelium was indistinguishable from wild type transplants, while hair follicles derived from cotransplanted skin only developed in wild type transplants. Transplants of Ihh-null anlagen also developed normally. To assess the molecular consequences of Shh deletion in mammary tissue, we compared mRNA levels of patched 1, a target gene of Hedgehog signaling, in Shh-null and wild type mammary epithelial transplants. No reduction of Ptc1 transcripts was observed in Shh-null mammary tissues. Our results demonstrate that neither Shh nor Ihh is required for mammary gland morphogenesis and functional differentiation, suggesting that the two members of the Hedgehog family may have redundant function in activating the Ptc1 signaling pathway during mammary gland development.
Sex differences in motor performance of young children: Fact or fiction?

Prepubescent boys and girls who had participated for one or more years in a coeducational physical education program were classified by grade (3, 4, and 5) and year (1977, 1978, and 1979). Scores from the AAHPER Youth Fitness Test were analyzed for differences. Results indicated that females at prepubescent ages may be expected to perform at similar levels to boys of the same age on most test items. While differences were not significant, girls in 1979 were actually better than boys of the same age from the two previous years.
Plant genetic effects on soils under climate change

In the face of climate change, shifts in genetic structure and composition of terrestrial plant species are occurring worldwide. Because different genotypes of these plant species support different soil biota and soil processes, shifts in genetics are likely to have cascading effects on ecosystems. We explore plant genetic effects on soil function in the context of climate change, and selection by soils, soil biota and plant-soil feedbacks. We propose categories of genetically-based plant traits that should be prioritized in research on genetic-based effects on soil processes including plant productivity and C allocation, tissue quality, plant water-use, and rhizosphere mutualisms. Additionally, we posit that soil community responses to climate change should be considered in concert with plant genotype because of sensitivity of soil communities to climate. We use two case studies to highlight these points. We argue that the effects of climate change as an agent of selection on plants may cascade to affect soils, and ultimately the structure, composition and function of ecosystems. Understanding the ecological and evolutionary potential of plant-soil linkages may help us understand and mitigate the extended consequences of global change for ecosystems worldwide. Accordingly, we conclude with experimental approaches for examining genetically-based plant-soil interactions across climate change gradients.
Studies on the reversibility of anoxic damage to the myocardial protein synthetic mechanism: Effects of glucose

Abstract The ability of glucose to prevent anoxic injury to myocardial protein synthesis was evaluated with the isolated rabbit papillary muscle serving as an in vitro model system. Papillary muscles were incubated under anoxic conditions (95% N2 and 5% CO2) for 1 to 4 h and then reoxygenated (95% O2 and 5% CO2) for 2 h with 14C phenylalanine present during the final hour of incubation. The protein synthetic rate (amino acid incorporation into protein) measured in this manner was defined as residual protein synthetic capacity. The effect of alterations in glucose concentration during anoxia on residual protein synthetic capacity was evaluated. Glucose concentrations ranged from 5 to 30 m m during anoxia and were set at 5 m m for the reoxygenation and incorporation periods. Control muscles were treated in an identical manner, but were oxygenated for the entire period. Residual protein synthesis was reduced by 73%, 45%, 4%, and 2% after exposure to 2 h of anoxia in the presence of 5, 10, 15, and 30 m m glucose respectively. These differences were not due to alterations in the tissue phenylalanine pool since identical relative specific activities were found in experimental and control muscles. Polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis demonstrated the banding pattern and the pattern of tracer amino acid incorporation to be the same in control muscles and muscles exposed to anoxia and 15 m m glucose before reoxygenation and labeling. Residual protein synthesis following incubation with 12.5 m m sugar (fructose, sucrose, galactose, or mannitol) plus 5 m m glucose during anoxia approximated that with 5 m m glucose. The addition of glucose and insulin was no more effective than glucose at concentrations of 5 or 15 m m . Glucose (15 m m ) preserved residual protein synthesis in muscles stimulated under isometric conditions throughout anoxia and reoxygenation. Improved mechanical activity was noted during reoxygenation in muscles incubated with 15 m m glucose. Studies with inhibitors of glucose transport and glucose metabolism indicated that the protective effect of glucose was due to the intracellular metabolism of glucose. Exposure of cardiac muscle to high levels of glucose during anoxia appears to retard damage to myocardial protein synthesis and may prolong cellular viability.
A statistical analysis of the overexpression of the msx2 RNA in Xenopus laevis

Abstract The msx family of genes are important during development, and implicated in the development of various craniofacial structures. Here the frog, Xenopus laevis, was used to perform gain-of-function experiments to obtain further insight into the role of the msx2 gene. mRNAs of wild-type and mutated forms of the msx2 gene were injected into developing Xenopus embryos. Phenotypic changes in these embryos were noted, scored, and subjected to statistical analyses. Overexpression of the wild-type form of the msx2 gene resulted in embryos that were ventralized, i.e. with loss of anterior structures including head and eyes. A surprising finding was the statistically significant difference in phenotypic changes (p
Eadix l6 evaluation of some elementary functions

This paper describes an approach for obtaining a class of similar algorithms for evaluation of some elementary functions. The main objective is to show feasibility of higher radix implementations, in particular radix 16, as they offer better performance than radix 2. The emphasis is not on optimality of a single algorithm but rather on the optimality of the whole class of algorithms. An attempt to implement a much wider class of functions than is done in conventional arithmetic units, would be encouraged by the present level of technology and by the existence of suitable algorithms. Besides the definitions of the algorithms, which are based on continued products (sums), some details related to implementation are discussed.
Infrared Microscopy Thermal Characterization of Opposing Carbon Nanotube Arrays

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have received much recent research interest for thermal management applications due to their extremely high thermal conductivity. An advanced thermal interface structure made of two opposing, partially overlapped CNT arrays is designed for thermally connecting two contact surfaces. The performance of this interface structure is thermally characterized using diffraction-limited infrared microscopy. Significant temperature discontinuities are found at the CNT-CNT contact region, which indicates a large thermal resistance between CNTs. Due to this intertube resistance, the thermal performance of the CNT-based interface structure is far below expectation (with a thermal resistance value about 3.8 X 10 -4 K m 2 /W).
On the existence of maximum likelihood estimates for presence-only data

Summary Presence-only data can be used to determine resource selection and estimate a species’ distribution. Maximum likelihood is a common parameter estimation method used for species distribution models. Maximum likelihood estimates, however, do not always exist for a commonly used species distribution model – the Poisson point process. We demonstrate the issue with conventional maximum likelihood mathematically, using a data example, and a simulation experiment and show alternative estimation methods. We found that when habitat preferences are strong or the number of presence-only locations is small, by chance, maximum likelihood coefficient estimates for the Poisson point process model may not exist. We found that several alternative estimation methods can produce reliable estimates, but results will depend on the chosen method. It is important to identify conditions for which maximum likelihood estimates are unlikely to be identifiable from presence-only data. In data sets where the maximum likelihood estimates do not exist, penalized likelihood and Bayesian methods will produce coefficient estimates, but these are sensitive to the choice of estimation procedure and prior or penalty term. When sample size is small or it is thought that habitat preferences are strong, we propose a suite of estimation procedures researchers can consider using.
Cancer therapy: Tumours switch to resist.

Tumour cells can respond to targeted immune-cell therapies by losing proteins that mark them as being cancerous. Subverting this resistance mechanism may lead to more durable cancer-treatment strategies.
MID-REGIONAL PROADRENOMEDULLIN PREDICTS LONG-TERM MORTALITY IN PATIENTS WITH CHEST PAIN

Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a vasodilatory peptide that has not been evaluated in large populations of patients presenting with chest pain. The CHOPIN trial (Copeptin Helps in the early detection Of Patients with acute myocardial Infarction) was a 16-center trial which enrolled 2071 patients who
A New Zealand school counsellor education course viewed by its graduates

An interview follow-up was conducted with a 55 per cent sample of graduates from the first five years of the course for guidance counsellors at the University of Canterbury. The responses indicated, generally, that the course was fulfilling its intended mission. The principal recommendations for change suggested by graduates were more attention to family counselling, consulting methods, power and influence issues, and continuing education. Sixty per cent of the graduates initiated research projects since the course and 72 programme projects, or an average of 3.4 per person, had also been undertaken. Numerous specific applications of concepts and skills taught in the individual papers were reported. Principal professional problems faced by the counsellors were role conflicts, time pressures, isolation, lack of career incentives, lack of credibility and staff support, and lack of influence to initiate programmes and carry out role assignments effectively. Graduates generally felt the course prepared them well for their new counsellor roles. While there was considerable variability in attitudes toward specific papers and topics, the graduates' general attitudes toward the course were favourable.
Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase specified by cat-86: relationship between the gene and the protein.

Abstract Gene cat-86 is chloramphenicol (Cm)-inducible and specifies Cm acetyltransferase, CAT-86. The gene was previously cloned from the DNA of a strain of Bacillus pumilus. In the present study we report the construction of a constitutively expressed version of cat-86 that permits high-level expression of the gene on a plasmid in B. subtilis. A method is described that allows very rapid purification of CAT-86 protein to homogeneity. The sequence of 13 N-terminal amino acids of purified CAT-86, as well as the 26.6-kDa size of the subunit protein, agree with predictions made based on the nucleotide sequence of the gene. The Mr. of the native enzyme suggests that CAT-86 is a trimer consisting of three identical protein subunits. Our studies demonstrate that cat-86 provides a convenient system for analyzing relationships between a gene and a multimeric enyzyme in the B subtilis background.
Controller synthesis for flexible spacecraft using multivariable loop-shaping and factorization methods

The problem of designing fine-pointing controllers is considered for large, flexible space structures using modern multivariable synthesis methods. The first method is an iterative procedure which utilizes frequency domain singular value techniques, and is found to yield satisfactory performance and robustness. For the second method, which is based on coprime factorizations, a particular bi-coprime factorization is obtained, and the steps in the design process are described. This method is still under development.
Effects of melatonin on thermally classified anterior hypothalamic neurons in the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus)

Abstract 1. The pineal hormone melatonin influences thermoregulation in many species, but the mechanism of action is unknown. 2. We tested whether melatonin could act directly on the primary thermoregulatory control center in the preoptic area and anterior hypothalamus (PO/AH), using a white-footed mouse tissue slice preparation. 3. PO/AH neurons were classified according to their thermosensitivity, then treated with 1 μM melatonin. 4. Thirty percent of warm-sensitive and 41% of temperature-insensitive neurons showed significant changes in firing rate during melatonin treatment. 5. While there was no correlation between responses to melatonin and thermosensitivity, these results constitute the first evidence that melatonin acts directly on PO/AH thermoregulatory neurons.
Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Frequency-Altered Auditory Feedback on the Speech of Adults Who Stutter

A series of single-subject experiments evaluated the effects of frequency-altered auditory feedback (FAF) on the speech performance of four adult males who stutter. Using alterations of plus or minus one octave, FAF was compared with normal auditory feedback (NAF) in oral reading and spontaneous speech with measurements made of stuttered intervals, stutter-free speech rate, and speech naturalness. The effects of extended FAF conditions on spontaneous speech were also evaluated for two subjects who demonstrated a positive response to FAF. Results showed no consistencies across subjects in responses to FAF: One subject showed no response, another produced an initial temporary response, a third showed a deterioration in speech quality with minimal reductions in stuttering, and a fourth displayed substantial and sustained improvements in speech performance. Some implications of these findings for current research and theory about the relationship between stuttering and FAF are discussed.
The relationship between trauma center volume and in-hospital outcomes

Abstract Background Increases in hospital volume are positively associated with improved surgical outcomes. However, in the trauma setting, studies have reported conflicting findings in regard to volume's effect on in-hospital mortality. This study investigates whether complications, failure-to-rescue (FTR), and mortality are influenced by trauma centers' average annual volume. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study that analyzed patient records included in the National Trauma Data Bank from years 2008–2010. We calculated risk-adjusted complication, FTR, and mortality rates for centers treating different volumes of patients. We also performed multilevel logistic regression modeling to examine the probability that patients treated at trauma centers with higher annual volumes would experience complication, FTR, and mortality while controlling for injury severity, type of injury, mechanism of trauma, age, gender, race, number of comorbidities, head injury, hypotension, and hospital clustering. Hospital characteristics including designation level, academic status, nonprofit status, safety-net status, and region were incorporated into the model. Results Risk-adjusted complication, FTR, and mortality rates differed significantly across hospital volume quintiles. Regression analyses indicated that higher hospital volumes were significantly associated with a decreased likelihood of mortality for individual patient but not for complication or FTR. Conclusions Our findings suggest that higher trauma center volume is associated with improved mortality outcomes. However, the relationship between volume and FTR is more complex. Future research should address the question of determining optimal volume levels that lead to high provider experience, efficient resource usage, and low unintended consequences or outcomes.
Temporal distribution and fractionation of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in a contaminated Wisconsin lake

Abstract The most thorough field investigation, to date, of the temporal distribution and fractionation of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in an inland lake has been conducted in Little Lake Butte des Morts, WI. Distinct seasonal variations in dissolved and particle associated PCBs were observed over a two year period at the lake outlet; the lowest values occurred during ice-cover periods while the highest values occurred during summertime. Total dissolved PCBs ranged from 1.4–34 ng/L while total particle associated PCBs varied from 2.1–105 ng/L. An average of 71% of the total PCBs were associated with particles. Both PCB fractions were dominated by ortho-chlorinated di-, tri-, and tetrachlorobiphenyls with IUPAC #28+31 accounting for the greatest portion. Some changes appear to have taken place in the environmental composition of congeners since PCBs first entered this waterway through effluent discharges.
Role of amorphous ferric oxyhydroxide in removal of anthropogenic vanadium from seawater

Abstract Adsorption of dissolved vanadium V(V) onto synthetic amorphous ferric oxyhydroxide ((am)Fe2O1,-H2O) was measured using synthetic seawater medium (35 cee). Experiments were conducted at 253C as a function of reaction time, pH, concentration of adsorbent, and concentration of adsorbate. The purposes of the study were to determine the effectiveness of (am) Fe2O3, -H2O in removing dissolved V(V) from seawater, and to estimate the role of (am)Fe2O3,-H2O in sediments in removing vanadium leached from stabilized oil ash blocks placed on the sea floor. Adsorption of V(V) onto (am)Fe2O3-H2O in seawater was rapid and reached a quasi-equilibrium condition within 1 h under laboratory conditions. pH was the major factor influencing adsorption of V(V) by (am) Fe2O3,-H2O. Maximum adsorption occurred at pH 4.6 in the solutions containing total particulate iron (FeT) concentrations of 0.6 × 10−3 and 1.3 × 10−3M. Adsorption of anionic V(V) onto (am)Fe2O2-H2O decreased when pH increased. Significant dissolution of (am)Fe2O3-H2O occurred at pH values A preliminary model was developed to predict the geochemical fate of anthropogenic V (V) in seawater in the presence of (am) Fe2O2-H2O; the model is applicable for solutions containing FeT in the concentration range 3 × 10-3 to 5.6 × 10−1M and dissolved V (V) in the range 1 × 10-4 to 2 × 10−3M.
Mechanistic Insights into the Brust–Schiffrin Two-Phase Synthesis of Organo-chalcogenate-Protected Metal Nanoparticles

New insights into the formation chemistry of chalcogenate-protected metal nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized via the well-known Brust−Schiffrin two-phase method are presented here. On the basis of Raman, NMR, and surface plasmon resonance characterizations, it is concluded that, before the formation of any metal−chalcogen bonds, metal nucleation centers/NPs are first formed inside the inverse micelles of the tetrabutylammonium bromide in the organic solvent, where the metal ions are reduced by NaBH4. The ensuing formation of the metal−chalcogen bonds between the naked metal NPs inside the micelles and the organo-chalcogen ligands in the organic solvent is the mechanism by which the further growth of the metal core can be controlled. This proposed mechanism is further examined in the formation of Ag and Cu NPs.
A stochastic dominance analysis of the turnover related performance of mutual funds

Mutual fund performance relative to portfolio turnover is examined for funds in different investment categories using non-parametric, stochastic dominance criteria. We find that, in general, high-turnover funds are at least equally preferable to those with low turnover. This suggests that the costs of obtaining and exploiting information are, on average, compensated for by the subsequent return distribution. The exception is maximum capital gains funds. Here, high-turnover funds clearly dominate those with low turnover and the information gathering function is profitable.
Calcium, magnesium, and serum factors in multiplication of normal and transformed human lung fibroblasts

Serum factors determine the extracellular requirement for both Ca2+ and Mg2+ for multiplication of normal human lung fibroblasts in vitro. Serum factors also affect the extracellular Ca2+ requirement for transformed fibroblasts but to a different extent than for normal cells. Transformed cells exhibit a reduced requirement for both Ca2+ and Mg2+ for multiplication. The apparent reduction in Ca2+ requirement of transformed cells is dependent on the level of serum factors in the medium. The reduced Mg2+ requirement for transformed cells is more striking than the loss of Ca2+ and independent of the level of serum factors in the medium. A sequential effector relationship among serum factors, Ca2+ and Mg2+, in a proliferative control system for normal cells is proposed. Alteration or bypass of an intracellular Mg2+-requiring process is proposed as a major lesion in the transformed cells. This alteration causes an observed loss of requirements for both Ca2+ and serum factors for the multiplication of transformed cells.
Promoting Nerve Cell Functions on Hydrogels Grafted with Poly(L-lysine)

We present a novel photopolymerizable poly(l-lysine) (PLL) and use it to modify polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels for creating a better, permissive nerve cell niche. Compared with their neutral counterparts, these PLL-grafted hydrogels greatly enhance pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell survival in encapsulation, proliferation, and neurite growth and also promote neural progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation capacity, represented by percentages of both differentiated neurons and astrocytes. The role of efficiently controlled substrate stiffness in regulating nerve cell behavior is also investigated and a polymerizable cationic small molecule, [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]-trimethylammonium chloride (MTAC), is used to compare with this newly developed PLL. The results indicate that these PLL-grafted hydrogels are promising biomaterials for nerve repair and regeneration.
Acute compartment syndrome following a minor athletic injury

An athletic young male presented with right calf pain following a twisting injury during a soccer game. Other than apparently severe calf pain, no symptoms or signs of compartment syndrome were noted. The patient later returned with lateral and anterior compartment syndrome, and suffered partial loss of peroneal nerve and muscle function despite fasciotomy. Although rare, acute compartment syndrome resulting from seemingly minor injury or exertion has been reported. Pain out of proportion to the apparent injury and a history of chronic leg pain with exertion may be helpful in identifying these patients prior to development of more obvious signs and symptoms. The diagnosis of acute compartment syndrome may be confirmed by compartmental pressure measurement. Prompt intervention is indicated once the diagnosis is established.
Female education, age, parity, and reproduction cessation in Ghana

Data from the 1988 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey is employed to determine the existence of a relationship between the amount of education a woman has and her intent to cease childbearing. The findings are that with increasing levels of education, a female's desire to cease reproduction also increases. However, this relationship is obscured if parity is not controlled.
Nurturance: The Spirit of Holistic Nursing

In the theory of modeling and role modeling, the concept of nurturance is connected to holistic nursing practice. As nurturance is given and received within a context of unconditional acceptance, clients' needs are fulfilled and they can move toward a healthier state. An exploration of the literature revealed several defining attributes that clarify the definition of the concept as it is used by Erickson, Tomlin, and Swain. Model, borderline, related, and contrary cases further illustrate the meaning of nurturance and its relationship to holistic care. In addition, methods of measuring nurturance are discussed. An analysis of the concept brings an increased understanding of how nurses can care for clients in a manner that respects the uniqueness and value of each individual. The result is a client who experiences growth and renewal of of strength, allowing optimal healing to occur.
A New Look at the Pacific Storm Track Variability: Sensitivity to Tropical SSTs and to Upstream Seeding

Abstract There is a fairly well defined stationary wave and storm track response to El Nino SSTs over the Pacific. In this paper, the case is made that this response is a direct result of increased baroclinicity in the central Pacific and that changes in the stationary wave pattern farther east are primarily forced by changes in these transient eddies. There is also a lot of natural variability that is not associated with El Nino. The paper also stresses the point that much of the variability can be understood as forced by variations in the upstream seeding of the storm track. The question of whether these seeding variations should be thought of as chaotic noise or forced by identifiable mechanisms is not addressed. Thus, the claim is that the storm track variability and its feedback to the quasi-stationary circulation depends on two key parameters: mid-Pacific baroclinicity, controlled by SSTs, and the strength of the upstream seeding. The approach is to first examine the effect of storm track seeding by...
Behavioral-systems marital and family therapy: Integration and clinical application

Abstract This paper describes our integration of two of the more prevalent approaches to marital and family therapy: the behavioral (social learning) and the family systems (communication theory) approaches. A discussion of the development of family rules from a behavioral point of view is presented as an example of conceptual integration. However, the major intent of the paper is to present a rather detailed explication of the authors' multivaried strategies for intervention, which are designed to integrate and innovate upon the major behavioral and family systems treatment techniques.
A simulation study of CONWIP versus MRP at Westinghouse

Abstract The thrust of this research is the comparison of the constant work in process (CONWIP) order release strategy versus a typical MRP order release strategy and the validation of a CONWIP model in an actual plant environment. The Westinghouse Electric-College Station, Texas Plant served as a test facility. This plant is a typical small batch electronics products manufacturer, currently using MRP for production planning. All plant operations from order kitting, order release, assembly, testing, inspection, and shipping were modeled. Simulation results indicate that the CONWIP order release strategy could be utilized as a valid aid in reducing plant WIP, while insuring current levels of throughput.