cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Practices and Performance of Small Retail Stores in Developing Economies

Abstract As multinational corporations have expanded beyond the borders of developed economies and into fast-growing developing regions of the world, they have struggled to understand and manage a retail format that is dominant in many of those economies—the small retailer. The authors first synthesize existing literature on the phenomenon of small retailing to deliver a macro perspective of this retail format and its evolution. Then, they delve deeper into an urban market in a developing economy and provide an empirical illustration that sheds light on the decision-making processes of the small retailers and their operational performance. This yields a complementary micro perspective of the phenomenon that has been absent in the literature. The analysis provides insights into how firms that enter markets in developing economies can manage and profit from this important but frequently overlooked distribution format.
Interfacing the PET/CBM with Coulbourn’s DynaPort for experimental control and data acquisition

Component changes to Coulbourn’s DynaPort that are necessary to ensure reliable data exchange with laboratory computers are discussed. Also provided and explained is a data communications package of BASIC and assembly language routines that will permit the PET/CBM to retrieve data from the DynaPort.
Studies on the exchange of hydrogen between succinate and water as catalyzed by heart muscle succinic dehydrogenase

Abstract The exchange of tritium from meso-2,3-ditritiosuccinate and racemic-2-tritiosuccinate to water was studied using soluble and particulate preparations of succinic dehydrogenase from heart muscle. All the tritium exchanges. We conclude from kinetics that the enzyme fails to discriminate strongly among hydrogen atoms at the 2,3-methylene positions. A strongly differential retention of hydrogen, predicted by the work of Gawron and co-workers and attributed to enzyme asymmetry, is not observed. Complete exchange confirms the early observation of Weinmann et al . (1947) . Since the exchange reaction does not show an obligatory requirement for fumaric acid, exchange can occur from the enzyme-succinate complex. The results support the view that exchange proceeds by the exchange of a trans pair of hydrogen atoms.
Spectral reflectance of coral reef bottom-types worldwide and implications for coral reef remote sensing

Abstract Coral reef benthic communities are mosaics of individual bottom-types that are distinguished by their taxonomic composition and functional roles in the ecosystem. Knowledge of community structure is essential to understanding many reef processes. To develop techniques for identification and mapping of reef bottom-types using remote sensing, we measured 13,100 in situ optical reflectance spectra (400–700 nm, 1-nm intervals) of 12 basic reef bottom-types in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans: fleshy (1) brown, (2) green, and (3) red algae; non-fleshy (4) encrusting calcareous and (5) turf algae; (6) bleached, (7) blue, and (8) brown hermatypic coral; (9) soft/gorgonian coral; (10) seagrass; (11) terrigenous mud; and (12) carbonate sand. Each bottom-type exhibits characteristic spectral reflectance features that are conservative across biogeographic regions. Most notable are the brightness of carbonate sand and local extrema near 570 nm in blue (minimum) and brown (maximum) corals. Classification function analyses for the 12 bottom-types achieve mean accuracies of 83%, 76%, and 71% for full-spectrum data (301-wavelength), 52-wavelength, and 14-wavelength subsets, respectively. The distinguishing spectral features for the 12 bottom-types exist in well-defined, narrow (10–20 nm) wavelength ranges and are ubiquitous throughout the world. We reason that spectral reflectance features arise primarily as a result of spectral absorption processes. Radiative transfer modeling shows that in typically clear coral reef waters, dark substrates such as corals have a depth-of-detection limit on the order of 10–20 m. Our results provide the foundation for design of a sensor with the purpose of assessing the global status of coral reefs.
Variation of the transition dipole moment across the OH stretching band of water

Abstract Hydrogen bonding increases the magnitude of the OH stretching transition dipole moment. We investigate the significance of this non-Condon effect on the linear and nonlinear infrared spectroscopy of the OH stretching vibration of HOD in D 2 O. The frequency dependence of the transition dipole across the line shape is tested by comparing temperature-dependent amplitudes of IR and Raman spectra and IR photon echoes. Since the Raman polarizability is largely independent of hydrogen bonding, differences between IR and Raman spectra reflect the changes in the IR transition dipole moment induced by hydrogen bonding. Increasing temperature shifts the OH density of states to higher frequencies consistent with a weakening of hydrogen bond strength and therefore a decrease in the transition dipole. Photon echo intensity is found to decrease significantly with temperature. Using an empirical transition dipole variation determined from the square root of the ratio of the IR and Raman intensity, we are able to model the IR spectra and the IR photon echo across a broad temperature range. The variation with frequency of this empirical transition dipole is nonlinear, changes by a factor of 1.7 across the OH line shape, and on resonance has a slope similar to recent theoretical predictions. The role of water dynamics and motional narrowing on the non-Condon effect is evaluated with the help of molecular dynamics simulations of the fluctuating OH frequency and transition dipole moment. Simulated linear and two-dimensional infrared line shapes that use the empirical model are red shifted compared to line shapes calculated within the Condon approximation, and give slightly better agreement with measured data.
Detection of HER2 breast cancer biomarker using the optofluidic ring resonator biosensor

In this work, we describe a novel approach for detecting the HER2/neu extra-cellular domain (ECD) protein in human serum samples using the opto-fluidic ring resonator (OFRR). OFRR sensing technology that incorporates microfluidics and optical sensing methods to achieve rapid label free detection in a small and low cost platform. In this study, HER2 proteins were spiked in PBS running buffer and serum at varying concentrations. Concentrations of the HER2 protein were adjusted in serum to levels typical of breast cancer patients that show over-expression of this particular beast cancer biomarker. The OFRR was modified with a biologically functional layer to efficiently capture the HER2 biomarker and produce a sensing signal through interaction with the evanescent field of the optical resonator. Results show effective capture of HER2 at medically relevant concentrations in serum and was achieved for concentrations as low as 13 ng/mL and ranged to above 100 ng/mL. This work will lead to a device that can be used as a tool for monitoring disease progression in a low cost sensing setup.
The dualizing spectrum of a topological group

To a topological group G, we assign a naive G-spectrum \(D_G\), called the dualizing spectrum of G. When the classifying space BG is finitely dominated, we show that \(D_G\) detects Poincare duality in the sense that BG is a Poincare duality space if and only if \(D_G\) is a homotopy finite spectrum. Secondly, we show that the dualizing spectrum behaves multiplicatively on certain topological group extensions. In proving these results we introduce a new tool: a norm map which is defined for any G and for any naive G-spectrum E. Applications of the dualizing spectrum come in two flavors: (i) applications in the theory of Poincare duality spaces, and (ii) applications in the theory of group cohomology. On the Poincare duality space side, we derive a homotopy theoretic solution to a problem posed by Wall which says that in a fibration sequence of fini the total space satisfies Poincare duality if and only if the base and fiber do. The dualizing spectrum can also be used to give an entirely homotopy theoretic construction of the Spivak fibration of a finitely dominated Poincare duality space. We also include a new proof of Browder's theorem that every finite H-space satisfies Poincare duality. In connection with group cohomology, we show how to define a variant of Farrell-Tate cohomology for any topological or discrete group G, with coefficients in any naive equivariant cohomology theory E. When E is connective, and when G admits a subgroup H of finite index such that BH is finitely dominated, we show that this cohomology coincides with the ordinary cohomology of G with coefficients in E in degrees greater than the cohomological dimension of H. In an appendix, we identify the homotopy type of \(D_G\) for certain kinds of groups. The class includes all compact Lie groups, torsion free arithmetic groups and Bieri-Eckmann duality groups.
The tradition of Harvey Cushing commemorated by a stamp in the Great American stamp series. The 1987 AANS (American Association of Neurological Surgeons) presidential address.

✓ With the announcement that Harvey Cushing is to be honored by a United States postage stamp in the Great American stamp series, the qualities that this remarkable man possessed are reviewed — artist, author, bibliophile, scientist, soldier, physician, and teacher. The events that led to Cushing becoming a neurosurgeon are summarized. The recognition by the United States Postal Service of physicians and others who have appeared on stamps that had some relationship to Cushing's activities is discussed. Based on the tradition of Harvey Cushing, eight guidelines are presented.
An empirical comparison of priority-queue and event-set implementations

Execution times for a variety of priority-queue implementations are compared under the hold model, showing many to be faster than implicit heaps.
Can DCEMRI assess the effect of green tea on the angiogenic properties of rodent prostate tumors

The purpose of this research was to test whether dynamic contrast enhanced MRI could assess the effect of green tea on the angiogenic properties of transplanted rodent tumors. Copenhagen rats bearing AT6.1 prostate tumors inoculated in the hind limbs were randomly assigned to cages in which they were allowed to only drink either plain water (control group) or water containing green tea extract (treated group). Assignments were made after a baseline MRI experiment (week 0) was performed on each rat at 4.7 T. All the rats were subsequently imaged at day 7 (week 1) and day 14 (week 2) to follow tumor growth and vascular development. The two-compartment pharmacokinetic model was used to analyze the dynamic contrast Gd-DTPA enhanced MRI data on a pixel-by-pixel basis over the tumor area to obtain the volume transfer constant (Ktrans) and extravascular extracellular space (ve). An identity Chi-squared test showed that the distributions of averaged histograms (n = 6) of Ktrans and ve were significantly different from week 0 to both weeks 1 and 2 (p < 0.001) in both the control and the treated rats due to increasing areas of tumor necrosis. However, the tumor growth rate was statistically indistinguishable between control and treated rats. There was no significant difference in the distributions of Ktrans and ve between control and treated rats. The results showed that no effects of green tea on tumor micro-vasculature were measurable by dynamic Gd-DTPA enhanced MRI.
Partial purification of a region from the Bacillus subtilis genome on the basis of its resistance to heat-induced strand separation.

Abstract DNA from the His 1 region of the Bacillus subtilis genome was partially purified. The basis for the purification was the relatively high resistance of these molecules to heat-induced complete separation of their strands. 2.2±0.3-fold purification was achieved when the mol. wt. of the DNA was 31·10 6 . 4.0±0.6-fold purification was achieved when the DNA had mol. wt. 10·10 6 . Separation of single-stranded DNA from native DNA was achieved by sucrose gradient centrifugation using a low-ionic-strength buffer.
Synchronous oscillations in cerebrocortical capillary red blood cell velocity after nitric oxide synthase inhibition

Low-frequency (4-12 cpm) spontaneous oscillations in cerebral blood flow are well known and their augmentation after nitric oxide synthase inhibition has recently been described. However, the presence of these oscillations in blood flow velocity in the capillary network of the brain has not been demonstrated. In this paper, low-frequency oscillations in red blood cell flow velocity in cortical capillaries using intravital video microscopy were studied before and after infusion of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled red blood cells were injected intravenously and served as markers of capillary flow. Red cell velocity was measured by off-line image tracking. After infusion of L-NAME (30 mg/kg), red cell velocity decreased from an average of 1.0 +/- 0.1 mm/sec to 0.53 +/- 0.1 mm/sec. Simultaneously, low-frequency oscillations in velocity emerged as indicated by an 81 +/- 17% increase in standard deviation of the 4- to 8-cpm frequency components. There was a significant temporal correlation (r = 0.58, P < 0.01) in red cell velocity between neighboring capillaries after L-NAME. Principal component analysis suggested that the high temporal correlation was a consequence of low-frequency oscillations rather than phase. These results are consistent with a model in which low-frequency spontaneous oscillations in flow velocity are brought about by precapillary vasomotion. This study provides for the first time direct evidence for low-frequency synchronous oscillations of red cell flow velocity in the cerebral capillary network.
A note on the application of the von Zeipel method to degenerate Hamiltonians

Through the introduction of a term at each order of the generating function dependent only on the long-period variables, a technique is shown whereby both short- and long-period variables in a degenerate Hamiltonian can be eliminated simultaneously in one transformation with the von Zeipel method, rather than the traditionally separate transformations. The technique is applied to the lunar theory as an example.
The Cost of Empty Threats: A Penny, Not a Pound

A large literature in political science takes for granted that democratic leaders would pay substantial domestic political costs for failing to carry out the public threats they make in international crises, and consequently that making threats substantially enhances their leverage in crisis bargaining. And yet proponents of this audience costs theory have presented very little evidence that this causal mechanism actually operates in real—as opposed to simulated—crises. We look for such evidence in post-1945 crises and find hardly any. Audience cost mechanisms are rare because (1) leaders see unambiguously committing threats as imprudent, (2) domestic audiences care more about policy substance than about consistency between the leader's words and deeds, (3) domestic audiences care about their country's reputation for resolve and national honor independent of whether the leader has issued an explicit threat, and (4) authoritarian targets of democratic threats do not perceive audience costs dynamics in the same way that audience costs theorists do. We found domestic audience costs as secondary mechanisms in a few cases where the public already had hawkish preferences before any threats were made.
Verbindungen mit Bor‐Phosphor‐Mehrfachbindung

Bor-Phosphor-Verbindungen sind nicht annahernd so grundlich untersucht wie ihre Bor-Stickstoff-Analoga. Bis vor kurzem waren ganze Klassen von B-P-Verbindungen, fur die es in der B-N-Chemie wohlbekannte Entsprechungen gibt, entweder unbekannt oder nur unzureichend charakterisiert. Neue Arbeiten zeigen nun aber, das sich Bor-Phosphor-Verbindungen mit variierenden B-P-Mehrfachbindungsanteilen herstellen und charakterisieren lassen. Diese Verbindungen umfassen nicht nur monomere Phosphinoborane, sondern auch Phosphandiylborate (Borylphosphide), drei- (Diphosphaborirane) und viergliedrige Ringe (Diphosphadiboretane), B-P-Analoga von Borazin, von Allyl-Kationen und -Anionen sowie von Butadien und Kafigverbindungen. Die Unterschiede zwischen B-P- und B-N-Verbindungen konnen in vielen Fallen durch eine hohe Inversionsbarriere am Phosphor, die die π-Wechselwirkung vermindert, erklart werden. Dies fuhrt gewohnlich bei Verbindungen wie R2BPR′2 zur Bildung von Assoziaten mit B-P-σ-Bindungen. π-Bindungen konnen unter Bildung eines annahernd planaren -Systems gezielt uber sterische und elektronische Faktoren begunstigt werden. Weiterhin belegen theoretische Untersuchungen, das die p-p-π-Uberlappung in einem planaren B-P-System ahnlich gut ist wie im B-N-Analogon. Gute Beispiele bieten die Phosphandiylborate sowie die B-P-Analoga des Borazins und der π-Allyl-Kationen, in denen die Molekulstrukturen und Bindungslangen fur starke Bor-Phosphor-π-Bindungen sprechen.
In situ Adhesion Measurements Utilizing Layer-by-Layer Functionalized Surfaces

The adhesion between poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) hemispheres coated with layer-by-layer (LbL) assemblies of polyelectrolytes and rigid, planar substrates was investigated using Johnson, Kendall, and Roberts (JKR) contact mechanics. Measurements were performed against amine-functionalized glass slides both in air and in aqueous solutions of controlled pH. Despite the increased density of negatively charged carboxylate groups, LbL-functionalized PDMS exhibited lower adhesion because of the combined effects of increased surface roughness and the high Young’s modulus of the coating. Measurements of coated PDMS in aqueous solutions revealed tunable adhesion behavior dominated by pH-mediated changes in the mechanical properties of the coating. Smoothing the surface of the LbL coatings by aqueous salt annealing led to a significant increase in adhesion. Our results suggest that LbL assembly can be an effective means of surface functionalization for in situ adhesion measurements, but understanding and predictin...
Practical aspects in the management of hypokalemic periodic paralysis

Management considerations in hypokalemic periodic paralysis include accurate diagnosis, potassium dosage for acute attacks, choice of diuretic for prophylaxis, identification of triggers, creating a safe physical environment, peri-operative measures, and issues in pregnancy. A positive genetic test in the context of symptoms is the gold standard for diagnosis. Potassium chloride is the favored potassium salt given at 0.5–1.0 mEq/kg for acute attacks. The oral route is favored, but if necessary, a mannitol solvent can be used for intravenous administration. Avoidance of or potassium prophylaxis for common triggers, such as rest after exercise, high carbohydrate meals, and sodium, can prevent attacks. Chronically, acetazolamide, dichlorphenamide, or potassium-sparing diuretics decrease attack frequency and severity but are of little value acutely. Potassium, water, and a telephone should always be at a patient's bedside, regardless of the presence of weakness. Perioperatively, the patient's clinical status should be checked frequently. Firm data on the management of periodic paralysis during pregnancy is lacking. Patient support can be found at http://www.periodicparalysis.org.
Weak Interaction Singlet and Strong CP Invariance

Strong $\mathrm{CP}$ invariance is automatically preserved by a spontaneously broken chiral ${\mathrm{U}(1)}_{4}$ symmetry. A weak-interaction singlet heavy quark $Q$, a new scalar meson ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{0}$, and a very light axion are predicted. Phenomenological implications are also included.
Metabolic Studies on Hypertensive Patients with Suppressed Plasma Renin Activity Not Due to Hyperaldosteronism

Metabolic data obtained during sodium depletion (10-mEq Na, 90-mEq K diet plus thiazide) from 13 hypertensive patients (HT) with low plasma renin activity (PRA) were compared with data from 15 normotensive subjects and three patients with renovascular hypertension (RHT). With Na depletion plasma renin activity and urinary aldosterone excretion increased promptly in NT and RHT. In contrast, PRA in HT after 5 days of Na depletion was only one third that of the NT after 2 days of depletion, and aldosterone excretion did not change significantly. This depressed renin and aldosterone response in HT can be overcome by extending the depletion period and administering spironolactone. In HT, Na and loss of weight was significantly lower than in NT. HT Negroes retained more potassium than HT whites and four out of seven NT Negroes and none of eight NT white subjects had a positive K balance. The hypertension of patients with low PRA appears to be due to genetic or environmental factors or to both.
Validity of the Work Addiction Risk Test

50 subjects correctly classified the 25 items of the Work Addiction Risk Test by symptom, giving support for face validity.
Diminished access to declarative knowledge with sleep deprivation

Inadequate sleep affects cognitive functioning, with often subtle and occasionally catastrophic personal and societal consequences. Unfortunately, this topic has received little attention in the cognitive modeling literature, despite the potential payoff. In this paper, we provide evidence regarding the impact of sleep deprivation on a particular component of cognitive performance, the ability to access and use declarative knowledge. Every 2h throughout an extended period of sleep deprivation, participants completed 50 trials of a serial addition/subtraction task requiring knowledge of single-digit arithmetic facts. Over the course of 88h awake, response times increased while accuracy declined. A computational model accounts for the degradation in performance through a reduction in the activation of declarative knowledge. This knowledge is required for successful completion of the serial addition/subtraction task, but access to the declarative knowledge is impaired as sleep deprivation increases and alertness declines. Importantly, the mechanism provides a generalizable quantitative account relevant to other tasks and contexts. It also provides a process-level understanding of how cognitive performance declines with increasing levels of sleep loss.
Not Biting the Hand that Feeds Them: Hegemonic Expediency in the Newsroom and the Karen Ryan/Health and Human Services Department Video News Release

This study examines the use of a video news release in a specific story. Press coverage and editorial criticism in the case showed that journalists do not articulate sufficiently how the news owners' sway, through institutional controls, can lead to a hegemony of expedient action in the newsroom. Critical self-reflection by news workers will better enable journalists to ethically deliberate news choices that balance their responsibilities to owners, peers, and the public.
Initial reaction(s) in biotransformation of CL-20 is catalyzed by salicylate 1-monooxygenase from Pseudomonas sp. strain ATCC 29352.

CL-20 (2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane) (C6H6N12O12), a future-generation high-energy explosive, is biodegradable by Pseudomonas sp. strain FA1 and Agrobacterium sp. strain JS71; however, the nature of the enzyme(s) involved in the process was not understood. In the present study, salicylate 1-monooxygenase, a flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-containing purified enzyme from Pseudomonas sp. strain ATCC 29352, biotransformed CL-20 at rates of 0.256 ± 0.011 and 0.043 ± 0.003 nmol min−1 mg of protein−1 under anaerobic and aerobic conditions, respectively. The disappearance of CL-20 was accompanied by the release of nitrite ions. Using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry in the negative electrospray ionization mode, we detected a metabolite with a deprotonated mass ion [M − H]− at 345 Da, corresponding to an empirical formula of C6H6N10O8, produced as a result of two sequential N denitration steps on the CL- 20 molecule. We also detected two isomeric metabolites with [M − H]− at 381 Da corresponding to an empirical formula of C6H10N10O10. The latter was a hydrated product of the metabolite C6H6N10O8 with addition of two H2O molecules, as confirmed by tests using 18O-labeled water. The product stoichiometry showed that each reacted CL-20 molecule produced about 1.7 nitrite ions, 3.2 molecules of nitrous oxide, 1.5 molecules of formic acid, and 0.6 ammonium ion. Diphenyliodonium-mediated inhibition of salicylate 1-monooxygenase and a comparative study between native, deflavo, and reconstituted enzyme(s) showed that FAD site of the enzyme was involved in the biotransformation of CL-20 catalyzed by salicylate 1-monooxygenase. The data suggested that salicylate 1-monooxygenase catalyzed two oxygen-sensitive single-electron transfer steps necessary to release two nitrite ions from CL-20 and that this was followed by the secondary decomposition of this energetic chemical.
Change in Direction of Carbon Thermotransport in Nb-V System with Alloying

Thermotransport of carbon in a complete series of Nb-V alloys was studied using a radioactive tracing technique. The heat of transport Q* of carbon in Nb and V is negative; i.e., thermotransport is toward the hotter regions. Marked changes in the value of Q* result from alloying of the two metals, however, and an unusual reversal in its sign, i.e., a reversal in thermotransport direction, occurs at ∼1.5 at. pct V on the Nb-rich end, and again at ∼25 at. pct Nb on the V-rich end of the system. It increases rather sharply from -54.8 kJ/mol in pure niobium to +7.6 kJ/mol at 2.5 at. pct V, and reaches a maximum of +43.6 kJ/mol at approximately 25 at. pct V. Further increase in the V content results in a more gradual decrease in Q* to its value of -42.3 kJ/mol in pure vanadium. Possible explanations of these results based on current theories of thermotransport are presented, and the implications from an engineering standpoint are examined.
Robust T-tubulation and maturation of cardiomyocytes using tissue-engineered epicardial mimetics.

Abstract Complex three-dimensional (3-D) heart structure is an important determinant of cardiac electrical and mechanical function. In this study, we set to develop a versatile tissue-engineered system that can promote important aspects of cardiac functional maturation and reproduce variations in myofiber directions present in native ventricular epicardium. We cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes within a 3-D hydrogel environment using microfabricated elastomeric molds with hexagonal posts. By varying individual post orientations along the directions derived from diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTMRI) maps of human ventricle, we created large (2.5 × 2.5 cm 2 ) 3-D cardiac tissue patches with cardiomyocyte alignment that replicated human epicardial fiber orientations. After 3 weeks of culture, the advanced structural and functional maturation of the engineered 3-D cardiac tissues compared to age-matched 2-D monolayers was evident from: 1) the presence of dense, aligned and electromechanically-coupled cardiomyocytes, quiescent fibroblasts, and interspersed capillary-like structures, 2) action potential propagation with near-adult conduction velocity and directional dependence on local cardiomyocyte orientation, and 3) robust formation of T-tubules aligned with Z-disks, co-localization of L-type Ca 2+ channels and ryanodine receptors, and accelerated Ca 2+ transient kinetics. This biomimetic tissue-engineered platform can enable systematic in vitro studies of cardiac structure–function relationships and promote the development of advanced tissue engineering strategies for cardiac repair and regeneration.
An algorithm for quantile smoothing splines

Abstract For p = 1 and ∞, Koenker, Ng and Portnoy (Statistical Data Analysis Based on the L1 Norm and Related Methods (North-Holland, New York, 1992); Biometrika, 81 (1994)) proposed the τth Lp quantile smoothing spline, g τ ,L p , defined to solve min g∈ G p “fidelity” + λ “L p roughness” as a simple, nonparametric approach to estimating the τth conditional quantile functions given 0≤τ≤ 1. They defined “fidelity” = σi=1nϱτ(yi−g(xi)) with ϱτ(u)=(τ−I(u σ i=1 n−1 ¦g′(x i+1 )−g′(x i )¦ , “L∞ roughness” = maxxg″(x), λ⩾0 and G p to be some appropriately defined functional space. They showed g τ ,L p to be a linear spline for p=1 and parabolic spline for p=∞, and suggested computations using conventional linear programming techniques. We describe a modification to the algorithm of Bartels and Conn (ACM Trans. Math. Software, 6 (1980)) for linearly constrained discrete L1 problems and show how it can be utilized to compute the quantile smoothing splines. We also demonstrate how monotonicity and convexity constraints on the conditional quantile functions can be imposed easily. The parametric linear programming approach to computing all distinct τth quantile smoothing splines for a given penalty parameter λ, as well as all the quantile smoothing splines corresponding to all distinct λ values for a given τ, also are provided.
Neuropsychological dysfunction in parents of schizophrenics

Neuropsychological measures designed to examine aspects of attention, learning efficiency, and memory were investigated in 14 schizophrenic probands, their 28 parents, and 18 normal individuals. Probands performed at levels significantly below normals on measures of attention and of learning efficiency and performed below their parents on a subset of the same measures. Eight families had one parent with a personal or ancestral pedigree history consistent with schizophrenia; the other parent's personal and ancestral history was negative for schizophrenia. In these families, the probands were significantly different from the negative-history parents, but not the positive-history parents on an aggregate index of attention. Schizophrenics were significantly different from both the positive- and negative-history parents on an aggregate index of learning efficiency. These results extend previous findings of specific neuropsychological dysfunction in attention and learning in schizophrenics to show that some of the deficits are present in a subgroup of their parents, those who are likely carriers of genes conveying risk for schizophrenia. The data suggest that a heritable component of the neuropsychological deficit is a primary dysfunction in attention, and that a secondary or additional deficit in learning may be evident in family members who actually express the disorder of schizophrenia.
Iron regulation of transferrin synthesis in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2.

In human beings, serum transferrin levels increase during iron deficiency and decrease with iron overload. Yet, whether or not iron levels actually affect the synthesis of transferrin in human liver cells is not known. In previous studies, iron was shown to suppress the expression of chimeric human transferrin genes in livers of transgenic mice. The goal of this study was to determine if iron suppresses intact endogenous human transferrin synthesis by testing the effects of changes in iron levels on synthesis of transferrin in a human hepatoma cell line HepG2. In HepG2 cells, normalized35S-metabolically labeled transferrin synthesis was consistently less following iron treatment with hemin or ferric citrate, than following treatment with an iron-chelator deferroxamine. Thus, this study provides new evidence that iron can regulate synthesis of intact endogenous human transferrin.
Geometrical defects in Josephson junction arrays

Dislocations and disclinations in a lattice of Josephson junctions will affect the dynamics of vortex excitations within the array. These defects effectively distort the space in which the excitations move and interact. The interaction energy between such defects and excitations are determined and vortex trajectories in twisted lattices are calculated. Finally, possible experiments observing these effects are presented.
Shape Recovery by Diffusion Generated Motion

Diffusion generated motion has been used to generate a variety of interface motions. In this paper, we present a new shape recovery model with diffusion generated motion. The approach is based on alternately diffusing and sharpening the initial region to move the sharp interface toward the boundaries of the desired objects. The shapes are recovered by an anisotropic interface motion with a local image property dependent speed. Our algorithm is simple and easy to implement. It automatically captures topological changes and works for both 2D and 3D image data. Experimental results for synthetic and real images are presented.
Microscopic simulation of traffic in networks: Supercomputer experience

The use of microscopic traffic‐simulation codes in practice and in research has generally been limited by available computational resources to very small portions of an urban area's network. Supercomputers offer an order‐of‐magnitude improvement over conventional mainframes, and thus provide the possibility of using microscopic simulation for much more elaborate and realistic simulations of traffic in large networks. This paper presents the results of computational experiments conducted with the NETSIM microscopic simulation package on a CRAY X‐MP/24 supercomputer. The application to a large network of the central core of Austin, Texas is demonstrated. Comparisons of the computational performance of NETSIM on the supercomputer with that on a mainframe, for a set of test networks, are presented, confirming the magnitude of the improvements generally claimed. In addition, a relation is developed between the time requirements on the supercomputer and the characteristics of the network. Modifications to bette...
In vivo burn imaging using Mueller optical coherence tomography

We report on the use of a high-speed, fiber-based Mueller-matrix optical coherence tomography system with continuous source-polarization modulation for in vivo burn depth evaluation and healing monitoring. A homemade hand-held probe with integrated optical scanning and beam delivering optics was coupled in the sample arm. In vivo burn imaging was demonstrated on porcine skin at different stages of the wound healing process, where porcine skin was used because of its similarity to the human skin. Thermally damaged region was clearly localized in the depth-resolved phase retardation image extracted from the measured Jones matrix. The burn areas in the OCT images agreed well with the histology. By using a decomposition algorithm developed by our group, we also mapped the local birefringence of the skin. The experimental results demonstrate the system’s potential for in vivo burn-depth determination.
Immunogold localization of prolamines in developing Haynaldia villosa endosperm

Haynaldia villosa is a wild grass belonging to the tribe Triticeae, which includes important crops such as wheat, barley, and rye. The alcohol-soluble proteins ofH. villosa have extensive immunological relatedness with wheat prolamines as visualized by Western blot analysis. Amorphous protein inclusions surrounded by a limiting membrane are commonly found in the vacuoles of endosperm and subaleurone layers ofH. villosa seeds. A layer of cells just beneath the aleurone layer is rich in ER. Unlike that in other cell types, the ER in these cells is highly dilated and contains materials at its swollen distal ends. These materials are structurally similar to substances found in the protein bodies. Protein A-gold immunocytochemical localization studies employing antibodies against wheat prolamine confirmed that the inclusions found in the lumen of the ER do not contain prolamines. This observation indicates that the ER does not act as the site of prolamine accumulation inH. villosa. Protein bodies found in the vacuoles and the vesicles associated with the Golgi complexes were specifically labeled. This suggests that Golgi complexes mediate the transport of prolamines into vacuoles ofH. villosa endosperm cells, in a fashion analogous to that of other vacuolar proteins of dicotyledonous plants.
Demonstration of a large-scale optical exceptional point structure

We report a large-size (4-inch) optical exceptional point structure at visible frequencies by designing a multilayer structure of absorbing and non-absorbing dielectrics. The optical exceptional point was implemented as indicated by the realized unidirectional reflectionless light transport at a wafer scale. The associated abrupt phase transition is theoretically and experimentally confirmed when crossing over the exceptional point in wavelengths. The large scale demonstration of phase transition around exceptional points will open new possibilities in important applications in free space optical devices.
713-2 All Trans-retinoic Acid and Its Derivatives inhibit Serotonin-induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation

Background Serotonin (5HT), released from aggregating platelets at sites of vascular injury following coronary angioplasty, is a known mitogen for vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC). Retinoids have been shown to inhibit cellular proliferation possibly due to effects on cytokines, cytokine receptors and proto-oncogene expression. Objective In this study we examined whether all trans retinoic acid (RA) or its derivatives 13-Cis RA and 9-Cis RA would prevent the 5HT induced SMC proliferation as determined by 3 [H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA. Methods Canine aortic primary SMC (in 2nd or 3rd passage) were incubated with different concentration of RA 13-Cis RA or 9-Cis RA and 200 μM of serotonin for 20 hours in serum free medium. Then 3 [H]-thymidine (1 μCi/plate) was added and 3 [H]-thymidine incorporation into SMC was measured 4 hours later. Results The 200μM of serotonin induced approximately a 3–4 fold increase in 3 [H]-thymidine incorporation (5570 ± 242 cpm/10 6 cells to 18202 ± 881 cpm/l0 6 cells) in SMC (n = 5). All three retinoids inhibited serotonin induced SMC proliferation. The dose of retinoids that produced a 50% reduction in DNA (p l 0.0001) synthesis in SMC were 47nM for RA 410nM for 9-Cis RA and 5μM for 13-Cis RA. There was no evidence of cytotoxicity with any of the retinoids to SMC up to a concentration of 1–5 mM. Conclusion Retinoids prevent 5HT induced SMC proliferation at low concentrations. Since 5HT released from platelets at sites of vascular injury may playa role in the development of neointimal proliferation following coronary angioplasty, retinoids may potentially be useful for prevention of restenosis following angioplasty.
Proactive price regulation for upgrading telecommunications infrastructure

The extent to which society benefits from an upgrade to a telecommunications network infrastructure depends on when that upgrade occurs. This paper discusses a proactive pricing approach in which the regulator defines a pricing policy to induce a profit-seeking monopoly carrier to upgrade the infrastructure at the socially desirable time. We discuss how the regulator can determine the optimal time to upgrade the infrastructure, and specify a proactive pricing policy to induce that timing. We also demonstrate a tradeoff between promoting social efficiency and protecting consumer interests in applying that approach.
Ceramides mediate cigarette smoke-induced metabolic disruption in mice

Cigarette smoke exposure increases lung ceramide biosynthesis and alters metabolic function. We hypothesized that ceramides are released from the lung during cigarette smoke exposure and result in elevated skeletal muscle ceramide levels, resulting in insulin resistance and altered mitochondrial respiration. Employing cell and animal models, we explored the effect of cigarette smoke on muscle cell insulin signaling and mitochondrial respiration. Muscle cells were treated with conditioned medium from cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-exposed lung cells, followed by analysis of ceramides and assessment of insulin signaling and mitochondrial function. Mice were exposed to daily cigarette smoke and a high-fat, high-sugar (HFHS) diet with myriocin injections to inhibit ceramide synthesis. Comparisons were conducted between these mice and control animals on standard diets in the absence of smoke exposure and myriocin injections. Muscle cells treated with CSE-exposed conditioned medium were completely unresponsive to insulin stimulation, and mitochondrial respiration was severely blunted. These effects were mitigated when lung cells were treated with the ceramide inhibitor myriocin prior to and during CSE exposure. In mice, daily cigarette smoke exposure and HFHS diet resulted in insulin resistance, which correlated with elevated ceramides. Although myriocin injection was protective against insulin resistance with either smoke or HFHS, it was insufficient to prevent insulin resistance with combined CS and HFHS. However, myriocin injection restored muscle mitochondrial respiration in all treatments. Ceramide inhibition prevents metabolic disruption in muscle cells with smoke exposure and may explain whole body insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction in vivo.
Promoting Safe and Effective Use of OTC Medications: CHPA-GSA National Summit

Research on the ways older people use prescription medications (Rx) is a mainstay of the gerontological literature because use of Rx medications is common, and appropriate use is central to effective management of chronic disease. But older adults are also major consumers of over-the-counter (OTC) medications, which can be equally significant for self-care. Nearly half of older adults aged 75-85, for example, are regular users of an OTC product. Ensuring that consumers safely and effectively use OTC products is critical in order to minimize potential drug-drug interactions and unintentional misuse. Yet we know surprisingly little about the ways older adults select OTC medications and decide when to start or stop use, how older people actually take these medications, or how involved clinicians and family members are in older adult OTC behavior. Research in this area is critical for developing interventions to help ensure safe and appropriate OTC use. For this reason, The Gerontological Society of America (GSA), in partnership with the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), convened a summit of experts to set an agenda for research in OTC behaviors among older adults. The panel suggested a need for research in 5 key areas: Health literacy and OTC behavior, decision making and OTC use, the role of clinicians in OTC medication behavior, older adult OTC behavior and family care, and technologies to promote optimal use of OTC medications.
Transform-based covariance differencing approaches to the estimation of multiple-signals in a multi-sensor environment

Eigendecomposition-based methods developed to date require that the additive noise be spatially white, i.e. of equal power and uncorrelated from sensor to sensor. A set of transform-based covariance differencing approaches is introduced that eliminates the effects of unequal noise power on eigenvalues and, at the same time, increase the resolution of the procedure in comparison with the standard methods. The performance of this approach under different conditions is examined through simulations, and the results are compared to the results obtained by using the standard MUSIC algorithm. >
Seasonal alopecia areata with atopy.

cellular balanitis and localized purpuric dermatosis has been noted in France in a review of chronic pseudoerythroplastic balanitis." In this study Jonquieres and de Lutzky found that the most frequent histologic pattern in 11 of 14 cases was that of a purpuric, telangiectatic, lichenoid balanitis. The pathogenesis of Zoon's balanitis remains unknown. Vascular fragility and underlying vascular abnormalities-? have recently been found to be important pathogenetic factors in lichen aureus localized to the limbs. Similar pathogenetic mechanisms may be operative in examples of purpuric balanitis with hemosiderin pigmentation, particularly because the penis is associated with marked fluctuations in vascular pressure. This special variant ofZoon's balanitis may be related more closely to lichen aureus than has previously been recognized.
Solitary fibrous tumor of the lung: a case report with a study of the aspiration biopsy, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and autopsy findings.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm of ubiquitous location. In addition to its classic presentation as a pleural-based mass, it can be encountered in a variety of other sites. A pleural-based lung lesion can be easily accessed by radiologic guidance for cytologic study. Several reports have described the cytologic findings of SFT at various locations, including the lung. However, diagnostic difficulties can occur due to unusual clinical, radiologic, atypical cytomorphologic, and histologic features. We describe a case of intrapulmonary SFT in which a false-positive malignant diagnosis was rendered on fine-needle aspiration biopsy and concurrent surgical core biopsy prior to radiofrequency ablation. The patient died of procedural complications, and an autopsy was performed. Retrospective study of the case, especially correlation of cytologic, histologic, autopsy findings, and immunohistochemistry results were helpful in correctly diagnosing the case as SFT. We are reporting this case with emphasis on avoiding diagnostic pitfalls by being familiar with the accepted cytohistologic features and appropriate immunohistochemical results. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2007;35:239–244. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Sample Size Estimation for Survival Outcomes in Cluster‐Randomized Studies with Small Cluster Sizes

Summary. We present a method for computing sample size for cluster-randomized studies involving a large number of clusters with relatively small numbers of observations within each cluster. For multivariate survival data, only the marginal bivariate distribution is assumed to be known. The validity of this assumption is also discussed.
Maternal-administered physical activity enhances bone mineral acquisition in premature very low birth weight infants.

To determine if physical activity delivered by an infant's mother would be as effective in promoting bone mineral acquisition in preterm very low birth weight (VLBW) infants as the same intervention administered by a trained therapist. Preterm VLBW infants were randomized to receive daily physical activity administered by the infant's mother (MOM, n=11) or a trained therapist (OT, n=11), or control (n=11). Physical activity consisted of range of motion movements against passive resistance to all extremities for 5 to 10 min daily. All infants were fed mother's milk with fortification to 24 kcal oz−1. Dual energy x-ray of the forearm bone area (BA, cm2), mineral content (BMC, g), and density (BMD, g/cm2) and measurement of bone formation (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, BAP) and resorption (urine pyridinium crosslinks of collagen, Pyd) were obtained at study entry and at 2.0 kg of body weight. Forearm BA and BMC gains were greater in MOM and OT infants compared to the control infants despite similar postnatal growth rate and nutrient intake. Serum BAP levels decreased in controls but remained unchanged in MOM and OT infants. Urine Pyd levels were similar at baseline to 2.0 kg for all groups. These findings suggest greater bone growth and mineral acquisition in MOM and OT infants than control infants. This study demonstrates that a physical activity program administered by the infant's own mother is as equally effective as therapist-administered physical activity in promoting greater bone growth and mineral acquisition in preterm VLBW infants.