cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combining genetic structure and demographic analyses to estimate persistence in endangered Key deer ( Odocoileus virginianus clavium )

Recent improvements in genetic analyses have paved the way in using molecular data to answer questions regarding evolutionary history, genetic structure, and demography. Key deer are a federally endangered subspecies assumed to be genetically unique, homogeneous, and have a female-biased population of approximately 900 deer. We used 985 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and 12 microsatellite loci to test two hypotheses: (1) that Key deer are isolated and have reduced diversity compared to mainland deer and (2) that isolation of the Florida Keys has led to a small population size and a high risk of extinction. Our results indicate that Key deer are indeed genetically isolated from mainland white-tailed deer and that there is a lack of genetic substructure between islands. While Key deer exhibit reduced levels of genetic diversity compared to their mainland counterparts, they contain enough diversity to uniquely identify individual deer. Based on genetic identification, we estimated a census size of around 1000 individuals with a heavily skewed female-biased adult sex ratio. Furthermore, our genetic and contemporary demographic data were used to generate a species persistence model of the Key deer. Sensitivity tests within the population viability analysis brought to light the importance of fetal sex ratio and female survival as the primary factors at risk of driving the subspecies to extinction. This study serves as a prime example of how persistence models can be used to evaluate population viability in natural populations of endangered organisms.
Eosinophilic Disorders: Differential Diagnosis and Management

Eosinophils serve a central function in the host defense against helminth infections and undergo recruitment and activation in allergic and inflammatory responses. However, as part of the immune system’s effort to maintain normal homeostasis, the potential for collateral tissue damage by eosinophils exists. This chapter focuses on the differential diagnosis and management of eosinophilic disorders, including reactive eosinophilias, primary/clonal eosinophilia, lymphocyte-variant hypereosinophilia, and idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). These entities share a common theme of abnormal persistent elevation of the eosinophil count, and although patients may remain asymptomatic from eosinophilia, the potential for substantial morbidity and mortality from organ complications exists. The study of pathologic hypereosinophilia originated in descriptive and morphologic investigations; however, with an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the cellular and molecular bases of these diseases, new biologically oriented classification schemes have now emerged which carry therapeutic implications.
Multiple identity resourcing in the creation of a coordinated system of care

While past research suggests that managing multiple organizational identities can have a wide-ranging and positive impact on the organization, little is known about the “work” involved in producing...
Edema Bullae Mimicking Disseminated Herpes Zoster

Edema bullae typically forms at the site of skin swelling during acute states of volume overload, most commonly during renal or cardiac failure. Herpes zoster is a reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus that typically presents as painful vesicles in a dermatomal distribution. In immunocompromised individuals, disseminated herpes zoster skin manifestations may occur with several lesions in multiple dermatomes or widespread individual lesions or both, even visceral organs can be involved. Additionally, many conditions are known to mimic the lesions and distribution of herpes zoster. A 53-year-old immunosuppressed male with a history of renal transplant presented with dermatomal and non-dermatomal, disseminated herpes zoster that was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction testing. After one week of intravenous antiviral therapy during which his virus infection-associated lesions were resolved, new blisters developed near the insertion site of a peripheral venous line located on a previously uninvolved yet swollen upper extremity. The varicella zoster virus disease was initially suspected, but lab studies and skin biopsy of a blister excluded progressive or persistent viral infection and established a diagnosis of acute edema bullae. The blisters resolved following removal of the peripheral catheter. Acute edema bullae should be added to the list of mimickers of disseminated varicella zoster virus infection.
Developmental song learning as a model to understand neural mechanisms that limit and promote the ability to learn.

Abstract Songbirds famously learn their vocalizations. Some species can learn continuously, others seasonally, and still others just once. The zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) learns to sing during a single developmental “Critical Period,” a restricted phase during which a specific experience has profound and permanent effects on brain function and behavioral patterns. The zebra finch can therefore provide fundamental insight into features that promote and limit the ability to acquire complex learned behaviors. For example, what properties permit the brain to come “on-line” for learning? How does experience become encoded to prevent future learning? What features define the brain in receptive compared to closed learning states? This piece will focus on epigenomic, genomic, and molecular levels of analysis that operate on the timescales of development and complex behavioral learning. Existing data will be discussed as they relate to Critical Period learning, and strategies for future studies to more directly address these questions will be considered. Birdsong learning is a powerful model for advancing knowledge of the biological intersections of maturation and experience. Lessons from its study not only have implications for understanding developmental song learning, but also broader questions of learning potential and the enduring effects of early life experience on neural systems and behavior.
Narrative Derived From Medical Student Reflection in Action: Lessons Learned and Implications for Assessment

What's New? A process and tool that prompts learners to think about and reflect on their clinical performance was implemented. Learner narrative reflections about their work and faculty feedback, both captured in the moment, provided data for decisions about level of performance in a competency-based assessment system.
Wandering Behaviors and Activities of Daily Living Among Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment

Purpose The aim of the study was to examine the characteristics of wandering associated with preserved versus worsened activities of daily living (ADL) function. Design Longitudinal prospective design. Twenty-two cognitively impaired residents of an assisted living facility with over 450 observations were followed up to 8 months. Methods Hierarchical linear modeling techniques examine how wandering activity (episodes, distance traveled, gait speed), measured by a real-time locating system, may affect ADL (the Barthel index, the Functional Independence Measure [FIM]). Findings Wandering episodes were associated with increased ADL (B = 0.11, p ≤ .05, FIM); wandering distance (B = -4.52, p ≤ .05, the Barthel index; B = -2.14, p ≤ .05, FIM) was associated with decreased ADL. Conclusion Walking an average of 0.81 miles per week with 18 or fewer wandering episodes is associated with decreased ability to perform ADL. Clinical relevance Tailored protocols that allow productive wandering with ongoing assessment for fatigue/other physiological needs to appropriately limit distance walked within wandering episodes are needed for this population.
The m.11778 A > G variant associated with the coexistence of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy and multiple sclerosis-like illness dysregulates the metabolic interplay between mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis.

Abstract Little is known about the molecular mechanism of the rare coexistence of Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) and multiple sclerosis (MS), also known as the Harding's syndrome. In this study, we provide novel evidence that the m.11778A > G variant causes a defective metabolic interplay between mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis. We used dermal fibroblasts derived from a female proband exhibiting clinical symptoms compatible with LHON-MS due to the presence of the pathogenic m.11778A > G variant at near homoplasmic levels. Our mitochondrial morphometric analysis reveals abnormal cristae architecture. Live-cell respiratory studies show stunted metabolic potential and spare respiratory capacity, vital for cell survival upon a sudden energy demand. The m.11778 A > G variant also alters glycolytic activities with a diminished compensatory glycolysis, thereby preventing an efficient metabolic reprogramming during a mitochondrial ATP crisis. Our collective results provide evidence of limited bioenergetic flexibility in the presence of the m.11778 A > G variant. Our study sheds light on the potential pathophysiologic mechanism of the m.11778 A > G variant leading to energy crisis in this patient with the LHON-MS disease.
The Micro Basis of the Meso and Macro Social Realms

For the last 50 years, sociological theory has been trying to “solve” the riddle of how to connect theoretically the micro and macro realms of social reality. For many years, I argued that this riddle would solve itself with the development of more formal theorizing across a wide variety of phenomena, ranging from face-to-face interaction through groups, communities, organizations, and social categories to institutions, class systems, societies and inter-societal systems. As I look back on the past four decades, the discipline has made enormous strides in theorizing virtually all phenomena in the social universe. Surprisingly, we continues to beat itself up over the lack of progress in explanatory theory but, in fact, there has been a great deal of theoretical cumulation since, say, the height of Parsonsian theorizing of the 1950s and early 1960s to the present. It is this cumulation that has given me the confidence (some would say “arrogance”) to write a set of volumes like Theoretical Principles of Sociology.
TeamLease: Putting India to Work (Il) Legally

This case focuses on the growth dilemmas facing Manish Sabharwal, Co-founder, TeamLease Services Pvt. Ltd. TeamLease is a Human Resource Outsourcing and Temp Staffing company located in India, which has grown rapidly over 2002 - 2009. Set in the context of the highly regulated Indian labour market, the case raises the questions of how entrepreneurial leadership and strategy formulation can leverage the opportunities represented by the gaps between what the law says and what the market needs. It provides an opportunity to examine the concept of power and influence and how it can be created and wielded to catalyze change and build a new industry which is technically illegal.
Occupational Cancer in Men Exposed to Metals

In this paper we shall investigate the incidence of cancer in men employed in occupations which expose them to metals or to metal compounds.
Follow-Up Studies of Schizoaffective Disorders: A Comparison with Affective Disorders

Kasanin (1933) coined the term “schizoaffective psychoses”to characterize a group of patients who presented a mixture of both affective and schizophrenic features, and described the disorder as having a rapid onset, precipitated by either chronic or acutely stressful life events. Kasanin further noted that the psychosis typically lasted for a short period of time — a few weeks to a few months — and a complete recovery was the rule rather than the exception.
Group-Wise consistent parcellation of gyri via adaptive multi-view spectral clustering of fiber shapes

In-vivo parcellation of the cerebral cortex via non-invasive neuroimaging data has been in active research for years. A variety of model-driven and/or data-driven computational approaches have been proposed to parcellate the cortex. However, two fundamental common issues in these parcellation methodologies are the features or attributes used to define boundaries between cortical regions and the establishment of correspondences of the parcellated regions across different brains. This paper uses a novel DTI-derived fiber shape feature for the parcellation of cortical gyrus into fine-granularity segments. The gyral parcellation is formulated and solved as a surface vertex clustering problem, in which fiber shape feature similarity is used to define the distances between vertices. Then, we designed and applied a novel multi-view spectral clustering algorithm to group the vertices into group-wise consistent gyral segments across different brains. The experimental results showed that the precentral and postcentral gyrus, as two test-beds, can be consistently parcellated into 10 segments on both hemispheres across different subjects. Evaluation studies using benchmark task-based fMRI and cortical landmarks demonstrated the effectiveness and validity of the proposed methods.
Housing viable populations in protected habitats: The value of a coarse-grained geographic analysis of density patterns and available habitat

While a multi-disciplined approach is necessary to restore or protect threatened populations, it is difficult to achieve. This is especially true for mammalian carnivores. Considerable attention is payed to small population requirements for maintaining natural variation and obtaining genetic and demographic viability. There are several subject areas we stress as being crucial to conservation of species such as for carnivores. We stress three of these in this manuscript: 1) Use of space (species’ large and small-scale area requirements for viable populations) 2) Habitat capacity for protection (Consequences of habitat fragmentation, including within reserves) and 3) Extinction trajectories and density patterns that influence and are effected by population dynamics. We conclude by stating some changes in the breath of planning that would assist in future conservation efforts of species such as for our case example, the mammalian carnivores.
Experiments in inkjet colour tests for printmaking

The motivation for this research is based on how artists mix and print colour by traditional means (painting and printmaking) and how these differ from colour picker tools, slider bars and methods developed for digital printing, and whether it is possible to incorporate both? Artists have been expert at mixing colour for centuries, yet although the artist and designer has access to a wide range of digital imaging tools and technologies, that on first glance, are dedicated to the creation of colour mixtures, the resulting colours are often disappointing. It appears that hardware, software tools and methods for digital printing are not necessarily suited to the specific requirements of the artist. In fact, they are too generalised to obtain a high degree of quality and too inflexible to allow artists to obtain precision and predictability. Based on existing hardware and software, the paper suggests alternative approaches to custom colour ink mixing and printing. Through the development of alternative ink colours specifically mixed for inkjet printing the paper demonstrates specially designed charts for printing and double printing of custom mixed inks.
Park Chung Hee and Modern Korea: The Roots of Militarism, 1866–1945. By Carter J. Eckert. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2016. Pp. 472. $39.95.)

Both admirers and critics would agree that Park Chung Hee was instrumental to South Korea's developmental success. However, there exists relatively little scholarship on the matter, other than pers...
Does Democracy Entail an Obligation to Make Rational Policy Decisions? The Muddling Through vs. Bounded Rationality Debate Through a Lockean and Madisonian Lens

The election of Donald Trump in 2016 has renewed concerns about nonrational decision making in American government. One view of the decision-making process, bounded rationality, is that decisions b...
Parallel Wideband MLFMA for Analysis of Electrically Large, Nonuniform, Multiscale Structures

Electromagnetic scattering from electrically large objects with multiscale features is an increasingly important problem in computational electromagnetics. A conventional approach is to use an integral equation-based solver that is then augmented with an accelerator, a popular choice being a parallel multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA). One consequence of multiscale features is locally dense discretization, which leads to low-frequency breakdown and requires nonuniform trees. To the authors’ knowledge, the literature on parallel MLFMA for such multiscale distributions capable of arbitrary accuracy is sparse; this paper aims to fill this niche. We prescribe an algorithm that overcomes this bottleneck. We demonstrate the accuracy (with respect to analytical data) and performance of the algorithm for both PEC scatterers and point clouds as large as $755{\lambda }$ with several hundred million unknowns and nonuniform trees as deep as 16 levels.
A Reproductive Histological Analysis of Rangia cuneata (Venerida: Mactridae): Effects of Abiotic Factors

Understanding the relative times of gametogenesis and spawning of gametes in bivalves provides crucial insight on how a species may be influenced by environmental factors, in addition to the potential impacts a species of bivalve has on the ecosystem as a whole. The focus of this study was on gametogenesis and times of spawning in Rangia cuneata (G. B. Sowerby I, 1831), an infaunal estuarine bivalve inhabiting Johnson Bayou, Pass Christian, MS, and how salinity gradients may influence spawning. Specimens were collected monthly in 2016 from three sites along an established salinity gradient (0–16 ppt) within Johnson Bayou. Using standard histological methods and a quantitative method to estimate both the abundance of gametes and spawning times, this study showed that over the course of one year the rate of gametogenesis and times of spawning differed among sites. Clams of both sexes in the site closest to the opening of the bayou (lower site) produced gametes and spawned earlier (June) than those collected from the middle and upper sites (October–November). Interestingly, two separate spawning events are likely to have occurred by clams collected from the lower and middle sites. There was a positive correlation between increasing water temperature and mean percent gonadal tissue in all sites with a significant correlation at the middle and upper sites. In contrast, no correlation was found between salinity levels and mean percent gonadal tissue in clams from the lower site, while a weak positive but non-significant correlation was seen with clams from the middle and upper sites. There was a weak negative correlation between salinity levels and mean percentage of ripe gametes from the lower and middle sites, but a weak positive correlation from the upper site. The results indicate that the same species can vary the amount of gametes and spawning times in the same estuarine system, presumably due to the effects of abiotic factors, namely water temperature and salinity.
Additive manufacturing and characterization of brittle foams

Abstract This work focuses on the synthesis of brittle foams with controlled morphological characteristics, measurements of their crushing strength and its connection to the cellular microstructure. Tessellation-based topologies are used to generate realistic microstructures of open-cell foams that are subsequently 3D-printed by stereolithography. The brittle material behavior and fracture strength of the base photopolymer are measured using tensile tests on small dog-bone specimens with the dimensions of foam ligaments. Synthesized foams are scanned by microcomputed tomography and manufacturing-induced variations are quantified through image analysis. Characterization shows that there is a small amount of volume shrinkage of the material caused by the additive manufacturing process, but all other microstructural features are accurately reproduced. We then perform a series of experiments to measure the compressive response and strength of the 3D-printed foams and connect it to load-transferring conditions, the strength of the base solid material and the foam relative density.
Characterization of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) using patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and quantitative sensory testing (QST).

e24078Background: CIPN is a common, potentially debilitating, and dose-limiting side effect experienced by cancer survivors. CIPN encompasses symptoms such as pain, numbness, and tingling, which ca...
Management of Immune Compromised Transplant and Immune Effector Cell Treated Patients in the Setting of the COVID-19 Viral Pandemic: The OHSU Experience

The year 2020 is unlike any other in our lifetime. The world is currently experiencing a viral pandemic with the COVID-19 virus that has infected millions of people with a mortality in the hundreds of thousands. Immune-suppressed patients are among the group of people at a higher risk of mortality due to this virus. Therefore, the practice of hematopoietic cell transplant and cellular therapy has had to evolve to best protect patients, caregivers, and hospital staff. These changes affect all aspects of the transplant process from patient selection, donor product acquisition, inpatient/outpatient management, and research efforts.
Effective Reduction of Cement Content in Pavement Concrete Mixtures Based on Theoretical and Experimental Particle Packing Methods

AbstractThe effective reduction of cement content in pavement concrete without compromising its fresh, mechanical, and durability properties can lead to more economical and sustainable pavement eng...
Urban pocket-beach morphodynamics along the wave-dominated southwest coast of Lake Michigan: An analysis of shoreline and sand volumetric changes

Abstract Many of the world’s beaches are embayed, but while a large body of work addresses the geomorphology of pocket beaches in oceanic settings, little is known about urban analogs, especially within the Great Lakes of North America. Groins and jetties shelter these systems from direct interaction with littoral processes, which elsewhere can influence how changes in lake level, winter-ice cover, and wave climate impact beach evolution. We address the direct controls of these forcing parameters on beach morphodynamics over a 33-yr period at North Point Beach, which is confined to an engineered ‘container’ along Lake Michigan’s wave-dominated SW margin. Analysis of near-annual beach change suggests lake-level change is the dominant geomorphic driver over inter-annual to decadal timeframes, with winter ice playing a secondary role. Pocket-beach shoreline positions were found to be unreliable indicators of sand volumetric changes. Lake-level rise facilitated shoreline retreat and overwash-induced beach accretion while high lake levels created the accommodation for additional sands to enter the embayment. This is important for coastal managers to consider when developing mitigation strategies for ongoing lake-level fluctuations and anticipated regional climate impacts. This foundational assessment has implications for embayed beaches of the greater Chicago coastal margin (n > 20), where many other site-specific variables (e.g., groin orientations and shoreline aspect) may factor into nearshore and onshore beach morphodynamics. Continued research into urban pocket beaches of the Great Lakes stands to offer useful information on the impacts of littoral fragmentation on coastal sediment routing during different lake-level phases and degrees of littoral interconnectivity.
Ultrastructure of thermophilic fungi: II. Ascus and ascospore development in Thermoascus aurantiacus

The subcellular events of ascosporogenesis in the thermophile Thermoascus aurantiacus were similar to those described for other mesophilic Ascomycotina. Asci arose singly from croziers formed by ascogenous hyphae which ramified irregularly throughout the central cavities of cleistothecia. Ascospores were delimited by the progressive invagination of a pair of unit membranes. Cell-wall formation took place between these ascospore-delimiting membranes and consisted of an electron-transparent endospore and an electron-dense epispore. At ascospore maturity, the asci underwent lysis, thereby releasing their ascospores into the central cavity of the cleistothecia.
Growth of biaxially textured BaxPb1–xTiO3 ferroelectric thin films on amorphous Si3N4

We prepared highly aligned, biaxially textured BaxPb1–xTiO3 (PBT) on amorphous Si3N4 by using an ion-beam-assisted deposited MgO as a template layer. PBT was deposited on a biaxially textured MgO using sol-gel synthesis, metal-organic chemical-vapor deposition, and molecular beam epitaxy. The biaxial texture of the PBT was inherited from the MgO template. The reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and cross-section transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiments suggest that exposure of the MgO template to atmospheric moisture before PBT heteroepitaxy resulted in a significant narrowing of the PBT in-plane orientation distribution. The microstructures of the biaxially textured PBT films were analyzed by x-ray diffraction, RHEED, and TEM. The dynamic contact mode electrostatic force microscopy polarization hysteresis loops confirmed that these films are ferroelectric.
Are Educational Vouchers Only Redistributive

It is unclear if vouchers increase educational productivity or are purely redistributive, benefiting recipients by giving them access to more desirable peers at others’ expense. To examine this, we study an educational voucher programme in Colombia which allocated vouchers by lottery. Among voucher applicants to vocational schools, lottery winners were less likely to attend academic secondary schools and thus had peers with less desirable observable characteristics. Despite this, lottery winners had better educational outcomes. In this population, vouchers improved educational outcomes through channels beyond redistribution of desirable peers. We discuss potential channels which may explain the observed effects.
Amino Acid Substitutions: Effects on Protein Stability

The ability of a protein to function in its biochemical role(s) is determined by its geometry, which in turn is determined by the amino acid sequence and the environment. Amino acid mutations affect the thermodynamics of folding and their effects can be investigated experimentally by such techniques as site-specific mutation, random point mutations and shuffling. Keywords: protein stability; folding free energy; solvation; electrostatic interactions; site-specific mutagenesis; random mutations
Dynamic self-assembly of magnetized, millimetre-sized objects rotating at a liquid–air interface

Spontaneous pattern formation by self-assembly is of long-standing and continuing interest not only for its aesthetic appeal, but also for its fundamental and technological relevance. So far, the study of self-organization processes has mainly focused on static structures, but dynamic systems--those that develop order only when dissipating energy--are of particular interest for studying complex behaviour. Here we describe the formation of dynamic patterns of millimetre-sized magnetic disks at a liquid-air interface, subject to a magnetic field produced by a rotating permanent magnet. The disks spin around their axes with angular frequency equal to that of the magnet, and are attracted towards its axis of rotation while repelling each other. This repulsive hydrodynamic interaction is due to fluid motion associated with spinning; the interplay between attractive and repulsive interactions leads to the formation of patterns exhibiting various types of ordering, some of which are entirely new. This versatile system should lead to a better understanding of dynamic self-assembly, while providing a test-bed for stability theories of interacting point vortices and vortex patches.
Sequential synthesis for table look up PGAs

The algorithms for synthesis onto programmable gate arrays (PGAs) have so far addressed only the combinational logic problem. The authors present two algorithms for mapping a sequential circuit onto a specific table look up architecture, namely the Xilinx 3090 architecture. The first algorithm maps combinational and sequential elements simultaneously. In the second, combinational elements are mapped first, followed by the sequential elements. The combinational synthesis techniques are used to solve the sequential synthesis problem. >
Planetary nebulae in galaxies beyond the Local Group.

Planetary nebulae can be used to estimate the distances to galaxies and to measure stellar dynamics in faint halos. We discuss surveys which have netted a total of 665 candidate planetary nebulae in NGC 5128 (Cen A), NGC 5102, NGC 3031 (M81), NGC 3115, three galaxies in the Leo Group (NGC 3379, NGC 3384, NGC 3377), NGC 5866, and finally, in NGC 4486 (M87). Radial velocities of planetaries in M32 have shown that its halo velocity dispersion is most likely isotropic. Radial velocities of planetaries in M31 show that ~ 2/3 of the nebulae with projected radii between 15 and 30 kpc are members of a rotating thick disk with slight asymmetric drift, while ~ 1/3 belong to a slowly rotating halo. Velocities of 116 nebulae in NGC 5128 reveal pronounced rotation and a slowly declining velocity dispersion in the halo out to 20 kpc. The [0 III] λ5007 luminosity functions (PNLFs) in NGC 5128, M81, and the three Leo Galaxies have the same shape over the first magnitude. The highly consistent distances derived from the brightnesses of the j th nebula and the median nebula in different fields in the same galaxy and from different galaxies in the same group lend strong support to the suggestion that planetaries are an accurate standard candle in old stellar populations. Comparison of theoretical luminosity functions to the observed PNLFs shows that there is a very small dispersion in the central star masses.
PIPCIRs—Polynomials Whose Inflection Points Coincide with Their Interior Roots

(2000). PIPCIRs—Polynomials Whose Inflection Points Coincide with Their Interior Roots. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 73, No. 4, pp. 285-292.
The synthetic pentasaccharide fondaparinux reduces coagulation, inflammation and neutrophil accumulation in kidney ischemia–reperfusion injury

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is associated with activation of coagulation and inflammation. Interestingly, various anticoagulants have been shown to reduce both coagulation and inflammation in animal models of kidney I/R injury. Fondaparinux is a synthetic pentasaccharide that selectively inhibits factor Xa (FXa) in the coagulation cascade. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fondaparinux in a lethal murine model of kidney I/R injury. A murine model of kidney I/R was established. In this model, we measured activation of the coagulation cascade and induction of inflammation. Administration of fondaparinux to I/R-injured mice reduced fibrin deposition in the kidney, reduced serum creatinine levels and increased survival from 0 to 44% compared with saline-treated control mice. Fondaparinux also reduced interleukin-6 and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 expression and decreased neutrophil accumulation in the injured kidneys. Finally, we showed that fondaparinux reduced thioglycollate-induced recruitment of neutrophils into the peritoneum and inhibited the binding of U937 cells to P-selectin in vitro. Our data suggest that fondaparinux reduces kidney I/R injury primarily by inhibiting the recruitment of neutrophils.
Large Scale Discrete Element Modeling of Vehicle-Soil Interaction

This paper describes the current work on a large deformation soil model to demonstrate the feasibility of particle models to simulate full-scale vehicle-soil interaction problems in which the soil undergoes large excavation-like deformation. To achieve this objective, boundary conditions that accurately represent the vehicle geometry had to be incorporated into a 3D discrete element model. The approach taken was to use a finite-element grid to model the vehicle component interacting with the soil and develop routines to model the particle-grid interactions. The particle-grid interactions were more complicated than the particle-particle interactions required for the soil simulations and pose the greatest challenge to the use of computational parallelism. Two examples are presented in which vehicle components are modeled by finite elements that interact with 10 million discrete soil elements. Important theoretical issues are briefly noted concerning mechanics of granular media that are critical to acceptance of the nascent discrete element modeling technology.
Control of selection bias in parallel-group controlled clinical trials in dogs and cats: 97 trials (2000–2005)

Objective—To determine how selection bias (allocation bias) was controlled in published clinical trials. Design—Retrospective study. Sample Population—97 parallel-group controlled clinical trials published from January 2000 through December 2005 in 12 peer-reviewed journals. Procedures—Journals were hand searched to identify eligible reports. Details concerning allocation of animals to study groups, baseline characteristics of the groups, and the number of animals allocated to each group were recorded. Results—Randomization was the stated method of allocating animals to groups in 87% of the reports, yet in only 11% of reports were both randomization of the group allocation process and concealment of the allocation sequence described. Studies reported as randomized were more likely to report baseline characteristics of the study groups for comparison than studies that did not report randomization (88% vs 54%). Studies in which baseline group characteristics were reported had more subjects allocated to each...
An intramolecular 4+3 cycloaddition-vinylogous grob fragmentation route to a tricyclo[6.3.0.02,4] undecene ring system

Abstract Solvolysis of chloroketone 6 in 3M LiClO 4 in ether in the presence of base gave cycloadduct 2a stereoselectively and in good yield. This cycloadduct could be further transformed via a vinylogous Grob fragmentation to the tricyclo[6.3.0.0 2,4 ] undecene ring system 10 in good yield.
A Conceptual Framework for a Clinical Nurse Leader Program

Developing a map to guide the design of a novel educational program for nursing students can assist educators in piecing together identified conceptual variables in a logical and reasonable manner. We developed a conceptual model for a clinical nurse leader (CNL) program to present to a school of nursing faculty and a state board of nursing for approval and adoption. The concept map was created following a literature review and analysis of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing description of the CNL. Following the identification of certain variables, such as theories underpinning nursing practice, clinical processes, and education, each team member researched identified variables of the conceptual diagram, wrote a thoughtful explanation of the components, and frequently met with the others to discuss each element of the model and the relationships among the variables. Over time, an emerging model developed and was adopted by the school of nursing and approved by the state board of nursing. An explanation of the components of the conceptual framework and their relationship to the CNL role may assist educators in developing and implementing other emerging CNL programs.
A NOTE ON INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES AND THE GRADUATED CORPORATE TAX

RECENT concern for the condition of small business enterprise has led to a number of suggestions to revise tax laws, federal procurement policies, antitrust measures, financial or credit aids, and other governmental measures so as "to widen the opportunities for small business."' In taxation this interest brought forth five similar legislative proposals in 1956 to modify the corporate income, tax. The House proposal, H.R. 9067, a measure providing for moderate graduation of the tax, differs most from the present tax law.2 This bill or a similar one is almost certain to be introduced in the present Congress and, if made law, would have pervasive effects on business organization, economic incentives, and the structure of investmnent. It is the purpose of this brief note to anticipate some of the probable consequences of the proposal particularly with respect to investment activities and economic growth. The proposed tax law would, for example, alter the advantages to sellers and buyers in merging operations. Tax rates under recent laws apparently have been major factors for sellers of firms in merging operations more often than for buying firms.3 Potential selling firms with
The behavior and vestibular nuclear morphology of otoconia-deficient pallid mutant mice.

Pallid mutant mice with no otoconia in their gravity receptors were behaviorally tested and their vestibular nuclei measured to determine if this developmental sensory deprivation had any detrimental effect on central vestibular structure and function. This absence of otoconia was correlated with disorientation in water and absence of air righting reflexes. The inferior and superior vestibular nuclei were smaller than normal, but neurons within regions that receive direct gravity receptor input were smaller only unilaterally in medial vestibular nucleus. It was tentatively concluded that the sensory deprivation resulting from reduced gravity receptor input was responsible for the behavioral and central morophological abnormalities.
Contrast Effects in Performance Evaluation and Reward Practices

The present study investigated whether a contrast effect was operating in making judgments about and issuing rewards to engineers and scientists. It was found that the greater the proportion of uns...
Note on Nuclear Photoeffect at High Energies

In I we consider nuclear transmutations when the energy is so high that the levels of the compound nuclei formed have a spacing smaller than their breadth, and investigate the relations between the cross sections for the various possible reactions and the decay constants characteristic of the compound nuclei. When the collision may be treated as a resonance effect, these relations take a simple form. In II we apply these considerations to the photoelectric disintegration of nuclei of intermediate atomic weight by 17 Mev $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-rays, and suggest that the yields should show a marked increase for $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-rays of somewhat lower energy. In III we study the formal connection between the evaluation of transmutation probabilities here given and the resonance formulae appropriate for lower excitation energies, and show that both descriptions may be derived as limiting cases from the same formalism.
Effect of donor-recipient size mismatch on left ventricular remodeling after pediatric orthotopic heart transplantation.

Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy has been reported after orthotopic heart transplantation. This study was designed to determine the pattern of LV remodeling in the first year after pediatric orthotopic heart transplantation and to elucidate the mechanism responsible for changes in LV dimensions. Serial echocardiograms of 20 children who underwent cardiac transplantation were analyzed off-line, and the following LV parameters were measured and indexed to body surface area (BSA): short-axis diameters, posterior wall thickness, length, mass, and volume in systole and diastole. Mass/ volume and short-axis diameter/length ratios and ejection fraction were calculated. In 5 patients, the donor's echocardiogram was also available for analysis. The patient's systemic blood pressure at the time of the echocardiogram, ischemic time of the donor heart, number of rejection episodes, biopsy scores, and body size of the donor and patient were recorded. Patients were assigned to 2 groups based on their donor-recipient weight ratio: group 1, ≤1.2 (n = 9); and group 2, >1.2 (n = 11). In group 1, LV mass index remained within normal limits throughout the study period. In group 2, mass index was significantly increased 2 weeks after transplantation (72 ± 24 vs 133 ± 37 g/BSA1.5, p = 0.0008). LV volume, geometry, ejection fraction, systemic blood pressure, and number of rejection episodes did not differ significantly between groups. The excess LV mass index in group 2 regressed significantly during the first year after transplantation from 133 ± 37 to 93 ± 17 g/BSA1.5 (p < 0.005). Similarly, LV mass/volume ratio decreased from 2.4 ± 0.9 to 1.5 ± 0.4 (p < 0.02). The degree of initial LV hypertrophy in group 2 correlated with the degree of donor-recipient size mismatch (r = 0.86, p < 0.0001). This correlation persisted at 6 months after transplantation (r = 0.72, p = 0.0015), but was not present at 12 months. The initial LV mass in group 2 was significantly smaller when indexed to the donor's BSA (Z score = 2.0 ± 1.8 SD) than when indexed to the recipient's BSA (Z score = 6.9 ± 3.3 SD, p = 0.0008). There was no significant difference between LV mass measured in the donor before transplantation and the mass measured in the recipient 2 weeks after transplantation. These results indicate that increased LV mass found immediately after transplantation can largely be accounted for by donor-recipient size mismatch. In patients with LV hypertrophy, the left ventricle remodels during the first year after transplantation, with regression of excess mass and a decrease in mass/volume ratio toward the normal range.
Library Informational Technology Workers: Their Sense of Belonging, Role, Job Autonomy and Job Satisfaction

This study examines the characteristics of library information technology (IT) workers using a mail survey. The IT workers showed a moderate level of a sense of belonging, playing the broker's role, job autonomy, and job satisfaction. There were differences between librarian IT workers and non-librarian IT workers regarding most of these characteristics.
Diethyl 4-(biphenyl-4-yl)-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-di-hydro-pyridine-3,5-di-carboxyl-ate.

The title compound, C25H27NO4, has a flattened di­hydro­pyridine ring. The benzene and phenyl rings are synclinal to one another, forming a dihedral angle of 49.82 (8)°; the axis of the biphenyl rings makes an 81.05 (9)° angle to the plane of the di­hydro­pyridine ring. In the crystal, N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into chain motifs running along the a-axis direction. The chains are cross-linked by C—H⋯O inter­actions, forming sheet motifs running slightly off the (110) plane, together with an intermolecular interaction between head-to tail biphenyl groups, thus making the whole crystal packing a three-dimensional network. Intra­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds are also observed.
CALYPTRIDIUM PARRYI VAR. MARTIRENSE (MONTIACEAE), A NEW TAXON ENDEMIC TO THE SIERRA DE SAN PEDRO MARTIR, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO

Abstract Calyptridium parryi var. martirense is described as new. Here we present quantitative measurements and statistical analyses of a number of morphological features that demonstrate the distinctiveness of this new taxon. The new variety differs from the others in having shorter fruits (3.1–4.1 mm) and a correspondingly smaller fruit length to sepal length ratio (1.0–1.4). The capsule is also the widest (1.4–2.2 mm) and the sepals the longest (2.4–3.9 mm) of any other C. parryi variety. Calyptridium parryi var. martirense is currently known only from high elevation locations (1900–2630 m) in the Sierra de San Pedro Martir, Baja California, Mexico.
Calibration techniques for high flux x-ray detectors

A system is described for calibrating high flux (1011 W) x-ray detectors using moderate flux (10-4 W) synchrotron and low flux (10-7 W) conventional x-ray producing machines. The detectors have been designed for output currents of one milliampere to 100 amperes which results in output currents during calibration of approximately 10-16 to 10-12 amperes. The small calibration output currents led to the development of statistical methods to reduce the calibration measurement errors to acceptable levels. A personal computer is used to acquire, analyze, store, and display the calibration data in real time to allow the scientist to explore and correct the calibration technique or eliminate external noise sources.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Ultrastructural changes in the rat kidney following fetal exposure to ethanol

Abstract Previous studies have implicated renal ultrastructural abnormalities in the pathogenesis of tubular dysfunction in fetal alcohol syndrome. Scanning electron microscopic studies were performed to examine the role of glomerular and tubular structural changes in this syndrome. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a liquid diet in which ethanol constituted 35% of the total calori content or pair-fed an isocaloric control diet from gestational day 8 to the day of birth. After delivery, offspring were housed with the dam and left undisturbed until 18 days of age when they were weaned and given free access to standard chow diet and water. At random, kidneys from 11 offspring of ethanol-fed (E) rats and 7 pair-fed control (C) rats were fixed by in vivo retrograde perfusion at 90 days of age for ultrastructural studies. The E rats showed cytoplasmic mitochondrial atrophy and vacuolar structures of the epithelial cells of the distal tubules and collecting ducts not seen in C rats. No obvious difference was found in the glomerular, proximal tubule, or loop of Henle architecture between the two groups. These findings suggest that rats prenatally exposed to ethanol have renal ultrastructural abnormalities that may be important in the genesis of functional disturbances.
Personal photo album summarization

Photo album summarization is the process of selecting a subset of photos from a larger collection which best preserves the information in the entire set and is semantically coherent. In this paper we propose a system which uses heterogeneous information sources associated with digital photos and generates a summary. Our algorithm adapts itself based on the type of event it is summarizing (Yearbook, Week or Single Day Event) We model the summarization problem as a retrieval problem based on different types of queries. We propose some evaluation metrics for the summary. We use an intuitive web based interface to present the results so that users can further explore the summary in an interactive way. This system is our submission to the CeWe Challenge for the Next Generation of Tangible Multimedia Products.
Random walk in a quasicontinuum

A continuous-time random walk on a spatial lattice described by the Kramers-Moyal expansion has a continuum limit described by a Fokker-Planck equation. It is often desirable to know corrections to quantities computed in the continuum limit, but truncation of the Kramers-Moyal expansion at any level other than the Fokker-Planck either breaks down or yields unphysical results. Here we introduce an alternative approximation to the Kramers-Moyal expansion which circumvents the problems of a naive truncation and correctly incorporates the first-order corrections due to the discrete lattice.