cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The new nuts and bolts of auditing: Technological innovation in inventorying inventory

Abstract The case explores the regulatory and technical guidance related to auditing inventories and asks you to leverage technology by utilizing automated systems to aid in the traditional count of inventory. You are asked to assess management’s assertions related to quantities of inventory on hand in both a manual and computerized context. Specifically, you are asked to perform a count of inventory as part of the audit of a retail automotive parts company. As part of the audit, you are introduced to automated counting software, which aids in the audit of inventory. The use of such software can improve the accuracy of inventory counts, increase the timeliness of reporting, increase efficiency in fieldwork, decrease travel demands and disruption to the auditee, and, lastly, provide more documentation and audit evidence. You are also introduced to machine learning, the related deficiencies, and the need to exercise professional judgment to identify software mistakes that result in over and undercounting items, further emphasizing the need for subsequent review in the audit process.
Fragmented Nation or the Anglophone-Francophone Problem in Cameroon

Cameroon, like many nations born out of the ashes of colonial territories, is a fragmented nation. The colonial powers coerced ethnic groups into territories that would become fragile nations after...
ADIABATIC INVARIANTS FOR LINEAR HAMILTONIAN SYSTEMS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses adiabatic invariants for linear Hamiltonian systems. n-independent adiabatic invariants in involution are found for a slowly varying linear Hamiltonian system of n degrees of freedom. The system considered is ɛu = A(t)u, where A(t) is a 2n × 2n real Hamiltonian matrix with distinct, pure imaginary eigenvalues.
Physics-Based Approach for a Neural Networks Enabled Design of All-Dielectric Metasurfaces

Machine learning methods have found novel application areas in various disciplines as they offer low computational cost solutions to complex problems. Recently, metasurface design has joined these ...
The Effect of Travel Distance on Outcomes for Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty at a High-Volume Center.

Abstract Background Patients are increasingly traveling greater distances to receive care at high-volume centers. The effect of travel distance on patient-reported outcomes after hip resurfacing arthroplasty has not been described. Methods Patients undergoing HRA by a single surgeon from January 2007 to April 2018 with minimum 2-year follow-up were reviewed retrospectively. Five hundred ninety-nine patients were identified and divided into 2 cohorts: home-to-hospital distance >100 miles and ≤100 miles from our institution. Preoperative and 2-year postoperative patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were assessed, including the modified Harris Hip Score and Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for each PROM was calculated using the distribution-based method. Chi-square tests were used for univariate comparison. Poisson regressions controlling for demographic variables were performed to determine the effect of travel distance on whether patients achieved the MCID. Multivariate linear regressions were used to determine association between distance and improvement in PROMs. Results A total of 599 patients met criteria for inclusion. There were 113 (18.9%) with a home-to-hospital distance >100 miles and 486 (81.1%) with distance ≤100 miles. Age was the only demographic factor different between these groups (mean: 1.1-year difference, P Conclusions Travel distance to a high-volume center did not affect 2-year patient-reported outcomes or rate of achieving the MCID in patients undergoing hip resurfacing arthroplasty.
Early Outcomes After Surgical Management of Geriatric Patella Fractures.

Objectives:To report the incidence and risk factors for prolonged hospitalization, discharge to a facility, and postoperative complications in geriatric patients who underwent surgery for patella f...
When Do Children Avoid Infection Risks: Lessons for Re-Opening Schools During the COVID-19 Pandemic (preprint)

One of the most challenging disruptions that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to our daily lives has been the physical closing of many schools, forcing children to navigate online learning and forcing parents to juggle full-time childcare with their own full-time jobs. Not surprisingly, there have been frequent discussions between about the need to re-open in-person classroom learning for all children this fall. However, while the success of the vaccine roll-out means that many adults will have been immunized by the 2021-2022 school year, no vaccines have yet been approved for children younger than 12 years of age (and even immediate approvals for children 12 to 16 years of age are unlikely to result in mass coverage by fall). This poses some serious public health questions about the risks to children and the greater risk to society posed by gathering a potential reservoir for infection. The best protective measures we will have for young children this fall will still be behaviors that limit potential spread, such as handwashing and mask wearing. It is therefore critical that we understand how we can ask children to engage in these behaviors in age-appropriate ways that will empower rather than scare them and improve the chances that they will adhere to protocols most effectively. Here, we review recent empirical studies that investigate the earliest ages at which children form an understanding of infection risk and most importantly, when they can translate that understanding effectively to protective action.
Prospect Theory and Its Applications in Travel Behavior Research

Prospect theory provides a theoretical basis for the study of decision behavior under uncertainty. In reality, it is difficult for travelers’ decisions and behaviors to be completely rational and based on utility maximization, and in recent years, some researchers have attempted to use prospect theory for travel behavior analysis and modeling and have made some research progress. This paper first elaborates the basic framework and main contents of prospect theory, then analyzes the applicability of prospect theory in travel behavior research by reviewing related research. For specific travel behavior research, the application of prospect theory not only needs to consider the nature of the decision problem, but also to see the personality characteristics of the traveler.
The Geographic Foundations of Industrial Performance

The question of economic geography and industrial performance is broached by noting that the modern world economy is in part made up of a mosaic of interdependent regional production systems. I des...
Banning Foreign Pharmacies from Sponsored Search: The Online Consumer Response

Increased competition from the Internet has raised a concern of product quality for online prescription drugs. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prohibits the importation of unapproved drugs into the US and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) emphasizes their illegality and cites examples of unsafe drugs from rogue pharmacies. An investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed that Google was allowing unapproved Canadian pharmacies to advertise on their search engine and target US consumers. Because of heightened concern to protect consumers, Google agreed to ban non-NABP-certified pharmacies from their sponsored search listings in February 2010 and settled with the DOJ in August 2011. We study how the ban on non-NABP-certified pharmacies from sponsored search listings affects consumer search on the Internet.Using click-through data from comScore, we find that non-NABP-certified pharmacies receive fewer clicks after the ban, and this effect is heterogeneous. In particular, pharmacies not certified by the NABP, but certified by other sources (other-certified sites), experience a reduction in total clicks, and some of their lost paid clicks are replaced by organic clicks. These effects do not change significantly after the DOJ settlement. In contrast, pharmacies not certified by any of the four major certification agencies suffer a greater reduction in both paid and organic clicks, and the reduction was exacerbated after the DOJ settlement. These results suggest that the ban has increased the search cost for other-certified sites, but at least some consumers overcome the search cost by switching from paid to organic links. In addition to search cost, the ban may have increased concerns for uncertified sites and discouraged consumers from reaching them via both paid and organic links.
Characterization of a Novel Glycoprotein Isolated from the Basement Membrane Matrix of the Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm Tumor

A previously undescribed protein has been isolated and purified from the extracellular matrix of the Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) tumor, a murine tumor that synthesizes an extensive matrix composed of basement membrane molecules. Molecular characterization of the molecule determined that it is a glycoprotein with internal disulfide bonds and an isoelectric point of 6.0. Electrophoretic mobility on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the glycoprotein migrated as a diffuse band with a molecular weight of approximately 72,000-80,000. The amino acid composition was significantly different from known basement membrane components. Polyclonal antibodies that specifically recognize the glycoprotein localized it to the kidney glomerular basement membrane. These antibodies did not cross-react with either known basement membrane components (laminin, type IV collagen, and heparan sulfate proteoglycan), with 70K "culture shock" protein or with components of normal mouse serum (including mouse transferrin, albumin, or alpha-fetoprotein), when analyzed by "Western" immunoblots. Our data indicate that the glycoprotein is synthesized by the EHS tumor cells and is present at relatively high levels in the EHS tumor matrix.
The Effects of Wetland Mitigation Banking on People

In the decade since the Corps of Engineers (Corps) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially blessed wetland mitigation banking for purposes of satisfying mitigation requirements under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), the practice has fueled an ongoing debate about its pros and cons. For the most part, however, the debate has focused on the relative advantages and disadvantages of banking programs in terms of administrative efficiency and ecological impact, with little attention being paid to the effects of wetland mitigation banking on people. This article presents the first comprehensive empirical study of the demographics of wetland mitigation banking, revealing what has long been suspected - that banking facilitates the redistribution of wetland resources from urban to rural areas, taking with them the important ecosystem service values wetlands provide to human communities.After an overview of the economic service values wetlands provide, the structural biases inherent in the wetland mitigation banking program, and the lack of information about the effects of wetland banking in general, we present the results of an empirical study of 24 wetland mitigation banks in Florida accounting for over 95 percent of all bank activity. By comparing the demographic attributes of the area around each bank to the areas around the development projects that purchase mitigation bank credits to satisfy their mitigation requirements, we show that the loss of wetland resources is concentrated in urban areas, whereas the compensatory mitigation provided by wetland banks is concentrated in rural areas, and that the composition of the project area and bank area populations is significantly different. We examine the policy implications of this effect and suggest several steps that can be taken to better understand and respond to its impact on the distribution of ecosystem services associated with wetland resources.
Tunneling descent level set segmentation of ultrasound images

The presence of speckle in ultrasound images causes many spurious local minima in the energy function of active contours. These minima trap the segmentation prematurely under gradient descent and cause the algorithm to fail. This paper presents a substantially new reformulation of Tunneling Descent, which is a deterministic technique to escape from unwanted local minima. In the new formulation, the evolving curve is represented by level sets, and the evolution strategy is obtained as a sequence of constrained minimizations. The algorithm is used to segment the endocardium in 115 short axis cardiac ultrasound images. All segmentations are achieved without tweaking the energy function or numerical parameters. Experimental evaluation of the results shows that the algorithm overcomes multiple local minima to give segmentations that are considerably more accurate than conventional techniques.
Stability of CIOQ switches with finite buffers and non-negligible round-trip time

We propose a systematic method to determine the lower bound for internal buffering of practical CIOQ (combined input-output queued) switching systems. We introduce a deterministic traffic scenario that stresses the global stability of finite output queues. We demonstrate its usefulness by dimensioning the buffer capacity of the CIOQ under such traffic patterns. Compliance with this property maximizes the performance achievable with finite buffers.
Differential expression of HLA-DR, HLA-DP, and HLA-DQ antigenic determinants of the major histocompatibility complex in human endometrium.

: We reported on the expression of HLA-DR molecules of the major histocompatibility complex in human endometrium. We now report on the expression of two other class II molecules, the HLA-DP and HLA-DQ determinants. These molecules were localized by monoclonal antibodies in 11 proliferative and 12 secretory endometria by avidin-biotin-complex (ABC) procedure. The expression of all three molecules was invariable and consistent throughout the entire menstrual cycle in endothelial and lymphoid cells. HLA-DR molecules were expressed in endometrial epithelium, particularly in the basalis in the mid to late proliferative phases of the cycle. In contrast, through the entire menstrual cycle, the expression of HLA-DP and HLA-DQ antigenic determinants was absent, and only occasionally a focal expression of these molecules was seen in endometrial epithelium. The in vitro induction of expression of the class II molecules in human endometrial epithelial cell cultures (HEE) by IFN-gamma was dose-dependent. After treatment with low doses of IFN-gamma, these cells primarily expressed HLA-DR molecules in vitro. The differential expression of the molecules of the major histocompatibility complex in human endometrial epithelium in vivo may be due to the differential sensitivity of the epithelium in response to cytokine(s).
Differential expression of elafin in human normal mammary epithelial cells and carcinomas is regulated at the transcriptional level

Elafin is an elastase inhibitor with a unique structure, not related to the serpin family, which includes the neutrophil elastase inhibitor. The gene was identified in this laboratory by subtractive hybridization between RNAs from human mammary tumor-derived cells and cDNAs from normal human mammary epithelial cells. Elafin is consistently expressed in normal mammary epithelial cells, but is down-regulated in most breast tumor cell lines. Restriction fragment analysis detected no gross deletions or rearrangement of the gene in any of the tumor cell lines examined. The elafin gene was cloned, and both the cDNA and the promoter region were sequenced. A major positive upstream promoter element was identified by chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assay and deletion analysis, active in normal cell extracts but not in extracts of tumor cells. These results demonstrate that differential expression of elafin in normal mammary epithelial cells and breast tumor cells is regulated at the transcriptional level. Cell synchronization experiments demonstrated that elafin mRNA is down-regulated in S phase in normal cells. These results suggest that elafin may act as an inhibitor of cell cycle progression.
Infrared-active phonons in Cr 2 O 3 .

We have identified serious errors in a previously published assignment of the ir-active phonons for the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-corundum structured crystal ${\mathrm{Cr}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$. We have measured the ir-reflectance for the two principal polarizations, $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{E}}\ensuremath{\perp}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{c}}$ and $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{E}}\ensuremath{\parallel}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{c}}$, and have obtained the properties of the ir-active long-wavelength vibrations---the TO- and LO-phonon frequencies, the contributions of the phonon-modes to the static dielectric constant and the damping. These are then compared with other $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-corundum structured sesquioxides, $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Al}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ and ${\mathrm{Ti}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$.
The omentum: present status and future applications

It has been known for decades that the omentum has important biological characteristics. Surgeons in particular have been especially impressed with the ability of the omentum to seal intestinal suture lines and contain inflammatory processes within the peritoneal cavity. More recently, interest has been developing in the immunologic, angiogenic and neurotransmitter activity that is now known to be present in omental tissue. These latter factors may prove of major importance in the future treatment of a variety of clinical conditions.
Replacing 40% of Dietary Animal Fat with Vegetable Oil Is Associated with Lower HDL Cholesterol and Higher Cholesterol Ester Transfer Protein in Cynomolgus Monkeys Fed Sufficient Linoleic Acid

This study was designed to evaluate whether replacing approximately 40 g/100 g dietary animal fat with vegetable oil would improve plasma lipids and lipoproteins when diets contained prudent levels of total saturated acid (SFA), monounsaturated acid (MUFA) and PUFA. Using a cross-over design, male Cynomolgus monkeys (n = 10) were fed purified diets containing a mixture of fats. For the diet based on animal fat (AF-diet), approximately 85 g/100 g of the total fat was derived from pork fat, and approximately 40 g/100 g of this was replaced with olive oil for the vegetable oil-based diet (VO-diet). Thus, the fat content of the VO diet comprised 50% pork fat and 35% olive oil. The remaining 15% of the total fat (for both diets) was safflower oil. Both diets provided approximately 30% of total energy (%en) from fat, <10%en SFA and approximately 6-7%en from PUFA. Monkeys were rotated through two 7-wk feeding periods, during which time plasma lipids and lipoproteins were evaluated. Compared with the AF diet, plasma total cholesterol (TC) concentrations tended to be lower ( approximately 10%) after monkeys consumed the VO diet (3.18 +/- 0.83 vs. 3.52 +/- 0.93 mmol/L, P = 0.099), and this was due entirely to a significant 12% reduction in HDL cholesterol (1.53 +/- 0.41 vs. 1.73 +/- 0.47, mmol/L, P = 0.0009). Although plasma lipoprotein compositional analyses revealed no significant differences in either lipoprotein composition or the estimated particle diameters, the measurement of cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) using (3)H-cholesterol ester-labeled HDL revealed that the lower HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) when monkeys consumed the VO diet was associated with a 31% increase in transfer (P = 0.04). However, despite the changes in HDL-C, the TC/HDL-C ratio did not differ between monkeys after the two diet treatments. Regression analyses of data from these monkeys revealed a significant correlation between the dietary 16:0/18:2 ratio and plasma HDL-C. These data suggest that within the context of currently recommended prudent diets, it may be possible to manipulate HDL-C beneficially. Whether a similar effect would occur in humans warrants investigation.
Tea Polyphenol (−)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Inhibits DNA Methyltransferase and Reactivates Methylation-Silenced Genes in Cancer Cell Lines

Hypermethylation of CpG islands in the promoter regions is an important mechanism to silence the expression of many important genes in cancer. The hypermethylation status is passed to the daughter cells through the methylation of the newly synthesized DNA strand by 5-cytosine DNA methyltransferase (DNMT). We report herein that (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenol from green tea, can inhibit DNMT activity and reactivate methylation-silenced genes in cancer cells. With nuclear extracts as the enzyme source and polydeoxyinosine-deoxycytosine as the substrate, EGCG dose-dependently inhibited DNMT activity, showing competitive inhibition with a K(i) of 6.89 microM. Studies with structural analogues of EGCG suggest the importance of D and B ring structures in the inhibitory activity. Molecular modeling studies also support this conclusion, and suggest that EGCG can form hydrogen bonds with Pro(1223), Glu(1265), Cys(1225), Ser(1229), and Arg(1309) in the catalytic pocket of DNMT. Treatment of human esophageal cancer KYSE 510 cells with 5-50 microM of EGCG for 12-144 h caused a concentration- and time-dependent reversal of hypermethylation of p16(INK4a), retinoic acid receptor beta (RARbeta), O(6)-methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT), and human mutL homologue 1 (hMLH1) genes as determined by the appearance of the unmethylation-specific bands in PCR. This was accompanied by the expression of mRNA of these genes as determined by reverse transcription-PCR. The re-expression of RARbeta and hMLH1 proteins by EGCG was demonstrated by Western blot. Reactivation of some methylation-silenced genes by EGCG was also demonstrated in human colon cancer HT-29 cells, esophageal cancer KYSE 150 cells, and prostate cancer PC3 cells. The results demonstrate for the first time the inhibition of DNA methylation by a commonly consumed dietary constituent and suggest the potential use of EGCG for the prevention or reversal of related gene-silencing in the prevention of carcinogenesis.
Combined c-Myc and caveolin-1 expression in human prostate carcinoma predicts prostate carcinoma progression

BACKGROUND Over-expression of the oncogene c-Myc has been implicated in the development and progression of human prostate carcinoma. However, previous assessments of c-Myc expression have not revealed its potential for predicting prostate carcinoma progression. Caveolin-1 is associated with prostate carcinoma progression and is a downstream target gene of c-Myc. The observation that caveolin-1 can suppress c-Myc-induced apoptosis suggested the potential for cooperation between c-Myc and caveolin-1 in malignant progression. In this study, the authors evaluated the prognostic potential of combined c-Myc and caveolin-1 expression in human prostate carcinoma progression. METHODS Immunostaining with c-Myc and caveolin-1-specific antibodies was performed on paraffin sections from 104 radical prostatectomy specimens from men with lymph node negative prostate carcinoma. Combined c-Myc and caveolin-1 immunostaining scores were related with the clinical and pathologic features and the probability of prostate-specific antigen recurrence after surgery. RESULTS The combination of c-Myc and caveolin-1 immunopositivity correlated positively with Gleason score (ρ = 0.219; P = 0.0253) and positive surgical margin (ρ = 0.333; P = 0.0006). The combination of positive c-Myc and caveolin-1 in patients with clinically confined prostate carcinoma was a significant prognostic marker for the time to disease progression after surgery in both univariate analysis (P = 0.0039; hazard ratio, 3.035) and multivariate analysis (P = 0.0114; hazard ratio, 2.916). CONCLUSIONS The coexpression of c-Myc and caveolin-1 showed potential as a useful prognostic marker for human prostate carcinoma. The current results suggest interactions between c-Myc and caveolin-1 in the progression of human prostate carcinoma. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Photoelectronic-Digital Radiology (PE-DI-R) At The University Of Arizona

System designs for PE-DI-R are being evaluated relative to the optimum configuration to meet the needs of diagnostic radiology at the University of Arizona. It is clear that the system can be examined in terms of sub-systems broadly delineated as image acquisition, processing, display and archival storage. Its architecture is influenced by the diverse imaging requirements of different radiological exams; the extent of processing desired in terms of complexity and speed; the degree of sophistication for displays serving a reading room as compared to clinics, conference rooms and offices; and the instrumentation available for archival storage. Issues have risen pertaining to system architecture, particularly in questioning the advantages of systems stressing a strong computer center versus a distribution of "stand alone" systems utilizing microprocessors. These appear to be resolvable at least in part on the basis of hospital size. The hospital carrying out in excess of 200,000 procedures per year has different requirements than those of a hospital performing only 10,000 exams/year, The University of Arizona Health Sciences Center is a 300 bed hospital which performs 67,000 radiological procedures per year. Its size and activity suggest a mix of computer and microprocessors will be needed to carry out its multiplicity of tasks, We anticipate completing the design and essentially install most components of the system over the next four years. Features of the system that have evolved to date and deemed most pertinent to the interests of the participants will be discussed at the symposium.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A characteristic vesiculobullous eruption in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

We report ten cases of a characteristic vesiculobullous eruption in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Clinically, six lesions were thought to represent insect bites, All ten patients had bone marrow examinations that confirmed the diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In six of ten patients serum protein and immunoelectrophoresis were performed. Six patients had immunoglobulin disturbances, one polyelonal 1gG and IgM gammopathy, two monoclonal IgM gammopathies, two decreased levels of IgA, and one hypogammaglobulinemia, Direct and indirect irnmunofluorescence procedures were performed on two patients and results were negative. lmmunoperoxidase procedures for IgG stained nonspecifically along torn/separated areas of the basement membrane in five patients. No immunohistochemistry was performed on the remaining three patients. The etiology and pathogenesis of these lesions are unknown. We favor the concept that they represent an unusual reaction to an arthropod bite, secondary to the underlying lymphoproliferative disorder. A second, and less likely theory, is that these lesions represent an unusual clinical presentation of bullous pemphigoid in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
A novel strategy to activate cytoprotective genes in the injured brain

The transcription factor nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates the expression of multiple cytoprotective genes that have been shown to offer protection in response to a number of insults. The present study describes a novel strategy to increase expression of Nrf2-responsive genes in brain injured mice. Under normal conditions, the adapter protein Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) binds to Nrf2 and promotes its proteosomal degradation in the cytoplasm. The amino acid sequence DEETGE, located at amino acid 77–82 of Nrf2, is critical for Nrf2–Keap1 interaction, and synthetic peptides containing this sequence can be used to disrupt the complex in vitro. We observed that intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion of a peptide containing the DEETGE sequence along with the cell transduction domain of the HIV-TAT protein (TAT–DEETGE) into brain-injured mice did not increase the mRNA levels for Nrf2-driven genes. However, when a calpain cleavage sequence was introduced between the TAT sequence and the DEETGE sequence, the new peptide (TAT–CAL–DEETGE) increased the mRNA levels of these genes. Increased gene expression was not observed when the TAT–CAL–DEETGE peptide was injected into uninjured animals. Furthermore, injection of TAT–CAL–DEETGE peptides before or after brain injury reduced blood–brain barrier compromise, a prominent secondary pathology that negatively influences outcome. The present strategy to increase Nrf2-responsive gene expression can be adapted to treat other insults or diseases based on their underlying mechanism(s) of cellular damage.
Step ergometry: is it task-specific training?

Maximal exercise responses were measured before and after 10 weeks of training in two groups of men, one trained on a treadmill (n =12) and the other on a step ergometer (n=9); the groups were pre- and post-tested on both machines to examine the specificity of the training modes. Training for both groups consisted of 3 days week−1, 30 min day−1, progressing to 50 min day−1, at an intensity of 75%–80% heart rate maximum reserve. Pre-training maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) was significantly higher on the treadmill for both groups (X=8.5%). VO2max increased 6.9% on the treadmill (P 0.05) on the step ergometer after treadmill training. The small increases may be attributed to the specificity of the testing protocols used to elicit VO2max. Significant (P<0.01) increases in VO2max were found for both modalities after step-ergometry training (treadmill= 11.8%; step ergometer=23.2%). These increases resulted in equal post-test VO2max values (4.05 l min−1; 51 ml kg−1 min-) on the step ergometer and treadmill. The significant increases in VO2max found for both modalities after step-ergometry training shows that (1) step ergometry is an effective training modality, and (2) its effects can be measured on the treadmill and therefore it is not task-specific training.
δ-Crystallin gene expression and patterns of hypomethylation demonstrate two levels of regulation for the δ-crystallin genes in embryonic chick tissues☆

Abstract In this study we address two questions regarding the control of δ-crystallin gene expression in chick embryos. First we have determined whether δ-crystallin mRNA is found outside of the developing lens, in which it is the predominant mRNA. We find that this mRNA can be detected, although at relatively low levels, in all embryonic tissues we have examined (from the definitive streak stage onward). This low level of transcription may be related to a second function for one or both of the δ-crystallin genes: both genes have a high degree of sequence identity to the enzyme argininosuccinate lyase. This result led us to a second set of experiments in which we reevaluated the possible role of hypomethylation in the expression of the δ-crystallin genes. Previous work showed that particular HhaI and HpaII sites in the crystallin genes undergo hypomethylation early in the process of lens differentiation when there is a burst of δ-crystallin mRNA accumulation. We now find that these sites remain methylated in nonlens tissues, implying that they cannot be required for the δ-crystallin gene activity found in these tissues. Other sites are constitutively hypomethylated, however, and may be functionally linked to this low level of gene activity. From an analysis of the kinetics of the developmentally regulated hypomethylation of HhaI and HpaII sites we also find that complete hypomethylation of these sites is not required for activating high levels of δ-crystallin transcription during lens differentiation. We do find, however, that these sites approach a fully hypomethylated state later in the lens differentiation process. Our analyses of mRNA levels and hypomethylation together lead us to propose that the δ-crystallin genes are regulated by two different mechanisms, one that leads to high levels of expression in the lens and the other which is responsible for low level expression in all other tissues in the chick embryo.
Estrogen increases proteasome activity in murine microglial cells

Abstract During inflammation, microglial cells go through phenotypic and functional changes that include the production and release of large amounts of oxygen and nitrogen radicals. As such, activated microglia are subject to heightened oxidative stress. The multicatalytic proteasome clears oxidized and damaged proteins from cells, and has been shown to be an important aspect of the microglial compensatory response to activation. The female sex steroid estrogen is both cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory, and has been shown to affect microglial signaling in particular. To determine if estrogen might affect the proteasome in microglial cells, we examined the effects of 17β-estradiol treatment on proteasome activity in N9 microglial cells. Specifically, we measured ATP-dependent and ATP-independent chymotrypsin-like, trypsin-like, and peptidyl glutamyl peptide hydrolase (PGPH)-like activities in response to both 17β-estradiol and interferon gamma. Data indicate that estrogen, but not interferon gamma, significantly increases ATP-dependent chymotrypsin-like and PGPH-like activity. Furthermore, this effect was blocked by the p44/42 MAPK inhibitor PD98059. Hence, these data demonstrate that through the MAPK pathway, estrogen can upregulate proteasome activity, suggesting a possible mechanism for estrogen’s cytoprotective effects.
Role of a predator's eye size in risk perception by basking black iguana, Ctenosaura similis

Abstract Black iguana are eaten by human and other predators in Costa Rica. The importance of eye size on avoidance and recovery behaviour of black iguana was examined using an approaching person as the stimulus. Iguanas moved and ran earlier when the approaching person wore a large eye mask than when she wore a smaller eye mask. Iguana response did not vary during the tests as a function of snoutvent length, but response variables were generally correlated. Black iguana clearly moved and ran earlier in response to a large compared with a small eye, indicating they perceive and monitor this feature of predators.
A brain tumor dose escalation protocol based on effective dose equivalence to prior experience

Abstract Purpose: The current study describes the design of a dose escalation protocol for conformal irradiation of primary brain tumors that preserves the safe experience of a previous, sequential dose escalation scheme while enabling the delivery of substantially higher effective doses to a central target volume. Methods and Materials: Normalized isoeffective composite dose distributions were formed for 20 patients treated on the original protocol (which specified three progressively smaller planning target volumes [PTVs]) using the linear quadratic model (here corrected to equivalent 2 Gy fractions using α/β = 10 Gy). These distributions were investigated and a new protocol was designed to preserve a similar level of efficacy and lack of toxicity for the outer volumes, but allowing a higher dose to the inner PTV. Treatment plans were then investigated to determine if the objectives of the new protocol were achievable. In particular, plans that simultaneously achieved all biological treatment planning objectives (all fields treated each day) were investigated. Finally, the success of the protocol design was demonstrated by analysis of the effective dose distributions of 10 patients treated using the new protocol. Results: The composite normalized isoeffective minimum doses to the outer PTVs (PTV3 and PTV2) in the original protocol were close to 60 Gy and 75 Gy, respectively, and these values are specified as the minimum doses to those volumes for the new protocol. Homogeneity requirements to maintain equivalence for the outer target volume domains are: not more than 25% of [PTV3 exclusive of PTV2] >75 Gy; and not more than 50% of [PTV2 exclusive of PTV1] >85 Gy. Treatment plans using multiple noncoplanar arrangements of beams and static intensity modulation treat all volumes at each session. DVHs of the normalized isoeffective dose distributions reveal the equivalence of the new protocol plans to the sequential plans in the previous protocol as well as the ability to achieve a higher dose of 90 Gy to the isocenter of PTV1 (+/- 5% homogeneity required). Conclusion: The ability to incorporate past experience through use of the linear quadratic model in the design of a new dose escalation protocol is demonstrated.
Remarks concerning a model of Gell-Mann on CP non-conservation

Abstract It is shown that Gell-Mann's model of CP violation via co-operative weak-electromagnetic interactions leads to (i) unique prediction of Fitch-Cronin effect in μ-decay and (ii) gross CP effects in near forward neutrino production of W ± meson.
Prognostic Value of Urodynamic Testing in Myelodysplastic Patients

We herein describe the clinical progress of 42 myelodysplastic patients studied urodynamically and followed for a mean of 7.1 years. Urodynamic evaluation included urethral pressure profilometry, simultaneous determination of urethral pressure, intravesical pressure and external anal or external urethral sphincter electromyography with fluoroscopic voiding cystourethrography. Assessment of urethral function showed 36 patients (86 per cent) with an open vesical outlet and nonfunctional proximal urethral. Cystometrography revealed that 7 of 42 patients (17 per cent) had reflex detrusor activity: 4 with coordinated micturition and 3 with detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia. Thirty-five patients (83 per cent) had areflexic detrusor dysfunction: 5 with atomic detrusor response and 30 with a progressive increase in pressure with increasing volume. The intravesical pressure at the time of urethral leakage was 40 cm. water or less in 20 patients and at pressures greater than this value in 22 patients. No patient in the low pressure group had vesicoureteral reflux and only 2 showed ureteral dilatation on excretory urography. In contrast, of the patients in the higher pressure group 15 (68 per cent) showed vesicoureteral reflux and 18 (81 per cent) showed ureteral dilatation on excretory urography. Thus, a striking relationship between the urethral closure pressure and intravesical pressure at the time of urethral leakage and the clinical course in this group of myelodysplastic patients is demonstrated. Every patient with a normally closed vesical outlet was continent on intermittent catheterization and an anticholinergic agent, while only 60 per cent of patients with open bladder outlets similarly treated achieved good urinary control and none was dry. An artificial sphincter device would seem to be a reasonable method to achieve urinary control in the latter patients but the detrusor response to filling also must be considered. Detrusor hypertonia should be controlled or controllable before a sphincter augmenting device can be used safely. Treatment options for patients with high urethral closure pressures include intermittent catheterization and anticholinergic medications or a sphincter ablative procedure to decrease the outlet resistance combined with anticholinergic therapy and implantation of an artificial sphincter. However, only longer followup will determine if these therapeutic regimens will prevent upper urinary tract deterioration.
Adrenergic expression in the rat adrenal gland: multiple developmental regulatory mechanisms

Abstract Phenylethanolamine N -methyltransferase (PNMT, EC 2.1.1.28) has been used as a marker to examine development of adrenergic expression in the rat adrenal gland and the putative role of glucocorticoids in this process. PNMT enzymatic activity increases 7–10-fold from birth to postnatal day 35. Immunotitration studies show that PNMT protein only increases 4–5-fold during this same time period. Moreover, the slopes from the immunotitration curves decrease with increasing age. Thus, a more active enzyme with lower affinity for the antiserum appears to be present in the older animals. Quantitative solution hybridization shows that PNMT mRNA increases 2.5-fold from birth through postnatal day 11. Thereafter, it declines, and eventually plateaus at values insignificantly different from birth by postnatal day 25. Northern analysis further shows that two forms of PNMT mRNA are expressed. Adrenal corticosterone remains low from birth through postnatal day 11, but then increases nearly 10-fold by adulthood. The lack of concordance between changes in PNMT activity, protein, and mRNA suggests that adrenergic expression is developmentally regulated at multiple levels; the above provides evidence for both transcriptional and post-transcriptional controls, since changes in PNMT mRNA may differ in both magnitude and direction from changes in PNMT activity and protein during the developmental window examined. These developmental regulatory mechanisms may be in part glucocortocoid-mediated, but corticosteroid control of PNMT gene expression does not appear to be the predominant mechanism of control.
On the Growth of Highly Ordered Pores in Anodized Aluminum Oxide

It is now established that hexagonally ordered domain structures can be formed in anodic alumina films by repeated anodization and stripping of the porous oxide. We find that the domain size is a linear function of time and increases with temperature. The pore density is initially high but decreases with anodizing time, as dominant pores deepen. Very small pores exist in native oxide in air or nucleate after electropolishing. Pore growth may start when the electric field increases at the pore bottoms, and acid dissolves the oxide locally.
Photoabsorption spectra of gaseous CH3SO2Cl, CCl3SCl, SO2ClF and (CH3O)2SO

Abstract The UV-visible absorption spectra of CH 3 SO 2 Cl, CCl 3 SCl, SO 2 ClF and (CH 3 O) 2 SO were quantitatively analyzed at 298 K. The threshold wavelengths for photodissociation of these molecules and SO 2 F 2 were calculated from thermochemical data and estimates were made of their atmospheric photodissociation rate coefficients.
Dielectric behaviour and intermolecular forces in some dipolar mixtures

Abstract The dielectric relaxation of chloroform and benzophenone in n-heptane and of binary mixtures of chlorobenzene and bromobenzene in a viscous solvent “Nujol” have been studied in detail. The complex dielectric constants of these mixtures at various concentrations have been measured at 10,3,2 and 1.3 cm. Also measured are the individual dispersions of the polar constituents of the ternary mixture in solution in n-heptane at the same relative concentrations and the static dielectric constants of the above mixtures. The results are explained in terms of hindering forces influencing dipole rotation.
Axiomatic quantum mechanics and radioactive decay

This paper explores the consequences of the orthodox resolution of the measurement problem for the axiomatic base of non-relativistic elementary quantum mechanics. It is argued that the standard resolution of the measurement problem generates a paradox whose dissolution may be achieved through an enrichment of the axiomatic foundations of quantum mechanics. These results are also linked to some recent creative proposals by Nancy Cartwright concerning the nature of the so-called “reduction of the wave packet”.
Gun Control in a Developing Nation: The Gun Court Act of Jamaica

ABSTRACT Generally, the study of Third World crime can be approached from two acutely different theoretical perspectives. “Modernization” theory attempts to attribute crime in Third World societies to the rapid pace of industrialization and attempts to apply a variety of criminological theories that focus on the individual and the immediate social context of the actor. “Political economy/dependency” theory attempts to address the processes of imperialism and underdevelopment and the whole range of law violations and legal controls present in post-colonial societies. This paper explains the Jamaican firearm crime problem, and the societal response to it, during the 1970's and early 1980's by applying the political economy/dependency theoretical framework. The legislative policy designed to curb increases in firearm crimes in Jamaica during the study period was the Gun Court Act. This mandatory piece of criminal legislation is examined in order to develop the connection between crime in underdeveloped natio...
Molecular control of locus coeruleus neurotransmission.

The locus coeruleus (LC) is the major noradrenergic nucleus in the brain and innervates large segments of the neuraxis. LC neurons are thought to regulate states of attention and vigilance as well as activity of the sympathetic nervous system. These neurons also have been implicated in the actions of stress, antidepressants, and opiates on the brain. Aided in part by the fact that the LC is relatively homogeneous, it has been possible to understand some of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control their functional state. This review focuses on the role played by the cAMP pathway in regulation of LC neurons, particularly after chronic perturbations. Thus, several components of this intracellular signaling pathway are upregulated in the LC after chronic stress or chronic opiate treatment, but downregulated after chronic antidepressant treatment. LC neurons exhibit a pacemaker activity, which appears to be mediated, at least in part, by a nonspecific cation current that is activated by protein kinase A. As a result, stimuli that upregulate the cAMP pathway after chronic administration (e.g., stress or opiates) increase the excitability of LC neurons, whereas stimuli that downregulate the cAMP pathway (e.g., antidepressants) exert the opposite effect. Such molecular adaptations could contribute to the behavioral plasticity that is associated with these various conditions.
Atomic force microscopy of laser-conditioned and laser-damaged amorphous TiO 2 sol-gel thin films

Amorphous TiO 2 films are spin-cast from highly acidic ethanol precursor solutions of titanium ethoxides onto fused silica and single crystal silicon substrates at 2000 to 3000 rpm. Immediately after spinning, the resulting homogeneous film is approximately 350 nm thick and has a refractive index of 1.6 as determined from UV-VIS-NIR transmission measurements. After 20 hours at room temperature, the refractive index increases to 1.8 and is accompanied by a decrease in film thickness. Mild heat-treatment of the film results in a further increase of the refractive index to 2.0. Thicker, homogenous films can be prepared by depositing subsequent layers. Raman spectra of these films indicate the presence of the amorphous phase of titania. Prior to mild heat-treatment, the amorphous titania films are observed to crystallize to the anatase phase upon exposure to cw radiation from an Argon-ion laser at a fluence of 2.5 Mw cm -2 . Crystallization is initiated approximately 1.2 seconds after exposure and the illuminated spot becomes fully crystalline after 3.6 seconds. However, the laser fluence can be increased to 6.0 Mw cm -2 without resulting in crystallization if the amorphous film is conditioned by exposure to progressively greater laser fluence beginning below the damage threshold. Similarly, films that have experienced a mild heat-treatment prior to irradiation have a damage threshold greater than 6.0 Mw cm -2 . In this study, atomic force microscopy is used to evaluate the microstructure of the laser-conditioned and laser-damaged titania films at the micron to submicron scale.