cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perivascular cells support folliculogenesis in the developing ovary

Abstract Granulosa cells, supporting cells of the ovary, are essential for ovarian differentiation by providing a nurturing environment for oogenesis. Sufficient numbers of granulosa cells are vital for establishment of follicles and the oocyte reserve; therefore, identifying the cellular source from which granulosa cells are derived is critical for understanding basic ovarian biology. One cell type that has received little attention in this field is the perivascular cell. Here we use lineage tracing and organ culture techniques in mice to identify ovarian Nestin+ perivascular cells as multipotent progenitors that contribute to granulosa, thecal, and pericyte lineages. Maintenance of these progenitors was dependent on vascular-mesenchymal Notch signaling. Ablation of postnatal Nestin+ cells resulted in a disruption of granulosa cell specification and an increased incidence of polyovular ovarian follicles, thus uncovering key roles for vasculature in ovarian differentiation. These findings may provide new insights into the origins of female gonad dysgenesis and infertility.
Pandemic Pedagogy: Practical and Empathetic Teaching Practices

This first-person dissection of pandemic pedagogy, supported by surveillance theory, queer and feminist pedagogical theory, and radically empathetic and nonviolent teaching practices, suggests a better way forward in college and university teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Outlining anti-surveillance and anti-policing practices, as well as instructors’ roles as enforcers of the neoliberal university’s interests and instructors’ needs usurping best teaching and administrative practices, the article attempts to make sense of interconnected limitations and inequities in higher education which the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent distance and hybrid course delivery models have exposed. The article posits methods to reframe instructor/student interactions in virtual and socially distanced classrooms. In a radical departure from the violent surveillance university model, including an acknowledgement of processes instructors can realistically resist, the article suggests a non-hierarchical and informal ongoing review of teaching practices, a practiced and intentional refusal to engage with neoliberal systems of student control, and an active acknowledgement and decentering of instructors’ feelings when making pedagogical decisions. An accompanying handout, originally presented at the 2020 unConference hosted by the Race, Space, Place Initiative at Virginia Commonwealth University, presents the information in an easy-to-read and dynamic format.
Accumulator, Transporter, Substrate, and Reactor: Multidimensional Perspectives and Approaches to the Study of Bark

Woody ecosystems have a relatively thin but aerially extensive and dynamic layer of bark that, like leaves, regulates material exchange at the interface of air, water, and biota. Through interception, retention, and leaching of materials and interactions with epiphytic communities, bark alters the chemistry and composition of waters draining over its surface during storms. This mini-review explores different perspectives and approaches to the study of bark and what they reveal about the myriad ways bark surfaces influence the quality of sub-canopy precipitation. Observational studies conducted over the past five decades in the fields of environmental science, ecohydrology, epiphyte ecology, and microbiology demonstrate that bark is an accumulator, transporter, substrate, and reactor. Bark surfaces passively accumulate materials from the atmosphere, water, and canopies, but also serve as an active transport surface, exchanging materials laterally and longitudinally. In addition, bark substrates influence epiphyte diversity, composition, and distribution, which, in turn, affect material cycling. Bark surfaces are dynamic over time, changing in response to disturbances (e.g., insect outbreaks, ageing, tree death)—how such changes influence the chemical and elemental composition of throughfall and stemflow merits further study. Moving forward, integration of diverse perspectives and approaches is needed to elucidate the influence of bark surfaces on solute and particulate transport and cycling within woody ecosystems.
A machine learning approach to estimate windows-to-wall ratio using drone imagery

A building’s window-to-wall ratio (WWR) has critical influence on heat loss, solar gain, and daylighting levels, with implications for visual and thermal comfort as well as energy performance. However, in contrast to characteristics such as floor area, existing building WWRs are rarely available. In this work we present a machine learning based approach to parse windows from drone images and estimate the WWR. Our approach is based on firstly extracting the building 3D geometry from drone images, secondly performing semantic segmentation to detect windows and finally computing the WWR. Experiments show that our approach is effective in estimating WWR from drone images.
Learning to write without writing: writing accurate descriptions of interactions after learning graph-printed description relations.

Interpreting and describing complex information shown in graphs are essential skills to be mastered by students in many disciplines; both are skills that are difficult to learn. Thus, interventions that produce these outcomes are of great value. Previous research showed that conditional discrimination training that established stimulus control by some elements of graphs and their printed descriptions produced some improvement in the accuracy of students’ written descriptions of graphs. In the present experiment, students wrote nearly perfect descriptions of the information conveyed in interaction-based graphs after the establishment of conditional relations between graphs and their printed descriptions. This outcome was achieved with the use of special conditional discrimination training procedures that required participants to attend to many of the key elements of the graphs and the phrases in the printed descriptions that corresponded to the elements in the graphs. Thus, students learned to write full descriptions of the information represented by complex graphs by an automated training procedure that did not involve the direct training of writing.
Rheological Analogs for Human Blood in Large Vessels

It is highly desirable to find a stable, transparent rheological analog having viscoelastic properties similar to blood. The commonly used analog, glycerol, is Newtonian and nonviscoelastic, therefore is unsuitable for many applications. Human blood demonstrates a full spectrum of rheological properties that may be evoked from steady flow, oscillatory flow, and pulse flow. In addition to being nonNewtonian, viscoelastic, dilatant and thixotropic, blood is unstable, tending to separate into a cell phase and plasma phase. Its opacity to light is often undesirable. In addition, it may carry disease and it is difficult to obtain in large volumes. Aqueous solutions of high molecular weight hydrolyzed polyacrylamides provide non-Newtonian and viscoelastic properties that approach those of blood. The more rigid macromolecules of Xanthan gum also produce aqueous solutions having desired viscoelastic properties approaching blood. By forming a gel of Xanthan gum which is then broken into fragments in the size range of the red blood cell, aqueous suspensions can be produced which closely resemble blood. The viscoelastic properties of these three analogs are compared with those of human blood over a wide range of suspension concentrations and shear rates.
Massively distributed systems: from grids and P2P to clouds

This keynote describes the evolution of massively distributed computing systems and their key techniques. Clusters of computers now prevail, expand, and become the core components in large-scale computational/ information/data Grids. The Open Grid Service Architecture, specifying the Grid software, protocol, and service standards, are only partially implemented in Globus and other Grid toolkits. Grid security demand globalization among various PKI authorities and interoperability between wired and wireless networks. Very little progress being made in special networks, hardware, languages, and operating systems for Grid/Cloud computing. Business Grids/ Clouds are under development by Google, IBM, Sun, Microsoft, etc., and widespread acceptance is hindered by selfish behavior and security concerns. Briefly, the keynote includes rise and fall of computing technologies and hot paradigms in the last 35 Years, and presents the implication that computing clouds over the Internet will be the next battlefield among competitors.
Commingling effect of gynoid and android fat patterns on cardiometabolic dysregulation in normal weight American adults.

To determine the independent and commingling effect of android and gynoid percent fat (measured using Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry) on cardiometabolic dysregulation in normal weight American adults. The 2005–2006 data (n=1802) from the United States National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys (NHANES) were used in this study. Associations of android percent fat, gynoid percent fat and their joint occurrence with risks of cardiometabolic risk factors were estimated using prevalence odds ratios from logistic regression analyses. Android-gynoid percent fat ratio was more highly correlated with cardiometabolic dysregulation than android percent fat, gynoid percent fat or body mass index. Commingling of android and gynoid adiposities was associated with much greater odds of cardiometabolic risk factors than either android or gynoid adiposities. Commingling of android and gynoid adiposities was associated with 1.75 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.42–2.93), 1.48 (95% CI=1.32–1.91), 1.61 (95% CI=1.50–1.89), 3.56 (95% CI=2.91–4.11) and 1.86 (95% CI=1.49–1.96) increased odds of elevated glucose, elevated blood pressure, elevated low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, elevated triglyceride and low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, respectively. Normal weight subjects who present with both android and gynoid adiposities should be advised of the associated health risks. Both android and gynoid fat accumulations should be considered in developing public health strategies for reducing cardiometabolic disease risk in normal weight subjects.
Novel animal model for evaluating topical efficacy of antiviral agents: flux versus efficacy correlations in the acyclovir treatment of cutaneous herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infections in hairless mice.

This report describes the study of a novel animal model for the topical treatment of cutaneous herpes virus infections, with a focus upon the relationship between the dermal flux of the antiviral agent and the effectiveness of the topical therapy. A recently developed (trans)dermal delivery system (TDS) for controlling acyclovir (ACV) fluxes was employed in the treatment of cutaneous herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infections in hairless mice. The TDS's were fabricated with rate-controlling membranes to provide nearly constant fluxes of ACV for up to 3 to 4 days. At the end of each experiment an extraction procedure was used to determine the residual ACV, validating the drug delivery performance of the TDS. Virus was inoculated into the skin of the mice at a site distant from the TDS area, and the induced lesion development was evaluated to distinguish between topical and systemic effectiveness of the therapy. In the main protocol, ACV therapy was initiated 0, 1,2, and 3 days after virus inoculation and the lesion development “scored” on Day 5. The topical efficacies of 1- and 2-day-delayed treatments were essentially the same as that of a 0-day-delayed treatment, while the topical efficacy of a 3-day-delayed treatment was much poorer. Also, in the cases of 0-, 1-, and 2-day-delayed treatments, topical efficacy increased with increasing flux in the range of 10 to 100 µg/cm2-day. When the ACV flux was 100 µg/cm2-day or greater, a maximum 100% topical efficacy was obtained. The results for systemic efficacy were shifted to higher fluxes: approximately 10-fold greater ACV fluxes were necessary to provide efficacy equal to the topical efficacy results. The animals treated with a high ACV flux (350–500 µg/cm2-day) lived significantly longer than those treated with a low ACV flux (10–125 µg/cm2-day) and those of untreated (placebo) animals. Further, their mean survival time decreased with an increase in the time delay for ACV treatment. In contrast, the mean survival time for the animals which received a low ACV flux was similar to that of the control animals and remained unaltered with an increase in the time delay for ACV treatment. The approach developed in this study should be valuable in (a) the screening of new antiviral agents for the topical treatment of cutaneous herpes virus infections and (b) in the optimization of drug delivery systems (i.e., topical formulations).
Power, leadership, and self-regulation

Power has been linked to both self-regulatory success and failure. Power typically aids self-regulation of task performance by making people motivated and goal-oriented. However, because people’s self-regulatory resources are limited, as powerful people exert effort on their focal tasks, they may fail to self-regulate in other domains. This type of goal myopia may lead to detriments in impulse control. Wielding power, by making decisions and leading subordinates, can deplete people’s self-regulatory resources, making subsequent acts of self-control more difficult.
Hydrolysis and Formation of Carboxylic Acid and Alcohol Derivatives

Abstract Hydrolases are the enzymes most widely used for organic synthesis. The five most useful and commercially available hydrolases for organic synthesis are the lipases from Candida antarctica, from Candida rugosa and from Burkholderia cepacia, the esterase from pig liver and the protease subtilisin. Hydrolases accept a broad range of substrates, including many typical intermediates in organic synthesis. Beside hydrolysis of carboxylic acid derivatives in water or water–organic solvent mixtures, hydrolases also catalyze the formation of these derivatives in organic solvents. This chapter explains how to plan hydrolase-catalyzed reactions by choosing hydrolases and substrates that are likely to be resolved efficiently and where products are easily separated. Examples include kinetic resolutions (using hydrolysis or acylation), desymmetrizations of prochiral substrates, and dynamic kinetic resolutions.
Self-Organizing Machine Translation: Example-Driven Induction of Transfer Functions.

With the advent of faster computers, the notion of doing machine translation from a huge stored database of translation examples is no longer unreasonable. This paper describes an attempt to merge the Example-Based Machine Translation (EBMT) approach with psycholinguistic principles. A new formalism for context- free grammars, called *marker-normal form*, is demonstrated and used to describe language data in a way compatible with psycholinguistic theories. By embedding this formalism in a standard multivariate optimization framework, a system can be built that infers correct transfer functions for a set of bilingual sentence pairs and then uses those functions to translate novel sentences. The validity of this line of reasoning has been tested in the development of a system called METLA-1. This system has been used to infer English->French and English->Urdu transfer functions from small corpora. The results of those experiments are examined, both in engineering terms as well as in more linguistic terms. In general, the results of these experiments were psycho- logically and linguistically well-grounded while still achieving a respectable level of success when compared against a similar prototype using Hidden Markov Models.
PHYSIOLOGY OF INSECT ECDYSIS: I. The Eclosion Behaviour of Saturniid Moths and Its Hormonal Release

1. In the giant silkmoths, adult eclosion is immediately preceded by a stereotyped series of abdominal movements - the pre-eclosion behaviour. The pattern of movements is species-specific and has a duration of about 1 ¼ h. 2. The pre-eclosion behaviour is followed sequentially by eclosion, the release of the labial gland secretion, the post-eclosion activity, and the spreading of the wings. These five elements of behaviour make up the emergence sequence. 3. The progression from one part of the behavioural sequence to the next is independent of stimuli provided by the pupal cuticle or cocoon, and therefore must be due to an internal programme. Thus, when the pupal cuticle was removed from pharate moths 12 h before their normal eclosion time, these ‘peeled’ animals continued to behave in a pupal fashion. But upon the arrival of the eclosion gate, the entire emergence sequence was displayed. 4. Through surgical manipulations the brain was shown to trigger the pre-eclosion behaviour. Moreover, this action of the brain was mediated by a neurosecretory hormone - the eclosion hormone. 5. Injections of extracts with eclosion-hormone activity triggered the precocious display of the emergence sequence by pharate moths. 6. When the eclosion hormone was injected into the isolated abdomens of pharate moths, these fragments performed the pre-eclosion behaviour and then shed the surrounding piece of pupal cuticle. The information for the pre-eclosion behaviour and for the abdominal movements associated with eclosion must therefore be programmed in the abdominal ganglia. Moreover, after its ‘activation’ the abdomen can switch from one behaviour pattern to the next without influence from the higher centres.
The status of community water fluoridation in the United States.

Community water fluoridation has served the American public extremely well as the cornerstone of dental caries prevention activities for 45 years. The dental and general health benefits associated with the ingestion of water-borne fluorides have been well known by researchers for an even longer period. Continued research has repeatedly confirmed the safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of community water fluoridation in preventing dental caries for Americans regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, educational status, or socioeconomic level. Despite the obvious benefits associated with this proven public health measure, slow progress has been made toward achieving the 1990 national fluoridation objectives as listed in "Promoting Health/Preventing Disease: Objectives for the Nation." This paper documents the lagging pace of community fluoridation by reviewing and analyzing data reported in "Fluoridation Census, 1985," a document published in late 1988 by the Public Health Service's Centers for Disease Control. Failure to attain the 1990 objectives is attributable to a combination of circumstances, including their low priority within many local, State, and Federal health agencies, inadequate funding at all levels of government, lack of a coordinated and focused national fluoridation effort, failure of most States to require fluoridation, lack of Federal legislation mandating fluoridation, general apathy of most health professional organizations toward fluoridation, misconceptions by the public about effectiveness and safety and, finally, unrelenting opposition by a highly vocal minority of the lay public. In addition, fluoridation successes have not been consistent among States, with wide variation in accomplishments documented in the reported data.While fluoridation still is one of the most cost effective public health measures available to local,State, and Federal public health agencies, it remains significantly underused nearly a half century after its discovery. Without a major increase in emphasis at the highest policy levels within local, State, and Federal health agencies, fluoridation objectives currently proposed for inclusion in the year 2000 national health objectives are not likely to be achieved. More private sector involvement and better coordination of efforts among all levels of government will be necessary to make significant improvements in progress toward universal fluoridation of all public water supplies in the United States.
Frailty Predicts Waitlist Mortality in Liver Transplant Candidates

We aimed to determine whether frailty, a validated geriatric construct of increased vulnerability to physiologic stressors, predicts mortality in liver transplant candidates. Consecutive adult outpatients listed for liver transplant with laboratory Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) ≥ 12 at a single center (97% recruitment rate) underwent four frailty assessments: Fried Frailty, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental ADL (IADL) scales. Competing risks models associated frailty with waitlist mortality (death/delisting for being too sick for liver transplant). Two hundred ninety-four listed liver transplant patients with MELD ≥ 12, median age 60 years and MELD 15 were followed for 12 months. By Fried Frailty score ≥3, 17% were frail; 11/51 (22%) of the frail versus 25/243 (10%) of the not frail died/were delisted (p = 0.03). Each 1-unit increase in the Fried Frailty score was associated with a 45% (95% confidence interval, 4-202) increased risk of waitlist mortality adjusted for MELD. Similarly, the adjusted risk of waitlist mortality associated with each 1-unit decrease (i.e. increasing frailty) in the Short Physical Performance Battery (hazard ratio 1.19, 95% confidence interval 1.07-1.32). Frailty is prevalent in liver transplant candidates. It strongly predicts waitlist mortality, even after adjustment for liver disease severity demonstrating the applicability and importance of the frailty construct in this population.
Teaching and Tenure in the Vocationalized University

Neoliberalism has effected numerous changes in terms of how institutions of higher education define themselves and their relationships with students, parents, and the business world. One specific change that has been researched by scholars is the increased vocational emphasis colleges are giving to their missions and curricula. Henry Giroux, for instance, has written extensively about what the vocationalizing and corporatizing of higher learning might mean for education and democracy itself. One specific, related implication is how this focus on career training is shaping the pedagogical experiences of tenure-track faculty. To some extent, many schools include student course evaluations as a part of the reappointment and tenure process. But even at schools where this component is deemphasized or not included, it’s nearly impossible for faculty to ignore how students are rating them online. This article will trace the ascendancy of both vocationalized higher education and course evaluations, as well as offer possibilities for addressing these developments. Keywords: higher education, neoliberalism, vocationalism, tenure, student course evaluations
Emission from aggregates of oligo-phenylene vinylenes: a recipe for superradiant H -aggregates

A theoretical analysis of emission in oligo-p-phenylene vinylene herringbone aggregates shows that the radiative decay rate of the lower exciton band-edge can exceed that of a single molecule. Such superradiant H -aggregates require long-range orientational order and constructive interference between the oA-axis molecular transition dipole moments. Excellent agreement with the experimental emission spectrum of p-distyrylbenzene nanoaggregates is obtained. Extensions are made to superradiant polymer aggregates, which could have important optical device applications. ” 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Ehrlich ascites tumor cell surface labeling and kinetics of glycocalyx release

Ehrlich ascites tumor cells spontaneously release cell surface material (glycocalyx) into isotonic saline medium. Exposure of these cells to tritium-labeled 4,4'-diisothiocyano-1,2-diphenylethane-2,2'-disulfonic acid (3H2DIDS) at 4 degrees C leads to preferential labeling of the cell surface coat. We have combined studies of the kinetics of 3H2DIDS-label release, the effects of enzymatic treatment, and cell electrophoretic mobility to characterize the 3H2DIDS-labeled components of the cell surface. Approximately 73% of the cell-associated radioactivity is spontaneously released from the cells after 5 h at 23 degrees C. The kinetics of release is consistent with the first-order loss of two fractions; a slow (tau 1/2 = 360 min) component representing 33% of the radioactivity and a fast (tau 1/2 = 20 min) component representing 26%. The remaining 14% of the labile binding may reflect mechanically induced surface release. Trypsin (1 microgram/ml) also removes approximately 73% of the labeled material within 30 min and converts the kinetics of release to that of a single component (tau 1/2 = 5.5 min). The specific activity (SA) of material released by trypsin immediately after labeling is 83% of the SA of the material spontaneously lost in 1 h. However, trypsinization following a 2-h period of spontaneous release yields material of reduced (43%) SA. Neither 3H2DIDS labeling nor the initial spontaneous loss of labeled material alters cell electrophoretic mobility. However, extended spontaneous release is accompanied by a significant decrease in surface charge density. Trypsinization immediately following labeling or after spontaneous release (2 h) reduces mobility by 32%. We have tentatively identified the slowly released compartment as contributing to cell surface negativity.
Modeling Retroreflectivity Performance of Thermoplastic Pavement Markings in Alabama

AbstractPavement markings play an important role in the roadway system because they provide information for drivers to follow the road. Markings must be replaced when their retroreflectivity falls below an acceptable level. The rate of degradation of marking retroreflectivity can be influenced by many factors, such as type of material and traffic volume. The efficiency of pavement marking maintenance programs could be improved with statistical models that estimate the degradation of retroreflectivity over time. A case study based on data collected by the Alabama DOT was undertaken to address these issues. The purpose of the research reported in this paper was to observe how existing models fit the data and develop new statistical models that could predict retroreflectivity over time for Alabama conditions. Modeling of retroreflectivity performance over time for thermoplastic markings was executed for 15 projects that had measurements of retroreflectivity for the same locations in years 2007–2010. The mode...
Impression Formation in Schizophrenics and Normals

Summary.-Schizophrenic and normal Ss dichotomized by sex and by scores on Rotter's test of Internal versus External Control, rated the average American man, an unfavorably described individual, and a person who was favorably described, on 15 trait-pair scales at the "apparent" and "real" levels of personality. "Apparent" personality refers to what the person appears to be, whereas "real" personality refers to how that person really is. Ss, irrespective of pathology, were more certain of their ratings for the favorably described individual. Normal Ss were higher than schizophrenic Ss on the "apparent" personality rating of the average American man and on the "real" personality rating of the unfavorably described individual. An individual's inappropriate perception of other people is an important consideration in attempting to account for maladaptive forms of human behavior. This assumption, particularly as it is related to those diagnosed as schizophrenic, underlies the present investigation. Accuracy of person perception, a phrase often used interchangeably with empathy and sensitivity to people, "is the ability to predict what an individual will feel, say, and do about you, himself, and others" (Smith, 1966). In their review of the personality of the perceiver as a factor in person perception, Shrauger and Altrocchi (1964) state that due to the methodological problems involved, research on accuracy has yielded data which are difficult to interpret and very hard to compare. They agreed with Tagiuri (1958) who concluded that research on areas associated with impression formation, rather than only on the global accuracy of person perception, would produce the greatest progress. The impression formation process is conceptualized by Shrauger and Altrocchi (1964) as consisting of "selecting cues, drawing inferences about personal characteristics from these cues, and translating one's impressions into an overt verbal response." The limited amount of research on person perception using patients diagnosed as schizophrenic has primarily focused on accuracy. Studies have indicated that chronic schizophrenic patients confined to their wards score lower on measures of empathic ability than improved schizophrenic patients (Helfand, 1956; Bloom & Arkoff, 1961). In reviewing findings for somewhat improved or better functioning schizophrenics rather than for patients whose performance was strongly affected by their disorganizing symptomatology at the time of testing, the dearth of research in the area becomes apparent.
DETECTION AND DEMONSTRATION OF INHIBITORY ACTIVITIES OF BACTERIOCINS BY ISOELECTRIC FOCUSING

A technique utilizing isoelectric focusing (IEF) was developed and compared with a modified Bhunia's sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) method for directly detecting antimicrobial activities of inhibitory peptides or proteins (bacteriocins). In IEF, the gel containing separated peptide or protein bands was directly overlaid with indicator bacteria without any fixation or rinsing as done in the SDS-PAGE method. The IEF gave clear zones of inhibition surrounding inhibitory bands. Bhunia's method was modified to reduce the time for fixation and rinsing, and a 15-min fixation followed by 2-h rinsing with dd H2O was determined to be necessary for a detection similar to the IEF. In addition, results of this study showed that denaturation of bacteriocins and, subsequently, failure to detect the presence of a bacteriocin could occur in the SDS-PAGE analysis while little denaturation was observed in the IEF assay. Therefore, the IEF assay developed in this study was more rapid and less destructive as compared with the SDS-PAGE method.
Theorizing e‐learning participation: a study of the HRD online communities in the USA

Purpose – This study sets out to investigate the e‐learning participation and completion phenomenon in the US corporate HRD online communities and to explore determinants of e‐learning completion.Design/methodology/approach – Based on the HRD Learning Participation Theory (LPT), this study takes a two‐stage approach. Stage one adopts an interview approach to selected e‐learning managers and to bridge the LPT with empirical data for stage two; stage two develops a survey questionnaire for collecting e‐learning completion related data. Statistical techniques are used for data analysis.Findings – The study finds that the e‐learning completion rate is significantly higher in the online HRD communities than those reported in the popular media. The results show that e‐learning completion is influenced by individual, organizational, and learning process factors and variables. Environmental factors also influence the completion rate to a certain degree.Research limitations/implications – The data were obtained fr...
How does the shape of the substomatal chamber affect transpirational water loss

Abstract The mass transfer coefficients of diffusional water vapor loss are analytically evaluated for five qualitatively different substomatal chambers. It is shown that the typical chamber is larger than necessary to minimize this water loss.
Comparing the influence of ecology journals using citation-based indices: making sense of a multitude of metrics

The links among scholarly citations creates a tremendous network that reveals patterns of influence and flows of ideas. The systematic evaluation of these networks can be used to create aggregate measures of journal influence. To understand the citation patterns and compare influence among ecology journals, I compiled 11 popular metrics for 110 ecology journals: Journal Impact Factor (JIF), 5-year Journal Impact Factor (JIF5), Eigenfactor, Article Influence (AI), Source-Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP), SCImago Journal Report (SJR), h-index, h c -index, e-index, g-index, and AR-index. All metrics were positively correlated among ecology journals; however, there was still considerable variation among metrics. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, and Ecology Letters were the top three journals across metrics on a per article basis. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Ecology, and Molecular Ecology had the greatest overall influence on science, as indicated by the Eigenfactor. There was much greater variability among the other metrics because they focus on the mostly highly cited papers from each journal. Each influence metric has its own strengths and weaknesses, and therefore its own uses. Researchers interested in the average influence of articles in a journal would be best served by referring to AI scores. Despite the usefulness of citation-based metrics, they should not be overly emphasized by publishers and they should be avoided by granting agencies and in personnel decisions. Finally, citation-based metrics only capture one aspect of scientific influence, they do not consider the influence on legislation, land-use practices, public perception, or other effects outside of the publishing network.
Reduced serum dipeptidyl peptidase-IV after metformin and pioglitazone treatments.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) regulates metabolism by degrading incretins involved in nutritional regulation. Metformin and pioglitazone improve insulin sensitivity whereas glyburide promotes insulin secretion. Zucker diabetic rats were treated with these antidiabetic agents for 2 weeks and DPP-IV activity and expression were determined. Serum DPP-IV activity increased whereas tissue activity decreased as the rats aged. Treatment of rats with metformin, pioglitazone, and glyburide did not alter DPP-IV mRNA expression in liver or kidney. Metformin and pioglitazone significantly (P < 0.05) reduced serum DPP-IV activity and glycosylated hemoglobin. Glyburide did not lower DPP-IV activity or glycosylated hemoglobin. Regression analysis showed serum DPP-IV activity correlated with glycosylated hemoglobin (r = 0.92) and glucagon-like peptide-1 levels (r = −0.49). Metformin, pioglitazone, and glyburide had no effect on serum DPP-IV activity in vitro, indicating these are not competitive DPP-IV inhibitors. We propose the in vivo inhibitory effects observed with metformin and pioglitazone on serum DPP-IV activity results from reduced DPP-IV secretion.
Leg loading in snow skiing: Computer analyses

Abstract The complete excitation between the boot and ski was measured during snow skiing. Data from two six degree-of-freedom dynamometers mounted inside the ski were pulse-coded and FM transmitted to a remote receiving station. Data from both cruising skiing maneuvers (snowplow, stem christiana, and parallel christiana) and authentic falls were recorded. These data were subsequently analyzed both in real time and by digital computer. In the computer analyses, attention was focused on the resultant boot loads. This paper discusses two aspects of the data reduction by digital computer, computation of power spectral density estimates and normalized covariance matrices. Both of these analysis techniques not only characterize the excitation environment but also lead to important conclusions regarding safety release binding design.
The Effect of a Hill-Sachs Defect on Glenohumeral Translations, In Situ Capsular Forces, and Bony Contact Forces

Background: Hill-Sachs defects have been associated with failed repairs for anterior shoulder instability. However, the biomechanical consequences of these defects are not well understood because of the complicated interaction between the passive soft tissue and bony stabilizers.Hypothesis: The creation of a 25% Hill-Sachs defect would not significantly alter the glenohumeral translations but would increase the in situ forces in the glenohumeral capsule as well as the glenohumeral bony contact forces.Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.Methods: A robotic/universal force-moment sensor (UFS) testing system was used to apply joint compression (22 N) and an anterior or posterior load (44 N) to cadaveric shoulders (n = 9) with the skin and deltoid removed (intact) at 3 glenohumeral joint positions (abduction/external rotation): 0°/0°, 30°/30°, and 60°/60° (corresponds to 90°/90° of shoulder abduction/external rotation). A 25% bony defect on the posterolateral humeral head (defect) was then created in the...
ASSESSMENT OF LEFT VENTRICULAR FUNCTION AND HEMODYNAMICS WITH TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) plays an important role in the evaluation of left ventricular function and hemodynamics in the critical care setting. The technique provides immediate data regarding regional myocardial ischemia, global ventricular function, volume, and the presence of cardiac tamponade. This article outlines the role of TEE in the evaluation of left ventricular function in the intensive care unit and presents practical information for the use of TEE in evaluating systolic function, diastolic function, and cardiac tamponade.
Isolation of an abnormally phosphorylated erythrocyte membrane band 3 glycoprotein from patients with myotonic muscular dystrophy.

A fraction of erythrocyte Band 3 (M r , 93,000) glycoprotein that demonstrates decreased autophosphorylation in membranes from myotonic muscular dystrophy patients is demonstrated. Sequential affinity chromatography of Triton X-100 solubilized erythrocyte membrane proteins separated three specifically retained glycoprotein fractions on a Ricin Communis I-Sepharose 4B column. One fraction contains a portion of the major sialoglycoprotein (apparentM r , 78,000) and is specifically eluted from the column by 10mm NaCl and 100mm d-galactose (10/100). The two other glycoprotein fractions are eluted by 100mm NaCl, 10mm d-galactose (100/10) and 100mm NaCl, 100mm d-galactose (100/100). The composition of both fractions contains greater than 95% Band 3 (apparentM r , 93,000) glycoprotein. The quantities of glycoprotein in each fraction obtained from erythrocytes of myotonic dystrophy patients did not differ from the quantities obtained from control erythrocytes. Following endogenous protein kinase incubations of ghosts with [γ-32P]ATP, the specific [32P] phosphorylation of the 10/100 and 100/10 fractions are identical. The 100/100 fraction, which makes up approximately 3% of the total erythrocyte membrane protein, demonstrates a different pattern for myotonic dystrophy patients; specific phosphorylation was reduced by 50% relative to activity in control experiments. These findings are consistent with previous experiments that demonstrated decreased autophosphorylation of the glycoprotein portion of Band 3 (Roses & Appel, 1975,J. Membrane Biol. 20: 51) and are consistent with the autosomal dominant mode of inheritance in this disease.
Practical parallel programming

Part 1 Fundamentals: basic architectural ideas classifying architectures some example applications decomposition techniques terms and measures. Part 3 Data parallelism: basic operations an inside-out syntax other data-parallel operations automatic parallelization controlling and exploiting data placement discussion. Part 3 Shared variables: creating and coordinating processes practical synchronization mechanisms futures caching scheduling and mapping parallel programmes parallel I/O systems discussion. Part 4 Message passing: channels the crystalline model procedural message-passing systems watching programmes run discussion. Part 5 Generative communication: the generative model managing data structures in Tuple space active data structures message passing through Tuple space implementing generative communication enhancing generative communication some other high-level alternatives discussion. Appendices: the Fortran-K programming language a short history lesson recommended reading.
Evaluation of the new Amniostat-FLM test for the detection ofphosphatidylglycerol in contaminated fluids

Summary The Amniostat-FLM rapid slide test (Hana Biologies, Inc., Alameda, Calif.) for detection ofphosphatidylglycerol has previously been evaluated and has shown good correlation with the more sophisticated two-dimensional thin-layer chromatographic method. A new, ultrasensitive kit has now been released with a lower level of detection of 0.5 μg of phosphatidylglycerol per milliliter of fluid. This is the first report of this new kit, which we used with vaginal pool samples and with contaminated amniocentesis samples. We evaluated this kit for concordance with thin-layer chromatography results as well as fetal outcome. Of 48 vaginal pool samples, 41 (85%) showed concordance, whereas 39 of 42 (93%) contaminated amniocentesis samples were concordant, for an overall concordance of 89% (80 of 90 samples). Sixty-seven infants were delivered within 72 hours of the test and there were no cases of hyaline membrane disease in the presence of a positive test result. We conclude that this new, ultrasensitive kit is a good, time-saving, and reliable test for the detection of phosphatidylglycerol without the development of false-positive results even when tested on the worst possible fluid samples. A review of clinical studies involving the Amniostat-FLM is also presented. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1989;160:298-303.)
Electrostatic features of molecular recognition by cyclic urea mimics of chymotrypsin

Abstract The molecular electrostatic-potential pattern was used to investigate the electrostatic features of molecular recognition by two cyclic urea mimics of the active site of α-chymotrypsin. The structures of the mimics were obtained by molecular-mechanics evaluation of the conformational potential-energy surface of the molecules. Calculations were done by using two different atomic point-charge sets in order to assess the effect of charge on the electrostatic potential pattern. The molecules studies were: (1) a “full” mimic of chymotrypsin containing the hydroxyl, imidazole, and carboxylate anion functionalities typical of the active site of the enzyme, and (2) a “partial” mimic with only the hydroxyl and imidazole functional groups. Comparison of the molecular electrostatic-potential patterns of the two mimics in both charge sets showed that the largest differences were due to the structural addition of the carboxylate anion, rather than any particular differences in the choice of atomic point charge. For the full mimic, the pattern was essentially dominated by the negative charge on the carboxylate. Small structural changes which optimized the orientation of the catalytic components had little effect on the electrostatic potential pattern of the molecule. In the absence of the anionic functionality, greater differences were noted in the electrostatic potential pattern of the partial mimic in the two charge sets. The choice of atomic point charge was seen to influence the hydrogen-bonding pattern of the hydroxyl and imidazole moieties, resulting in differences in the spatial orientation of the electrostatic potential minima. In general, both charge sets produced molecular electrostatic-potential patterns which indicated that long-range electrostatic interactions would direct the cationic end of the substrate into the electron-rich binding site. However, specific local features of the electrostatic potential pattern were found to depend on point-charge set through the influence of charge on the hydrogen-bonding pattern.
Emotional Intelligence and Selection to Administrative Chief Residency

Objective The authors sought to determine whether emotional intelligence, as measured by the BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i), is associated with selection to administrative chief resident.
Inhibition of trout gill and soybean lipoxygenases by organotin compounds

Abstract Activity of trout gill and soybean lipoxygenase was inhibited by various low concentrations of tri‐n‐butyltin, di‐n‐butyltin and n‐butyltin chlorides at pH 7.8. Tri‐n‐butyltin (0.044–0.19 mM; 8–100% inhibition) was significantly more inhibitory against trout gill lipoxygenase than di‐n‐butyltin (0.1–0.27 mM; 17–39% inhibition) or n‐butyltin (1.2–3.6 mM; 26–43% inhibition). Soybean lipoxygenase displayed a similar sensitivity to the inhibitory effects of organotin compounds at pH 7.8. Although tri‐n‐butyltin (0.067–0.2 mM; 13–68% inhibition) was less inhibitory to soybean lipoxygenase, di‐n‐butyltin (0.134–0.537 mM; 51–75% inhibition) and n‐butyltin (0.41–1.23 mM; 33–75% inhibition) were more inhibitory towards soybean llpoxygenase compared with trout gill lipoxygenase. Concentrations of butyltins required to provide substantial inhibition of trout gill lipoxygenase were of the order of magnitude of those reported for lethal water exposure concentrations of these compounds for trout and other fish...
Discovery of Rapid Variability of the Iron K-Line Profile in the Seyfert Galaxy NGC 7314

We present evidence of rapid variability of the shape of the Fe K line in the narrow-line Seyfert galaxy NGC 7314. The time-averaged line profile is strongly peaked near 6.4 keV and extends to ~5 and ~7 keV on the red and blue sides, respectively. The X-ray continuum varies by a factor of 2 on a timescale of hundreds of seconds, and it appears that emission in the red wing of the Fe K line below ~6 keV responds to these variations on timescales of less than ~3 × 104 s. The response becomes slower and slower toward the line peak near ~6.4 keV. The line broadening is unlikely to be due to scattering in material that fully encloses both continuum- and line-emitting regions, as it would not then be possible for the continuum to vary faster than any part of the Fe K line. Doppler and gravitational broadening (corresponding to a FWHM of ~8 × 104 km s-1) are likely to dominate. We show that the line-emitting region cannot lie completely outside r = 4.1 × 1015 cm from the continuum source. This implies a strong upper limit on the putative black hole mass of 4.7 × 109 M☉ for a Schwarzschild metric and 2.3 × 1010 M☉ for a maximally rotating Kerr metric. If the Fe K line originates entirely in an accretion disk, the disk cannot be highly ionized and has an inclination greater than 33°. The equivalent width of the line is model dependent, most likely to be in the range ~300-460 eV, but could formally be as small as ~130 eV. An obvious interpretation of the less variable narrow core of the iron line is that it originates in distant, cold matter such as a molecular torus. In this case, low and high disk inclinations are preferred for ionized and neutral disks, respectively.
They call it competition. Presidential address.

It is not often that one has the opportunity to discuss a subject, personally selected, before a more or less captive audience with the sophistication of the membership of the Western Surgical Association. It is a distinct honor. In selecting this subject, I took the advice of Dr Dale Liechty, a former president of the Association, to editorialize. In selecting this title, I recalled a historical novel read many years ago,They Call It Patriotism, in which intrigue involved in the initiation of World War I was emphasized.1Although intrigue is not, I believe, dominant in the changing role of competition in medicine and surgery, there are ramifications that permit a commentary. Samuel Johnson is said to have opined to the effect that patriotism in public life is the last refuge of the scoundrel. Manipulation of competition may be considered the last refuge of the scoundrel in medicine and