cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unit activity of the cerebral and visceral ganglia of the mussel, Mytilus edulis and the coordinated control of ciliary movement.

Abstract 1. Direct application of serotonin (5-HT) or weak concentrations (10 −7 M) of acetylcholine (ACh) to the cerebral ganglion of the mussel, Mytilus edulis produced a marked increase in electrical activity recorded from cells of the visceral ganglion. 2. Exogenous application of dopamine (DA) had the opposite effect. 3. Application of phenoxybenzamine (PBZ) to the cerebral ganglion prior to ACh prevented activation of visceral ganglion cells and activation of ciliary beating. 4. A model is presented to account for the coordinated control of ciliary beating by the cerebral and visceral ganglia.
Bifurcation of periodic motions in two weakly coupled van der Pol oscillators

Abstract We study a pair of weakly coupled van der Pol oscillators and investigate the bifurcations of phase-locked periodic motions which occur as the coupling coefficients are varied. Perturbation methods are used and their relation to the topological structure of solutions in the four dimensional phase space is discussed. While the problem is formulated for general linear coupling, the case of detuning plus diffusive coupling via displacement and velocity is discussed in more detail. It is shown that up to four phase-locked periodic motions can exist in this case.
Young Children's Awareness of Their Mental Activity: The Case of Mental Rotation

From Piaget's early work to current theory of mind research, young children have been characterized as having little or no awareness of their mental activity. This conclusion was reexamined by assessing children's conscious access to visual imagery. Four-year-olds, 6-year-olds, and adults were given a mental rotation task in the form of a computer game, but with no instructions to use mental rotation and no other references to mental activity. During the task, participants were asked to explain how they made their judgments. Reaction time patterns and verbal reports revealed that 6-year-olds were comparable to adults both in their spontaneous use and subjective awareness of mental rotation. Four-year-olds who referred to mental activity to explain their performance had reaction time and error patterns consistent with mental rotation; 4-year-olds who did not refer to mental activity responded randomly. A second study with 5-year-olds produced similar results. This research demonstrates that conscious access to at least 1 type of thinking is present earlier than previously recognized. It also helps to clarify the conditions under which young children will and will not notice and report their mental activity. These findings have implications for competing accounts of children's developing understanding of the mind and for the "imagery debate".
Self-processes and learning environment as influences in the development of expertise in instructional design

A major challenge for learning theories is to illuminate how particular kinds of learning experiences and environments promote the development of expertise. Research has been conducted into novice-expert differences in various domains, but few studies have examined the processes involved in learners’ expertise development. In an attempt to understand the development of expertise in instructional design (ID) among graduate students, this study aimed to investigate (1) the patterns of expertise development among ID learners over an extended period; (2) the roles of expert modelling, peer feedback, self-reflection and participation in a supportive learning community in learners’ expertise development; and (3) the interactions of individual differences and the learning environment in learners’ expertise development. A qualitative design was used to investigate students’ expertise development across a range of dimensions. The participants were two cohorts of 11 graduate students in a program on instructional psychology and design. Data, including observations, interviews, design documents, metacognitive essays and peer feedback, were collected for triangulation and in-depth analysis. The results showed that the two cohorts exhibited similar patterns in their ID expertise development. These development processes were influenced by both self-processes and social influences. Self-processes are determined by the perceptions, motivation and prior knowledge that students bring into the learning environment. Social influences are characterised by a learning community that encourages peer interactions and feedback and is supported by expert modelling and scaffolding.
General Motor’s great experiments: foundations for Lansing Grand River Assembly

This paper revisits the past and provides an extensive overview and analysis of the three major experiments conducted by General Motor’s (GM) in the 1980s. Each experiment offered an entirely different paradigm for auto manufacturing, for union-management and employee-management relations. Although all aspects of the three experiments can be viewed today in Lansing Grand River Assembly (LGRA), there is one system has clearly become dominant. In this study, we examine the elements of all the three systems and demonstrate how the success of NUMMI led to the wide-spread adoption of lean manufacturing by GM in the past two decades.
Structure and ionic conductivity of nanoscale gadolinia-doped ceria thin films

Abstract Nanoscale 20 mol% gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC) thin films were prepared by RF sputtering on single crystal (0001) Al 2 O 3 substrates. The films were polycrystalline with columnar grains that were very highly textured along the (111) direction. A moderate amount of lattice strain was observed when the thickness was less than 81 nm, similar to the grain size. Impedance spectroscopy measurements between 300 °C and 650 °C demonstrated that GDC thin films achieved highest conductivity at 81 nm thickness. The activation energy was ≈ 0.75 eV when thickness was under 81 nm but increased as the thickness increased above 81 nm. Constant conductivity values for all samples as the oxygen partial pressure varied between 10 − 3 atm and 1 atm demonstrated that the conductivity was predominantly ionic.
VITAMIN ANALYSIS BY MICROBIAL AND PROTOZOAN ORGANISMS: RESPONSE TO FOOD PRESERVATIVES AND NEUTRALIZATION SALTS

Vitamin analyses using protozoa (Tetrahymena pyriformis, Ochromonas danica and Ochromonas malhamensis) as test organisms were found to he affected by lower concentrations of neutralization salts than were the vitamin analyses which used bacteria and yeast as test organisms. Neutralization salts are formed during vitamin extraction procedures. Growth of protozoa and yeast was affected by the food preservatives-sodium sorbate, sodium propionate and sodium benzoate. Except for sodium benzoate inhibition of Lactobacillus leichmannii, the growth of bacterial test cultures was not affected by these chemicals. Levels of the neutralization salts and food preservatives in vitamin assays that are required to affect the growth of the test organisms were calculated. These levels were compared to the concentrations of salts formed by accepted vitamin extraction procedures to determine the dilutions of sample extracts necessary to avoid interference. Similar calculations were completed to determine minimal dilutions of foods necessary to avoid the effects of food preservatives on the test organisms. Acids and bases that neutralized to form salts that had the least effect on the growth of the test cultures were determined.
Experimental Bioluminescence Tomography with Fully Parallel Radiative-transfer-based Reconstruction Framework

Bioluminescence imaging is a very sensitive imaging modality, used in preclinical molecular imaging. However, in its planar projection form, it is non-quantitative and has poor spatial resolution. In contrast, bioluminescence tomography (BLT) promises to provide three dimensional quantitative source information. Currently, nearly all BLT reconstruction algorithms in use employ the diffusion approximation theory to determine light propagation in tissues. In this process, several approximations and assumptions that are made severely affect the reconstruction quality of BLT. It is therefore necessary to develop novel reconstruction methods using high-order approximation models to the radiative transfer equation (RTE) as well as more complex geometries for the whole-body of small animals. However, these methodologies introduce significant challenges not only in terms of reconstruction speed but also for the overall reconstruction strategy. In this paper, a novel fully-parallel reconstruction framework is proposed which uses a simplified spherical harmonics approximation (SPN). Using this framework, a simple linear relationship between the unknown source distribution and the surface measured photon density can be established. The distributed storage and parallel operations of the finite element-based matrix make SPN-based spectrally resolved reconstruction feasible at the small animal whole body level. Performance optimization of the major steps of the framework remarkably improves reconstruction speed. Experimental reconstructions with mouse-shaped phantoms and real mice show the effectiveness and potential of this framework. This work constitutes an important advance towards developing more precise BLT reconstruction algorithms that utilize high-order approximations, particularly second-order self-adjoint forms to the RTE for in vivo small animal experiments.
Cultural Diversity on Campus: a Look At Intercollegiate Football Coaches:

Those who attempt to increase cultural diversity in social organizations need to consider perceptions of access or opportunity for prestigious and visible positions. This research investigated career option viability for the positions of college athletic director and football coach through the examination of social characteristics of persons holding these positions at a sample of NCAA Division I-A institutions. Eighty-eight of the 105 institutions contacted supplied a copy of their 1990 football media guide. From these media guides, data were compiled for athletic directors, head football coaches, and full time assistant football coaches. Results clearly show that blacks were underrepresented at the athletic director, head coach, coordinator, and assistant coach positions. Additional results examining centrality ofposition played and position coached suggest that racial discrimi nation is institutionalized. Consequently, the pattern is likely to continue in the absence Of meaningful interventions. These d...
Unitarity and Monojet Bounds on Models for DAMA, CoGeNT, and CRESST-II

If dark matter interacts with quarks or gluons, the mediator of these interactions is either directly accessible at the LHC or is so heavy that its effects are encoded in contact operators. We find that the self-consistency of a contact operator description at the LHC implies bounds on the mediator scale stronger than those found from missing energy searches. This translates into spin-independent elastic scattering cross-sections at a level < 10^-41 cm^2, with direct implications for the DAMA, CoGeNT, and CRESST-II anomalies. We then carefully explore the potential of monojet searches in the light mediator limit, focusing on a Z' model with arbitrary couplings to quarks and dark matter. We find that the Tevatron data currently provides the most stringent bounds for dark matter and Z' masses below 100 GeV, and that these searches can constrain models for the DAMA, CoGeNT, and CRESST-II anomalies only if the mediator can decay to a pair of dark matter particles.
The 'clamshell problem'-interpolation of shaped reflectors and other smooth surfaces

An interpolation method for shaped reflector antennas and similar smooth surfaces is developed using cubic spline interpolants in a parametric representation. Ordinary one-dimensional splines are combined in tensor products to give a two-dimensional interpolant for each cartesian component of points of the surface. The two independent variables are the polar coordinates of rays traced from an aperture disk. This ray tracing maps a grid of lines from the aperture to the surface being interpolated and gives a general-purpose method for interpolating smooth surfaces. The polar coordinates are partitioned into uniform intervals, which simplifies the calculations. The interpolant is differentiated to provide partial derivatives of the surface coordinates, and these derivatives are combined to give surface normals and Jacobians. The bicubic spline is also integrated to give a general-purpose two-dimensional integration routine. The parametric form makes it easy to find a variety of cross sections, boundaries, inflection points, and other characteristics of the surface. >
Contribution of damped passive recoil to the measured shortening velocity of skinned rabbit and sheep muscle fibres.

Maximum shortening velocities of skinned fibres from rabbit psoas and sheep extensor digitorum longus muscles were measured by the slack test and by extrapolating force-velocity curves to zero load. Both overall muscle velocity and sarcomere velocity were measured with each method. Maximum sarcomere velocity measured by the slack test was not significantly different from that assessed from the force-velocity curves (p> 0.1). Maximum overall muscle velocity measured from the slack test was significantly (p > 0.001) and substantially (62% rabbit, 83% sheep) greater than maximum sarcomere velocity. The difference is attributed to damped recoil of the series elastic elements contributing to the overall muscle velocity. The extent and time course of this damped recoil in isotonic steps was assessed from comparisons of overall muscle length and sarcomere length records during isotonic steps. When the records were shifted and scaled so that they superposed during the late stages of isotonic shortening, there was a substantial difference between the early parts of the records. This difference was reduced by about half in association with the step and the remaining half declined at a diminishing rate following the step, lasting longer with lower loads. This result is explained by about half of the series elastic element behaving as a viscoelastic element and half being undamped. With steps to the lowest isotonic loads, which averaged 6.7% of isometric force in sheep and 9.5% in rabbit, the total series elastic element recoil (both damped and undamped) averaged 3.4% and 2.7% of fibre segment length, respectively, in sheep and rabbit. The rapid series elastic element recoil at zero load, assessed from the slack test, was approximately 50% higher, indicating a substantial series compliance at low forces. The contribution of an additional, longer lasting, damped series elastic element recoil to the overall muscle velocity can explain the greater maximum velocity that is frequently found with the slack test.
Molecular basis for decreased folylpoly-γ-glutamate synthetase expression in a methotrexate resistant CCRF-CEM mutant cell line

A CCRF-CEM mutant, CEM-p, has been shown to exhibit resistance to methotrexate due to decreased methotrexate polyglutamate accumulation. To ascertain the mechanism(s) responsible for this phenotype, we analyzed FPGS and SLC19A1 mRNA expression, examined FPGS promoter activity, and determined nucleotide sequence of the FPGS promoter and full length cDNA from CCRF-CEM and CEM-p cells. We identified in FPGS from CEM-p cells three amino acid substitutions that altered the ATP binding P-loop, glutamate/folate binding, and a conserved domain located at the carboxyl-terminal. Our data demonstrated for the first time the importance of the highly conserved domain (VTGSLHLVGGV) located at the carboxyl-terminal for FPGS activity.
Design of an Ultra-low Power Receiver for 2.4GHz Applications in 90nm CMOS

An ultra low power receiver operating in 2.4GHz ISM band is designed using 90nm CMOS PTM with a IV supply voltage. This direct conversion receiver has an integrated noise figure of 4.15 dB in the 1kHz to 10MHz band. The input referred IP3 for offset of 100MHz is -22.4dBm. The LO leakage to the RF port is less than -148dB. A base-band gain stage and buffer are used to provide a reasonable output impedance and power gain. With this, input and output are matched to 50 Omega and 500 Omega with both S11 and S22 being better than -25dB. The LNA, mixers and the base-band stages with the biasing network consume less than 1.1 mW.
NIR-FT-SERS of 4″-trimethylsilylethylsulfanyl-4,4′-di(phenyleneethynylene)benzenethiol on Au nanospheres

Abstract Oligo(phenyleneethynylene) (OPE) compounds have been identified as promising molecular electronic bridges. Self-assembled monolayers of 4″-trimethylsilylethylsulfanyl-4,4′-phenyleneethynylenebenzene thiol (OPE′) on Au were characterized by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The FT-Raman spectrum of OPE′ shows three C–S bands at 834, 1086, and 1131 cm −1 . From the FT-Raman to the SERS spectra, the 1086 cm −1 band exhibits a 9 cm −1 red shift. Chemisorption of OPE′ to the gold surface occurs via oxidative cleavage of the disulfide bond and the formation of the Au–S bond. The Au–S vibration is visible in the SERS spectra at 257 cm −1 . Peaks due to the S–S and S–H stretch are observed at 544 and 2519 cm −1 , respectively, in the FT spectrum, but are unobserved in the surface-enhanced spectra. The C–H stretching region (2700–3350 cm −1 ) in the spectrum of neat OPE′ shows three distinct bands, whereas the SERS spectra show a single broad band. Assignments of vibrational bands were based on DFT calculations performed at the B3LYP level with good agreement between theoretical and experimental values. An average percent difference of 2.52 was obtained for the non-CH stretching frequencies.
SU‐FF‐T‐638: Radiation Treatment Techniques and Gastrointestinal Dose in Breast Patients

Purpose: Although it has been reported that breast cancer patients have elevated risks of secondary stomach and esophagus cancers after breast radiotreatment, dosimetric information in those organs is sparse. The purpose of this study is to investigate radiationdose to specific organs at risks (OARs), specifically, stomach, esophagus and pancreas and to find factors associated with increased dose exposure. Method and Materials: Fifty four breast cancer patients treated with CT based 3D conformal treatment plans were selected to include variations in laterality (left side vs. right side), treatment volume (with or without supraclavicular fossa) and treatment techniques (whole vs. partial breast irradiation, supine vs. prone position). Treatment plans for these patients were recalculated after the OARs were contoured. Dose were calculated using the XiO (Version 4.40). Results: Patients treated to the left breast had significantly higher dose in the stomach, with average maximum dose >400 cGy when whole breast was irradiated in supine position. Prone positioning resulted in a lower stomach dose compared to supine, with an average of 200 cGy maximum. Partial breast treatment was associated with lowest dose to stomach. Similar trend is seen in the mean dose. Further regression analysis indicated that stomach dose was positively correlated with stomach volume and reversely correlated with distance to isocenter (p<0.05). Elevated esophagus is seen in patients with supraclavicular treatment, regardless of laterality. Dose to pancreas is small (maximum average < 25 cGy). Conclusion: Radiationdose to stomach and esophagus can be substantial during breast radiotherapytreatment, depending upon laterality, target volume and treatment techniques. Prone position and PBI appear to decrease dose to stomach slightly. Dosimetric information from this work provides important base for further analyses of dose‐response relationship for secondary gastrointestinal malignancies in breast cancer patients and for selection of treatment techniques to lower dose in gastrointestinal organs.
Region-, age-, and sex-specific effects of fetal diazepam exposure on the postnatal development of neurosteroids.

Fetal exposure to diazepam (DZ), a positive modulator of GABAA receptors and an agonist at mitochondrial benzodiazine receptors, induces long-term neural and behavioral effects. This study evaluated whether the early manipulation influenced the normal development of brain levels of neurosteroids or altered steroid action at GABAA receptors. Pregnant dams were injected over gestation days 14 through 20 with DZ (2.5 mg/kg) or the vehicle. Male and female offspring were analyzed at five postnatal ages. The levels of progesterone (P), dihydroprogesterone (DHP), 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one (3α,5α-THP), testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone, and 5α-androstan-3α,17β diol were measured in the cerebral cortex and diencephalon. The results indicated that development of brain steroid levels and the impact of fetal DZ exposure were region- and sex-specific. Age-related changes in brain steroids did not mirror associated changes in circulating P and T. Age regulated the levels of all 3 progestins in the cerebral cortex, and fetal DZ exposure interacted with the development of P and DHP. The development of 3α,5α-THP in the cortex was markedly influenced by sex, with levels in males decreasing over postnatal development whereas they increased over postpubertal development in females. An adolescent surge in T levels was observed in male cortex and fetal DZ exposure prevented that surge. Steroid levels in the diencephalon were altered by age mainly in females, and DZ exposure had little effect in this region. The data support region-specific regulation of brain steroid synthesis. Only in the cerebral cortex are relevant mechanisms readily modifiable by fetal DZ exposure. However, neither sex nor fetal DZ exposure altered the response of GABAA receptors in adult cortex to neurosteroid.
Changes in the ionospheric profile and the faraday factor M with Kp

Abstract Using incoherent scatter data from Millstone Hill, we investigated the variations in the shape of the daytime, mid-latitude ionospheric electron density profile associated with changes in geomagnetic activity. The analysis performed was to deduce the dependence upon the 3-hr geomagnetic index Kp of h ( N m ), h (0·7 N m ) above and below N m , the plasma scale height H T in the range 500–1000 km, and the ratio N(1000) N(h m ) . The electron density data used spanned the solar maximum years 1968–1971. Daytime data from the period 1000 to 1600 LT were averaged separately for summer, winter and spring-fall. It is shown that the mean value M of the factor M = B cos θ sec χ used by Titheridge (1972) to relate the Faraday rotation Ω from a geostationary satellite to the total electron content N N up to 2000 km is practically the same (to within 1–2 per cent) as the M value used to relate the N T and Ω values both computed up to 1000 km. Taking advantage of this identity, we have used the linear relationship obtained between the ionospheric parameters and Kp to deduce the height at which M should be evaluated as a function of Kp .
The binding sites of cytochalasin D. II. Their relationship to hexose transport and to cytochalasin B.

Cytochalasin B (CB) was able to compete with tritiated cytochalasin D (3H-CD) for binding sites in HEp-2 cells. The pattern of inhibition suggested that CB associates with a low affinity class of CD binding sites. Glucose and maltose did not inhibit binding of 3H-CD to isolated HEp-2 plasma membrane. Inhibition of hexose transport by CD was negligible, but CD did not block the potent inhibition of this transport by CB. These results indicate that CD does not bind to the high affinity CB receptor reportedly associated with the hexose transport system, and that this receptor cannot mediate the morphological effects of CD. Both CD and CB induced contraction-zeoisis in HEp-2 cells; CB was less potent than CD, and their effects appeared to be additive. It was concluded that the high affinity binding sites for CD and CB are different, but that these congeners share a low affinity site. Both high and low affinity sites for CD appear to mediate its morphological effects; only the low affinity class appears to be involved for CB. Possible identification of the common low affinity binding site as actomyosin (detailed in Tannenbaum et al., 1977) is further discussed.
An Epistemological Inquiry into the Endocrine Disruptor Thesis

For about a decade the term endocrine disruptor has become synonymous with a new research initiative that has been investigating the effects of hormonally active xenobiotics on biological systems. The scientific thesis behind the new research initiative is discussed and it is argued that there is a need for more emphasis on theory development and conceptual clarification that will give coherence to a field experiencing a rapid growth of empirical studies. Reflections on scientific methodology in this field will also help clarify whether endocrine disruptors symbolize a new etiology of chemically induced disease or represent variations of traditional chemical toxicology.
High-Speed Arithmetic in Binary Computers

Methods of obtaining high speed in addition, multiplication, and division in parallel binary computers are described and then compared with each other as to efficiency of operation and cost. The transit time of a logical unit is used as a time base in comparing the operating speeds of different methods, and the number of individual logical units required is used in the comparison of costs. The methods described are logical and mathematical, and may be used with various types of circuits. The viewpoint is primarily that of the systems designer, and examples are included wherever doing so clarifies the application of any of these methods to a computer. Specific circuit types are assumed in the examples.
Inversion methods for physically‐based models

Physically‐based models of vegetation reflectance serve as a basis for extracting vegetation variables using directional and spectral data from modern‐borne sensors (e.g., MODIS, MISR, POLDER, SeaWiFS). Although many models have been inverted, only recently have significant efforts been made to provide operational algorithms. These efforts have exposed a need to significantly improve efficient and accurate methods for inverting these physically‐based models. The characteristics of the traditional inversion, table look‐up, neural network and other methods are discussed as well as the major achievements, advantages/disadvantages, and research issues for each method. The traditional inversion methods using repeated model runs are computationally intensive and are not appropriate for operational application on a per pixel basis for regional and global data. Thus, for larger data sets, simplified (reduced number of variables and/or physical processes) physically‐based models are generally used. The table look‐...
Photonic crystal planar lens working at low frequencies

In this paper, we demonstrate the design and fabrication of a planar lens based on the dispersion property of a photonic crystal. When a photonic crystal is illuminated with a low frequency within its dispersion diagram it behaves very similar to an isotropic material, whose resultant index is kept a constant, and is determined by the ratio of high index material and low index material. To validate our design, we performed the experiment in millimeter regime, where the photonic crystal lens was fabricated using a CNC micro-milling machine, and a millimeter wave imaging system was built based on a vector network analyzer. For the lens, we have observed its ability to collimate an incident point source both in the amplitude and phase.
Strong spin-orbit coupling and Zeeman spin splitting in angle dependent magnetoresistance of Bi2Te3

We have studied angle dependent magnetoresistance of Bi2Te3 thin film with field up to 9 T over 2–20 K temperatures. The perpendicular field magnetoresistance has been explained by the Hikami-Larkin-Nagaoka theory alone in a system with strong spin-orbit coupling, from which we have estimated the mean free path, the phase coherence length, and the spin-orbit relaxation time. We have obtained the out-of-plane spin-orbit relaxation time to be small and the in-plane spin-orbit relaxation time to be comparable to the momentum relaxation time. The estimation of these charge and spin transport parameters are useful for spintronics applications. For parallel field magnetoresistance, we have confirmed the presence of Zeeman effect which is otherwise suppressed in perpendicular field magnetoresistance due to strong spin-orbit coupling. The parallel field data have been explained using both the contributions from the Maekawa-Fukuyama localization theory for non-interacting electrons and Lee-Ramakrishnan theory of electron-electron interactions. The estimated Zeeman g-factor and the strength of Coulomb screening parameter agree well with the theory. Finally, the anisotropy in magnetoresistance with respect to angle has been described by the Hikami-Larkin-Nagaoka theory. This anisotropy can be used in anisotropic magnetic sensor applications.
Infectious mononucleosis and the spleen

Infectious mononucleosis is an extremely common problem in the athletic population. “Mono” occurs in 3% of college students. Diagnosing infectious mononucleosis requires an understanding of the clinical features such as fever, lymphadenopathy, pharyngitis, and splenomegaly, as well as laboratory findings. The time at which these clinical features and laboratory abnormalities develop is also important to understand. Splenomegaly is common, but splenic rupture is very rare. Whether an athlete may return to activity usually relates to the presence of splenomegaly and the duration of the illness. Splenic rupture has not been reported after an individual has been ill for more than 3 weeks. This article provides an overview of infectious mononucleosis. The most common complications are reviewed and the management of these problems discussed. A practical approach to determining when an athlete may return to activity is presented.
Prognostic and predictive value of p53 and p21 in breast cancer

The prognostic and predictive value of p53 has been extensively studied in breast cancer. p53 serves a multifunctional role as a transcriptional regulator, genomic stabilizer, inhibitor of cell cycle progression, facilitator of apoptosis, and also perhaps an inhibitor of angiogenesis. Abrogation of its function should therefore lead to a more aggressive breast cancer phenotype and a worse clinical outcome, and indeed the preponderance of studies confirm this, with the risk of recurrence and death increasing by 50% or more if p53 is abnormal. Lack of unanimity of results may be due to differences in technique, study design, or population, as well as the subjectivity inherent in some approaches; however, the complexity and random nature of genomic change present in cancer cells may well also contribute to the lack of unanimity. Because many anticancer agents may exert a therapeutic effect through genomic damage and subsequent triggering of apoptosis, and because p53 can respond to genomic damage and facilitate apoptosis, it can be hypothesized that an intact p53 would predict sensitivity to therapy. Present data in breast cancer, however, does not clearly indicate that this is the case. There are several potential explanations. Study designs to accurately test the predictive value of a molecular marker are more exacting and difficult to achieve than prognostic studies. There may also be multiple alternative pathways, not involving p53, that play a part in determining the therapeutic effect of a treatment. The prognostic value of a downstream effector of p53 has also been assessed, though less extensively. p21 is transcriptionally upregulated by p53 and is an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases and thus of cell cycle progression. Higher levels of p21 might indicate a more indolent type of breast cancer. However, data from a number of clinical studies is very conflicting, and at present p21 is not a promising prognostic factor in breast cancer.
Recsplorer: recommendation algorithms based on precedence mining

We study recommendations in applications where there are temporal patterns in the way items are consumed or watched. For example, a student who has taken the Advanced Algorithms course is more likely to be interested in Convex Optimization, but a student who has taken Convex Optimization need not be interested in Advanced Algorithms in the future. Similarly, a person who has purchased the Godfather I DVD on Amazon is more likely to purchase Godfather II sometime in the future (though it is not strictly necessary to watch/purchase Godfather I beforehand). We propose a precedence mining model that estimates the probability of future consumption based on past behavior. We then propose Recsplorer: a suite of recommendation algorithms that exploit the precedence information. We evaluate our algorithms, as well as traditional recommendation ones, using a real course planning system. We use existing transcripts to evaluate how well the algorithms perform. In addition, we augment our experiments with a user study on the live system where users rate their recommendations.
Flexible tip guides and intermediate catheters: two center experience and a proposed taxonomy

Background Stable access to target lesions is foundational to endovascular therapy, be it in hemorrhagic or ischemic disease. Continued evolution in access technology has resulted in next generation catheters that afford improved trackability and proximal support. Objective Assess safety and patterns of use at two high volume centers, and conceptualize usage patterns. Materials and methods A retrospective review of 608 cases in which a ‘next generation’ catheter was used during 2008–2010 at Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, Ohio, USA) and throughout 2009–2010 at Emory University Hospital (Atlanta, Georgia, USA) was conducted, and the cases classified by indication. Catheter placement, distal most location, and related complications were recorded and experience summarized. We also reviewed the differences in the catheters and the rationale for catheter selection, as well as relative costs for each approach. Results 311 Neuron 053, 166 Neuron 070, 36 distal access catheter (DAC) 3.9 F, 61 DAC 4.3 F, and 34 DAC 5.2 F catheters were deployed. Of these, 459 placements were in the anterior circulation, 130 in the posterior circulation, 11 in the external carotid artery, and eight were used intravenously. Complication rates were 9/131 (6.9%) for the DAC catheter group, 16/311 (5.1%) for the Neuron 053 group, and 14/166 (8.4%) for the Neuron 070 group (p=0.37, χ2 test). Conclusions Next generation access catheters possess characteristics that blend qualities of traditional microcatheters and stiff guide catheters. There was no statistically significant difference in complication rates between the various catheter families in this small retrospective review, and the complication rates were similar to historical complication rates.
INTERSTITIAL COMPARTMENT PATHOLOGY AND SPERMATOGENIC DISRUPTION IN TESTES FROM IMPOTENT DIABETIC MEN

Studies utilizing animal models of diabetes suggest that diabetic complications of impotence involve structural lesions in the testis as part of an overall defect in the pituitary-testicular axis. In the present study testicular biopsies from ten oligospermic and/or impotent men with diabetes were evaluated by light and electron microscopy. One biopsy was judged normal. The remaining tissue showed variable testicular pathology ranging from minimally to grossly affected. Seminiferous tubules had decreased tubule diameters, hyalinized tubule walls, and occluded lumina owing either to epithelial encroachment or cellular debris and exfoliated round germ cells. Sertoli cells were vacuolated and showed a high degree of apical cell membrane redundancy and degeneration. Although Sertoli-Sertoli cell junctional complexes appeared normal, Sertoli junctional specializations associated with spermatids were structurally abnormal or absent. All tubules were variably depleted of adluminal compartment germ cell types. The interstitial compartment was filled with a collagen-rich extracellular matrix concentrated around small blood vessels and seminiferous tubule walls. Capillaries and lymphatic endothelia appeared structurally abnormal and compromised by the interstitial “matrix expansion.” Some Leydig cells contained a variable number of small to large lipid droplets, vacuoles, and secondary lysosomes. Results indicate the presence of tissue pathology in testes of impotent diabetic men. Discrete ultrastructural lesions in apical Sertoli cell cytoplasm are associated with spermatogenic disruption and morphological changes in the interstitial compartment suggest microvascular complications.
Cisapride in the treatment of visual hallucinations caused by vision loss: the Charles Bonnet syndrome.

The authors describe the use of cisapride (Propulsid), a potent 5-HT 3 antagonist, in the treatment of visual hallucinations in two patients with vision loss (the Charles Bonnet syndrome).
Snow Event Effects on Interstate Highway Crashes

This study compares snow event and equivalent nonsnow interstate vehicular crash rates and investigates weather-related elements that may contribute to crash occurrence during snow events. Vehicular crashes reported in the state of Iowa are examined on seven different sections of the interstate highway system during the 1995/1996, 1996/1997, and part of the 1997/1998 winter seasons. A geographic information system was utilized to combine crash records with weather and traffic count data to obtain the data set analyzed in this study. A significant increase was observed when winter snow event crash rates on the seven interstate highway sections were compared to crash rates on those same sections during equivalent nonsnow conditions. Crash, weather, and traffic data were further analyzed to identify snow event elements that play important roles in crash occurrence on interstate highways. The results of a Poisson model for crash frequency indicated that snow event duration, snowfall intensity, and average win...
On the theory of self-adjusting models

A method of obtaining the self-adjusting action in nonstationary linear models has been derived. A stability theorem establishing the local asymptotic stability of the self-adjusting mechanism in quasi stationary tracking has been proved.
Daily variation of serum acylcarnitines and amino acids

To characterize daily variation of amino acids (AAs) and acylcarnitines (ACs) in response to feeding and activity, we measured serum metabolites at various times and after various activities during the day. Subjects were admitted overnight for serial serum sampling, collected in the evening (6-8pm, n=40), before rising from bed or eating (8AM, n=40), 1 hour after rising but before eating (9 AM, n=20), 1-2 hours after rising and breakfast (9-10 AM, n=40), and at noon (12 PM, n=20). Measurements of 15 AAs and 45 ACs were performed by quantitative tandem mass spectrometry using stable-isotope dilution. Coefficients of variation within and between patients were calculated for individual metabolite values and factors derived from principal components analysis. The change of state between timepoints was evaluated by nearest neighbor non-parametric analysis of values at one timepoint compared to the next subsequent value. Relative to baseline AM recumbent concentrations, AA concentrations rose after activity and feeding while AC concentrations rose after activity and decreased with feeding. Furthermore, for all AAs, ACs, and their factors, biological variation was quantifiably evident and distinct from daily variation. This study confirms the daily variation of AAs and provides the first report of daily variation for a large panel of ACs. Although standardization of sample collection is highly desirable to control for daily variation (within a subject due to activity or feeding), this study demonstrated measurable biological variability (across subjects) suggesting that non-standardized sample collections could potentially provide insights into specific AA and AC metabolic pathways and disease mechanisms.
Elderly Drivers' Perceptions of Their Driving Abilities Compared to Their Cognitive Skills and Driving Performance

Occupational therapy is concerned with independence. The ability to drive is directly related to independence in that a person is free to come and go without restrictions. Intact cognitive functioning is important to safe driving, but often cognitive impairment can occur as one ages and jeopardize safe driving. This study compared 115 elderly drivers' perceptions of their driving ability with clinically tested cognitive skills needed for driving and their actual driving performance. Chi-square analysis of data revealed no significant difference between (1) how drivers perceived their ability and their tested cognitive skills, (2) how drivers perceived their ability and their actual driving performance, and (3) individuals' tested cognitive skills and their actual driving performance. Limitations of the study and ideas for future research are provided.
Insulin-like growth factors and ovarian follicular development.

Introduction INSULIN-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and its structural homologue, IGF-II, are low molecular weight peptides that promote cellular mitosis and differentiation in a variety of systems and are believed to play a role in cyclic ovarian follicular development. In 1978, IGF-I and IGF-II were purified and sequenced by Rinderkneckt and Humbel (1, 2), and since that time there has been an exponential accumulation of information regarding these peptides, as well as their receptors, and their binding proteins (IGFBPs), constituents of the “IGF autocrine/paracrine system.” These constituents have been examined in various tissues in vivo under a variety of physiological conditions and in vitro in numerous cell and tissue culture systems in several species (for review see Refs. 3–9). A decade ago, research on the IGFs focused on skeletal growth in childhood, a subspecialty of pediatric endocrinology. In the intervening years, the arena of research inquiry extended to other disciplines, including nephrolog...
Nursing parameters in captive killer whales (Orcinus orca)

We examined nursing behaviors for a population of captive-born killer whales (four females, three males) at SeaWorld parks from birth until 90 days of age. Nursing parameters examined included cumulatives of suckles per day, bouts per day, and suckle duration (seconds) per day. Daily cumulatives of all nursing parameters peaked within the first 2 days after birth then decreased through time. For the ages from birth until 42 days, data were converted using loge-loge transformations to allow linear regression modeling. Since these parameters were characterized by autocorrelation, bootstrapping was used to obtain parameter estimates for comparisons between sexes and cow parity. Both males and females, as well as calves born to primiparous and multiparous cows, exhibited similar nursing patterns. However, there were statistically significant differences (α 0.05) between genders (means[sd] for males and females, respectively; suckles 3,772.7[412.4] and 3,276.3[1,226.5]; bouts 1,238.3[189.0] and 1,103.3[96.4]; suckle duration [seconds] 28,990.7[5,861.9] and 29,233.0[5,255.0]) and cow parity (means[sd] for primiparous and multiparous, respectively; suckles 4,459.0[606.7] and 3,101.0[753.8]; bouts 1,240.0[243.3] and 1,129.6[116.2]; suckle duration [seconds] 32,415.0[5,212.8] and 27,814.8[4854.5]). Equal amounts of nursing occurred from both left and right mammary glands for the 42-day time period (means[sd] [seconds] for left and right, respectively; 13,800.4[2,787.0] and 15,328.7[2,471.0]; P = 0.30). Zoo Biol 18:373–384, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The development of a journal evaluation database using Microsoft ACCESS

(1996). The development of a journal evaluation database using Microsoft ACCESS. Serials Review: Vol. 22, No. 4, pp. 27-34.
Hospice of the Red River Valley: A nonprofit's response to for-profit competition

Research of nonprofit versus for-profit competition points to potential quality and access advantages of the nonprofit, tied to shared community values leading to enhanced social capital and legitimacy, whereas the for-profit is known for cost and scale advantages. However, the prevailing mode of thinking in mixed-form competitive contexts urges nonprofits to become “more businesslike” and imitate for-profit attributes. This qualitative study of a nonprofit organization facing new for-profit competition illustrates that while it is possible and advisable to learn from for-profit competitors, it is not necessary or even desirable for the nonprofit to abandon its own unique advantages. Although nonprofits should be increasingly sensitive to cost and scale advantages, they do not have to imitate for-profit attributes and play the low-cost game. A competitive response to for-profit challenges that is carefully crafted and executed based on the unique advantages of the nonprofit organization can truly win the day.
Estrone-induced cell proliferation and differentiation in the mammary gland of the female Noble rat

In this study we examined the influence of estrone on proliferation and differentiation in the mammary gland of female Noble rats. Estrone treatment increased proliferation in mammary epithelial cells at days 3 and 7, and peaked by day 11 of estrone exposure. In addition, estrone exposure altered cell cycle kinetics. Animals exposed to estrone for 11 days demonstrated a 9-fold increase in the cells in G1 phase and a 48-fold increase in the cells in S phase, compared to those of controls. Differentiation, measured by the degree of lobular maturation, was significantly increased in the treatment group by day 7 and continued to mature through day 21 post estrone implant. The appearance of the mammary glands in these animals approached the morphology normally found during pregnancy and lactation. In a subset of animals we examined the effects of a concurrent treatment with luteolin, a bioflavonoid which has been shown to inhibit estrone binding to type II estrogen receptors. Luteolin significantly reversed the effects of estrone treatment on both proliferation and differentiation in these animals. Changes in proliferation and cell cycle kinetics have been shown to lead to genetic instability, ultimately resulting in cell transformation. Our results indicated an increase in proliferative cells by > 2-fold and a perturbation in cell cycle kinetics from estrone exposure. These changes may play a role in the induction of estrone-induced mammary cancer in the Noble rat model. In addition, the anti-proliferative action of luteolin suggests that it may play a protective role in estrone-induced mammary carcinogenesis.
Real-time measurement of outdoor tobacco smoke particles.

Abstract The current lack of empirical data on outdoor tobacco smoke (OTS) levels impedes OTS exposure and risk assessments. We sought to measure peak and time-averaged OTS concentrations in common outdoor settings near smokers and to explore the determinants of time-varying OTS levels, including the effects of source proximity and wind. Using five types of real-time airborne particle monitoring devices, we obtained more than 8000 min worth of continuous monitoring data, during which there were measurable OTS levels. Measurement intervals ranged from 2 sec to 1 min for the different instruments. We monitored OTS levels during 15 on-site visits to 10 outdoor public places where active cigar and cigarette smokers were present, including parks, sidewalk cafes, and restaurant and pub patios. For three of the visits and during 4 additional days of monitoring outdoors and indoors at a private residence, we controlled smoking activity at precise distances from monitored positions. The overall average OTS respira...
Economic analysis of microcomputer hardware

Economic analysis of the hardware characteristics of the personal computer segment of the microcomputer market indicates that the variables that most affect cost are the bundle of attributes offered by the micros. Interestingly, certain technological characteristics found to be important explanatory variables for cost in larger computers were not found to be significant for micros.