cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Methods for Management Research in the 1970's: An Ecological Systems Approach

This article deals with the increasing number of warnings that the field of management is declining. Starting with the premise that this decline is due to the failure of management scholars to meet...
Human ovarian cancers express somatostatin receptors.

ABSTRACT. Characteristics of receptors for somatostatin (SST) analog RC-160 on 17 surgical specimens of human epithelial ovarian cancer and two human ovarian cancer lins were determined by ligand competition assays. The expression of mRNA for four SST receptor subrypes (sst1, sst3, sst2A, sst5) was investigated by RT-PCR. Thirteen of 17 specimens (76%) exhibited high affinity binding sites for RC-160 with Kd = 6.55 nmol/L and a Bmax = 575.4 fmol/mg membrane protein. Specific receptors for RC-160 were also found in xenografts of OV-1063 and UCI-107 human ovarian cancer lines. The mRNA for sst1 was detected in 65% of the ovarian cancer specimens, while the incidence ov sst2A, sst3, and sst5 was 65%, 41% and 24%, respectively. Both ovarian cancer cell lines also expressed mRNA for these four subtypes. The presence of these SST receptor subtypes in human ovarian cancers allows the use of SST analogs and their radionuclide and cytoxic derivatives for the diagnosis and treatment of this malignancy.
Changes in Academic Attributes Associated with Establishment of Departments of Emergency Medicine

. Objective: To test the hypothesis that establishment of academic departments of emergency medicine (EM) is associated with improvements in attributes valued by traditional academic medicine. Methods: Cross-sectional, observational analysis of academic departments of EM at all accredited allopathic medical schools, as of July 1, 1996. Nonre-spondents were mailed questionnaires three times, followed by phone contact. All variables were examined as before-after comparisons associated with department formation. Findings were reported as absolute differences, bounded by 99% confidence intervals (99% CIs), adjusted for multiple comparisons. Results: Of 50 departments, 49 responded. Department formation was associated with a 25% (99% CI 5% to 46%) increase in accredited EM residencies, a 33% (99% CI 9% to 56%) increase in extramural grant funding, and 46% (99% CI 23% to 69%) and 34% (99% CI 8% to 58%) increases in departmental representation on medical school curriculum and promotions committees, respectively. The mean increase in academic faculty full-time equivalents (FTEs) was 6.7 (99% CI 3.3 to 10.1). There were average increments of 2.1 FTEs (99% CI 1.4 to 2.7) and 0.8 FTEs (99% CI 0.4 to 1.1) attaining senior ranks of associate professor and professor, respectively. With a top possible Likert scale score of 3, departmental status was associated with essentially identical improvements in the quality of faculty [2.6 (99% CI 2.4 to 2.8)], EM residents [2.6 (99% CI 2.4 to 2.8)], student teaching [2.7 (99% CI 2.5 to 2.9)], and overall academic productivity [2.8 (99% CI 2.7 to 3.0)]. Conclusion: Establishment of academic departments of EM at medical schools is associated with quantitatively and statistically significant improvements in many academic attributes that are mutually beneficial for both the institution and the specialty.
Object-oriented persistent homology

Persistent homology provides a new approach for the topological simplification of big data via measuring the life time of intrinsic topological features in a filtration process and has found its success in scientific and engineering applications. However, such a success is essentially limited to qualitative data classification and analysis. Indeed, persistent homology has rarely been employed for quantitative modeling and prediction. Additionally, the present persistent homology is a passive tool, rather than a proactive technique, for classification and analysis. In this work, we outline a general protocol to construct object-oriented persistent homology methods. By means of differential geometry theory of surfaces, we construct an objective functional, namely, a surface free energy defined on the data of interest. The minimization of the objective functional leads to a Laplace-Beltrami operator which generates a multiscale representation of the initial data and offers an objective oriented filtration process. The resulting differential geometry based object-oriented persistent homology is able to preserve desirable geometric features in the evolutionary filtration and enhances the corresponding topological persistence. The cubical complex based homology algorithm is employed in the present work to be compatible with the Cartesian representation of the Laplace-Beltrami flow. The proposed Laplace-Beltrami flow based persistent homology method is extensively validated. The consistence between Laplace-Beltrami flow based filtration and Euclidean distance based filtration is confirmed on the Vietoris-Rips complex for a large amount of numerical tests. The convergence and reliability of the present Laplace-Beltrami flow based cubical complex filtration approach are analyzed over various spatial and temporal mesh sizes. The Laplace-Beltrami flow based persistent homology approach is utilized to study the intrinsic topology of proteins and fullerene molecules. Based on a quantitative model which correlates the topological persistence of fullerene central cavity with the total curvature energy of the fullerene structure, the proposed method is used for the prediction of fullerene isomer stability. The efficiency and robustness of the present method are verified by more than 500 fullerene molecules. It is shown that the proposed persistent homology based quantitative model offers good predictions of total curvature energies for ten types of fullerene isomers. The present work offers the first example to design object-oriented persistent homology to enhance or preserve desirable features in the original data during the filtration process and then automatically detect or extract the corresponding topological traits from the data.
Early results from Magsat

Papers presented at the May 27, 1981 meeting of the American Geophysical Union concerning early results from the Magsat satellite program, which was designed to study the near-earth magnetic fields originating in the core and lithosphere, are discussed. The satellite was launched on October 30, 1979 into a sun-synchronous (twilight) orbit, and re-entered the atmosphere on June 11, 1980. Instruments carried included a cesium vapor magnetometer to measure field magnitudes, a fluxgate magnetometer to measure field components and an optical system to measure fluxgate magnetometer orientation. Early results concerned spherical harmonic models, fields due to ionospheric and magnetospheric currents, the identification and interpretation of fields from lithospheric sources. The preliminary results confirm the possibility of separating the measured field into core, crustal and external components, and represent significant developments in analytical techniques in main-field modelling and the physics of the field sources.
The synthesis of teichoic acid IV. On the regulation of cytidine 5′-diphosphateglycerol concentration

Abstract The partial purification of a cytidine 5′-diphosphateglycerol pyrophosphatase from Bacillus subtilis (NCTC 3610) is described. The K m for cytidine 5′-diphosphateglycerol is 1.6·10 −3 M . It is suggested that the function of this enzyme is to prevent the accumulation of cytidine 5′-diphosphateglycerol under conditions where the rate of teichoic acid synthesis is decreased. A similar mechanism is suggested for the control in vivo of the concentration of some other nucleoside diphosphate sugars.
Utilization of sensory feedback during SMT assembly

This paper investigates the insertion of inline sensors into Surface Mount Technology (SMT) production lines for the purpose of improving yield and reducing production costs by elevating the quality level of the product to the six sigma level. Each process step in the assembly process, starting with board loading, through deposition, part placement, and reflow will be discussed for monitoring in real time for deviations. When deviations are detected, feedback can be sent either to operators or the equipment for corrective action thus providing a closed loop SMT assembly process. A study of an SMT assembly line indicates that video surveillance at the beginning of the line can be used to inspect the quality of the Printed Wire Boards (PWBs) before additional processing actions are taken on them. Similar surveillance techniques employed in the deposition stage to ensure that only PWBs with proper solder paste deposition are allowed to continue will be discussed. The parts placement stage provides many opportunities for the placement of inline sensors ranging from inspection of the parts for defects and orientation errors before they are placed to determining their exact position on the PWB after they have been placed. The potential of similar placement monitoring techniques before and after reflow for monitoring this process are explored.
Dynamic Characteristic and Experiment Research of a Rotor-Bearing System Supported by Oil-Film

The FEM was employed to establish a nonlinear dynamical model of a rotor-bearing experimental system. The fixed interface mode synthesis dimension reduction method was adopted to to save the computing time.The Newmark-β method was employed to solve the reduced model numerically. And the three-dimensional spectrogram, bifurcation diagram, three-dimensional amplitude diagram, chart of axis trajectory, etc were used to analyze the nonlinear characteristic of the dynamic system comparing with those results of the experimental system. Results show that the numerical dynamic model can accurately reflect the characteristics of the nonlinear experimental system. So, it is very important practical significance to apply FEM and dimensional reduction theory into the research of the local nonlinear rotor system, which can provide more accurate verification and reference for the advanced nonlinear dynamic design of the complex rotor system.
Reproductive development and nuclear DNA content in angiosperms

Correlates of nuclear DNA content in angiosperms have been noted previously for a range of features, cellular to geographic. A new hypothesis, the correlation between nuclear DNA content and reproductive developmental features (after Cavalier-Smith, Journal of Cell Science 34, 247-268, 1978) is posed and tested here. Of three features tested (megasporogenesis, microsporogenesis, and endosperm development), megasporogenesis alone was shown to be correlated with nuclear DNA amount. The hypothesis was examined in 107 families of angiosperms using nonparametric statistics, and in 53 families of monocotyledons and outgroups using a phylogenetic test of association. A correlation was found between large genomes and successive microsporogenesis for all angiosperms, but not for monocots and dicots analyzed separately, thus underlining the importance of taking into account phylogenetic relationships in such studies. A correlation between cellular endosperm and large genomes in dicotyledons needs to be confirmed in a phylogenetic context. A tendency for deviations from monosporic megasporogenesis to occur in taxa that have a nuclear DNA content of over 9.0 pg/C was demonstrated using both phylogenetic and nonphylogenetic tests. It is hypothesized that cytoskeleton dynamics are affected in reproductive cells, enabling decoupling between nuclear and cytoplasmic cell cycles and leading to variation in reproductive development.
Turbulent Prandtl number : where are we ?

We examine critically the presently available experimental data on Turbulent Prandtl Number for the two-dimensional turbulent boundary layer, and for fully developed flow in a circular tube or a flat duct, and attempt to draw some conclusions as to where matters presently stand
Intrapancreatic Interleukin-1β Gene Expression by Specific Leukocyte Populations during Acute Pancreatitis

The importance of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis has been demonstrated by dramatic attenuation of pancreatic destruction and significant increases in survival when its actions are inhibited. The pancreas has been shown to be a major producer of IL-1β during pancreatitis but the cell(s) of origin remains unknown. Hypothesizing that infiltrating leukocytes contribute substantially, the intrapancreatic production of IL-1β was examined after specific leukocyte populations were manipulated in vivo prior to the induction of pancreatitis. Sixty-four adult male Swiss mice were assigned to one of four groups 48 hr prior to induction of pancreatitis : (1) PMN depletion via anti-murine PMN antiserum [PMN-d], (2) macrophage (M ?) depletion via anti-macrophage antiserum [M ?-d], (3) PMN and M ? depletion [PMN+M ?-d], and (4) Immunocompetent Pancreatitis. Edematous pancreatitis was induced in all experimental groups by caerulein (50 μg/kg/hr ip x 4). Animals were sacrificed 6 hr after induction of pancreatitis with severity determined by blind histologic grading and serum amylase, lipase, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. Intrapancreatic IL-1β production was determined by immunohistochemistry and semiquantitative differential RT-PCR. Pancreatitis developed in all animals receiving caerulein ; however, leukocyte-depleted animals showed significantly attenuated levels of serum amylase, lipase, and IL-6, as well as lower histologic severity scores. Similarly, pancreatitis induction in immunocompetent mice showed pancreatic infiltration of IL-1β-producing cells, whereas the leukocyte-depleted animals had significantly decreased numbers (PMN+M ?-d < M ?-d < PMN-d). IL-1β mRNA was upregulated in all animals developing pancreatitis with significantly lower levels seen in the leukocyte-depleted groups. We conclude that infiltrating leukocytes, both neutrophils and macrophages, are responsible for the majority of intrapancreatic IL-1β production during acute pancreatitis. The elimination of leukocytes and their products, including IL-1β, significantly decreases the severity of pancreatic destruction.
Strain distribution effects on the low-cycle fatigue behavior of Fe-C-Mo steels

The strain distributions obtained from monotonic finite element method (FEM) calculations have been employed to model the low-cycle fatigue (LCF) behavior of Fe-C-Mo dual-phase steels. The microstructures considered have a continuous ferrite matrix (with Mo2C precipitates) surrounding martensite packets. Two microstructural parameters have been controlled: (1) the volume fraction of martensite and (2) the strength of the ferrite matrix. The FEM approximations show that highly strained regions dominate LCF lifetimes. The experimentally observed reductions in plastic strain life for increasing martensite volume fractions are described usingMe, the strain magnification factor, which is obtained from the FEM analyses. Strengthening the ferrite matrix or reducing the volume fraction of martensite reducesMe. The cyclic softening observed is qualitatively correlated with FEM predictions of increasing plastic strain in the martensite as the ferrite strength increases. The overall cyclic hardening-softening behavior results from the combination of ferritic hardening combined with martensitic softening.
Low Cost HALO Cargo Airdrop Systems

A low cost high-altitude and low-opening (HALO) cargo airdrop system was developed to airdrop 2,500 - 10,000 lb payloads with an objective of providing precision airdrop capabilities. The system consists of the Army standard Low Cost Low Velocity parachutes and Low Cost Container that have been used in humanitarian and other Army airdrop applications. The system was successfully designed, developed and full-scale tested. Performance tests were first conducted to generate Calculated Aircraft Release Point (CARP) data to examine the basic system performance characteristics. Operation Utility Evaluation (OUE) tests were then performed using the CARP data to determine system airdrop accuracy. The mean value of 32 OUE tests was found to be 662 ft (202 m) with an uncertainty of 51 ft (16 m).
Immobilization of calcium oxide solid reactant on a yttria fabric and thermodynamic analysis of UT-3 thermochemical hydrogen production cycle

UT-3 cycle has been considered as one of the most promising thermochemical processes for hydrogen production. In order to make the cycle practical, however, the solid reactants in the cyclic reactions must have adequate lifespan and better kinetics. In this paper, hydrolysis reaction of calcium bromide, the slowest process in the cycle, was investigated theoretically and experimentally. A new type of calcium oxide reactant was fabricated by dispersing and fixing it on a yttria fabric via a comparatively straightforward and inexpensive immobilization process. The characteristics and cyclic performance of the prepared fabric samples were evaluated and compared with the conventional calcium oxide pellets. It was shown that the calcium oxide immobilized on the yttria fabric had continuous higher reactivity and comparable hydrolysis rate compared with the conventional calcium oxide pellets. A theoretical analysis of the thermodynamic cycle was also conducted. The effect of excess steam on the equilibrium conversion was significant; however, the reaction temperature was limited due to the melting point of calcium bromide. By continuously removing the product gas, the conversion in the hydrolysis reaction which is the slowest reaction in the cycle could be completed theoretically. This hypothesis was found to be true based on the experimental tests.
Sodium channel gating: no margin for error.

Abstract Voltage-gated Na + channels are the workhorses of spike generation and propagation in excitable cells. Mutations in Na + channel genes have been identified in disorders causing episodic dysfunction of heart, skeletal muscle, and brain. Lossin and colleagues from Al George's lab report in this issue of Neuron that three missense mutations of SCN1A found in a dominant epilepsy syndrome disrupt inactivation, thereby producing small persistent inward Na + currents that may result in hyperexcitability and seizures.
Coupling Capacitors for Carrier Current Applications

Coupling to high-voltage transmission lines for purposes of carrier-current communication was first. universally made by means of coupling wires. This type of coupling usually required high-power transmitting equipment, but when coupling capacitors were substituted it was possible to reduce the carrier input to the line without affecting the received signal strength. The paper gives an approximate method for determining the effectiveness of coupling wires and coupling capacitors. No attempt is made at refinements in calculations as it is only desired to show the effect of stray capacity. Curves show the change in practise from coupling wires to coupling capacitors. It is estimated that by the early part of 1928 the total number of the two types of coupling will be equal. The electrical characteristics for different types of insulation used in coupling capacitors, based on test results is given. Some important points of design for the new cable capacitor are included.
Development of microcalorimeters for high resolution X-ray spectroscopy

We have been developing microcalorimeters for use in X-ray spectroscopy. These devices have very high spectral resolution (several eV) and high intrinsic quantum efficiency, making them particularly useful for astrophysical applications. Work has evolved over a 10 year period from simple proof-of-concept devices to functional arrays. An energy resolution of 7.3 eV at 6 keV has been demonstrated for the smallest absorbers used, and a resolution of ∼12 eV for devices with a pixel area of ∼1/4 mm2. Present work is focused on making 36 pixel monolithic arrays with individual pixel areas of up to ∼1 mm2. As the size of the absorbing area is increased, high spectral resolution is more difficult to achieve not only because of the increased heat capacity, but also because of problems with uniform thermalization. We have observed non-ideal effects in large absorbers that must be controlled and minimized before the fabrication of low noise, larger area microcalorimeters can be accomplished.
A fluorescence study of dithiin complexes with trinitrobenzene (TNB) and tetracyanoethylene (TCNE)

Abstract A series of trinitrobenzene (TNB) and tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) complexes with various para substituted 2,5-bis-phenyl-1,4 dithiin compounds is studied by fluorometric techniques. Complex formation in dichloromethane is verified by fluorescence polarization and quenching methods which result in the determination of 1:1 complex formation constants at 25 and 30°C. Enthalpies of complex formation are subsequently determined and prove to be exothermic in all cases. Fluorescence characteristics of the various dithiin compounds are also reported and their fluorescence quantum yields are determined.
Oligonucleotide treatment of ras-induced tumors in nude mice.

Oligonucleotides have shown an ability to target specific oncogene transcripts and inhibit their expression in cells, but the degree to which sustained treatment can suppress the levels of an oncogenic protein enough to benefit a patient remains to be determined. This question has been studied in several ways. First, the relationship of antisense DNA inhibition to the predicted secondary structure of human H-RAS oncogene mRNA was examined in transformed mouse cells that form solid tumors. Inhibition of H-Ras expression was sequence-specific, dose-dependent, and correlated with inhibition of focus formation. The efficacy of the first intron antisense sequence in reducing H-Ras expression was greater than that of the initiation codon target. Second, H-RAS transformed solid tumor cells were pretreated in vitro with normal oligonucleotides, after which tumor growth from the treated cells was tested in nude mice. The three days of treatment with the first intron antisense DNA reduced H-Ras cellular levels by more than 90% whereas a nonspecific control DNA reduced H-Ras levels by approx 20%. Tumor growth of cells treated with H-RAS antisense oligonucleotide was significantly reduced for up to 14 d following the end of treatment and implantation into the mice, whereas the nonspecific control DNA had no significant effect. Third, H-RAS transformed bladder cancer cells were implanted into nude mice, after which the mice were treated for 31 d with oligonucleotide phosphorothioates. Tumor growth in mice treated with H-RAS 12th codon antisense oligonucleotide was reduced by about 80% throughout the treatment period, reiterating the sustained effect seen in pretreated tumor cells. However, the scrambled phosphorothioate control inhibited tumor growth by about 60%, illustrating some nonspecific inhibition. Fourth, K-RAS transformed pancreatic cancer cells were treated in culture and in nude mice. Inhibition of K-Ras expression with a phosphorothioate oligonucleotide directed against a 5′-UTR sequence was sequence-specific and dose-dependent. K-RAS transformed pancreatic cancer cells were implanted into nude mice, after which the mice were treated for 14 d with oligonucleotide phosphorothioates. Tumor growth in mice treated with K-RAS 5′-UTR antisense oligonucleotide was reduced by about 50% throughout the treatment period, reiterating the sustained effect seen with H-RAS transformed cells. In this case, the sense phosphorothioate control did not inhibit tumor growth, demonstrating that nonspecific inhibition is not a characteristic of all phosphorothioate sequences. The next logical steps include testing oligonucleotide efficacy against other tumor types, toxicological testing in higher species, and clinical trials in human subjects.
Sharing usability information in interactive system development

In this paper we report on a preliminary study of usability information sharing in interactive system development. The study was conducted at a large technology company in the United States. The purpose of the study was to understand the usability information sharing practices of various members of multidisciplinary interactive system development teams. We found that the different job roles, specifically, usability expert, developer, and project manager share usability information in many ways.
Nonpharmacologic care by heart failure experts.

Abstract Background Nonpharmacologic clinical management practices have not been studied widely in heart failure (HF). The purpose of this survey was to describe the practices of self-identified experts in HF to identify: topics with uniformity of practice (≥75% agreement) and topics with variability in practice (no uniformity and 2 or more choices endorsed by ≥10% of respondents). Methods and Results An online survey of members of the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) actively engaged in clinical practice was conducted in Fall 2004. A total of 347 of the 1420 HFSA members in clinical practice (24.4%) responded to the survey. Of these, 321 completed the survey and 290 (90.3%) identified themselves as experts in HF. Areas in which there appears to be variability in practice include advising patients about: (1) sodium-restricted diet; (2) alcohol; (3) sexual activity; (4) increased swelling or weight gain, including use of a flexible diuretic regimen; and (5) palliative care. Providers vary in their treatment of risk factors and comorbid illnesses, the attention given to subtle losses of weight over time, beliefs about treatment adherence and ways to improve it, and opinions about the most important areas for patient education, and beliefs about health literacy. Conclusion Research on which to base advice for HF patients is greatly needed.
Effect of biological activity of PTH on its peripheral metabolism in the rat.

Effect of biological activity of PTH on its peripheral metabolism in the rat. Previous studies from our laboratory have characterized the peripheral metabolism of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the dog using radioimmunoassay techniques following injection or infusion of biologically active, bovine PTH preparations. Other investigators have used biologically–inactive labelled PTH and interpreted their results as representative of the normal physiological processes. Since oxidized inactive PTH does not bind to PTH receptors and since we have found substantial differences between the tissue uptake of active and inactive PTH preparations, it is possible that results obtained with inactive PTH preparations may not totally represent the normal metabolism of PTH. Therefore, we performed studies in rats to compare the disappearance of immunoreactive PTH (i-PTH) from plasma following injection of active or inactive syn b-PTH 1–34. The maneuvers of bilateral ureteral ligation and bilateral nephrectomy were utilized to characterize the sites of tissue uptake of i-PTH. The results obtained indicate that inactive syn b-PTH 1–34 has a significantly slower disappearance from plasma than biologically active syn b-PTH 1–34. Reduction of glomerular filtration by acute bilateral ureteral ligation decreased the disappearance of oxidized PTH more than active PTH. Thus, the results indicate a major dependence on glomerular filtration for the removal of inactive syn b-PTH 1–34. The demonstration that the peripheral metabolism of active and inactive syn b-PTH 1–34 is not identical suggests that studies of the metabolism of inactive PTH preparations do not accurately reflect that of biologically active PTH.
Thermodynamic and kinetic characterization of calf lens γF-crystallin

Abstract γ-Crystallin is reported to be conformationally stable because of its internal structural symmetry, and γF (γIVa) is the most stable among the various γ-crystallin gene products. However, there is no detailed report on its thermodynamic and kinetic stability. In the present study, detailed unfolding of γF-crystallin was investigated by equilibrium and kinetics methods with fluorescence and far-UV CD spectroscopic measurements. The GdnHCl-induced unfolding curves probed by Trp emission maximum and intensity showed a sharp single-step transition. Upon widening the unfolding transition with the use of urea in 1.5 M GdnHCl, a more proper fit for thermodynamic analysis was obtained. γF-Crystallin underwent a straightforward two-state process (N⇆U) without showing any measurable amount of intermediate. The conformational stability, as measured by ΔGH2OD (∼9 kcal/mol), indicates that γF-crystallin is a very stable protein. The high activation energy Δ G ‡ H 2 O (∼24 kcal/mol), calculated from unfolding kinetics monitored by far-UV CD at 218 nm, also indicates that the native and unfolded states are separated by a high activation energy barrier.
An insecurity flow model

We examine a new way of looking at security violations, called insecurity flow. We express our new paradigm via a formal mathematical model that combines elements of graph theory and discrete probability. Prior work by Moore and Shannon on building reliable circuits out of unreliable components, and the physics community’s interest in dynamical systems, especially percolation theory, motivates our work.
A fast, energy-efficient z-comparator

We present a fast and energy-efficient z-comparator that takes advantage of the fact that the result of most depth comparisons can be determined by examining just a few bits. This feature is made possible by the use of asynchronous logic, which enables the comparator to rapidly compare bits until the result is clear and then stop. Using depth data from well-known computer games, SPICE simulations indicate that our comparator consumes only 25% of the energy and operates 1.67 times faster, on average, compared to an equivalent synchronous design. The comparator design is used to illustrate a more general design principle, "compute on demand," which can potentially enable graphics hardware to be faster and more energy-efficient.
Spatial patterns and teleconnections of Utah-based droughts in the contiguous U.S.A.

Abstract The drought history of the Dixie, Utah Climatic Division (DUCD) is used to examine concurrent moisture patterns across the U.S.A. when drought is firmly established in the arid intermountain west. The 20 drought events identified in this climatic division during the 94 year, 4-month study period are broken down into cold and warm-season subsets. Isoline maps of average values of the Palmer Drought Severity Index for all United States climatic divisions show that droughts associated with the DUCD are widespread in both cold and warm-seasons. Regions which are clearly in and out-of-phase with the western core region of drought are identified.
Methods for assessing the toxicological significance of metals in aquatic ecosystems: bio-accumulation–toxicity relationships, water concentrations and sediment spiking approaches☆

Abstract Although the published literature abounds with studies showing contamination of aquatic environments by metals, there are very few data which actually demonstrate the biological impact of this contamination. Biological impacts such as alteration of in situ communities and demonstration of toxicity in environmental samples often occur at sites with elevated metal concentrations, but this does not prove that metals are actually responsible for these effects. Correlation is not proof of cause and effect. Metal-induced biological effects cannot usually be inferred from measured environmental concentrations because metal bio-availability can vary dramatically from site to site. Differences in metal bio-availability lead to differences in metal bio-accumulation, which in turn lead to differences in metal-induced effects. On the other hand, metal concentrations in biota are often much better indicators of potential biological impact than concentrations in the environment, because differences in metal bi...
Direct Analysis of CYP21B Genes in 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency using Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification

Steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency is the leading cause of impaired cortisol synthesis in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). We have studied the structure of the CYP21B gene in 30 unrelated CAH patients using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to differentiate the active CYP21B gene from its highly related CYP21A pseudogene. The PCR approach obviates the need to distinguish the CYP21A and CYP21B genes by restriction endonuclease digestion and electrophoresis before analysis with labeled probes. Furthermore, direct nucleotide sequence analysis of CYP21B genes is demonstrated on the PCR-amplified DNA. Gene deletion of CYP21B, gene conversion of the entire CYP21B gene to CYP21A, frame shift mutations in exon 3, an intron 2 mutation that causes abnormal RNA splicing, and a mutation leading to a stop codon in exon 8 appear to be the major abnormalities of the CYP21B gene in our patients. These mutations appear to account for 21-hydroxylase deficiency in 22 of 26 of our saltwasting CAH patients.
Off-shell structures of nucleon-nucleon t matrices and their influence on nucleon-nucleus elastic scattering observables

The sensitivity of nucleon-nucleus elastic scattering observables to the off-shell structure of nucleon-nucleon t matrices, derived from realistic NN potentials, is investigated within the context of a full-folding model based on the impulse approximation. Our study uses recently developed NN potential models, which describe a subset of the NN data base with a {chi}{sup 2} per datum {approximately}1, which means that the NN t matrices are essentially on-shell equivalent. We calculate proton-nucleus elastic scattering observables for {sup 16}O, {sup 40}Ca, and {sup 208}Pb between 100 and 200 MeV laboratory energy. We find that the elastic scattering observables are insensitive to off-shell differences of the employed NN t matrices. A more detailed investigation of the scattering equation and the optical potential as given in a factorized approximation reveals that the elastic scattering observables do not sample the NN t matrices very far off-shell where they exhibit differences. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Predictors of meningococcal vaccination among university students.

Abstract. Invasive disease secondary to Neisseria meningitidis is a rare but devastating illness among university students. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends educating college freshmen about meningococcal disease and vaccinating all college freshmen who live in residence halls. We conducted this survey to gain a better understanding of current immunization rates and factors associated with vaccination.
In vitro translation of B-cell stimulatory factor-1 in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

Abstract B-cell stimulatory factor-1 (BSF-1) can be translated in vitro in Xenopus laevis oocytes. This activity is blocked by an antibody to BSF-1. The RNA species coding for BSF-1 activity sediments of ~8–9S and is separable from RNA coding for interleukin-2 activity which sediments at ~ 11.5S. Finally, the fact that BSF-1 can be translated in vitro confirms that functions attributed to BSF-1 do not depend on contamination with other biologically active molecules such as phorbol myristate acetate.
Micafungin: an evidence-based review of its place in therapy

Invasive fungal infections have increased throughout the world. Many of these infections occur in patients with multiple comorbidities who are receiving medications with the potential for interactions with antifungal therapy that could lead to renal and hepatic dysfunction. The second marketed echinocandin, micafungin, was approved in 2005 for the treatment of esophageal candidiasis and prophylaxis of invasive Candida infections in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The indication for use was later expanded to include candidemia, acute disseminated candidiasis, Candida abscesses, and peritonitis. Like other echinocandins it is fungicidal against Candida species, including those that are polyene- and azole-resistant and fungistatic against Aspergillus species. Its formulation is by the intravenous route only and it is dosed once daily without a loading dose as 85% of the steady state concentration is achieved after three daily doses. It has a favorable tolerability profile with no significant drug interactions and does not need adjustment for renal or hepatic insufficiency.
Treatment of dysmenorrhea

Abstract Almost all types of hormones have been used in treating dysmenorrhea, with good results in a considerable percentage of cases. Hormone determinations have only occasionally been of value as a determining factor in treatment. Endometrial biopsy is a valuable aid in the determination of the state of uterine and ovarian activity. In our series of ten cases, eight were benefited either partially or completely by administration of corpus luteum hormone, and two were aided by anterior pituitary-like hormone. One patient helped by progesterone was definitely made much worse by anterior pituitary-like hormone.
Nonoperative management of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures

As the population ages, vertebral compression fractures are an increasing source of pain and dysfunction. The immobilisation that often occurs with fractures can lead to multiple medical complications and their management can be complex as care may require multiple treatment modalities. Each individual responds to pain differently and a treatment plan must be tailored to the individual's pain, functional limitations and goals. The likely first choice for managing stable osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures is conservative management. Treatment options usually involve a combination of medications, bracing and physical therapy. If radicular pain is a component of the pain syndrome, epidural steroid injections may be beneficial. In addition, some patients may benefit from vertebral augmentation. This paper reviews current recommendations for managing vertebral compression fractures. Treatment options including vertebral augmentation are reviewed, including indications and complications.
The hemispheric cerebrovascular response to hemodilution is attenuated by a focal cryogenic brain injury.

ABSTRACT Experimental brain injury attenuates the normal increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) that accompanies a fall in Pao2, and this may contribute to the well-known detrimental effects of hypo...
The complete cDNA sequence and structural polymorphism of the polypeptide chain of porcine submaxillary mucin.

The complete structure of the DNA encoding the polypeptide chain of porcine submaxillary mucin has been determined. The polypeptide is composed of distinct domains. A large central domain containing tandem repeats of 81 residues each is flanked by much shorter domains with sequences similar to the tandem repeats. Four disulfide-rich domains, three at the amino terminus and one at the carboxyl terminus, complete the chain. The disulfide-rich domains have significant sequence identity to those of other mucins and prepro-von Willebrand factor. The coding region of the mucin gene is highly polymorphic, and three alleles were identified in a single animal that encoded different numbers of the 81-residue tandem repeats. A single large exon devoid of introns encodes the tandem repeat domains. The largest allele with 135 tandem repeats encoded 13,288 amino acids to give a polypeptide with M r = 1,184,106. The other two alleles contained 99 and 125 tandem repeats, respectively. Each allele also showed different restriction fragment length polymorphisms, which is consistent with the different patterns seen in individual animals. Fragment length polymorphism was also seen within two different families of animals, indicating that the polymorphism observed occurs in a single generation.
Identifying the course of an anomalous left coronary artery using contrast-enhanced electron beam tomography and three-dimensional reconstruction.

Coronary anomalies are a rare but recognized cause of myocardial ischemia and sudden death. Until recently, invasive coronary arteriography was the diagnostic method of choice. However, contrast-enhanced electron beam tomography has the advantage of three-dimensional visualization of anomalous coronary arteries. We describe a case of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery.
Extra-nuclear estrogen receptor GPR30 regulates serotonin function in rat hypothalamus.

Abstract Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac®, are used to treat mood disorders. SSRIs attenuate (i.e. desensitize) serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptor signaling, as demonstrated in rats through decreased release of oxytocin and adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) following 5-HT1A receptor stimulation. Maximal therapeutic effects of SSRIs for treatment of mood disorders, as well as effects on hypothalamic 5-HT1A receptor signaling in animals, take 1 to 2 weeks to develop. Estradiol also attenuates 5-HT1A receptor signaling, but, in rats, these effects occur within 2 days; thus, estrogens or selective estrogen receptor modulators may serve as useful short-term tools to accelerate desensitization of 5-HT1A receptors in response to SSRIs if candidate estrogen receptor targets in the hypothalamus are identified. We found high levels of GPR30, which has been identified recently as a pertussis-toxin (PTX) sensitive G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor, in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of rats. Double-label immunohistochemistry revealed that GPR30 co-localizes with 5-HT1A receptors, corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) and oxytocin in neurons in the PVN. Pretreatment with PTX to the PVN before peripheral injections of 17-β-estradiol 3-benzoate completely prevented the reduction of the oxytocin response to the 5-HT1A receptor agonist, (+)-8-hydroxy-2-dipropylaminotetralin (DPAT). Treatment with the selective GRP30 agonist, G-1, attenuated 5-HT1A receptor signaling in the PVN as measured by an attenuated oxytocin (by 29%) and ACTH (by 31%) response to DPAT. This study indicates that a putative extra-nuclear estrogen receptor, GPR30, may play a role in estradiol-mediated attenuation of 5-HT1A receptor signaling, and potentially in accelerating the effects of SSRIs in treatment of mood disorders.
Staff involvement — the key to the successful merger of monograph and serial acquisitions functions at Clemson University library

Staff in both the Monographs Acquisitions and Serials Acquisitions units at Clemson University Library participated in planning and designing a combined Acquisitions Department. Focus groups studied functions to determine what could be combined or changed. Goals and guidelines for the merger were developed. Staff utilized information from a change management retreat to successfully implement the new organizational structure.
SU-FF-T-400: Computational Study of the Rigid Body Image Registration Accuracy

Purpose: To study, using a computational simulation, the accuracy of the rigid body based image registration of the brain with special considerations for the type of the distribution of the homologous fiducial points used in the registration. To determine how the registration affects the resultant accuracy for target points. Method and Materials: The condition numbers of all the combinations of at least four out of the 25 candidate fiducial points are examined. This yields the sets of points with the best and the worst condition number. The Gaussian noise is imposed on the simulation points. The algorithms' accuracy for the sought rotation matrix and the translation, fiducial registration error (FRE), and target registration error (TRE) are investigated as a function of the number of fiducial points used in the registration. Three different algorithms are used: SVD based, the subspace method for the translation computation and the simultaneous optimization of the Euler angles and translation. Results and Conclusion: The robustness of all the algorithms is similar. For the lower number of fiducial points there is a risk of big TREs. Thus the condition number reveals a bad prospective input for the algorithm. The number of points needed to reach 1.0 mm accuracy for 0.5×0.5×1.0 mm3 pixel size should be six points or more. This method of the condition number examination can be used to predetermine the accuracy of the registration for a given input.
Patient Safety Considerations in the Rehabilitation of the Individual with Cognitive Impairment

Deficits in cognitive functioning are associated with many safety concerns, including difficulties performing activities of daily living, medication errors, motor vehicle accidents, impaired awareness of deficits, decision-making capacity, falls, and travel away from home. Preventing adverse safety outcomes is particularly relevant in rehabilitation patients. Integration of information and recommendations stemming from allied disciplines, such as rehabilitation medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and neuropsychology, is the most effective way to limit poor outcomes. Education and prevention counseling by health care professionals is an important approach in limiting adverse safety outcomes in patients with cognitive impairment.
An improved electronic activity monitor for schistosomes

Abstract An instrument for monitoring the motor activity of schistosoties has been newly redesigned. This multiple “microactivity cage”, operating on photocell interruptions, requires no adjustment of light thresholds even for very small, nearly transparent subjects. Data are stored in an internal memory and entered into a small computer on request. Results with this instrument are similar to those obtained with earlier, less convenient instruments.
Elective change of surgeon during the OR day has an operationally negligible impact on turnover time.

Abstract Study Objective To compare turnover times for a series of elective cases with surgeons following themselves with turnover times for a series of previously scheduled elective procedures for which the succeeding surgeon differed from the preceding surgeon. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting University-affiliated teaching hospital. Measurements The operating room (OR) statistical database was accessed to gather 32 months of turnover data from a large academic institution. Turnover time data for the same-surgeon and surgeon-swap groups were batched by month to minimize autocorrelation and achieve data normalization. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the monthly batched data was performed with surgeon swapping and changes in procedure category as variables of turnover time. Similar analyses were performed using individual surgical services, hourly time intervals during the surgical day, and turnover frequency per OR as additional covariates to surgeon swapping. Main Results The mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) same-surgeon turnover time was 43.6 (43.2 - 44.0) minutes versus 51.0 (50.5 - 51.6) minutes for a planned surgeon swap ( P Conclusions The investigated institution averages 2.5 cases per OR per day. The cumulative additional turnover time (far less than one hour per OR per day) for switching surgeons definitely does not allow the addition of another elective procedure if the difference could be eliminated. A flexible scheduling policy allowing surgeon swapping rather than requiring full blocks incurs minimal additional staffed time during the OR day while allowing the schedule to be filled with available elective cases.