cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Competitive Advantages in the First Product of New Ventures

The new venture launching its first product faces substantial risks and is typically resource-poor. Moreover, failure with the first product is closely related to failure of the new venture itself, as investors seek alternate investments with better track records. While much guidance appears in the literature for large, established firms developing and launching new products, little research has examined the specific challenges faced by entrepreneurial startups launching first products. We develop a model of competitive advantage for studying the development of the new venture's first product. We identify and investigate the skills, resources, and knowledge needed for achieving positional advantage and, ultimately, developing a successful first product. We collect data from 694 first products launched by new ventures in China to test our model. While most of our hypotheses are supported, we obtain some interesting findings regarding the stage in the development process when technology resources and skills, and marketing resources and skills have the greatest effects on product performance. Our research makes several contributions to engineering management, innovation, and entrepreneurship literatures. Finally, we provide managerial insights on how the entrepreneur should acquire resources and knowledge in order to improve the performance of the first product.
Tracking Drug Overdose Trends in Ohio using ED Chief Complaints

Preliminary analysis was completed to define, identify, and track the trends of drug overdoses (OD), both intentional and unintentional, from emergency department (ED) and urgent care (UC) chief complaint data. Using Chief complaint data to quickly track changes in the geographical distribution, demographics, and volume of ODs may aid public health efforts to decrease the number of associated deaths. A specific classifier was created to define all potential ED visits related to drug ODs. Further study of post-diagnostic ED/UC data to confirm preliminary trends is warranted.
Tolerance to experimental cardiac allografts produced by neonatal intrathymic injection of donor cells

Intrathymic inoculation of allogeneic cells after systemic administration of antilymphocyte serum in adult experimental animals has produced donor-specific tolerance to cardiac allografts. We investigated whether thymic injection of allogeneic cells without antilymphocyte serum in neonatal Lewis rats (day 1 of life) with immature immune systems also produced tolerance to cardiac grafts. Intrathymic or intraperitoneal injection of 5 x 10(7) Lewis (control) or Lewis-Brown Norway (allogeneic) spleen cells in Lewis neonates was followed by heterotopic cardiac transplantation using Lewis, Lewis-Brown Norway, or Wistar Furth (third-party allograft) hearts at 6 to 8 weeks of age. Graft survival was prolonged with both intraperitoneal and intrathymic allogeneic cells. Recipients of cells by the intrathymic route had longer graft survival, and 2 of 5 animals achieved permanent graft acceptance (longer than 100 days). As expected, Lewis isografts survived indefinitely, whereas third-party Wistar Furth allografts were rejected in the usual time frame. Intrathymic introduction of allogeneic cells in a neonatal recipient with an immature immune system can produce donor-specific tolerance to a subsequent graft without the need for a systemic immunosuppression regimen, even transiently.
Silent sinus syndrome: lack of orbital findings in early presentation.

BACKGROUND Silent sinus syndrome (SSS) is an uncommon disease process, classically described as unilateral maxillary sinus opacification that presents with enophthalmos and atelectasis of bony sinus walls from chronic negative pressure. Patients are largely free of characteristic rhinosinusitis symptoms. METHODS Operative reports, clinic notes, and radiological studies were reviewed for cases of SSS treated in a tertiary care institution over a 7-year period. Presenting symptoms, radiological features, and surgical findings were evaluated. RESULTS Seventeen cases of SSS were identified. Presentation ranged from incidental computed tomography (CT) scan findings to unilateral enophthalmos with altered midface anatomy. Facial pain ipsilateral to the disease process occurred in 30% of cases. Vision changes were uncommon. Radiological studies universally revealed an opacified maxillary sinus on the affected side. Maxillary sinus walls were contracted and demineralized with significant orbital floor depression in 11 advanced cases. Four early cases revealed only lateralized uncinate process on CT scan without increased orbital volume, and two moderate cases showed increased orbital volumes on CT scan without clinical enophthalmos. All patients had a significantly lateralized uncinate process at surgery, often closely apposed to demineralized orbital walls. CONCLUSION Some authors maintain that SSS presentation must include enophthalmos. However, our series shows cases of lateralized uncinate processes and increased orbital volumes on CT scan, as would be seen in classic SSS, but lacking clinical enophthalmos. Such cases should be considered as potentially representing early SSS, before the development of clinical orbital findings.
Self‐power associations: the possession of power impacts women's self‐concepts

Women's self-identification with social power was assessed in three studies using the Implicit Association Test (IAT; Greenwald, McGhee, & Schwartz, 1998). In Experiment 1, women held weaker implicit and explicit associations between self and power than did men. Experiment 2 demonstrated that women assigned to a high power group have stronger implicit self-power associations than do women in a low power group. Experiment 3 showed that women assigned to a high power role have stronger implicit self-masculine associations than do women assigned to a low power role, but social power did not affect explicit associations with masculinity. These studies suggest that gender differences in implicit self-concept may be malleable depending on context and social roles. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using restricted latent class models to map the skill structure of achievement items

This paper presents a new method for using certain restricted latent class models, referred to as binary skills models, to determine the skills required by a set o f test items. The method is applied to reading achievement data from a nationally representative sample o f fourth-grade students and offers useful perspectives on test structure and examinee ability, distinct from those provided by other methods o f analysis. Models fitted to small, overlapping sets o f items are integrated into a common skill map, and the nature o f each skill is then inferred from the characteristics o f the items for which it is required. The reading comprehension items examined conform closely to a unidimensional scale with six discrete skill levels that range from an inability to comprehend or match isolated words in a reading passage to the abilities required to integrate passage content with general knowledge and to recognize the main ideas o f the most difficult passages on the test.
Pressure-induced disordering of sodium potassium sulfates and chromates.

Raman scattering and energy-dispersive x-ray diffraction in a diamond-anvil cell were used to study the salts ${\mathrm{NaKSO}}_{4}$, ${\mathrm{K}}_{3}$Na(${\mathrm{SO}}_{4}$${)}_{2}$, ${\mathrm{NaKCrO}}_{4}$, and ${\mathrm{K}}_{3}$Na(${\mathrm{CrO}}_{4}$${)}_{2}$ to pressures of 22.5 GPa. These measurements reveal that the ${\mathrm{SO}}_{4}$ and ${\mathrm{CrO}}_{4}$ tetrahedra in the monopotassium salts become disordered, while those in the tripotassium salts stay ordered. This disordering occurs without a significant change in the structural arrangement of the cations. We suggest that the disordering results from an impeded ferroelastic phase transition, which causes the zone boundaries, and therefore the ${\mathrm{SO}}_{4}$ and ${\mathrm{CrO}}_{4}$ tetrahedra, to be distorted. The four salts are related to one of two structures: The tripotassium salts are isostructural, the monopotassium salts are closely related. The two structures differ by one symmetry element, which leaves the neighboring tetrahedra inequivalent. It is this difference that causes only one of the structures to form distorted zone boundaries. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
245 Amifostine stimulates hematopoietic progenitors from human normal and myelodysplastic (MDS) bone marrows

Studies have demonstrated the trilineage hemoprotective effects of amifostine (Ami). Recent studies suggested direct stimulation of hematopoiesis. In vitro growth of CFU-GEMM, BFU-E and CFUGM from normal and MDS bone marrows was evaluated after 15 min preincubation with Ami or its active metabolite, WR-1065, glutathione (GSH), or recombinant growth factors. Concentrations of Ami and WR-1065 at 0.1–1000 μM stimulated growth of CFU-GEMM and BFU-E from normal marrow mononuclear cells; > 10 μM GSH was toxic. Ami was the most potent stimulant yielding up to 9-fold greater BFU-E, 4 × CFU-GEMM and 3 × CFU-GM over controls. Compared to kit ligand, IL-I and IL-3 (200 U/ml), Ami was a more potent hemopoietin yielding up to 3 × greater CFU-GEMM and BFU-E recovery. Despite deficient colony growth in MDS controls, Ami preincubation with clinically achievable concentrations (100–500 μM) stimulated growth of CFU-GEMM and BFU-E 2–7-fold and improved colony/cluster ratio in 7 of 8 pts studied. The data indicate that Ami is a potent stimulant of primitive progenitor growth that exceeds that of recombinant cytokines. The profound simulation observed in MDS suggests that Ami may improve hematopoiesis in patients with MDS and warrants testing in clinical trials.
UVH6, a Plant Homolog of the Human/Yeast TFIIH Transcription Factor Subunit XPD/RAD3, Regulates Cold-stress Genes in Arabidopsis thaliana

The UVH6 gene from Arabidopsis thaliana is predicted to function in transcription regulation, based on known activities of its human and yeast homologs. In this study, we show that uvh6-1 mutants are ultra-sensitive to cold and suggest that this defect results from reduced expression of cold-stress genes. Comparison of mRNA levels in cold-treated wild-type and uvh6-1 plants reveals that expression of two cold-stress genes (Cor6.6 and Cor15a) is impaired in the mutant. In contrast, the mutant shows normal cold induction of three transcription factor genes (CBF1, 2, 3), which regulate these Cor genes, and normal induction of several additional CBF-targeted genes. Thus, we propose that UVH6 promotes cold resistance by specifically regulating transcription of Cor6.6 and Cor15a genes. We further find features among the regulatory sites in the Cor6.6 and Cor15a promoters which suggest unique regulation of these genes.
Quantifying the Impact of Participation in Local Tobacco Control Groups on the Psychological Empowerment of Involved Youth

A core component of Legacy's Statewide Youth Movement Against Tobacco Use is the ability of state and local initiatives to empower youth to effect change in their communities. The authors' conceptual framework proposes that youth empowerment is an outcome of the process by which youths become active participants in local efforts. Youths are proposed to attain specific skills (e.g., assertiveness, advocacy), attitudes (e.g., domain-specific self-efficacy, perceived sociopolitical control, participatory competence), and knowledge of relevant resources. All are proposed outcomes of their individual participation in these local efforts. Data collected in fall 2002 through a tested survey instrument designed to obtain data on key components of empowerment are presented. Regression modeling was used to examine the extent to which characteristics of empowerment are an outcome of individual participation in these groups. A summary of lessons learned pertaining to effectively measuring empowerment and enhancing the empowerment process through local initiatives is provided.
Application of a multiplex PCR for the simultaneous detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella and Shigella in raw and ready-to-eat meat products.

Abstract Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella and Shigella might contaminate similar types of meat products and cause deadly diseases in humans. Traditional microbiological analyses to detect these pathogens are labor-intensive and time-consuming. The objective of this study was to apply a multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection of the pathogenic bacteria in certain raw and ready-to-eat meat matrices. The tested samples had aerobic plate counts ranging from non-detectable, in chicken nuggets and salami, to 8.36 log 10 CFU/g in ground pork. The pH of homogenates spanned from 6.86, in ground beef, to 7.17 in salami. Following a 24-h enrichment, the multiplex PCR assay could concurrently detect the three pathogens at 0.2 log 10 CFU/g in ground beef, roast beef, beef frankfurters, chicken nuggets, salami and turkey ham, and 1.2 log 10 CFU/g in ground pork. This multiplex PCR offers an efficient microbiological tool for presumptive detection of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella and Shigella in meat.
The comparative biochemistry of developing Ascaris eggs. VI. Respiration and terminal oxidation during embryonation.

Abstract 1. 1. Endogenous respiration of unembryonated Ascaris egg homogenates proceeded in the absence of demonstrable cytochrome-c oxidase activity. Respiration was cyanide- and azide-sensitive although the rate of cytochrome-c reduction was unaffected by these inhibitors. 2. 2. Gastrula egg preparations contained cytochrome oxidase activity but endogenous cytochrome-c reduction greatly exceeded oxidation. 3. 3. Embryonated egg homogenates contained cytochrome-c oxidase activity, and the rate of endogenous cytochrome-c reduction and oxidation resulted in a steady state of partially oxidized cytochrome-c. While cytochrome-c oxidase activity was inhibited by carbon monoxide, respiration was unaffected. 4. 4. The oxygen uptake-pO2 relationship was different with unembryonated and embryonated egg homogenates. The results support the proposition of a flavin-mediated terminal oxidase in unembryonated eggs as contrasted with cytochrome-c oxidase in embryonated eggs.
Evaluating Salt Marsh Restoration Success with an Index of Ecosystem Integrity

ABSTRACT Staszak, L.A. and Armitage, A.R., 2013. Evaluating salt marsh restoration success with an index of ecosystem integrity. In concept, ecological restoration will improve ecosystem characteristics of degraded habitats, but in practice, restoration success assessments typically target vegetation communities. We sought to determine if estuarine emergent marsh restoration projects (Galveston Bay, Texas) that had successfully achieved permit-mandated plant coverage were comparable to reference sites at an ecosystem level. We used a Rapid Assessment Method developed specifically for this habitat (Galv-RAM) to compare restored (ages 5–15 y) and reference marshes. Thirteen biotic and abiotic characteristics were used to calculate an ecosystem index score, whereby a pristine habitat would score 100%. The average Galv-RAM ecosystem index score for reference marshes (81%) was typical for urbanized estuaries. Restored marshes scored 75%, indicating that they were relatively well developed, although there was s...
Regge trajectories versus vanishing renormalization constants as dynamical criteria

The connection between continuous Regge trajectories and the vanishing of renormalization constants is explored. It is found that if, in a field theory ${Z}_{1}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$ and ${Z}_{3}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$ in such a way that $\frac{{Z}_{1}}{{Z}_{3}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0}$, then a Regge trajectory moves smoothly under an elementary particle pole so that the particle becomes dynamical in the Regge sense. Thus a bootstrapped world may perhaps equally well be defined by its satisfying a field theory with all renormalization constants set equal to zero, as by saying that all particles lie on Regge trajectories.
Decision‐making under uncertainty for capital budgeting and hiring

Most business decisions are not merely risky but are subject to uncertainty. Different individuals estimate different measures of merit. It is shown that the traditional procedure of ranking the alternatives by their estimated measure of merit and then choosing the highest ranked alternative frequently gives the wrong answer even where the estimates are unbiased. The argument will be made using a simple decision tree. The effect will be shown to be especially serious where there is competition, direct or indirect, between the alternatives.
The determination of d-quinic and d-shikimic acids by microbiological assay in the characterization of chlorogenic acids and related compounds

Abstract d -Quinic and d -shikimic acids can be quantitatively determined in microgram quantities with a mutant of Aerobacter aerogenes which is blocked prior to 5-dehydroquinic acid. The bioassay was used for the quantitative and stereospecific determination of quinic acid from the hydrolysis of micro amounts of chlorogenic acid and related depsides either from the previously isolated material or from paper chromatograms.
Cloning and characterization of a dopachrome conversion enzyme from the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti.

Abstract In this study we describe the purification and molecular cloning of a dopachrome conversion enzyme (DCE) from the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti . DCE catalyzes the conversion of l -dopachrome to 5,6-dihydroxyindole in the melanization pathway. Melanin biosynthesis is involved with crucial protective phenomena in mosquitoes, including egg chorion and cuticular tanning, wound healing, and the melanotic encapsulation immune response. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by various chromatographic techniques from A. aegypti larvae and has a relative molecular mass of 51 kDa as-revealed by SDS-PAGE analysis. Physiochemical analysis of DCE revealed a pH optimum of 7.5–8.0 and substrate activity for l -dopachrome and aminochromes generated from dopa methyl ester, α-methyl dopa and dopamine. Trypsin digestion of the isolated DCE and subsequent reverse-phase separation resulted in the isolation of several polypeptide fragments, from which two partial internal amino acid sequences were obtained by Edman degradation. PCR amplification, using a degenerate primer based on one internal amino acid sequence and an oligo-dT primer, produced a 650 bp DNA fragment. Subsequent screening of an A. aegypti pupal cDNA library resulted in the isolation of a 1.6 kb clone containing coding sequence for both internal DCE amino acid sequences, thereby confirming the identity of the isolated gene product (pAaDce1) as DCE. Northern analysis revealed the constitutive expression of DCE message in developmental stages and adults, with the majority of transcript localized in the fat body and ovaries of adult females. AaDce1 mRNA increased in abundance above constitutive levels in adult females when a melanotic encapsulation immune response was initiated by the intrathoracic inoculation of Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae.
Effect of harvest moisture content and ambient air drying on maize fiber oil yield and its phytosterol composition

Effect of harvest moisture content and ambient air drying on maize fiber yield, fiber oil content and the phytosterol composition of maize fiber oil were evaluated. Maize was harvested at approximately five different harvest moisture contents (28.0, 23.0, 20.0, 18.0 and 15.0%). Effect of air drying was studied by ambient drying the maize harvested at 28.0% moisture content to 20.0 and 13.0% moisture content. Effect of both harvest moisture content and ambient air drying were significant on all the dependent variables, however, no clear trends were observed. The results suggest that as harvest moisture content goes down the amount of oil extracted from the maize fiber decreases but the concentration of the phytosterols in the maize fiber oil increases proportionally.
Relativistic Stellar Systems with Rotation

We present a method for constructing equilibrium axisymmetric star clusters with net rotation in general relativity. The method yields a self-consistent numerical solution of the relativistic Vlasov equation coupled to Einstein's equations for the gravitational field. We demonstrate the method by constructing several equilibrium sequences. The nonrotating limiting members of one family are highly relativistic spherical polytropes and are known to be dynamically unstable. The rotating members are therefore interesting configurations for future exploration to see whether rotation stabilizes or destabilizes strong-field collisionless equilibria
Climate change's impact on key ecosystem services and the human well‐being they support in the US

Climate change alters the functions of ecological systems. As a result, the provision of ecosystem services and the well-being of people that rely on these services are being modified. Climate models portend continued warming and more frequent extreme weather events across the US. Such weather-related disturbances will place a premium on the ecosystem services that people rely on. We discuss some of the observed and anticipated impacts of climate change on ecosystem service provision and livelihoods in the US. We also highlight promising adaptive measures. The challenge will be choosing which adaptive strategies to implement, given limited resources and time. We suggest using dynamic balance sheets or accounts of natural capital and natural assets to prioritize and evaluate national and regional adaptation strategies that involve ecosystem services.
Open boundaries for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation

We present a new algorithm, the time dependent phase space filter (TDPSF) which is used to solve time dependent nonlinear Schrodinger equations (NLS). The algorithm consists of solving the NLS on a box with periodic boundary conditions (by any algorithm). Periodically in time we decompose the solution into a family of coherent states. Coherent states which are outgoing are deleted, while those which are not are kept, reducing the problem of reflected (wrapped) waves. Numerical results are given, and rigorous error estimates are described. The TDPSF is compatible with spectral methods for solving the interior problem. The TDPSF also fails gracefully, in the sense that the algorithm notifies the user when the result is incorrect. We are aware of no other method with this capability.
Isotopically selective optical deflection of a krypton atomic beam

We deflected a well-collimated beam of krypton atoms in the metastable ls5 state by radiation pressure from a single-frequency dye laser. To produce the radiation pressure, we resonantly excited the krypton atoms, using the 1s5–2p9 transition. The natural width of this transition is much smaller than its isotope shift, which allowed us to deflect one isotope at a time. This created a new isotopically enriched atomic beam of Kr(1s5). We achieved a maximum enrichment factor of 1.2 × 104 at a deflection angle of 19 mrad. This enrichment is limited mainly by scattering of the parent atomic beam by residual gas. This degree of enrichment may make it possible to perform sensitive measurements of the concentrations of rare krypton isotopes in environmental samples.
Multirate image sequence coding with quadtree segmentation and backward motion compensation

In this paper, we present a new image sequence coding scheme which employs backward motion compensation, quadtree segmentation, and pruned tree-structured vector quantization. Based only on the previous reconstructed frames, the backward motion compensation technique eliminates the necessity to transmit the motion displacement vectors as side information, and thus achieves a bit rate saving. Quadtree segmentation is used to exploit the regional characteristics of the signal. To take the advantage of the fact that many large areas of the motion compensated frame difference contain only low activity, the motion compensated frame difference is decomposed into large, low activity blocks and small, high activity blocks. The large blocks are encoded by their means while the small blocks are encoded by pruned tree-structured vector quantization (PTSVQ) at different rates. PTSVQ is both a multi-rate and variable rate coding technique and has the fast codebook search property due to its tree structure. It has been shown recently that PTSVQ may outperform full search unstructured VQ in the low bit rate range. Excellent results have been obtained in the computer simulation of this new scheme. When tested on the Salesman sequence, this interframe coding technique has achieved an average peak signal-to-noise ratio of 40.55 dB at an average bit rate of 0.43 bits per pixel, which indicates that the proposed scheme is suitable for low rate video applications.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Overexpression of microRNAs from the miR-17-92 paralog clusters in AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

Background Individuals infected by HIV are at an increased risk for developing non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (AIDS-NHL). In the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era, there has been a significant decline in the incidence of AIDS-associated primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). However, only a modest decrease in incidence has been reported for other AIDS-NHL subtypes. Thus, AIDS-NHLs remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV infected individuals. Recently, much attention has been directed toward the role of miRNAs in cancer, including NHL. Several miRNAs, including those encoded by the miR-17-92 polycistron, have been shown to play significant roles in B cell tumorigenesis. However, the role of miRNAs in NHL in the setting of HIV infection has not been defined. Methodology/Principal Findings We used quantitative realtime PCR to assess the expression of miRNAs from three different paralog clusters, miR-17-92, miR-106a-363, and miR-106b-25 in 24 cases of AIDS-NHLs representing four tumor types, Burkitt's lymphoma (BL, n = 6), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL, n = 8), primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL, n = 5), and primary effusion lymphoma (PEL, n = 5). We also used microarray analysis to identify a differentiation specific miRNA signature of naive, germinal center, and memory B cell subsets from tonsils (n = 4). miRNAs from the miR-17-92 paralog clusters were upregulated by B cells, specifically during the GC differentiation stage. We also found overexpression of these miRNA clusters in all four AIDS-NHL subtypes. Finally, we also show that select miRNAs from these clusters (miR-17, miR-106a, and miR-106b) inhibited p21 in AIDS-BL and DLBCL cases, thus providing a mechanistic role for these miRNAs in AIDS-NHL pathogenesis. Conclusion Dysregulation of miR-17-92 paralog clusters is a common feature of AIDS-associated NHLs.
Activity-Based Metabolomic Profiling of Enzymatic Function: Identification of Rv1248c as a Mycobacterial 2-Hydroxy-3-oxoadipate Synthase

Activity based metabolomic profiling (ABMP) allows unbiased discovery of enzymatic activities encoded by genes of unknown function, and applies liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to analyze the impact of a recombinant enzyme on the homologous cellular extract as a physiologic library of potential substrates and products. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein Rv1248c was incompletely characterized as a thiamine diphosphate-dependent alpha-ketoglutarate decarboxylase. Here, recombinant Rv1248c catalyzed consumption of alpha-ketoglutarate in a mycobacterial small molecule extract with matched production of 5-hydroxylevulinate (HLA) in a reaction predicted to require glyoxylate. As confirmed using pure substrates by LC-MS, (1)H-NMR, chemical trapping, and intracellular metabolite profiling, Rv1248c catalyzes C-C bond formation between the activated aldehyde of alpha-ketoglutarate and the carbonyl of glyoxylate to yield 2-hydroxy-3-oxoadipate (HOA), which decomposes to HLA. Thus, Rv1248c encodes an HOA synthase.
Computational-Fluid-Dynamics- and Computational-Structural- Dynamics-Based Time-Accurate Aeroelasticity of Helicopter Rotor Blades

A modular capability to compute dynamic aeroelastic characteristics of rotor blades using the Euler/Navier-Stokes flow equations and finite element structural equations is presented. The approach is based on a time-accurate analysis procedure that is suitable for nonlinear fluid-structure interaction problems. Fluids and structural solvers are time-accurately coupled in the C++ environment. Unsteady aerodynamic and aeroelastic results are validated with experimental data for nonrotating and rotating isolated blades.
Motivational interviewing: IV. Some parallels with horse whispering.

Motivational interviewing is a client-centered, directive therapeutic style for initi- ating and facilitating change. Introduced through this journal two decades ago, it has been supported in a series of clinical trials as effective in enhancing behavior change through relatively brief intervention. The author explores parallels between this therapeutic style and the nonviolent ''join-up'' method of Monty Roberts for training and rehabilitating horses. Both methods emphasize a collaborative rather than adversarial working relationship, seek to enhance intrinsic motivation, and produce positive change in a briefer period of time than traditionally thought to be possible. Both respect the other's autonomy and choice, and move with rather than against resistance. Both seem to enhance the speed and amount of change that follow from behavioral methods.
Human Rad51 protein displays enhanced homologous pairing of DNA sequences resembling those at genetically unstable loci

DNA strand exchange, the central step of homologous recombination, is considered to occur approximately independently of DNA sequence content. However, certain prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomic loci display either an enhanced or reduced frequency of genetic exchange. Here we show that the Homo sapiens DNA strand exchange protein, HsRad51, shows a preference for binding to single-stranded DNA sequences primarily rich in G-residues and poor in A- and C-residues, and that these DNA sequences manifest enhanced HsRad51 protein-dependent homologous pairing. Both of these properties are common to all DNA strand exchange proteins examined thus far. These preferred DNA pairing sequences resemble those found at genetic loci in human cells that cause genomic instability and lead to genetic diseases.
Evaluation of Torrey and Yolken's Feline Viral Zoonosis Theory of Schizophrenia

A formal method of evaluation is applied to a theory presented by Drs. Torrey and Yolken, which asserts that cases of viral schizophrenia are due to a zoonosis from house cats. A formal method of theory evaluation is described, and the Torrey and Yolken theory is subjected to analysis by the method. The theory is found to be weak in several areas stemming from inadequate description of both the relevant clinical population and the viral pathogenesis, as well as an incomplete examination of available data bearing on a hypothesized association between schizophrenia and cat ownership. At this point, further work is indicated at the level of theory development before proceeding with research or clinical activity.
Error sources in in-plane silicon tuning-fork MEMS gyroscopes

This paper analyzes the error sources defining tactical-grade performance in silicon, in-plane tuning-fork gyroscopes such as the Honeywell-Draper units being delivered for military applications. These analyses have not yet appeared in the literature. These units incorporate crystalline silicon anodically bonded to a glass substrate. After general descriptions of the tuning-fork gyroscope, ordering modal frequencies, fundamental dynamics, force, and fluid coupling, which dictate the need for vacuum packaging, mechanical quadrature, and electrical coupling are analyzed. Alternative strategies for handling these engineering issues are discussed by introducing the Systron Donner/BEI quartz rate sensor, a successful commercial product, and the Analog Device (ADXRS), which is designed for automotive applications.
Making touchscreen keyboards adaptive to keys, hand postures, and individuals: a hierarchical spatial backoff model approach

We propose a new approach for improving text entry accuracy on touchscreen keyboards by adapting the underlying spatial model to factors such as input hand postures, individuals, and target key positions. To combine these factors together, we introduce a hierarchical spatial backoff model (SBM) that consists of submodels with different levels of complexity. The most general model includes no adaptive factors, whereas the most specific model includes all three. Considering that in practice people may switch hand postures (e.g., from two-thumb to one-finger) to better suit a situation, and that the specific submodels may take time to train for each user, a specific submodel should be applied only if its corresponding input posture can be identified with confidence, and if the submodel has enough training data from the user. We introduce the backoff mechanism to fall back to a simpler model if either of these conditions are not met. We implemented a prototype system capable of reducing the language-model-independent error rate by 13.2% using an online posture classifier with 86.4% accuracy. Further improvements in error rate may be possible with even better posture classification.
The joint evolution of traits and habitat: ontogenetic shifts in leaf morphology and wetland specialization in Lasthenia

The interplay between functional traits and habitat associations drives species' evolutionary responses to environmental heterogeneity, including processes such as adaptation, ecological speciation, and niche evolution. Seasonal variation is an aspect of the environment that varies across habitats, and could result in adaptive shifts in trait values across the life cycle of a plant. Here, we use phylogenetic comparative methods to evaluate the joint evolution of plant traits and habitat associations in Lasthenia (Asteraceae), a small clade of predominantly annual plants that have differentiated into an ecologically diverse range of habitats, including seasonal ephemeral wetlands known as vernal pools. Our results support the hypothesis that there is a link between the evolution of leaf morphology and the ecohydrological niche in Lasthenia, and, in the formation of aerenchyma (air space), differentiation between vernal pool and terrestrial taxa is fine-tuned to specific stages of plant ontogeny that reflects the evolution of heterophylly. Our findings demonstrate how the relationships between traits and habitat type can vary across the development of an organism, while highlighting a carefully considered comparative approach for examining correlated trait and niche evolution in a recently diversified and ecologically diverse plant clade.
A Comprehensive Structure to Help Analyze, Detect and Prevent Fraud

Merely relying on historical events to test for fraud occurrence often provides an insufficient basis to detect-let alone to prevent-it. Fraud, a multidimensional cyclical dynamic, exists not only as an event but also as a concept, intention, action and object needing a comprehensive structure to capture its critical elements and interactions among these elements. SAS No. 82, which addresses the practical aspect of fraud and guides auditors to consider the potential occurrence of fraud in financial statement audits, adopts a limited view of fraud. This paper augments this new Standard by constructing a comprehensive view of fraud consisting of two principal components: (1) a definition of fraud broader than SAS No. 82's definition, and (2) an anatomy of fraud with all of the aforementioned dimensions. The anatomy of fraud and its dynamic content raise the question of whether fraud is cyclical or merely repetitive. This question has not been addressed in the auditing literature despite its primacy in distinguishing intentional and non-intentional irregularities and understanding the fundamental nature of the auditing function. While non-intentional errors are repeatable due to their identities, fraud cases are cyclical because of their similarities (Deleuze, 1994). Analyzing fraud merely by its detection and prevention elements can lead to two fundamental weaknesses: structure and predictability. Fraud's cyclical nature, coherent elements and direction imply that even partial detection, via professional skepticism as SAS No. 82 describes, can uncover all of its drives, intents, actions and objects. Moreover, an actual fraud event, as an effect with circumstantial causes, renders fraud predictable by projection (the macro cause) and by similarities among fraud cases (the micro cause). The proposed comprehensive structure, encompassing intentional and unintentional irregularities, can help contain and prevent fraud even at its inception stage. To demonstrate how the comprehensive structure can help explain fraud's intricate elements, we analyze seven prominent fraud cases into their cyclical components and their implications to independent auditors.
Information-Theoretic Feature Selection for Classification

Feature selection has always been an important aspect of statistical model identification and pattern classification. In this paper we introduce a novel information-theoretic index called the compensated quality factor (CQF) which selects the important features from a large amount of irrelevant data. The proposed index does an exhaustive combinatorial search of the input space and selects the feature that maximizes the information criterion conditioned on the decision rules defined by the compensated quality factor. The effectiveness of the proposed CQF-based algorithm was tested against the results of mallows Cp criterion, Akaike information criterion (AIC), and Bayesian information criterion (BIC) using post liver operation survival data [Neter, J., et al., 1996] (continuous variables) and NIST sonoluminescent light intensity data [Wilcox, E., et al., 1999] (categorical variables). Due to computational time and memory constraints, the CQF-based feature selector is only recommended for an input space with dimension p < 20. The problem of higher dimensional input spaces (20 < p < 50) was solved by proposing an information-theoretic stepwise selection procedure. Though this procedure does not guarantee a globally optimal solution, the computational time- memory requirements are reduced drastically compared to the exhaustive combinatorial search. Using diesel engine data for fault detection (43 variables, 8-classes, 30000 records), the performance of the information-theoretic selection technique was tested by comparing the misclassification rates before and after the dimension reduction using various classifiers.
USDA Programs to Support Development and Use of Biobased Industrial Products

Nonfood, nonfeed uses of agricultural and forestry materials offer the best opportunities to realize the full economic potential which agriculture and forestry can play, beyond the traditional food, feed, and fiber markets. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a portfolio of programs that support research, development, and commercialization of biobased lubricants as well as other industrial products that can replace petroleum-based products, such as plastics, paints, coatings, and adhesives. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) administers competitive grant programs to support basic and applied research through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, and pre-commercialization research is supported through the Small Business Innovation Research program www.nifa.usda.gov. NIFA collaborates with the Department of Energy through joint solicitations for the Biomass Research and Development Initiative, which supports developmental research and demonstration projects. USDA is the lead Federal agency for implementing the BioPreferredSM purchasing program. Many products, including lubricants, have been officially designated as biobased and must be given first preference for purchase by Federal agencies, thus creating a tremendous market pull for new products through the purchasing power of the Federal government. This program will allow agencies to meet their environmental goals with products that can also meet performance requirements and are cost competitive. (www.biopreferred.gov). Through partnerships with industry, Academia and other Federal agencies, these programs are making a significant contribution to the development and adoption of alternative technologies to increase energy independence and to open new opportunities for agriculture.
Evidence Based Breast-Feeding Promotion: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is the translational tool developed by WHO and UNICEF to promote breast-feeding (BF) in maternity wards worldwide. BFHI was officially launched in the 1980s based on a "common sense" approach. Since then, research conducted in Latin America has shown that BFHI is highly cost-effective. BF trends over the past 2 decades strongly suggest that BFHI has had a global impact on BF outcomes. The 10th step of BFHI related to community-based BF promotion is one of the most challenging ones to address. Randomized controlled trials conducted in the Americas, Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa indicate that peer counseling is a very efficacious tool for increasing EBF rates. Low-cost rapid-response monitoring systems are needed to monitor the proper implementation and administration of BFHI steps following an evidence-based approach. This approach is essential for reenergizing the BFHI worldwide.
Regulation of prolactin and its role in gallinaceous bird reproduction

There are major changes in circulating luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), estrogens (E), and progesterone (P) in relation to the onset of reproduction, egg laying, incubation, and care of young. LH levels increase in the prelaying period, followed some days later by increased circulating levels of E, P, and PRL. Levels of these hormones tend to stabilize during egg laying with periodic ovulatory cycle changes. Around the onset of incubation PRL levels increase, while LH, E, and P levels fall. During incubation PRL reaches very high levels, falling sharply when incubation is terminated. Stimulatory effects of hypothalamic neurotransmitters, peptides, and ovarian steroids on PRL secretion have been shown. The prelaying increase is dependent on E and P and the high levels of incubation require a functional serotonergic system. The causal relationships and roles of PRL in incubation of gallinaceous birds are, however, still unclear.
Complete Resolution of Olanzapine-Induced Diabetic Ketoacidosis

We report the case of a nondiabetic man who developed diabetic ketoacidosis associated with high-dose olanzapine. Olanzapine has been associated with diabetic ketoacidosis and also with weight gain, lipid abnormalities, and the development of type 2 diabetes. This case is of interest both because of the sudden onset and because the patient's blood glucose stabilized 1 month after discontinuation of olanzapine, thus allowing insulin therapy to be discontinued. The patient has now been stabilized on ziprasidone with no further abnormalities in blood glucose.
Living in suboxia: ecology of an Arabian Sea oxygen minimum zone copepod

Oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) are permanent suboxic features of the oceanic water column that strongly influence zooplankton distributions and biogeochemical cycles. The lower interface of prominent OMZs is characterized by a subsurface zooplankton biomass peak and high biological activity. The calanoid copepod Lucicutia grandis is an indicator species for this habitat. Its ecology in the Arabian Sea was studied during the U.S. Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) program to understand planktonic distributional and developmental adaptations to oxygen gradients in suboxic environments and the role of the OMZ zooplankton in food webs, vertical flux processes, and carbon cycles. Zooplankton samples were obtained in vertically stratified multiple opening-closing net and environmental sensing system (MOCNESS) tows to 1,000 m during four seasonal cruises. The vertical distribution of L. grandis was associated with the steep oxygen gradient from 0.07 to 0.15 ml L 21 at the base of the OMZ about 600‐1,000 m. There was a clear progression with age of the depths and oxygen levels inhabited by different developmental stages within this zone, a phenomenon attributed to both physiological constraints and ecological interactions. The seasonal and spatial pattern of reproduction and development was keyed in part to the seasonal monsoon cycle, with final maturation of young stages into reproducing adults probably triggered by the direct and indirect effects of the seasonal or episodic input to depth of sinking particles. Gut contents included surface flux material, deep-sea detrital material, zooplankton remains, and deep-sea aggregate material, indicating that L. grandis occupies at least four different trophic levels. This was an active, not a diapausing, population, since both adults and immature stages fed and reproduced during all seasons. In contrast to the pelagic fauna that are severely impacted by coastal episodic hypoxia, the animals of the oceanic OMZ are uniquely adapted to the very low oxygen and strong spatial and temporal patterns of this widespread suboxic environment.
Effects of chronic hypoxia on rat carotid body and toad carotid labyrinth glomus cells.

Chronic hypoxia causes enlargement and ultrastructural changes of mammalian carotid body glomus cells. Recently, we reported several ultrastructural features in glomus cells from chronically hypoxic rats that were typical of amphibian carotid labyrinth glomus cells, including incomplete covering of glomus cells by support cells, long thin cytoplasmic projections in the intervascular stroma, and intimate contacts between glomus cells and pericytes, endothelial cells, plasma cells, fibrocytes and other glomus cells (Kusakabe et al., 1993). We also observed large vesicles (400–800 nm dia.) with eccentric dense cores in hypoxic, but not normoxic, rats. To determine if these changes represent a generalized vertebrate glomus cell response to hypoxia, we made a comparative study of glomus cell ultrastructure from normoxic and chronically hypoxic amphibians and mammals.
Structure, Promoter Analysis, and Chromosomal Localization of the Murine H+/K+-ATPase α2 Subunit Gene

ABSTRACT. The H + /K + -ATPase α2 subunit (HKα2) of distal colon and renal collecting ducts plays a critical role in potassium and acid-base homeostasis. The isolation and complete sequence of the murine HKα2 gene are reported. The HKα2 gene contains 23 exons and spans 23.5 kb of genomic DNA. The exon/intron organization is comparable to that of the human ATP1AL1 gene. Primer extension and 5′-rapid amplification of cDNA ends of distal colon RNA were used to map the transcription initiation site. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis localized the HKα2 gene to murine chromosome 14C3. Sequence analysis of 7.2 kb of the 5′-flanking region revealed numerous consensus sites for transcription factors, including two potential glucocorticoid response elements. Transient transfection of promoter-luciferase constructs demonstrated strong basal HKα2 promoter activity in renal collecting duct cells but not in fibroblasts or in a medullary thick ascending limb of Henle’s loop cell line. Deletion analysis revealed that the proximal 0.2 kb of the promoter was sufficient to confer activity in collecting duct cells. These data should prove important in elucidation of the mechanisms controlling the differential, tissue-specific expression of the HKα2 gene.