cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The relationship marketing process: A conceptualization and application

Abstract Now that relationship marketing is gaining acceptance as a valuable tool for business-to-business firms, it is time to devise and enact more systematic relationship marketing processes. In this article, a comprehensive model for effective relationship marketing is-discussed. It includes inputs (understanding customer expectations, building service partnerships, empowering employees, and total quality management), outputs (customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, product quality, and profitability), and assessment (customer feedback and integration). The model is then applied to one industry: automated immunochemistry testing products.
Novel reactor temperature and recycle flow rate policies for optimal process operation in the plantwide context

Ward et al. (Ward, J. D.; Mellichamp, D. A.; Doherty, M. F. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2004, 43, 3957) investigated the effect of process chemistry on the selection of the operating policy for plants with recycle. This paper extends that work to consider the possibility of reactor temperature as a degree of freedom in plantwide process operation. It is possible to predict, based on the process chemistry, when it may be appropriate to implement a variable-temperature operating policy, and, alternatively, when a constant-temperature operating policy is appropriate in the face of a production rate change or other disturbances. An interesting and nonobvious result is also developed: For so-called bounded chemistries, it is usually optimal to operate the process with the reactor at its high-temperature constraint, even if the activation energy of the undesired reaction is greater than the activation energy of the desired reaction. This means that the plantwide operating policy is the same for almost all bounded che...
Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Scan in Major Depressive Disorder

While genome-wide association studies are ongoing to identify sequence variation influencing susceptibility to major depressive disorder (MDD), epigenetic marks, such as DNA methylation, which can be influenced by environment, might also play a role. Here we present the first genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) scan in MDD. We compared 39 postmortem frontal cortex MDD samples to 26 controls. DNA was hybridized to our Comprehensive High-throughput Arrays for Relative Methylation (CHARM) platform, covering 3.5 million CpGs. CHARM identified 224 candidate regions with DNAm differences >10%. These regions are highly enriched for neuronal growth and development genes. Ten of 17 regions for which validation was attempted showed true DNAm differences; the greatest were in PRIMA1, with 12-15% increased DNAm in MDD (p = 0.0002-0.0003), and a concomitant decrease in gene expression. These results must be considered pilot data, however, as we could only test replication in a small number of additional brain samples (n = 16), which showed no significant difference in PRIMA1. Because PRIMA1 anchors acetylcholinesterase in neuronal membranes, decreased expression could result in decreased enzyme function and increased cholinergic transmission, consistent with a role in MDD. We observed decreased immunoreactivity for acetylcholinesterase in MDD brain with increased PRIMA1 DNAm, non-significant at p = 0.08.While we cannot draw firm conclusions about PRIMA1 DNAm in MDD, the involvement of neuronal development genes across the set showing differential methylation suggests a role for epigenetics in the illness. Further studies using limbic system brain regions might shed additional light on this role.
Pharmacokinetic Factors Contribute to the Inverse Relationship between Luteinizing Hormone and Body Mass Index in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Context: Serum LH levels decrease with increasing body mass index (BMI) in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether pharmacokinetic factors contribute to the effect of obesity on LH in PCOS. Participants/Interventions/Setting: Twenty-one women with PCOS underwent frequent blood sampling, iv administration of GnRH (75 ng/kg), and sc administration of the NAL-GLU GnRH antagonist (150 μg/kg) followed by iv recombinant human LH (rhLH; 300 IU) in the General Clinical Research Center at an academic medical center. Main Outcome Measures: Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by modeling the LH serum concentration profiles after administration of GnRH and rhLH and related to BMI. Results: Serum levels of LH and rhLH decreased in a distinctly monoexponential fashion in all patients. The apparent biological half-life of rhLH was not influenced by BMI, nor was the total body clearance or apparent volume of distribution. However, the apparent h...
Hybrid Representations of Coupled Nonparametric and Parametric Models for Dynamic Systems

Parametric modeling of stochastic systems has proven useful for systems with well-defined and well-structured sources of uncertainty. The suitability of such models is usually indicated by small levels of uncertainty associated with their parameters. The parametric model may not be efficiently employed to deal with problems associated with a high level of uncertainty, particularly due to the modeling uncertainty. The class of so-called nonparametric stochastic models has recently been introduced to address this specific issue and found to be useful to some extent. This paper presents a coupling technique adapted to the receptance frequency-response-function matrix that will be useful for analyzing a complex dynamic system, particularly when it consists of several stochastic subsystems, each of which is individually deemed to be suitable for either a parametric model or a nonparametric model. Such a complex dynamic system is otherwise difficult to analyze. The existing nonparametric approach was, to date, applied to the real-valued positive-definite/semidefinite random system matrix: for example, mass, damping, and stiffness matrices. In the present work, the nonparametric approach is also employed with the complex-valued symmetric receptance frequency-response-function matrix, now acting as the system matrix, by having recourse to Takagi's factorization.
On obtaining fatigue crack growth parameters from the literature

Abstract The fitted parameters in the Paris law for fatigue crack growth are considered. By drawing on recent compendiums of sources of these parameters, representative values and their distributions are obtained. For two different aluminium alloys, under quite similar loading and environmental conditions, the survey finds that the variability in parameters is such as to raise serious questions concerning the usefulness of any representative values in practice.
Self-Care and the Qualitative Researcher: When Collecting Data Can Break Your Heart

Conducting qualitative research on topics that are emotionally laden can have a powerful impact on the researcher. Recent literature addresses the essential nature of the emotional connection that must be part of the qualitative research process. However, for the most part, it neglects the issue of self-care strategies for the researcher that are appropriate under these circumstances. Based on the author’s experience in researching the self-directed learning of breast cancer patients and on the limited literature that is available, this article addresses these important topics and calls for increased awareness of these issues and their significance in the preparation of novice researchers.
Can i really complete this CSE doctoral degree? Women's confidence and self-rated abilities

Confidence affects persistence in computer science and computer engineering (CSE) doctoral programs. With data from 328 doctoral women in CSE, this study examined the relationships between confidence and academic self-ratings for women in different stages of doctoral study, with and without accounting for contextual factors that predict confidence. Also examined are factors that may predict self-ratings. Our findings reveal that these women are generally confident that they will earn their doctoral degree. Their academic self-ratings positively predict confidence even when contextual factors are taken into account, although the predictions vary across stages in doctoral education. Certain individual characteristics are associated with self-ratings. Explanations and implications of these findings are discussed.
Getting better while getting less: improve your service without expanding your budget

The past few years have been nothing if not challenging for most universities. Shrinking endowments and increased competition to attract the best students have had an impact on computing services budgets across the country. Rising expectations in the face of limited resources is common across all disciplines, but this phenomenon hits IT departments particularly hard for one simple fact: as every other department looks to improve their service while cutting their staff, they all look for new information technology solutions to play some part in their transformation. As a result, the demand for improved IT support services will only get more intense.
How dynamics, management, and governance of resource deployments influence firm‐level performance

To help understand how firms develop and maintain dynamic capabilities, we examine the effects of the dynamics, management, and governance of R & D and marketing resource deployments on firm-level economic performance. In a sample of technology-based entrepreneurial firms, we find that a history of increased investments in marketing is an enduring source of competitive advantage. We also find that managers' firm-specific experience positively moderates the relationship between R & D deployment intensity and economic returns. In addition, institutional ownership boosts economic returns from marketing deployments by subjecting these deployments to increased scrutiny and by sending positive signals to the market about the firm. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Securing the safety net: concurrent participation in income eligible assistance programs.

Participation in women, infants and children (WIC), supplemental nutritional assistance program (SNAP), temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), and medical assistance program (MAP) programs provide critical nutrition and health benefits to low-income families. Concurrent enrollment in these programs provides a powerful safety net, yet simultaneous participation is reported to be low. Underutilization undermines program objectives, client well-being and food security. This paper examines concurrent participation among the most needy WIC clients, those at/below 100 % of the federal poverty level (FPL), in SNAP, TANF and MAP. We examined the Maryland state WIC program infant electronic database (N = 34,409) for the 12-month period ending September 2010. Our analysis focused on two-thirds of these infants (N = 23,065) who were at/below the 100 % FPL. Mothers’ mean age was 26.8 ± 6 years; 20.6 % White; 52.7 % African American, and 23.4 % Hispanic. Approximately 10 % of infants weighed <2,500 g and 1.5 % weighed <1,500 g at birth. Average household income was $10,160; 55.7 % were at/below 50 % FPL. Two-thirds (68.4 %) participated in MAP, 31 % in SNAP and 9 % in TANF. Only 8 % were enrolled in all three programs whereas 28 % were not enrolled in any. There was a statistically significant difference in mean age and household income between multi-program beneficiaries and mothers who solely participated in WIC: 25.6 ± 5 years and $7,298 ± $4,496 compared with 27.2 ± 6 years and $12,216 ± $6,920, respectively (p < 0.001). Among WIC families at or below 100 % FPL, only 8 % received multi-program benefits. Specific factors responsible for participation on an individual level are not available. To optimize enrollment, a coordinated effort is essential to identify and overcome barriers to concurrent participation among these families.
Probing the Role of Backbone Hydrogen Bonding in β-Amyloid Fibrils with Inhibitor Peptides Containing Ester Bonds at Alternate Positions

Protein−protein interactions are frequently mediated by stable, intermolecular β-sheets. A number of cytokines and the HIV Protease, for example, dimerize through β-sheet motifs. Evidence also suggests that the macromolecular assemblies of peptides and proteins in amyloid fibrils are stabilized by intermolecular β-sheets. In this paper, we report that interfering with the backbone hydrogen bonding of an amyloidgenic peptide (Aβ16−20) by replacing amide bonds with ester bonds prevents the aggregation of the peptide. The ester bonds were incorporated in an alternating fashion so that the peptide presents two unique hydrogen bonding faces when arrayed in an extended, β-strand conformation; one face of the peptide has normal hydrogen bonding capabilities, but the other face is missing amide protons and its ability to hydrogen bond is severely limited. Analytical ultracentrifugation experiments demonstrate that this ester peptide, Aβ16−20e, is predominantly monomeric under solution conditions, unlike the fibri...
A fertility reaction to a historical event: southern white birthrates and the 1954 desegregation ruling

On 17 May 1954 the Supreme Court, in its decision in Brown v. Board of Education, declared de jure segregation of the public schools to be unconstitutional. It is argued here that a consequence of that decision was a decline in childbearing among white Southerners. In the nation as a whole, period fertility rates increased between 1954 and 1955, but in 9 of the 11 former Confederate states they decreased. Further analysis shows that these Southern fertility decreases began about 12 months after the Supreme Court decision. This variation in behavior in reaction to a historical event has important implications for the explanation and prediction of fertility.
Evidence for a novel enzymatic mechanism of neural crest cell migration on extracellular glycoconjugate matrices

Migrating embryonic cells have high levels of cell surface galactosyltransferase (GalTase) activity. It has been proposed that GalTase participates during migration by recognizing and binding to terminal N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residues on glycoconjugates within the extracellular matrix (Shur, B. D., 1982, Dev. Biol. 91:149-162). We tested this hypothesis using migrating neural crest cells as an in vitro model system. Cell surface GalTase activity was perturbed using three independent sets of reagents, and the effects on cell migration were analyzed by time-lapse microphotography. The GalTase modifier protein, alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA), was used to inhibit surface GalTase binding to terminal GlcNAc residues in the underlying substrate. alpha-LA inhibited neural crest cell migration on basal lamina-like matrices in a dose-dependent manner, while under identical conditions, alpha-LA had no effect on cell migration on fibronectin. Control proteins, such as lysozyme (structurally homologous to alpha-LA) and bovine serum albumin, did not effect migration on either matrix. Second, the addition of competitive GalTase substrates significantly inhibited neural crest cell migration on basal lamina-like matrices, but as above, had no effect on migration on fibronectin. Comparable concentrations of inappropriate sugars also had no effect on cell migration. Third, addition of the GalTase catalytic substrate, UDPgalactose, produced a dose-dependent increase in the rate of cell migration. Under identical conditions, the inappropriate sugar nucleotide, UDPglucose, had no effect. Quantitative enzyme assays confirmed the presence of GalTase substrates in basal lamina matrices, their absence in fibronectin matrices, and the ability of alpha-LA to inhibit GalTase activity towards basal lamina substrates. Laminin was found to be a principle GalTase substrate in the basal lamina, and when tested in vitro, alpha-LA inhibited cell migration on laminin. Together, these experiments show that neural crest cells have at least two distinct mechanisms for interacting with the substrate during migration, one that is fibronectin-dependent and one that uses GalTase recognition of basal lamina glycoconjugates.
An Evaluation of Strengthening Precursors to Increase Preschooler Compliance.

We evaluated the strategy of increasing precursors to compliance on the compliance of 2 preschool boys. Modeling and differential reinforcement were used to increase specific responses to his name being called prior to the opportunity to comply with an instruction. The precursors were stopping the ongoing activity and orienting to, making eye contact with, and saying “yes” to the instructor. High levels of precursors occurred during treatment, and increases in compliance also were observed, even though the consequences for compliance and noncompliance did not change.
Organic solvent pervaporation properties of MOF-5 membranes

Abstract Membranes made of microporous metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with pore sizes larger than zeolites, such as MOF-5, offer potential for separation of large molecules in liquid phase. However, MOF-5 exhibits severe degradation upon contact with atmospheric levels of moisture. The objective of this work is to determine material stability of MOF-5 membranes during pervaporation of organic solvents. High quality MOF-5 membranes about 10 μm in thickness were prepared by the secondary growth method using ball-milled MOF-5 seed crystals. On-stream p -xylene pervaporation test of the as-synthesized MOF-5 membrane shows the p -xylene flux declines and levels off at a steady-state value about 70% of the original value for fresh-membrane after 16 h on the stream. The p -xylene flux cannot be restored to the original value, suggesting permanent fouling of the MOF-5 membrane upon exposure to p -xylene stream. Subsequent characterization indicated there was no structural or microstructural degradation that occurred, and evidence of retained xylene isomers in the MOF-5 structure was found using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Nevertheless, the fouled MOF-5 membranes exhibit stable pervaporation fluxes for organic molecules with sizes smaller than the aperture of the MOF-5 cage, and exclude organic molecules with sizes larger than MOF-5 aperture. The results show that the MOF-5 membranes, after a permanent reduction in permeation flux by initial exposure to xylene stream, are stable in organic solvent and can be used for separation of liquid organic molecules based on the molecular sieving effects.
Comparison of spectral and nonspectral frequency difference limens for human and nonhuman primates.

Difference limens for frequency were measured in normal‐hearing human and nonhuman‐primate (macaque) subjects. Stimuli were 1‐kHz pure tones, containing both spectral and temporal cues, and 100‐Hz sinusoidally amplitude modulated broadband noise (SAM noise), containing only temporal (nonspectral) cues. Subjects were tested for a minimum of 20 sessions and until difference limens were stable over time for each stimulus at each of several sensation levels. Difference limens for pure‐tone stimuli showed almost no overlap between human and nonhuman‐primate subjects. Difference limens for SAM‐noise stimuli for human and nonhuman‐primate subjects overlapped considerably. The correlations between performance for the pure‐tone stimuli and performance for the SAM noise stimuli averaged 0.60. These data suggest that at least two factors influence pure‐tone frequency discrimination. One factor is dependent on the presence of place mechanisms while the other factor, or group of factors, seems to influence both spectral and nonspectral frequency discrimination.
Gadgets and Signal Processing: The 2010 International CES [In the Spotlight]

The city of Las Vegas is known for its massive casinos, the number and variety of entertainment shows, and by an almost-established tradition that brings to this city one of the largest trade shows in the world: the Inter - national Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Every January, Las Vegas becomes the center of attention of the consumer electronics industry. This year?s show presented hundreds of products, featured exhibitions of 226 companies, and discussed and demonstrated the latest trends in consumer electronics.
High Mechanical Performance Composite Conductor: Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Sheet/Bismaleimide Nanocomposites

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT)-sheet-reinforced bismaleimide (BMI) resin nanocomposites with high concentrations (∼60 wt%) of aligned MWNTs are successfully fabricated. Applying simple mechanical stretching and prepregging (pre-resin impregnation) processes on initially randomly dispersed, commercially available sheets of millimeter-long MWNTs leads to substantial alignment enhancement, good dispersion, and high packing density of nanotubes in the resultant nanocomposites. The tensile strength and Young's modulus of the nanocomposites reaches 2 088 MPa and 169 GPa, respectively, which are very high experimental results and comparable to the state-of-the-art unidirectional IM7 carbon-fiber-reinforced composites for high-performance structural applications. The nanocomposites demonstrate unprecedentedly high electrical conductivity of 5 500 S cm−1 along the alignment direction. Such unique integration of high mechanical properties and electrical conductance opens the door for developing polymeric composite conductors and eventually structural composites with multifunctionalities. New fracture morphology and failure modes due to self-assembly and spreading of MWNT bundles are also observed.
A genome-wide association study of breast and prostate cancer in the NHLBI's Framingham Heart Study

Breast and prostate cancer are two commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States. Prior work suggests that cancer causing genes and cancer susceptibility genes can be identified. We conducted a genome-wide association study (Affymetrix 100K SNP GeneChip) of cancer in the community-based Framingham Heart Study. We report on 2 cancer traits – prostate cancer and breast cancer – in up to 1335 participants from 330 families (54% women, mean entry age 33 years). Multivariable-adjusted residuals, computed using Cox proportional hazards models, were tested for association with qualifying SNPs (70, 987 autosomal SNPs with genotypic call rate ≥80%, minor allele frequency ≥10%, Hardy-Weinberg test p ≥ 0.001) using generalized estimating equations (GEE) models and family based association tests (FBAT). There were 58 women with breast cancer and 59 men with prostate cancer. No SNP associations attained genome-wide significance. The top SNP associations in GEE models for each trait were as follows: breast cancer, rs2075555, p = 8.0 × 10-8 in COL1A1; and prostate cancer, rs9311171, p = 1.75 × 10-6 in CTDSPL. In analysis of selected candidate cancer susceptibility genes, two MSR1 SNPs (rs9325782, GEE p = 0.008 and rs2410373, FBAT p = 0.021) were associated with prostate cancer and three ERBB4 SNPs (rs905883 GEE p = 0.0002, rs7564590 GEE p = 0.003, rs7558615 GEE p = 0.0078) were associated with breast cancer. The previously reported risk SNP for prostate cancer, rs1447295, was not included on the 100K chip. Results of cancer phenotype-genotype associations for all autosomal SNPs are web posted at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/gap/cgi-bin/study.cgi?id=phs000007 . Although no association attained genome-wide significance, several interesting associations emerged for breast and prostate cancer. These findings can serve as a resource for replication in other populations to identify novel biologic pathways contributing to cancer susceptibility.
Software conversion: retargeting from a super-mini to a micro

Writing transportable code is always desireable. Using extensions and enhancements implemented by the manufacturer does not help portability, nor does the use of specific system calls unique to that particular environment.The goal of this article is to show the converse implementation described by Herbert Mayer[1]. The transportation problems are somewhat similar but are also caused by differing implementations of the language --- FORTRAN 77.The two versions described are PRIME FORTRAN 77 (the host language running on a PRIME 750) and Microsoft MS-FORTRAN 77 version 3.1 (and later version 3.2) for the target machine, IBM PC.
Illustration of concomitant times series analyses in a case of somatoform disorder

The purpose of this article is to illustrate, for those unfamiliar with the methods, concomitant time series analyses and their utility in psychopathology research. In a case involving somatoform disorder, we offer a detailed illustration of these analytic procedures where hypotheses regarding psychosocial antecedents of somatic symptoms are tested. Also portrayed are methods for describing across-time trends and cycles in longitudinal data. Included is a discussion of other clinical questions amenable to a time series approach, as well as a consideration of practical issues in the design of such studies.
Heart Transplant vs Left Ventricular Assist Device in Heart Transplant-Eligible Patients

Background Patients listed for heart transplant have a prolonged wait time, with continued deterioration, poor quality of life, and 10% mortality. Although recent bridge to transplant (BTT) studies demonstrated 1-year survival similar to heart transplantation, doubt remains about overall effectiveness as a treatment strategy compared with waiting and implanting a left ventricular device (LVAD) only as a last resort. We evaluated 1-year outcome and effectiveness of LVAD vs heart transplantation. Methods Patients on the heart transplantation list, either receiving an allograft or LVAD for BTT from January 2009 to December 2009 were evaluated. Of 43 patients treated, 1 received both LVAD and an allograft during same admission was removed from the analysis. All patients but one who received an allograft had prior LVAD. Descriptive and univariate ( t test) statistics and Kaplan-Meier survival curve were used for analyses. Results LVAD for BTT was used in 29 patients (51.4 ± 12.8 years, 6.9% women), and 13 (51.1 ± 11.6 years, 15.38% women) underwent heart transplantation. Initial hospital length of stay was 17.5 ± 14.4 days in BTT group and 14.3 ± 4.6 days in heart transplant group ( p = 0.44) At 1 year, the total number of days spent in the hospital (operation and related complications), including index hospitalization was 11.6 ± 14.3 days/100 days in BTT and 7.9 ± 9.0 days/100 days in heart transplantation ( p = 0.38). A total of 41% BTT and 46% heart transplant patients had one readmission within 3 months of the index hospitalization. Infection was the most common cause of readmission in both groups. The 1-year survival was similar for both groups (no hospital death in either group; 3 late deaths in the BTT group). Conclusions One-year outcomes for patients eligible for heart transplantation were similar whether they received an allograft or LVAD for BTT. Heart transplant outcome for patients with LVAD were not adversely affected. Improving outcomes for patients treated with LVAD suggest that current decision models for patients eligible for heart transplantation may need to be reevaluated.
Restriction polymorphisms and fingerprint patterns from an interspersed repetitive element of Plasmodium falciparum DNA

A recombinant DNA clone, pC4.H32, identifies distinguishable restriction fragment patterns from different Plasmodium falciparum clones. Analysis of these DNA fingerprint patterns from parasites cultivated over several years and from progeny of a P. falciparum cross showed the fingerprints to be mitotically and meiotically stable. Restriction fragments from the parents of the cross possessed sufficient polymorphism and number to generate 14 unique fingerprint patterns in 16 independent recombinant progeny. The pC4.H32 insert contains a 0.5-kb imperfectly repeated sequence found in subtelomeric regions of multiple chromosomes. Restriction site variations both within and outside of the 0.5-kb repeat contribute to the fingerprint polymorphisms. Fingerprint analysis can serve to type P. falciparum clones and can detect mislabeling and cross-contamination of parasite stocks.
Heterogeneity of response to lipid-lowering therapy.

I read with great interest the article by Penny et al. [(1)][1]on changes in endothelium-dependent vasomotor responses in mildly diseased coronary arteries after lipid-lowering therapy. In that report, the investigators studied angiographic responses to acetylcholine (Ach) along successive 3-mm
Rationalising the treatment of anaemia in cardiac surgery: short and mid-term results from a local quality improvement initiative

Background Transfusion of red blood cells, while often used for treating blood loss or haemodilution, is also associated with higher infection rates and mortality. The authors implemented an initiative to reduce variation in the number of perioperative transfusions associated with cardiac surgery. Methods The authors examined patients undergoing non-emergent cardiac surgery at a single centre from the third quarter 2004 to the second quarter 2007. Phase I focused on understanding the current process of managing and treating perioperative anaemia. Phase II focused on (1) quality-improvement project dissemination to staff, (2) developing and implementing new protocols, and (3) assessing the effect of subsequent interventions. Data reports were updated monthly and posted in the clinical units. Phase III determined whether reductions in transfusion rates persisted. Results Indications for transfusions were investigated during Phase II. More than half (59%) of intraoperative transfusions were for low haematocrit (Hct), and 31% for predicted low Hct during cardiopulmonary bypass. 43% of postoperative transfusions were for low Hct, with an additional 16% for failure to diurese. The last Hct value prior to transfusion was noted (Hct 25–23, p=0.14), suggestive of a higher tolerance for a lower Hct by staff surgeons. Intraoperative transfusions diminished across phases: 33% in Phase I, 25.8% in Phase II and 23.4% in Phase III (p<0.001). Relative to Phase I, postoperative transfusions diminished significantly over Phase II and III. Conclusions We report results from a focused quality-improvement initiative to rationalise treatment of perioperative anaemia. Transfusion rates declined significantly across each phase of the project.
Treatment of primary Sjögren's syndrome with hydroxychloroquine

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the salivary/lacrimal glands, autoantibody production, and polyclonal hyperglobulinemia. In view of the efficacy and relative safety of hydroxychloroquine in other autoimmune disorders, the potential benefit of hydroxychloroquine (200 mg per day for 12 months) in 10 patients with Sjogren's syndrome was evaluated. Changes in levels of total immunoglobulin, antibody against Sjogren's syndrome-associated antigen B, rheumatoid factor, and in vitro production of immunoglobulin in the serum were evaluated. For comparison, 10 patients matched according to age and sex, who did not receive hydroxychloroquine were studied. In the hydroxychloroquine-treated group, the following observations were made: (1) significantly decreased total immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA levels with little change in IgM levels; (2) significant decrease in IgA-rheumatoid factor with a smaller decrease in IgM-rheumatoid factor; (3) decreased IgG anti-Sjogren's syndrome-associated antigen B autoantibody; and (4) decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and increased hemoglobin level. Further, a specific idiotype present on their rheumatoid factor (defined by monoclonal antibody 17-109) was significantly decreased, with disappearance of detectable circulating paraprotein in two hydroxychloroquine-treated patients. Finally, rheumatoid factor production in vitro by lymphocytes from hydroxychloroquine-treated patients using a T cell-dependent mitogen was significantly decreased. These results suggest that hydroxychloroquine modulates lymphoproliferation in patients with Sjogren's syndrome and may prevent progression to extraglandular sites of neoplastic transformation.
AKI in Hospitalized Children: Comparing the pRIFLE, AKIN, and KDIGO Definitions

Background and objectives Although several standardized definitions for AKI have been developed, no consensus exists regarding which to use in children. This study applied the Pediatric RIFLE (pRIFLE), AKI Network (AKIN), and Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria to an anonymized cohort of hospitalizations extracted from the electronic medical record to compare AKI incidence and outcomes in intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU pediatric populations. Design, setting, participants, & measurements Observational, electronic medical record–enabled study of 14,795 hospitalizations at the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital between 2006 and 2010. AKI and AKI severity stage were defined by the pRIFLE, AKIN, and KDIGO definitions according to creatinine change criteria; urine output criteria were not used. The incidences of AKI and each AKI stage were calculated for each classification system. All-cause, in-hospital mortality and total hospital length of stay (LOS) were compared at each subsequent AKI stage by Fisher exact and Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests, respectively. Results AKI incidences across the cohort according to pRIFLE, AKIN, and KDIGO were 51.1%, 37.3%, and 40.3%. Mortality was higher among patients with AKI across all definitions (pRIFLE, 2.3%; AKIN, 2.7%; KDIGO, 2.5%; P P Conclusions Application of the three definitions led to differences in AKI incidence and staging. AKI was associated with greater mortality and LOS in the ICU and greater LOS outside the ICU. All three definitions demonstrated excellent interstage discrimination. While each definition offers advantages, these results underscore the need to adopt a single, universal AKI definition.
Stakeholders' Attitudes Toward Black Bear in East Texas

This study advances black bear management in East Texas by understanding residents' attitudes toward the return of black bear to the region and potential reintroduction efforts. Six counties in the study have the potential to be impacted by a returning population. The objective was to assess public knowledge, opinions, and attitudes of stakeholders related to black bears, management of particular species, and their habitats. Surveys were mailed to 2,000 households in the six counties. More than half of the respondents indicated they favored bears dispersing on their own but did not support agency intervention to reintroduce them. Respondents worried about problems that may arise from dispersal. Managers may use the results to identify areas of potential conflict and employ public information and education campaigns to encourage a public more receptive of black bears and management efforts.
The Switch Regulating Transcription of the Escherichia coli Biotin Operon Does Not Require Extensive Protein-Protein Interactions

Transcription of the Escherichia coli biotin (bio) operon is regulated by BirA, a protein that is not only the repressor that regulates bio operon expression by DNA binding but also the enzyme that covalently attaches biotin to its cognate acceptor proteins. Binding of BirA to the bio operator requires dimerization of the protein that is triggered by BirA-catalyzed synthesis of biotinoyl-adenylate (bio-AMP), the obligatory intermediate of the attachment reaction. The current model postulates that the unmodified acceptor protein binds the monomeric BirA:bio-AMP complex and thereby blocks assembly (dimerization) of the form of BirA that binds DNA. We report that expression of fusion proteins that carry synthetic biotin-accepting peptide sequences was as effective as the natural acceptor protein in derepression of bio operon transcription. These peptide sequences have sequences that are remarkably dissimilar to that of the natural acceptor protein, and our data thus argue that the regulatory switch does not require the extensive protein-protein interactions postulated in the current model.
The Relative Importance of the Various Intermediate Species in Olefin Removal Reactions in Photochemical Smog

Abstract Computer simulations have been made of the chemical changes which occur in smog chamber experiments employing NO-NO2-trans-2-butene-air mixtures. The results indicate that significant differences are expected between experiments carried out with steady illumination and with periods of illumination punctuated with relatively long dark periods. In particular the ozone, olefin, NOX concentration-time profiles are altered appreciably by using the alternative irradiation techniques. When proper account is taken of the effect, an excellent match is had between the present computer simulation and the experimental studies of Tuesday in which a light-dark period cycle was employed. The computer simulation of this system with steady illumination provides a basis for judging the relative importance toward olefin attack of the various possible reactive intermediates in this system. O(3P), O3, and OH species all seem to be important during some stage of the olefin-NO-photo-oxidation sequence. HO2 and CH3O rad...
Use of a mini-dome bioassay and grafting to study resistance of chickpea to Ascochyta blight

A mini-dome bioassay was developed to study pathogenicity of Ascochyta rabiei and relative resistance of chickpea (Cicer arietanium). It was determined that the best condition for assaying pathogenicity of A. rabiei was to use 2 x 10 5 spores/ml as inoculum and to maintain a leaf wetness period of 24 h under mini-domes at a temperature between 16 and 22°C. This mini-dome pathogenicity assay was used to determine relative resistance of six chickpea cultivars (cvs) to isolates of two pathotypes of A. rabiei. Grafting was employed to detect any translocated factors produced in the chickpea plant that mediate disease response, which could help elucidate possible resistance mechanisms to Ascochyta blight. The six chickpea cv. were grafted in all possible scion-rootstock combinations, and then inoculated with isolates of two pathotypes of A. rabiei using the mini-dome technique. Results showed that selfgrafted-resistant plants remained resistant and selfgrafted-susceptible plants stayed susceptible, indicating the grafting procedure did not alter host response to infection by A. rabiei. Susceptible scions always exhibited high and similar levels of disease severity regardless of rootstock genotypes, and resistant scions always showed low and similar levels of disease severity when they were grafted onto any of the six rootstock genotypes. Orthogonal contrasts showed that scion genotypes determined disease phenotype, and that rootstock genotypes had no contribution to disease phenotype of the scions. The pathogenicity assay did not detect any translocated disease-mediating agents responsible for susceptibility or resistance in chickpea. Disease phenotypes of Ascochyta blight of chickpea were conditioned locally by scion genotypes.
Some results from recent chemical studies at Kilauea volcano, Hawaii

The chemical surveillance of Kilauea volcano, Hawaii, has continued. No relationship has thus far been identified between the helium content of an associated fumarole and the activity at the volcano. Fume samples from Halemaumau crater in Kilauea caldera and from a fissure eruption that occurred nearby on the floor of the caldera during August 1971 were examined for their halogen (Cl and F) and sulfur contents. The ratio of Cl/F in fume showed an abnormal increase in samples taken at Halemaumau a month before the eruption. This change in ratio may be a helpful indicator of the onset of eruption in volcanic areas.
Embedded fiber-optic sensors : performance aspects and the single-fiber fragmentation test

In recent years optical fibers have been developed increasingly for sensor applications. In many of these applications optical fiber Bragg gratings are embedded in a matrix material as temperature or strain gauges. In effect, embedded optical fiber sensors are single-fiber composite (SFC) materials. The mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced composite materials are an important area of research, as well as the mechanical reliability of fibers used for sensors. The multiple fragmentation, with increasing load, of the fibers in SFCs is controlled by transfer of stress from the matrix to the fiber. The number of fiber fragments increases rapidly with increasing strain after the initial break with the fragment length decreasing until a limiting fragment length is reached. Analysis of the fragmentation process allows information to be obtained on the strength of the optical fiber on different length scales and on the transfer of stress from the matrix to the fiber. In this paper we present the issues surrounding mechanical tests on an optical flber/matrix SFC and the mechanical reliability of fibers for sensors. We consider the experimental difficulties and issues which must be addressed for a full understanding of interface effects and their effects on mechanical reliability.
Induced conformational states of amphipathic peptides in aqueous/lipid environments

Specific conformational effects have been reported for amphipathic model peptides upon binding of defined hydrophobic domains to nonpolar stationary phases during reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Such induced conformations are found to be especially pronounced for peptides that are amphipathic in an alpha-helical conformation. Such induced amphipathic conformations resulted in substantially later elution than predicted using amino acid-based retention coefficients. In the present study, the induced conformational behavior of model peptides observed during RP-HPLC was correlated with their secondary structure as determined by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy in both aqueous solution and C18-mimetic environments. The experimental retention times of the peptides studied were found to correlate with their CD spectra in the presence of lipids, whereas a poor correlation was observed with their CD spectra in the presence of trifluoroethanol. A new approach was developed to evaluate the induction of secondary structure in peptides due to interactions at aqueous/lipid interfaces, which involves the measurement of the CD ellipticities of peptides bound to a set of C18-coated quartz plates. An excellent correlation was found in this environment between the RP-HPLC retention times and CD ellipticities of the bound peptides.
Activation of the cellular oncogene c-erbB by ltr insertion: Molecular basis for induction of erythroblastosis by avian leukosis virus

Avian leukosis virus (ALV), a slowly oncogenic retrovirus, induces in chickens a variety of neoplasms, including lymphoid leukosis and erythroblastosis. In lymphoid leukosis, a cellular oncogene, c-myc, is activated by the insertion of ALV LTR. We provide evidence that ALV utilizes a similar mechanism in erythroblastosis induction by activating a different cellular oncogene, c-erbB. We report the isolation, from leukemic erythroblast DNA, of a clone that represents the viral-cell junction fragment and carried the ALV LTR and part of the c-erbB locus. Restriction and sequence analyses reveal that the LTR is located upstream from the erbB coding region and is oriented in the same transcriptional direction; such a structure would be compatible with the promoter-insertion type of activation. Our findings provide a molecular explanation for the multipotency of slowly oncogenic retroviruses.
In vitro evaluation of an injectable chitosan gel for sustained local delivery of BMP-2 for osteoblastic differentiation.

Abstract : We investigated the effect of sustained release of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) from an injectable chitosan gel on osteoblastic differentiation in vitro. We first characterized the release profile of BMP-2 from the gels, and then examined the cellular responses of preosteoblast mouse stromal cells (W-20-17) and human embryonic palatal mesenchymal (HEPM) cells to BMP-2. The release profiles of different concentrations of BMP-2 exhibited sustained releases (41% for 2 ng/mL and 48% for 20 ng/mL, respectively) from the chitosan gels over a three-week period. Both cell types cultured in the chitosan gels were viable and significantly proliferated for 3 days (p 0.05). Chitosan gels loaded with BMP-2 enhanced ALP activity of W-20-17 by 3.6-fold, and increased calcium mineral deposition of HEPM by 2.8-fold at 14 days of incubation, compared to control groups initially containing the same amount of BMP-2. In addition, schitosan gels loaded with BMP-2 exhibited significantly greater osteocalcin synthesis of W-20-17 at seven days, and of HEPM at both 7 and 14 days compared with the control groups (p0.05). This study suggests that the enhanced effects of BMP-2 released from chitosan gels on cell differentiation and mineralization are species and cell type dependent.
Parallel algorithms for line detection on a mesh

Abstract We consider the problem of detecting lines in an n × n image on an n × n mesh of processors and present two new and efficient parallel algorithms which detect lines by performing a Hough transform. Our first algorithm runs in time O ( k √ m + n ), where k and m are the number of π- and ϱ-values considered, respectively. The second algorithm runs in O ( n + k ) time. Both algorithms perform only simple data movement operations over relatively short distances.
A risk management approach to resilient network design

This paper considers the problem of where a survivability technique should be deployed in a network based on managing risk given a limited financial budget. We formulate three novel risk management resilient network design techniques: (1) minimize the maximum damage that could occur in the network, (2) minimize the maximum risk in the network and (3) minimize the root mean squared damage. The first two approaches try to minimize the damage/risk from the worst case failure scenario, where as the third technique minimizes the variability of damage across all failure scenarios. Numerical results for a sample network show the tradeoffs among the schemes.