cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mary, Mary, quite contrary

Purpose – This paper aims to depict the pivotal roles played by Mary Parker Follett and Mary Barnett Gilson, as they uniquely contributed to early management thought, theory, and practice through “spirituality” despite the chauvinism of their day.Design/methodology/approach – Synthesizing articles from history journals, writings about the figures of interest, annals, published works by the figures themselves, and other resources; this paper illustrates how the input of Follett and Gilson made distinctive and valuable contributions to the management field.Findings – This research concludes that Follett and Gilson, although from the mid‐nineteenth to mid‐twentieth century, when men were dominant in any arena relating to management, were responsive to their “spiritual” insight despite its contrariness to the credence of their day. Consequently, they initiated an understanding that significantly impacted management theory and practice. Their perceptive revelations also led to changing mindsets and actions tha...
Robotic Force Stabilization for Beating Heart Intracardiac Surgery

The manipulation of fast moving, delicate tissues in beating heart procedures presents a considerable challenge to surgeons. We present a new robotic force stabilization system that assists surgeons by maintaining a constant contact force with the beating heart. The system incorporates a novel, miniature uniaxial force sensor that is mounted to surgical instrumentation to measure contact forces during surgical manipulation. Using this sensor in conjunction with real-time tissue motion information derived from 3D ultrasound, we show that a force controller with feed-forward motion terms can provide safe and accurate force stabilization in an in vivo contact task against the beating mitral valve annulus. This confers a 50% reduction in force fluctuations when compared to a standard force controller and a 75% reduction in fluctuations when compared to manual attempts to maintain the same force.
Seasonal influenza vaccination of healthy working-age adults: a review of economic evaluations.

The recent impact of influenza on the working-age population of the US has led to changes in the recommendations for vaccination against seasonal influenza; however, the implications of vaccinating such a population have been debated. A review of cost-effectiveness analyses of vaccinating the working-age population of the US against seasonal influenza was conducted using articles published between January 1990 and January 2010. Studies considered for inclusion were identified using MEDLINE, EMBASE and Econlit. Reviewers worked in pairs, and each team member independently extracted relevant data using a standard abstraction form. The source and appropriateness of parameters (epidemiological data, probabilities and costs), the designs employed and the sufficiency of sensitivity analysis were considered during review. Key inputs extracted from the selected studies included influenza or influenza-like illness attack rates, outpatient visits averted, total vaccination days and lost workdays. Seven studies were identified as appropriate for this review. All studies were conducted in the US and from the societal perspective; three were randomized controlled trials and the remaining four were economic simulation models comparing vaccination and influenza antiviral drugs or no intervention; analyses focused on healthy working-age adults aged 18–49 years. Results ranged from net savings of $US68.96 to net costs of $US85.92 per person vaccinated (four studies) and net costs of $US 104-1005 per episode of influenza averted (one study). Only two studies reported cost-effectiveness ratios; these ranged from $US26 565 to $US50 512 per quality-adjusted life-year gained. Nearly all of the studies conducted sensitivity analysis; results were most sensitive to variation in wage rates, levels of worker productivity, the costs and effectiveness of vaccination, and the rate of influenza illness. Review of the included studies suggests that seasonal influenza vaccination of healthy, working-age adults is generally not cost saving, requiring an investment to generate health benefits. The decision to vaccinate such a group will depend upon the societal and payer valuation of those benefits.
High prevalence of a mutation in the cystathionine beta-synthase gene.

Abstract We found that a mutation previously described by Sebastio et al., involving a 68-bp insertion in the coding region of exon 8 of the cystathionine-beta-synthase (CBS) gene in a single patient with homocystinuria, is highly prevalent. In our control population, 11.7% (9/77) of the individuals were heterozygous carriers of this mutation. In contrast to the previous report, which assumed that the 68-bp insertion introduced a premature-termination codon and resulted in a nonfunctional CBS enzyme, we found that the presence of this mutation is not associated with hyperhomocysteinemia. Assay of CBS activity in transformed lymphocytes from individuals who were heterozygous or homozygous for this mutation showed normal activity. Furthermore, reverse-transcripion-PCR showed that individuals carrying this mutation have normal size mRNA. Our results suggest that the insertion creates an alternate splicing site, which eliminates not only the inserted intronic sequences but also the T833C mutation associated with this insertion. The net result is the generation of both quantitatively and qualitatively normal mRNA and CBS enzyme. Although the mutation does not seem to affect the activity of the CBS enzyme, the prevalence is somewhat increased in patients with premature coronary-artery disease, although the difference is not statistically significant.
Foods, 1. Survey

The article contains sections titled: 1. Introduction 2. History of Food Production and Preservation 3. Components and Their Reactions 3.1. Water 3.2. Proteins 3.3. Lipids 3.4. Carbohydrates 3.5. Mineral Components 3.6. Vitamins 3.7. Enzymes 3.8. Miscellaneous Components 3.8.1. Flavor Components 3.8.2. Natural Pigments 3.8.3. Undesirable or Potentially Undesirable Constituents 4. Food Law 5. Documentation 6. Feeds 6.1. Feed Definitions 6.2. Feed Utilization by the Animal 6.3. Feed Components 6.4. Processing 6.5. Chemical Analysis 6.6. Quality Control 6.7. Survey of Common Feeds 6.8. Storage and Transportation 6.9. Economic Aspects
Application of interior-point methods to model predictive control

We present a structured interior-point method for the efficient solution of the optimal control problem in model predictive control. The cost of this approach is linear in the horizon length, compared with cubic growth for a naive approach. We use a discrete-time Riccati recursion to solve the linear equations efficiently at each iteration of the interior-point method, and show that this recursion is numerically stable. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach by applying it to three process control problems.
Rapid evolution of a jet streak circulation in a pre-convective environment

An analysis of upper- and lower-tropospheric jet streaks and their associated vertical circulations prior to and during the Red River Valley severe weather outbreak of 10 April 1979 is presented utilizing the three-hourly SESAME data sets. The paper emphasizes the transformation of a transverse indirect circulation within the exit region of an upper-level jet streak (ULJ) in which the cross-contour components of the upper-level ageostrophic flow diminish in magnitude and reverse direction as the circulation's ascending branch shifts from the cyclonic-shear side to a position along the axis of the ULJ. The change in character of the vertical circulation over a 3- to 6h period appears to be related to the increasing cyclonic curvature associated with the propagation and amplification of a short-wavelength trough embedded within cyclonic flow.
The co-occurring use and misuse of cannabis and tobacco: a review

Aims Cannabis and tobacco use and misuse frequently co-occur. This review examines the epidemiological evidence supporting the life-time co-occurrence of cannabis and tobacco use and outlines the mechanisms that link these drugs to each other. Mechanisms include (i) shared genetic factors; (ii) shared environmental influences, including (iii) route of administration (via smoking), (iv) co-administration and (v) models of co-use. We also discuss respiratory harms associated with co-use of cannabis and tobacco, overlapping withdrawal syndromes and outline treatment implications for co-occurring use. Methods Selective review of published studies. Results Both cannabis and tobacco use and misuse are influenced by genetic factors, and a proportion of these genetic factors influence both cannabis and tobacco use and misuse. Environmental factors such as availability play an important role, with economic models suggesting a complementary relationship where increases in price of one drug decrease the use of the other. Route of administration and smoking cues may contribute to their sustained use. Similar withdrawal syndromes, with many symptoms in common, may have important treatment implications. Emerging evidence suggests that dual abstinence may predict better cessation outcomes, yet empirically researched treatments tailored for co-occurring use are lacking. Conclusions There is accumulating evidence that some mechanisms linking cannabis and tobacco use are distinct from those contributing to co-occurring use of drugs in general. There is an urgent need for research to identify the underlying mechanisms and harness their potential etiological implications to tailor treatment options for this serious public health challenge.
Regulation, markets, and integrity: An essay on the framework for trust in the protection of personal data

The quest for security entails agency relationships, whether protecting ourselves from the rogues and vandals of the Internet, or protecting our personal information in the hands of commercial actors. Firms that provide the technology to provide network security generally do so without significant government regulation. However, the protection of personal information has become increasingly regulated, particularly in Europe. Although in the U.S. private ordering and self-regulation has prevailed, additional regulation may be on the horizon. This essay discusses market forces and legal interventions affecting private ordering and self-regulation, with particular attention to the matter of trust and the role of third-party monitoring in enhancing the trust regime. Using the agency theories of Jensen and Meckling, the essay probes an analogy between consumers and bondholders in a firm, and posits the need for attention to standards and practices for monitoring to enhance the prospects of consumer trust. It concludes with a brief look at integrity as promoted by Jensen and by DeMulder as an additional approach to enhance trust.
Distributional distances in color image retrieval with GMVQ-Generated histograms

We investigate and compare the performance of several distributional distances in generic color image retrieval with an emphasis on symmetry and boundedness of the distances. Two histogram generation methods based on Gauss mixture vector quantization (GMVQ) are compared using Kullback-Leibler divergence (KLD). The joint histogram method shows a better retrieval performance than the Bayesian retrieval with the label histograms of interleaved data. A variety of distance measures are tested and compared for the joint histogram features produced by GMVQ, including an important set of Ali-Silvey distances, the Bhattacharyya distance, and a few other divergence measures based on Shannon entropy. Experimental results show that the Bhattacharyya distance and the L divergence are better than the histogram intersection (HI), but the KLD is poorer than the HI. In all cases, the symmetric version of a distance performs better than the asymmetric one and usually the bounded version of a distance gives better retrieval performance than the corresponding non-bounded.
Fundamentals of Sediment Transport

The goals of this chapter are to (1) describe the processes that govern the transport of sediment in surface waters, (2) provide guidance for use in assessing and/or quantify sediment transport, and (3) describe the procedure to use in modeling sediment transport. A basic knowledge of these topics is requisite to understanding many of the contaminant transport processes important in sediments due to the strong particle associations of most contaminants of concern. This chapter starts with brief overviews of sediment transport – sedimentation related problems and how sediment in surface waters responds to the forces that cause water movement. Basic sediment transport processes are also defined. Section 3.2 describes pertinent properties of sediments, and transport processes for cohesive sediments. Section 3.3 provides guidance to use to assess and/or quantify sediment transport. It is often necessary for remedial project managers to conduct a Sediment Transport Assessment in support of a remedial alternatives evaluation for contaminated sediment Superfund sites. The assessment involves using a systematic approach that (1) identifies the processes and mechanisms that might result in erosion, (2) determines the most appropriate methods to use to assess sediment resuspension and deposition, and (3) quantifies sediment resuspension and deposition rates under varying flow conditions. Section 3.4 provides an overview of the procedures following in performing a sediment transport modeling study. These procedures or steps include: (1) model selection and setup, (2) hydrodynamic modeling, (3) sediment transport modeling, (4) calibration and validation of the models, and (5) analyzing model results.
Soothsayers, Cigars and San Simon

Soothsayers, Cigars and San Simon. Copyright 1996, released in 1998. 58 minutes, color. film by Monica Zaac and Bo Ohlen. For more information, contact Filmakers Library. 124 East 40th St., New York. NY 10016.
Synthetic Biology: Life as App Store

Since the early 19 century, scientists have proposed a variety of naturalistic explanations for the organization of matter in living systems, particularly its origin and propagation from parent to offspring. Some biologists (selectionists; adaptationists) favor the idea that such organization arises by natural selection exerted on living materials with little intrinsic structure of their own. Others (structuralists; physicalists) say the complex materials that living creatures are made of have inherent self-organizational properties that determine what the life forms are and how they develop. The lack of conclusive answers despite decades of research and tens of thousands of published studies has allowed empirically unfounded creationist beliefs to persist in broad sectors of the population (Newman 2008). The still primitive understanding of the material basis of living systems also continues to instill awe in scientists, most of whom probably consider the notion of rationally designing organisms an impractical dream. However, the new field of synthetic biology now aims to change this. As I describe below, with its modus operandi of sidestepping biological origins and complexity in favor of simplification and application, ironically*and despite the intentions of the majority of scientists involved*the synthetic biology enterprise verges uncomfortably close to the metaphysics of creationism.
Idealization as a process in ancient Greek story‐formation

This essay calls attention to two instances in Greek tradition in which originally humorous tales have been refashioned into non‐comic incidents with an entirely different point. In each case a silly character is transformed into an admirable character, the associated ridiculous trait becoming illustrative of an ideal quality.
Shear Instability in Spilling Breakers

High-speed photographs of a gently breaking water wave have shown the particular instability of the wave crest predicted by Longuet-Higgins et al . ( J . Fluid Mech . 259, 333 –344 (1994)) and Longuet-Higgins & Cleaver ( J . Fluid Mech . 258, 115 –129 (1994)), with a ‘bulge’ on the forward face of the wave and the generation of parasitic capillaries ahead of the instability, emanating from the ‘toe’ of the bulge. The photographs also show the unexpected occurence of longer (type 2) capillary waves above the toe of the bulge. In this paper it is shown that the type 2 capillaries are probably shear-flow instabilities arising from the vorticity shed by type 1 (parasitic) capillaries. At large amplitudes the initially linear shear instabilities must break up into discrete vortices. By formulating a simple model of the shear instabilities as vortex waves it is shown that the wavelength of the type 2 capillaries should be about 4 times the wavelength of the type 1 capillaries, a result in agreement with observation. When the flow separates at the toe of the bulge, the use of Prandtl’s rule to estimate the strength of the vortices confirms the above relation. At larger length-scales when surface tension is negligible, the argument leads to a simple rule for predicting the wavelength of the initial surface roughness of a spilling breaker.
Sexual Health Information Networks: What are Urban African American Youth Learning?

This qualitative study examined sexual health information networks among urban African American youth living in low-income communities. The authors identified sources, message content, and utility of messages about sex and sexual health in a sample of 15–17-year olds (N = 81). Youth received sexual health information from a variety of sources. Messages from parents and sex education had high utility, whereas messages from the Internet and religion had low utility. Four information network patterns were identified, suggesting considerable variation in how youth are socialized regarding sex. Findings suggest that sexual information networks have the potential to affect sexual health and development.
Interaction strength between a predator and dangerous prey: Sinistrofulgur predation on Mercenaria

Abstract The lack of direct empirical evidence of predator evolution in response to prey adaptation is a fundamental weakness of the arms race analogy of predator–prey coevolution. I examined the interaction between the predatory busyconine whelk Sinistrofulgur sinistrum and its bivalve prey Mercenaria mercenaria to evaluate whether reciprocal adaptation was likely in this predator–prey system. Thick-lipped whelks use their shell lip to chip open the shell of their prey, often resulting in breakage to their own shell. Thus, hard-shelled prey, such as Mercenaria , may be considered dangerous because they are able to inflict damage to the predator as a consequence of the interaction. The strength of interaction between whelks and their bivalve prey was viewed by regressing predator performance (the incidence of shell breakage in encounters with prey) on prey phenotype (a function of size). Interaction with Mercenaria of varying sizes has strong and predictable consequences ( r 2 =0.946; p =0.028) for Sinistrofulgur . Predators that select large, thick bivalve prey increase the likelihood that their shell lip will be broken in the process of attempting to open their prey. Ecological consequences of feeding-induced breakage may include reduced growth rate, reproductive success, and survivorship. These results suggest that natural selection should favor predator phenotypes that reduce feeding-induced breakage when interactions with damage-inducing prey occur.
Feasibility and toxicity of hypofractionated image guided radiation therapy for large volume limited metastatic disease

Abstract Purpose Hypofractionated image guided radiation therapy (HIGRT) is increasingly used for limited metastases. Reported studies have mostly treated small volume tumors. Here, we report the toxicity and oncologic outcomes following treatment of large volume metastases. Methods and Materials HIGRT patients treated from October 2005 to March 2010 were reviewed. Gross tumor volumes (GTV) and planning target volumes (PTV) were obtained from planning software. A metastasis was considered large volume if the treated PTV exceeded 50 cc. Patients were treated with either 10-fraction (4-5 Gy per fraction) or 3-5 fraction (8-14 Gy per fraction) regimens. Toxicity was obtained from both prospectively collected databases and retrospectively from patient charts. Results Sixty-four patients with 93 treated lesions >50 cc were identified. The median GTV and PTV volumes were 41 and 119 cc, respectively. The median number of treated large volume lesions was 1, and a maximum of 3 large volume lesions were treated in a single patient. Primary malignancies included non–small cell lung cancer, renal cell, colorectal, breast, bladder, pituitary, small cell lung cancer, sarcoma, head-and-neck cancer, and hepatocellular cancer. Treated sites included lung (n = 33), regional lymph nodes (n = 20), bone (n = 17), adrenal (n = 9), and liver (n = 6). The most frequently used treatment regimen was 50 Gy in 5 Gy fractions. The median follow-up was 27 months for surviving patients. Treated lesion control was 78%. Low rates of acute and late grade 3 or higher toxicity were reported, with 3 and 5 patients experiencing each, respectively. Conclusions HIGRT to large volume oligometastatic disease is tolerable and feasible with promising tumor control. Local radiation therapy should be considered in patients with large volume, limited metastatic disease.
An Analysis of the Potential for Deposition, Erosion, or Corrosion in Gas Turbines Fueled by the Products of Biomass Gasification or Combustion

Fuel gas produced by gasifying biomass feedstocks will be expected to meet the general specifications for corrosive and particulate impurities set by the gas turbine manufacturers before being approved for use. The extent to which impurities are present in the fuel gas will be a function of the process used to produce the gas, as well as the type of feedstock from which the gas is derived. Experiences from various biomass gasification trials and hot gas filtration testing to assess the types and amounts of impurities that are likely to be present in the delivered gas during normal operation of the gasification/hot gas cleanup process and upset conditions are reviewed. Overall, it appears that biomass fuels can be separated into two classes: those derived from grass-based biomass and those from wood. Of these, the grasses have the potential to be the more troublesome since they contain the largest amounts of alkalis and total solids and have a significant excess of chlorine over sulfur species. A possible mitigating factor is that it may be possible to lower the alkali metal species (Na + K) to levels considered acceptable by operating the filters at temperatures below 500°C. There is concern that larger amounts of particulate matter than allowed in current gas turbine fuel specifications may pass through the hot gas clean-up systems in biomass gasification processes. These particles may also carry condensed alkali deposits. Therefore, it is considered essential that detailed characterization of the size and type of these particles be obtained so that their potential to cause deposition, erosion, or corrosion problems can be better assessed.Copyright © 2000 by ASME
Synthesis and microfabrication of biomaterials for soft-tissue engineering

Biomaterials synthesis and scaffold fabrication will play an increasingly important role in the design of systems for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. These rapidly growing fields are converging as scaffold design must begin to incorporate multidisciplinary aspects in order to effectively organize cell-seeded constructs into functional tissue. This review article examines the use of synthetic biomaterials and fabrication strategies across length scales with the ultimate goal of guiding cell function and directing tissue formation. This discussion is parsed into three subsections: (1) biomaterials synthesis, including elastomers and gels; (2) synthetic micro- and nanostructures for engineering the cell-biomaterial interface; and (3) complex biomaterials systems design for controlling aspects of the cellular microenvironment.
Effect of Milling Extraction on the Inositol Phosphates of Wheat Flour and Bread

SRW wheat was experimentally milled to 70%, 80%, 90% and 100% extraction flours, and “standard” bread was prepared from these flours. Six inositol phosphates and inorganic phosphate were found in all flours and breads. Inositol hexaphosphate, inorganic phosphate and total P increased with the degree of extraction. About 2/3 of the inositol hexaphosphate disappeared as a result of bread making, but an overall phosphate balance was possible only after taking into account the intermediate inositol phosphates. Commercial white bread and whole wheat bread were also analyzed for the entire spectrum of phosphates.
In Pursuit of Respectful Teaching and Intellectually-Dynamic Social Fields

In contrast to educational policies in the U.S., which assume an individualistic path of success and promote the assimilation of students, this essay argues for pedagogies where teachers focus upon facilitating the development of strong relationships en route to creating exciting educational environments and fertile contexts for social justice movements. Powerful teachers model the process whereby a commitment to appreciating the perspectives of individual students is combined with the orchestration of a dynamic intersubjective context, because such contexts call out the strongest performances of individuals. Viewing educational events in terms of the patterns and rhythms that transpire in a particular social fields allows educators ways to create powerful educational environments even in neocolonial contexts that pit students and teachers against one another. Viewing educational events as social fields also allows us to understand how the common classroom, which focuses each student on the material in front of them, creates impotent individuals who dissociate themselves from others.
Engaged Patients Will Need Comparative Physician-Level Quality Data And Information About Their Out-Of-Pocket Costs

For patients to be engaged, they will need meaningful and comparable information about the quality and cost of health care. We conducted a literature review and key-informant interviews, reviewed s...
Medical Decision Making Performance in Dual-task Scenarios

Physicians often perform multiple tasks concurrently, such as diagnosing a disease while talking with another physician about other patients. However, little experimental evidence is available to determine whether a concurrent task affects the quality and timely performance of diagnostic decisions. In this study, we employed a representative medical diagnostic task to examine the effects of concurrent tasks on diagnostic decision making, in which potential confounding factors are controlled to allow the quantification of diagnostic performance and strategies. The results showed that diagnostic performance was negatively affected by a complex concurrent memorization task that required participants to listen to verbal updates and remember information about other patients while performing the diagnostic task. In contrast, a simple concurrent sound monitoring task did not affect diagnostic performance. Participants used the same diagnostic strategies in the single- and dual-task conditions. These findings pro...
Patient turnover and the relationship between nurse staffing and patient outcomes

High patient turnover (patient throughput generated by admissions, discharges, and transfers) contributes to increased demands and resources for care. We examined how the relationship between registered nurse (RN) staffing and failure-to-rescue (FTR) varied with patient turnover levels by analyzing quarterly data from the University HealthSystem Consortium. The data included 42 hospitals, representing 759 nursing units and about 1 million inpatients. Higher RN staffing was associated with lower FTR. When patient turnover increased from 48.6% to 60.7% on nonintensive units (non-ICUs), the beneficial effect of non-ICU RN staffing on FTR was reduced by 11.5%. RN staffing should be adjusted according to patient turnover because turnover increases patient care demand beyond that presented by patient count, and outcomes may be adversely affected.
The median voter rule and the theory of political choice

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between voter preferences and political decisions. The behavior of political candidates is investigated under conditions where either the expected number of votes or the probability of election is maximized. The primary conclusion is that distributions of preferences which are skewed to the right are likely to be associated with political decisions which understate the point of median preferences. However, under reasonable assumptions regarding the degree of skewness, the extent of the difference may be relatively small so that the median voter rule remains a useful means of approximating the results obtained from the process of political choice.
Altered myocardial response to ouabain in diabetic rats: mechanics and electrophysiology.

Abstract Diabetes induced by streptozotocin in rats is associated with changes in the mechanical function of isolated ventricular papillary muscle. Relaxation is slowed and shortening velocity is depressed. The effects of ouabain (10 −7 to 2 × 10 −4 m ) and changes in extracellular calcium ([Ca 2+ ] 0 = 0.6 to 12 m m ) on the mechanical and electrical properties of normal and diabetic papillary muscles were studied. High doses of ouabain caused a rise in resting tension and a fall in developed tension in both diabetic and control muscles. However, these changes were strikingly greater in diabetic muscles which developed partial contractures at 10 −4 m . The altered response to ouabain was observed in chronically (5 to 7 weeks or 3 months) but not acutely (less than 1 week) diabetic animals. Similarly, the response to ouabain was restored to normal after chronic (5 weeks) therapy with insulin but not after acute (4 days) therapy. In both normal and diabetic muscles, the mechanical effects of increasing [Ca 2+ ] 0 from 2.4 to 12.0 m m were qualitatively similar to those seen with ouabain at 10 −5 to 10 −4 m . Electrophysiologic studies showed that under control conditions action potentials of diabetic muscles were significantly longer than those of normal muscles. Treatment with progressively higher concentrations of ouabain (10 −7 to 10 −4 m ) and [Ca 2+ ] 0 (2.4 to 12.0 m m ) caused shortening of both normal and diabetic action potentials, but the effects of these interventions were much greater in the diabetics. These results suggest that the response of diabetic muscles to ouabain is markedly different from normal and that this altered response may be due to impaired regulation of intracellular Ca 2+ levels in diabetic myocardium.
Identification and validation of protein targets of bioactive small molecules

Identification and validation of protein targets of bioactive small molecules is an important problem in chemical biology and drug discovery. Currently, no single method is satisfactory for this task. Here, we provide an overview of common methods for target identification and validation that historically were most successful. We have classified for the first time the existing methods into two distinct and complementary types, the 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' approaches. In a typical top-down approach, the cellular phenotype is used as a starting point and the molecular target is approached through systematic narrowing down of possibilities by taking advantage of the detailed existing knowledge of cellular pathways and processes. In contrast, the bottom-up approach entails the direct detection and identification of the molecular targets using affinity-based or genetic methods. A special emphasis is placed on target validation, including correlation analysis and genetic methods, as this area is often ignored despite its importance.
Individual Differences in the Bacterial Flora of the Skin of the Forehead: Peptococcus Saccharolyticus

Peptococcus saccharolyticus was a numerically important constituent of the bacterial flora of the forehead of 20% of 40 subjects. 16 of these subjects were studied over periods of 12 to 54 mo. It was consistently absent from 12 subjects, was present on every test of 3 subjects, and constituted 96 to 100% of the total flora on 1 subject tested 8 times in a 16-month period. On the forehead of one subject, Peptococcus saccharolyticus was recovered in only 1 of 5 tests.
Primordial germ cells and oocytes of Branchiostoma virginiae (Cephalochordata, Acrania) are flagellated epithelial cells: relationship between epithelial and primary egg polarity.

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are described from the gonad of c. 2 cm juvenile Branchiostoma virginiae; early oocytes (c. 10 μm) and enlarging, previtellogenic oocytes (c. 35 μm) are described from the ovary of c. 5 cm adults. The germinal epithelium of the juvenile gonad and adult ovary is composed of both germinal and somatic cells. In the juvenile, somatic cells retain contact with the basal lamina of the germinal epithelium though their perikarya may be displaced towards the lumen; the germinal epithelium is, therefore, a simple but pseudostratified epithelium. In the adult ovary, somatic cells may lose contact with the basal lamina and the epithelium appears to become stratified. PGCs and oocytes are identified as germ cells by the presence of nuage. PGCs and oocytes are polarised epithelial cells. They rest on a basal lamina, extend apically towards a lumen, form adhering junctions with neighbouring cells, and exhibit apical-basal polarity. PGCs and early oocytes have an apical flagellum with an associated basal body, accessory centriole, and one or more striated rootlet fibres. The flagellum is surrounded by a collar of microvilli. Once oocytes begin to enlarge and bulge basally into the connective tissue layer, the flagellum is lost, but the basal bodies and ciliary rootlets are present at the apex of 35 μm oocytes. Similarities of the oogenic pattern in cephalochordates and echinoderms indicate that the establishment of egg polarity in deuterostomes is influenced by the polarity of the germinal epithelium.
Evaluation of the Rhodopsin Kinase Gene in Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa

We explored the possibility that defects in the rhodopsin kinase gene might cause retinitis pigmentosa (RP) by evaluating 160 unrelated cases with dominant RP and 151 unrelated cases with recessive RP. One of five missense changes was discovered in each of six cases of dominant RP, but none of the missense changes cosegregated with disease among relatives. Heterozygous missense changes were found in two cases of recessive RP, and a heterozygous frameshift mutation was found in one additional case of recessive RP. Although the same DNA sequence alterations could be found heterozygously in the only affected sibling of each index case of recessive RP, no defect could be found in the other allele. Hence, none of the changes found in the cases of dominant or recessive RP was proven to be a cause of RP. The data indicate that defects in the rhodopsin kinase gene causing RP are either rare or nonexistent.
Synthesis and second-order nonlinear optical properties of various acceptor substituted biologically derived chromophores

The synthesis and second-order nonlinear optical properties of acceptor substituted biologically derived (beta) -apo-8'-carotenal compounds are reported. Electric field-induced second harmonic generation (EFISH) measurements give values of (beta) (0) which are 2 - 6 times greater than for 4-N,N-dimethylamino-4'-nitrostilbene (DANS).
Complications of transvaginal monofilament polypropylene mesh in pelvic organ prolapse repair

This study aimed to document intraoperative and postoperative complications associated with the use of transvaginal polypropylene mesh in the repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). This is a retrospective review of 127 cases of transvaginal repair of POP using synthetic mesh. Mean postoperative value (±SD) for pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POPQ) measurements Aa, Ap, and C were: −2.4 ± 1.1 (cm), −2.4 ± 0.9 (cm), and −7.7 ± 1.2 (cm), respectively. The difference between preoperative and postoperative values of these points was significant (p < 0.0001). Mesh erosion rate was 13/127 (10.2%) with significant correlation between mesh erosion and concurrent vaginal hysterectomy (p = 0.008). Combined anterior and posterior vaginal mesh surgery increased the risk of intraoperative bleeding and blood transfusion (p < 0.05). Concurrent vaginal hysterectomy is associated with increased risk of vaginal mesh erosion. Combined anterior and posterior vaginal mesh repair is an increased risk factor for intraoperative bleeding and blood transfusion.
A model to predict the average response time of user programs

Abstract The queueing model is often used to analyze the average response time in round-robin systems. A model that can analyze the average response time in round-robin systems is presented in this paper. This model is based on the state transition model. Each state in the model represents the number of programs in the system. It is assumed in the model that a state transition occurs every Δt time instants. When the system enters state i, a program in the system will receive Δt i units of CPU time before the next state transition occurs. A program leaves the system when it receives the required CPU time. If, during the time the program is in the system, m state transitions occur, then the program's response time is m×Δt. Methods based on the model to estimate the average response time are developed. These methods have been used to construct the average response time analyzer that is used as a postprocessor of the PASS system to determine a program's average response time.
Conditioning of Meaning in Advertising: Brand Gender Perception Effects

Abstract Advertising is a powerful tool for imbuing brands with meaning. Classical conditioning has been identified as an important theoretical mechanism for building such associations around brands. Although a number of conditioning studies have examined the conditioning of brand attitude, only recently has research turned toward whether or not inferential beliefs can be conditioned. This research adds to recent literature on the conditioning of beliefs by examining whether or not gender perception of brands can be conditioned. The study presented here is a 2×2 with one control group. The two factors are the overall valence of the US (either positive or neutral) and the gender affiliation of the US (either masculine or feminine). The results indicate that whether the CS (a brand of cologne) was paired with the masculine or feminine images affected subjects' subsequent gender perception of that brand. Additionally, evidence from this research suggests that the conditioning of beliefs (gender perception of...
Absolute thermodynamic properties of molten salts using the two-phase thermodynamic (2PT) superpositioning method

We show that the absolute thermodynamic properties of molten salts (mixtures of KCl and LiCl) can be accurately determined from the two-phase thermodynamic (2PT) method that is based on superpositioning of solid-like and gas-like (hard-sphere) vibrational density of states (DoS). The 2PT predictions are in excellent accordance with those from the thermodynamic integration method; the melting point of KCl evaluated from the free energy and the absolute entropy shows close conformity with the experimental/NIST data. The DoS partitioning shows that the Li+ ions in the eutectic LiCl–KCl molten mixture are largely solid-like, unlike the K+ and Cl− ions, which have a significant gas-like contribution, for temperatures ranging from 773 K to 1300 K. The solid-like states of the Li+ ions may have practical implications when employed for chemical and nuclear reprocessing applications.
Immobilization of Quantum Dots in Multiple Responsive Microgels for Biomedical Applications

A novel type of smart hybrid materials based on the in situ immobilization of quantum dots (QDs) on a responsive microgel template was prepared and investigated. Firstly, a temperature and pH dual responsive hybrid microgel was developed through the in-situ immobilization of CdS QDs in the interior of a copolymer microgel of poly(Nisopropylacrylamide- acrylamide-acrylic acid) [p(NIPAM-AAm-AA)]. The amino groups of the pAAm segments in the microgels are designed to sequester the precursor Cd2+ ions for in situ formation of CdS QDs in the interior of the microgels and stabilize the CdS QDs embedded in the microgels. We demonstrated that the carboxyl groups on the p(NIPAM-AAm-AA)-CdS hybrid microgels can be used for further coupling with 3-aminophenyl boronic acid for optical glucose sensing. The glucose concentration change can induce a reversible swelling/shrinkage of the hybrid microgels, which can further modify the physicochemical environment of the QDs immobilized inside the microgels, resulting in a reversible quenching/antiquenching in photoluminescence (PL). The method is extendable to other QDs with different emission wavelengths and other targeting ligands, thus it is possible to develop multifunctional hybrid micro-/nano-gels for additional important biomedical applications.© (2010) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass in Morbidly Obese Patients ≥55 Years Old

Advanced age is considered a relative contraindication to bariatric surgery at some institutions because of concerns about higher morbidity and less than optimal weight loss. The aim of our study was to evaluate the operative outcomes, length of stay, weight loss, and improvement of comorbidities in patients ≥55 years old who underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) surgery in our institution. Retrospective data on 33 patients (26 women and 7 men) ≥55 years of age who underwent LRYGB from January 2003 to December 2006 were reviewed. Average patient age was 59 years (range 55–68 years), and the mean preoperative body mass index was 47 kg/m2 (range 41.1–55.8 kg/m2). The median length of hospital stay was 3 days. There were no intraoperative or postoperative deaths. Early complications were one anastomotic leak, two upper gastrointestinal bleedings, and two readmissions for intractable vomiting. Late complications included four anastomotic strictures and one small bowel obstruction. Patients were followed for a mean 13 months (range 3–24 months). The mean excess body weight (EBW) loss was 13.5 kg (23%), 23.3 kg (39.8%), 33.3 kg (58.1%), 39.8 kg (66.8%), 40.1 kg (69.5%), and 40.8 kg (75.3%) at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 months, respectively. Diabetes mellitus improved in 19 (100%) patients and completely resolved in 10 (53%). Hypertension improved in 18 (64%) patients, completely resolved in 9 (32%) and was unchanged in 10 (36%). LRYGB is safe and effective in morbidly obese patients ≥55 years of age.
Self-Reported Sleep Bruxism and Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Relationship to Gender and Ethnicity§

Study Objectives : Nocturnal bruxism is associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and GERD is strongly associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Gender and ethnic differences in the prevalence and clinical presentation of these often overlapping sleep disorders have not been well documented. Our aim was to examine the associations between, and the symptoms associated with, nocturnal GERD and sleep bruxism in patients with OSA, and to examine the influence of gender and ethnicity.
The resuspension of underwater sediment by rain

The rain-induced resuspension of bottom sediment in shallow water is measured in a simple laboratory experiment, and found to increase significantly with increasing drop size and rain intensity, and decreasing water depth.
The production of higher plant subprotoplasts

There are several examples in the literature to show that the formation of subprotoplasts is favored by conditions of high osmoticum concentrations and the presence of elongated cells. As plant tissues are plasmolysed, some of the elongated cells will fragment into two or more parts. When the cell wall is removed with enzymes, the subprotoplasts are released into the medium. If elongated cells are not present, centrifugation or budding of protoplasts can be used, or large fragile cells can be obtained by a high auxin treatment. Each method gives mixed populations of subprotoplasts with protoplasts. Purified fractions are obtained by density gradient centrifugation, or by picking with a micropipet.
Pain sensitization in male chronic pelvic pain syndrome: why are symptoms so difficult to treat?

ABSTRACTPurpose: Male chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is a chronic and debilitating symptom complex, and inconsistent outcomes of antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatments have created an interest in investigating the neurological mechanisms of CPPS pain. Because chronic pelvic pain likely results in hyperexcitability of dorsal horn neurons, ie central sensitization, thermal algometry may be useful in the assessment of CPPS. We evaluated men with and without CPPS to determine if there were differences between the 2 groups in their responses to noxious heat stimuli.Materials and Methods: We recruited 66 healthy men without CPPS and 36 men with a history of CPPS for the study. Mean age of CPPS subjects was 43.1 years (range 18 to 62) and mean age of controls was 35.1 (range 21 to 61). All subjects with pain completed a National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index. We conducted thermal sensory tests with a small thermode programmed to deliver 2 series of 4 rapid bursts of noxious hea...
UTILITY THEORY VIOLATIONS BY MULTI-CRITERIA HIERARCHICAL WEIGHTING METHODS

Abstract This paper discusses two violations of utility theory that can arise with some common multi-criteria hierarchical weighting methods when employed for selection of the best of several alternatives considering multiple criteria. First, these hierarchical weighting methods are found to violate utility theory's principle of independence of irrelevant alternatives. Proof of this violation is made by counter-example. Second, a common violation of additive utility exists even when only two alternatives are considered, a case without irrelevant alternatives. The frequency of this incompatibility of hierarchical weighting with additive utility is explored through a numerical experiment and found to range between 4% and 13% for different problem sizes. These problems do not exist for application of weighting methods to single-objective problems.
Prescription drug misuse among homeless youth

Background Prescription drug misuse (PDM) is highly prevalent among youth in the U.S., and can have serious health consequences. Homeless youth are a particularly vulnerable population with high rates of substance use. However, PDM has not been studied in a sample comprised exclusively of homeless youth.
Message from the HCW Steering Committee Chair

The following topics are dealt with: parallel processing; graphics processing units; learning (artificial intelligence); field programmable gate arrays; parallel programming; optimisation; multiprocessing systems; parallel algorithms; parallel architectures; graph theory.