cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural Evolution of Santa Lucia Range, California: ABSTRACT

The rocks of the Santa Lucia Range are divisible into a bedrock complex and a superjacent series, separated by a major unconformity which represents early Late Cretaceous deformation ("Santa Lucia orogeny"). Decollement tectonics, involving gravity sliding of the Franciscan rocks over carbonate rocks of the Gabilan mesa, played an important role in the deformation of the bedrock complex during Late Jurassic and middle Cretaceous times (Hsu, 1965). The superjacent rocks were deformed by wrench faulting, and by folding during several Cenozoic orogenic episodes. Thrust faults have been observed in wrench-fault zones. Local changes from wrench to thrust faulting are related to slight changes in the magnitude of the vertical and horizontal principal stresses. These thrusts sho ld not be confused with the decollement tectonics which affected only the bedrock complex. The Franciscan-Recent succession of the region is illustrated and discussed. The stratigraphy of the superjacent sediments is based on the work of previous investigators. The stratigraphy of the bedrock complex is based mainly on the writer's structural interpretations. Although the Franciscan rocks were deformed during late Mesozoic and denuded during early Tertiary, they furnished very little debris to the Cretaceous and early Tertiary sedimentary formations of California. End_Page 648------------------------------ Nevertheless, large volumes of Franciscan debris must have been removed from the Santa Lucia Range before the Miocene transgression. This debris probably was transported west and deposited as thick early Tertiary clastic sequences in offshore basins. End_of_Article - Last_Page 649------------
IL-4 and interferon gamma regulate expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells.

IL-4 and interferon gamma regulate expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells
Testing for success: A logistic regression analysis to determine which pre-admission exam best predicts success in an associate degree in nursing program

This study is a logistic regression analysis of data collected over a period of 5 years to determine which of three preadmission examinations best predicted success in an associate degree in nursing program. The three tests included in this study were the Pre-Admission Examination for Registered Nurses from the National League of Nursing, the admission assessment examination (A2) from Health Education Systems Inc. (HESI), and the Test of Essential Academic Skills from Assessment Technologies Institute. Data analysis revealed the HESI A2 examination scores can explain success in the nursing program better than the other tests included in this study.
The america invents act-overview and implications: patent highlight.

On September 16, 2011, President Obama signed the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act into law, which is by far the most comprehensive change to the patent law in at least half a century. Although the impact of the changes in the law will likely not be felt for several years, this law has the potential to fundamentally alter the role of innovation and the status of the researcher within the United States.1
Field tests of error-resilient 3D SPIHT vs. MPEG-2

Error Resilient and Error Concealment 3-D SPIHT (ERC-SPIHT) is a joint source channel coder developed to improve the overall performance against channel bit errors without requiring automatic-repeat-request (ARQ). The objective of this research is to test and validate the properties of two competing video compression algorithms in a wireless environment. The property focused on is error resiliency to the noise inherent in wireless data communication. ERC-SPIHT and MPEG-2 with forward error correction (FEC) are currently undergoing tests over a satellite communication link. The initial test indicates that ERC-SPIHT gives excellent results in noisy channel conditions is shown to have superior performance over MPEG-2 with FEC when communicated over a military satellite channel.
Neutrophil accumulation in ischemic canine myocardium. Insights into time course, distribution, and mechanism of localization during early reperfusion.

BACKGROUNDWe have previously demonstrated that chemotactic factors released from the ischemic canine myocardium peak early during reperfusion and that they elicit neutrophil adherence reactions in vitro that are dependent on the CD18 glycoprotein family. In this study we investigated the hypothesis that neutrophil localization in ischemic canine myocardium in vivo occurs over a similar time course during early reperfusion and involves a CD18-dependent mechanism.METHODS AND RESULTSWe occluded the circumflex coronary artery for 1 hour in acute, open-chest dogs, followed by reperfusion for 1, 2, 3, or 4 hours. Regional myocardial blood flow was determined using radiolabeled microspheres, and localization was traced using technetium-99m-labeled autologous neutrophils. In the first hour of reperfusion, neutrophil localization occurred preferentially within the subendocardial region and was inversely related to flow. Neutrophil localization diminished across the ischemic myocardium from endocardium to epicardiu...
Factors Preventing the Recovery of a Historically Overexploited Shellfish Species, Ostrea lurida Carpenter 1864

ABSTRACT The Olympia oyster, Ostrea lurida Carpenter 1864,† in estuaries along the Pacific coast of North America, experienced overexploitation throughout its range in the late 1800s, resulting in commercial extinction before 1930. Significant harvest restrictions and marine reserves were established in Washington State by 1897 to protect new recruits, and harvest pressure has been negligible for the past 80 y. Nevertheless, O. lurida remains locally rare. This study focuses on the contemporary dynamics of the remnant population of O. lurida in Willapa Bay, Washington, historically home to the largest native oyster fishery on the coast, with a broad focus on factors preventing recovery. Failed recovery could be because of reproductive limitation, or to poor postrecruitment performance. In this case, reproductive limitation seems unlikely, because historical (1947 to 1983) and modern (2002 to 2006) records reveal 5-fold higher annual spatfall for O. lurida than introduced Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas...
Correlation and path-coefficient analyses of seed-yield components in pearl millet x elephantgrass hybrids.

Correlation and path-coefficient analyses have been successful tools in developing selection criteria. Since increased seed yield is an important goal in our pearl millet x elephantgrass [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br. x P. purpureum Schum.] hexaploid breeding program, we used correlation and path-coefficient analyses on seed data. This study was conducted to develop appropriate selection criteria by determining the direct and indirect effects of seed-yield components on seed yield plant-1. Number of tillers plant-1, panicles tiller-1, seeds panicle-1, 100-seed weight, and seed yield plant-1, were estimated for individual plants in seven families. Phenotypic (rp) and genetic correlations (rg) were calculated, and path analyses (phenotypic and genetic) were carried out according to predetermined causal relationships. Phenotypic and genetic correlations differed in several cases due to large environmental variance and covariance. Phenotypically, all components were positively and significantly associated with seed yield plant-1. Genotypically, only seeds panicle-1 and 100-seed weight were significantly correlated. These two components were also positively correlated (rp=0.55, rg=0.63), so simultaneous improvement for both components would be feasible. Panicles tiller-1 and seeds panicle-1 were negatively correlated (rg=-0.97). In the path analyses, all direct effects of the components on seed yield plant-1 were positive. Phenotypic indirect effects were not as important as genetic indirect effects. The components seeds panicle-1 and 100-seed weight influenced seed yield plant-1 the greatest, both directly and indirectly.
INFLUENCE OF DROUGHT ON ANNUAL SURVIVAL OF THE MOUNTAIN PLOVER IN MONTANA

Abstract I used a robust design to model the influence of age, sex, climate conditions, and chick body mass on the annual survival of the Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus) in north-central Montana from 1995–2006. I found evidence that chick age predicted body mass (i.e., log10 (mass) = 0.03 × age + 1.02) and subsequently modeled juvenile survival as a function of body mass. Juvenile survival was similar for both sexes and was positively influenced by body mass at capture. The predicted annual survival for a juvenile plover from date of hatching (10 g) was 0.06 (95% CI was 0.02, 0.15) and increased with body mass. Annual survival was similar for adults of both sexes and ranged from 0.74 to 0.96 yearly. There was a hint that male survival was higher than that of females, although this effect was weak. Adult survival was affected by a Palmer Modified Drought Index that measured local climate conditions and indicated that annual survival was highest during drought periods. Implications of this study inclu...
THE EFFECT OF VAGUS SECTION UPON ANAPHYLAXIS IN GUINEA PIGS : SECOND COMMUNICATION.

Depriving the bronchial muscles of one side of the lungs of their motor innervation does not interfere with sensitization nor the production of the typical anaphylactic lung. There is, therefore, direct sensitization of the muscle substance. Complete degeneration of the vagus nerve, after sensitization has occurred, interferes in no appreciable way with the course of immediate anaphylaxis. Partial degeneration of the vagus nerve, so that the bronchodilator fibers are still physiologically active, after sensitization has taken place, exerts no effect on the symptoms and lung picture of immediate anaphylaxis (very acute anaphylaxis with death after some minutes). No definite evidence was obtained regarding the function of the motor nerve endings in the bronchial muscles in anaphylaxis. The two sides of the lungs in immediate anaphylaxis may occasionally be unequal; when this occurs, the left side, especially the lower lobe, is usually fuller than the right side.
Connective tissue diseases: Belimumab for systemic lupus erythematosus: breaking through?

Belimumab was recently shown to reduce disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. This observation raises important questions about where belimumab might best fit into the treatment paradigm for this disease, and how the agent might compare to other biologic agents currently under investigation.
Individual differences at birth: implications for early experience and later development.

Observations from several neonatal studies revealed statistically significant behavioral differences among healthy full-term newborns. It is proposed that among these differences certain ones will affect the nature of early experience, particularly the mother-infant relationship. Others may favor the development of certain cognitive styles, defenses and characterological differences.
Biogeochemical processes controlling methane in gassy coastal sediments—Part 2: groundwater flow control of acoustic turbidity in Eckernförde Bay Sediments

Abstract To understand the origin of the methane distributions in sediments of Eckernforde Bay, three sites were sampled in May 1994 for determination of methane, sulfate and chloride concentrations in the sediment porewaters. In much of the Bay, bubbles of biogenic methane gas within the sediments lead to widespread ‘acoustic turbidity’ seen in acoustic surveys, masking the sedimentary structure below the gassy horizon. Acoustic windows, where the gas does not appear to be present, occur in several locations in the Bay, often surrounded by acoustically turbid sediments. Pockmarks, shallow depressions in the sediment, are also found in Bay sediments and may show acoustic turbidity at even shallower depths below the interface than surrounding sediments. One site of each type was sampled in this study. The site probably representative of much of the bay below 20 m water depth, revealed methane saturated conditions by about 75 cm depth below the interface, confirming inferences from acoustic scattering data that free gas was present in the sediment. Above this, the methane concentration profile was concave-upward, indicative of methane oxidation in the overlying, sulfate-reducing sediments. These porewaters showed a slightly decreasing chlorinity with depth. At an acoustic window site, methane concentrations rose to a maximum at about 125 cm depth, but did not reach saturation. Below this depth they decreased in a concave-down pattern. Chloride concentrations decreased markedly with depth, indicative of vertical freshwater flow from below. The third site was a pockmark exhibiting very shallow acoustic turbidity at about 25 cm depth. Here methane concentrations rose to exceed saturation within 25 cm depth below the interface and the porewaters became almost fresh by 1.5 m depth, indicative of a stronger flow of freshwater from below. These groundwater flows have competing effects on the methane inventory. They help exclude sulfate from the sediment, allowing the earlier/shallower onset of methanogenesis, but they also aid loss of methane through advection. A diagenetic model that couples the biogeochemistry of sulfate and methane is used to explain the presence or absence of methane gas in these sediments in relation to the flow rate of fresh groundwater from below. Model results indicate that acoustic windows within otherwise acoustically turbid sediments of the bay are likely due to relatively higher rates of vertical advection of fresh groundwater. The gassy pockmark, however, with an even higher vertical advection rate, seems to require the input of additional reactive organic carbon to explain its vertical methane distribution.
A Library of Monoclonal Antibodies to Torpedo Cholinergic Synaptosomes

: A library of monoclonal antibodies was generated to the cholinergic synaptosome. The immunogen was a preparation of highly purified synaptosomes from Torpedo electric organ. One hundred forty-one hybridoma cell lines were generated from the fusion of a single mouse. Tests reveal these cells produce antibodies with a vast range of neuronal specificities. The initial screen for specificity of antibody production was solid phase radioimmune binding to the original, highly purified synaptosome preparation. Subsequent tissue specificity tests have indicated that most antibodies are synaptosome-specific amongst the fish tissues tested: brain, liver, and purified synaptic vesicles. Less than 11% cross-react with liver. Many antibodies cross-react with frog and rat CNS. Localization within the frog and rat nervous tissue has revealed a vast array of antibody staining patterns. Some antibodies stain in a synaptic fashion. A few stain a restricted set of mammalian CNS neurons. Others define a broader set of CNS neurons. These Torpedo antibodies promise to be valuable probes with which to describe the molecular cell biology of the nervous system, of neurons in general, and of cholinergic neurons in particular.
Multicenter Experience with Nonischemic Multiport Laparoscopic and Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Partial Nephrectomy Utilizing Bipolar Radiofrequency Ablation Coagulator

Objective. To investigate feasibility of multiport and laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) nonischemic laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (NI-LPN) utilizing bipolar radiofrequency coagulator. Methods. Multicenter retrospective review of 60 patients (46 multiport/14 LESS) undergoing NI-LPN between 4/2006 and 9/2009. Multiport and LESS NI-LPN utilized Habib 4X bipolar radiofrequency coagulator to form a hemostatic zone followed by nonischemic tumor excision and renorrhaphy. Demographics, tumor/perioperative characteristics, and outcomes were analyzed. Results. 59/60 (98.3%) successfully underwent NI-LPN. Mean tumor size was 2.35 cm. Mean operative time was 160.0 minutes. Mean estimated blood loss was 131.4 mL. Preoperative/postoperative creatinine (mg/dL) was 1.02/1.07 (𝑃=.471). All had negative margins. 12 (20%) patients developed complications. 3 (5%) developed urine leaks. No differences between multiport and LESS-PN were noted as regards demographics, tumor size, outcomes, and complications. Conclusion. Initial experience demonstrates that nonischemic multiport and LESS-PN is safe and efficacious, with excellent short-term preservation of renal function. Long-term data are needed to confirm oncological efficacy.
What’s CUR≟

The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) is a professional membership organization dedicated to enhancing and promoting undergraduate research as the most effective way for faculty to teach and students to learn science at primarily undergraduate institutions. This model supports hands-on, discovery-based learning in the undergraduate setting. The physical boundaries between classroom and laboratory are all but eliminated. The Council’s database serves as a national resource on undergraduate research and is used to generate information published in a series of Directories that provide a clear picture of the variety of academic settings that nurture undergraduate research.
Improved Super-Regenerative Receiver Theory

A new paradigm for the analysis of super-regenerative (SR) receivers is proposed. Unlike the methodology used in the past where alternately stable and unstable modes of operation are considered, this approach models the system as a stable filter with modulators at the input and output. Consequently, the behavior of SR systems can be viewed using steady state techniques as opposed to time-varying transient analysis. The basic mathematical result derived using this paradigm is compared to the currently accepted solution in the literature and is found to be essentially the same. Then, using state space techniques this solution is modified to obtain newly derived results for the envelope solution, where the resulting down-conversion enables an extremely efficient simulation approach. Finally, the paradigm is extended to show that with the addition of frequency modulation, an even more accurate closed form solution to the problem is available. Simulation results are offered which validate the analysis.
In-parallel artificial lung attachment at high flows in normal and pulmonary hypertension models.

Background End-stage lung disease patients who require a thoracic artificial lung (TAL) must be extubated and rehabilitated prior to lung transplantation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate hemodynamics and TAL function under simulated rest and exercise conditions in normal and pulmonary hypertension sheep models. Methods The TAL, the MC3 Biolung (MC3, Inc, Ann Arbor, MI), was attached between the pulmonary artery and left atrium in nine normal sheep and eight sheep with chronic pulmonary hypertension. An adjustable band was placed around the distal pulmonary artery to control the percentage of cardiac output (CO) diverted to the TAL. Pulmonary system hemodynamics and TAL function were assessed at baseline (no flow to the TAL) and with approximately 60%, 75%, and 90% of CO diverted to the TAL. Intravenous dobutamine (0, 2, and 5 mcg · kg −1 · min −1 ) was used to simulate rest and exercise conditions. Results At 0 and 2 mcg · kg −1 · min −1 , CO did not change significantly with flow diversion to the TAL for both models. At 5 mcg · kg −1 · min −1 , CO decreased with increasing TAL flow up to 28% ± 5% in normal sheep and 23% ± 5% in pulmonary hypertension sheep at 90% flow diversion to the artificial lung. In normal sheep, the pulmonary system zeroth harmonic impedance modulus, Z 0 , increased with increasing flow diversion. In hypertensive sheep, Z 0 decreased at 60% and 75% flow diversion and returned to baseline levels at 90%. The TAL outlet blood oxygen saturation was 95% or greater under all conditions. Conclusions Pulmonary artery to left atrial TAL use will not decrease CO during rest or mild exercise but may not allow more vigorous exercise.
Bipedal and quadrupedal locomotion in chimpanzees

Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) habitually walk both bipedally and quadrupedally, and have been a common point of reference for understanding the evolution of bipedal locomotion in early ape-like hominins. Here we compare the kinematics, kinetics, and energetics of bipedal and quadrupedal walking and running in a sample of five captive chimpanzees. Kinematics were recorded using sagittal-plane digital high-speed video of treadmill trials. Kinetics were recorded via a forceplate. Metabolic energy cost was measured via steady-state oxygen consumption during treadmill trials. Consistent with previous work on chimpanzees and other hominoids, we found that the spatiotemporal characteristics, joint angles, ground reaction forces, and metabolic cost of bipedal and quadrupedal locomotion are similar in chimpanzees. Notable differences include hip and trunk angles, which reflected a more orthograde trunk posture during bipedalism, and mediolateral ground reaction forces, which were larger during bipedal walking. Stride frequencies were also higher (and step lengths shorter) during bipedal trials. Bipedal and quadrupedal walking among chimpanzees was similar to that reported for bonobos, gibbons, and other primates. The similarity in cost between bipedal and quadrupedal trials suggests that the adoption of bipedal walking would have had no effect on walking costs for early ape-like hominins. However, habitual bipedalism may have favored modifications of the hip to allow a more orthograde posture, and of the hind limb abductor mechanisms to efficiently exert mediolateral ground forces.
Four-dimensional realization of two-dimensional current groups

The quotient realization of the central extensions of the current groups over Riemann surfaces is achieved by means of the Leray residue theory. This approach replaces de Rham cohomology in the classical WZNW construction for affine Lie groups.
Equalization for a page-oriented optical memory system

In this work, a method of decision-feedback equalization is developed for a digital holographic channel that experiences moderate-to-severe imaging errors. Decision feedback is utilized, not only where the channel is well-behaved, but also near the edges of the camera grid that are subject to a high degree of imaging error. In addition to these effects, the channel is worsened by typical problems of holographic channels, including non-uniform illumination, dropouts, and stuck bits. The approach described in this paper builds on established methods for performing trained and blind equalization on time-varying channels. The approach is tested on experimental data sets. On most of these data sets, the method of equalization described in this work delivers at least an order of magnitude improvement in bit-error rate (BER) before error-correction coding (ECC). When ECC is introduced, the approach is able to recover stored data with no errors for many of the tested data sets. Furthermore, a low BER was maintained even over a range of small alignment perturbations in the system. It is believed that this equalization method can allow cost reductions to be made in page-memory systems, by allowing for a larger image area per page or less complex imaging components, without sacrificing the low BER required by data storage applications.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effects of Vitamin U on Intestinal Morphology in Broilers Undergoing a Salmonellosis Challenge

Abstract Shaw, A.L., Macklin, K.S. and Blake, J.P. 2010. Effects of Vitamin U on intestinal morphology in broilers undergoing a salmonellosis challenge. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 37: 145–151. Three experiments compared the effectiveness of Vitamin U (DL-methionine methylsulfonium chloride) with BioMosand BMD (bacitracin methylene disalicylate) on cecal loads of Salmonella, incidence of septicemia and small intestine villous characteristics in broilers challenged with S. Typhimurium. Day-old SPF broilers were orally gavaged with 1 ml S. Typhimurium (108 cfu/ml) and allotted to treatments (3 reps/trt). Dietary treatments were Exp 1: CON (Control), MOS (CON + .095% BioMos), LVU (CON + .03% Vitamin U) and MVU (CON + .06% Vitamin U); Exp 2: CON, MOS, BMD (CON + .005% BMD) and LVU; and Exp 3: CON, MOS, BMD, LVU and HVU (CON + .3% Vitamin U). Cecal contents and liver samples were collected weekly. Intestinal samples were also gathered from the small intestine for measurement of villi length, villi width (Exp. 2 only)...
Did Maxwell Pull a Fast One? [AP-S Turnstile]

A radiometer (also known as a light-mill, and more precisely as a Crookes radiometer) was developed by Sir William Crookes in 1873 while investigating infrared radiation and the element thallium. Crookes submitted a paper using differential radiation pressure to describe the operation of the radiometer. The paper was reviewed by Maxwell, who accepted Crookes's explanation, taking delight apparently in the experimental vindication of radiation pressure predicted by his electromagnetic theory. However, within a few years, it was noted that if radiation pressure were responsible for making the vanes turn, the vanes would turn in the direction opposite to what is actually observed. The brighter reflective side would have the greater radiation pressure and, therefore, the vane would be pushed towards the darker side.In 1879, Osborne Reynolds (remember the "Reynolds number" from fluid dynamics?) offered the correct qualitative explanation for the radiometer's rotation, based on his theory of "thermal transpiration," in a manuscript submitted to the Royal Society. In the presence of a thermal gradient, gas molecules exert tangential forces along the edges of a vane, which results in the rotation observed. Maxwell was again a reviewer for the manuscript; he bought Reynolds's explanation, but recommended changes to the analysis.
Optical Hough And Fourier Processors For Product Inspection

Coherent optical processors for product inspection are discussed, and data from a case study are presented. An optical processor that produces both Fourier and Hough transform data is presented. The Fourier transform data are wedge/ring sampled to produce in-plane distortion-invariant features to determine the product's attribute (good or defective) and its orientation. Hough transform data are used for new quantitative mensuration information on good products. In one case, optical Hough transforms are quantitatively shown to yield more consistent results than do digital realizations.
Forward modeling of carbonate proxy data from planktonic foraminifera using oxygen isotope tracers in a global ocean model

The distribution and variation of oxygen isotopes in seawater are calculated using the Goddard Institute for Space Studies global ocean model. Simple ecological models are used to estimate the planktonic foraminiferal abundance as a function of depth, column temperature, season, light intensity, and density stratification. These models are combined to forward model isotopic signals recorded in calcareous ocean sediment. The sensitivity of the results to the changes in foraminiferal ecology, secondary calcification, and dissolution are also examined. Simulated present-day isotopic values for ecology relevant for multiple species compare well with core-top data. Hindcasts of sea surface temperature and salinity are made from time series of the modeled carbonate isotope values as the model climate changes. Paleoclimatic inferences from these carbonate isotope records are strongly affected by erroneous assumptions concerning the covariations of temperature, salinity, and delta (sup 18)O(sub w). Habitat-imposed biases are less important, although errors due to temperature-dependent abundances can be significant.
Band-mixing effect on the emission spectrum of modulation-doped semiconductor quantum wells

Emisssion spectra of n-type modulation-doped semiconductor quantum wells are calculated in a multivalley effective-mass model which includes the valence-band mixing. The many-body effect is taken into account by consideration of the single electron-hole pair excitations and the shakeup process. The resulting emission spectra for both parallel and perpendicular polarizations are found in reasonable agreement with the reported experimental data.
Signal properties that reduce masking by simultaneous, random‐frequency maskers

Large amounts of simultaneous masking can be produced by changing the frequency content of multicomponent maskers with each presentation. Much of this masking appears to be informational, that is, produced by stimulus uncertainty. This study examined whether relatively simple changes in the properties or presentation mode of the signal could increase the saliency of the signal and reduce this masking. The number of masker components varied from 2 to 100 across conditions. The reference signal was a 200‐ms, 1000‐Hz sinusoid, presented monaurally with the masker. Across experiments, changes in masking relative to the reference condition were examined for different signal types (amplitude‐modulated, quasifrequency‐modulated, or narrow‐band noise), durations (100 or 10 ms), and presentation modes (diotic, dichotic, or cross ear). The use of AM and NBN signals improved performance more consistently than the QFM signal, which degraded performance for some listeners. Lower masking in the reference condition for ...
Right inverses of Lévy processes and stationary stopped local times

If X is a symmetric Levy process on the line, then there exists a non-decreasing, cadlag process H such that X(H(x)) = x for all x≥ 0 if and only if X is recurrent and has a non-trivial Gaussian component. The minimal such H is a subordinator K. The law of K is identified and shown to be the same as that of a linear time change of the inverse local time at 0 of X. When X is Brownian motion, K is just the usual ladder times process and this result extends the classical result of Levy that the maximum process has the same law as the local time at 0. Write G t for last point in the range of K prior to t. In a parallel with classical fluctuation theory, the process Z := (X t −X Gt ) t ≥0 is Markov with local time at 0 given by (X Gt ) t ≥0. The transition kernel and excursion measure of Z are identified. A similar programme is outlined for Levy processes on the circle. This leads to the construction of a stopping time such that the stopped local times constitute a stationary process indexed by the circle.
Detection of fungi in the sinus mucosa using polymerase chain reaction.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the presence of fungi in the sinus mucosa of patients with and without chronic rhinosinusitis.STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective observational study using polymerase chain reaction and conventional culture to detect fungi in the sinus mucosa. Middle meatus mucosal samples were collected from 31 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and 14 control subjects.RESULTS: Fungi were detected in 6.5% of subjects with chronic rhinosinusitis and in none of the control subjects using polymerase chain reaction. Fungi were detected in 29% of subjects with the combination of inhalant allergies, nasal polyposis, and asthma. Fungi were detected in none of the subjects without the combination of these three comorbidities (P = 0.03).CONCLUSION: Polymerase chain reaction assay appears to be able to detect fungi in chronic rhinosinusitis.SIGNIFICANCE: Fungi may not be implicated in the pathogenesis of most chronic rhinosinusitis.
Determination of LSD in Urine by Capillary Column Gas Chromatography and Electron Impact Mass Spectrometry

A procedure for the determination of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) in urine at concentrations as low as 0.5 ng/ml is presented. After addition of deuterium-labeled LSD as the internal standard, a rapid n-butyl chloride extraction of LSD from urine at pH 8 is followed by formation of the trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivative by treatment with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide. The TMS derivative of LSD is identified and quantified by selected ion monitoring with a fused-silica capillary column and electron impact ionization. The procedure was used to monitor LSD concentrations in urine for eight hours following oral administration of 70.5 micrograms of LSD to two human volunteers. Concentrations of LSD determined by the assay are compared with concentrations determined by two other methods of analysis, a radioimmunoassay and a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay. Data concerning the stability of LSD in urine are also presented.
Normal high density lipoprotein inhibits three steps in the formation of mildly oxidized low density lipoprotein: step 1

Treatment of human artery wall cells with apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), but not apoA-II, with an apoA-I peptide mimetic, or with high density lipoprotein (HDL), or paraoxonase, rendered the cells unable to oxidize low density lipoprotein (LDL). Human aortic wall cells were found to contain 12-lipoxygenase (12-LO) protein. Transfection of the cells with antisense to 12-LO (but not sense) eliminated the 12-LO protein and prevented LDL-induced monocyte chemotactic activity. Addition of 13(S)-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid [13(S)-HPODE] and 15(S)-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid [15(S)-HPETE] dramatically enhanced the nonenzymatic oxidation of both 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PAPC) and cholesteryl linoleate. On a molar basis 13(S)-HPODE and 15(S)-HPETE were approximately two orders of magnitude greater in potency than hydrogen peroxide in causing the formation of biologically active oxidized phospholipids (m/z 594, 610, and 828) from PAPC. Purified paraoxonase inhibited the biologic activity of these oxidized phospholipids. HDL from 10 of 10 normolipidemic patients with coronary artery disease, who were neither diabetic nor receiving hypolipidemic medications, failed to inhibit LDL oxidation by artery wall cells and failed to inhibit the biologic activity of oxidized PAPC, whereas HDL from 10 of 10 age- and sex-matched control subjects did. We conclude that a) mildly oxidized LDL is formed in three steps, one of which involves 12-LO and each of which can be inhibited by normal HDL, and b) HDL from at least some coronary artery disease patients with normal blood lipid levels is defective both in its ability to prevent LDL oxidation by artery wall cells and in its ability to inhibit the biologic activity of oxidized PAPC. —Navab, M., S. Y. Hama, G. M. Anantharamaiah, K. Hassan, G. P. Hough, A. D. Watson, S. T. Reddy, A. Sevanian, G. C. Fonarow, and A. M. Fogelman. Normal high density lipoprotein inhibits three steps in the formation of mildly oxidized low density lipoprotein: steps 2 and 3. J. Lipid Res. 2000. 41: 1495–1508.
Regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression in human colon carcinoma cells by cell density

To determine the effect of cell density on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and the mechanism of this effect, four human colon cancer cell lines were grown as sparse or confluent monolayers or as spheroids. VEGF mRNA increased >2-fold in cells grown as confluent monolayers or spheroids compared with cells grown as sparse monolayers. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR demonstrated a 2-fold increase in the larger VEGF mRNA isoform (189 bp) in confluent cells. Sparse cells grown in conditioned medium from confluent cells demonstrated a >2-fold increase in VEGF mRNA. These data suggest that VEGF expression may be regulated by an unidentified soluble factor.
Building the Organizational Knowledge Networks of SMEs in High-tech Industry

Prior research has primarily viewed firms as autonomous entities striving for competitive advantage from either external industry sources or from internal resources and capabilities. However, the networks of relationships in which firms are embedded profoundly influence their conduct and performance. This paper developed a comprehensive theoretical framework to explore knowledge management business practices among SMEs. Drawing on resources-based theories, the relational-based views, industry structure and ecosystem theories about sources of competitive advantage, this paper presents the organizational knowledge network of the SMEs in high-tech industry, and analyses the approaches through which SMEs can create competitive advantages on knowledge-based review (KBV).
Sensor-driven prognostic models for equipment replacement and spare parts inventory

Accurate predictions of equipment failure times are necessary to improve replacement and spare parts inventory decisions. Most of the existing decision models focus on using population-specific reliability characteristics, such as failure time distributions, to develop decision-making strategies. Since these distributions are unaffected by the underlying physical degradation processes, they do not distinguish between the different degradation characteristics of individual components of the population. This results in less accurate failure predictability and hence less accurate replacement and inventory decisions. In this paper, we develop a sensor-driven decision model for component replacement and spare parts inventory. We integrate a degradation modeling framework for computing remaining life distributions using condition-based in situ sensor data with existing replacement and inventory decision models. This enables the dynamic updating of replacement and inventory decisions based on the physical condit...
Inferring the joint demographic history of multiple populations from multidimensional SNP frequency data.

Demographic models built from genetic data play important roles in illuminating prehistorical events and serving as null models in genome scans for selection. We introduce an inference method based on the joint frequency spectrum of genetic variants within and between populations. For candidate models we numerically compute the expected spectrum using a diffusion approximation to the one-locus, two-allele Wright-Fisher process, involving up to three simultaneous populations. Our approach is a composite likelihood scheme, since linkage between neutral loci alters the variance but not the expectation of the frequency spectrum. We thus use bootstraps incorporating linkage to estimate uncertainties for parameters and significance values for hypothesis tests. Our method can also incorporate selection on single sites, predicting the joint distribution of selected alleles among populations experiencing a bevy of evolutionary forces, including expansions, contractions, migrations, and admixture. We model human expansion out of Africa and the settlement of the New World, using 5 Mb of noncoding DNA resequenced in 68 individuals from 4 populations (YRI, CHB, CEU, and MXL) by the Environmental Genome Project. We infer divergence between West African and Eurasian populations 140 thousand years ago (95% confidence interval: 40–270 kya). This is earlier than other genetic studies, in part because we incorporate migration. We estimate the European (CEU) and East Asian (CHB) divergence time to be 23 kya (95% c.i.: 17–43 kya), long after archeological evidence places modern humans in Europe. Finally, we estimate divergence between East Asians (CHB) and Mexican-Americans (MXL) of 22 kya (95% c.i.: 16.3–26.9 kya), and our analysis yields no evidence for subsequent migration. Furthermore, combining our demographic model with a previously estimated distribution of selective effects among newly arising amino acid mutations accurately predicts the frequency spectrum of nonsynonymous variants across three continental populations (YRI, CHB, CEU).
The effects of court structure on juvenile court decisionmaking

Abstract This article examines the differences in adjudications (delinquent or dismissal) and final dispositions (transfer of custody or no transfer of custody) of specialized juvenile courts compared to courts of general jurisdiction hearing cases involving juvenile defendants. The data are from juvenile court records of the state of Nebraska for 1982 through 1987. The study uses logistic regression to examine the differences in the behavior of the two types of courts while controlling for extralegal, legal, and county environmental characteristics of the defendants. The authors found statistically significant differences in the adjudication decisions but not in the final dispositions of the two kinds of courts. The findings are discussed within the framework of the parens patriae philosophy.
Time-varying power-limited preprocessing for perfect reconstruction of binary signals

In this paper we consider a deterministic worst-case framework for perfect reconstruction of discrete data transmission through a dispersive communication channel. More specifically, we extend our previous work to capture time-varying transmission dynamics that also include the case of linear time-varying preprocessing of the data without increasing the power of the transmitted signal. We present necessary and sufficient conditions for perfect reconstructability and formulate a framework for the synthesis of an optimal preprocessor. In the case of periodic preprocessing followed by (periodic) DFE at the receiving end, we provide a design procedure based on l/sup 1/-optimization. The application of this procedure to representative communication channels suggests that careful choice of linear time-varying preprocessing can significantly enhance our ability for perfect reconstruction without increasing the power of the transmitted signal.
Post-curing of dental restorative resin

The post-curing of a bisphenol A-glycidyl-methacrylate based copolymer system at 37°C and 100 percent relative humidity was monitored using Fourier Transform IR (FT-IR). The dependence of degree of post-curing on the monomer and initiator components was investigated. The further polymerization achieved by elevating the temperature was measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results clearly demonstrated that this free radical curing process was severely quenched by vitrification. Furthermore, a rapid loss in the reactivity to further curing was observed for the material in the quenched state, and this loss in reactivity was attributed to the decay of free radicals.
E. coli chromosomal DNA in a transgene locus created by microprojectile bombardment in tobacco.

In our studies of the factors that regulate the expression of foreign genes (transgenes) introduced into plant genomes, we routinely use microprojectile bombardment (Allen et al., 2000). This approach has found widespread application in agronomically important plant species (such as wheat, maize and barley) where most genotypes are still recalcitrant to transformation by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. In the process of characterising the integration site of a transgene in the tobacco genome, we have discovered a 260 base pair fragment of E. coli chromosomal DNA. This DNA was found at the transgene locus despite the fact that standard procedures were implemented to remove contaminating E. coli chromosomal DNA from the plasmid DNA used in the transformation. It is important to stress that we have documented a single case. We do not know how common contaminating E. coli chromosomal DNA might be at transgene loci. Detection of such sequences is difficult without sequencing, and sequencing of transgene loci is rarely carried out. We can say that the particular E. coli fragment we found in one transgenic line is not found in any of 10 additional transgenic lines that were generated using the same plasmid preparations. Thus, incorporation of this particular E. coli fragment appears to be a rare event and is not due to incorporation of the fragment into the plasmid used for transformation. Although we know of no other documentation of contaminating E. coli chromosomal DNA at transgene loci, plasmid backbone DNA is often found there. Supercoiled bacterial plasmids containing transgene inserts are most commonly used for microprojectile bombardment. Thus, the plasmid backbone is
Acroosteolysis of Scleroderma Associated with a Felon

The Scleroderma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the connective tissue with involvement of the skin and other organs. It can be a manifestation of various disorders and occasionally acroosteolysis in the phalanges. Acroosteolysis is characterized by bone resorption or destruction in the phalanges, while the base is preserved. The pathogenesis of acroosteolysis in patients with scleroderma is a blood-flow disorder that is mainly associated with an abnormal accumulation of collagen in all tissues, microangiopathy and infections in the phalanges. The phalanges in patients with scleroderma are prone to continuous infections as a felon or skin ulcers due to atrophy of the subcutaneous tissue, dry and sclerotic skin, or a disorder of the immune system. We experienced a patient who had acroosteolysis with scleroderma of the phalanges, and this was associated with a felon. We report on this case along with a brief review of the literature.
Jason Wagoner and Nathan A. Baker, "Solvation forces on biomolecular structures: A comparison of explicit solvent and Poisson‐Boltzmann models,"Journal of Computational Chemistry(2004) 25(13) 1623–1629

The article to which this Erratum refers was published in Journal of Computational Chemistry (2004) 25(13) 1623–1629
A distributed feedback ridge waveguide quantum well heterostructure laser

A method for incorporating distributed feedback in a ridge waveguide laser by means of lateral gratings and a single growth step is discussed. The necessary Bragg condition for distributed feedback is satisfied by etching gratings along the ridge in the top confining layer of the laser on either side of the contact stripe. Both Fabry-Periot modes and a single emission peak away from the peak of the gain profile are observed in lasers with cleaved facets. The Bragg reflection emission peak does not shift with increasing drive current, which is characteristic of a distributed-feedback (DFB) laser. >
Human Resource Management Leadership Succession in Multinationals: Are Japanese CEOs still more likely to be hired from within Company Ranks than US CEOs? Jim Tanoos

The study of CEO human resource management has been popular because of the stakes involved in anticipating and predicting effects on corporate stock prices. Local customs affect regional organizational leadership philosophies, including societal norms common to America and Japan, which prompt management structures to be unique for each country. A prolonged slowdown in the Japanese economy starting in the early 1990s has caused scholars to debate the impact of coinciding declines in their traditional organizational management templates and its impact on current CEO hiring approaches for multinational corporations based in Japan. Today, many scholars predict that fewer Japanese CEOs will be hired from within company ranks. As such, this study reports on the proportions of CEOs that are hired from outside the multinational corporation in the US versus Japan. Keywords: organizational leadership, leadership succession, multinational corporation, Japanese CEO, American CEO, seniority, hiring practices, societal norms, human resource management
Environmental Tobacco Smoke: Science vs. Rhetoric

After an extensive review and analysis of the scientific evidence on the respiratory health effects of passive smoking, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concluded that environmental tobacco smoke causes lung cancer in adult nonsmokers and increases the risk of a variety of non-cancer respiratory disorders, especially in children. This article is a response to claims in Dr. Gio Gori's article “Policy Against Science: The Case of Environmental Tobacco Smoke,” appearing in the same issue of this journal, that such conclusions are unwarranted. This response focuses only on the respiratory health effects of environmental tobacco smoke.