cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract P6-07-18: A pilot study of the impact of a single dose of zolendronic acid on biomarkers in breast cancer

Backgrounds: In randomized trials for early stage breast cancer, patients who received adjuvant zolendronic acid (ZA) had superior disease-free survival and greater tumor shrinkage. Preclinical data suggest that ZA has anti-cancer properties by modulating angiogenesis and tumor immune environment. This is the pilot study to assess changes in tumor biomarkers and immunological function in response to a single dose of ZA in paired tumor specimens (from core biopsy and definitive surgery). Methods: Postmenopausal women with early stage invasive ductal breast carcinoma who have estrogen receptor and/or progesterone receptor positive tumor for which a lumpectomy or mastectomy was planned prior to systemic therapy were enrolled. A single dose of ZA 4mg IV was given 10-14 days prior to their planned definitive surgery. 14 biomarkers in tumor tissue was assayed; 10 by gene microarray (VEGF, IL1β, IL-6, MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, TGF, Interferon α and STAT3)) and 4 by RT-PCR(P13K, PTEN, IGF-1-R, EGFR. Patient blood samples were drawn at baseline, at 48-72hrs after the single dose of ZA and at the time of surgery and assayed for cytokines and chemokines by using 30-plex Luminex panels. Results: Eight patients were enrolled in the study (median age 65 and range (57-75); 4 caucatians, 2 hispanic and 1 asian; 6 stage I, 1 stage II and 1 stage III). 30-plex luminex assays showed MIG, IP-10 and IL-12 were found to increase in Day 1-3 of ZA therapy from baseline and normalized by Day 10-24. MCP-1, IL2R, MIP-1b and Eotaxin were found to have changes in Day 1-3 from baseline and mix outcome by Day 10-24. EGF, G-CSF, HGF, IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma and RANTES showed no clear pattern among eight patients. Tumor markers and proteomics from pair tumor samples will be presented. Conclusions: Changes in multiple tumor biomarkers and immunological markers, MIG, IP-10, IL-12, MCP-1, IL2R, MIP-1b, Eotaxin, IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma are seen within 2 weeks of a single dose of ZA. Citation Format: Cho M, Gong J, Chen S, Yu H, Wong L, Kruper L, Mortimer J. A pilot study of the impact of a single dose of zolendronic acid on biomarkers in breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-07-18.
Ligand-Induced Cross-Linking of Z-Elastin-like Polypeptide-Functionalized E2 Protein Nanoparticles for Enhanced Affinity Precipitation of Antibodies

Affinity precipitation is an ideal alternative to chromatography for antibody purification because it combines the high selectivity of an affinity ligand with the operational benefits of precipitation. However, the widespread use of elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) capture scaffolds for antibody purification has been hindered by the high salt concentrations and temperatures necessary for efficient ELP aggregation. In this paper, we employed a tandem approach to enhance ELP aggregation by enlarging the dimension of the capturing scaffold and by creating IgG-triggered scaffold cross-linking. This was accomplished by covalently conjugating the Z-domain-ELP (Z-ELP) capturing scaffold to a 25 nm diameter E2 protein nanocage using Sortase A ligation. We demonstrated the isothermal recovery of IgG in the virtual absence of salt due to the significantly increased scaffold dimension and cross-linking from multivalent IgG–E2 interactions. Because IgG cross-linking is reversible at low pH, it may be feasible to achiev...
Robust, cost-effective and scalable localization in large indoor areas

Indoor location information plays a fundamental role in supporting various interesting location-aware indoor applications. Widely deployed WiFi networks make it feasible to perform indoor localization by first establishing a received signal strength (RSS) map covering the whole area based on a signal propagation model, then determining a location from an online RSS measurement given the RSS map. However, challenges remain in practical deployments, due to inaccurately estimated RSS values in the RSS map and an insufficient number of access points (APs) in large indoor areas. To address these challenges, we develop a robust, cost-effective and scalable localization system (REAL). Our approach adaptively searches for the best model parameters with limited training resources. In addition, REAL utilizes a probabilistic approach for location searching by considering errors from the signal propagation model. It also exploits information regarding unobserved APs at a given location and an optimal clustering method. We systematically evaluate the accuracy of the propagation model with different configurations. Our intensive real-world experimental results demonstrate that REAL achieves considerable localization accuracy at a very low training cost. In addition, the comparisons over two large indoor environments show that REAL consistently outperforms other state-of-the-art systems and can be effectively applied to various real-world scenarios.
Do target date mutual funds meet their targets

We investigate the effectiveness of target date mutual funds (TDMF) performance relative to naive self-directed target date portfolios and identify which variables are related to positive performance. Overall, we find target date mutual funds do not outperform naive strategies but find several characteristics which are associated with positive Sharpe and Treynor ratio performance. When comparing TDMF to naive strategies, we find alpha, volatility, assets, dividend yield and turnover are positive and significant coefficients, while beta is negative and significant. Variables such as Morningstar rating and expense ratio are not significant, and puzzling given fees on TDMFs are typically higher than other funds. Investors are choice architects will be interested in the results as both are in some ways responsible for making good retirement investment choices. The paper also identifies the difficulty in using tools developed for all equity mutual funds to measure the unique aspects of TDMFs, specifically the glide path.
Environmental education and K-12 student outcomes: A review and analysis of research

Many practitioners and researchers describe academic and environmental benefits of environmental education for kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) students. To consider the empirical underpin...
Comparison of precipitation forecasts from NOAA's high resolution rapid refresh (HRRR) model with polarimetric radar observations in the San Francisco Bay Area

The San Francisco Bay Area is home to over 7 million people, the fifth largest population center in the United States. This region also supports one of the most prosperous economies in the U.S. A recent report by the State of California's Department of Water Resources has emphasized that the Bay Area is at risk of catastrophic flooding [1]. Monitoring heavy rainfall events and mitigation of their associated negative impacts are critical for protecting life and property in this region. To this end, accurate quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) and forecast (QPF) are required to provide forecasters with sufficient understanding of rapidly changing weather conditions, and allow them to issue timely watches and warnings.
Public School and Mental Health Services to Severely Behavior Disordered Students

The National Needs Analysis Project in Behavior Disorders has examined numerous issues in the general area of behavior disorders. The purpose of this article is to present one specific aspect of th...
Evaluation of Outcome in Brief Psychotherapy

The present status of research into the outcome of brief psychotherapy is reviewed. Issues pertinent to conducting research in this area are also discussed.
Enhancing Spinal Cord Regeneration In Situ with Applied Electric Fields

The first unambiguous demonstration of enhanced spinal cord nerve regeneration in the living animal was carried out in a primitive fish, the ammocoete larvae of the lamprey (Borgens et al. 1981). This investigation utilized the special characteristics of the lamprey brain and spinal cord. In this animal, individually identifiable giant nerve cells in the brain (Muller and Mauthner cells) give rise to descending nerve fibers that are also identifiable in the spinal cord as part of the descending reticulospinal system (Rovainen 1967, 1974). Since the lamprey is an Agnathan, a primitive cartilaginous fish, there is no bony vertebral column surrounding and protecting the spinal cord: the cord and brain is easy for the investigator to surgically expose. Therefore, the fish system provides some of the same advantages as nerve fibers in culture where the investigator can describe the regeneration or growth of specific individual and identifiable nerve cells. The cell bodies of lamprey reticulospinal neurons are giant (~100 µm in diameter) and so are their spinal cord axons (~30 µm), making them easy to fill with intracellular dyes from a micropipette and to identify at any location within the brain and spinal cord (Wood and Cohen 1979; Borgens 1981) (Fig. 20).
The Angular Dependence of Resonance Intensities

Below we derive the theoretical expressions that govern the angular dependences of NEXAFS resonances in molecular adsorption systems, observed in polarization dependent studies. A simple, general classification of all molecular systems is given, and for these classes analytical expressions for the angle-dependent resonance intensities are derived, assuming that the X-rays are elliptically polarized.
Patterns of Interaction and the Culture of Mathematics Classrooms

Recent opinions of those interested in mathematics education have suggested that variations in the classroom culture and the nature of the patterns of interaction that occur between the teacher and the students create quite different settings for enhancing learning. Even earlier studies had pointed to the discrepancies between the intentions of teachers, their actual practice, and the latent learning of students (Bauersfeld, 1980; Holt, 1982; & Willis, 1977). In many ways, teachers have often unwittingly undermined their own goals by failing to realize that the consequences of their interaction are often quite different from their intentions. Descriptions of various mathematics classes commonly reveal them to be settings in which teachers still view their role as being responsible for only ensuring students’ learn specified procedures for solving mathematical problems (Goodlad, 1983; Stodolsky, 1988). From this philosophy a long tradition of rule-bound school mathematics has continued. It has restrained the motivation for inventiveness for any student who enjoys both independent reasoning and collaboration of ideas. Children who engage in mathematical activity in interactive situations do learn mathematics in a manner that extends beyond the realms of memorized procedures.
Reduction of the expression of the late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk-factor BIN1 does not affect amyloid pathology in an AD mouse model

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is pathologically characterized by the deposition of the β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide in senile plaques in the brain, leading to neuronal dysfunction and eventual decline in cognitive function. Genome-wide association studies have identified the bridging integrator 1 (BIN1) gene within the second most significant susceptibility locus for late-onset AD. BIN1 is a member of the amphiphysin family of proteins and has reported roles in the generation of membrane curvature and endocytosis. Endocytic dysfunction is a pathological feature of AD, and endocytosis of the amyloid precursor protein is an important step in its subsequent cleavage by β-secretase (BACE1). In vitro evidence implicates BIN1 in endosomal sorting of BACE1 and Aβ generation in neurons, but a role for BIN1 in this process in vivo is yet to be described. Here, using biochemical and immunohistochemistry analyses we report that a 50% global reduction of BIN1 protein levels resulting from a single Bin1 allele deletion in mice does not change BACE1 levels or localization in vivo, nor does this reduction alter the production of endogenous murine Aβ in nontransgenic mice. Furthermore, we found that reduction of BIN1 levels in the 5XFAD mouse model of amyloidosis does not alter Aβ deposition nor behavioral deficits associated with cerebral amyloid burden. Finally, a conditional BIN1 knockout in excitatory neurons did not alter BACE1, APP, C-terminal fragments derived from BACE1 cleavage of APP, or endogenous Aβ levels. These results indicate that BIN1 function does not regulate Aβ generation in vivo.
Corticostriatal connectivity is associated with the reduction of intergroup bias and greater impartial giving in youth.

Abstract Although prosocial behavior is preferentially directed toward the in-group across many species, prioritizing the outcomes of both the in- and out-group earlier in development can reduce intergroup biases. The current study examined the role of corticostriatal recruitment and connectivity in buffering the effect of intergroup bias on costly giving behavior during childhood and adolescence, a period when other-oriented preferences and associated brain functions undergo significant change. During functional magnetic resonance imaging, youth (n = 51; 8–16 years) made decisions that could potentially benefit in-group and out-group peers at a cost to themselves. Youth were more prosocial toward in-group relative to out-group peers, but were relatively more prosocial to out-group peers when there was a greater discrepancy between potential rewards for others over oneself (i.e., higher reward inequity). Although they showed no differences in corticostriatal activation, youth evinced greater connectivity between the ventral striatum (VS) and posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) when considering more inequitable prosocial decisions that favored the outcomes of out-group peers, which attenuated intergroup biases in prosocial behavior. We found no age-related differences at the behavioral or neural level, suggesting that in-group preferences already bias prosocial behavior and its neurocognitive processes by late childhood and do not change across adolescence.
SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATION OF NOVEL THIAZOLES AS HERBICIDE ANTIDOTES

Abstract Alachlor, 2-chloro-2′,6′-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl) acetanilide, has gained wide acceptance for its effective control of grasses and certain broadleaf weeds in corn, soybeans, peanuts and other crops. However, the inherent phytotoxicity of alachlor against grain sorghum has precluded its use for weed control in this crop. Monsanto has recently discovered a series of chemical safeners which permit the use of alachlor in grain sorghum. Noteworthy are the 2,4-disubstituted-thiazoles which possess excellent crop safety and are highly effective in countering injury of alachlor and other acetanilides such as acetochlor, butachlor and propachlor. The experiments reported describe the synthetic routes for preparation of these chemical safeners, as well as the biological data on spectrum of activity, application methods, genotypic response, seed storage features, yield performance and toxicology for Screen® (5-thiazolecarboxylic acid, benzylester,2-chloro-,4-(trifluoromethyl)-,).
A Planar Multiband Balanced Bandstop Filter

This paper introduces for the first time, a novel architecture of differential (balanced) bandstop filter (BSF), which can realize an arbitrary number of stopbands with arbitrary order. The design incorporates in-series cascade of K N-band sections in a branch line structure to realize a K-th order N-band balanced BSF transfer function. The common-mode response is controlled by introducing open stubs to the symmetry plane of the design. For demonstration, a second order dualband differential BSF with center frequencies 1.15GHz and 1.7GHz is designed and fabricated. The simulation results and the measured results show a good agreement with each other.
P61 EFNEP Families Adopting Healthy Choices in Tulare County of California

Objective To implement/evaluate a USDA funded Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) among low-income families. Use of Theory or Research Existing research indicates behavioral and economic benefits of nutrition education programs with limited resources population who are likely to have poor eating habits, inactive lifestyle, and higher risk for multiple chronic diseases. Target Audience Primary caregivers of young children across schools/community settings in Tulare County, California. Program Description During FY2017-18, trained bilingual nutrition educator implemented the nine-week EFNEP program using series-based adult curriculum-Eating Smart Being Active. Each class was held once a week for 60-90 minutes in duration. Evaluation Methods Participants completed About Me demographics questionnaire, Food Tracker dietary recall, and a pre-post Food & Physical Activity Questionnaire (FPAQ). Descriptive and Pre-Post analyses were completed using WebNEERS reporting tool. Results Of the total 239 program families reached, 159 participants who attended all the lessons graduated from EFNEP. Majority of the participants were Hispanic. Differences in change from pre-to-post indicated improvements in all the program areas. Of the 159 graduates, 80% of participants showed improvement in one or more food resource management practices, 94% showed improvements in one or more diet quality/ nutrition practices, 85% showed improvements in one or more food safety practices, and 55.06% indicated a positive change in physical activity behaviors. Additionally, results indicated $57.30 in average cost savings. Conclusions EFNEP program reached low-income families in Tulare county of California. Findings advance the field of nutrition education and behavior with implications for programming, policy, and practice. Nutrition education matters and EFNEP is helping save dollars. Continuing to fund EFNEP is a good investment and public policy. Making informed food decisions can help families improve nutrition and food resource management behaviors essential to maximizing use of limited resources, supporting a healthy diet, and improving food security. Funding Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program.
Creating a Learning Health System through Rapid-Cycle, Randomized Testing

Creating a Learning Health System through Randomized Testing Randomized tests of quality-improvement interventions were embedded within an existing health care system. Quality and efficiency were i...
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and Its Association With Fibromuscular Dysplasia and Other Vascular Abnormalities

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) has recently been associated with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). We sought to further elucidate the association of FMD with SCAD. We performed a retrospective cohort review of patients with SCAD evaluated at our institution from 2008 to 2019. Baseline characteristics, coronary angiographic data, and screening for FMD were recorded. In patients who completed screening for FMD, variables were compared between patients with FMD and those without. We identified 51 patients with SCAD, all of whom were female, with a mean age of 46.8 years. A quarter of patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and half of those suffered a complication during PCI. 78% of patients underwent complete screening for FMD, of which 63% were diagnosed with multifocal FMD. Vascular abnormalities other than FMD were found in 70% of screened patients. Patients with FMD were older than those without FMD (50.7 vs 42.6 years, p = 0.006). FMD was more frequently associated with type 2 SCAD (84% vs 47%, p = 0.025), tortuous non-SCAD coronaries (96% vs 53%, p = 0.002), and other vascular abnormalities (84% vs 47%, p = 0.03). In conclusion, the majority of patients within the all-female cohort with SCAD were found to have FMD. Other vascular abnormalities were also common. Patients with FMD were older and were more likely to have type 2 SCAD, tortuous non-SCAD coronary arteries, and other vascular abnormalities.
A Near-linear Time ε-Approximation Algorithm for Geometric Bipartite Matching

For point sets A, B ⊂ Rd, mAm e mBm e n, and for a parameter e > 0, we present a Monte Carlo algorithm that computes, in O(npoly(log n, 1/e)) time, an e-approximate perfect matching of A and B under any Lp-norm with high probability; the previously best-known algorithm takes Ω(n3/2) time. We approximate the Lp-norm using a distance function, d(ṡ, ṡ) based on a randomly shifted quad-tree. The algorithm iteratively generates an approximate minimum-cost augmenting path under d(ṡ, ṡ) in time proportional, within a polylogarithmic factor, to the length of the path. We show that the total length of the augmenting paths generated by the algorithm is O(n/e)log n), implying that the running time of our algorithm is O(npoly(log n, 1/e)).
A 0.5V 560kHz 18.8fJ/Cycle Ultra-Low Energy Oscillator in 65nm CMOS with 96.1ppm/°C Stability using a Duty-Cycled Digital Frequency-Locked Loop

This work presents an on-chip oscillator for energy-efficient IoT applications based on a duty-cycled digital frequency-locked loop (DFLL). The digital implementation allows low-voltage operation at 0.5V to reduce energy and enable voltage rail integration with low-energy digital logic, while the duty-cycled operation further improves energy efficiency to a record value of 18.8fJ/cycle (10.5nW @ 560kHz) while maintaining a high temperature stability of 96.1ppm/°C from 0°C to 100°C.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE OUTCOME, CHANGE THE CONTEST

This article analyzes contests when contestants derive heterogeneous benefits from winning and investments are seen as costs to the contest designer. An example of this is sports leagues maximizing league profits. For sports leagues, optimal contests depend upon the heterogeneity of market sizes and the impact of team investment on winning. Sports leagues have mechanisms to change the structure of contests, implying they have some control of the expected payoff of teams, the value of the athletes, and the balance of the league. Data from Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association are used to empirically estimate the model. (JEL C72, L10, L83)
Growth of Perturbation in Gravitational Collapse and Accretion

When a self-gravitating spherical gas cloud collapses or accretes onto a central mass, the inner region of the cloud develops a density profile $\rho\propto r^{-3/2}$ and the velocity approaches free-fall. We show that in this region, nonspherical perturbations grow with decreasing radius. In the linear regime, the tangential velocity perturbation increases as $r^{-1}$, while the Lagrangian density perturbation, $\Delta\rho/\rho$, grows as $r^{-1/2}$. Faster growth occurs if the central collapsed object maintains a finite multiple moment, in which case $\Delta\rho/\rho$ increases as $r^{-l}$, where $l$ specifies the angular degree of the perturbation. These scaling relations are different from those obtained for the collapse of a homogeneous cloud. Our numerical calculations indicate that nonspherical perturbations are damped in the subsonic region, and that they grow and approach the asymptotic scalings in the supersonic region. The implications of our results to asymmetric supernova collapse and to black hole accretion are briefly discussed.
Crowdsourcing Crime Control

Crowdsourcing, which leverages the collective expertise and resources of (mainly online) communities to achieve specified objectives, today figures prominently in a broad array of realms, including business, human rights, and medical and scientific research. It also now plays a significant role in governmental crime control efforts. Web and forensic–genetic sleuths, armchair detectives, and the like are collecting and analyzing evidence and identifying criminal suspects, at the behest of and with varying degrees of assistance from police officials. Unfortunately, as with so many other aspects of modern society, current criminal procedure doctrine is ill-equipped to address this development. In particular, for decades it has been accepted that the Fourth Amendment only limits searches and seizures undertaken by public law enforcement, not private actors. Crowdsourcing, however, presents considerable taxonomic difficulty for existing doctrine, making the already often permeable line between public and private behavior considerably more so. Moreover, although crowdsourcing promises considerable benefit as an investigative force multiplier for police, it poses risks, including misidentification of suspects, violation of privacy, a diminution of governmental transparency and democratic accountability, and the fostering of a mutual social suspicion that is inimical to civil society. Despite its importance, government use of crowdsourcing to achieve crime control goals has not yet been examined by legal scholars. Like the internet on which it predominantly relies, crowdsourcing is not going away; if anything, it will proliferate in coming years. The challenge lies in harnessing its potential, while protecting against the significant harms that will accrue should it go unregulated. This Essay describes the phenomenon and provides a framework for its regulation, in the hope of ensuring that the wisdom of the crowd does not become the tyranny of the crowd.
Race, Ethnicity, and COVID-19: The Persistence of Black–White Disparities in the United States

The subordinate health status of Blacks in the United States (US) has been documented since the 1899 publication of The Philadelphia Negro, in which W.E.B. DuBois presented empirical data on the differences in the quality of health between Blacks and Whites during the 1900s. Black–White differences in health persist today across a wide array of conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, asthma, obesity) due to a combination of social and structural determinants of health. Against this backdrop, racial disparities in COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality exist and persist, but are not surprising. At the time of writing, over 257,000 deaths due to COVID-19 have been recorded in the U.S., with a disproportionate number among Black Americans. This chapter provides an overview of Black–White disparities in COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality. In addition, importantly, the chapter discusses reasons these racial disparities exist and persist, including the impact of structural barriers such as access to health care, disproportionate number of racial/ethnic minorities in low-paid service and front-line jobs (e.g., grocery store clerks, janitors, child care staff, hospital staff, public transit workers), health care provider bias, and medical mistrust.
Modeling genetic platelet disorders with human pluripotent stem cells: mega-progress but wanting more on our plate(let).

Purpose of review Megakaryocytes are rare hematopoietic cells that play an instrumental role in hemostasis, and other important biological processes such as immunity and wound healing. With the advent of cell reprogramming technologies and advances in differentiation protocols, it is now possible to obtain megakaryocytes from any pluripotent stem cell (PSC) via hematopoietic induction. Here, we review recent advances in PSC-derived megakaryocyte (iMK) technology, focusing on platform validation, disease modeling and current limitations. Recent findings A comprehensive study confirmed that iMK can recapitulate many transcriptional and functional aspects of megakaryocyte and platelet biology, including variables associated with complex genetic traits such as sex and race. These findings were corroborated by several pathological models in which iMKs revealed molecular mechanisms behind inherited platelet disorders and assessed the efficacy of novel pharmacological interventions. However, current differentiation protocols generate primarily embryonic iMK, limiting the clinical and translational potential of this system. Summary iMK are strong candidates to model pathologic mutations involved in platelet defects and develop innovative therapeutic strategies. Future efforts on generating definitive hematopoietic progenitors would improve current platelet generation protocols and expand our capacity to model neonatal and adult megakaryocyte disorders.
From Macunaíma to Davi Kopenawa: Alternative Approaches to Translation and the Worlds of Literature

This essay draws on Brazilian and Amerindian ideas to reconsider world literature. It opens by outlining current trends to underscore how prominent critics from the Global North engage with ideas from Brazil. The next section examines how Brazilian anthropologist Eduardo Viveiros de Castro and Yanomami shaman and environmental advocate Davi Kopenawa articulate other ways of conceiving of the world. Their work invites further pondering of how an Amerindian perspective could complicate understandings of the world and, by extension, world literature and translation. Finally, I illustrate the relevance of these approaches by reading Mario de Andrade’s Macunaima as a literary text whose strong ties to Amerindian cultures challenge translators and demand a reconceptualization of the worlds of world literature.
Contractile mechanisms of gallbladder filling and emptying in dogs.

Abstract Background/Aims: The mechanisms of gallbladder filling and emptying during the fasting state, postprandial state, and after intravenous administration of cholecystokinin, motilin, and morphine were investigated in conscious dogs. Methods: Bile flow in the cystic and common bile ducts was measured by miniature flow probes. Results: The gallbladder showed brief alternating excursions of filling and emptying in the fasting and fed state. The emptying excursions exceeded the filling excursions during phase II and for about 4 hours after a meal. The filling excursions exceeded the emptying excursions during phase I, phase III, and the latter half of the postprandial state. Most gallbladder emptying occurred when its pressure was high, and most filling occurred when its pressure was low. The duodenal contractions played a major role in gallbladder filling and emptying during phase III. Conclusions: Gallbladder filling and emptying are not monotonous during the fasting and postprandial states. The brief alternating excursions of filling and emptying would almost continually mix the concentrated gallbladder bile with the fresh dilute hepatic bile to prevent supersaturation of the gallbladder bile during the fasting state and extend the delivery of a small volume of concentrated gallbladder bile for a period of several hours after a meal.
Microstructure in a Cubic to Orthorhombic Transition

Microstructures for a cubic to orthorhombic transition are constructed using a geometrically nonlinear, thermoelastic theory of martensitic transformations. Such microstructures are of interest because they provide low energy paths along which a specimen can transform. The particular microstructures considered are the twinned martensite, austenite-martensite, wedge, triangle, and diamond. More specifically, all possible twins are found along with the corresponding twinning elements and magnitude of the twin shear. Further, two kinds of austenite-martensite microstructures are studied: those with a single variant of martensite and those with twinned martensite. The regions in the space of transformation stretches in which each of these microstructures exist are determined, and the shape strains and habit plane normals are found as well. In addition, special microstructures, the wedge, triangle, and diamond, are constructed with both the austenite-single variant and austenite-twinned martensite microstructures. These special microstructures are of interest because they provide a mechanism through which the transformation may proceed more easily, and they are possible only in alloys with particular transformation stretches. Numerically computed level curves in the space of the stretches are presented on which the special microstructures are possible. These results may be useful in providing guidelines for alloy design.
Arbitrary order hierarchical vector bases for hexahedrons [FEM applications]

We present a clear and general method for constructing hierarchical vector bases of arbitrary polynomial degree for use in the finite element solution of Maxwell's equations. Our focus in this paper is on unstructured hexahedral grids with elements of higher order geometry (i.e. curved elements). Hierarchical bases enable p-refinement methods, where elements in a mesh can have different degrees of approximation, to be easily implemented. This can prove to be quite useful as sections of a computational domain can be selectively refined in order to achieve a greater error tolerance without the cost of refining the entire domain. We present a specific procedure for computing a hierarchical 1-form basis of arbitrary polynomial degree as well as the corresponding hierarchical degrees of freedom.
Engineering of the AGS snake coil assembly

A 30% Snake superconducting magnet is proposed to maintain polarization in the AGS proton beam, the magnetic design of which is described elsewhere [R. Gupta, et al, "Magnetic design of a Superconducting AGS Snake," this conference]. The required helical coils for this magnet push the limits of the technology developed for the RHIC Snake coils. First, fields must be provided with differing pitch along the length of the magnet. To accomplish this, a new 3-D CAD system ("Pro/Engineer" from PTC), which uses parametric techniques to enable fast iterations, has been employed. Revised magnetic field calculations are then based on the output of the mechanical model. Changes are made in turn to the model on the basis of those field calculations. To ensure that accuracy is maintained, the final solid model is imported directly into the CNC machine programming software, rather than by the use of graphics translating software. Next, due to the large coil size and magnetic field, there was concern whether the structure could contain the coil forces. A finite element analysis was performed, using the 3-D model, to ensure that the stresses and deflections were acceptable. Finally, a method was developed using ultrasonic energy to improve conductor placement during coil winding, in an effort to minimize electrical shorts due to conductor misplacement, a problem that occurred in the RHIC helical coil program. Each of these activities represents a significant improvement in technology over that which was used previously for the RHIC snake coils.
Genetic structure of the Enterococcus faecalis plasmid pAD1-encoded cytolytic toxin system and its relationship to lantibiotic determinants.

Pheromone-responsive conjugative plasmids are unique to the species Enterococcus faecalis. Many pheromone-responsive plasmids, including those frequently isolated from sites of infection, express a novel cytolysin that possesses both hemolytic and bacteriocin activities. Further, this cytolysin has been shown to be a toxin in several disease models. In the present study, nucleotide sequence determination, mutagenesis, and complementation analysis were used to determine the organization of the E. faecalis plasmid pAD1 cytolysin determinant. Four open reading frames are required for expression of the cytolysin precursor (cylLL, cylLS, cylM, and cylB). The inferred products of two of these open reading frames, CyILL and CyILS, constitute the cytolysin precursor and bear structural resemblance to posttranslationally modified bacteriocins termed lantibiotics. Similarities between the organization of the E. faecalis cytolysin determinant and expression units for lantibiotics exist, indicating that the E. faecalis cytolysin represents a new branch of this class and is the first known to possess toxin activity. Images
Heterogeneity among chondrocytes of the mandibular condyle in foetal and postnatal mice

Abstract The morphology of chondrocytes in the mandibular condyle of CD-1 mice was investigated, using 1 μm sections of Epon-embedded specimens. Condyles from mice 17 days in utero up to 6 days postnatal age were fixed in a variety of fixatives and stained by a battery of methods. All fixation and staining methods revealed a marked cellular heterogeneity among chondrocytes in the different zones of the developing cartilage. Not all the chondrocytes followed the usual developmental pathways as observed during endochondral ossification in a long bone. Most chondrocytes proceeded toward hypertrophy while some maintained a fibroblast-like appearance. The latter were stained heavily by basophilic stains and were strongly impregnated with metallic silver in contrast to the hypertrophied cells which exhibited low affinity for these stains. Within the mineralization zone, some cells showed signs of degeneration while others showed apparently normal morphology. It is suggested that chemical and metabolic factors could be responsible for the variety of staining reactions among the chondrocytes.
Toxicology of nialamide, a new psychotherapeutic agent

Abstract 1. 1. The oral LD50's of nialamide in mice and rats were 1000 and 1700 mg/kg, respectively. 2. 2. No liver damage was evidenced in dogs or rats receiving nialamide, even at toxic and lethal levels up to 100 and 300 mg/kg, respectively. 3. 3. In view of the fact that nialamide is tolerated at 60 mg/kg for at least six months without showing any abnormal histologic changes, a relatively wide margin of safety exists for this type of hydrazine.
Evolving patterns in the surgical treatment of malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias

The advent of the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD), generally viewed as a safe and effective intervention, has in some measure discouraged the use of electrophysiologically directed endocardial resection for intractable ventricular arrhythmias. We reviewed the records of 127 patients undergoing either AICD procedures or resection over a 6-year period. Thirty-day mortality was 5.6% (5/89 patients) for all AICD procedures, 10.7% (3/28) for AICD placement plus coronary artery bypass grafting, and 11.8% (4/34) for resection. These mortality figures are not significantly different. Patients undergoing resection were less likely to require antiarrhythmic agents than patients given an AICD (33% versus 61%). Survival at 2 years was 78% in the resection group and 72% in the AICD group. Survival at 4 years was still 78% in the resection group. Only 1 late sudden death occurred in the AICD group and none in the resection group. We conclude that resection continues to be a valuable alternative, offering a greater overall benefit at only slightly increased risk.
Provision for community college faculty development in collective bargaining agreements

While the need for community college faculty development has evolved into a top priority issue over the last decade, collective bargaining has become a significant influence on the programs and policies of two-year campuses in many states. The following study examines the trends of collective negotiations as they affect inservice education, through an examination of collective bargaining agreements. The findings indicate that few colleges declare the purpose of faculty development to be increased teaching effectiveness or link participation in professional growth activities with reward for that participation. Few colleges include faculty on inservice planning bodies. However, facilitating policies for staff development exist in significant numbers of agreements, providing for inservice days, leaves of absence, sabbaticals, tuition reimbursement for formal study, and released time for innovative program development. In all, the trend is presently one of negotiation of provisions in a piecemeal fashion rather than one with the goal of establishing comprehensive professional improvement programs.
Use of micro-CAT scans to understand cowpea seed resistance to Callosobruchus maculatus

Abstract The cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchini), is aworldwide pest of stored cowpea grain [ Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. (Leguminosae)], causing tensof millions of dollars’ worth of damage annually. One method of managing this pest involves plantingcultivars whose seeds are resistant to bruchids. Despite extensive research, we still do not know themechanism by which TVu 2027, the original resistant cowpea line, resists C. maculatus . Using micro-CAT (computerized axial tomography) scan imaging, we visualized the feeding patterns of bruchidsliving and growing within cowpea seeds. We present evidence that an interior zone in TVu 2027 seedsis responsible for the high mortality and developmental de lays experienced by avirulent larval bruchids.We observed that both virulent as well as avirulent bruchid strains have different feeding patterns inTVu 2027 seeds compared to susceptible seeds. It appears that the resistance factor is most concen- trated in a zone in each cotyledon adjacent to the air space separating the two seed halves.
Static, Vibration Analysis and Sensitivity Analysis of Stepped Beams Using Singularity Functions

A systematic approach is presented in this paper to derive the analytical deflection function of a stepped beam using singularity functions. The discontinuities considered in this development are associated with the jumps in the flexural rigidity and the applied loads. This approach is applied to static and vibration analyses of stepped beams. The same approach is later extended to perform sensitivity analysis of stepped beams. This is done by directly differentiating the analytical deflection function with respect to any beam-related design variable. The particular design variable considered here is the location of discontinuity in flexural rigidity. Example problems are presented in this paper to demonstrate and verify the derivation process.
The Use of Zero-Base Budgeting in Local Government: Some Observations

The use of Zero Base Budgeting ZBB as a management tool in the public sector has increased significantly since 1972. Recent surveys have indicated that 12 state governments, several municipalities, and the federal government have implemented a ZBB system. The experiences of ZBB users in the private sector from the perspective of individuals who have implemented such systems has been well documented in the literature. In contrast, little has been written about the appropriateness and effectiveness of using ZBB in the public sector. This paper attempts to partially bridge the knowledge gap on the use of ZBB in the public sector by reporting the findings of a research project exploring the use of ZBB in local governments. Findings reported herein are concerned with 1 the extent to which ZBB is used in municipalities, 2 an analysis of the structure of the ZBB process in practice, 3 the characteristics of user cities and the rationale for their use of ZBB, and 4 the benefits and problems associated with the implementation of ZBB in the public sector.
Custom titanium plating for failed nonunion or delayed internal fixation of femoral fractures

Eight patients with either failed internal fixation of nonunions of the femur (six) or delayed treatment of extensively comminuted femoral fractures (two) were treated with customized titanium plates for internal fixation. All eight patients had fixation problems that surpassed treatment by intramedullary nailing or standard plate osteosynthesis. Custom titanium plates were individually designed from roentgenograms and/or computed axial tomographic (CAT) scans. Plate dimensions were altered to increase strength, height, length, and placement of screw holes to enhance stabilization of the individual femoral anatomy. At an average follow-up period of 33 months, all fractures united; there were no complications, including fatigue or loosening of the custom implants. The implants were well tolerated and provided excellent fixation of difficult fracture problems.
Partial characterization of dermatan sulfate by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The degree of galactosamine N-acetylation, iduronic acid composition, and total uronic acid/hexosamine ratios of the three dermatan sulfates of human skin, DS18, DS28, and DS35 (M. O. Longas et al. (1987) Carbohydr. Res. 159, 127-136), were determined by Fourier transform, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (FT 1H NMR) spectroscopy. Analysis of DS of varying ages was conducted at 400 MHz and 60 degrees C. Chemical shifts for H-1, H-2, H-4, and H-5 of L-IdUA were independent of those for the respective protons of D-GalNAc and D-GlcUA. The resonance intensities of H-1 and acetamido methyl protons of D-GalNac did not display the expected 1:3 ratios. Therefore, their integration values were employed to estimate the percentage N-acetylation (N-CH3/3 H-1) which was corroborated chemically. The L-IdUA content, relative to total uronic acid, was calculated from signal intensities of H-1 of L-IdUA and D-GlcUA and ascertained by quantitative chemical methods. Total uronic acid/hexosamine ratios were determined from both 1H NMR spectroscopy and chemical analyses. The data show the following N-acetylation (N-CH3/3 H-1) of galactosamine in DS:DS18, 61-72% between 17 and 60 years, unaffected by senescence; DS28, 78-86% with no age-related trend; DS35, 101% at 19 years. Furthermore, in all ages investigated, the percentage (wt/wt) L-IdUA relative to total uronic acid was 42-44% for DS18 and 37-40% for DS28. At age 19 years, DS35 had a 29% (wt/wt) L-IdUA. The total uronic acid/hexosamine ratios for DS18 and DS28 varied from 1.40:1.0 to 1.70:1.0 irrespective of age.
The Real Strategic Issues versus Organizational Bureaucracy and Administrative Neatness

Accuses management of repeatedly substituting bureaucracy and complex reporting and control systems for the things that really matter to competitive success. It is claimed that all too often the implementation of strategies is not simply ineffectual, it is positively damaging to organizations. Short cases in the areas of quality management, customer satisfaction management, and personal appraisal and development systems are given to support this argument. Concludes with a list of symptoms of this problem and appropriate managerial responses.
Changes in feeding and locomotion induced by amphetamine analogs in rats

Studies of the biobehavioral actions of psychostimulants commonly focus on locomotion and less commonly on feeding, and only rarely are these measures considered in conjunction within the same animal. The present study compared the impact of (+)-amphetamine and three amphetamine analogs, PAL-287, PAL-313, and PAL-353, on eating and locomotion assessed concurrently using an automated activity/feeding chamber during a daily 45 min session. Each analog is a potent releaser of norepinephrine and of dopamine, but exerts differential serotonin-releasing activity (PAL-287>PAL-313>amphetamine>PAL-353). Rats were tested with each of five doses of drug (0, 2, 4, 8, or 16 micromol/kg, i.p.), given in equimolar concentrations and in random dose order. PAL-353, an analog with minimal serotonin-releasing capacity, markedly stimulated forward locomotion at 2, 4, 8 and 16 micromol/kg, as did amphetamine, whereas PAL-287 and PAL-313 did not. In contrast to the locomotor findings, all four amphetamine-like drugs exerted similar effects on the suppression of food intake. These results suggest that the capacity of an amphetamine analog (i.e. amphetamine and PAL-353) to stimulate serotonin release can diminish its psychostimulant action on locomotion, but does not reliably augment drug-induced hypophagia.
Metal–Semiconductor–Metal Ultraviolet Photodetectors Based on Zinc-Oxide Colloidal Nanoparticles

Metal-semiconductor-metal ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors were created with zinc-oxide colloidal nanoparticles coated with polyvinyl-alcohol. Gold-interdigitated finger contacts with different parameters were patterned on the nanoparticles by optical lithography. The photodetectors exhibited UV-photogenerated current to dark current ratios ranging from 3.85 × 106 to 1.34 × 108, depending on the finger parameters. The spectral responses demonstrate a 375 nm cutoff wavelength, with a peak responsivity of 731.42 A/W at 345 nm.
Kisspeptin Resets the Hypothalamic GnRH Clock in Men

Administration of kisspeptin to healthy men reveals that a single iv dose of kisspeptin induces prolonged GnRH secretion and also resets the GnRH pulse generator.