cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The growth of off-eutectic composites from stirred melts

Theoretical arguments are presented which indicate that it should be possible to grow aligned off-eutectic composites from stirred melts. To obtain off-eutectic growth in an alloy of given composition, the convective mixing must be less than a critical amount. An open system is proposed which would be much better suited to the production of constant composition composites. The convective mixing offers the advantage of enabling higher temperature gradients to be maintained in order to stabilize the planar eutectic interface at the off-eutectic compositions.
Testosterone augments endotoxin-mediated cerebrovascular inflammation in male rats

Activation of inflammatory mechanisms contributes to cerebrovascular pathophysiology. Male gender is associated with increased stroke risk, yet little is known about the effects of testosterone in ...
PLACENTAL TRANSFUSION IN THE NATURALLY BORN LAMBS

The degree of placental transfusion in the unassisted naturally born lambs (NB) was investigated and compared with both early (EC) and late cord clamped (LC) lambs delivered by cesarean section. Blood volume was measured in 22 full-term, lambs at ages 40 min to 12 hrs using the double label dilution technique (PIHSA-125 plasma tag and radiochromium-51 red cell tag). The lambs were of 137-148 days gestation and weighed 2500-5500 g. The umbilical cords of the 9 NB lambs were severed by the mothers either by chewing it within a minute or standing up ijimediately after delivery which allowed the weights of the lambs to stretch and break the cords. The cords were clamped 10 sec after birth in the 8 EC lambs and after 3-5 min in 5 LC lambs. Blood and plasma volumes showed no significant differences amongst the 3 groups probably due to the varying degrees of plasma extravasation during the first hours of life. Mean red cell volume (± S.E.) was 36.7 ± 2.1 ml/kg in the NB group which was significantly greater than the 29.8 ± 2.0 ml/kg of the EC group, p < .05; but smaller than that of LC group, 50.4 ± 2.3 ml/kg, P< .005. These findings indicated that a partial placental transfusion (about 20% more than EC group) occurred in the naturally born lambs, rather than a more complete one as in the LC group.
An Unsuccessful Partnership: Behavioral Compliance and Strengths-Based Child Welfare Practice:

A strengths-based, family-centered perspective is considered a best practice in child welfare. However, many frontline workers still do not use this perspective to guide their work, or they apply i...
Biosynthesis, Characterization, and Efficacy in Retinal Degenerative Diseases of Lens Epithelium-derived Growth Factor Fragment (LEDGF1–326), a Novel Therapeutic Protein

For vision-threatening retinitis pigmentosa and dry age-related macular degeneration, there are no United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatments. We identified, biosynthesized, purified, and characterized lens epithelium-derived growth factor fragment (LEDGF1–326) as a novel protein therapeutic. LEDGF1–326 was produced at about 20 mg/liter of culture when expressed in the Escherichia coli system, with about 95% purity and aggregate-free homogeneous population with a mean hydrodynamic diameter of 9 ± 1 nm. The free energy of unfolding of LEDGF1–326 was 3.3 ± 0.5 kcal mol−1, and melting temperature was 44.8 ± 0.2 °C. LEDGF1–326 increased human retinal pigment epithelial cell viability from 48.3 ± 5.6 to 119.3 ± 21.1% in the presence of P23H mutant rhodopsin-mediated aggregation stress. LEDGF1–326 also increased retinal pigment epithelial cell FluoSphere uptake to 140 ± 10%. Eight weeks after single intravitreal injection in Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats, LEDGF1–326 increased the b-wave amplitude significantly from 9.4 ± 4.6 to 57.6 ± 8.8 μV for scotopic electroretinogram and from 10.9 ± 5.6 to 45.8 ± 15.2 μV for photopic electroretinogram. LEDGF1–326 significantly increased the retinal outer nuclear layer thickness from 6.34 ± 1.6 to 11.7 ± 0.7 μm. LEDGF1–326 is a potential new therapeutic agent for treating retinal degenerative diseases.
Living Donor Kidney Transplantation Using Laparoscopically Procured Multiple Renal Artery Kidneys and Right Kidneys

Background The use of kidneys with multiple renal arteries (MRA) and right kidneys procured laparoscopically for living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) remains controversial. We aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of recipients of LDKT using laparoscopically procured MRA and right kidneys. Study Design We reviewed the medical records of all LDKT recipients with laparoscopically procured kidneys from 2000 to 2009. Pediatric recipients and recipients of positive crossmatch and/or ABO-incompatible transplants were excluded. We compared the outcomes of recipients of MRA kidneys with those receiving single renal artery (SRA) kidneys and the outcomes of recipients of right kidneys with those of left kidneys. Renal function was measured by iothalamate clearance and estimated by the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. Results Multiple renal artery kidneys (192 2-artery and 18 3-artery kidneys) were used in 210 (18.5%) of 1,134 transplantations. The most common reconstructive technique used for MRA kidneys was a side-to-side anastomosis (64.3%). There were no significant differences in vascular complications (1.1% vs 2.4%, p = 0.17), urologic complications (3.1% vs 2.9%, p = 0.47), graft survival at 1 year (94.6% vs 96.1%, p = 0.37), and 1-year iothalamate clearance (64 mL/min/1.73 m 2 vs 66 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , p = 0.52) between recipients of SRA and MRA kidneys. Five-year graft survival was similar for recipients of SRA and MRA kidneys (83.6% vs 82.6%, p = 0.82) and for recipients of left vs right kidneys (83.7% vs 82.6%, p = 0.70). Conclusions Excellent long-term outcomes can be obtained after LDKT using laparoscopically procured MRA and right-sided donor kidneys. Unavailability of an SRA left kidney should not preclude LDKT.
Histone gene clusters of the newt notophthalmus are separated by long tracts of satellite DNA

Abstract The genomic organization of the histone genes of the newt Notophthalmus viridescens is described. Genes for the five proteins are clustered on a 9.0 kb segment of cloned DNA which is part of a homogeneous family of sequences containing 600–800 members per haploid genome. The 9.0 kb histone gene clusters are not adjacent in the genome, but are separated from neighboring clusters by up to 50 kb or more of cluster spacer sequences; some or all of these spacer sequences are members of a predominantly centromeric satellite DNA with a 225 bp repeating unit.
The Electronic View Box: a software tool for radiation therapy treatment verification.

Abstract Purpose: We have developed a software tool for interactively verifying treatment plan implementation. The Electronic View Box (EVB) too copies the paradigm of current practice but does so electronically. A portal image (online portal image or digitized port film) is displayed side by side with a prescription image (digitized simulator fiml or digitally reconstructed radiograph). The user can measure distances between features in prescription and portal images and "write" on the display, either to approve the image or to indicate required corrective actions. The EVB tool also provides several features not available in conventional verification practice using a light box. Methods and Materials: The EVB tool has been written in ANSI C using the X window system. The tool makes use of the Virtual Machine Platform and Foundation Library specifications of the NCI-sponsored Radiation Therapy Planning Tools Collaborative Working Group for portability into an arbitrary treatment planning system that conforms to these specifications. The present EVB tool is based on an earlier Verification Image Review tool, but with a substantial redesign of the user interface. A graphical user interface prototyping system was used in interatively refining the tool layout to allow rapid modifications of the interface in response to user comments. Results: Features of the EVB tool include 1) heirarchical selection of digital portal images based on physician name, patient name, and field identifier; 2) side-by-side presentation of prescription and portal images at equal magnification and orientation, and with independent grayscale controls; 3) "trace" facility for outlining anatomical structures; 4) "ruler" facility for measuring distances; 5) zoomed display of corresponding regions in both images; 6) image contrast enhancement; and 7) communication of portal image evaluation results (approval, block modification, repeat image acquisition, etc.). Conclusion: The EVB tool facilities the rapid comparison of prescription and portal images and permits electronic communication of corrections in port shape and positioning.
Multimodal Optical Imaging Approaches for Early Detection of Oral Epithelial Cancer

Early detection would double the five-year survival rate of oral epithelial cancer patient. An overview of our current efforts towards developing multimodal optical imaging approaches for early detection of oral epithelial cancer will be presented. Article not available.
Thiols alter the partitioning of calicheamicin-induced deoxyribose 4'-oxidation reactions in the absence of DNA radical repair.

Cellular thiols have been proposed to play a protective role in oxidative DNA damage by quenching radical species in solution and by repairing deoxyribose and nucleobase radicals. There is also evidence for participation of thiols in reactions after formation of the DNA radical. Previous studies with neocarzinostatin, a thiol-dependent DNA-cleaving enediyne, revealed that the structure and charge of the activating thiol influence the partitioning of deoxyribose 4‘-oxidation reactions between a 3‘-phosphoglycolate residue and the alternative 4‘-keto-1‘-aldehyde abasic site [Kappen, L. S., et al. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 2034−2042; Dedon, P. C., et al. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 1917−1927]. However, interpretation of these results is confounded by the formation of a neocarzinostatin−thiol conjugate that could alter the position of the activated drug in the minor groove and quench drug radicals. Using the DNA-cleaving enediynes calicheamicin γ1I and O, which are identical except for their trigger moieties, we no...
KrF Laser-Induced Chemical Etching of Nickel with Br2

A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) has been used to study the 248 nm laser-induced etching of nickel by Br2. The experiment consists of focusing a pulsed UV laser beam at normal incidence onto the surface of a quartz crystal coated with 1μm of polycrystalline nickel. Absolute etch rates of nickel, in terms of mass removed per unit time, are determined from the integrated sensitivity function of the 6Mhz crystals used in this work. The dependence of the etch rate on Br2 pressure and laser fluence was measured. The kinetic data obtained from these measurements show that the mechanism of the etching process is dominated by the formation and the subsequent removal of a NixBry monolayer.
Endogenous regulation of environmentally induced sexuality in a rotifer: a multigenerational parental effect induced by fertilisation

SUMMARY 1. Sexual reproduction in the heterogonic life cycle of many rotifers occurs when amictic females, which produce diploid eggs developing parthenogenetically into females, are environmentally induced to produce mictic females. Mictic females produce haploid eggs which develop parthenogenetically into males or, if fertilised, into resting eggs – encysted embryos which develop into amictic females after an obligatory diapause. 2. A Florida strain of Brachionus calyciflorus was used to test the prediction that amictic females hatching from resting eggs (Generation 1), and those from the next few parthenogenetic generations, have a lower propensity to produce mictic daughters in response to crowding than those from later parthenogenetic generations. In 10 replicate clones, populations initiated by amictic females from generations 1, 5, 8, 12 and 18 were exposed to a standardised crowding stimulus, and the proportion of mictic females in the populations was determined. These proportions varied significantly across generations and clones. They were very low in the early generations and gradually increased to a mean of about 0.5 at Generation 12. 3. The mechanism for the transgenerational plasticity in response to crowding is not known. One possibility is that resting eggs contain an agent from their fertilised mictic mother's yolk gland that prevents development into mictic females and is transmitted in increasingly low concentrations through successive parthenogenetic generations of amictic females. 4. This parental effect may contribute to clonal fitness by ensuring that a clone developing from a resting egg will attain a higher population size through female parthenogenesis before maximising its commitment to sexual reproduction, even in the presence of a crowding stimulus from a high population density of other clones. Therefore, the number of resting eggs to which a clone contributes its genes should be maximised. 5. The clonal variation in propensity to produce mictic females in this strain indicates genetic variation in the trade-off between maximising population growth via female parthenogenesis and increasing the probability of producing at least some resting eggs before local extinction from the plankton.
Reducing Medicare Part D cost to patient, drug-induced QT interval lengthening, and suicide and leukotriene-modifying agents

Venous blood samples were collected at multiple times for 48 hours after infusion, and three electroencephalograms were collected at the same time. The average of the QT F intervals was calculated. Relevant pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters were characterized for each sample. No significant differences were found in the maximum QT F intervals, mean serum concentration, and other pharmacokinetic parameters between the heart failure and control groups. Areas under the effect versus time curves (AUECs 0–4, 0–8 ) were significantly larger and the median EC 50 was significantly smaller in the heart failure group. Implications. Medications other than those used specifically for cardiovascular regulation (e.g., ibutilide) may have an impact on QT interval, including example flouroquinolone antibiotics, tricyclic antidepressants, or certain antipsychotics. The length of the QTc interval has been associated with the risk of sudden death after myocardial infarction, torsades de pointes, and the long QT syndrome. Even at equal concentrations of these medications, individuals with left ventricular dysfunction may be at greater risk of potentially fatal adverse events.
Feasibility study of self-contained tether cable system for operating equipment on slopes of 20 to 75%

Abstract The Forest Service investigated the concept of providing support to equipment working on steep slopes through use of a self-contained tether cable system. A vehicle's downhill component of weight is reduced to near zero by the cable's tension. The vehicle can then operate on steep slopes causing only slightly more damage to terrain than when working on flat areas. Mathematical equations for the ideal tension of the cable and for both the resulting side forces and equivalent slope when operating off the fall line were developed. The methods of sensing slope, vehicle design, the winch drive system, and the controls necessary to perform with a self-contained tether cable system are all presented. Also discussed are the acceptable tolerance of the cable tension and the effect of cable tension tolerance on equivalent slope.
A potent competitive antagonist of angiotensin II

8-Isoleucine-angiotensin II has a specific competitive antagonistic effect against angiotensin II both in vitro isolated rabbit aorta and rat uterus and in vivo on the rat and cat blood pressure. It also competitively antagonizes the inhibitory effect of angiotensin II on the cat terminal ileum. Using Schild's parameters to describe competitive antagonism, 8-isoleucine-angiotensin II has a pA2 value of 9.21, a log K2 value of 8.86 at a molar concentration of 10−9.34 and a log K2 value of 9.47 at a concentration of 10−7.835. Based on these data it is concluded that 8-isoleucine-angiotensin II is the most potent competitive inhibitor of angiotensin II so far reported.
Presence of somatostatin or neurotensin in lateral septal dopaminergic axon terminals of distinct hypothalamic and midbrain origins: convergence on the somatospiny neurons

In the lateral septal area (LSA), both inhibitory and excitatory dopamine (DA) actions, as well as hypothalamic and midbrain DA efferents, have been described. Some neurons of the hypothalamic and midbrain DA systems contain somatostatin (SOM) or neurotensin (NT), and, in the LSA, the distribution of fibers containing these peptides overlaps with DA fibers. These data prompted us to test for the presence of SOM and NT in LSA dopaminergic axon terminals of hypothalamic and midbrain origins. To verify the origins of SOM and NT innervation of the LSA, the retrograde tracer horseradish peroxidase conjugated with wheat germ agglutinin (HRP-WGA) was injected into the LSA, and alternate brain sections were immunostained for SOM, NT, or tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in group 1 rats. Numerous retrogradely labeled neurons were found immunopositive for SOM in the periventricular and basolateral hypothalamus, many HRP-WGA labeled cells contained NT immunoreactivity in the ventral tegmental area, and TH-immunoreactive retrogradely labeled neurons were observed in both brain areas. In a new approach, the presence of these peptides in dopaminergic boutons was assessed by combining peptide immunocytochemistry with acute 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) induced lesioning of DA cell groups. These groups of rats were treated with desipramine to protect the noradrenergic fibers, and 45 min later 1 μg 6-OHDA (in 0.5 μl saline) was unilaterally injected into the periventricular hypothalamus (group 2) or the ventral tegmental area (group 3). After 48 h the rats were killed and alternate septal sections of both groups were immunostained for TH, SOM, or NT. On the operated side of the LSA in both groups, electron microscopy revealed numerous axon terminals that were immunopositive for TH and contained autophagous cytolysosomes, an early sign of catecholamine fiber degeneration induced by 6-OHDA. In group 2, phagosomecontaining boutons were found immunopositive for SOM, but not for NT; vice versa, in group 3, only NT-positive degenerated boutons were detected. SOM and NT-positive degenerated axon terminals in both groups formed synaptic contacts with LSA neurons, in particular with somatospiny cells. On the contralateral side of the LSA, all of the axon terminals were intact. It has been shown that SOM exerts an inhibitory action, whereas NT has an excitatory effect on limbic area neurons. Thus, the results implicate that the differential peptide content of dopamine fibers marks their functional differences. It appears that LSA neurons receive double innervation from an inhibitory “somatostatinergic” DA system of the hypothalamus, and from an excitatory “neurotensinergic” DA system of the midbrain.
Mechanism of Calcium Influx in Cortical Synaptosomes of the Guinea Pig Fetus. 257

Calcium ion flux through the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor ion-channel has been proposed as a mechanism of hypoxia-induced neuronal injury in the newborn and fetal brain. The present study tests the hypothesis that increased free intrasynaptosomal calcium ([Ca2+]i) during hypoxia is mediated by an influx of calcium via the NMDA receptor and is associated with the release of calcium from intracellular stores. Studies were conducted in 12 term guinea pig fetuses, 6 normoxic and 6 whose mothers were exposed to an FiO2 of 7% for 1 hr. Tissue hypoxia was confirmed by decreased ATP and phosphocreatine levels. Cortical synaptosomes were prepared and[Ca2+]i was measured fluorometrically with Fura-2 after NMDA receptor activation by 100μM NMDA and 100μM glutamate in the presence of 100μM glucine. The relative contribution of the NMDA receptor and intrasynaptosomal stores to increased [Ca2+]i was assessed by determining the effect of MK-801, a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, and thapsigardin, an intracellular Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor. For the normoxic group, the increase in [Ca2+]i after NMDA addition was 79 ± 39 nM for untreated synaptosomes (U), 32 ± 38 nM in the presence of MK-801(M), p<0.05, and 21 ± 11 nM in the presence of thapsigardin (T), p<0.01. The increase in [Ca2+]i after the addition of glutamate was 55 ± 32 nM (U), 15 ± 16 nM (M), p<0.05, and 17 ± 18 nM (T), p<0.01. Similarly, in the hypoxic group, the increase in [Ca2+]i after NMDA addition was 110± 38 nM (U), 26 ± 13 nM (M), p<0.05 and 13 ±24 nM (T), p<0.01. The increase in [Ca2+]i after glutamate addition was 52 ± 22 nM (U), 15 ± 16 nM (M), p<0.05 and 17 ± 18 nM(T), p<0.01. The results show that both MK-801 and thapsigardin inhibit the increase in [Ca2+]i during normoxia and hypoxia, demonstrating that the increase in [Ca2+]i during cerebral hypoxia is both NMDA receptor-mediated and Ca2+-ATPase-dependent. We speculate that hypoxia-induced modification of the NMDA receptor leading to a calcium influx may initiate the inositol phosphate pathway and the release of Ca2+ from intrasynaptosomal stores. (Funded NIH # HD-20337)
The Effects of Changes in Federal Aid on State and Local Government Spending

This study suggests federal grants-in-aid had an important influence on state and local government spending during the 1960s and most of the 1970s. This positive stimulation also seems to have continued during 1982-1985, despite the Reagan administration 's efforts to cut the level offederal aid to states and communities. The stimulative effect offederal aid, however, was showing signs ofdiminishing after 1977 and was conspicuously absent for the 1977-1981 and 1985-1988 periods.
Visual System's View of Acoustic Space

SINGLE nerve cells of the visual cortex of the cat can respond to stimuli in other modalities1–11, but the physiological role of such excitation is not understood. Many investigators consider that this activation reflects generalized arousal12–15. In this report I present evidence of a rigorous spatial specificity in the acoustical projection to visual neurones.
Disturbances in behavior and cortical enkephalin gene expression during the anticipation of ethanol in rats characterized as high drinkers

The process of ethanol anticipation is a particularly important phenomenon that can determine subsequent drug-taking behavior. Recent studies suggest that systems within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), during anticipation, may contribute to the goal-directed seeking of ethanol. The current investigation examined the possibility that the opioid peptide enkephalin (ENK), known to mediate some of the reinforcing properties of ethanol, may function in the mPFC during the anticipation of ethanol access. Using a limited access (3 h/d) paradigm for 10 days with 20% ethanol, Sprague-Dawley rats were first identified either as low drinkers (LD, 2.0 g/kg/3 h) that exhibited a long-term phenotype of high ethanol consumption and a significant ethanol deprivation effect. During the anticipation period immediately preceding daily ethanol access, the HD rats compared to LD or Control animals with ad libitum ethanol access exhibited increased anticipatory behaviors, including greater exploratory behavior in a novel open field as revealed by significantly more time spent in the rearing position (+53–65%, p < 0.05) and increased number of rears made (+33–44%, p < 0.05) and greater novelty-seeking behavior in a hole-board apparatus revealed by an increase in total (+50–52%, p < 0.05) and novel nose pokes (+45–48%, p < 0.05). In the HD rats, analysis of the mPFC using real-time quantitative PCR showed significantly greater mRNA levels of ENK (p < 0.05) and the mu-opioid receptor (MOR) (p < 0.05), but not delta-opioid receptor (DOR), and this increase in ENK expression was found, using in situ hybridization, to occur specifically in the prelimbic (PrL) subregion of the mPFC. When injected into the PrL during the anticipation period, a MOR agonist but not DOR agonist significantly increased consumption of 20% ethanol (p < 0.05). These findings support the role of ENK, acting through MOR within the PrL to promote the anticipation and excessive consumption of ethanol.
Corporate Acquisitions and Shareholder Wealth: A Review and Exploratory Analysis

This exploratory study examined the effect of corporate acquisitions on shareholder wealth by reviewing the current literature and then analyzing a selected group of recent takeovers. In order to determine whether or not any effect did in fact exist, six "acquiring " corporations were compared with similar "non-acquirors"from the same industries on a number offinancial indicators readily available to the average investor Analyses of these data indicated that, contrary to what would be expectedfrom classical economic theory, the acquisitions studied had essentially negative impacts on shareholder wealth. These results lead to discussion of alternative rationales for initiating merger activities and possible long term effects of the recent merger trend.
A novel class of unconventional myosins from Toxoplasma gondii

Here, we describe the complete deduced amino acid sequence of three unconventional myosins identified in the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that the three myosins represent a novel, highly-divergent class addition to the myosin superfamily. Toxoplasma gondii myosin-A (TgM-A) is a remarkably small approximately 93 kDa myosin that shows a striking departure from typical myosin heavy chain structure in having a head and tail domain but no discernible neck domain. In other myosins, the neck is defined by one or more IQ motifs that serve as potential light chain binding domains. No IQ motifs are apparent in TgM-A. The tail domain of TgM-A encompasses only 57 amino acid residues and is characterized by its highly basic charge (pI = 10.8). The other two Toxoplasma myosins, TgM-B and TgM-C appear to be the product of differential RNA splicing with TgM-B yielding a protein of approximately 114 kDa and TgM-C a protein of approximately 125 kDa. These two myosins are identical throughout their head domain and neck domain which contains a single IQ motif. TgM-B and C share the proximal 245 residues of their tail domain and then diverge in their tail structure distally. The tails, like that of TgM-A, share no homology to any other myosin tails apart from a highly basic charge. The identification of yet another class of unconventional myosins, including a myosin as novel in structure as the 93 kDa TgM-A, continues to underscore the diversity of this family of molecular motors.
Metabolic effects of synthetic salmon calcitonin in Paget's disease of bone.

Abstract The initial effects of synthetic salmon calcitonin (SCT) given as a single subcutaneous injection of 50 or 100 MRC units daily or three times a week were studied in ten patients with Paget's disease of bone. Positive shifts in calcium balance and/or a decrease in the rate of radiocalcium tumover were prominent effects in nine patients. Serum alkaline phosphatase did not change significantly and urinary total hydroxproline excretion decreased an average of 20% during the initial 28 days of SCT administration. A comparison of the combined radiocalcium turnover and calcium balance data indicated effective inhibition of bone resorption in eight of ten patients. The changes in skeletal metabolism were similar with the smallest dose employed, 50 MRC units three times a week compared to the largest dose, 100 MRC units daily. Significant natriuresis and a reduction in the degree of positive sodium balance were observed in three patients. These data are compatible with other studies indicating that SCT is more potent in the human than porcine calcitonin, by approximately 20-fold on a molar basis, and 50 MRC units of SCT three times a week appears to be an effective dose in initiating treatment of Paget's disease.
When do investors forgive entrepreneurs for lying

Abstract A growing literature suggests that some entrepreneurs lie to investors in order to improve the likelihood of acquiring resources needed for firm survival and growth. We propose a framework outlining the conditions that may enable an investor who has been told a lie by an entrepreneur to respond with forgiveness rather than by withdrawing from the relationship. Integrating the literatures on evolutionary psychology, forgiveness, and stakeholder theory we argue that investor's appraisals of expected relationship value and expected exploitation risk are the key antecedents to an investor's decision to forgive an entrepreneur's lie.
Kalman filter for improving optical flow accuracy along moving boundaries

Optical flow is an important source of information of motion and structure of objects in 3D world. Once the optical flow field is computed accurately, the measurement of image velocity can be used widely in many tasks in computer vision area. Current computer vision techniques require that the relative errors in the optical flow be less than 10%. However, to reduce error in optical flow determination is still a difficult problem. In this paper, we propose a Kalman filtering for improving accuracy in determining optical flow along moving boundaries. Firstly, a quantitative analysis on the error decreasing rate in iteratively determining optical flow using the correlation-based technique is given. It concludes that this error decreasing rate is varied for different regions in an image plane: it is larger for the regions where intensity varies more drastically, it is smaller for those where intensity varies more smoothly. This indicates that the iterations needed in optical flow determination should not be uniform for different image regions. That is, for the moving boundaries, where intensity usually changes bigger, less iterations are needed than for other regions. This is reasonable. In fact, the confidence measure is usually high along moving boundaries since richer information exists there. Therefore, an optical flow algorithm needs to have less iterations along moving boundaries than in other areas so that the better estimation of optical flow along boundaries can be propagated into other areas instead of being blurred by those in other areas. Secondly, we propose a Kalman filter to realize the task of applying different number of necessary iterations in determining optical flow to deblur boundary and enhance accuracy. Loosely speaking, the idea is whenever the standard deviation of optical flow at a pixel is less than certain criterion, i.e., good accuracy has been achieved, the Kalman filter will not further update optical flow at this pixel, thus conserving accuracy along moving boundaries. Assuming that estimated optical flow field is contaminated by a Gaussian white noise, we give appropriate considerations to the system and measurement noise covariance matrices, Q and R, respectively. In this way, the Kalman filter is used to eliminate noise, raise accuracy and refine accuracy along discontinuities. Finally, an experiment is presented to demonstrate the efficiency of our Kalman filter. Two objects are considered. One is stationary, while another is in translation. Unified optical flow field (UOFF) quantities are determined by using the proposed technique. The 3D position and speeds are then estimated by using UOFF approach. Both results obtained with and without the Kalman filter are given. A more than 10% improvement is achieved in this experiment. It is expected that the more moving boundaries in the scene, the more effectively the scheme works.
Focal fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation in inflammatory pancreatic disease

Focal 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-d-glucose (FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography (PET) in a pancreatic mass has been reported as a specific finding for pancreatic carcinoma. Inflammatory conditions of the pancreas and associated clinical circumstances yielding similar findings have not yet been fully defined. Among 42 patients studied by attenuation-corrected FDG PET for pancreatic disease, 12 with focal FDG uptake in the pancreas were identified as having no underlying neoplasm based on surgical findings, biopsy results, and long term clinical and imaging follow up. Focal FDG accumulation in the pancreas with standardized uptake values ranging from 3.4 to 11.2 on FDG PET was ultimately found to be related to inflammation rather than neoplasm. This occurred in pancreatic masses in which clinical and laboratory evidence of acute pancreatitis was equivocal or entirely lacking, as well as in the setting of acute pancreatitis and after recovery from acute pancreatitis. Inflammation can give rise to focal FDG uptake in the same intensity range as pancreatic neoplasm, even when clinical, laboratory and computed tomographic findings suggestive of an inflammatory etiology are equivocal or absent.
Left-ventricular systolic and diastolic dyssynchrony as assessed by multi-harmonic phase analysis of gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging in patients with end-stage renal disease and normal LVEF

Background The purpose of this study was to develop a multi-harmonic phase analysis method to measure diastolic dyssynchrony from conventional gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) data and to compare it with systolic dyssynchrony in normal subjects and in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and normal left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
Type III occipital condylar fracture presenting with hydrocephalus, vertebral artery injury and vasospasm: case report

Occipital condylar fractures (OCF) are rare and have a high mortality rate. We report a patient with OCF who presented with acute hydrocephalus and died from diffuse vasospasm secondary to vertebral artery injury. A 45-year-old man fell 20 feet from a deer stand and landed on his head. CT showed a type III OCF continuing to the anterior rim of the foramen magnum on the left, with a bone fragment pushing into the medulla, causing hydrocephalus. The patient was stabilized, and a four-vessel arteriogram showed diffuse vasospasm with complete occlusion of the left vertebral artery at the level of the OCF. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of the conjunction of OCF, hydrocephalus, and vasospasm.
Cyclic AMP and genetic sterility of a male restricted (Hre/plus) mutant of Rattus.

Restricted (H re /+) male rats marked by a coat color pattern have normal testes at birth. By 9 days postpartum, testes of the mutant animals are smaller than normal and by approximately 90 days of age the animals are sterile. The genetically sterile testes are totally devoid of spermatogonial cells, spermatocytes, spermatids, and spermatozoa, with only Sertoli cells remaining in the seminiferous tubules. Cyclic AMP concentrations in the whole testes (and the seminiferous tubules) of the mutant males are approximately 10–35% greater than in testes of control males when tested at intervals from 5 to 120 days of age. The possible role of excess cyclic AMP in reducing the rate of mitotic division of spermatogonial cells while enhancing differentiation of spermatogonial cells into spermatozoa is discussed. Such a change in the respective rates of mitotic and meiotic divisions would ultimately deplete the mutant testes of all spermatogonial cells.
Rate-adaptive four-dimensional nonbinary LDPC-coded modulation for long-haul optical transport networks

A rate-adaptive four-dimensional nonbinary-LDPC-coded modulation scheme is proposed for high-speed long-haul optical transport networks. Transmission distances range from 5,800 km to 8,900 km at flexible information bit rates beyond 100 Gb/s.
Effect of ascorbic acid and curcumin on quercetin-induced nuclear DNA damage, lipid peroxidation and protein degradation

Abstract The effects of ascorbic acid and curcumin on quercetin-induced DNA damage, lipid peroxidation and protein degradation were investigated in a model system of isolated rat-liver nuclei under aerobic conditions and in the presence of equimolar concentrations of iron or copper. Neither ascorbic acid nor curcumin inhibited quercetin-induced nuclear DNA damage, lipid peroxiation, or protein degradation. In fact, both antioxidants stimulated the oxidative damage to nuclear macromolecules. Ascorbic acid significantly increased the quercetin-induced nuclear DNA damage in the presence of either iron or copper. The increases in quercetin-induced nuclear lipid peroxidation and protein degradation by ascorbic acid were statistically significant only in the presence of iron or copper, respectively. Similarly, stimulation of quercetin-induced DNA damage and lipid peroxidation by curcumin was statistically significant only in the presence of copper or iron, respectively. Curcumin had no significant effect on nuclear protein degradation. These results demonstrate the pro-oxidant properties of ascorbic acid and curcumin, compounds that also demonstrate antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties. Ascorbic acid and curcumin may therefore each have a dual role in carcinogenesis.
Comparison of bioactive glass to demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft in the treatment of intrabony defects around implants in the canine mandible.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the healing of different bone grafting materials adjacent to titanium plasma-sprayed (TPS) endosseous dental implants. Methods: Implant osteotomy sites were prepared and standardized 3-walled intrabony defects (3 mm x 5 mm x 5 mm) were created at the mesial of each implant site. Thirty-two TPS implants were placed in edentulous mandibular ridges of the 4 dogs. Periodontal dressings were placed in the defect sites so as to create a defect simulating bone loss around an implant. After 3 months, the periodontal dressing was removed, the defect sites debrided and evaluated for size, and intramarrow penetration performed. The graft materials tested were 1) canine demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (cDFDBA); 2) bioactive glass granules of a broad size range 90 to 710 microns (BRG); and 3) bioactive glass granules of narrow size range 300 to 355 microns (NRG). One site on each side of the mandible was not filled and served as a control. Dog...
From chaos to QoS: case studies in CMP resource management

As more and more cores are enabled on the die of future CMP platforms, we expect that several diverse workloads will run simultaneously on the platform. A key example of this trend is the growth of virtualization usage models. When multiple virtual machines or applications or threads run simultaneously, the quality of service (QoS) that the platform provides to each individual thread is non-deterministic today. This occurs because the simultaneously running threads place very different demands on the shared resources (cache space, memory bandwidth, etc) in the platform and in most cases contend with each other. In this paper, we first present case studies that show how this results in non-deterministic performance. Unlike the compute resources managed through scheduling, platform resource allocation to individual threads cannot be controlled today. In order to provide better determinism and QoS, we then examine resource management mechanisms and present QoS-aware architectures and execution environments. The main contribution of this paper is the architecture feasibility analysis through prototypes that allow experimentation with QoS-Aware execution environments and architectural resources. We describe these QoS prototypes and then present preliminary case studies of multi-tasking and virtualization usage models sharing one critical CMP resource (last-level cache). We then demonstrate how proper management of the cache resource can provide service differentiation and deterministic performance behavior when running disparate workloads in future CMP platforms.
Symbolic and political ecology among contemporary Nez Perce Indians in Idaho, USA: Functions and meanings of hunting, fishing, and gathering practices

Indigenous ecologies in industrial societies need immediate attention in light of the ongoing debate on indigenous resource rights and decreasing biodiversity. This paper examines the functions and meanings of hunting, fishing, and gathering activities among contemporary Nez Perce Indians in Idaho, USA. The collected data were analyzed with Pierre Bourdieu's (1977) concepts of “symbolic capital” and “practice” within the framework of political ecology. The results clearly demonstrate that hunting, fishing, and gathering practices play significant roles not only in social and religious but also economic and political senses within the contemporary Nez Perce society. This study suggests that investigation of indigenous ecologies in industrial societies take a synthesized approach between idealist and materialist perspectives.
Nitrogen nutrition and canopy temperature in field-grown spring wheat

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Accurate wavelengths for resonance lines of the Cu i and Zn i isoelectronic sequences for Pd to Dy

New measurements of the Cu-like and Zn-like resonance lines classified as 4s S21/2-4p P21/2,3/2∘ and 4s2 S10-4s4p P1,31∘ transitions, respectively, have been made in the range of 90–335 A with a wavelength uncertainty of ±0.005 A for elements Pd to Dy. The light source was the TEXT tokamak at the Fusion Research Center in Austin, Texas. The transition energies for the Zn-like lines are compared with values calculated with the multiconfiguration Dirac–Fock code of Desclaux [ Phys. Rev. A42, 5139 ( 1990)], including QED corrections. Differences between corresponding theoretical and experimental values are plotted as a function of atomic number and fitted to a smooth curve. The curve is used to obtain predicted wavelength values from Tc to U.
Toward the set of frictional velocity fields generable by 6-degree-of-freedom oscillatory motion of a rigid plate

A position-dependent asymptotic velocity field describes the motion of point parts sliding with friction on the surface of a rigid oscillating plate. These fields can be used to perform manipulation tasks such as sensorless positioning of one or several parts simultaneously. This paper examines the set of fields F generated by periodic plate motions M that combine a single in-plane component and a single out-of-plane component that have square wave accelerations with 50% duty cycles, identical periods, and an arbitrary phase between them. By deconstructing the full map ŏ :M→F into three simpler maps, we expose the structure of F and its relationship to M. To illustrate, we focus on particular plate motions in M that generate fields well approximated by polynomial functions of position with degree n ≤ 2. Numerical simulations suggest that fields generated from plate motions with more than a single inplane and a single out-of-plane component (all with the same period and square wave accelerations) are well approximated by linear combinations of fields in F.
Effects of Major Spore-Specific DNA Binding Proteins on Bacillus subtilis Sporulation and Spore Properties

Sporulation of a Bacillus subtilis strain (termed alpha(-) beta(-)) lacking the majority of the alpha/beta-type small, acid-soluble spore proteins (SASP) that are synthesized in the developing forespore and saturate spore DNA exhibited a number of differences from that of the wild-type strain, including delayed forespore accumulation of dipicolinic acid, overexpression of forespore-specific genes, and delayed expression of at least one mother cell-specific gene turned on late in sporulation, although genes turned on earlier in the mother cell were expressed normally in alpha(-) beta(-) strains. The sporulation defects in alpha(-) beta(-) strains were corrected by synthesis of chromosome-saturating levels of either of two wild-type, alpha/beta-type SASP but not by a mutant SASP that binds DNA poorly. Spores from alpha(-) beta(-) strains also exhibited less glutaraldehyde resistance and slower outgrowth than did wild-type spores, but at least some of these defects in alpha(-) beta(-) spores were abolished by the synthesis of normal levels of alpha/beta-type SASP. These results indicate that alpha/beta-type SASP may well have global effects on gene expression during sporulation and spore outgrowth.
Correlated f-electron materials near a T=0 magnetic–nonmagnetic boundary: implications for δ-Pu

Abstract A comparison of magnetic and thermodynamic properties of CeRh 2 Si 2 and CeRh 2− x Ru x Si 2 near their T =0 magnetic–nonmagnetic boundary accessed by pressure and alloying, respectively, emphasizes the role of disorder in producing non-Fermi-liquid effects. Spatially varying hybridization induced by crystallographic disorder may play a similar though less dramatic role in determining the physical properties of δ-phase plutonium at ambient and high pressures.
Nurses' attitudes toward provision of care and related health outcomes.

Background Supportive care during childbirth is as old as humankind and has been a cornerstone of intrapartum practice for decades. Researchers have postulated that supportive care during labor leads to positive outcomes by enhancing normal labor physiology and the mother's childbirth experience. Questions, however, have risen about the ability of intrapartum nurses to provide effective supportive care within today's medicalized hospital birth environment. Objectives The aims of this study were to examine the contribution of attitudinal, normative, and control influences on intrapartum nurses' intentions to provide professional labor support (PLS) to parturient women and to assess if behavioral intent could predict the outcome of length of labor. Methods A retrospective exploratory study was used to survey 39 registered nurses and 419 nurse-patient dyads to understand the relationship between predictor variables, behavioral intention, and health outcomes. Multiple regression analysis was used for statistical analysis. Results The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) explained 70% of the variance in intrapartum nurses' intentions to provide PLS to their patients. Behavioral intent (beta = -.08, rho =.677) had no statistically significant impact on a patient's length of labor. Discussion Both attitude and social pressures had a significant impact on the intention to perform PLS, and results show the relative importance of these variables in understanding the nurse's intention to provide support. Although behavioral intent had no significant influence on behavior, as measured by the patient's length of labor, clinical significance needs to be addressed. The regression correlation suggested that as the behavioral intent scores increased, length of labor decreased in the nurse's parturient population. Further studies are required to determine if the TPB can predict health outcomes through nurses' intentions to provide care.
Sohlh1 is essential for spermatogonial differentiation.

Abstract Spermatogonia are adult germline stem cells that can both self-renew and differentiate into spermatocytes. Little is known about factors necessary for spermatogonial differentiation. We identified a novel germ-cell-specific transcription factor that we named Sohlh1 (spermatogenesis and oogenesis specific basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factor). In males, Sohlh1 is preferentially expressed in prespermatogonia and Type A spermatogonia. Loss of Sohlh1 causes infertility by disrupting spermatogonial differentiation into spermatocytes. Seven-day-old testes without Sohlh1 still express the testis-specific transcription factors Etv5, Taf4b, Zfp148, and Plzf, overexpress a novel Sohlh2 bHLH transcription factor, but lack LIM homeobox gene Lhx8 and show reduced expression of Ngn3. Sohlh1 represents the first testis-specific bHLH transcription factor that is essential for spermatogonial differentiation.