cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bioavailable Lead in Topsoil Collected from General Aviation Airports

Representatives of the aviation community are interested in determining the environmental effects of leaded fuel emissions from general aviation flight operations. Soil is an environmental sink for lead to accumulate over time. This study measured bioavailable lead concentrations in topsoil at three general aviation airports and at one site with no general aviation operations in order to determine if general aviation aircraft operations are contributing to the contamination of airport topsoil at levels that require remediation by law. Bioavailable refers to substances that organisms can absorb, because they have access to them. Topsoil was collected from refueling areas, run-up areas, and approach corridor/departure end runways. The samples were dried and the fine fractions were separated. The fine fractions were suspended in nitric acid to extract the lead for laboratory analysis. A univariate ANOVA was computed comparing the quantity of soluble lead in the topsoil from three general aviation airports (further classified as high, moderate, and low volume of flight operations) and at one site with no general aviation operations (arboretum). A significant main effect for the high volume airport was found (F[2, 24] = 10.966, p .05). However, an interaction was observed when comparisons were made between the airport sites (n = 3) and locations sampled at the sites (n = 3) that was significant (F[4, 24] = 2.902, p < .05). Tukey’s HSD was used to determine the nature of the differences. The analysis revealed that concentrations of lead in soil samples collected from the high volume airport refueling area, run-up area, and approach corridor/departure end runway were significantly lower than the moderate volume airport run-up area lead concentrations. The results at the three airports investigated support the conclusions that the risk of ingesting lead from surface soils is low and bioavailable lead in the soil sampled from general aviation airports is not accumulating in quantities that require remediation according to Environmental Protection Agency requirements.
An Introduction to Information Structures and Paging Considerations for On-Line Text Editing Systems

Since time-sharing and interactive computing have become almost commonplace in the last five years, the idea of on-line creation and modification of programs and their documentation has become widely accepted as a productive and cost-effective use of the computer. In fact, it has been realized that the facilities provided by a time-sharing system’s central editing program and its command language are among the most important determinants of the system’s convenience, power, and consequent utility. At the same time, computer-assisted text editing packages have become accepted in industry and government for the preparation of technical manuals, proposals, and other documents in which many updates are necessary and time is at a premium. Finally, exciting research has been done, notably at the Stanford Research Institute, on the ways in which on-line text- (and picture-) handling systems can enhance all aspects of the user’s programming, writing, and thinking(1).
Freedom of Speech and Commercial Solicitation

THE ambiguity and confusion that have existed regarding the extent of protection accorded by the constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech' to utterances concerning commercial transactions have received some clarification in recent decisions by the United States Supreme Court,2 the Supreme Court of California3 and the District Court of Appeal of California.' The questions that remain unanswered by these cases are many and confounding; however the following generalizations can safely be drawn from these decisions:
Introductory honors economics on the Web

Economics 304KH and 304LH at The University of Texas at Austin are introductory honors economics courses. Our goal was to provide students with more advanced material than available in introductory textbooks, such as a discussion of microeconomics based on one-dimensional calculus and a survey of macroeconomics based on economic models. The supplemental material consists of Web course notes, on-line quizzes, simulation and data modules and group interactive modules. This paper focuses on the development of Web economic course materials. We discuss the difficulties of programming mathematical instructional material in HTML and the coming solution in XML, JavaScript, and Java. The effectiveness of the on-line course materials are also evaluated based on student responses.
Patent ductus arteriosus closure using the Amplatzer® vascular plug II for all anatomic variants.

Objectives To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Amplatzer® Vascular Plug II (AVPII) for closure of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Background The PDA has significant anatomic variation. No device has proven applicable to all PDAs. Previous case reports and small series have documented limited use of the AVPII for some PDA types. We describe the largest and most diverse experience using the AVPII. Methods A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing percutaneous PDA closure between 01/01/2009 and 05/01/2012 was performed. The PDA was characterized, measured, and the device chosen was listed. Deployment technique, complications and procedural results were recorded. Results Sixty-seven procedures were performed. The AVPII was utilized for 43 (64.2%), 15 (20.9%) had coils, 7 (10.4%) had the AGA duct occluder, and 3 (4.5%) were referred for surgery. The AVPII was placed in infants as young as 2 months and 4.2 kg. AVPII size ranged from 4 to 10 mm. All PDA types were closed. Retrograde and antegrade deployments were performed, using the outer disc as a “retention skirt” to secure the device and improve occlusion. Three patients were up-sized prior to release. All deployments were successful; 89% “in-lab” and 100% closure on postprocedural echocardiogram. There were no complications. Conclusions We report the largest experience with the AVPII for PDA closure. The device was used in all morphologic types and small patients. It is low profile, easily repositioned, and had excellent results without complications. We contend that this is the most versatile device currently available. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fixed- vs. variable-length patterns for detecting suspicious process behavior

This paper addresses the problem of creating patterns that can be used to model the normal behavior of a given process. The models can be used for intrusion-detection purposes. First, we present a novel method to generate input data sets that enable us to observe the normal behavior of a process in a secure environment. Second, we propose various techniques to derive either fixed-length or variable-length patterns from the input data sets. We show the advantages and drawbacks of each technique, based on the results of the experiments we have run on our testbed.
The rare allele SOD-A2 in the Italian population

SummaryData are reported on the distribution of SOD-A electrophoretic phenotypes in the Italian population, and on the concentration of SOD-A 2-1 phenotype in a family group of a small village. The frequency of the rare allele SOD-A2 is estimated and compared with the frequency in other populations. By applying a model of population dynamics for rare neutral genes estimates are derived of the mean first arrival time and mean age, in generations, of SOD-A2 allele.
The two fields of child language research

It is clear that child language research (CLR) is a field of considerable disunity, in terms of theory as well as practice, but especially as regards practice. This paper argues that a major source of inconsistency in CLR at the level of data and method is the diverse disciplinary back grounds of its practitioners. The disciplinary orientation of the senior authors of over 150 published research reports in ten different journals between 1970 and 1985 was used as an independent variable in the examination of various methodological practices. Specifically, one can observe a division between linguists and those trained in the humanities on the one hand, and psychologists and those trained in the social sciences on the other hand. Both groups contribute to CLR, but their contributions differ, sometimes radically, in the domain of in quiry, in the methods employed to collect, preserve, and analyse data, and even in the presentation of results.
CONTEMPORARY EVOLUTIONARY THEORY AS A NEW HEURISTIC MODEL FOR THE SOCIOSCIENTIFIC METHOD IN BIBLICAL STUDIES

. Notions of uniform and gradual evolution have been replaced in some circles by biological and paleontological models that postulate that periods of rapid change punctuate long periods of evolutionary stasis. This new theory, called punctuated equilibria (or PE for short), may have implications for paradigms in scholarly disciplines other than the sciences. Whereas old evolutionary models exerted great influence upon historians, sociologists, anthropologists, and students of religion for more than a century, the new model may provide heuristic paradigms for research that correlate more adequately with the current observations of scholars. We therefore provide suggestions for deployment of this new scientific paradigm in history and anthropology. In particular, this model can explain the rise of the Israelite state and the religious ethos in the Hebrew Bible, two major concerns of today's socioscientific study of biblical materials. Thus the possibility of an overarching paradigm for the social sciences is entertained.
NADPH oxidase and nitric oxide synthase-dependent superoxide production is increased in proliferative lupus nephritis

ObjectiveLupus nephritis (LN) is an immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis. Proliferative LN (PLN, ISN/RPS classes III and IV)) often leads to renal injury or failure despite traditional induct...
Weak solutions and development of singularities of the SU(2) σ‐model

Pour toutes donnees initiales d'energie finie, le modele sigma O(k) a des solutions faibles globales en chaque dimension d'espace-temps
Linkage between surface immunoglobulin and cytoskeleton of B lymphocytes may involve Gc protein

The membrane immunoglobulin (MIg) of B lymphocytes is thought to have an important role in antigen recognition and cellular activation1,2. In common with many membrane glycoproteins, MIg moves extensively in the lipid bilayer, and after binding of specific antisera displays lateral mobility with patch and cap formation3,4. This phenomenon appears to involve the cytoskeleton, particularly the actin that is present in the cell membrane of B lymphocytes5 and aggregates beneath capped immunoglobulin6. Recently, it has been reported that the isolation of MIg results in co-purification of actin and an unknown protein of molecular weight (MW) ∼56,000 (refs 7, 8). We now demonstrate that this component displays physicochemical and immunological properties indistinguishable from those of Gc (group-specific component)9. In addition, evidence is presented which suggests that this vitamin D3-binding protein is involved in the linkage between MIg and actin, and may therefore be important in signal transduction.
The Drosophila surface glia transcriptome: evolutionary conserved blood-brain barrier processes.

Abstract Central nervous system (CNS) function is dependent on the stringent regulation of metabolites, drugs, cells, and pathogens exposed to the CNS space. Cellular blood-brain barrier (BBB) structures are highly specific checkpoints governing entry and exit of all small molecules to and from the brain interstitial space, but the precise mechanisms that regulate the BBB are not well understood. In addition, the BBB has long been a challenging obstacle to the pharmacologic treatment of CNS diseases; thus model systems that can parse the functions of the BBB are highly desirable. In this study, we sought to define the transcriptome of the adult Drosophila melanogaster BBB by isolating the BBB surface glia with FACS and profiling their gene expression with microarrays. By comparing the transcriptome of these surface glia to that of all brain glia, brain neurons, and whole brains, we present a catalog of transcripts that are selectively enriched at the Drosophila BBB. We found that the fly surface glia show high expression of many ABC and SLC transporters, cell adhesion molecules, metabolic enzymes, signaling molecules, and components of xenobiotic metabolism pathways. Using gene sequence-based alignments, we compare the Drosophila and Murine BBB transcriptomes and discover many shared chemoprotective and small molecule control pathways, thus affirming the relevance of invertebrate models for studying evolutionary conserved BBB properties. The Drosophila BBB transcriptome is valuable to vertebrate and insect biologists alike as a resource for studying proteins underlying diffusion barrier development and maintenance, glial biology, and regulation of drug transport at tissue barriers.
Joint pricing and ordering policy for exponentially decaying inventory with known demand

This paper is concerned with the problem of simultaneously setting price and production levels for an exponentially decaying product. Such products suffer a loss in utility which is proportional to the total quantity of stock on hand. A continuous review, deterministic demand model is considered. The optimal ordering decision quantity is derived and its sensitivity to changes in perishability and product price is considered. The joint ordering pricing decision is also computed and consideration of parametric changes of these decisions indicates a non-monotonic response for optimal price to changes in product decay. Issues of market entry and extensions to a model with shortages are also analyzed.
“Action potentials” in nematode-induced plant transfer cells

In a study of membrane potential properties of giant cells induced in the roots ofImpatiens balsamina by a rootknot nematode, trains of action potential-like fluctuations were recorded. Giant cells are multinucleate transfer cells, and it is suggested that the occurrence of action potentials may be characteristic of transfer cells.
Looking at the patient--approaching the problem of COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and is expected to become the third leading cause of death by 2020. Cigarette smoking is the major risk factor, but as many as 20 percent of patients who have COPD or die from the disease are lifelong nonsmokers. Despite its importance as a public health problem, COPD is vastly underappreciated. It is underdiagnosed and, when diagnosed, commonly undertreated. The need to increase awareness about COPD is a worldwide problem and has led to a number of initiatives, including the Global Initiative for . . .
Creep of structural steel in fire: Analytical expressions

Two models of creep, one proposed by Harmathy1, the other empirical, have been fitted to published measurements of creep in seven steels. The data have been selected so as to cover the range needed for predicting the survival of protected steel or reinforced concrete buildings exposed to fire.
Laparoscopic repair of traumatic lumbar hernia

Lumbar hernia—a defect in the posterolateral abdominal wall—is an uncommon problem. As of 1994, there were fewer than 300 such cases described in the world literature [1]. Although the majority (approximately 80%) of lumbar hernias are acquired, a minority of these are attributed to trauma. A recent review found just 66 cases in the English literature [2]. Most traumatic lumbar hernias are diagnosed acutely and are repaired at laparotomy. However, occasionally the diagnosis is delayed, or the hernia develops in delayed fashion. In that case, a variety of repair techniques are available. The laparoscopic approach oVers durable repair with a shorter hospital length of stay and potentially less complicated convalescence [3, 4]. Herein we report a case of delayed posttraumatic lumbar hernia, repaired laparoscopically. Case report
Spectrum of Third Sound Cavity Modes on Superfluid 3He Films

We report theoretical calculations of the spectrum of third sound modes for a cylindrically symmetric film of superfluid 3He, and compare these results with experimental data for the mode frequencies and amplitude spectrum of surface waves of superfluid 3He films.
Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer: Recent Controversies and Current Practice

Pancreatic duct carcinoma remains a common disease with a poor prognosis. More than 30,000 Americans will die of the disease in 2004, making it the fourth leading cause of cancer death. Despite significant advances in the treatment of many other human tumors, the 5-year survival rate for persons diagnosed with pancreatic cancer has not changed in decades and remains <5%. This is due both to the inherently aggressive biology of the disease and to its late diagnosis in most cases. Surgical resection of localized disease remains the only hope for cure of pancreatic cancer. Over the past 2 decades, significant advances in diagnostic imaging, staging, surgical technique, and perioperative care have led to marked improvement in the surgical management of pancreatic cancer patients. Operative mortality rates for pancreaticoduodenectomy are now <5% at major centers, and the average length of hospital stay has been reduced to <2 weeks. Improvements in patient outcome after pancreatic cancer surgery have made possible, for the first time, the design and conduct of large adjuvant therapy studies in pancreatic cancer. Such clinical trials are critical for improving outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.
Frank Lloyd Wright at the Museum of Modern Art

(1941). Frank Lloyd Wright at the Museum of Modern Art. The Art Bulletin: Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 73-76.
Detection and characterization of erythromycin-resistant methylase genes in Gram-positive bacteria isolated from poultry litter.

The epidemiology of four erythromycin-resistant methylase (erm) genes, ermA, ermB, ermC and msrA, was determined in erythromycin-resistant staphylococci, enterococci and streptococci isolated from poultry litter. All isolates were resistant to multiple antibiotics. Southern hybridization indicated that 4 of the 20 staphylococci contained the ermC gene on plasmids: on a 2.2 kb plasmid in Staphylococcus hominis and S. sciuri, on a 6.0 kb plasmid in S. xylosus, and on a 7.0 kb plasmid in S. lentus. In 16 of the 20 staphylococci, the ermA gene was harbored exclusively on the chromosome, as a double chromosomal insert on 8.0 and 6.2 kb EcoRI fragments. None of the staphylococci harbored the msrA gene. Dot-blot analysis indicated that all enterococci and streptococci hybridized with a biotinylated ermB gene probe. Southern hybridization indicated that only 2 of the 19 erythromycin-resistant enterococci contained the ermB gene on plasmids. The gene was localized on 4.0 kb and 5.9 kb plasmids, respectively, in two Enterococcus faecium isolates. Results from our studies indicate that the patterns of occurrence of erm genes, the sizes of the plasmids and the copy numbers of the inserts were different from the existing information on the presence of erm genes in clinical strains of Staphylococcus spp.
Active learning through multimedia

As a child, did you learn how to walk by taking a walking class? No. Children learn by doing. Then why force them into passivity in school? Properly designed educational software on multimedia computers supports active participation and puts the student in control. Such software demands the right teaching architecture, as explained here. >
Phenotypes and genetic analysis of psychiatric and neuropsychiatric traits.

A workshop was held at Rockefeller University entitled “Phenotypes and Genetic Analysis of Complex Traits.” The purpose of the workshop was to examine phenotype definition for complex traits, in particular, psychiatric and neuropsychiatric traits. An additional goal of the workshop was to examine statistical genetic approaches that specifically address the oligogenic nature of psychiatric traits. An overview of topics that were addressed and discussed at the workshop is presented in this article. Am. J. Med. Genet. (Neuropsychiatr. Genet.) 105:4–7, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Analysis of xanthine dehydrogensse mRNA levels in mutants affecting the expression of the rosy locus

Xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) mRNA levels were measured in a number of mutants and natural variants affecting XDH gene expression. Two variants, ry+4 and ry+10, contain cis-acting elements which map to a region flanking the 5' end of the XDH gene. Ry+4, which has 2-3 times more XDH protein than a wild type strain, has 3.2 times more XDH mRNA. Ry+10 has 50% of the wild type XDH level and 54% of the wild type XDH mRNA level. Three rosy mutants which map within the structural gene were also examined. Two of these had little if any XDH mRNA, but the third mutant had 1.3 times more XDH mRNA than wild type flies. Another mutant, ry2 , which contains no XDH protein and has a 9KB transposable element inserted into the XDH gene, has normal levels of XDH mRNA transcripts which are also the same size as those found in the wild type strain. Changes in XDH mRNA levels were measured during Drosophila development and found to parallel changes in the amount of XDH protein. In addition, there were no large changes in the size of XDH mRNA during development.
NEUTRON YIELDS FROM TARGETS BOMBARDED BY ELECTRONS

The total neutron yields from thick targets bombarded by electrons were measured as a function of electron energy for the range 10 to 36 Mev. Targets ranging in thickness from one to six radiation lengths of C, Al, Cu, Ta, Pb, and U were used. The yields for 1- and 6-radiation-length targets of Pb at 34 Mev are 2.1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ and 9.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ neutrons/electron. Extrapolation to infinite target thickness gives a value of 9.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ neutron/electron. The yield, comparing targets of one radiation length, from C is about 10 times smaller and that from U two times greater than the yield from Pb. An explanation of the relative $Z$-dependence of the yield in terms of known photonuclear cross sections is successful to within a factor of 1.5. The absolute accuracy of the results is estimated to be \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}15%.Calibration of the neutron-detecting equipment was made with a RaBe source and checked by measuring the yields, due to electro- and photodisintegration of the deuteron, from a heavy-water target. In addition, yields from thin targets of Be and Cu were observed as a function of electron energy. The data for Be yield a value of (0.018\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.003) Mev-barn for the ($\ensuremath{\gamma}, n$) cross section integrated to 17 Mev. The data for Cu were analyzed and combined with other measurements to give an approximate cross section for the $\mathrm{Cu}(\ensuremath{\gamma}, pn)$ reaction.
Plasma protein changes following hypothalamic lesions in the rabbit

Bilateral electrolytic brain lesions were made in fourteen rabbits. Protein changes occurred in seven animals in which the lesions involved the mamillary region of the hypothalamus. Following the lesions there was a fall in the plasma albumin concentration in these animals, reaching the lowest level by the fourth day. Thereafter there was some recovery but the levels showed a greater variation than in the control period and had a lower mean value. There was no change in the total nitrogen turnover that could be detected in balance studies and the rate of albumin breakdown appeared to be the same as that found in the normal animal. It is suggested that these changes are a result of a decrease in the rate of albumin synthesis and that the mamillary region of the hypothalamus is concerned with the regulation of the plasma albumin level.
Specialized practice reduces inpatient mortality, length of stay, and cost in the care of colorectal patients.

OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to determine whether specialized surgeon practice improves clinical outcomes for major inpatient adult colorectal resections.DESIGN:The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried for elective colorectal resections performed from 2001 through 2007. Specialization was determine
Feasibility of simultaneous and sequentially administered dual tracer protocols for measurement of regional cerebral haematocrit using positron emission tomography.

The author discusses the feasibility of PET measurements of rHct using 68Ga-labelled plasma albumin and 15O- or 11C-labelled red blood cells, administered either simultaneously or sequentially. The effects of regional cerebral haematocrit, amount of administered radioactivity and the timing and duration of PET scans on measurement error are examined. The radiation dose to various organs resulting from several protocols estimated and compared. The consideration of both absorbed radiation dose and effects of protocol on measurement errors are generally applicable to any physiological measurements requiring determination of more than one parameter.
When I go in to wake them ... I wonder: parental perceptions about congenital long QT syndrome.

Purpose: Congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) affects an estimated 1 in 5000 persons, is characterized by QT interval prolongation, and has a clinical presentation ranging from asymptomatic longevity to sudden death in the young as the initial event. The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of parents who have a child or children with LQTS. Information from parents of children with this diagnosis can provide insight to healthcare providers who care for these families. Data sources: The literature reveals that very little is known about the psychosocial aspects of this potential sudden death syndrome. This was a secondary analysis of a 2002 qualitative phenomenological primary study done to explore fear of death and quality of life for 58 patients with LQTS. The secondary study analyzed responses derived from 31 parents of children with LQTS. Conclusions: We speculated this far-reaching clinical spectrum would arouse fear and uncertainty for a parent of a child with LQTS. Results of the study revealed that parents with young children described fear of their children dying and strategies they used to manage their fear, as well as frustrations about lack of knowledge of LQTS among healthcare providers. When the diagnosis of LQTS is established during adolescence, the impact on the lives of children and their families is more significant. Implications for practice: In order to support families experiencing the stress of living daily with someone with LQTS, healthcare providers including nurse practitioners need a better understanding of the symptoms, diagnosis, management, and lifestyle implications of LQTS. Further studies are needed to understand the long-term psychosocial effects of children on beta-blockers, children with implantable cardioverter defibrillators, and children, adolescents, and young adults who survive a sudden death event.
Some Effects of Seating Position on Social Perception

Summer's (1967) hypothesis that status and/or dominance may be ascribed to an individual automatically as a function of the location he occupies was supported. Ss made semantic-differential scale ratings of target individuals photographed while seated at a rectangular table. As predicted, occupancy of the head position (as opposed to side locations) was associated with higher ratings on all six of the following scales: (1) Talkativeness, (2) Persuasiveness, (3) Dominance, (4) Leadership, (5) Self-confidence, and (6) Intelligence. The occupant of the head position was also chosen significantly more often as the one who “probably contributed the most” to the group's task performance. The results are interpreted to indicate a general “halo effect” reflecting cultural standards and traditions regarding the organization of social space.
Design and construction of an optical system for infrared target simulator

The Optical Science Center, University of Arizona, has designed and constructed an optical system for infrared target simulator for Carco Electronics Inc. The system is a f/3.36 three mirror telecentric system with 12 cm aperture. Due to the working environment, finite element analysis was performed to assure the system quality.
Catheter ablation of atrial flutter after orthotopic heart transplantation.

Ablation of Atrial Flutter after Heart Transplant. introduction: Atrial arrhythmias, including atrial flutter, are common in orthotopic heart transplant recipients. However, only a small number of individual case reports describe the electrical circuit and catheter ablation of atrial flutter after heart transplantation. Methods and Results: Detailed electrophysiologic evaluation and radiofrequency ablation of atrial flutter were performed in three patients after orthotopic heart transplantation. All cases involved a counterclockwise flutter circuit around the tricuspid annulus. All were successfully ablated at the isthmus between the tricuspid valve and the atrial anastomosis adjacent to the inferior vena cava. Conclusion: Atrial flutter involving a counterclockwise circuit around the tricuspid annulus is common in the heart transplant population. Based on the patients described in this study and other cases reported in the literature, this arrhythmia often is treated successfully by ablation of the isthmus between the tricuspid valve and the atrial anastomosis near the inferior vena cava.
Bone marrow stromal cells from aged male rats have delayed mineralization and reduced response to mechanical stimulation through nitric oxide and ERK1/2 signaling during osteogenic differentiation

Bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) are a source of osteoblast precursors that can be recruited during bone remodeling or injury, both important processes in aging populations. With advancing age, alterations in bone structure and mineralization are often associated with an increase in osteoporosis and fracture risk. Changes in the number of osteoprogenitor cells and their osteogenic potential may occur with advancing age; however few studies have considered the influence of mechanical conditions. Here, we investigated the ability of bone MSCs from mature and aged rats to differentiate into osteoblasts and to respond to short and long periods of mechanical stimulation through signaling by ERK1/2, nitric oxide (NO), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) during differentiation. Mineralization was delayed and reduced, but extracellular matrix production appeared less affected by increased age. Differentiating MSCs from aged animals had a decreased response to short and long periods of mechanical stimulation through ERK1/2 signaling, and to long periods of mechanical loading through NO signaling early and late during differentiation. Increases in relative PGE2 signaling were higher in MSCs from aged animals, which could compensate for reduced ERK1/2 and NO signaling. The decreased mineralization may decrease the ability of cells from aged animals to respond to mechanical stimulation through ERK1/2 and NO signaling, with increased impairment over differentiation time. Decreasing the delay in mineralization of MSCs from aging animals might improve their ability to respond to mechanical stimulation during bone remodeling and injury, suggesting therapies for bone fragility diseases and tissue engineering treatments in elderly populations.
Software defined mobile networks

There is a general trend towards "cleaving apart" computer and networking systems, abstracting the layers below, and providing a platform for competition and innovation above. For computers this happened first with operating systems, and now virtualization. In wireless, software defined radios promise greater programmability, and faster innovation. But in-between, in the network, where the division of responsibility between hardware and software is less clear, the right programmable platform has been elusive, as we have explored active networks, network processors, and software routers. An emerging trend indicates that more and more of the infrastructure - for wired and wireless networks - will be defined in software outside the datapath.This is great news for researchers as the infrastructure will be more open, more programmable, and virtualized to allow experimental networks to co-exist on the same datapath. This is great news for the industry, as it will accelerate innovation. It may also lead to the separation of network service providers from the underlying infrastructure. This talk will be a call to arms for us all to embrace and help this trend along, as it makes the network a better place for all. I will also describe some of the steps we are taking at Stanford in this direction.
Persistence of Vanadium Compounds in Lungs after Intratracheal Instillation in Rats

Translocation and tissue distribution of two different forms of vanadium compounds, orthovanadate (soluble) and vanadium pentoxide (less soluble), were investigated. Groups of randomly selected rats were injected intratracheally with radiolabeled vanadium (48V) compounds and the animals were sacrificed at 1, 7 and 28 days after treatment. Blood, lungs and other major organs and tissues, namely liver, kidney, spleen, heart, testes, brain, muscle, and bone were sampled and the vanadium contents determined by gamma spectrometry. The less soluble form of vanadium (vanadium pentoxide) was eliminated from the lungs at a slow but exponentially linear rate, whereas the soluble form was translocated rapidly from this organ and exhibited a non-linear decline. Compared to the less soluble form, significantly less vanadium was retained in lungs 7 and 28 days after intratracheal instillation of vanadate. One day after treatment significantly higher concentrations (approximately 4 times) of vanadium after orthovanadate were observed in liver, kidney, spleen and bone compared to the pentoxide. However, tissue residues at 7 and 28 days indicated that both forms of vanadium were rapidly eliminated, except from bone and lungs. Results suggest a prolonged retention of less soluble forms of vanadium and possible health effects following repeated occupational exposure.
Protagonist Gender as a Design Variable in Adapting Mathematics Story Problems to Learner Interests.

Junior-high students solved mathematics story problems featuring a male protagonist, a female protagonist, or both. A total of 252 eighth-graders from a rural school and a suburban school participated. Females and especially males strongly preferred own-gender over opposite-gender protagonists. Female performance exceeded male performance overall, regardless of protagonist gender. For the rural sample only, and more so for high-ability than low-ability students, performance was higher for those who received preferred-protagonist problems. Problem-solving performance was strongly related to standardized mathematics achievement scores, but was not significantly related to race or socioeconomic status. The implications of the findings for using preferred contexts as a basis for instructional adaptation in mathematics education are discussed.
Cooperate or compete: the relationship of strategic orientation and firm performance for farmers' market vendors

While sustainable retailing continues to be a focal point in the United States for many businesses as a response to consumer demand, little research has considered the importance of strategic orientation within this domain and how it may affect performance. This study reviews the impact of strategic orientation on performance within one specific sustainable retailing domain – the farmers’ market. Using farmers’ market vendors for the study and employing a survey methodology that highlighted constructs of social capital and entrepreneurial orientation, a structural equations model was developed and tested that also included potential moderating effects of longevity of market vendors at their respective markets. Results indicated that a significant positive relationship existed between social capital and firm performance, while no significant relationship was found for entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance. No moderating effects of the construct longevity on the proposed relationships were found....
Mechanisms of food allergy

Our understanding of food allergy has made tremendous strides recently. With now-relatively uniform definitions of the clinical presentations of food allergy, the scientific literature is more discernible. In this progress, we have come to understand that the prevalence of food allergy is up to 8% in children and 2% in adults. Additionally, these studies have shown the role of specific allergens and mediators in the immunopathogenesis of food allergy. Much of the information available still relates to immunoglobulin & mediated food reactions, although other immunologic mechanisms are being studied extensively. The diagnosis and treatment of food allergy is now much more standardized. Longterm studies have shown the natural history of many of these reactions.
Hadron-hadron collisions at extreme energies: Light-cone QCD with an axial-vector anomaly current and an infrared fixed point

We argue that QCD with the maximum number of fermions allowed by asymptotic freedom provides a ''parton-model'' description of soft high-energy collisions. That is, infinite-momentum quantization can be based on the perturbative vacuum and yet produce confinement and chiral-symmetry breaking. A first-stage infrared construction gives SU(2) gauge invariance and confinement. An infrared fixed point produces transverse momentum scaling and associated infrared divergences which couple to an anomaly-current component of a Fock-space wave function. The divergences factor on to color-zero states allowing the wave function zeros needed by transverse gauge invariance. Parton interactions are dominated by fermion-loop anomalies coupled to the divergences. As a result a pion has a vector valence-quark component. The infrared limit giving SU(3) gauge invariance is argued to be accompanied by critical-Pomeron high-energy behavior and spontaneous chiral-symmetry breaking, but is only briefly discussed in this paper.
Vitrectomy for Diabetic Macular Edema

Diabetic macular edema (DME) can often be a difficult disease to manage with a subset of patients not improving with existing treatments. As indicated in early studies, patients with hyaloid-retinal traction may benefit the most from vitrectomy for DME. However, some patients without evidence of hyaloid traction may also improve after vitrectomy. It is difficult to predict which patients will improve with surgery. In addition, as treatment options have evolved, the appropriate timing of vitrectomy for DME remains controversial. An improvement in imaging modalities and enhanced understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease may aid in the appropriate use of this treatment option.
Real-time optical image processing using difference-of-Gaussians wavelets

A hybrid optical/electronic image processing system is proposed for the real-time implementation of a wavelet transform. Specifically, the difference-of-Gaussians (DOG) wavelet is synthesized in the hybrid system and used to process an input object. In the implementation, two laser beams with different temporal frequencies are first generated by an acousto-optic modulator. The two optical beams are then combined spatially and used to scan and process the object. The scattered light from the object is then picked up by a photodetector. The photodetector's electrical output signal, after appropriate electronic filtering, represents a scanned and processed version of the original object and can be sent to a monitor for real-time display or to a digital storage device for possible further processing. Because the proposed hybrid system is based on optical scanning, it is an incoherent system and hence has a much better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as compared with its coherent counterpart. Experimental results are presented and are shown to be in excellent agreement with computer simulations.
Changes in Adenine Nucleotides during Hemorrhagic Shock and Reperfusion

Certain tissues are known to be susceptible to shock-induced damage: liver, small bowel mucosa, and small bowel wall. This study was done to assess the changes in adenine nucleotides induced by hemorrhagic shock. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 21; 300-350 g) were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (50 mg/kg, ip) and mechanically ventilated. The external jugular vein and common carotid artery were cannulated. Laparotomy was done. Hemorrhagic shock was induced by withdrawing blood into a heparinized syringe until a mean arterial blood pressure of 40 mm Hg was obtained and was maintained for 30 min by continued withdrawals. Shed blood was then reinfused through the venous catheter. No additional fluid was administered. The animals were observed for another 60 min. Throughout the procedure, biopsies were taken of liver and small bowel. The small bowel biopsies were separated into mucosal and wall fractions. Nucleotides were extracted. ATP, ADP, AMP, adenosine, inosine, xanthine, and hypoxanthine were measured with gradient HPLC. Cellular ATP concentrations decreased significantly during shock (P < 0.05). Liver ATP dropped from 8.93 +/- 0.55 to 2.91 +/- 0.16 micromol/g dry tissue (mean +/- SEM) (33%), small bowel mucosal ATP from 9.40 +/- 1.04 to 3.26 +/- 0.21 (35%), and small bowel wall ATP from 5.47 +/- 0.36 to 2.74 +/- 0.18 (50%). The nucleotide response to shock in small bowel mucosa was closer to that of liver than to that of small bowel wall. After reperfusion, ATP levels were partially restored in liver, small bowel mucosa, and small bowel wall, but not to preshock values. All of the metabolites (adenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine, and xanthine) increased during shock (P < 0.05), and did not return to preshock levels after reperfusion. The abnormalities in ATP and its metabolites, and their persistence after reperfusion, suggest a possible mechanism for the production of postshock damage.
Arctic Warming Induced by Tropically Forced Tapping of Available Potential Energy and the Role of the Planetary-Scale Waves

AbstractOne of the challenging tasks in climate science is to understand the equator-to-pole temperature gradient. The poleward heat flux generated by baroclinic waves is known to be central in reducing the equator-to-pole temperature gradient from a state of radiative–convective equilibrium. However, invoking this relationship to explain the wide range of equator-to-pole temperature gradients observed in past climates is challenging because baroclinic waves tend to follow the flux–gradient relationship such that their poleward heat flux is proportional to the equator-to-pole temperature gradient and zonal available potential energy (ZAPE). With reanalysis data, the authors show the existence of poleward heat transport by planetary-scale waves that are independent of the flux–gradient relationship and baroclinic instability. This process arises from a forced tapping of atmospheric ZAPE by planetary-scale waves that are triggered by enhanced tropical convection over the Pacific warm pool region. The Rossby...
A case study of accounting firm lobbying: Advice or consent

Abstract There is a rather long-standing supposition that clients' preferences for proposed accounting standards or rules have a degree of influence on accounting firms' positions in support or opposition to adoption of those standards or rules. Previous tests of this supposition, labelled the “client effect” in this paper, have produced inconclusive results. This paper reports the results of a test of a more refined measure of client effect in the context of a single instance of accounting firm lobbying: that on SFAS No. 86. Results indicate a very strong association between positions advocated by clients and their respective accounting firms when the client positions are weighted by a measure of lobbying effort. Analysis of client and accounting firm comment letters did not reveal that an association existed in the structure of their respective arguments. Analysis of post-lobbying behaviour by clients suggests that the direction of influence is from client to accountant, which raises serious ethical questions given the auditor's obligation to be objective particularly with respect to intellectual honesty.
Simulated meteorological input for agricultural models

Many agricultural models need an input of daily weather, and a common way of accommodating this is by simulation. Long daily records are rare for agricultural sites, but it is usually possible to obtain climatic parameters to use as input for a s stochastic model. An additional advantage to simulated weather is that many likely sequences can be generated, whereas observation furnishes only a single realization. The objective of this study was to develop a model to simulate weather records, that places emphasis on realistic variability, sequences, extremes and cross-correlation, as well as mean conditions. The model was designated Simulated Meteorological Input for Agricultural Models (SIMIAM), and relies on selection of air mass as the first stochastic step. All required variables are then generated using air mass statistics. The day's wet or dry character is ascertained by first-order Markov chain and, if wet, precipitation amount simulated in a two-parameter gamma distribution. A weakly-stationary generating system, that incorporates matrices of cross and auto-correlation coefficients, is used to simulate all other variables, including winds. Amarillo, Texas records were used to demonstrate model feasibility. Significantly different air masses were shown to be identifiable by gradient level wind directions, and their sequence was adequately modeled with a first-order Markovian process. SIMIAM was tested for Amorillo, Oklahoma City, and New Orleans, using 15 years of record to compute input (1961–1975), and comparing simulations against an independent 15 years of observations (1976–1990). Results indicated that the study objectives were mostly satisfied for the two inland cities. As input was compiled from discontinuous, multiple, area sources, these tests were robust. They were also considered to demonstrate model applicability, not only to point locations, but to areas of the south central United States. Test results for New Orleans were less acceptable, and further study is clearly necessary to achieve model transportability to different climatic zones.