cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trickle-Down Overconfidence: The Impact of Customer Overconfidence on Supplier Firms

Economic research has long focused on how individual behavioral biases can create spillover effects. In this paper, we consider why CEO overconfidence impacts other firms in the supply chain. Using data on supplier-customer relationships, we examine how suppliers respond to overconfident customers. We find that suppliers to overconfident customers increase their relationship-specific investment compared to suppliers paired with non-overconfident customers. The effect, however, is attenuated when the customer firms exhibit high-levels of riskiness. We further find no evidence that suppliers become overconfident themselves in response to overconfident customers. These results suggest that increases in supplier investment are not driven by overconfidence spilling over to suppliers. Instead, it appears that increases in supplier investment are driven by a rational response to an expected increase in demand from overconfident customers.
Interrelations between factors related to physical activity in inactive adults with knee pain

The purpose was to explore interrelations between factors related to engagement in physical activity in inactive adults with knee pain.Inactive adults with knee pain (n = 35) participated in six fo...
Health wearable devices for weight and BMI reduction in individuals with overweight/obesity and chronic comorbidities: systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objective To analyse the comparative effectiveness of different health wearable-based physical activity (PA) promotion intervention strategies against each other and control for reducing body weight and body mass index (BMI) in individuals with overweight/obesity and chronic comorbidities. Design Systematic review and network meta-analysis (PROSPERO identifier: CRD42020158191). Data sources We performed two independent searches from December 2019 to September 2020 in PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE and PsycINFO databases for articles published in English between 2007 and 2020. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Inclusion criteria were based on the PICOS framework. We included randomised controlled trials of health wearable-based interventions using two or more PA intervention arms/strategies and compared their effects on participants’ body weight (kg) and BMI (kg/m2) with a control group. Data were analysed using a Bayesian network meta-analysis to directly and indirectly compare the effects of the six different intervention strategies (comparators). The six comparators were: (1) control group (ie, usual care, waitlist); (2) comparison group (ie, traditional, non-health wearable PA interventions); (3) commercial health wearable-only intervention (eg, Fitbit, Polar M400); (4) research grade health wearable-only intervention (ie, accelerometers or pedometers); (5) multicomponent commercial health wearable intervention (eg, Fitbit + nutrition counselling); and (6) multicomponent research grade health wearable intervention. The results were reported as standardised mean differences (SMDs) with associated 95% credible intervals (CrIs). Results From 641 screened records, 31 studies were included. For body weight reduction in individuals with overweight/obesity and chronic comorbidities, accelerometer/pedometer-only (SMD −4.44, 95% CrI −8.94 to 0.07) and commercial health wearable-only (SMD −2.76, 95% CrI −4.80 to −0.81) intervention strategies were the most effective compared with the three other treatments and control. For BMI reduction, multicomponent accelerometer/pedometer (SMD −3.43, 95% CrI −4.94 to −2.09) and commercial health wearable-only (SMD −1.99, 95% CrI −4.95 to 0.96) intervention strategies were the most effective compared with the other four conditions. Conclusion Health wearable devices are effective intervention tools/strategies for reducing body weight and BMI in individuals with overweight/obesity and chronic comorbidities.
Dehydrofluorinated PVDF for structural health monitoring in fiber reinforced composites

Abstract Structural health monitoring of fiber reinforced composites is an extensive field of research that aims to reduce maintenance costs through in-situ damage detection. However, the need for externally bonded sensor systems and complicated fabrication processes limit the widespread application of most current structural health monitoring techniques. This work introduces a novel multifunctional fiber reinforced composite that relies on a ferroelectric prepreg fabricated using dehydrofluorinated (DHF) polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), which exhibits a thermally stable piezoelectric response. The self-sensing material presented in this work requires minimal external components, as the piezoelectric sensing mechanism is fully contained within the composite. This is accomplished by fabricating a ferroelectric prepreg consisting of DHF PVDF infused woven fiberglass, which is sandwiched between woven carbon fabric layers that act as electrodes, thus forming a piezoelectric sensor fabricated with entirely structural composite materials. Notably, the sensing material is a fully distributed prepreg rather than discretely embedded sensors which enables simplified monitoring of complex structures. As the composite experiences damage under flexural and tensile loading, the internal change in strain results in a charge separation that is detectable as a voltage emission across the sample electrodes. The self-sensing capabilities of this material are explored using traditional mechanical testing techniques, showing comparable performance to common damage detection methods, all while eliminating the need for external bonding of sensors to the structure.
Power Sector Emissions under Tightening Carbon Dioxide Quotas

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) was passed by an original collection of 10 northeastern states and is the first cap-and-trade policy in the United States to specifically target carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity sector. We exploit the introduction of this policy and subsequent tightening of the carbon cap to assess how carbon dioxide emissions have changed within RGGI states while also evaluating emissions leakages that may have occurred. While RGGI auction prices are relatively low compared to estimates of the social cost of carbon, the policy represents a direct increase in the cost of production and should have behavioral impacts on producers. Using plant-level data and several identification strategies, we find that there are reductions in emissions from coal-fired plants in RGGI states, but there is mixed evidence at natural gas-fired plants. We also show that the emissions cap reductions enacted in 2014 is where the policy began to have more significant impacts on emissions. These conclusions are strongest with careful evaluation of control states since spillover effects of the policy to non-RGGI states are possible within the Eastern Interconnection.
Swift and History: Politics and the English Past

Swift has been said to have little interest in history; his attempts to write it have been disparaged and his desire to become Historiographer Royal ridiculed. Ashley Marshall argues that history mattered enormously to Swift. He read a vast amount of history and uses historical examples copiously in his own works. This study traces Swift's classical and modern historiographical inheritance; analyses his unsuccessful attempt to write a history of England; and offers radical re-reading of his History of the Four Last Years of the Queen. A systematic analysis of Swift's view of 'authority' is highly revealing. His attitudes toward power and authority, sovereigns' and subjects' rights, parliamentary representation, and succession are reflected in his lifelong engagement with and pervasive use of the past. Studying Swift and history enables a deeper understanding of his authoritarian and historiographically Tory outlook - and how it changed when Swift's party fell from power in 1714.
Mesoscale bounds in viscoelasticity of random composites

Abstract Under consideration is the problem of size and response of the representative volume element (RVE) of spatially random linear viscoelastic materials. The model microstructure adopted here is the random checkerboard with one phase elastic and another viscoelastic, perfectly bonded everywhere. The method relies on the hierarchies of mesoscale bounds of relaxation moduli and creep compliances (Huet, 1995, 1999) obtained via solutions of two stochastic initial boundary value problems, respectively, under uniform kinematic and uniform stress boundary conditions. In general, the microscale viscoelasticity introduces larger discrepancy in the hierarchy of mesoscale bounds compared to elasticity, and this discrepancy grows as the time increases.
Sex chromosomes and the brain: a study of neuroanatomy in XYY syndrome.

XYY syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by an additional Y chromosome. Affecting only individuals who are phenotypically male, XYY syndrome is a common sex chromosome aneuploidy condition in humans, occurring in approximately one in 1000 live male births.1 XYY syndrome has been associated with subtle physical features including tall stature2 and increased head circumference,3–5 though not all studies have observed the latter finding.6 XYY syndrome is also associated with cognitive-behavioural deficits, most notably impairments in language and motor ability,3,5–7 and is thought to entail increased risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).3,8–10 In contrast, Klinefelter syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by an additional X chromosome. Also affecting only individuals who are phenotypically male, Klinefelter syndrome has an estimated prevalence of one in 600 live male births1 and often manifests with a characteristic physical phenotype, which includes reduced head circumference,6 tall stature, and hypogonadism.11 Individuals with Klinefelter syndrome exhibit impairments in language and motor ability similar to those observed in XYY syndrome,5 raising the question of why two disorders with identifiably disparate genetic bases produce partially overlapping cognitive phenotypes. The present study addressed this question by highlighting regional neuroanatomical similarities and disparities between the two groups. Though several neuroimaging studies have revealed abnormal brain structure associated with Klinefelter syndrome, to our knowledge, only one neuroimaging study has specifically addressed XYY neuroanatomy.12 Gross neuroanatomical variation associated with Klinefelter syndrome most prominently includes reduced total brain volume,12–14 though some report no significant difference.15,16 Other independently replicated anatomical imaging findings in Klinefelter syndrome include reduced frontal and temporal grey matter13,14,17 and either increased or spared parietooccipital grey matter.17,18 In the present study, we used conceptually distinct approaches to compare the neuroanatomy of eight males with XYY, 31 males with Klinefelter syndrome, and 36 typically developing males. First, we analysed total tissue volume using volumetric methods. Second, we explored patterns of regional grey matter and white matter difference using pattern classification analysis. We hypothesized that males with XYY syndrome would have increased total tissue volume, given previous reports of increased head circumference in individuals with XYY syndrome. Because of reports that males with XYY syndrome exhibit impairments in language and motor ability similar to those exhibited in Klinefelter syndrome, we also expected males with XYY syndrome to exhibit patterns of regional brain variation more similar to those observed in males with Klinefelter syndrome than in typically developing males.
Controversies about computerization and the organization of white collar work

Abstract The way that computerization changes white collar work is the subject of significant controversies in the research and professional communities. This paper examines some of the key controversies about the way that computerization influences patterns of coordination and control in workplaces, including monitoring. It examines debates about upskilling and deskilling, and the role of organizational infrastructure in making computerized systems more usable. It also examines the ways that computerization might foster new forms of work organization.
Influence of synthesis time on adsorption properties of FDU1 materials

FDU1 ordered mesoporous silicas with cage-like structure were synthesized using a triblock copolymer template EO 39 BO 47 EO 39 from tetraethyl orthosilicate under acidic conditions. It was reported previously that the structure of FDU1 is a face-centered cubic (Fm3m) with 3-dimensional hexagonal intergrowths. Recent studies of FDU1 have been focused on its thermal and hydrothermal stability, exploration of microwave-assisted synthesis, improvement of the mesopore uniformity by salt addition, and tailoring the size of cage-like mesopores and pore entrances by controlling temperature and time of the hydrothermal treatment. In this work a series of the FDU1 samples synthesized at room temperature by varying time of the self-assembly process was studied by gas adsorption, small angle X-ray scattering and high resolution thermogravimetry. A special emphasis was given on the adsorption study of the FDU1 samples to examine the effect of the synthesis time on their adsorption and structural properties.
Capsule Commentary on Lee et al., Patient use of Email, Facebook, and Physicians' Websites to Communicate with Physicians: A National Online Survey of Retail Pharmacy Users.

T his study by Lee and colleagues 1 presents survey data on patients’ use and interest in Internet communication with their physician. Patients with a chronic health condition or their families who were part of a national retail pharmacy database were queried, and a surprisingly high number reported contacting their physician via email (37 %) and Facebook (18 %); fewer reporting using an online website or portal to access the health information of themselves or a family member (4–8%). Patients weremost interested, however, in using a physician’s website (57 %) to access their health information and request prescription refills. Lee’s study points out that, as of 2013, patients are increasingly interested in the ease of web-enabled communication with their physician for the purposes of tracking their health information and requesting prescriptions. Stage 2 of CMS’s Meaningful Use program requires that patients have the ability to communicate with their provider. As the percentage of physicians meeting these criteria increases, patients will increasingly have this option. As of 2013, 49 % of physicians had the capability to send messages securely to patients from their electronic health record. Limitations of this study are notable for the population surveyed—retail pharmacy customers who volunteered to participate in research to obtain coupons for future purchases. Future research should evaluate different patient populations to determine if these trends hold. A question not addressed by this study is whether unencrypted email and social media are appropriate for patient–physician communication. HIPAA does not prohibit use of email between physicians and patients, however it is generally advised that secure web portals should be used due to the added security they provide. As Lee’s study points out, this is the method of communication most preferred by patients, too. As the US embraces more patient-centered, value-based care, patients will demand ubiquitous and unfettered access to their health information, including physicians’ progress notes. Early studies have shown promise in improving patient satisfaction and measures of patient engagement in their care. Lee’s study suggests that savvy physicians will engage with their patients to find easy and secure electronic methods to meet this emerging demand.
Hydrocarbon Adsorber System for Cold Start Emissions

A new adsorber concept has been tested. A zeolite adsorber with a central hole is mounted below the first catalyst, with a second catalyst downstream. During the cold start, when the adsorber is cool and the HC concentration high, HCs are adsorbed from the gas fraction passing-through the channels. The small fraction of exhaust gas passing through the hole impinges directly on and heats the second catalyst. The rationale is to design the hole to maximize the second catalyst heating rate, minimize desorption during heat-up and simultaneously keep the HCs which pass through the hole at an acceptably low level. FTP test results on the 3.8 L engine give 0.081 g/mi NMHC with no hole (same as base line) and decrease to 0.056 g/mi NMHC with the hole. This concept exhibits NMHC performance in the LEV range.
STARRY SKY HEPATIC ULTRASONOGRAPHIC PATTERN IN HORSES

The starry sky hepatic pattern is an unusual ultrasonographic appearance of equine liver characterized by numerous small, hyperechoic foci, some of which cast an acoustic shadow, distributed randomly throughout the hepatic parenchyma. Our objectives were to describe the signalment, clinical signs, clinicopathological findings, primary disease process, and ultrasonographic findings of horses with this ultrasonographic pattern, as well as determine the associated gross and histologic changes. The starry sky pattern was identified in 18 adult horses of mixed gender and breed. The horses had various clinical signs, with weight loss and anorexia reported most commonly. Liver size and parenchymal echogenicity were normal in most horses. The hyperechoic foci frequently caused acoustic shadowing. Biliary dilation was noted rarely. The ultrasonographic pattern was the result of numerous fibrosing hepatic granulomas in all horses evaluated histologically. γ-Glutamyltransferase was the most commonly elevated hepatic enzyme, though it was increased in fewer than half the horses. Fifteen horses had an additional disease that was identified as the apparent cause of clinical signs. Three horses had primary hepatic disease while 12 had diseases of other body systems. Therefore, the starry sky ultrasonographic pattern is likely incidental in most horses and not clinically significant. Improved recognition of this pattern and further investigation of affected horses may help refine the etiology and clinical significance of the granulomas.
The ferredoxin-thioredoxin reductase variable subunit gene from Anacystis nidulans.

The ferredoxin-thioredoxin reductase variable subunit gene of Anacystis nidulans was cloned, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. A single-copy 219-bp open reading frame encoded a protein of 73 amino acid residues, with a calculated Mr of 8,400. The monocistronic transcripts were represented in a 400-base and a less abundant 300-base mRNA form. Images
Fluctuation analysis: the probability distribution of the number of mutants under different conditions

In the 47 years since fluctuation analysis was introduced by Luria and Delbruck, it has been widely used to calculate mutation rates. Up to now, in spite of the importance of such calculations, the probability distribution of the number of mutants that will appear in a fluctuation experiment has been known only under the restrictive, and possibly unrealistic, assumptions: (1) that the mutation rate is exactly proportional to the growth rate and (2) that all mutants grow at a rate that is a constant multiple of the growth rate of the original cells. In this paper, we approach the distribution of the number of mutants from a new point of view that will enable researchers to calculate the distribution to be expected using assumptions that they believe to be closer to biological reality. The new idea is to classify mutations according to the number of observable mutants that derive from the mutation when the culture is selectively plated. This approach also simplifies the calculations in situations where two, or many, kinds of mutation may occur in a single culture.
Surface flashover characteristics of polished-polycrystalline diamond thin films in vacuum

Diamond is known to be an excellent electrical insulator and also an exceptional thermal conductor material. Because of these properties of diamond, polycrystalline diamond thin films are becoming attractive candidates for protective coatings, and, as insulating material for high voltage systems. They are also being examined for use in the construction of spacecraft components. In this work, experimental results of surface flashover of polycrystalline diamond thin films operated in space vacuum conditions are presented. The polycrystalline diamond samples used in the experiments were produced by a microwave plasma CVD deposition technique, and the diamond films were polished to optical quality before the experiments. The electrode material was copper, and a DC voltage was applied between the electrodes. Two copper electrodes were placed on the diamond film surface at a discrete distance from one another. The sample/electrode assembly was placed in a high vacuum chamber and the surface flashover occurred between the electrodes but on the surface of the diamond surface in vacuum. Surface flashover voltage characteristics and breakdown voltage-wave forms of polished diamond thin film samples were determined. These results were compared with the surface flashover characteristics of quartz and optical quality diamond-like carbon (DLC) thin film samples.
Further investigating the influence of personality in employee response to organisational change: the moderating role of change‐related factors

This study investigates factors influencing employees' job satisfaction following an organisational change. Extending previous research on effects of individuals' openness to experience and conscientiousness during organisational change, we posit that aspects of change context, such as the extent to which change impacts the individual worker's job and the extent actions of management are procedurally fair, can account for varying influences of these two global personality traits on employees' job satisfaction following a change. In contrast to earlier studies focusing on change-related effects on task performance, conscientiousness can play a positive role on job satisfaction following a change along with openness to experience. Results of this study confirm that influences of personality on individual reactions to change are complex. While the positive influences of an individual's openness to experience on job satisfaction tend to occur only when fairness associated with change implementation is high, positive influences of conscientiousness are the highest when both procedural fairness is high and the extent of impact on the individual's job is low. Implications of these findings and further research considerations are discussed.
Accounting for Share-Based Payments

On December 16, 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board published FASB Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), which significantly changes the accounting for employee stock options. Under the new standard, equity-based compensation results in a cost to the issuing enterprise and should be measured at its fair value on the grant date, based on the estimated number of awards that are expected to vest. I contend that expensing stock or option grants is not responsive to either the needs of a corporation's creditors, or to the needs of equity investors since the cost of the share-based payments is borne only by the pre-existing shareholders; the corporation itself suffers no sacrifice in assets or other resources (unless its own shares are considered an asset, which is not the case under the present Conceptual Framework and GAAP). Hence I suggest the use of three separate statements instead of the single income statement now provided. Specifically, I propose that the first statement - the "Corporation Income Statement" - not include share-based payments as an expense. Rather, a "Statement of Costs and Benefits to Pre-existing Shareholders" would show the dilution cost to the pre-existing shareholders; this dilution cost would be determined as the amounts that, if accrued during each year throughout the vesting period and until exercise, would cumulatively sum to the intrinsic value at exercise (the price of the optioned share minus the exercise price). A combined "Statement of Enterprise Income" would then show the totals of the amounts reported in the other two statements. The combined statement would reflect the net income from operations with regard to both the corporation and its pre-existing shareholders; that is, it would reflect the cost of manufacturing products or rendering services.This paper also discusses the implications of this proposal for the debate on the distinctions between liabilities and equities and for the treatment of inseparable compound securities such as convertible bonds.
Primary care for women. Management of common respiratory problems.

Abstract This article reviews the clinical management of common respiratory illnesses that primary care providers encounter in an out-patient setting. The latest recommendations from the American Thoracic Society, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are summarized. The article discusses the causative organisms and antibiotics of choice for community-acquired pneumonia, and how to determine which patients require hospitalization. The appropriate use of asthma medications is described in detail, along with strategies for reducing aeroallergen exposure and for educating patients. An extensive section covers the interpretation of tuberculin skin tests and use of prophylactic isoniazid for preventive therapy of latent tuberculosis infection, as well as the treatment of active tuberculosis. Controversies regarding antibiotics for both acute and chronic bronchitis are discussed, along with other treatment options including over-the-counter medications, bronchodilators, and non-pharmacologic interventions. Finally, a strategy for dealing with the compliant of chronic cough is outlined. Although many of these conditions require active comanagement by collaborating physicians, the nurse-midwife will be better able to communicate with and advocate for her clients if she possesses expanded and current knowledge of treatment strategies.
RGS2 Regulates Urotensin II-Induced Intracellular Ca2+ Elevation and Contraction in Glomerular Mesangial Cells

Urotensin II (UII), a vasoactive peptide modulates renal hemodynamics. However, the physiological functions of UII in glomerular cells are unclear. In particular, whether UII alters mesangial tone remains largely unknown. The present study investigates the physiological effects of UII on glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs). This study also tested the hypothesis that the regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) controls UII receptor (UTR) activity in GMCs. RT-PCR, Western immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence revealed UTR expression in cultured murine GMCs. Mouse UII (mUII) stimulated Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and activated store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) in the cells. mUII also caused a reduction in planar GMC surface area. mUII-induced [Ca2+]i elevation and contraction were attenuated by SB 657510, a UTR antagonist, araguspongin B, an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor antagonist, thapsigargin, a sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor, and La3+, a store-operated Ca2+ channel blocker, but not nimodipine, an L-type Ca2+ channel blocker. In situ proximity ligation assay indicated molecular proximity between endogenous RGS2 and UTR in the cells. Treatment of GMCs with mUII elevated plasma membrane expression of RGS2 by ∼2-fold. mUII also increased the interaction between RGS2 and UTR in the cells. siRNA-mediated knockdown of RGS2 in murine GMCs increased mUII-induced [Ca2+]i elevation and contraction by ∼35 and 31%, respectively. These findings indicate that mUII-induced SOCE results in murine GMC contraction. These data also suggest that UTR activation stimulates RGS2 recruitment to GMC plasma membrane as a negative feedback mechanism to regulate UTR signaling. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 502–511, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
mda-5: An interferon-inducible putative RNA helicase with double-stranded RNA-dependent ATPase activity and melanoma growth-suppressive properties

Human melanoma cells can be reprogrammed to terminally differentiate and irreversibly lose proliferative capacity by appropriate pharmacological manipulation. Subtraction hybridization identified melanoma differentiation-associated gene-5 (mda-5) as a gene induced during differentiation, cancer reversion, and programmed cell death (apoptosis). This gene contains both a caspase recruitment domain and putative DExH group RNA helicase domains. Atypical helicase motifs of MDA-5 deviate from consensus sequences but are well conserved in a potentially new group of cloned and hypothetical proteins. mda-5 is an early response gene inducible by IFN and tumor necrosis factor-α, responding predominantly to IFN-β. Protein kinase C activation by mezerein further augments mda-5 expression induced by IFN-β. Expression of mda-5 is controlled transcriptionally by IFN-β, and the MDA-5 protein localizes in the cytoplasm. mda-5 displays RNA-dependent ATPase activity, and ectopic expression of mda-5 in human melanoma cells inhibits colony formation. In these contexts, mda-5 may function as a mediator of IFN-induced growth inhibition and/or apoptosis. MDA-5 is a double-stranded RNA-dependent ATPase that contains both a caspase recruitment domain and RNA helicase motifs, with a confirmed association with growth and differentiation in human melanoma cells.
Coming of Age Too Soon: Journalistic Practice in U.S. Newspaper Coverage of “Early Puberty” in Girls

Following from a 1997 study documenting that U.S. girls were developing secondary sex characteristics (i.e., breasts and pubic hair) earlier than in previous generations, this qualitative and quantitative content analysis of U.S. newspaper coverage of early puberty in girls concludes that newspapers have framed the phenomenon as one in which girls' bodies have transgressed culturally prescribed dictates of childhood innocence. Although not necessarily evidence of a specific and unique moral panic, such coverage is (a) part and parcel of a larger and ongoing moral panic about youth growing up too fast and (b) further evidence of the kinds of journalistic practice employed when covering medical stories, in general, and “sexual health” stories, in particular.
The detachment strength and morphology of bone cells contacting materials modified with a peptide sequence found within bone sialoprotein

Adhesion, spreading, and focal contact formation of primary bone-derived cells on quartz surfaces grafted with a 15 amino acid peptide that contained a -RGD-(-Arg-Gly-Asp-) sequence unique to bone sialoprotein was investigated. The peptide surfaces were fabricated by using a heterbifunctional crosslinker, sulfosuccinimidyal 4-(N-maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane-1-carboxylate, to link the peptide to amine functionalized quartz surfaces. Contact angle measurements, spectroscopic ellipsometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to confirm the chemistry and thickness of the overlayers. A radial flow apparatus was used to characterize cell detachment from peptide-grafted surfaces. After 20 min of cell incubation, the strength of cell adhesion was significantly (p < 0.05) higher on the -RGD- compared to -RGE- (control) surfaces. Furthermore, the mean area of cells contacting the -RGD- was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than -RGE- surfaces. Vinculin staining showed formation of small focal contact patches on the periphery of bone cells incubated for 2 h on the -RGD- surfaces; however, few or no focal contacts were formed by cells seeded on the -RGE-grafted surfaces. The methods of peptide immobilization utilized in this study can be applied to implants, biosensors, and diagnostic devices that require specificity in cell adhesion.
Disruption of size discrimination in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) by LSD-25

A “difficult” size discrimination (ratio 1.12:1) was disrupted in four of five squirrel monkeys by 10 to 40 μg/kg LSD-25 whereas an “easy” discrimination (ratio 1.96:1) was relatively unaffected. Disruption lasted from 4–6 months postinjection in two of the monkeys. Neither the difficult nor the easy discrimination was affected in three monkeys by up to 100 μg/kg BOL-148.
Time-to-Fatigue During Incline Treadmill Running: Implications for Individualized Training Prescription.

Uphill running has been touted as a key interval training tactic for distance runners despite few scientifically derived recommendations for individualized training prescription. To date, a majority of uphill training research has focused on shorter, faster training bouts; however, longer, slower bouts based on an individual's velocity at maximum oxygen consumption (Vmax) may prove more effective. One potential longer bout length may be associated with the time Vmax can be maintained (Tmax), an approach proven effective in level-grade interval training. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation included examining the Tmax, heart rate, and test-retest reliability of incline treadmill running (INC) on a 10% grade at 65, 70, 75, 80, and 85%Vmax compared with level-grade running at Vmax. Twelve moderately trained distance runners (age, 26.4 ± 4.8; body mass, 64.3 ± 12.9 kg; height, 171.2 ± 9.3 cm; and VO2max, 56.6 ± 7.6 ml·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹) completed 2 Tmax INC trials at each submaximal Vmax and a level-grade Tmax at Vmax. The dependent variables were Tmax, heart rate plateau (HR(Plateau)), and half-time to heart rate plateau (½HR(Plateau)) of each condition. Statistical significance was set to p ≤ 0.05. Student's t-test revealed no significant differences in Tmax, HR(Plateau), and ½HR(Plateau) between trials 1 and 2 at any INC condition. One-way analysis of variance revealed significant differences in (a) Tmax during INC at 75, 80, and 85%Vmax and level-grade at Vmax and (b) ½HR(Plateau) during INC at 80 and 85%Vmax and all other conditions. In conclusion, Tmax and heart rate dynamics during INC proved reliable, and simple regression analysis revealed ∼68%Vmax during INC yields the same level-grade Tmax at Vmax.
Kalman filter based speech synthesis

Preliminary results are reported from a very simple speech-synthesis system based on clustered-diphone Kalman Filter based modeling of line-spectral frequency based features. Parameters were estimated using maximum-likelihood EM training, with a constraint enforced that prevented eigenvalue magnitudes in the transition matrix from exceeding 1. Frames of training data were assigned diphone unit labels by forced alignment with an HMM recognition system. The HMM cluster tree was also used for Kalman Filter unit cluster assignments. The result is a simple synthesis system that has few parameters, synthesizes intelligible speech without audible discontinuities, and that can be adapted using MLLR techniques to support synthesis of a broad panoply of speakers from a single base model with small amounts of training data. The result is interesting for embedded synthesis applications.
Balls-in-bins processes with feedback and brownian motion

In a balls-in-bins process with feedback, balls are sequentially thrown into bins so that the probability that a bin with n balls obtains the next ball is proportional to f(n) for some function f. A commonly studied case where there are two bins and f(n) = np for p > 0, and our goal is to study the fine behaviour of this process with two bins and a large initial number t of balls. Perhaps surprisingly, Brownian Motions are an essential part of both our proofs. For p > 1/2, it was known that with probability 1 one of the bins will lead the process at all large enough times. We show that if the first bin starts with t+λ√t balls (for constant λeR, the probability that it always or eventually leads has a non-trivial limit depending on λ. For p ≤ 1/2, it was known that with probability 1 the bins will alternate in leadership. We show, however, that if the initial fraction of balls in one of the bins is > 1/2, the time until it is overtaken by the remaining bin scales like θ(t1+1/(1-2p)) for p < 1/2 and exp(θ(t)) for p = 1/2. In fact, the overtaking time has a non-trivial distribution around the scaling factor, which we determine explicitly. Our proofs use a continuous-time embedding of the balls-in-bins process (due to Rubin) and a non-standard approximation of the process by Brownian Motion. The techniques presented also extend to more general functions f.
Macromolecular naloxone: A novel long-acting polymer-bound drug

Abstract A widely applicable, prolonged-action drug delivery system has been developed using naloxone, a pure narcotic antagonist, as a model. The drug is attached to an inert, water soluble polymer by reversible covalent bonds, whose slow cleavage releases active drug. Naloxone, attached to a hydrazine-substituted polysaccharide by a hydrazone bond, antagonizes morphine analgesia more than 25 times longer than free naloxone.
Preliminary Experience with Minilaparotomy Aortic Surgery

= 21). Age, weight, and comorbid conditions were comparable between groups. Patients requiring concomitant renal, mesenteric, or infrainguinal revascularization were excluded. Operating time, length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), number of oral feeding times, and length of hospital stay were recorded. There were no significant differences in age, operative time, or aneurysm size between the MLT and STA groups. With the MLT then were significant decreases in ICU stay (1 vs. 1.8 days), length of time to return to a general diet (3 vs. 4.7 days), and length of stay (4.9 vs. 7.3 days.) Morbidity and mortality were not statistically different between groups. Patients undergoing the MLT have reduced ICU and hospital stay, and decreased post operative ileus. The MLT does not increase operating room costs or require expensive laparoscopic equipment or the extended postoperative radiographic surveillance needed after endovascular repair.
Fabrication of perovskite-based Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3 (PZN) thin films using charged liquid cluster beam

Abstract Charged nanodrops of precursor solutions are used to prepare very thin Pb(Zn 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 (PZN) films with full perovskite phase on Pt/Ti/SiO 2 /Si substrates. PbTiO 3 (PT) and BaTiO 3 (BT) are added to stabilize the formation of the perovskite structure. The effect of the various lead and zinc sources on the stabilization of the perovskite phase is investigated. When acetate group is used as a ligand for the lead and zinc sources, the perovskite phase can be stabilized in (1− x )PZN– x PT films at x =0.7. However, with 2-ethylhexanote ligand the minimum PT content required to stabilize the perovskite phase in (1− x )PZN– x PT films is reduced to x =0.6. With a 5% BT addition in the 2-ethylhexanote precursor, the minimum PT content required to stabilize the perovskite phase is further reduced to approximately x =0.4 even in a film as thin as 3 μm in thickness.
Synthesis and thermal characterization of poly(dimethyl bicyclobutane‐1,3‐dicarboxylate) and its copolymers

Dimethyl bicyclobutane-1,3-dicarboxylate was synthesized. Its homopolymer (PDBD) containing exclusively cyclobutane rings in its backbone was prepared by free radical polymerization. The copolymers of this bicyclobutane monomer with methyl methacrylate were also prepared. The glass transition temperature of the homopolymer is 159°C, while those of its copolymers are 143 and 121°C with 75/25 and 50/50 of the P(DBD/MMA) composition ratio, respectively. The T g of PDBD homopolymer is substantially higher than that of commercial PMMA homopolymer despite a lower molecular weight, and is also much higher than that of its monomethyl cyclobutanecarboxylate analogue. These DBD homopolymer and copolymers also show better thermostability than the PMMA homopolymer. The weight-average molecular weight of homopolymer is 37,000. The polydispersities of these polymers are relatively narrow, with the range of 1.6-1.9. These polymers form clear colorless films resembling PMMA film. The DBD homopolymer film shows a very similar optical cutoff compared to PMMA.
Laparoscopic transperitoneal repair of flank hernias: a retrospective review of 27 patients

Incisional hernias of the flank are rare with scattered case reports regarding the feasibility of laparoscopic treatment. Treatment can be technically challenging due to patient positioning and adequate mesh overlap and fixation. The aim of this study is to describe the surgical technique and present outcomes of the largest known case series of laparoscopic repair of flank hernia. A retrospective chart review was performed from April 2002 to August 2006 at two university hospitals utilizing three surgeons’ experience. All patients who underwent a laparoscopic repair of a flank hernia were identified and reviewed with regards to short-term outcomes. Twenty-seven patients were identified with incisional flank hernia treated laparoscopically. Average defect size was 188 cm2 repaired with an average mesh size of 650 cm2. Mean operating room (OR) time was 144 min and mean length of stay (LOS) was 3.1 days. There were two reoperations within the cohort: one for a new, unrelated midline hernia 7 months after repair of the initial flank hernia and one for chronic pain with removal of a previously placed polypropylene mesh in the subcutaneous tissue of the abdominal wall. Neither patient had failure of the laparoscopic flank hernia repair. Two other patients were conservatively treated for chronic pain. Mean follow-up was 3.6 months. In the laparoscopic repair of flank hernias adequate retroperitoneal dissection and wide mesh overlap is imperative. Laparoscopic repair can be performed safely and effectively with good short-term outcomes.
The AFL-CIO v. CTW: The competing visions, strategies, and structures

As the AFL-CIO approached its twenty-fifth biennial convention in July 2005, seven unions formed a new Change to Win (CTW) coalition to challenge the federation for lead position as the voice of the labor movement. These unions, most of which have disaffiliated from the AFL-CIO, formed the CTW to demonstrate their unsparing discontent with John Sweeney’s leadership of the federation. We examine the reasons for the current breach in the house of labor, the competing visions offered by the AFL-CIO and CTW, and the likelihood that the CTW’s strategy will revive unions. We find that the gulf between the two factions is philosophically deep and practically irreconcilable. The CTW advocates an “engineered breakthrough” approach to revitalize labor whereas the AFL-CIO relies on a more conservative “accelerated evolution” path. There are no guarantees that the CTW’s strategy will work. It presupposes an unmet demand for unions that can be tapped through vast new investments. If the current model of unionism is lacking, as the CTW suggests, a viable replacement must be found. The CTW, with its limited resources, will have to experiment until it finds the right model, if one does indeed exist. The task of rebuilding labor is daunting, but it arguably requires a bold and fundamentally different course from what has been pursued. From this perspective, the breakup seems a logical development.
Effects of aurothioglucose and dietary Se on glutathione S-transferase activities and glutathione concentrations in chick tissues

Experiments were conducted to determine whether the increased glutathione S-transferase (GSH-T) activity associated with selenium (Se) deficiency is necessarily related to losses in the activity of Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase (SeGSHpx) in chicks. Nutritional Se status was altered in two ways: by treatment with an antagonist of Se utilization, aurothioglucose (AuTG), and by feeding diets containing excess Se. Chicks given AuTG (10–30 mg AU/kg, sc) had growth rates and hepatic GSH concentrations that were comparable to those of saline-treated controls; however, their plasma GSH levels exceeded those of either Se-deficient (6-fold) or-adequate (3-fold) saline-treated chicks. Hepatic SeGSHpx activities of AuTG-treated chicks were hals those of controls under conditions of Se-adequacy; however, this effect was not detected when Se was deficient. Hepatic GSH-TCDNB (assayed with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene) activities of AuTG-treated chicks were significantly greater than those of controls when Se was deficient (i.e., when SeGSHpx activity was 12% of the Se-adequate level); however, deprivation of Se did not affect GSH-TCDNB activity in the absence of AuTG. chicks fed excess Se (6–20 ppm as Na2SeO3) in diets containing either low (2 IU/kg) or adequate (100 IU/kg) VE, showed hepatic GSH-TCDNB activities and GSH concentrations greater than those of Se-adequate (0.2 ppm Se) chicks by 100% and 40%, respectively. That increased hepatic GSH-TCDNB activity can occur because of either AuTG or excess Se status under conditions wherein SeGSHpx activity is not affected indicates that the transferase response is not directly related to changes in the peroxidase.
Detrusor hyperreflexia and its relationship to posterior bladder neck sensor mechanism in spinal injured patients

This report describes the existence of a sensor mechanism at the posterior bladder neck region which invokes bladder contraction in patients with detrusor hyperreflexia when stimulated mechanically with a transurethral catheter. Studies were monitored through transrectal linear array sonography to precisely localize the site stimulated with the tip of the catheter during urodynamic evaluation. The location of sensor mechanism is just distal to the trigone at the posterior bladder neck region and extends into the posterior urethra for 0.5 to 1 cm into the posterior urethra. Its clinical implications in female urge incontinence seem to agree with the “second sensor” described by Bradley in 1975 (Urology 6:654, 1975). The bladder neck sensor mechanism possibly facilitates normal progressive voiding and seems to exaggerate voiding in the hyperreflexic bladders.
Convulsions as the etiology of lactic acidosis in acute isoniazid toxicity in dogs.

Abstract The mechanism by which acute isoniazid (INH) overdose causes lactic acidosis is unknown. This study examines the role of convulsion in the development of lactic acidosis in dogs given po lethal doses of INH (75 mg/kg). Following INH, dogs did not develop acidosis until after they had experienced clonic-tonic convulsions. Acidosis, which became more pronounced with successive convulsions, was associated with marked increase of serum lactate (immediate postconvulsive level, 12.3 meq/liter, compared to control of 1.83 meq/liter). Diazepam, 0.5 mg/kg, plus pyridoxine HCl, 150 mg/kg, injected iv immediately following po INH, prevented both convulsions and changes in pH and lactate. When the antidotes were administered after the second convulsion of INH toxicity no further convulsions occurred and blood pH and lactate returned to control levels in 2 hr. “Curarization” of INH-treated dogs prevented both motor seizures and marked increase of lactate. In animals treated with INH and allowed to convulse two times to develop severe acidosis, correction of the acidosis with NaHCO 3 failed to prevent further convulsions and death. Diazepam and pyridoxine combinations, in doses that were ineffective for terminating INH-induced convulsions, became effective when given after correction of acidosis with NaHCO 3 . It is concluded that convulsion is the main cause of lactic acidosis in acute INH toxicity and that correction of acidosis does not terminate acute INH toxicity. Although correction of acidosis increases the antidotal effectiveness of diazepam plus pyridoxine, increasing the dose of either or both of these two drugs achieves the same antidotal advantage without the potential problems of metabolic alkalosis which may result from NaHCO 3 administration.