cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TED Talk: An Innovative Assignment to Learn Research and Evidence-Based Practice Concepts.

Background Evidence-based practice (EBP) is key to improve outcomes and requires health care professionals to appraise research findings. Interpreting statistical findings can be daunting for nursing students. Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate student perception and satisfaction with a TED Talk assignment as an approach to understand concepts used to appraise evidence. Methods A descriptive design was used to survey students about their experience creating and delivering a TED Talk to their peers in an EBP course. Results The assignment helped students engage in learning research/EBP concepts, and they rated the assignment moderately helpful to understand components to appraise evidence. The majority of students were neutral toward or disagreed the TED Talk assignment was a satisfactory experience. Almost 60% of the students recommended the assignment be retained in the course. Conclusions The TED Talk assignment was not a universally satisfactory experience. Differences in faculty approach in the course sections may have influenced the findings.
Nutrient Sensor mTOR and OGT: Orchestrators of Organelle Homeostasis in Pancreatic β-Cells

The purpose of this review is to integrate the role of nutrient-sensing pathways into β-cell organelle dysfunction prompted by nutrient excess during type 2 diabetes (T2D). T2D encompasses chronic hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and inflammation, which each contribute to β-cell failure. These factors can disrupt the function of critical β-cell organelles, namely, the ER, mitochondria, lysosomes, and autophagosomes. Dysfunctional organelles cause defects in insulin synthesis and secretion and activate apoptotic pathways if homeostasis is not restored. In this review, we will focus on mTORC1 and OGT, two major anabolic nutrient sensors with important roles in β-cell physiology. Though acute stimulation of these sensors frequently improves β-cell function and promotes adaptation to cell stress, chronic and sustained activity disturbs organelle homeostasis. mTORC1 and OGT regulate organelle function by influencing the expression and activities of key proteins, enzymes, and transcription factors, as well as by modulating autophagy to influence clearance of defective organelles. In addition, mTORC1 and OGT activity influence islet inflammation during T2D, which can further disrupt organelle and β-cell function. Therapies for T2D that fine-tune the activity of these nutrient sensors have yet to be developed, but the important role of mTORC1 and OGT in organelle homeostasis makes them promising targets to improve β-cell function and survival.
The relationship between Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status and healthcare resource utilization among patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal, lung or gastric cancer.

The ability of a patient to receive anti-cancer treatment depends on a variety of factors, including performance status (PS), which is typically measured using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Grou...
E-Government, Corruption Reduction and the Role of Culture: A Study Based on Panel Data of 57 Countries

Using a panel dataset gathered from 57 countries over the period 2003 to 2014, this paper examines the impact of cultural factors on the relationship between e-government development and corruption. The analysis reveals that e-government development have a weak and positive impact on the corruption levels across all countries but varied according to the different cultural factors. Based on the cultural typology of the GLOBE project, the authors found that e-government development was more effective in reducing corruption in countries with certain cultural characteristics. Cultures that put less emphasis on controlling uncertainty shared power more equally among members, valued individualism, and focused more on future development were more favorable to e-government development than others. Finally, they discussed the cultural implications on e-planning.
The shape of pleomorphic virions determines resistance to cell-entry pressure

Many enveloped animal viruses produce a variety of particle shapes, ranging from small spherical to long filamentous types. Characterization of how the shape of the virion affects infectivity has been difficult because the shape is only partially genetically encoded, and most pleomorphic virus structures have no selective advantage in vitro. Here, we apply virus fractionation using low-force sedimentation, as well as antibody neutralization coupled with RNAScope, single-particle membrane fusion experiments and stochastic simulations to evaluate the effects of differently shaped influenza A viruses and influenza viruses pseudotyped with Ebola glycoprotein on the infection of cells. Our results reveal that the shape of the virus particles determines the probability of both virus attachment and membrane fusion when viral glycoprotein activity is compromised. The larger contact interface between a cell and a larger particle offers a greater probability that several active glycoproteins are adjacent to each other and can cooperate to induce membrane merger. Particles with a length of tens of micrometres can fuse even when 95% of the glycoproteins are inactivated. We hypothesize that non-genetically encoded variable particle shapes enable pleomorphic viruses to overcome selective pressure and may enable adaptation to infection of cells by emerging viruses such as Ebola. Our results suggest that therapeutics targeting filamentous virus particles could overcome antiviral drug resistance and immune evasion in pleomorphic viruses.
Updating the typology of definiteness: Evidence from bare nouns in Shan

This paper demonstrates that bare nouns in Shan (Tai-Kadai) can express both unique and anaphoric definiteness, a distinction first noted by Schwarz (2009). This pattern of data as well as similar patterns found in Serbian and Kannada motivate adding a category to the typology of definiteness marking described by Jenks (2018) to include languages that allow bare nouns to express anaphoric definiteness. An extended type-shifting analysis offers an account of the availability of bare noun anaphora, as well as the other bare noun interpretations, such as the indefinite, generic, and kind interpretations. Variation in the use of bare nouns versus more marked anaphoric expressions is tied to pragmatic factors such as what anaphoric definite expressions are available in the language, contrast, information structure, and potential ambiguity of nominal expressions. This account proposes that a constrained semantic account of the interpretations of nominal expressions combined with a pragmatic account of their use can model much of the cross-linguistic data on definiteness.
Flow Modeling of Thin Films from Macroscale to Nanoscale

The Navier-Stokes equations can be employed to study fluid motion under ordinary conditions. However, to find solutions to these equations is far from elementary, and in applications we search for ways to simplify them. Such simplification is made particularly easy for lubricant films, where we make use of thin film geometry to derive the Reynolds theory of lubrication. Though the Reynolds equation is employed extensively in numerous technical fields, there are two factors, one geometrical and the other material, that limit its applicability.
Initial Value Problems for Ordinary Differential Equations

In this chapter we discuss methods for the numerical solution of a first order ordinary differential equation $$ y' = f\left( {x,y} \right) $$ (1) Here f(x,y) is a given function of two variables and we seek a function y ≡ y(x), for x in a given interval [a,b], which satisfies $$ \frac{{dy}}{{dx}} = f\left( {x,y(x)} \right) $$ The function y(x) is called a solution of the differential equation (1).
Precision Instrument Pointing Control for the Earth Observing System

The High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (HIRIS) is a remote sensing instrument which will be placed on board the first NASA Polar Orbiting Platform (NPOP-1), as part of the Earth Observing System (EOS). HIRIS is an F/5.4 aperture spectrometer with a focal length of about 1222 mm, and uses a precision two-axis gimballed pointing mirror system to image and track targets. The instrument is in early development and is scheduled for launch in 1998. Gimbal position and rate sensors provide the feedback signals to maintain the pointing accuracy at 585 arcsec (peak-to-peak), and the pointing stability at less than 2.65 arcsec in 33 msec. A state-space controller implemented with a digital computer is used to provide a position loop bandwidth of 1 Hz and a rate loop bandwidth of 7 Hz. This paper will address the design concept developed for the HIRIS pointing system, including an overview of the system design, flight hardware and software. In addition, a simulation assessment of the pointing system that takes into consideration issues such as non-linear effects, sensor noise, and non - collocated sensors and actuators in a flexible structure, will be discussed.
Solid phase synthesis of (R)- and monoxide

Abstract A stereospecific route to (R)- and (S)- [ 13 C]-butadiene monoxide was developed using (R)- or (S)-glycidaldehyde and a polymer-supported Wittig reagent.
Coronary arterial patterns in transposition complexes: Anatomic and angiocardiographic studies

Abstract The coronary arterial patterns were studied at necropsy in each of 115 cases with one of four transposition complexes as follows: (1) origin of both great vessels from the right ventricle (14 cases); (2) complete transposition of the great vessels (60 cases); (3) corrected transposition of the great vessels (15 cases); and (4) common ventricle with transposition of the great vessels (26 cases). These findings were correlated in 17 additional cases studied angiocardiographically. The important anatomic and angiocardiographic features were as follows: The right coronary artery arose in a normal position in 13 of the 14 cases of origin of both great vessels from the right ventricle studied anatomically and angiocardiographically. Among the other three entities studied the right coronary artery arose in an abnormal right posterior or right lateral position. The anterior descending coronary artery arose from the right coronary artery in each case of corrected transposition. In the majority of cases of common ventricle and in all cases of complete transposition and origin of both great vessels from the right ventricle, the anterior descending coronary artery arose as a branch of the left coronary artery. The left circumflex coronary artery arose from the right coronary artery in one third of the cases of complete transposition. In no other form of transposition was this pattern observed. The left coronary artery arose above the left aortic cusp in each condition studied. In common ventricle and corrected transposition, however, the left coronary artery arose in a more posterior position than in the other conditions. It is concluded that the coronary arterial pattern in the transposition complexes is frequently specific for certain conditions. Angiocardiography may be a valuable aid in differentiating one form of transposition from another.
GaN:Eu Interrupted Growth Epitaxy (IGE): Thin Film Growth and Electroluminescent Devices

The GaN:RE phosphor development plays a major role in the GaN:RE AC thick dielectric electroluminescent (TDEL) device optimization. In this paper we report on EL devices fabricated using Eu-doped GaN red phosphors films grown by interrupted growth epitaxy (IGE). IGE consists of a sequence of ON/OFF cycles of the Ga and Eu beams, while the N2 plasma is kept constant during the entire growth time. IGE growth of GaN:Eu resulted in significant enhancement in the Eu emission intensity based primarily at 620.5nm. The increase in the material crystallinity observed with the IGE phosphors appears to be the dominant cause of the emission enhancement. Thick dielectric EL devices fabricated on glass substrates using IGE-grown GaN:Eu have resulted in luminance of ~1000 cd/m2.
Prenatal chromosomal microarray analysis in a diagnostic laboratory; experience with >1000 cases and review of the literature

Objective To evaluate the results of prenatal chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) on >1000 fetal samples referred for testing at our institution and to compare these data to published reports. Methods High resolution CMA was offered to women undergoing amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. Parental samples were obtained concurrently to exclude maternal cell contamination and assist interpretation of copy number variations. Results Clinically significant copy number variations were observed in 85/1115 cases (7.6%) overall, and in 45/1075 cases (4.2 %) if 40 abnormal cases with known chromosome abnormalities or familial genomic imbalances were excluded. Eighteen of the 1115 cases had variants of unclear clinical significance (1.6%). Indications yielding the most clinically significant findings were abnormal karyotype/fluorescence in situ hybridization (26/61, 42.6%), family history of chromosomal abnormality (13/137, 9.5%), abnormal ultrasound (38/410, 9.3%), abnormal serum screening (2/37, 5.4%) and advanced maternal age (5/394, 1.3%). Of 1075 cases having no previously known cytogenetic abnormality or family history, 18 (1.7%) had clinically significant genomic changes undetectable by conventional prenatal chromosome analysis. Conclusion Current experience confirms that the detection rate of CMA for prenatal chromosomal abnormalities surpasses that of conventional karyotype analysis and continues to improve with higher resolution arrays, while maintaining a low frequency of results of unclear clinical significance. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Review of “Rethinking Multicultural Education: Teaching for Racial and Cultural Justice”

Rethinking Multicultural Education: Teaching for Racial and Cultural Justice. W. Au (Ed.), Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Rethinking Schools, Ltd., 2009, $18.95 (paperback), ISBN 978–0-942961–42-3. Rethinki...
Fractionation and partial characterization of the products of autolysis of cell walls of Bacillus subtilis.

Young, Frank E. (Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio). Fractionation and partial characterization of the products of autolysis of cell walls of Bacillus subtilis. J. Bacteriol. 92:839–846. 1966.—Autolysis of the cell wall of Bacillus subtilis by an indigenous autolytic enzyme results in solubilization of 90% of the cell wall. The solubilized cell wall (supernatant fraction) was fractionated by the combination of ion-exchange chromatography on diethylaminoethyl cellulose and gel filtration on Sephadex G-25 into polysaccharides (composed of N-acyl glucosamine and N-acyl muramic acid), mucopeptides, peptides, and teichoic acid. The chemical composition of the products of autolysis confirms the proposed mechanism of autolysis and establishes the autolytic enzyme as an N-acyl muramyl-l-alanine amidase. The heteropolymers in the cell wall are linked by peptide bridges. Two peptides which account for 70% of the peptides of the cell wall have a molar ratio of 1.0:0.9:1.3 for diaminopimelic acid, glutamic acid, and alanine, respectively. Other minor peptides contain diaminopimelic acid, glutamic acid, and alanine in molar ratios of 1.0:0.9:1.5, 1.0:0.5:1.0, and 1.0:1.5:1.7, respectively. The procedures employed in this study should be applicable to the fractionation of heteropolymers in cell walls of other gram-positive organisms and thereby aid in the study of the structure of antigenic determinants and endotoxins.
Iterative solution methods for obtaining the steady-state probability distributions of Markovian multi-echelon repairable item inventory systems

Abstract The Jacobi, Gauss-Seidel and bi-conjugate gradient methods are used to compute the steady-state probability distributions for finite state-space continuous time Markov processes (closed queueing networks) that arise in the modeling of two- and three-echelon repairable item inventory systems. Alternative systems of linear equations that express the steady-state conditions are examined, generation and storage of the transition rate matrix are discussed briefly and various initializations and stopping criteria are tested. Numerical results are given for problems with up to one million states. Good results are obtained with a two-phase algorithm that uses the Gauss-Seidel method first and the bi-conjugate gradient method subsequently.
Monitoring birth outcomes in the Sumatriptan Pregnancy Registry.

Abstract Background: Health professionals often need to make medical management decisions by weighing potential risk versus benefit. Because 50% of pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, the likelihood for unintentional first-trimester exposure to medications is high and increases when women of childbearing potential (ages 15–44) are taking medications used to treat chronic or recurrent conditions, such as migraine. Prospective collection of pregnancy exposure and outcome data is one method for providing data to the medical community as a tool for making risk assessments. Methods: The Sumatriptan Pregnancy Registry is an international, exposure-registration and follow-up study to prospectively collect prenatal sumatriptan exposure and outcome data. An advisory committee reviews data and assists in disseminating information. Committee members include independent scientists with expertise in obstetrics, pediatrics, neurology, internal medicine, epidemiology, clinical genetics, and teratology. Results: As of April 30, 1997, 181 outcomes were prospectively reported from pregnancies involving use of sumatriptan. Of the 171 outcomes where earliest exposure was in the first trimester there were 143 infants without birth defects, 4 live infants with birth defects, 1 stillbirth with birth defects [12 spontaneous pregnancy losses, 2 stillbirths, and 9 induced abortions without birth defects]. The proportion of outcomes involving birth defects, 5/148, 3.4% (95% CI 1.3%, 8.1%), does not differ from the expected proportion in the general population. Conclusions: To date, no pattern has emerged in either the prospectively or retrospectively reported defects. Registry data are disseminated to interested health care providers who are then in a more informed position when making medical management decisions. However, more data are needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn about the safety of sumatriptan use in pregnancy.
Heavy metal and mineral concentrations and their relationship to histopathological findings in the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus)

Abstract The bowhead whale ( Balaena mysticetus ) is a species endangered over much of its range that is of great cultural significance and subsistence value to the Inuit of Northern Alaska. This species occupies subarctic and arctic regions presently undergoing significant ecological change and hydrocarbon development. Thus, understanding the health status of the Bering–Chukchi–Beaufort Sea (BCBS) stock of bowhead whales is of importance. In this study, we evaluated the concentrations of six essential and non-essential elements (Zn, tHg, Ag, Se, Cu and Cd) in liver and kidney of bowhead whales ( n = 64). These tissues were collected from the Inuit subsistence hunt in Barrow, Wainwright and Kaktovik, Alaska between 1983 and 2001. Reference ranges of these elements (including previously reported data from 1983–1997) were developed for this species as part of a health assessment effort, and interpreted using improved aging techniques (aspartic acid racemization and baleen isotopic 13 C methods) to evaluate trends over time with increased statistical power. Interactions between element concentrations and age, sex and harvest season were assessed. Age was found to be of highest significance. Sex and harvest season did not effect the concentrations of these elements, with the exception of renal Se levels, which were significantly higher in fall seasons. In addition, histological evaluation of tissues from whales collected between 1998–2001 was performed. Associations between concentrations of Cd in kidney and liver and scored histopathological changes were evaluated. Liver Cd concentration was strongly associated with the degree of lung fibromuscular hyperplasia ( P = 0.001) and moderately associated with the degree of renal fibrosis ( P = 0.03). Renal Cd concentration influenced the degree of lung fibromuscular hyperplasia and renal fibrosis ( P = 0.01). A significant age effect was found for both pulmonary fibromuscular hyperplasia and renal fibrosis, indicating age may be a causative factor. Improvements in aging techniques and the addition of histological indices help clarify the relationships between elements and the influence of life history parameters on concentrations of these elements and potential impacts on health. These data provide essential baseline input useful for monitoring the effects of arctic ecosystem change as it relates to global climate change and industrial development, as well as help inform epidemiological studies examining the public health implications of heavy metals in subsistence foods.
Maintenance of pregnancy in pyridoxine-deficient rats when injected with estrone and progesterone.

PREVIOUS studies have shown that the addition of a pyridoxine antagonist (desoxypyridoxine) to a pyridoxine-deficient diet resulted in a high incidence of resorptions when normal adult rats were placed on such a diet only 10 to 20 days prior to breeding (Nelson and Evans, 1948, 1951). Supplementation with pyridoxine on the day of breeding counteracted the adverse effects of the antagonist. This was true even in pairfed control animals for which the food intake averaged 56% of that consumed by control rats given the diet ad libitum (Nelson and Evans, 1951). The early appearance of vaginal erythrocytes and the extreme rapidity of the resorptive process in these deficient rats together with the early loss of the estrous cycles in the unbred rats suggested the possibility of hormonal deficiencies in these animals. Lyons (1943) has shown that daily injections of 1 μg. estrone and 3–4 mg. progesterone will maintain pregnancy in hypophysectomized and oophorectomized rats.
Diagnosis and management of superficial bladder cancer

Superficial transitional cell carcinoma is defined as a transitional cell urothelial tumor that is confined to the mucosa, stages Ta or CIS, or with invasion of the lamina propria, T1. The initial treatment is transurethral resection with an attempt to remove all tumor. This should provide an accurate histologic grade and stage, and from this information a prognosis can be determined. The important predictive factors that correlate with a new occurrence or true recurrence and the development of a subsequent tumor with muscle invasion are a high tumor grade, lamina propria invasion, a positive cytology following resection, multifocal tumors, dysplasia or carcinoma in situ from mucosal biopsies of normal appearing urothelium, and a prior history of bladder cancer. Based on these factors, the recurrence rate varies from 30 to 80% and progression with a muscle invasive tumor up to 30%. Intravesical chemotherapy or "immunotherapy" following tumor resection has been shown to diminish the likelihood of a recurrence. Thiotepa has been used for the longest period of time. It is relatively inexpensive, safe if myelosuppression is closely monitored, and effective. Mitomycin C was more effective than Thiotepa in randomized trials, but is significantly more expensive. This has retarded its use as a first-line agent. It has been shown to eradicate persistent tumor in 30 to 40% of patients who have failed Thiotepa. Mitomycin C is also highly effective when used for prophylaxis. Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has recently been demonstrated to be an effective intravesical therapeutic agent. It is effective both for treatment and prophylaxis. BCG is relatively safe and inexpensive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Poverty drug use in Hungary

There is little substantive information on the present trends on drug use in the countries of central and eastern Europe, including Hungary. There has been a substantial change in recent years in the illegal and legal use of psychoactive substances: the western type of drug trade and drug use has begun, with the influx of the classical drugs (heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, LSD and hashish). In addition, a study based on data obtained from all district physicians shows that the rate of regular use of psychoactive substances is very high in the parts of Hungary with poor infrastructure. This “poverty” drug use, together with the poppy cult and the traditions of grape cultivation and wine drinking could be a serious obstacle to the wider spread of western type drug use in Hungary.
Toughening due to domain switching in single crystal ferroelectric materials

In this paper Mode I steady state crack growth in single crystal ferroelectric materials is investigated. Specifically, the fracture toughness enhancement due to domain switching near a steadily growing crack tip is analyzed. For this purpose, an incremental phenomenological constitutive law for single crystal ferroelectric materials is implemented within a finite element model to calculate the stress and remanent strain fields around the crack tip. Also, the ratio of the far field applied energy release rate to the crack tip energy release rate, i.e. the toughening, is calculated. The numerical computations are carried out for single crystal ferroelectric materials of tetragonal or rhombohedral structure with different switching hardening and irreversible remanent strain levels. Toughening levels for crack growth along different crystallographic directions and planes are obtained and compared. Results from numerical computations for the toughening anisotropy for both tetragonal and rhombohedral crystals are presented and discussed.
Sound through bone conduction in public interfaces

Noise level in public spaces sometimes makes imposible to focus on particular sound information. In other cases, such focus is needed even when environmental sound information is also important. In this paper, we describe the use of bone vibration as an applicable technology in both public and private interfaces, when environment sound information or environmental sound contamination are regarded as important factors.
Surprising thermal transition in fish myelin

Abstract A new structural transition in nerve myelin has been discovered by means of X-ray diffraction of excised teleost nerves in physiological saline. The reversible transition is between two structures, designated AS and AL, with repeating distances ( d spacings) differing by 25–35 A. When the temperature of bream spinal cord is lowered from room temperature to 4°C, much but not all of the AS (short spacing) myelin changes into AL (long spacing) myelin. The change is reversed when the temperature is raised back to 22°C, and it occurs a second time when the temperature is lowered again to 4°C. The myelin in bream optic nerve undergoes a similar thermal transition, but the myelin in brachial plexus does not. The thermal transition does not involve the liquid crystal-to-gel transition observed in lipids and natural membranes. When a specimen is kept at constant temperature, there is a gradual conversion from AS to AL myelin which is not thermally reversible, suggesting the existence of two distinct subclasses of AL. Similarly, two subclasses are indicated for AS myelin since part of it does not transform thermally. The observations reported here may have significance for the evolutionary development of myelin.
Predictors of Calcium Retention in Adolescent Boys

Context: The relationship between calcium (Ca) intake and Ca retention in adolescent boys was recently reported. Objective: This study evaluated the influence of Ca intake, serum hormone levels, biomarkers of bone metabolism, habitual physical activity, habitual Ca intake, and physical fitness on Ca retention in the same sample. Design: This study was a randomized, cross-over design that consisted of two 3-wk metabolic balance periods. Setting: The study took place on a university campus as a summer camp. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 31 American white boys (13–15 yr) participated in the study. Interventions: Each subject consumed a controlled diet with one of five high-low Ca intake pairs that ranged from 670-2003 mg/d, which was manipulated utilizing a fortified beverage. Main Outcome Measures: Ca retention was determined by Ca intake minus urinary and fecal Ca excretion during each balance period. Results: Ca intake explained 21.7% of the variability in Ca retention, and serum IGF-I concen...
Stability of the fixed point of the two-channel Kondo Hamiltonian

We have performed full-scale numerical-renormalization-group calculations on the anisotropic, two-channel, impurity spin {ital s}=1/2 Kondo Hamiltonian. To allow for anisotropy we have worked in a basis of total axial charge {ital j}{sub {ital a}} and {ital j}{sub {ital b}} ({ital a} and {ital b} index the channels) as well as total {ital S}{sub {ital z}}. In the isotropic limit, our results agree well with the previous work of Cragg, Lloyd, and Nozieres. The most important results are (1) confirmation of the approach to a nontrivial fixed point from weak coupling, (2) the stability of the fixed point against exchange anisotropy, and (3) the destabilization of the fixed point by the application of a magnetic field or the lifting of exchange symmetry between two channels. We find the crossover temperature scales with the square of the exchange splitting.
Detecting termination in pervasive sensor networks

With the increased deployment of pervasive systems, there has been an explosive growth in the number of applications being developed for such systems. Distributed applications typically depend on the underlying middleware infrastructure to provide services to perform their tasks. Many applications rely on a service which can detect the termination of a distributed activity being performed by a set of entities. Existing algorithms for termination detection are based on the layering paradigm wherein the algorithm can monitor application level communication. Pervasive applications, however, may not be structured as strictly layered systems. This paper proposes algorithms for termination detection of distributed applications in pervasive systems. We propose two algorithms for this problem, and show that each performs better than the other under certain conditions. Subsequently, we propose an hybrid algorithm which combines the features of the two algorithms and provides performance comparable to the better of the two algorithms under different conditions.
Classic Map Revisited: The Growth of Megalopolis

Browning's classic 1974 map of Megalopolis, covering the growth of Megalopolis from 1950 to 1970, is updated through 2000. The color map depicts the extent and expansion of Megalopolis for three time periods, 1950–1970, 1970–1990, and 1990–2000. Discussion relates the growth of Megalopolis to social and economic forces influencing urbanization in the United States in the latter half of the twentieth century.
Unsteady laminar jet flame at large frequencies of oscillation

Periodic phenomenon caused by unstable overventilated laminar jet diffusion flame with traveling sound wave, primarily burning rate
To be or not to be… credible that is: a model of reputation and credibility among competing firms

Previous studies of corporate reputation have either confirmed its existence as an influence agent or described in general terms its effects on other attributes (quality, price, advertising, etc.). The competitive credibility model of reputation building is formulated and tested through simulation. Reports and discusses results.
The MODIS/ASTER airborne simulator (MASTER) - a new instrument for earth science studies

Abstract The MODIS/ASTER Airborne Simulator was developed for the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) projects. ASTER and MODIS are both spaceborne imaging instruments on the Terra platform launched in the fall of 1999. Currently MASTER is flown on the Department of Energy (DOE) King Air Beachcraft B200 aircraft and the NASA DC-8. In order to validate the in-flight performance of the instrument, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Arizona conducted a joint experiment in December 1998. The experiment involved overflights of the MASTER instrument at two sites at three elevations (2000, 4000, and 6000 m). The two sites: Ivanpah Playa, California, and Lake Mead, Nevada, were selected to validate the visible–shortwave infrared and thermal infrared (TIR) channels, respectively. At Ivanpah Playa, a spectrometer was used to determine the surface reflectance and a sun photometer used to obtain the optical depth. At Lake Mead contact and radiometric surface lake temperatures were measured by buoy-mounted thermistors and self-calibrating radiometers, respectively. Atmospheric profiles of temperature, pressure, and relative humidity were obtained by launching an atmospheric sounding balloon. The measured surface radiances were then propagated to the at-sensor radiance using radiative transfer models driven by the local atmospheric data. There was excellent agreement between the predicted radiance at sensor and the measured radiance at sensor at all three altitudes. The percent difference between the channels not strongly affected by the atmosphere in the visible–shortwave infrared was typically 1–5% and the percent difference between the TIR channels not strongly affected by the atmosphere was typically less than 0.5%. These results indicate the MASTER instrument should provide a well-calibrated instrument for Earth Science Studies. It should prove particularly valuable for those studies that leverage information across the electromagnetic spectrum from the visible to the TIR.
Peripheral utilization of a glucose load after alloxan and streptozotocin in the rat and chicken: a comparison.

Intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTT) were administered to adult rats and chickens on Day 0 as well as on Days 5, 10, and 15 following injection of alloxan or streptozotocin (SZ). The doses employed were those established to be diabetogenic in mammals. Also, the effect of pancreatectomy (99%) on previously SZ-injected chickens was evaluated by use of the IVGTT. Plasma immunoreactive insulin (IRI), glucose, and electrolytes were measured. Results obtained in rats indicated that at 5 days both alloxan and SZ caused expected qualitative and quantitative disturbances in the IVGTT and in basal plasma IRI and glucose levels. In contrast to rats, chickens were impervious to alloxan at a dose threefold the diabetogenic dose established in rats. Glucose uptake in SZ-treated chickens also was unaffected (P > 0.05) even though glucose-induced insulin secretion was markedly reduced (P < 0.01) on each day tested. The SZ-depancreatized chicken exhibited a glucose-induced insulin secretion similar to SZ treatment alone; however, an impaired removal of the injected glucose load was observed (P < 0.01). Unlike the alloxan--treated chicken, pancreatic tissue IRI concentration was generally reduced with SZ injection. The conclusion is reached that insulin is of secondary importance in regulation of glucose metabolism in the chicken.
Complementary action of the PGC-1 coactivators in mitochondrial biogenesis and brown fat differentiation

Summary Mitochondria play an essential role in the ability of brown fat to generate heat, and the PGC-1 coactivators control several aspects of mitochondrial biogenesis. To investigate their specific roles in brown fat cells, we generated immortal preadipocyte lines from the brown adipose tissue of mice lacking PGC-1α. We could then efficiently knockdown PGC-1β expression by shRNA expression. Loss of PGC-1α did not alter brown fat differentiation but severely reduced the induction of thermogenic genes. Cells deficient in either PGC-1α or PGC-1β coactivators showed a small decrease in the differentiation-dependant program of mitochondrial biogenesis and respiration; however, this increase in mitochondrial number and function was totally abolished during brown fat differentiation when both PGC-1α and PGC-1β were deficient. These data show that PGC-1α is essential for brown fat thermogenesis but not brown fat differentiation, and the PGC-1 coactivators play an absolutely essential but complementary function in differentiation-induced mitochondrial biogenesis.
PARATHYREOTROPIC ACTION OF THE ANTERIOR PITUITARY: HISTOLOGIC EVIDENCE IN THE RABBIT

In December, 1932, we received a preliminary impression that intramuscular injections of saline emulsions of anterior lobes of beef pituitary glands gave rise to enlargement and increased vascularity of the parathyroid glands of rabbits. As far as we could discover at the time, no previous reference had been made to such an effect of anterior lobe substances. We, therefore, undertook more extensive experiments to collect data on the gross and microscopic anatomy of the parathyroid glands of rabbits under treatment with various anterior lobe substances, pregnancy urine and control injections of brain tissue emulsions. Rabbits of the same age, sex and strain (blue bevern) were used in each of our early experiments. These factors were later varied singly; and since it was found that neither sex, age nor strain had any modifying effect, females of mixed strains were used in later experiments.
The Schema System

THE SCHEMA SYSTEM EMBODIES A KNOWLEDGE-BASED APPROACH TO SCENE INTERPRE- TATION. LOW-LEVEL ROUTINES ARE APPLIED TO EXTRACT IMAGE DESCRIPTORS CALLED TOKENS, AND THESE TOKENS ARE FURTHER ORGANIZED BY INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL ROUT- INES INTO MORE ABSTRACT STRUCTURES THAT CAN BE ASSOCIATED WITH OBJECT INST- ANCES. THE THOUSANDS OF TOKENS THAT ARE EXTRACTED FROM AN IMAGE CAN BE GROUPED IN A COMBINATORIALLY EXPLOSIVE MANNER. THEREFORE, KNOWLEDGE IN THE SCHEMA SYSTEM IS NOT LIMITED TO THE DESCRIPTIONS OF OBJECTS; IT INCLUDES INFORMATION ABOUT HOW EACH OBJECT CAN BE RECOGNIZED. OBJECT SCHEMAS CONTROL THE INVOCATION AND EXECUTION OF THE LOW-LEVEL AND INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL ROUT- INES WITH THE GOAL OF FORMING HYPOTHESES ABOUT OBJECTS IN THE SCENE. THE SYSTEM DESCRIBED PRODUCES IMAGE INTERPRETATIONS BASED ON TWO-DIMENSIONAL REASONING, ALTHOUGH NOTHING IN THE SYSTEM ORGANIZATION AND CONTROL STRATEG- IES PRECLUDE THE INCLUSION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL INFORMATION. THE SCHEMA FRAMEWORK EXPLOITS COARSE-GRAINED PARALLELISM IN A COOPERA- TIVE INTERPRETATION PROCESS. SCHEMA INSTANCES RUN CONCURRENTLY, AND AN OB- JECT SCHEMA OFTEN HAS AVAILABLE A VARIETY OF STRATEGIES FOR IDENTIFICATION, EACH ONE INVOKING KNOWLEDGE SOURCES TO GATHER SUPPORT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A HYPOTHESIZED OBJECT. INTER-SCHEMA COMMUNICATION IS CARRIED OUT ASYNCHRON- OUSLY THROUGH A GLOBAL BLACKBOARD. IN THIS WAY SCHEMA INSTANCES COOPERATE TO IDENTIFY AND LOCATE THE SIGNIFICANT OBJECTS PRESENT IN THE SCENE.
In vivo hypothermic perfusion during renal surgery

Abstract In vivo hypothermic renal perfusion was successfully employed for complete removal of advanced staghorn calculi. The kidney after being perfused and cooled to 10°C, tolerated two hours of vascular occlusion with preservation of renal function. The technical aspects and clinical potentials of this technique are presented.
An environmental transmission electron microscope for in situ synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials

The world of nanomaterials has become the real world for most applications in the area of nanotechnology. As postsynthesis handling of materials at the nanoscale level is impractical, nanomaterials must be synthesized directly as part of a device or circuit. The demands of nanotechnology have led to modifications in the design of transmission electron microscopes (TEMs) that enable in situ synthesis and characterization simultaneously. The environmental TEM (ETEM) is one such modified instrument that has often been used to follow gas–solid and/or liquid–solid interactions at elevated temperatures. Although the history and development of the ETEM, also called the controlled atmosphere or environmental cell TEM, is as old as transmission electron microscopy itself, developments in the design of medium-voltage TEMs have succeeded in bringing resolutions down to the subnanometer level. A modern ETEM equipped with a field-emission gun, energy filter or electron energy-loss spectrometer, scanning transmission electron microscopy coils, and bright-field and dark-field detectors can be a versatile tool for understanding chemical processes at the nanometer level. This article reviews the design and operations of a dedicated ETEM. Its applications range from the in situ characterization of reaction steps, such as oxidation-reduction and hydroxylation, to the in situ synthesis of nanomaterials, such as quantum dots and carbon nanotubes. Some examples of the current and the future applications for the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials are also discussed.
The community and mental health: An attempt at a conceptual framework

The dynamics of a community shape the activities of a mental health center. The assessment of the dynamics is an important and difficult task. To assist in assessment, a simple conceptual framework is formulated. Major rubrics include: (a) Locus — the geographic location, physical characteristics, and internal arrangement of roads, shopping centers, agencies, and institutions; (b) Selfimage of the community as reflected and in turn shaped by the dominant sentiments of its inhabitants; (c) Social-psychological structure reflected in significant groupings which differ in their authority, prestige, and power, in the functions they perform, and in the patterns of communications established between them; (d) Dynamic interplay of forces reflecting the community as a total system resisting or absorbing new values and forces, and shaping both the nature of certain life stresses and the kinds of support available to people.
Induction of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase and inhibiyion of glucocorticoid receptor binding in skin and liver of haired and hairless HRS/J mice by topically applied 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

The biochemical changes associated with the toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) have been reported to include alterations in glucocorticoid and epidermal growth factor receptors and mixed function oxidase (MFO) induction. TCDD induces MFO activity in skin of both haired and hairless HRS/J mice. However, epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis are produced only in the skin of hairless mice. Therefore, since steroid and growth factor responses are implicated in cell proliferation and differentiation, these mice constitute a model system for assessing the possible roles of glucocorticoid and epidermal growth factor receptors in the toxicity of TCDD. The effect of dermal TCDD application (12 μg/kg in 100 μl acetone) on ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, glucocorticoid receptor binding and epidermal growth factor receptors in liver and skin of hairless and haired mice was determined. No differences existed in the basal number of cytosolic glucocorticoid receptors (Bmax) or the apparent equilbrium binding constants (Kd) in control liver, dorsal skin and abdominal skin of male and female hairless mice and haired male mice. Seven days after topical application of TCDD, decreases of approximately 38% were observed in the hepatic Bmax of the glucocorticoid receptors in both haired and hairless mice. However, in dorsal skin, TCDD decreased BPmax by approximately 40% in hairless mice but only 18% in haired mice. The dexamethasone-glucocorticoid receptor complex from both liver and skin of control and TCDD treated mice had similar sedimentation co-efficients in sucrose density gradients. TCDD had no effect on the Kd of glucocorticoid receptors of skin or liver in haired and hairless mice. No difference was observed in the time-dependent increases in hepatic EROD activity between haired and hairless mice after dermal application of TCDD. However, the maximum induction of EROD activity in microsomes from the skin of haired mice was only 60% of the activity observed in hairless animals. The induction of EROD by TCDD did not correlate temporally with the decrease in glucocorticoid receptor binding.
Novel Implantable Device to Detect Cardiac Allograft Rejection

Background— Allograft rejection remains the nemesis of solid organ transplantation. Soul Mate is a novel implantable wireless data transmission system that analyzes 9 intramyocardial electrogram parameters recorded from 4 or 6 configurations of 2 or 3 epicardial leads to detect allograft rejection. This study determined the ability of the Soul Mate to detect early rejection of transplanted hearts. Methods and Results— Five dogs underwent heterotopic cervical heart transplantation and simultaneous implantation of the Soul Mate’s Cardiac Rejection Monitoring Device. Dogs were initially immunosuppressed, but subsequent drug discontinuation allowed allograft rejection to appear. Allograft biopsies were performed at regular intervals to determine rejection grade, which was compared to a calculated rejection score determined as percent change from baseline of values for each intramyocardial electrogram. There was significant correlation between the biopsy results and the evolution of 5 parameters. The strongest correlation ( r =0.939; P <0.001) was obtained using the “general median” parameter from 4 configurations, assessed 1 day before the biopsy, with a sensitivity of 85.7% and a specificity of 100% compared to the myocardial biopsy results. Conclusions— The Soul Mate allograft rejection monitoring system accurately detected transplanted heart rejection in a canine model noninvasively with continuous sampling. This proof-of-concept study suggests that the Soul Mate could be used to more intensely and more frequently monitor cardiac allografts for rejection.
Image variations of Turkey by familiarity index: informational and experiential dimensions.

Abstract Familiarity in this study is operationalized and measured as a composite of amount of information used (informational familiarity) and previous destination experience (experiential familiarity). A familiarity index was developed based on these two dimensions. The perceptual/cognitive, affective and overall image of Turkey showed variations due to US travelers’ familiarity level with the destination, the higher the familiarity, the more positive the image. The potential advantages and uses of the familiarity index were discussed. The marketing implications to deal with informational and experiential dimensions were presented to increase familiarity and/or improve destination image. The results particularly suggested that Turkey should utilize sales promotion techniques and conduct public relations/publicity activities rather than relying mostly on mass media advertising.
On estimating Weibull modulus by the linear regression method

Statistical models were developed to estimate the bias of the shape parameter of a 2-parameter Weibull distribution where the shape parameter was estimated using a linear regression. These models were formulated for 27 sample sizes from 5 to 100 and for 35 probability estimators, $$ P = {(i - a)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{i - a} {n + b}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {(n + b)} $$ , by varying “a” and “b”. In each simulation, 20,000 trials were used. From these models, a class of unbiased estimators were developed for each sample size. The standard deviation and coefficient of variation of these estimators were compared to the bias of the estimators. The standard deviation increased while the coefficient of variation decreased with increasing bias of the shape parameter. Also, the Anderson–Darling statistics was used to determine that the normal, log-normal, 3-parameter Weibull, and 3-parameter log-Weibull distributions did not provide good fit to the estimator of the shape parameter.