cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of cholinergic mechanisms in the corticofugal inhibition of the spinal trigeminal nucleus.

Abstract A conditioning stimulus to the contralateral coronal gyrus of cats inhibits the response of certain neurons in the spinal trigeminal nucleus to maxillary nerve stimulation. This corticofugal inhibition (CFI) is markedly increased by eserine. The subsequent administration of atropine reverses the effect of eserine. However, atropine has a variable effect when it is given as the initial drug. On the other hand, the simultaneous injection of atropine and D-amphetamine consistently decreases the CFI, even though D-amphetamine alone also has a variable effect. The magnitude of the effect of the combined administration of atropine and D-amphetamine is directly proportional to the magnitude of the CFI prior to the injection. These results indicate that the CFI is modulated by a cholinergic facilitatory and an adrenergic inhibitory pathway. Furthermore, there appears to be a close reciprocal relationship between the cholinergic and adrenergic mechanisms in our experimental model, such that the CFI is consistently decreased only when an anticholinergic and an adrenergic effect are exerted simultaneously. These observations are discussed in relation to the neurotransmitters that may be involved in the production and control of absence seizures, since we have previously found that anti-absence drugs depress the CFI.
The distribution of continued fraction approximations

Abstract The continued fraction convergents to a random real number are shown to approximate that number with a limiting probability distribution that had been conjectured by H. W. Lenstra.
Further Observations on the Diagnosis, Cause, and Treatment of Endophthalmitis

In our study of 54 suspected cases of endophthalmitis, vitreous aspiration was more sensitive in making a culture-proven diagnosis than anterior chamber paracentesis; Staphylococcus epidermidis was a more common cause of endophthalmitis than previously appreciated; and intraocular antibiotics in the recommended dosage are reasonably safe clinically and add a new dimension to the treatment of endophthalmitis.
Plasma proteomics analysis of tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer

Due to ease accessibility, exploring plasma for candidate cancer biomarkers is of great interest to molecular biologist and physicians. In breast cancer, the development of tamoxifen resistance (TR) is among the major causes of recurrence and mortality. Therefore, the identification of novel biomarkers that are linked to TR is of great interest and the subject of intensive research. Here, we exploited the power of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with protein identification using tandem mass spectrometry to identify plasma proteome signatures associated with TR. Comparative proteomics analysis resulted in the identification of 15 statistically significant spots, which were up-/downregulated after tamoxifen therapy. MASCOT search of the mass spectrometry generated spectral data resulted in the identification of 9 proteins. Several differentially expressed proteins such as clusterin, serum amyloid A, serpin B4, and transthyretin are already known to be involved in cancer incidence and progression. The possible involvement of these candidate proteins in conferring TR and their potential usefulness as plasma biomarkers for predicting response to tamoxifen treatment has been discussed.
Opportunities and challenges in rebuilding tornado-impacted Greensburg, Kansas as "stronger, better, and greener"

A May 2007 tornado destroyed 95% of aging, declining Greensburg, Kansas. The city took the opportunity to build back “stronger, better, and greener,” enforcing upgraded codes, requiring city-owned buildings to meet LEED Platinum level standards, and recommending energy-efficiency housing in a new Sustainable Comprehensive Plan. Using information collected from surveys of Greensburg tornado survivors, interviews, and publications, we examined the housing-related recovery, including the emergency provision of temporary shelter and rebuilding permanently. Although temporary shelter kept residents nearby for rebuilding, given the gap between insurance policy limits on the aging housing stock and rebuilding costs, housing affordability is a critical issue in Greensburg’s recovery. Local, state, and federal support have made construction of municipal buildings at LEED Platinum level and some affordable and green housing projects possible. However, far greater public and private sector funding for affordable workforce housing, in conjunction with broader economic and job development, is needed.
Signal transduction of mechanical stimuli is dependent on microfilament integrity : Identification of osteopontin as a mechanically induced gene in osteoblasts

Mechanical perturbation has been shown to modulate a wide variety of changes in second message signals and patterns of gene expression in osteoblasts. Embryonic chick osteoblasts were subjected to a dynamic spatially uniform biaxial strain (1.3% applied strain) at 0.25 Hz for a single 2-h period, and osteopontin (OPN), an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-containing protein, was shown to be a mechanoresponsive gene. Expression of opn mRNA reached a maximal 4-fold increase 9 h after the end of the mechanical perturbation that was not inhibited by cycloheximide, thus demonstrating that mechanoinduction of opn expression is a primary response through the activation of pre-existing transcriptional factors. The signal transduction pathways, which mediated the increased expression of opn in response to mechanical stimuli, were shown to be dependent on the activation of a tyrosine kinase(s) and protein kinase A (PKA) or a PKA-like kinase. Selective inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) had no effect on the mechanoinduction of osteopontin even though opn has been demonstrated to be an early response gene to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulation. Mechanotransduction was dependent on microfilament integrity since cytochalasin-D blocked the up-regulation of the opn expression; however, microfilament disruption had no effect on the PMA induction of the gene. The microtubule component of the cytoskeleton was not related to the mechanism of signal transduction involved in controlling opn expression in response to mechanical stimulation since colchicine did not block opn expression. Mechanical stimulus was shown to activate focal adhesion kinase (FAK), which specifically became associated with the cytoskeleton after mechanical perturbation, and its association with the cytoskeleton was dependent on tyrosine kinase activity. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that the signal transduction pathway for mechanical activation of opn is uniquely dependent on the structural integrity of the microfilament component of the cytoskeleton. In contrast, the PKC pathway, which also activates this gene in osteoblasts, acts independently of the cytoskeleton in the transduction of its activity.
Optimal designs for group sequential clinical trials

Group sequential tests have seen wide use in clinical trials. In this article a group sequential design is referred to an optimal one if the expected sample size under a specified alternative is minimized for a given choice of significance level and power among tests with a given sequence of groups of specific sizes. The optimal designs provide a standard for assessing the efficiency of many designs in the literature. This article concerns optimal two-sided tests with acceptance regions of the null hypothesis at early stages. We show that the backward induction method can be applied to compute optimal designs for group sequential tests. Subsequently we develop a numerical iterative procedure to compute the stopping boundaries of two-sided optimal sequential tests. Some numerical results are presented. The method can be generalized to one-sided tests and to two-sided tests without acceptance regions of the null hypothesis at early stages.
Chorda tympani nerve modulates the rat's avoidance of calcium chloride

Calcium intake depends on orosensory factors, implying the presence of a mechanism for calcium detection in the mouth. To better understand how information about oral calcium is conveyed to the brain, we examined the effects of chorda tympani nerve transection on calcium chloride (CaCl2) taste preferences and thresholds in male Wistar rats. The rats were given bilateral transections of the chorda tympani nerve (CTX) or control surgery. After recovery, they received 48-h two-bottle tests with an ascending concentration series of CaCl2. Whereas control rats avoided CaCl2 at concentrations of 0.1 mM and higher, rats with CTX were indifferent to CaCl2 concentrations up to 10 mM. Rats with CTX had significantly higher preference scores for 0.316 and 3.16 mM CaCl2 than did control rats. The results imply that the chorda tympani nerve is required for the normal avoidance of CaCl2 solution.
Undergraduate programs in computer science

During the past ten years we have been witnessing the beginnings of a computer revolution that will be as profound in its effects as the industrial revolution of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This computer revolution has brought with it an enormous demand for computer technologists in both hardware and software areas. However, the computer revolution has resulted not only in a new technology, but also in fundamentally new approaches to some aspects of traditional academic disciplines such as engineering, physics, mathematics and even philosophy. Computers are affecting the conceptual framework of our society as well as its technology.
Characterization of an enzyme reducing pyrroline-5-carboxylate to proline.

SEVERAL lines of evidence serve to establish glutamic-γ-semialdehyde as the key intermediate in the pathway of the biosynthesis of proline from either glutamic acid or ornithine1,2. Since glutamic-γ-semialdehyde spontaneously cyclizes nearly completely to Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid2, hydrogenation of the latter becomes a key reaction in the biogenesis of proline.
Effects of conditioned fear and environmental novelty on plasma β-endorphin in the rat

Abstract The levels of rat plasma β-endorphin-like immunoreactivity following a 30 min exposure to (1) an unfamiliar operant chamber, (2) an unfamiliar operant chamber providing a VI-5 second schedule of 3 mA, 1 sec footshocks, or (3) a familiar chamber providing no shocks, but previously paired with unavoidable shocks were compared to control values from animals left undisturbed in their familiar home cages. The shocked group showed ten-fold elevations of β-endorphin-like immunoreactivity compared to the undisturbed control animals, while conditioned rats showed a smaller two-fold elevation when re-exposed to a chamber in which they had previously been shocked. Two of five rats exposed merely to an unfamiliar chamber showed elevations, but there was no statistically reliable group effect. Such procedures may be useful for controlled and parametric studies of the mobilization of pituitary or brain pools of β-endorphin under conditions involving merely anticipation of pain rather than the actual activation of ascending nervous pain pathways.
What I Like About You: A Multilevel Study of Shareholder Discontent with Director Monitoring

Each year shareholders, via exercise of their proxy votes, have the opportunity to voice their support or displeasure with firms and director nominees. Examining over 2,000 Fortune 500 director nominees, we explore those indicators available to shareholders at the time of directors' (re)election to provide insight into shareholder discontent with director monitoring. By studying actual voting behaviors, we provide new perspective to understanding director elections as a governance process. Employing a multilevel approach, we find support for agency-theoretic relationships between several firm and director characteristics and shareholder opposition to directors seeking (re)election to the board. At the firm level, we find that CEO compensation level and board size are positively related to the withholding of shareholder votes in director elections, a behavior indicative of shareholder discontent. Complementing these findings, at the director level, we find that affiliated director status, tenure, and number of outside directorships are positively related, and director block ownership is negatively related to shareholder discontent with director monitoring.
Strength-of-Preference Indicators and an Ordered-Response Model for Ordinarily Dichotomous, Discrete Choice Data☆

Abstract Recent environmental regulations raise the importance of accurate, survey-based methods to estimate environmental values, while interviewing costs stimulate research to improve dichotomous choice survey methods. This paper proposes using strength-of-preference indicators along with dichotomous contingent response data. We model strength-of-preference indicators as quasi-cardinal measures using an ordered-response model. We find that strength-of-preference indicators provide substantial efficiency gains while increasing respondents' effort minimally, with evidence that interpersonal comparison of preference ratings induces no bias. The ordered response model of utility and willingness to pay is superior, even in predicting the binary choice results.
A study of the rates of the competitive nitrosations of pyrrolidine, p-cresol and L-cysteine hydrochloride.

The competitive nitrosations of pyrrolidine, p-cresol and L-cysteine hydrochloride were studied in aqueous solution. The reactions were studied at pH values 3.0, 5.0 and 5.5 and at temperatures 20, 37 and 120°C, conditions which simulate those found in meat during processing, storage, cooking and gastric digestion. The formation of N-nitrosopyrrolidine was observed only in the reactions carried out at 120°C, subject to a detection limit of 0.2 parts/106. At this temperature the effect of L-cysteine hydrochloride alone and in combination with p-cresol is to enhance the rate of N-nitrosopyrrolidine formation at pH 5.0 but to inhibit it at pH 3.0. In reactions at 20 and 37°C, where N-nitrosopyrrolidine was not detected, the rate of C-nitrosation of p-cresol to give o-nitro-p-cresol is inhibited in the presence of L-cysteine hydrochloride at pH values 3.0, 5.0 and 5.5.
Pareto Frontier Based Concept Selection Under Uncertainty, with Visualization

In a recent publication, we presented a new multiobjective decision-making tool for use in conceptual engineering design. In the present paper, we provide important developments that support the next phase in the evolution of the tool. These developments, together with those of our previous work, provide a concept selection approach that capitalizes on the benefits of computational optimization. Specifically, the new approach uses the efficiency and effectiveness of optimization to rapidly compare numerous designs, and characterize the tradeoff properties within the multiobjective design space. As such, the new approach differs significantly from traditional (non-optimization based) concept selection approaches where, comparatively speaking, significant time is often spent evaluating only a few points in the design space. Under the new approach, design concepts are evaluated using a so-calleds-Pareto frontier; this frontier originates from the Pareto frontiers of various concepts, and is the Pareto frontier for thesetof design concepts. An important characteristic of the s-Pareto frontier is that it provides a foundation for analyzing tradeoffs between design objectives and the tradeoffs between design concepts. The new developments presented in this paper include; (i) the notion ofminimally representingthe s-Pareto frontier, (ii) the quantification of concept goodness using s-Pareto frontiers, (iii) the development of an interactive design space exploration approach that can be used to visualizen-dimensional s-Pareto frontiers, and (iv) s-Pareto frontier-based approaches for considering uncertainty in concept selection. Simple structural examples are presented that illustrate representative applications of the proposed method.
Situation Awareness in Driving While Using Adaptive Cruise Control and a Cell Phone

This research investigated the effects of an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system, and cell phone use in driving, on a direct objective measure of situation awareness (SA). Subjects drove a virtual...
The Socioeconomic Status of Donors and Recipients of Living Unrelated Renal Transplants in the United States

Purpose: We evaluated unrelated living kidney donation in the United States and examined the characteristics of unrelated donor-recipient pairs.Materials and Methods: We accessed United Network for Organ Sharing files to identify adult living donor renal transplant recipients who received a transplant between 1997 and 2007. We evaluated factors associated with unrelated donation and compared a composite index of the socioeconomic characteristics of donor and recipient ZIP Codes between living unrelated and living related renal transplantation pairs. Spousal pairs were categorized as living related.Results: Of 39,168 adult renal transplant recipients 19% underwent living unrelated renal transplantation. These recipients were more likely white (vs black, Hispanic and other race OR 0.77–0.82, p <0.05) and more highly educated (college vs less than high school OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.54–0.77), and more commonly received care at high volume transplant centers (vs lowest volume centers OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.82–0.95). Liv...
Enhancing forced air convection heat transfer from an array of parallel plate fins using a heat pipe

Abstract An experimental study of heat transfer from an array of copper plate fins supported by a copper heat pipe and cooled by forced air flow is presented. The results are compared to an identical array of copper fins, but supported by a solid copper rod. The primary variable is the height of the fin stack, while the fin pitch, air flow rate, surface area and fin shape are fixed. The results show that for some conditions fins of fixed pitch supported by a heat pipe dissipate higher heat transfer rates for the same surface temperature than fin arrays supported by a solid rod. The difference in heat transfer rates decreases as the height of the fin stack decreases. Maximum steady state heat fluxes and total powers were measured to be 80 W cm2 and 800 W, respectively, for the tallest fin stack studied (10.16 cm) for an approach air velocity of 5.9 m s−1 and a surface temperature rise above the ambience of 160°. The fin stack supported by a solid copper rod dissipated 30 W cm2 and 300 W for the same conditions. For the smallest height examined (2.54 cm) no significant advantage was realized by using a heat pipe to support the fin stack. A simplified analysis is also presented to predict surface temperature for a known heat input for both heat pipe supported and solid rod supported plate fin arrays. Predicted and measured values are in good agreement.
Effects of nitrogen deposition and insect herbivory on patterns of ecosystem‐level carbon and nitrogen dynamics: results from the CENTURY model

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition may indirectly affect ecosystems through depositioninduced changes in the rates of insect herbivory. Plant nitrogen (N) status can affect the consumption rates and population dynamics of herbivorous insects, but the extent to which N deposition-induced changes in herbivory might lead to changes in ecosystemlevel carbon (C) and N dynamics is unknown. We created three insect herbivory functions based on empirical responses of insect consumption and population dynamics to changes in foliar N and implemented them into the CENTURY model. We modeled the responses of C and N storage patterns and flux rates to N deposition and insect herbivory in an herbaceous system. Results from the model indicate that N deposition caused a strong increase in plant production, decreased plant C:N ratios, increased soil organic C (SOC), and enhanced rates of N mineralization. In contrast, herbivory decreased both vegetative and SOC storage and depressed N mineralization rates. The results suggest that herbivory plays a particularly important role in affecting ecosystem processes by regulating the threshold value of N deposition at which ecosystem C storage saturates; C storage saturated at lower rates of N deposition with increasing intensity of herbivory. Differences in the results among the modeled insect herbivory functions suggests that distinct physiological and population response of insect herbivores can have a large impact on ecosystem processes. Including the effects of herbivory in ecosystem studies, particularly in systems where rates of herbivory are high and linked to plant C:N, will be important in generating accurate predictions of the effects of atmospheric N deposition on ecosystem C and N dynamics.
Long Distance Agreement in Hindi-Urdu

This paper provides a new analysis of the phenomenon of Long Distance Agreement in Hindi-Urdu and argues for a dissociation between case and agreement. Long Distance Agreement involves a verb agreeing with a constituent inside the verb’s clausal complement. Long Distance Agreement and Object Agreement in Hindi-Urdu are shown to involve the same structural configurations. They both involve a head (T0) agreeing with an argument whose case-features T0 does not value. In particular, it is argued the operation Agree of Chomsky (1998, 1999, 2001) needs to be reformulated to be able to handle the facts of Hindi-Urdu Long Distance Agreement. The analysis is largely motivated on the basis of evidence from Hindi-Urdu but is shown to extend to the Long Distance Agreement facts of Tsez (Polinsky and Potsdam 2001) and Kashmiri (Subbarao and Munshi 2000).
Selective nucleation of silicon clusters in CVD

A nucleation model is developed that includes chemical etching of atoms as an additional loss process besides thermal dissociation that competes with the process of atom addition in forming a cluster. The model has the proper qualitative features to describe observations of the evolution of cluster formation on amorphous silicon substrates in the low pressure CVD of a mixture of SiH2Cl2/HCl/H2.
Establishment of human patient-derived endometrial cancer xenografts in NOD scid gamma mice for the study of invasion and metastasis.

Objective Most endometrial cancers are detected early and have a good prognosis, while some endometrial cancers are highly invasive, metastasize early, and respond suboptimally to therapy. Currently, appropriate model systems to study the aggressive nature of these tumors are lacking. The objective of this study was to establish a mouse xenograft model of endometrial tumors derived from patients in order to study the biological aggressive characteristics that underlie invasion and metastasis. Methods Endometrial tumor tissue fragments (1.5 mm×1.5 mm) from patients undergoing surgery, were transplanted under the renal capsule of NOD scid gamma mice. After 6–8 weeks, tumors were excised and serially transplanted into additional mice for propagation. Immunohistochemical analysis of the tumors was done for various tumor markers. Results Four cases of different subtypes of endometrial cancer were grown and propagated in mice. Three of the four tumor cases invaded into the kidneys and to adjacent organs. While all tumors exhibited minimal to no staining for estrogen receptor α, progesterone receptor staining was observed for tumor grafts. In addition, levels and localization of E-cadherin, cytokeratin and vimentin varied depending on subtype. Finally, all tumor xenografts stained positively for urokinase plasminogen activator while 3 tumor xenografts, which showed invasive characteristics, stained positively for urokinase plasminogen activator receptor. Conclusion Endometrial tumors transplanted under the renal capsule exhibit growth, invasion and local spread. These tumors can be propagated and used to study aggressive endometrial cancer.
Outcome between Listing and Transplantation in Pediatric Heart Transplant Candidates: Comparison of Congenital Heart Disease and Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Outcome between Listing and Transplantation in Pediatric Heart Transplant Candidates: Comparison of Congenital Heart Disease and Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Remote media vision-based computer input device

In this paper, we introduce a vision-based computer input device which has been built at the University of Georgia. The user of this system gives commands to the computer without touching any physical device. The system receives input through a CCD camera; it is PC- based and is built on top of the DOS operating system. The major components of the input device are: a monitor, an image capturing board, a CCD camera, and some software (developed by use). These are interfaced with a standard PC running under the DOS operating system.
Glutathione peroxidase and oxidative stress

In this study, overexpression of the cDNA for the major cytoplasmic glutathione peroxidase isoenzyme, GSH Peroxidase 1 (GSHPx-1), in human MCF-7 breast cancer cells has been shown to significantly increase the tolerance of these cells to oxidative stress produced by hydrogen peroxide or by the redox cycling of the quinone-containing anticancer agent doxorubicin. These experiments suggest that intracellular detoxification of hydrogen peroxide by the glutathione-glutathione peroxidase cycle plays a critical role in resistance against oxidant stress produced by xenobiotics.
Aggregation of Thick Filaments into Ribbons in Mammalian Smooth Muscle

THE thick filaments in electron micrographs of smooth muscle account quantitatively for its biochemically demonstrable myosin content1–3 and optical diffraction combined with electron microscopy has revealed a regular lateral spacing at approximately 700 A of thick filaments in rabbit portal mesenteric vein (MV) and guinea-pig taenia coli (TC) (see previous article by Rice et al.4). The belief that these thick filaments represent the organized form of myosin in mammalian smooth muscle is supported by the X-ray diffraction data which indicate a 144 A meridional reflexion in living TC5, but there is an important discrepancy between the descriptions of the thick filaments characterized in our laboratories and the ribbon-like structures described by Lowy and Small6 as the normal form of myosin in smooth muscle. We have therefore investigated the mechanisms that could lead to the aggregation of what we consider to be normal regular arrays of thick filaments into disordered ribbon-like structures.
Compiler and runtime support for out-of-core HPF programs

This paper describes the design of a compiler which can translate out-of-core programs written in a data parallel language like HPF. Such a compiler is required for compiling large scale scientific applications, such as the Grand Challenge applications, which deal with enormous quantities of data. We propose a framework by which a compiler together with appropriate runtime support can translate an out-of-core HPF program to a message passing node program with explicit parallel I/O. We describe the basic model of the compiler and the various transformations made by the compiler. We also discuss the runtime routines used by the compiler for I/O and communication. In order to minimize I/O, the runtime support system can reuse data already fetched into memory. The working of the compiler is illustrated using two out-of-core applications, namely a Laplace equation solver and LU Decomposition, together with performance results on the Intel Touchstone Delta.
Working Together: How Workplace Bonds Strengthen a Diverse Democracy

Working Together: How Workplace Bonds Strengthen a Diverse Democracy. By Cynthia Estlund. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. 240p. 18.95 paper.Writing from New York in 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville described “a society formed of all the nations of the world”—peoples of different languages, beliefs, and opinions forming a society without roots, memory, common ideas, or, indeed, a national character. What held such a polity together? “Interest. That is the secret” (Alexis de Tocqueville, “To Ernest de Chabrol 9 June 1831” in Roger Boesche, Alexis de Tocqueville: Selected Letters on Politics and Society, 1985. p. 38). Such observations and their author's subsequent hypotheses linking self-interest to the Americans' “science of association” figure centrally in recent studies of “social capital” and “strong democracy.” Cynthia Estlund contributes to the literature on communal ties, civic life, and self-government by considering the broad political effects of relationships formed in the not-so-voluntary arena of the American workplace. “Interest” that can initially amount to little more than a shared requirement to “get the job done,” the “working together” thesis maintains, may develop into shared understandings when activities undertaken in common cultivate and enlarge participants' common ground.
Differential patterns of injury to the proximal tubule of renal cortical slices following in vitro exposure to mercuric chloride, potassium dichromate, or hypoxic conditions

The innate susceptibility of renal cell types to these agents was investigated using precision-cut rabbit renal cortical slices made perpendicular to the cortical-papillary axis. Slices were incubated in DME/F12 medium containing 10 microM, 100 microM, or 1 mM concentrations of either metal for 12 hr or in Krebs-Hepes buffer gassed with nitrogen (100%) for 0.75 to 5 hr of hypoxic exposure. To simulate postischemic reperfusion, some slices were transferred to vessels gassed with oxygen after an initial hypoxic period. Mercuric chloride (100 microM) exposure resulted in damage to the straight regions of proximal tubules by 12 hr leaving convoluted regions unaffected. Hypoxia (2.25 hr) and potassium dichromate (100 microM for 12 hr) both caused injury to the convoluted proximal tubules without affecting straight proximal tubular regions. Mercury concentrations of 10 microM and 1 mM had no effect or injured all cell types within the slice, respectively. Similar results were observed for hypoxic periods less than 1.5 hr or greater than 3 hr of exposure. Potassium dichromate had no measurable affect at 10 microM, but at 1 mM focal lesions were observed after 4 hr of exposure, and by 12 hr all cell types within the slice were affected. Intracellular potassium content normalized to DNA correlated well, but always preceded the pathological lesions observed. These results demonstrate that injury to specific regions of the proximal tubule by these agents relates to an innate susceptibility of the intoxicated cell type independent of physiologic feedback or blood delivery patterns proposed as mechanisms of selective injury from in vivo studies.
Eastern European Studies: Social Sciences and Humanities Internet Resources for Students, Scholars, and General Readers

This article describes various Internet resources for Eastern European studies available to students, scholars, and general readers in the social sciences and humanities. These resources are a valuable source of general and scholarly information. The unprecedented growth of the Eastern European Internet resources allows users a glimpse into the rich cultural, linguistic, and historical diversity of the region.
Comparative Analysis of the Binding of Antibodies Prepared against the Insect Spodoptera exigua and against the Mycopathogen Nomuraea rileyi

Polyclonal antibodies were produced in mice against Spodoptera exigua (beet armyworm) larval hemolymph and hemocytes and against cell wall surfaces of hyphal bodies and hyphae of the entomopathogenic hyphomycete Nomuraea rileyi. In addition to exhibiting strong activity against their original antigenic substrates, all of the antibodies cross-react extensively with other substrates. The hemolymph antibody binds to hemocytes and vice versa, and both antibodies cross-react to the insect fat body basement membrane (extracellular matrix (ECM) and to N. rileyi and Beauveria bassiana (another entomopathogenic fungus) cell wall surfaces (ECM). Likewise, the anti-fungal antibodies cross-react with S. exigua hemolymph and hemocytes, especially the granules that may contain ECM components, and with fat body basement membrane. These cross-reactivities are specific as indicated by negative controls in the microscopy and Western blotting assays. Parallel labeling experiments using Con A suggest that the reactive epitopes contain mannose; however, none of the antibodies bind to mannose residues of nonentomopathogenic Candida albicans or Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells. Thus, these cross-reactivities suggest that the host mimicry expressed by surface components of entomopathogenic fungi represents an important pathogenic determinant.
EFFECT OF BACTERIAL AND CHEMICAL RETTING ON KENAF FIBER QUALITY

Decorticated kenaf stalks were retted by bacterial and chemical processes. Bacterial retting was done in troughs at a temperature of 30 ± 2°C. After 10 days of bacterial retting, the stalks were wa...
Handoff checklists improve the reliability of patient handoffs in the operating room and postanesthesia care unit.

SummaryBackground Ineffective communications among healthcare providers are common and increases the risk of medical errors. During the perioperative period, multiple handoffs occur within a short period of time, and failure to convey important patient information can compromise safety. We used quality improvement methodology to improve the reliability of our handoffs in the operating room and postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Methods Two quality improvement teams were developed to focus on the intraoperative and postanesthesia handoff processes. Key driver diagrams and ‘smart aims’ were developed for each process based on feedback from anesthesia and nursing staff, and handoff checklists were developed and revised using multiple plan-do-study-act cycles. Data on the reliability of the handoff processes were obtained prior to initiation of the projects and throughout the 6-month project period. Results The reliability of intraoperative anesthesia handoffs improved from 20% to 100% with use of the intraoperative handoff checklist. Similarly, with the introduction of a standardized PACU checklist, the reliability of PACU handoffs improved from 59% to greater than 90%. Conclusion We utilized quality improvement methodology to develop and implement standardized checklists for handoffs of care in the operating room and PACU. Acceptance of and adherence to the standardized handoff protocols dramatically increased the quality and reliability of our handoff process.
Serum glucose control in diabetic patients with cardiovascular disease: should we be less aggressive?

Although aggressive control of hyperglycemia significantly reduces microvascular complications in patients with diabetes, there is no clear evidence that it improves macrovascular cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. Data from recent studies suggest that intensive treatment of blood glucose has no significant effect on CVD outcomes and may even paradoxically increase cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, especially in older patients with longstanding type 2 diabetes and preexisting CVD. At present, it is prudent to aim for a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) target of 7%, provided this can be achieved without hypoglycemia and other adverse effects of antidiabetic treatment. Treatment of patients with diabetes should begin early and include intensive efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle. Less stringent HbA1c goals may be appropriate in older patients with advanced microvascular and macrovascular disease, other comorbid conditions, and a history of severe hypoglycemia. At all times, cholesterol, blood pressure, and other CVD risk factors should be aggressively managed.
Compression in faculty salaries: An empirical evaluation of merit and market based adjustments

Abstract This article examines the nature and effects of the compression of faculty salaries in higher education. A behavioral model of faculty performance and compensation is developed. The model is then tested using data from a major American university. Problems of equity and efficiency are identified and policy recommendations are offered.
Thermoregulation and sleep: Effects of thermal stress on sleep patterns of Glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens)

Abstract 1. 1. To determine effects of thermal stress on avian sleep patterns, incubating Glaucous-winged gulls were subjected to conditions of heat loss and heat gain via conduction from hollow copper eggs. 2. 2. Heated manipulations resulted in significant reductions in sleep and rest relative to controls, whereas cooled manipulations had little effect. 3. 3. The resilience of sleep to thermal stress is greater than that of rest. We suggest that the incompatability of sleep with conductive processes to off-load heat from the eggs is responsible in this case. 4. 4. Pant Sleep, the behaviour in which birds appear to maintain some the benefits of both sleep and panting, is not used as a thermoregulatory strategy, but may allow some sleep when under thermal loading.
Processes and methodologies for research validation of nursing diagnoses.

TOPIC. Research validation of nursing diagnoses. PURPOSE. To provide a historical review of processes and methodologies for research validation of nursing diagnoses and suggested directions for future nursing diagnosis research. SOURCES.Nursing diagnosis research methodologies and processes from the Invitational Conference on Research Methods for Validating Nursing Diagnoses, Nursing Diagnosis: The Journal of Nursing Language and Classification, and the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) conference proceedings for the first through the 12th conferences. CONCLUSIONS.Future nursing diagnosis research should include concept analysis, expert validation, clinical validation, instrument development, larger studies, powerful statistical analyses, replication and comparison of studies, and concerted efforts to support group research activities that target priority areas of research.
Irreversible Compression of Medical Images

The volume of data from medical imaging is growing at exponential rates, matching or exceeding the decline in the costs of digital data storage. While methods to reversibly compress image data do exist, current methods only achieve modest reductions in storage requirements. Irreversible compression can achieve substantially higher compression ratios without perceptible image degradation. These techniques are routinely applied in teleradiology, and often in Picture Archiving and Communications Systems. The practicing radiologist needs to understand how these compression techniques work and the nature of the degradation that occurs in order to optimize their medical practice. This paper describes the technology and artifacts commonly used in irreversible compression of medical images.
Self-monitoring of blood glucose experiences of adults with type 2 diabetes

Purpose The purpose of this study was to analyze the experiences of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) usage of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who are not using insulin. Data sources Nineteen adults were asked to describe their experiences with self-monitoring. Data were analyzed using the grounded theory method. Conclusions The theory of “SMBG as a Cue in T2DM Self-Care” emerged from the data and is composed of four categories: (a) Engaging, (b) Checking, (c) Responding, and (d) Establishing a Pattern. Engaging marks the beginning. Frequent monitoring characterizes this stage. Checking involves evaluating and validating the blood glucose level. The most common item evaluated or validated was the effect of foods. Responding involves taking action or experiencing emotion. Actions taken centered on dietary changes. Emotions felt were dependent on the level and ranged from blame to happiness. Participants established a pattern and used SMBG regularly or sporadically. Frequency was based on obtaining “normal” patterns, the absence of symptoms, provider disinterest, and fingertip pain. Implications for practice Participants described many benefits and struggles when incorporating SMBG into their self-care. Information from this study could be used to develop effective guidelines for the use of SMBG in T2DM.
QoS-Aware Relay Node Placement in a Segmented Wireless Sensor Network

In some applications of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) it may be necessary to federate a number of disjoint segments. Linking these segments may be subject to varying inter-segment quality of service (QoS) requirements. This paper presents an effective approach for federating these segments. The main idea is to place relay nodes (RNs) in order to establish inter-segment connectivity with the least number of RNs while meeting the desired QoS requirements. Finding the optimal number and position of RNs is shown to be NP-hard and heuristics are thus pursued. The deployment area is modeled as a grid with equal-sized cells. Each cell is evaluated based on the residual capabilities of RNs populated in the cell. The optimization problem is then mapped to finding the cell-based least cost paths that collectively meet the QoS requirements. The performance of the proposed approach is validated through simulation
2.3.1 Examining the Necessity and Benefits of Systems Engineering in the Trenches

This paper examines the necessity and benefits of systems engineering in the trenches1. Planner, orchestrator, negotiator, relationship builder, and communicator are key roles for a systems engineer to take in the trenches. The systems engineering approaches used and roles taken to provide technical and business process engineering solutions required to implement collaboration2 that operators used successfully to coordinate and approve fixed targets during the Operation Allied Force air campaign are documented. System objectives were: modify the existing process, leveraging collaboration to improve the effectiveness of information processes; improve product quality; and benefit federated efforts by geographically separated partners. This systems engineering effort took place at the United States European Command (USEUCOM) from February 1998 to June 1999 and continues as of this publication. USEUCOM targets community representatives estimate that using collaboration decreased target approval time from 2–4 days to 2–3 hours. Participants indicated collaboration improved process efficiencies, product quality, and synchronization. The success increased interest in and expansion of collaboration within the intelligence and operations communities, including expansion to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Clearly, the results and impact on mission effectiveness indicate systems engineering in the trenches is both necessary and beneficial.
New state variable device opportunities for beyond CMOS: A system perspective

As semiconductor technology moves closer to the ultimate physical limits for scaling of devices that utilize electrons as information bearing particles, many new opportunities for research in the physical sciences are emerging. If we look beyond the limits of scaling electron devices, many more challenging research opportunities exist in the areas of physics of information carriers and physics of communication. A trend, synergistic with scaling, is the use of semiconductor technologies for diverse integrated systems applications. Decreasing physical size of the system may increase both system capability and application space. Therefore, in parallel with device scaling trends and limits, in the second part of this talk we consider system scaling.
Imaging fluorescence resonance energy transfer in scattering media using optical diffusion tomography

We present experiments and simulations that show the microscopic fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) donor-acceptor distance can be determined using a diffusion model. The approach could lead to deep tissue in-vivo FRET imaging.
Two solenogaster molluscs, Ocheyoherpia trachia n.sp. from Macquarie Island and Tegulaherpia tasmanica Salvini-Plawen from Bass Strait (Aplacophora: Neomeniomorpha)

Tegulaherpia tasmanica Salvini-Plawen is herein redescribed and illustrated from 22 individuals collected in Bass Strait and expands the original text diagnosis to include illustrations. Similarities between Tegulaherpia, which belongs to the Lepidomeniidae, and the written description and figures of Lepidomenia hystrix Marion & Kowalevsky, the nominate species for which there is no known type, suggests synonymy. Nineteen individuals of Ocheyoherpia trachia n.sp. were collected at diving depths from Macquarie Island. It is the second species to be described in the previously monotypic subantarctic genus Ocheyoherpia Salvini-Plawen and differs from O. lituifera in its shorter epidermal spicules, dorsal carina, size of radula, number of copulatory spicules and their relationship to the large copulatory spicule glands, a large dorsal sinus, and thin cuticle. Familial status is shown to be uncertain. In both T. tasmanica and O. trachia the morphology of hard parts (epidermal spicules, radula, and copulatory spicules) is emphasized. The reproductive system is described for T. tasmanica and remarks made on differences in the reproductive systems of the two Ocheyoherpia species.
A Model of the Unsteady Behavior of Long Duration Helium Dewar

A numerical model has been developed for simulating the unsteady behavior of a dewar for helium storage. The model includes the dynamic behavior of the vapor cooled shields, MLI insulation, and the effect of parallel conduction and radiation paths. An implicit finite difference program was developed to take into account the time dependent variation of the gas flow through the heat exchanger of each shield, the heat capacity of the shield material, the conductive heat transfer and radiative heat transfer in the system. Initial conditions can be input to any of the shields, the outside temperature, or pumping pressure.
Detailed analysis of evolution of the state of polarization in all-fiber polarization transformers.

We present a detailed analysis of key attributes and performance characteristics of controllably-spun birefringent-fiber-based all-fiber waveplates or “all fiber polarization transformers” (AFPTs), first proposed and demonstrated by Huang [11]; these AFPTs consist essentially of a long carefully-designed “spin-twisted” high-birefringence fiber, fabricated by slowly varying the spin rate of a birefringent fiber preform (either from very fast to very slow or vice versa) while the fiber is being drawn. The evolution of the eigenstate from a linear polarization state to a circular polarization state, induced by slow variation of the intrinsic structure from linear anisotropy at the unspun end to circular anisotropy at the fast-spun end, enables the AFPT to behave like an all-fiber quarter-wave plate independent of the wavelength of operation. Power coupling between local eigenstates causes unique evolution of the polarization state along the fiber, and has been studied to gain insight into – as well as to understand detailed characteristics of -- the polarization transformation behavior. This has been graphically illustrated via plots of the relative power in these local eigenstates as a function of distance along the length of the fiber and plots of the extinction ratio of the output state of polarization (SOP) as a function of distance and the normalized spin rate. Deeper understanding of such polarization transformers has been further elucidated by quantitative calculations related to two crucial requirements for fabricating practical AFPT devices. Our calculations have also indicated that the polarization mode dispersion behaviour of the AFPT is much smaller than that of the original birefringent fiber. Finally, a specific AFPT was experimentally investigated at two widely-separated wavelengths (1310 nm and 1550 nm) of interest in telecommunications systems applications, further demonstrating and elucidating the broadband character of such AFPTs.