cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From compliance to a growth strategy

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore historical paths of successful companies’ sustainability commitment, discover internal and external forces that shaped today’s sustainability leaders and show how companies implemented efforts toward sustainability to respond to those circumstances. It offers an in-depth understanding of sustainability-related strategies implemented by highly sustainable companies and serves as encouraging cases for other companies willing to engage in sustainability. Design/methodology/approach – This research took a case-study approach to help build a new theory toward sustainability development and approaches. A content analysis and review of both companies’ annual financial reports and corporate sustainability reports, between 1995 and 2012, and relevant news articles was performed. Findings – Data analysis showed that companies initiated and executed various strategies sustainability in their business, which evolved into themes for their stages of growth. Findings sho...
Application of peptide LC retention time information in a discriminant function for peptide identification by tandem mass spectrometry.

We describe the application of a peptide retention time reversed phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) prediction model previously reported (Petritis et al. Anal. Chem. 2003, 75, 1039) for improved peptide identification. The model uses peptide sequence information to generate a theoretical (predicted) elution time that can be compared with the observed elution time. Using data from a set of known proteins, the retention time parameter was incorporated into a discriminant function for use with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data analyzed with the peptide/protein identification program SEQUEST. For singly charged ions, the number of confident identifications increased by 12% when the elution time metric is included compared to when mass spectral data is the sole source of information in the context of a Drosophila melanogaster database. A 3−4% improvement was obtained for doubly and triply charged ions for the same biological system. Application to the larger Rattus norvegicus (rat) and human proteome datab...
The role of plasma lipids in carotid bifurcation atherosclerosis

The severity of coronary artery atherosclerosis correlates with increased plasma concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides and with decreased plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The role of plasma lipoproteins in the pathogenesis of cerebral atherosclerosis, however, is less clear. Several investigators report that lipoprotein abnormalities correlate inversely with the incidence of cerebral infarction. We analyzed risk factors for carotid bifurcation atherosclerosis in 121 consecutive patients who underwent cerebral angiography. This analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between the plasma TC/HDL-C ratio and the extent of carotid bifurcation atherosclerosis (p = 0.01). The extent of atherosclerosis correlated inversely with plasma concentrations of HDL-C (p = 0.02). Triglyceride concentration correlated positively with the extent of atherosclerosis with marginal significance (p = 0.07). LDL-C and TC concentrations did not correlate with bifurcation atherosclerosis (p greater than 0.1). Only 4% of the variation in the extent of bifurcation atherosclerosis was explicable on the basis of plasma lipoprotein concentrations.
940-74 Spontaneous Delayed Reperfusion of Infarcted Area Limits Progressive LV Remodeling After Anterior Q-Wave MI

We recently documented that perfusion and contraction in the infarct zone improve after the first 5 weeks after MI in a substantial percentage of pts (delayed reperfusion), suggesting a period of hibernation after acute MI. Although early reperfusion is known to prevent LV remodeling, it is unknown whether this delayed (g5 weeks) spontaneous reperfusion has any effect on progressive LV remodeling. Thus, we evaluated prospectively 79 consecutive pts (50 ± 8 years; thrombolysis in 58 pts) 5 weeks and 7 months after a first uncomplicated Q-wave anterior MI. Resting regional contraction and perfusion were serially evaluated by quantitative 2D–echo and Sestamibi tomography. At 5 weeks, all pts had significant (g2SD normal valuesl wall motion abnormalities (WMA) and perfusion defects in the infarcted area. A significant (g95% reproducibility limits) improvement of perfusion in the infarcted area was documented at 7 months in 50 pts (63%, REP) while perfusion was unchanged/worsened in 29 pts InoREP). At 5 weeks, the extent of perfusion defect and WMA in the infarcted area, EF, end-diastolic volume index (EDVi, ml/m2), regional dilation (RDIL) and expansion index (EXP) were comparable between REP and noREP. At 7 months, noREP pts showed increased EDVi (66 ± 14 vs 70 ± 18, P l 0.05). a slight increase in RDIL (27 ± 25% vs 32 ± 30%, NS), with unchanged WMA (37 ± 14% vs 36 ± 17%), EF (45 ± 12% vs 46 ± 13%) and EXP (1.1 ± 0.1 vs 1.1 ± 0.3). In contrast, REP pts showed no changes in EDVi (60 ± 15 vs 61 ± 18) and RDIL (21 ± 21% vs 21 ± 26%) and improvement in WMA (31 ± 15% vs 26 ± 20%, P l 0.05). EF (51 ± 13% vs 55 ± 14%, p l 0.01) and EXP (1.1 ± 0.1 vs 1.0 ± 0.4, P l 0.05). The results suggest, for the first time, that spontaneous reperfusion occurring as late asg5 weeks after anterior Q-wave MI can limit the degree of LV remodeling at 7 months. This raises the possibility that delayed (g5 weeks) interventional recanalization may be beneficial in pts with persistent perfusion defects after acute MI.
Mechanisms of the photosensitized oxidation of tyramine.

Abstract— …According to the criteria of enhancement in D2O and inhibition by sodium azide, the oxidation of tyramine photosensitized by methylene blue is largely a singlet oxygen or Type II process. Its quantum yield approximates 0.3 in D2O at pH 10. There is a less efficient reaction not quenched by azide, which is assigned to a dye-substrate or Type I process. It gives rise to products with distinct bands at 320 and 285nm. Products of the Type I reaction are further oxidized by singlet oxygen and thereby compete with tyramine for this reagent. Kinetic parameters were estimated by computer simulation of the dependence of quantum yield on extent of reaction. The rate constant for reaction of O2 (1Δg) with tyramine was estimated to be 2.8 × 108M-1s-1± 20% at pH 10. The reaction was also sensitized by hypericin in what appears to be a Type II process.
Determinants of Iodothyronine Deiodinase Activities in Rodent Uterus

The deiodinase types 2 and 3 (D2, D3), which convert T4 to active and inactive metabolites, respectively, are expressed in the rodent uterus and highly induced during pregnancy. To examine the factors regulating the expression of these enzymes in this tissue, we studied D2 and D3 activity in pregnant rats, in pseudopregnant rats before and after the induction of artificial decidualization, and in ovariectomized rats treated with 17β-estradiol (E2) and/or progesterone (P). Our results demonstrate that induction of D3 activity begins immediately after implantation and increases markedly over the next 72 h. A similar time course and magnitude of D3 induction is noted in the artificially decidualized uterus in pseudopregnant rats, whereas only minimal increases in activity are observed in the nondecidualized control uterine horns in the same animal. In contrast, D2 activity is not induced by a decidualization stimulus. In spontaneously cycling female rats, both D2 and D3 were observed to be 3- to 8-fold highe...
Anti-hermitian contracted schrödinger equation: direct determination of the two-electron reduced density matrices of many-electron molecules.

Two-electron reduced density matrices (2-RDMs) of many-electron molecules are directly determined without calculation of their wave functions by solving the anti-Hermitian contracted Schr\"odinger equation. Approximation of the 3-RDM in the anti-Hermitian contracted Schr\"odinger equation by a corrected cumulant expansion [Mazziotti, Phys. Rev. A 60, 3618 (1999)] permits the direct calculation of the energy and 2-RDM with many high-order correlation effects included. The method is illustrated for the molecules ${\mathrm{BeH}}_{2}$, ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}\mathrm{O}$, ${\mathrm{NH}}_{3}$, ${\mathrm{CH}}_{4}$, and CO as well as the dissociation of BH. Correlation energies are obtained within 95%--100% of full-configuration interaction, and 2-RDMs very nearly satisfy known $N$-representability conditions.
Electron microscopy and optical properties of small gold and silver particles in glass

Transmission electron micrographs of small gold and silver particles grown in glass show uniform particle size in a particular sample. The silhouettes of the particles are those expected for pure particles of f c c metals. From the particle sizes measured from the micrographs and the kinetics of particle growth, the diffusion coefficient of gold in the glass is calculated. This calculation allows particle sizes early in the growth process to be estimated. The optical absorption spectrum for particles containing about 100 atoms is shown.
Infrared Spectroscopy of TeF6

Abstract Fourier transform and grating IR spectrometers and tunable diode lasers have been used to record the IR spectrum of TeF 6 . The isotopic structure in the stretching fundamental ν 3 is resolved, revealing a tellurium isotope shift of approximately 0.68 cm −1 amu −1 . Some of the rotational structure in the P and R branches of ν 3 of 99.3% 130 TeF 6 is also resolved and analyzed to yield a Coriolis constant ζ 3 = 0.225. Integrated absorptivities are reported for ν 3 and for the stronger combination bands. The isotope shifts and Coriolis constants are used to fix the general quadratic symmetry and valence force fields, and the force constants of the Group VI series SF 6 , SeF 6 , and TeF 6 are compared and discussed.
Characterization of the bile acid profile in developing male and female hamsters in response to dietary cholesterol challenge.

Abstract The Syrian golden hamster is a frequently used model to study cholesterol and bile acid metabolism as well as cholesterol-induced cholelithiasis. However, diet-induced gallstones seem limited to young male hamsters of certain strains that develop depressed cholate/chenodeoxycholate bile acid ratios. To further elucidate gender and age specific aspects of cholesterol and bile acid metabolism, i.e. a possible age-related bile acid/gallstone relationship, plasma and biliary lipids and bile acid composition were analyzed in male and female hamsters under various physiological conditions of age and diet, the latter formulated with and without dietary cholesterol. During normal development (no cholesterol challenge) the percentage of cholic acid decreased while chenodeoxycholate increased, the shift being more pronounced in males. Furthermore, female hamsters had higher total plasma cholesterol than in males, while hepatic and biliary lipids did not differ. When challenged with excessive dietary cholesterol, female hamsters again developed significantly higher total plasma and hepatic cholesterol concentrations. Biliary lipids and cholesterol gallstone incidence revealed a significant gender effect with male hamsters developing a higher lithogenic index and more gallstones (cholesterol and pigment stones) than females. Female hamsters revealed a lower percentage of chenodeoxycholate and a higher percentage of cholate resulting in a more protective, higher cholate/cheno ratio (1.5±1.0) than in males (1.0±0.2). In summary, the bile acid pattern in developing and cholesterol-fed hamsters renders females less susceptible to gallstones, in part because they maintain more favorable biliary lipid and bile acid profiles, characterized by lower molar percentages of biliary cholesterol and chenodeoxycholate.
Long-run relations among the G-5 and G-7 equity markets: Evidence on the Plaza and Louvre Accords

Abstract This paper examines the long-run relation between two systems of equity markets in the post Bretton Woods era. In particular, we examine whether central bank intervention as prescribed by the Plaza and Louvre Accords impacted the long-run relationships characterizing the system of G-5 and G-7 equity markets, respectively. Evidence suggests that both systems have been affected by exchange rate intervention. Specifically, results indicate that following each agreement the systems exhibit more cointegrating vectors, more rapid speeds of adjustment to the long-run equilibrium relationships and shorter half lives of disequilibrium errors.
A computer program for transition life tables.

Abstract A computer program is described based on the method of Mantel and Byar [1] to compare the survival experience of two groups of patients when transitions (crossovers) occur between treatment groups. The program allows for at most one transition per case and computes the Mantel-Haenszel statistic as well as an overall estimate of relative risk. Data from the Stanford Heart Transplant program [2] are used to illustrate use of the program.
Patient attitudes toward medical student participation in a general internal medicine clinic.

OBJECTIVE: To study patient attitudes toward medical students in a faculty academic general internal medicine practice.
Evaluation of changes in the size and location of the prostate, seminal vesicles, bladder, and rectum during a course of external beam radiation therapy

Purpose : To document the size and location of the prostate, seminal vesicles, bladder, and rectum throughout the course of external beam radiotherapy. The frequency and range of motion of these organs are quantified. Methods and Materials : Ten patients with localized carcinoma of the prostate had conventional simulation followed immediately by a treatment planning computed tomography scan (TPCT 0 ). Once treatment was initiated, each patient had a weekly CT (TPCT 1-N ) before or after his daily treatment. Anatomical structures from CT were delineated on a computer workstation for analysis. The serial CT sets were spatially registered to the initial scan using image correlation software that brings into congruence the bony pelvis of the different scans. The location of the prostate, seminal vesicles, bladder, and rectum on subsequent scans were compared to TPCT 0 , as well as to each other. Results : Prostate volumes were observed to vary by an average of ±10% during the course of radiation therapy, while the seminal vesicle volumes varied by as much as 100%. Bladder and rectal volumes varied by ±30%. Compared to TPCT 0 , movement of the prostate was demonstrated in all patients. Quantitation of the center-of-mass (CM) showed motion of less than 1 mm in the left-right direction, while motion ranging from 0 to ± 1 cm was observed in the anterior-posterior and superior-inferior directions. The individual standard deviations of these motions varied from approximately 1-5 mm. These variations were correlated to changes in the dimensions of the bladder and rectum. Conclusions : Changes in the location of the prostate, seminal vesicles, and normal tissue volumes during the course of radiation therapy occur and have dosimetric consequences that may impact tumor control and normal tissue complication probabilities. Conformal therapy for prostate cancer will require the incorporation of knowledge of the anatomic relationships of these structures as a function of time. Therefore, these uncertainties must be taken into account when designing treatment plans and in considering dose escalation trials.
Estimating Correlates of Growth between Mathematics and Science Achievement via a Multivariate Multilevel Design with Latent Variables.

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to improve a multivariate multilevel model in the research literature which estimates the consistency in the rates of growth between mathematics and science achievement among students and schools. We introduced a new multivariate multilevel model via a latent variable approach. Data from the Longitudinal Study of American Youth (LSAY) provided scores on basic skills, algebra, geometry, and quantitative literacy as indicators of the latent variable mathematics achievement, and scores on biology, physics, and environmental science as indicators of the latent variable science achievement. Using this multivariate multilevel model with latent variables, we examined the relationship between growth in mathematics and science achievement during middle and high school among students and schools, and we demonstrated that such a model was more sensitive to this relationship.
Advances and challenges in the management of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ogilvie syndrome).

Although acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO), also known as Ogilvie syndrome, is a well-known clinical entity, in many respects it remains poorly understood and continues to challenge physicians and surgeons alike. Our understanding of ACPO continues to evolve and its epidemiology has changed as new conditions have been identified predisposing to ACPO with critical illness providing the common thread among them. A physician must keep ACPO high in the list of differential diagnoses when dealing with the patient experiencing abdominal distention, and one must be prepared to employ and interpret imaging studies to exclude mechanical obstruction. Rapid diagnosis is the key, and institution of conservative measures often will lead to resolution. Fortunately, when this fails pharmacologic intervention with neostigmine often proves effective. However, it is not a panacea: consensus on dosing does not exist, administration techniques vary and may impact efficacy, contraindications limit its use, and persistence and or recurrence of ACPO mandate continued search for additional medical therapies. When medical therapy fails or is contraindicated, endoscopy offers effective intervention with advanced techniques such as decompression tubes or percutaneous endoscopic cecostomy providing effective results. Operative intervention remains the treatment of last resort; surgical outcomes are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Therefore, a surgeon should be aware of all options for decompression—conservative, pharmacologic, and endoscopic—and use them in best combination to the advantage of patients who often suffer from significant concurrent illnesses making them poor operative candidates.
Impact of Early Renal Recovery on Survival After Cardiac Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury

Background Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) is a major postoperative complication. Although some early recovery is common, its effect on long-term outcomes is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that early renal recovery after CSA-AKI is independently associated with improved long-term survival. Methods Data were examined for 10,275 consecutive patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting from 1996 to 2005. Patients with CSA-AKI were identified, defined as a peak postoperative creatinine level exceeding 50% above baseline. Renal recovery was characterized using postoperative creatinine values. The recovery variable with the strongest association with 1-year survival was selected and validated internally. The independent association of early renal recovery with long-term survival during a 10-year follow-up was assessed with Cox proportional hazards modeling. Results CSA-AKI occurred in 1113 patients (10.8%). The renal recovery variable with the strongest association with 1-year survival was the percentage decrease in creatinine 24 hours after its peak value (PD24; C index, 0.72; p = 0.002). Cox proportional hazards analysis showed a significant negative association between PD24 and long-term mortality (0.82 hazard ratio for each 10% change). Conclusions Early recovery of renal function is associated with improved long-term survival after CSA-AKI. This variable is clinically useful because it occurs immediately after the peak creatinine level and simultaneously helps define the severity of AKI and the magnitude of recovery. Given the high risk of death associated with postoperative AKI, early renal recovery seems to offer a distinct survival benefit and may represent an important therapeutic focus.
Stable Accumulation of σ54 in Helicobacter pylori Requires the Novel Protein HP0958

Several flagellar genes in Helicobacter pylori are dependent on sigma(54) (RpoN) for their expression. These genes encode components of the basal body, the hook protein, and a minor flagellin, FlaB. A protein-protein interaction map for H. pylori constructed from a high-throughput screen of a yeast two-hybrid assay (http://pim.hybrigenics.com/pimriderext/common/) revealed interactions between sigma(54) and the conserved hypothetical protein HP0958. To see if HP0958 influences sigma(54) function, the corresponding gene was disrupted with a kanamycin resistance gene (aphA3) in H. pylori ATCC 43504 and the resulting mutant was analyzed. The hp0958:aphA3 mutant was nonmotile and failed to produce flagella. Introduction of a functional copy of hp0958 into the genome of the hp0958:aphA3 mutant restored flagellar biogenesis and motility. The hp0958:aphA3 mutant was deficient in expressing two sigma(54)-dependent reporter genes, flaB'-'xylE and hp1120'-'xylE. Levels of sigma(54) in the hp0958 mutant were substantially lower than those in the parental strain, suggesting that the failure of the mutant to express the genes in the RpoN regulon and produce flagella was due to reduced sigma(54) levels. Expressing sigma(54) at high levels by putting rpoN under the control of the ureA promoter restored flagellar biogenesis and motility in the hp0958:aphA3 mutant. Turnover of sigma(54) was more rapid in the hp0958:aphA3 mutant than it was in the wild-type strain, suggesting that HP0958 supports wild-type sigma(54) levels in H. pylori by protecting it from proteolysis.
Reciprocal Allogrooming in Wild Impala Lambs

Adult impala engage in a form of reciprocal allogrooming distinguished by a high degree of reciprocity and ***lack of influence of dominance or relatedness on partner preference or distribution of grooming between partners. A previous study on reciprocal allogrooming of captive newborn impala lambs in a zoological park found that the allogrooming emerged as early as the first week after birth and was identical in structure and reciprocity to allogrooming in adults. Because these findings of apparently unique allogrooming behavior of newborn impala could have been a reflection of the effects of being born and raised in a small, stable captive herd, it was necessary to investigate reciprocal allogrooming in newborn impala in the wild. The emergence, reciprocity, rate, and partner distribution of reciprocal allogrooming in wild newborn impala were observed at two study sites: a national park in Zimbabwe and a game farm in South Africa. Maternal one-way grooming between mother and newborn emerged as distinct from reciprocal allogrooming and rapidly declined after week 1 postpartum. Reciprocal allogrooming by lambs was first seen between 5 and 8 d postpartum, and as soon as the behavior occurred it was the same basic pattern as seen in adult impala. The reciprocity index for lambs was near 0.5, indicating that lambs delivered as much grooming during an encounter as the partner. Lambs were grooming frequently with non-mother adults and other lambs by week 1 or 2; by week 3 and onward the allogrooming rate of lambs was more than twice that of their mothers, as predicted by the body size principle of the programmed grooming model. The strong predisposition of neonatal impala lambs to deliver reciprocal allogrooming as early as the first or second week postpartum would appear to reflect a genetically acquired adaptation to the threat of tick infestation in their natural habitat.
Estimations of Vapor Pressures by Thermogravimetric Analysis of the Insensitive Munitions IMX-101, IMX-104, and Individual Components

We have calculated the vapor pressures of the new explosives ordnances IMX-101 and IMX-104 and their respective components, 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), nitroguanidine (NQ), nitrotriazolone (NTO), and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) by the method of rising temperature thermogravimetric analysis. Clausius-Clapeyron relationships were assumed for each case and the vapor pressures were estimated from the Langmuir equation over an appropriate temperature range just below substance melting/decomposition points. For vapor pressures extrapolated to room temperature, the rank with respect to decreasing volatility was found to be: DNAN>IMX-104>IMX-101>NQ>RDX>NTO. Interestingly, vapor pressure depression is observed in IMX formulations, where the formulation has a lower vapor pressure than its most volatile component, DNAN. The enthalpy of sublimation was determined for each substance and formulation from Clausius-Clapeyron equations generated by analysis of the thermogravimetric data. The general trends in vapor pressures and sublimation enthalpies associated with the component materials were in good agreement with previous experimental and computational results. The results obtained by this study have importance for future investigations of IMX, specifically for chemical detection and assessment of environmental fate.
Paul E. Meehl's influence on experimental psychopathology: Fruits of the nexus of schizotypy and schizophrenia, neurology, and methodology

Paul E. Meehl made numerous contributions to clinical science and a hallmark of many of these contributions was their integrative nature. Meehl's positions on complex topics, especially one such as schizophrenia, were reflective of input from a variety of disciplines and levels of analysis. In this essay the authors focus on Meehl's uniquely rich contribution to our understanding of schizophrenia through his theoretical model of schizotypy, his abiding interest in exploring neurologically based indicators of schizophrenia liability and encouragement to others to pursue such indicators, and his passion for rigorous research methodology. Meehl's contributions in each of these areas continue to influence the direction and research strategies used in experimental psychopathology to illuminate the fundamental nature of schizophrenia. These contributions have also shaped inquiry into many other psychopathological entities.
Prostate cancer expression profiling by cDNA sequencing analysis.

Prostate cancer is a frequently diagnosed solid tumor that is originated mostly from prostate epithelium. One of the key issues in prostate cancer research is to develop molecular markers that can effectively detect and distinguish the progression and malignancy of prostate tumors. Automated, single-pass cDNA sequencing was utilized to rapidly identify expressed genes in a number of cDNA libraries constructed from various normal and tumor prostatic tissues. These included cell lines as well as short-term epithelial culture. A total of 6604 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were generated and searched against on-line nucleotide and protein databases. A relational database centric software system was constructed to process, store, and analyze EST data rapidly. cDNA contigs were also obtained by assembly of multiple EST sequences. Protein structural signatures were annotated using motif analysis tools including BLOCKS and an in-house-designed neural network. Cross-library comparisons revealed their unique gene expression profiles. Several differentially expressed cDNA clones were identified, and their expression patterns were confirmed by RNA dot blot and RT-PCR analyses.
CSf studies on alcoholism and related behaviours

1. A defect in central serotonin metabolism may manifest itself in poor impulse control leading to attempts at suicide, violence towards others, and Type II alcohol abuse. 2. Studies reporting negative associations between low CSF levels of the serotonin metabolite 5-HIAA and personality traits of aggressiveness and hostility are reviewed. 3. We also studied pathological gamblers. They showed significantly increased central noradrenaline metabolism, perhaps related to sensation seeking.
Actinic cheilitis. Treatment with the carbon dioxide laser

Actinic cheilitis is a premalignant condition that can be treated in several ways. A total of 43 patients with biopsy-proven actinic cheilitis were treated with the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. After follow-up of at least 10 months, 26 patients thought that the lip was cosmetically improved, and 40 thought that the function of the lip was improved or had not changed. Complications were few and included only mild hypertrophic scarring, which resulted most often from the diagnostic biopsy and was corrected with topical or intralesional steroids or no therapy except simple massage. The CO2 laser is a simple, inexpensive, effective therapy for actinic cheilitis.
Isolation of adipose derived stem cells and their induction to a chondrogenic phenotype

The ability to isolate, expand and differentiate adult stem cells into a chondrogenic lineage is an important step in the development of tissue engineering approaches for cartilage repair or regeneration for the treatment of joint injury or osteoarthritis, as well as for their application in plastic or reconstructive surgery. Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) provide an abundant and easily accessible source of adult stem cells for use in such regenerative approaches. This protocol first describes the isolation of ASCs from liposuction aspirate. The cell culture conditions provided for ASC expansion provide a large number of multipotent stem cells. Instructions for growth factor-based induction of ASCs into chondrocyte-like cells using either cell pellet or alginate bead systems are detailed. These methods are similar to those published for chondrogenesis of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells but distinct because of the unique nature of ASCs. Investigators can expect consistent differentiation of ASCs, allowing for slight variation as a result of donor and serum lot effects. Approximately 10-12 weeks are needed for the entire process of ASC isolation, including the characterization of chondrocyte-like cells, which is also described.
On the derivation of Michell's theorem

In the classical proofs (proofs along the lines of the original proof) of Michell's theorem on the limits of economy of material in frame structures [i], or in using Maxwell's lemma [2] to find the minimum weight truss for a restricted class of loadings [3], it has been assumed that the minimum weight structure will be fully stressed. The assumption is explicitly stated in the version of the proof given by Cox [3], but is only implied in the original proof [I]. The validity of this assumption is obvious for statically determinate trusses. For statically indeterminate trusses, the sizing of one member can affect the forces in other members and therefore can affect the minimum weights of other members. For this reason, if it is not known in advance that the minimum weight truss will be statically determinate, it is not obvious that the minimum weight truss will be fully stressed. However, even for statically determinate Michell or Maxwell structures, previous classical proofs are not valid. The statical determinancy of that structure, which results from a derivation that assumes the minimum weight structure will be fully stressed, cannot be used to justify the assumption which produced that result. It is felt that a proof of Michell's theorem or use of Maxwell's lemma that makes an unsubstantiated fully stressed assumption is incomplete and therefore incorrect. What follows are the modifications in the use of Maxwell's lemma and of the proof of ~ichell's theorem; following the format in Reference [3], that does not make a fully stressed assumption, but instead proves the minimum weight structure will be fully stressed. The final results in both cases are unchanged but correct proofs are provided.
On stochastic reductions in molecular collision theory: Projection operator formalism; application to classical and quantum forced oscillator model

A method is developed for treating complex molecular collision processes through the application of stochastic reduction formalisms. We begin by describing a projection operator method for decomposing a complicated collision system into two (or more) subsystems, each of which is assumed to be weakly correlated (not necessarily weakly interacting) with the others. Approximations to this correlation are then introduced, and this results in a set of coupled equations for the reduced density operators (or classical phase space distributions) associated with each subsystem. We then examine the classical mechanical application of this theory to the forced oscillator model of V–T energy transfer. Arguments of multiple time scales are used to uncouple the stochastically reduced equations of motion, and thus we may evaluate the memory kernel analytically. This leads to a single diffusion equation for the time evolution of the action in the oscillator during the collision. Comparison with the corresponding exact re...
Pulmonary Blood Flow and Pulmonary Hypertension: Is the Pulmonary Circulation Flowophobic or Flowophilic?:

AbstractIncreased pulmonary blood flow (PBF) is widely thought to provoke pulmonary vascular obstructive disease (PVO), but the impact of wall shear stress in the lung is actually poorly defined. We examined information from patients having cardiac lesions which impact the pulmonary circulation in distinct ways, as well as experimental studies, asking how altered hemodynamics impact the risk of developing PVO. Our results are as follows: (1) with atrial septal defect (ASD; increased PBF but low PAP), shear stress may be increased but there is little tendency to develop PVO; (2) with normal PBF but increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR; mitral valve disease) shear stress may also be increased but risk of PVO still low; (3) with high PVR and PBF (e.g., large ventricular septal defect), wall shear stress is markedly increased and the likelihood of developing PVO is much higher than with high PBF or PAP only; and (4) with ASD, experimental and clinical observations suggest that increased PBF plus anoth...
Maternal pregnancy weight gain and cord blood iron status are associated with eosinophilia in infancy.

Maternal pregnancy weight gain and cord blood iron status are associated with eosinophilia in infancy
LibraryThing for libraries at Claremont

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to share the experience of implementing LibraryThing for Libraries (LTFL) at the Claremont University Consortium's libraries, the first US academic library to try LTFL.Design/methodology/approach – The objectives are to share CUC's experience with LTFL, sharing a list of pros and cons about the tool, implementation of the tool, experiences with the tool, and future steps planned by LTFL.Findings – Claremont University Consortium finds the tool to be a helpful overlay of user‐generated tags and suggested readings based on tags over the current bibliographic information provided in the traditional library catalog. Implementation of LTFL is easy, LTFL provides significant and immediate support, and is useful for finding items for research as well as for browsing.Originality/value – The paper is valuable for libraries considering LTFL as a catalog overlay, as well as for libraries interested in learning about next generation cataloging concepts.
A review of social media use in e-government

In the past few years, e-government has been a topic of much interest among those excited about the advent of Web 2.0 technologies. This paper reviews the recent literature concerning Web 2.0, social media, social networking, and how it has been used in the public sector. Key observations include literature themes such as the evolution of social media case studies in the literature, the progress of social media policies and strategies over time, and social media use in disaster management as an important role for government. Other observations include the lack of a tangible goal for e-government, and the idea that significant change is still needed in government culture, philosophy of control, and resource management before broad sustainable success can be achieved in the use of social media.
Dehydration and solid solution formation for the LaBr3-CeBr3 binary system

Anhydrous cerium bromide (CeBr 3 ) and cerium doped lanthanum bromide (Ce+ 3 -LaBr 3 ) were obtained by the dehydration of hydrates synthesized by a direct acidification process. The dehydration process involves heating in vacuum through three phase changes - hydrate, amorphous, and crystalline LaBr 3 . Incomplete removal of the bound water leads to the formation of oxybromides and the partial reduction of the lanthanum at high temperatures. It was found that upon the completion of dehydration (< 200 °C) a complete solid solution can be formed between LaBr 3 and CeBr 3 . These two compounds form a simple binary phase diagram. Challenges associated with the dehydration process are discussed.
DsRed as a Potential FRET Partner with CFP and GFP

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between mutant green fluorescent proteins (GFP) provides powerful means to monitor in vivo protein-protein proximity and intracellular messengers. However, the leading FRET pair of this class (CFP/YFP) entails suboptimal donor excitation by Argon lasers, thereby hindering FRET imaging on many confocal microscopes. Further challenges arise from the large spectral overlap of CFP/YFP emission. By contrast, DsRed, along with other members of a growing family of red-shifted sea coral fluorophores, features spectra that could obviate such limitations, using DsRed as FRET acceptor, and GFP or CFP as donor. Nonetheless, DsRed suffers from slow chromophore maturation, which confounds quantitative FRET. Here, we develop strategies minimizing the resulting complexity: 1), Pulsed activation of inducible promoters, driving expression of DsRed-tagged molecules, yields a uniform bolus of mature fluorophore; 2), The 33-FRET detection algorithm, adapted for CFP/DsRed and GFP/DsRed, proves insensitive to distortion by slow maturation. We thus show that DsRed supports strong FRET in CFP-DsRed or GFP-DsRed concatemers. These results reveal the promise of sea coral fluorophores like DsRed as FRET partners with GFP or CFP.
School-Related Problems of Special Education Foster-Care Students with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders A Comparison to Other Groups

A high percentage of children in foster care receive special education services, but little is known about the academic and social problems found in this population. Searches of school archival records and brief interviews with school personnel were used to obtain measures of the school-related problems of four groups of students: those receiving both foster care and special education for emotional or behavioral disorders (FCED), foster care only (FC), special education only (ED), or neither (N). Group FCED was found to exhibit more school-related problems and Group N to exhibit fewer problems than the comparison groups; Groups FC and ED did not differ significantly. Suggestions for further research and implications for developing comprehensive, collaborative systems of care are discussed.
The Penn state lunar lion: A university mission to explore the moon

Abstract The Penn State Lunar Lion Team plans to send a robotic explorer to the surface of the Moon and, by applying 30 years of technological advancements, win the Google Lunar X Prize. The Google Lunar X Prize aims to showcase the ability of the growing private space industry by having teams pursue the goal of becoming the first private entity to land a spacecraft on another body in the solar system. Through the Team's pursuit of this Prize, Penn State will establish itself as a leader in space exploration. The Lunar Lion Team will win this Prize through the collaboration of faculty and students from multiple disciplines, and the engineering and technical staff at the Penn State Applied Research Lab, as well as strategic collaborations with industry partners. The diversity of technical disciplines required to build a system that can land on the Moon can be found at Penn State. This multidisciplinary project will be not only a means for bringing together personnel from around the University, but also a way to attract faculty and students to these fields. The baseline concept for the Lunar Lion will strictly follow the requirements of the Grand Prize and the Grand Prize only, leading to the simplest possible system for the mission. By achieving the Grand Prize, Penn State will have accomplished what once took the large-scale effort of NASA's early robotic lunar landers or the USSR's space program. While the Bonus Prizes are noteworthy, ensuring their accomplishment will add development and operational risk to the flight system that could jeopardize the Team's ability to win the Grand Prize. The Team will build the simplest spacecraft, with the fewest number of systems and components. This philosophy will shorten the development timeline and result in a robust flight system that is of minimum cost. Wherever possible, the Team will use commercially available products to satisfy the needs of the system. The work of the Team will be efficient systems integration, careful operational planning, and focused mission execution, all with the Grand Prize in mind. By focusing on innovation rather than invention, Penn State will lead the field of competitors and land the next spacecraft on the Moon.
Research directions for 21st century computer systems: asplos 2013 panel

Four recent efforts call out architectural challenges and opportunities up and down the software/hardware stack. This panel will discuss, "What should the community do to facilitate, transcend, or refute these partially overlapping visions?" The panel is chaired by Mark D. Hill with other panel members not finalized for the ASPLOS'13 proceedings.
Identifying protein interaction subnetworks by a bagging Markov random field-based method

Identification of differentially expressed subnetworks from protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks has become increasingly important to our global understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive cancer. Several methods have been proposed for PPI subnetwork identification, but the dependency among network member genes is not explicitly considered, leaving many important hub genes largely unidentified. We present a new method, based on a bagging Markov random field (BMRF) framework, to improve subnetwork identification for mechanistic studies of breast cancer. The method follows a maximum a posteriori principle to form a novel network score that explicitly considers pairwise gene interactions in PPI networks, and it searches for subnetworks with maximal network scores. To improve their robustness across data sets, a bagging scheme based on bootstrapping samples is implemented to statistically select high confidence subnetworks. We first compared the BMRF-based method with existing methods on simulation data to demonstrate its improved performance. We then applied our method to breast cancer data to identify PPI subnetworks associated with breast cancer progression and/or tamoxifen resistance. The experimental results show that not only an improved prediction performance can be achieved by the BMRF approach when tested on independent data sets, but biologically meaningful subnetworks can also be revealed that are relevant to breast cancer and tamoxifen resistance.
The Influence of Added Egg Yolk on the Microbiological Quality of Hard-Cooked Eggs Stored in a Citric Acid/Sodium Benzoate Solution

Abstract Hard-cooked and peeled eggs were placed in .5, .75, or 1.0% citric acid solutions (with . 1% sodium benzoate) to which 5% cooked egg yolk had been added to simulate the natural occurrence of yolk in such products. Following equilibration for 14 to 21 days at 4 C, the solutions were sampled for pH, total aerobic plate count, and total Enterobacteriaceae count prior to inoculation with either 100 or 10.000 cells each of Salmonella typhimurium. Yersinia enterocolitica, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. After 14 days of additional incubation at 4 C, the solutions were again sampled for pH, aerobic plate count, total Enterobacteriaceae, and each of the inoculated test organisms. Treatment with preservative solutions at lower citric acid concentrations resulted in an increase in the total aerobic plate count and total Enterobacteriaceae count at the .5 and .75% citric acid levels. Of the specific organisms tested, only Y. enterocolitica increased in number at the .5% citric acid level. These results indicate that hard-cooked egg preservative solutions containing suspended egg yolk material require higher citric acid concentrations to assure good microbiological quality of the stored product.
A venom peptide with a novel presynaptic blocking action.

The venom of the fish-eating marine mollusc, Conus geographus, contains several neurotoxic peptides having different targets1–5. A novel peptide has recently been isolated from the venom of C. geographus by Drs B. M. Olivera and W. R. Gray and colleagues in our department (in preparation). We report here that this peptide, designated ωCgTX (omega C. geographus toxin), irreversibly blocks nerve stimulus-evoked release of transmitter at the frog skeletal neuromuscular junction. Experiments indicate that the toxin acts by preventing Ca2+ entry into the nerve terminal during the presynaptic action potential. Consistent with this is the demonstration that ωCgTX also irreversibly attenuates the Ca2+ component of the action potential in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurones from embryonic chick. ωCgTX thus provides a unique and potentially powerful probe for exploring the presynaptic terminal.
Magnetotransport in a two-dimensional electron gas at large filling factors

We derive the quantum Boltzmann equation for the two-dimensional electron gas in a magnetic field such that the filling factor $\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\gg}1.$ This equation describes all of the effects of the external fields on the impurity collision integral including Shubnikov--de Haas oscillations, the smooth part of the magnetoresistance, and nonlinear transport. Furthermore, we obtain quantitative results for the effect of the external microwave radiation on the linear and nonlinear dc transport in the system. Our findings are relevant for the description of the oscillating resistivity discovered by Zudov et al., the zero-resistance state discovered by Mani et al. and Zudov et al., and for the microscopic justification of the model of Andreev et al. We also present a semiclassical picture for the qualitative consideration of the effects of the applied field on the collision integral.
Applications of the constant-current variable-voltage dc accelerator

Abstract Variable beam energy at constant current is useful for industrial applications such as surface hardening and passivation or semiconductor processing. We discuss a dc accelerator, under development for the DOE magnetic fusion energy program, which uses electrostatic quadrupole (ESQ) focusing to maintain constant current while the voltage is variable over a wide range. The use of ESQs also allows a conservative design that alleviates known causes of dc voltage breakdown. The beam is accelerated by a series of 100 kV ESQ modules, stackable to a megavolt or more. The energy is tunable to as low as 20 keV without reduction in current. Single-beam and multiple-beam systems have been designed, capable of accelerating typically 50 mA of N + or O + per beam.