cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Catastrophes and conservation: Lessons from sea otters and the Exxon Valdez

In this commentary, the author considers the effort to save sea otters after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Despite immense expenditures, the emerging facts lead to two conclusions: population losses were poorly documented, and few animals were saved. These findings cast doubt on our ability to protect sea otters from future spills and lead to troubling questions about how to recognize and document the effects of catastrophic events, and, ultimately, the utility of highly visible and expensive efforts to save wildlife from perceived environmental catastrophes. On 24 March 1989, the Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef in northeastern Prince William Sound, spilling more than 10 million gallons of crude oil. Catastrophic losses were expected and a monumental effort was made to save sea otters. The Exxon Valdez spill spread over a linear distance of more than 700 kilometers and soiled an estimated 5,300 kilometers of shoreline. While cleaning up and capturing oiled wildlife for rehabilitation, 878 sea otter carcasses were recovered - a minimal estimate of loss. However, many animals killed by the spill undoubtedly were not found. Losses have been estimated from pre- and post-spill surveys, although these surveys shed little light on the population-level effect, mainly becausemore » the size and distribution of the population just prior to the spill is poorly known. This is because a comprehensive survey of Prince William Sound and adjacent waters was not done immediately after the spill but before oil dispersed into southwestern Prince William Sound and the northern Gulf of Alaska. Thus, although the Exxon Valdez spill undoubtedly killed many sea otters and may have reduced populations substantially, available data lack the power to demonstrate population changes.« less
Clostridium histolyticum collagenase: its purification and properties.

Abstract The specific collagenase present in Cl. histolyticum filtrates has been further purified by continuous electrophoresis of enzyme preparations obtained by ammonium sulfate fractionation. Its specificity was confirmed by its inability to attack a variety of protein and synthetic substrates. The effect of metal ions, various inhibitors, different buffers, pH, and heat was investigated. Some applications and the general importance of the enzyme are discussed.
Complementary heterostructure FET technology for low power, high speed digital applications

Abstract A quantitative comparison is given between complementary heterostructure FET (CHFET) and silicon-on-insulator (SOI) complementary logic gates. Using the same power supply (1.3 V), the same gate length (0.7 μm), and the same gate capacitance for the transistors, it is shown that CHFET logic circuits are 2–3 times faster than SOI at the same power, even when driving long on-chip lines. The CHFET logic circuits are 4–9 times lower in power than SOI at the same frequency. The performance advantage of CHFET is due to the high electron velocity in the n-channel transistors. Experimental results of actual CHFET standard cells verify the claims. This paper also shows good agreement between actual CHFET logic performance and the predictions of a SPICE model.
Identification of Retinal Transformation Hot Spots in Developing Drosophila Epithelia

Background The retinal determination (RD) network is an evolutionarily conserved regulatory circuit that governs early events in the development of eyes throughout the animal kingdom. Ectopic expression of many members of this network leads to the transformation of non-retinal epithelia into eye tissue. An often-overlooked observation is that only particular cell-populations within a handful of tissues are capable of having their primary developmental instructions superseded and overruled. Methodology/Preliminary Findings Here we confirm that indeed, only a discrete number of cell populations within the imaginal discs that give rise to the head, antenna, legs, wings and halteres have the cellular plasticity to have their developmental fates altered. In contrast to previous reports, we find that all transformable cell populations do not lie within the TGFβ or Hedgehog signaling domains. Additionally neither signaling cascade alone is sufficient for non-retinal cell types to be converted into retinal tissue. The transformation “hot spots” that we have identified appear to coincide with several previously defined transdetermination “weak spots”, suggesting that ectopic eye formation is less the result of one network overriding the orders of another, as previously thought, but rather is the physical manifestation of redirecting cell populations of enormous cellular plasticity. We also demonstrate that the initiation of eye formation in non-retinal tissues occurs asynchronously compared to that of the normal eye suggesting that retinal development is not under the control of a global developmental clock. Conclusions/Significance We conclude that the subregions of non-retinal tissues that are capable of supporting eye formation represent specialized cell-populations that have a different level of plasticity than other cells within these tissues and may be the founder cells of each tissue.
Natural course, therapeutic options and economic evaluation of therapies for chronic hepatitis B.

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection afflicts 400 million people worldwide and untreated will progress to cirrhosis in 15–40% of individuals, with an associated increased risk for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. The ‘inactive carrier state’ carries a benign prognosis with a very low risk of cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis state is an active disease state with increased risk for progressing to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The HBeAg-negative mutant variety of chronic hepatitis B has been associated with a higher incidence of cirrhosis at initial presentation and more frequent progression to hepatocellular carcinoma compared with the wild-type hepatitis B.
Modification of Schottky barrier height on Si (111) by Ga-termination

Abstract The method of “partisan interlayer” (PI) was recently applied to the As-, S- and Cl-terminated surfaces of silicon and was demonstrated effective in reducing the n-type Schottky barrier height (SBH) and increasing the p-type SBH. These SBH shifts were likely driven by the expected transfer of charge from silicon to the adsorbates with larger electronegativity. In the present work, SBHs for Ag, Au and In on Si(111) 3 × 3 -Ga R30° and Si(111)6.3 × 6.3-Ga surfaces are studied and found to be shifted by as much as 0.2 eV from those on clean Si(111)7 × 7, but in directions opposite to those observed previously. The present results are thus in agreement with the expected Ga to Si charge transfer and illustrate the general validity of the PI technique. However, large degrees of SBH inhomogeneity are observed for diodes on Ga-terminated surfaces, likely due to insufficient stability of these surfaces to withstand metal interaction, i.e., breakage of silicon–adsorbate bonds on the interface and the simultaneous/subsequent bond formation between metal and silicon and/or adsorbate atoms, as a result of metal deposition.
Cochlear implant-mediated perception of music.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This paper examines and consolidates recent advances in cochlear implant sound processing from the perspective of music perception, which is increasingly viewed as one of the most difficult of all listening conditions. RECENT FINDINGS Music is an essentially abstract, complex form of sound composed of multiple layers of sounds that vary in temporal presentation, frequency distribution, and harmonic content. As a result, music perception is perhaps the most challenging aspect of implant-mediated listening. Thus far, implant performance has shown poor performance overall during perception of musical pitches, melodies, and timbre while perception of rhythm is relatively good. Recent advances in implant sound processing strategies, particularly the use of current distribution along adjacent electrodes, have promising early results in terms of improving the number of pitch percepts available to cochlear implant listeners. SUMMARY Music perception poses auditory challenges that can exceed those of language perception during cochlear implant-mediated listening. These challenges should be emphasized to patients prior to implantation. Although rhythm perception via cochlear implants is reasonably good using simple test paradigms, significant work remains to improve critically important aspects of music perception, including melody and timbre. New implant processing strategies are encouraging and should lead to improved music perception in the near future.
Mapping Antiretroviral Drugs in Tissue by IR-MALDESI MSI Coupled to the Q Exactive and Comparison with LC-MS/MS SRM Assay

This work describes the coupling of the IR-MALDESI imaging source with the Q Exactive mass spectrometer. IR-MALDESI MSI was used to elucidate the spatial distribution of several HIV drugs in cervical tissues that had been incubated in either a low or high concentration. Serial sections of those analyzed by IR-MALDESI MSI were homogenized and analyzed by LC-MS/MS to quantify the amount of each drug present in the tissue. By comparing the two techniques, an agreement between the average intensities from the imaging experiment and the absolute quantities for each drug was observed. This correlation between these two techniques serves as a prerequisite to quantitative IR-MALDESI MSI. In addition, a targeted MS2 imaging experiment was also conducted to demonstrate the capabilities of the Q Exactive and to highlight the added selectivity that can be obtained with SRM or MRM imaging experiments.
Accommodating fragmentation in deterministic packet marking for IP traceback

A modification to the basic deterministic packet marking (DPM), a promising IP traceback scheme, to handle fragmented traffic is proposed. The modification introduces no additional bandwidth overhead, but limited additional memory requirements and processing overhead on the DPM-enabled interface.
Influence of hot carrier transport on the transient response of an InGaAs/InAlAs metal-semiconductor Schottky diode structure

The calculated transient characteristic of a heterostructure, rectifying contact is theoretically examined. It is found that hot carrier transport drastically affects the output terminal characteristics of the heterostructure Schottky contact and, hence, the workings of a blocking contact. This is of importance to the understanding of InGaAs MSM devices in particular, as well as any structure which contains a blocking contact in general.
Beyond Single-Page Web Search Results

Given a user keyword query, current Web search engines return a list of individual Web pages ranked by their "goodness" with respect to the query. Thus, the basic unit for search and retrieval is an individual page, even though information on a topic is often spread across multiple pages. This degrades the quality of search results, especially for long or uncorrelated (multitopic) queries (in which individual keywords rarely occur together in the same document), where a single page is unlikely to satisfy the user's information need. We propose a technique that, given a keyword query, on the fly generates new pages, called composed pages, which contain all query keywords. The composed pages are generated by extracting and stitching together relevant pieces from hyperlinked Web pages and retaining links to the original Web pages. To rank the composed pages, we consider both the hyperlink structure of the original pages and the associations between the keywords within each page. Furthermore, we present and experimentally evaluate heuristic algorithms to efficiently generate the top composed pages. The quality of our method is compared to current approaches by using user surveys. Finally, we also show how our techniques can be used to perform query-specific summarization of Web pages.
Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt: State of the Art

Since the first description of transjugular portal venography and radiologic portacaval shunt placement by Rosch n 19691 and the subsequent introduction of the transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic shunt (TIPS) into clinical medicine by Colapinto in 1982, TIPS has been increasingly adopted as a means of reducing portal pressures in patients with complications related to portal hypertension, such as refractory variceal bleeding. The procedure has also evolved to encompass other indications, such as refractory ascites2,3 and ts related complications, such as hepatorenal syndrome4 and epatic hydrothorax.5,6 In addition TIPS has also been sucessfully applied to patients with Budd–Chiari syndrome,7,8 portal vein occlusion,9 and ectopic variceal bleeding.10 Created with the use of catheters, balloons, and stents inserted under radiologic guidance, TIPS intrinsically functions as a side-to-side porta-caval shunt. The 2 major drawbacks of the TIPS procedure are progressive encephalopathy caused by direct portosystemic shunting and shunt dysfunction. Since the late 1990s the practice of TIPS has been greatly influenced by the introduction of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scoring system for risk assessment of short-term mortality in patients undergoing TIPS and also by the introduction of polytetrafluoroethylene-covered endografts, which achieve durable long-term patency. These endografts and their effect on producing long-term shunt patency are redefining the role of TIPS for treating complications of portal hypertension. In this review article, we describe the common indications of TIPS procedure, the pathophysiology of portal hypertension, and anatomic aspects relevant to the safe creation of a TIPS. We describe the preprocedure evaluation of patients undergoing a TIPS procedure and techniques for step-wise placement of a TIPS as well as monitoring for and management of shunt dysfunction. We also look at newer techniques, such as direct intrahepatic portocaval shunting
Modes of Ammonia Transport Across the Gill Epithelium of the Dogfish Pup (Squalus Acanthias)

The modes of ammonia transport across the gill epithelium of the dogfish pup ( Squalus acanthias ) were investigated using an isolated, perfused head preparation. During perfusion for 2–3 h there was no obvious oedema of gill lamellae, the head was haemodynamically responsive to near- in-vivo concentrations of adrenaline, and the transepithelial potential was +1.9mV (perfusate relative to irrigate) and was unaffected by any of the potential inhibitors used in these tudies. The rate of ammonia efflux was somewhat above in vivo levels, was not due to structural leaks (which averaged less than 1%), declined by 17 % during a second, 20-min efflux period, but was stable during a third efflux period. Addition of bumetanide to the perfusate inhibited ammonia efflux by 17 % compared with the control, but subsequent addition of ouabain had no effect. Amiloride added to the irrigate in the presence of ouabain in the perfusate had no effect on ammonia efflux. Ammonia efflux was stimulated by specific increases in perfusate P NH 3 much more (1100 times) than by specific increases in perfusate NH 4 + concentrations. Given a pK of ammonia of 9.75, we calculate that 6% of the total ammonia efflux is via ionic diffusion of NH 4 + , 77% via non-ionic diffusion of NH 3 , and 17 % via a bumetanide-sensitive Na + +NH 4 + +2Cl − cotransport system. Basolateral or apical Na + /NH 4 + exchange apparently is not involved in ammonia transport across this epithelium.
Learning from Attempts to Improve Schooling: The Contribution of Methodological Diversity

Education research is an interdisciplinary effort long characterized by methodological diversity. Why, then, do we hear an urgent call for mixed methods now? Apparently, a recent shift in the applied research agenda has fostered concern that methodological pluralism is at risk. In this article, the author argues that (a) a focus on evaluating the effects of instructional interventions is entirely appropriate given current policy dilemmas; (b) randomized experiments are the gold standard for assessing these effects; but (c) the success of the effort depends on a well-integrated, methodologically diverse research effort. He sketches how diverse methods might be combined and how a healthy scientific community might collaborate to generate adequate funding to support this vital enterprise.
Head Start Fathers' Daily Hassles and Involvement With Their Children

This study of Head Start fathers and father figures examined the relationship between men's daily hassles and their involvement with children. Fathers completed a shortened version of a daily hassles scale and a father involvement measure on two weekdays and one weekend day. The father involvement instrument used a modified time-diary strategy to assess amount of involvement with all children in the family. The findings indicated a significant but negative relationship between daily hassles and amount of accessibility and play interaction with children after statistically controlling for child- and father-related variables.
The Damping Effect of Bottom Topography on Internal Decadal-Scale Oscillations of the Thermohaline Circulation

By comparing the response of flat and bowl-shaped basins to fixed heat fluxes of various magnitudes, it is determined that coastal topography has a considerable damping influence upon internal decadal oscillations of the thermohaline circulation. It is proposed that this is because the adjustment of baroclinic currents to the no-normal-flow boundary condition at weakly stratified coasts is aided in the topography case by the generation of substantial barotropic flow.
Effect of the Duration of Emergency Department Observation on Computed Tomography Use in Children With Minor Blunt Head Trauma

Study objective We determine the effect of the duration of emergency department (ED) observation on computed tomography (CT) rate for children with minor blunt head trauma. Methods We performed a prospective cohort study of children with blunt head trauma and a Glasgow Coma Scale score greater than 14. We defined time from injury as the time from head injury to initial physician (emergency attending physician or fellow) assessment. For children who were observed in the ED before CT decisionmaking, we defined ED observation time as time from initial physician assessment to the decision whether to obtain a CT. After adjusting for time from injury, patient age, sex, physician type, and study month, we measured the effect of ED observation time on CT rate in each of the 3 Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network Traumatic Brain Injury risk groups. Results Of the 1,605 eligible patients, we enrolled 1,381 (86%). Of the enrolled patients, 676 (49%) were observed in the ED and 272 (20%) had a CT performed. After adjustment, every hour of ED observation time was associated with a decrease in CT rate for children in all 3 traumatic brain injury risk groups: high risk (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.05 to 0.24), intermediate risk (adjusted OR 0.28; 95% CI 0.21 to 0.36), and low risk (adjusted OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.31 to 0.73). All 8 children with a significant traumatic brain injury had an immediate CT. Conclusion For children with minor blunt head trauma, ED observation time was associated with a time-dependent reduction in cranial CT rate, with no delay in the diagnosis of a significant traumatic brain injury.
Studies of the Reversible Binding of Biotin to Human Plasma

In this study we sought to determine the extent of the reversible binding of (3H)biotinto macro- molecules (presumably proteins) of human plasma under physiologic conditions during physiologic time intervals ranging from minutes to days. Fresh, hepa- rinized human plasma and (3H)biotinwere incubated in 5% CO2, 95% N2 at 37'C. After reaching equilibrium, free biotin was separated from bound biotin by centrif ugal ultrafiltration (1500 x g for 60 min) using mem branes with a molecular weight cutoff of 30,000. In a sample from a single individual, we detected a mean retentate:ultrafiltrate ratio of 1.20 Â± 0.03 (mean Â± so, n = 14 determinations). Ina group of 10 healthy adults, the mean retentate:ultrafiltrate ratio was 1.17 Â± 0.02; thus, approximately 8% of the biotin in the combined pool of free and reversibly bound biotin is bound. No consistent change in retentate rultrafiltrate ratio was detected for total biotin concentrations ranging be tween 500 fmol/mL and 2 nmol/mL, but the ratio decreased to 1.1 at 400 nmol of biotin per rnL.Thus, the biotin-binding system of human plasma appears to be a low affinity, high capacity system. A similar biotin-binding system was detected in experiments with purified human serum albumin. These results provide evidence that the majority of added (3H)biotin does not bind to plasma protein under physiologic conditions. To the extent that added (3H)biotincan be assumed to reflect reversible binding of endogenous unlabeled biotin, we infer that endogenous, reversibly bound biotin can account for no more than one-tenth of the increase in biotin detected after acid hydrolysis of plasma. J. Nutr. 120:375-381, 1990.
Effects of age, gender, bolus condition, viscosity, and volume on pharyngeal and upper esophageal sphincter pressure and temporal measurements during swallowing.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of trial (i.e., Trial 1 vs. Trial 2); viscosity (i.e., saliva, thin, nectar-thick, honey-thick, and pudding-thick water); volume (i.e....
Population density of North American elk: effects on plant diversity

Large, herbivorous mammals have profound effects on ecosystem structure and function and often act as keystone species in ecosystems they inhabit. Density-dependent processes associated with population structure of large mammals may interact with ecosystem functioning to increase or decrease biodiversity, depending on the relationship of herbivore populations relative to the carrying capacity (K) of the ecosystem. We tested for indirect effects of population density of large herbivores on plant species richness and diversity in a montane ecosystem, where increased net aboveground primary productivity (NAPP) in response to low levels of herbivory has been reported. We documented a positive, linear relationship between plant-species diversity and richness with NAPP. Structural equation modeling revealed significant indirect relationships between population density of herbivores, NAPP, and species diversity. We observed an indirect effect of density-dependent processes in large, herbivorous mammals and species diversity of plants through changes in NAPP in this montane ecosystem. Changes in species diversity of plants in response to herbivory may be more indirect in ecosystems with long histories of herbivory. Those subtle or indirect effects of herbivory may have strong effects on ecosystem functioning, but may be overlooked in plant communities that are relatively resilient to herbivory.
Vehicle mobile radio installation guidelines

Guidelines for the installation of mobile radio transceivers have been developed by the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Department at the General Motors Proving Ground. These guidelines detail locations for antennas, transceivers, and interconnecting wiring to minimize the effect of radio-frequency energy on the electronic vehicle systems. Illustrations of proper installations are included. >
Physical compatibility of 4% sodium citrate with selected antimicrobial agents

Purpose The physical compatibility of 4% sodium citrate with vancomycin, gentamicin, tobramycin, daptomycin, and linezolid was evaluated. Methods Admixtures were prepared by mixing 4% sodium citrate with clinically relevant concentrations of antimicrobial agents (vancomycin 5 mg/mL, vancomycin 10 mg/mL, vancomycin 20 mg/mL, daptomycin 5 mg/mL, gentamicin 2.4 mg/mL, tobramycin 2.4 mg/mL, and linezolid 1 mg/mL). Three samples of each admixture were incubated (1) at 22-23 degrees C and exposed to light, (2) in a water bath at 37 degrees C and exposed to light, (3) at 22-23 degrees C and protected from light, and (4) in a water bath at 37 degrees C and protected from light. Visual compatibility, spectrophotometric absorbance, and pH were evaluated immediately after mixing (baseline) and at 8, 24, and 48 hours. Physical compatibility was defined as the absence of visible precipitation, a pH value at 48 hours that did not vary by more than 10% from baseline, and an absorbance value of Results There was no visual evidence of precipitation and no clinically important changes in pH observed during the 48-hour study period in any admixture. However, turbidity, based on absorbance, was noted with vancomycin 20 mg/mL at each time point. Conclusion No evidence of incompatibility was observed when vancomycin 5 mg/ mL, vancomycin 10 mg/mL, daptomycin 5 mg/mL, gentamicin 2.4 mg/mL, tobramycin 2.4 mg/mL, or linezolid 1 mg/mL was mixed with 4% sodium citrate as might occur in an antimicrobial lock. Vancomycin 20 mg/mL mixed with 4% sodium citrate displayed spectrophotometric evidence of incompatibility.
Application of a Lock-in Amplifier for Detecting Nanosecond Dye Laser Pulses

The nitrogen-laser-pumped dye laser produces pulses of 2-8 nanoseconds in duration at repetition rates currently up to 500 pulses per second. With such a low duty cycle system, box-car analyzers are often used to amplify the signal from the photodetector. Except for some of the newer, ultra high-speed models, the box-car does not yield information as to pulse shape The technique to be described utilizes the more commonly available, and less expensive lock-in amplifier to measure light pulses. It will be shown that the signal derived with the lock-in is proportional to the total energy per pulse of the incident light. The technology employed to record oscillograms of these short duration pulses using regular side-on and end-on photomultiplier tubes is also discussed.
Influence of dynamic behaviour on elastohydrodynamic lubrication of spur gears

In this study, the elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) behaviour of high-speed spur gear contacts is investigated under dynamic conditions. A non-linear time-varying vibratory model of spur gear pairs is introduced to predict the instantaneous tooth forces under dynamic conditions within both the linear and non-linear operating regimes. In this model, the periodically time-varying gear mesh stiffness and the motion transmission error are used as excitations and a constant damping ratio is employed. This model allows the prediction of steady-state non-linear response in the form of tooth separation (contact loss). An earlier gear mixed EHL model [1] is adapted to simulate the lubrication behaviour of spur gear contacts under these dynamic loading conditions, considering the variations of the basic contact parameters, such as radii of curvature, sliding and rolling velocities, and measured roughness profiles, as the contact moves along the tooth from the start of active profile to the tip. The EHL predicti...
Direct PCR Sequencing with Boronated Nucleotides

A method is described to simultaneously amplify and sequence DNA using a new class of nucleotides containing boron. During the polymerase chain reaction, boron-modified nucleotides, i.e. 2'-deoxynucleoside 5'-alpha-[P-borano]-triphosphates, are incorporated into the product DNA. The boranophosphate linkages are resistant to nucleases and thus the positions of the boranophosphates can be revealed by exonuclease digestion, thereby generating a set of fragments that defines the DNA sequence. The boranophosphate method offers an alternative to current PCR sequencing methods. Single-sided primer extension with dideoxynucleotide chain terminators is avoided, with the consequence that the sequencing fragments are derived directly from the original PCR products. Boranophosphate sequencing is demonstrated with the Pharmacia and the Applied Biosystems 373A automatic sequencers, producing data that is comparable with cycle sequencing.
External Liberalization Of Banking And Industrial Concentration: The Evidence From Spain

This paper investigates the effect of international liberalization on industrial bank concentration in Spain. By employing time series modeling techniques, it is shown that, albeit a weak short run effect may exist, there has been no long run effect on industrial bank concentration from external liberalization. The data base for the study consists of monthly time series for the period 1974-1982.
Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with 1-Hour Glucose Challenge Test ≥ 200 mg/dL.

Objective Many protocols diagnose gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) solely on a 1-hour glucose challenge test (GCT) ≥ 200 mg/dL. However, pregnancy outcomes in these women compared with women diagnosed with a 3-hour glucose tolerance test (GTT) has not been adequately evaluated. We hypothesize that a 1-hour GCT ≥ 200 mg/dL is associated with worse pregnancy outcomes as compared with a GCT 135 to 199 mg/dL with positive GTT. Study Design A retrospective cohort of singleton pregnancies complicated by GDM. Maternal outcomes included A2DM, preeclampsia, primary cesarean, and failed trial of labor after cesarean. Perinatal outcomes were large/small for gestational age, shoulder dystocia, and birth injury. Groups were compared with t-test and chi-square test, and logistic regression to adjust for confounders. Results A total of 602 women diagnosed with GDM by 1-hour GCT 135 to 199 mg/dL and confirmatory 3-hour GTT ( Conclusion Preeclampsia and shoulder dystocia are more frequent in women with GCT ≥ 200 mg/dL than those with a positive GTT following a GCT of 135 to 199 mg/dL.
Anatomical Organization of Multiple Modulatory Inputs in a Rhythmic Motor System

In rhythmic motor systems, descending projection neuron inputs elicit distinct outputs from their target central pattern generator (CPG) circuits. Projection neuron activity is regulated by sensory inputs and inputs from other regions of the nervous system, relaying information about the current status of an organism. To gain insight into the organization of multiple inputs targeting a projection neuron, we used the identified neuron MCN1 in the stomatogastric nervous system of the crab, Cancer borealis. MCN1 originates in the commissural ganglion and projects to the stomatogastric ganglion (STG). MCN1 activity is differentially regulated by multiple inputs including neuroendocrine (POC) and proprioceptive (GPR) neurons, to elicit distinct outputs from CPG circuits in the STG. We asked whether these defined inputs are compact and spatially segregated or dispersed and overlapping relative to their target projection neuron. Immunocytochemical labeling, intracellular dye injection and three-dimensional (3D) confocal microscopy revealed overlap of MCN1 neurites and POC and GPR terminals. The POC neuron terminals form a defined neuroendocrine organ (anterior commissural organ: ACO) that utilizes peptidergic paracrine signaling to act on MCN1. The MCN1 arborization consistently coincided with the ACO structure, despite morphological variation between preparations. Contrary to a previous 2D study, our 3D analysis revealed that GPR axons did not terminate in a compact bundle, but arborized more extensively near MCN1, arguing against sparse connectivity of GPR onto MCN1. Consistent innervation patterns suggest that integration of the sensory GPR and peptidergic POC inputs occur through more distributed and more tightly constrained anatomical interactions with their common modulatory projection neuron target than anticipated.
Steroid secretion and testosterone binding in a woman with an ovarian hilus cell tumor and thyrotoxicosis.

Abstract Presented is the case of a 21-year-old woman with an ovarian hilus cell tumor and thyrotoxicosis. Despite massivley elevated of serum testosterone, virilization was lacking and cyctic ovulatory menses were maintained. Hypersecretion of thyroxine and an increased circutating testosterone-estradiol binding globulin (TeBG) resulted In a level of free testosterone lower than expected, thereby perhaps accounting for the negligible androgen effect. Determinations of peripheral and ovarian venous steroids provided the first In vivo evidence for the preferred synthesis of testosterone via the AΔ 5 pathway in a hilus cell tumor. (Am. J. Osstet. Gynecol. 141:535,1981.)
Lessons of America's 'Decline'

Pointing to the burden of coping with two lengthy wars and a rapidly mounting national debt, some have argued that the U.S. has overextended itself and is now in decline. The validity of and appropriate response to this claim must be examined on an empirical, constructive, and normative level. After outlining the viability of various predictive models, this paper concludes that while U.S. power has waned, resignation to an inevitable decline is premature. Instead, the U.S. should narrowly focus its resources on achievable security goals and avoid the costly yet historically ineffective strategy of pursuing nation-building policies.
PC4. Comparative Geometric Analysis of Renal Artery Anatomy Before and After Fenestrated or Snorkel/Chimney EVAR

Values in mean 6 standard deviation. D, Change from pre-op to post-op; NS, no Positive end-stent angle indicates vessel angulation with respect to the stent end Significant changes from pre-op to post-op (P < .05). Significant difference between LRA and RRA (P < .05). underwent computed tomography angiography before and after F-EVAR (n 1⁄4 21) or Sn-EVAR (n 1⁄4 20), which involved a total of 74 renal artery stents. Renal artery geometry was quantified using three-dimensional modelbased centerline extraction. Stented length was computed from vessel origin to stent end. Branch angle was computed relative to orthogonal configuration with respect to the aorta at vessel origin. End-stent angle was computed relative to distal native renal artery. The radius of curvature was defined by the circumscribed circle at the highest curvature within the proximal portion from the origin to the stent end, and distal portion from the stent end to first renal artery bifurcation. Results: Stented renal artery length, branch angle, end-stent angle, and maximum change in radius of curvature from preoperative to postoperative are presented in the Table. Sn-renals had greater stented length compared with F-renals (P < .02). From preoperative to postoperative, origins of the Sn-renals angled increasingly downward (P < .002), whereas F-renals angled increasingly upward (P < .002). End-stent angle of SnRRA increased from preoperative to postoperative (P < .00001), and Sn-RRA exhibited a greater magnitude change in end-stent angle compared with Sn-LRA (P < .05) and F-RRA (P < .0005). Radius of curvature decreased in distal Sn-RRAs (P < .02). Acute renal failure occurred in 9.8% of patients, and none required dialysis. Renal stent patency was 98.6% at mean follow-up of 13.7 months. Five type IA endoleaks were identified, prompting one secondary procedure. One renal artery reintervention was performed due to an asymptomatic kinked left renal stent. Conclusions: Stented renal arteries were angled more inferiorly after Sn-EVAR and superiorly after F-EVAR due to stent configuration. Sn-EVAR induced significantly greater angle change at the stent end and curvature change distal to the stent compared to F-EVAR due to greater angle change of the Sn-renals, although no difference in patency was noted. Sn-RRA exhibited larger endstent angle change from preoperatively to postoperatively compared to the Sn-LRA, likely because the presence of the IVC on the right side restricts motion of the proximal RRA. The occurrence of the kinked left renal stent is consistent with the proximal right renal artery being more mechanically supported by the IVC. Additional
Acquiring User-Centered Design Skills by Designing and Evaluating World Wide Web Pages

This paper describes the design, development, and outcomes of a project-based human factors course using the World Wide Web (WWW). The primary goal was to give students hands-on opportunities to learn about user-centered design (UCD) and evaluation by using Internet resources and creating and critiquing WWW pages. In addition, students developed sophisticated skills at working together in teams. Although the overhead involved in conducting a course of this type is considerably larger than more traditional lecture courses, students' levels of involvement, motivation, and enjoyment suggest this is an effective and valuable means of teaching UCD principles and techniques.
Perceived reference group support: racial attitudes and overt behavior.

Past studies of the relationship between racial attitudes and overt behavior generally have yielded inconsistent results which have been interpreted by means of conflicting theoretical propositions. Little effort has been directed toward resolving these conflicts empirically. This study considers four competing causal models that could be used to explain the relationships among racial attitudes and overt behavior and the "third variable" of reference group support. Data from 189 subjects are used to assess the empirical validity of each model. The data are found to fit best a model proposing that perceived reference group support determines both racial attitudes and overt behavior, but that racial attitudes are themselves a partially independent determinant of overt behavior.
Acetone fluorescence measurements of controlled fuel-air mixing

Active control of gaseous fuel-air mixing is demonstrated using zero net-mass-flux jet actuators in concentric round jets. The use of such devices permits control of both entrainment and small-scale mixing rates. Nine actuators are placed around the circumference of the outer jet and oriented axially. Mixing measurements are obtained with planar laser-induced fluorescence of acetone seeded into the outer jet. The use of acetone allows quantitative mixing measurements, and its properties make it a useful fuel surrogate. Several different modes of actuation are demonstrated, and all increase the mixing rate between the acetone (fuel) and air streams. Pulsing the nine jets in a symmetric manner at low frequencies produces large scale entrainment structures that greatly enhance the level of mixing at a given downstream location. Asymmetric forcing is shown to control the azimuthal distribution of acetone, both near and far downstream of the jet exit.
Linguistic Distancing in Gravity's Rainbow

When we read Malamud's The Fixer or Updike's Rabbit, Run, Percy's The Moviegoer or even Barth's The Sot-Weed Factor, something happens that would be curious were it not so common: although we know Yakov and Harry, Binx and Ebenezer to be fictive creatures existing only in a world of words spun by their authors, we nevertheless become involved in their lives, laughing with them, fearing for them, wishing them luck. The novel becomes the Hilton of our minds' latest vacation from reality, although, like tourists overwhelmed in a Mexican sidestreet, once sucked into the author's world, we are often at his mercy. That fiction should often be this way is neither good nor bad; still, given the fact that Gravity's Rainbow is the Iran of fictive worlds today, we might be grateful to know it is a place we can read about yet never really visit.
Retinoids and suppression of carcinogenesis.

Retinoids—vitamin A and its analogues—have been recognized for more than half a century to be potent agents in the control of cellular differentiation and proliferation. Only recently, however, have there been concerted efforts to exploit this observation, with particular emphasis on cancer prevention. Experimental findings of tumor inhibition and suppression are reviewed.
Abstract B1-46: How collection, processing and storage of PBL samples impact the measurement of telomerase activity

Introduction: Activation of telomerase and telomere lengthening in patient peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) is associated with longer survival in cancer patients. There are few studies to date that have measured telomerase activity in clinical PBL samples, and it is unclear how initial collection and processing of PBL samples impact the measurement of telomerase activity. In this study, we assessed if telomerase activity measurement varies based on the method of blood collection, processing and storage. Methods: We first collected whole blood drawn in EDTA tubes from two healthy patients that were then processed three different ways. The first whole blood sample was spun down and the buffy coat was pipetted from the top of the red blood cells, and then placed directly into the -80°C freezer. The next two whole blood samples were isolated using an ACCUSPIN™ tube, which utilizes density gradient separation to recover the PBL without contamination of red blood cells. The resulting PBL from these two samples were suspended in freezing media containing RPMI and DMSO, with one sample also containing penicillin streptomycin glutamine, and then both samples were stored in liquid nitrogen following a slow freeze. We then measured enzymatic telomerase activity in each of the three PBL samples from the two different patients. Results: We detected a comparable level of telomerase activity in all three PBL samples. These findings indicate that telomerase activity can be measured in buffy coat samples from patients independent of how the samples were processed and stored. Conclusions: These findings are important because many biorepositories may not have collected or processed PBL samples by identical processes, therefore not allowing direct comparison across samples. Additionally, our finding that telomerase activity levels are comparable between PBL samples containing red blood cells and those processed using an ACCUSPIN™ tube is valuable because it eliminates the necessity for the extra cost of the ACCUSPIN™ tube, freezing media, antibiotics and use of liquid nitrogen storage tanks. Future studies will focus on the determining the relationship of telomerase activity between the PBL, normal colon and cancer tissue in colorectal cancer patients. Citation Format: Ruth A. Johnson, Brooke R. Druliner, Jill Washechek Alleto, Donna Felmlee Devine, Xiaoyang Ruan, Russell Vanderboom, Lisa A. Boardman. How collection, processing and storage of PBL samples impact the measurement of telomerase activity. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Computational and Systems Biology of Cancer; Feb 8-11 2015; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(22 Suppl 2):Abstract nr B1-46.
Transformational leadership in nursing: a concept analysis.

Aim To analyse the concept of transformational leadership in the nursing context. Background Tasked with improving patient outcomes while decreasing the cost of care provision, nurses need strategies for implementing reform in health care and one promising strategy is transformational leadership. Exploration and greater understanding of transformational leadership and the potential it holds is integral to performance improvement and patient safety. Design Concept analysis using Walker and Avant's (2005) concept analysis method. Data sources PubMed, CINAHL and PsychINFO. Methods This report draws on extant literature on transformational leadership, management, and nursing to effectively analyze the concept of transformational leadership in the nursing context. Implications for nursing This report proposes a new operational definition for transformational leadership and identifies model cases and defining attributes that are specific to the nursing context. The influence of transformational leadership on organizational culture and patient outcomes is evident. Of particular interest is the finding that transformational leadership can be defined as a set of teachable competencies. However, the mechanism by which transformational leadership influences patient outcomes remains unclear. Conclusion Transformational leadership in nursing has been associated with high-performing teams and improved patient care, but rarely has it been considered as a set of competencies that can be taught. Also, further research is warranted to strengthen empirical referents; this can be done by improving the operational definition, reducing ambiguity in key constructs and exploring the specific mechanisms by which transformational leadership influences healthcare outcomes to validate subscale measures.
The Way of Ideas: Structure and Motivation

Reid believed that the Way of Ideas held his philosophical predecessors so firmly in its grip that without an accompanying polemic against that alternative his own view would be rejected out of hand. I judge that at many points the connection between affirmation and polemic goes even deeper than that. It's not just that we won't take Reid's arguments for his position seriously unless we are also given arguments against the opposition. Often it's difficult even to grasp what Reid is affirming without being aware of the position he is rejecting and of his reasons for doing so. Thus in my exposition I will, in good measure, follow Reid's own practice of allowing the presentation of his own view to emerge out of his polemic against the Way of Ideas. THE WAY OF IDEAS In its main outlines the Way of Ideas is as familiar as anything in modern philosophy. I will not exegete the various statements Reid offers of what he wants his expression, “the Way of Ideas,” to cover – that is, of the theses that he wants included. Those statements are not entirely consistent with each other, and I see no point in dwelling on the inconsistencies here. What I will rather do is outline the system of thought which Reid attributes to his forebears and whose totality he sometimes, at least, has in mind by “the Way of Ideas.”
A Structural and Functional Analysis of Codeswitching in Mi Vida Gitana `My Gypsy Life,' a Bilingual Play

The present study analyzed the language in the script of the bilingual play Mi Vida Gitana ‘My Gypsy Life’ (Malan, 2006) in order to better understand issues relating to codeswitching (CS). The analysis was done from a structural and a functional perspective and utilized various models developed by renowned CS scholars. For the structural analysis, I utilized concepts and ideas put forth in the threetiered typology created by Muysken (2000) and the Matrix Language Frame model developed by Myers-Scotton (1993). The results of this portion of the study showed that some form of CS, whether occurring between turns or within turns, was observed in 78% of all turns. With regard to CS types and elements most commonly observed in the data, the alternation of clauses and the insertion and alternation of nouns and noun phrases were the predominant phenomena occurring in the script. I used Myers-Scotton’s (1993) Markedness Model and Gumperz’s (1982) functions of conversational CS to guide the functional analysis conducted during this study. The results arising from this portion of the analysis showed that CS served an important function in terms of character development. Marked and unmarked CS helped create different characters and likely assisted audiences in understanding those characters. The data analyzed also showed that CS served a purpose with regard to the communication of the message to diverse audiences. The use of reiterations and conjunctions were determined to be important CS strategies that contributed to making the story accessible to bilingual as well as monolingual audiences.
Post-impact Emergency Actions

Immediately after a tornado has cut through Lubbock, Texas, or Topeka, Kansas, or Xenia, Ohio, what happens? What behavioral responses are evoked by individuals or the more complex social systems in which they participate? These actions are the focus of this chapter. Obviously, there is a blurred line between these and the early portions of the recovery phase. But in general, conclusions that are summarized here pertain to human activities within the initial few hours after impact. In some instances, the findings deal with emotional responses that were manifested within a few days, but the major focus is on immediate emergency actions. As in the preceding chapters, our assessment is organized by system levels. We will begin by examining the responses of individuals and systematically move across levels of increased structural complexity—from groups and organizations to communities and total societies.