cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Motivation and the Lost Tribe: On the Importance of Accounting Technology Professionals' (ATPs) Motivations

Existing research assumes but does not investigate accounting technology professionals' (ATPs) motivation. ATPs motivations matter because of the instability and ubiquity of accounting technologies, and, ATPs boundary spanning role between accounting artifacts and computing technologies. Positivist and critical theory research make strong assumptions about, but leave largely uninvestigated, ATPs motivations. Self-determination theory (SDT), which originates in humanistic psychology, offers an unexplored alternative theory of ATP motivation. SDT suggests a set of propositions for proactively engaging ATPs in self-motivated, socially meaningful activities that enhance ATPs well-being, and, for rethinking accounting education towards a more proactive role in attracting and engaging socially aware, ethically responsible ATPs.
Dilation Theory Yesterday and Today

Paul Halmos’ work in dilation theory began with a question and its answer: Which operators on a Hilbert space H can be extended to normal operators on a larger Hilbert space K ⊇ H? The answer is interesting and subtle.
SteamMaster: Steam System Analysis Software

As director of Oregon's Industrial Assessment Center, I have encountered many industrial steam systems during plant visits. We analyze steam systems and make recommendations to improve system efficiency. In nearly 400 industrial assessments, we have recommended 210 steam system improvements, excluding heat recovery, that would save $1.5 million/year with a 0.4-year payback. 75 percent of those recommendations have been implemented for $1.1 million annual savings with 0.3-year payback. I have recently developed a tool to facilitate the process. SteamMaster is based on an Excel spreadsheet with a Visual Basic interface to simplify system modeling and analysis. SteamMaster has many features and capabilities, including energy and cost savings calculations for five steam recommendations. This paper will demonstrate SteamMaster software applied to one or more industrial steam systems. Software will be made available on a national web site at no cost.
Extracorporeal ureteral tailoring during HIDES laparoscopic robotic-assisted ureteral reimplantation for megaureter

Summary Introduction Although laparoscopic robotic-assisted intracorporeal ureteral tailoring is feasible and several authors have reported doing it, it adds a level of complexity to the surgery that many robotic surgeons are uncomfortable with. Also, some techniques for tailoring the ureter, like the one described by Ossandon, would be very difficult to perform intracorporeally or violate principles of hidden incision endoscopic surgery (HIDES) by adding extra ports in visible locations. Material and methods Extracorporeal ureteral tapering is performed by extracting the ureter through a 10-mm step trocar placed in the midline at the level of the biking line. Once the ureter is tapered and a stent has been secured, the 10-mm trocar is replaced and the rest of the reimplant is performed in a way very similar to when performing a robotic apendicovesicostomy. Discussion Extracorporeal ureteral tailoring can be added to the bag of tricks that robotic surgeons can resort to when faced with the situation of a dilated ureter without compromising cosmesis.
Enhanced rho-associated protein kinase activation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective Rho-associated protein kinases (ROCKs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and renal disorders. We recently showed that ROCKs could regulate the differentiation of murine Th17 cells and the production of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and IL-21, two cytokines associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The goal of this study was to assess ROCK activation in human Th17 cells and to evaluate ROCK activity in SLE patients. Methods An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)–based ROCK activity assay was used to evaluate ROCK activity in human cord blood CD4+ T cells differentiated under Th0 or Th17 conditions. We then performed a cross-sectional analysis of 28 SLE patients and 25 healthy matched controls. ROCK activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) lysates was determined by ELISA. Cytokine and chemokine profiles were analyzed by ELISA. Results Human cord blood CD4+ T cells differentiated under Th17 conditions expressed higher levels of ROCK activity than did CD4+ T cells stimulated under Th0 conditions. Production of IL-17 and IL-21 was inhibited by the addition of a ROCK inhibitor. SLE PBMCs expressed significantly higher levels of ROCK activity than did healthy control PBMCs (1.25 versus 0.56; P = 0.0015). Sixteen SLE patients (57%) expressed high levels of ROCK (optical density at 450 nm >1). Disease duration, lymphocyte count, and azathioprine use were shown to be significant independent predictors of ROCK activity in multivariable analyses. Conclusion Consistent with previous results in the murine system, increased ROCK activation was associated with Th17 cell differentiation. Moreover, enhanced ROCK activity was observed in a subgroup of SLE patients. These data support the concept that the ROCK pathway could represent an important therapeutic target for SLE.
Revisiting Indian Rouletted Ware and the Impact of Indian Ocean Trade in Early Historic South Asia

Indian Rouletted Ware pottery is the iconic marker of the overseas reach of the subcontinent at the turn of the first millennium AD. In the mid twentieth century this was naturally seen as prompted by the contemporary Roman Empire, while the later post-colonial discourse has emphasised the independence and long life of Indian initiatives. In this new analysis the author demonstrates a more complex socio-economic situation. While Greyware is distributed long term over south India, Rouletted ware is made in at least two regional centres for coastal communities using a new ceramic language, one appropriate to an emerging international merchant class.
The Scientific Knowledge Base of Special Education: Do We Know What We Think We Know?

Leading scholars in special education acknowledge that the field has recently come under intense public criticism. Various defenses have been offered, including the lack of appropriate conditions under which to implement the knowledge base of special education. The nature of this knowledge base is examined, in particular the claim that special education possesses scientifically derived technologies. Specifically, a case is made that the term “science” is misused, and that the methods of empiricist science are inappropriately applied to study of special education. It is concluded that many, if not most, of the criticisms leveled at special education can be traced back to this misunderstanding of science. As a result, the field would do well to reconsider its philosophical ancestry.
Characterization of a cryptic gene pair from Neisseria gonorrhoeae that is common to pathogenic Neisseria species.

Abstract A pair of genes, each of which produces in Escherichia coli a 20-kDa, periplasmically localized protein that cross-reacts with anti-rpoN monoclonal antibody, was isolated from Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Homologs of the two genes were detected in pathogenic Neisseria species but not in commensal species. These genes are designated cnp1 and cnp2 (cryptic neisserial protein).
The epidemiology of admissions of nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage in the United States.

Background Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is the cause of 5% to 10% of strokes annually in the United States. Objective To study the incidence and mortality trends of admissions of SAH from 1979 to 2008 using a nationally representative sample of all nonfederal acute-care hospitals in the United States: The National Hospital Discharge Survey. Methods The sample was obtained from the hospital discharge records according to the International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification code 430. Results We reviewed data on approximately 1 billion hospitalizations in the United States over a 30-year study period and identified 612,500 cases of SAH, which was more common in women (relative risk 1.71, 95% confidence interval 1.7-1.72) and nonwhite persons than white persons (relative risk 1.46, 95% confidence interval 1.4-1.5). The estimated incidence rate of admission after SAH was 7.2 to 9.0 per 100,000/year and did not significantly change over the study period. Overall, in-hospital mortality after SAH fell from 30% during the period from 1979 to 1983 to 20% during the subperiod from 2004 to 2008 (P = .03) and was lower in larger treating hospitals. The average days of care for SAH hospitalizations decreased, but the rate of discharge to long-term care facilities increased. Conclusion The incidence rate of admission after SAH has remained stable over the past 30 years. Total deaths and in-hospital mortality after SAH have decreased significantly. In-hospital mortality after SAH is lower in larger treating hospitals.
Pancoast (Superior Sulcus) Tumors

Primary carcinomas arising in the apex of the lung (Pancoast tumors) have attracted attention because of the characteristic syndrome that is produced by local extension into the chest wall and the brachial plexus. This article reviews the history of the treatment of this disease, the natural history of untreated patients, and the diagnosis of Pancoast tumors. The published data on results, prognostic factors, and technical aspects of treatment with combined irradiation and operation are examined, as well as those pertaining to treatment with irradiation alone.
Log-Periodic Dipole Array Optimization

The element lengths, spacings and radii of log-periodic dipole arrays (LPDA) are optimized with a genetic algorithm (GA), Nelder-Mead downhill simplex optimization method, and GA & Nelder-Mead hybrid method. The design results of the three methods linked with NEC are compared. The gain and VSWR are superior to current commercial designs.
Visual and somatosensory evoked potentials in vitamin E deficiency with cystic fibrosis

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and pancreatic malabsorption frequently have vitamin E deficiency. Affected patients may develop spinocerebellar degeneration with dysarthria, ataxia, proximal weakness, proprioceptive loss and areflexia. Of a highly selected group of 10 patients with vitamin E levels below 5 micrograms/ml (normal 5-20 micrograms/ml), 7 had abnormal neurological examinations, predominantly affecting vibration and joint position perception with some severely affected patients manifesting diminished visual acuity, tremor, ataxia and diffuse weakness. Evoked potential studies showed marked abnormalities in 3 patients, demonstrating deficits in the optic pathways and in the cervical cord dorsal column pathways. Evoked potential studies may supplement careful neurological examination in patients with CF before and after supplementation with vitamin E to evaluate their progression and response to treatment.
Second-order scenario approximation and refinement in optimization under uncertainty

When solving scenario-based stochastic programming problems, it is imperative that the employed solution methodology be based on some form of problem decomposition: mathematical, stochastic, or scenario decomposition. In particular, the scenario decomposition resulting from scenario approximations has perhaps the least tendency to be computationally tedious due to increases in the number of scenarios. Scenario approximations discussed in this paper utilize the second-moment information of the given scenarios to iteratively construct a (relatively) small number of representative scenarios that are used to derive bounding approximations on the stochastic program. While the sizes of these approximations grow only linearly in the number of random parameters, their refinement is performed by exploiting the behavior of the value function in the most effective manner. The implementation SMART discussed here demonstrates the aptness of the scheme for solving two-stage stochastic programs described with a large number of scenarios.
The Role of the Researcher in the Study of Social Conflict: A Theory of Protective Distortion of Response

This is a report on the failure of an undertaking in social research. A study on industrial conflict collapsed early in the data-collection phase because valid responses from interviewees were conspicuously unobtainable.
A linkage moment approach to modeling condensation polymerization with multiple monomers. I. Linear polymers

In recent years, industrial interest in condensation copolymers with controlled microstructures has been increasing as these systems add an additional dimension to the design and manipulation of product properties without requiring completely new routes for monomer or polymer synthesis. The techniques used to control the compositional microstructure in condensation systems differ greatly from those in vinyl polymerization, as condensation polymers are continuously broken apart and reformed during the course of the polymerization. Blocky copolymers may be produced in a melt blending process only by limiting the contact time at reaction temperatures because the ultimate result of the polymerization and interchange reactions is complete randomization of the copolymer with a structure similar to that obtained in vinyl polymerization with all reactivity ratios equal to one. The design of processes yielding the desired product microstructure therefore requires a quantitative understanding of the effect of each reaction on the copolymer composition. As typical copolymer recipes include multiple monomers with different functionalities, in this paper a general copolycondensation model is presented that can accommodate an arbitrary number of monomers of differing reactivities. In this paper, only monofunctional and bifunctional monomers are considered; the extension to the case of gelating systems is left for a future paper. The use of this framework and the validity of the approach is demonstrated for an example situation in which a polyarylate is melt blended with PBT to produce a copolymer whose average sequence length may be controlled by limiting the extent of reaction. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 246–265, 2001
The effects of noise on the autoregressive spectral estimator

The autoregressive power spectral density estimator possesses excellent resolution properties. However, it has been shown that for the case of a sinusoidal autoregressive process the addition of noise to the time series results in a decrease in spectral resolution. It is proven that, in general, the effect of white noise on the autoregressive spectral estimate is to produce a smoothed spectrum. This smoothing is a result of the introduction of spectral zeros due to the noise. Finally, the use of a large-order autoregressive model to combat the effects of noise is discussed.
Interplanetary control of thermospheric densities during large magnetic storms

Abstract During the main phase of large magnetic storms significant energy can be deposited in the ionosphere but produce no commensurate magnetic perturbations on the ground. Consequently, models designed to predict and specify thermospheric energy budgets based on ground magnetic data are negatively impacted. To quantify these effects we compare thermospheric densities predicted by the MSIS model with those inferred from accelerometer measurements by the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites during two magnetic storm periods in 2004. Although predictions and measurements are in substantial agreement during quiet times, the model significantly underpredicts densities during storms. Also, the model's maxima occur several hours after observed stormtime peaks. We show that polar cap potentials and magnetospheric electric fields derived from interplanetary parameters measured by the Advanced Composition Explorer satellite are roughly proportional to neutral densities observed by GRACE with lead times of ∼4 h. Finally, ion drift meter data from Defense Meteorological Satellite Program spacecraft suggest that unpredicted positive and negative spikes found in high latitude accelerometer data reflect encounters with strong head and tail thermospheric winds driven by anti-sunward convecting plasma.
The Pages From Our Lives

Hearing the telephone, I hurriedly unlock my apartment door. Yet-to-be graded papers slip from my arms and scatter on the floor. Stepping over them and the cat, I snatch the receiver on what could have been its last ring. "Hello," I say, hoping there is still someone on the line. It's my Grandpa Sol. His normal gruff demeanor is overshadowed by uncharacteristic vulnerability, but his English remains, as always, flawless no accent, neither shtetl-Russian nor BrooklynAmerican. His voice is tinged with urgency: "It's time for you to come for a visit. I know you're busy... Two or three days.... Just the two of us.... Please." Concerned about his failing health, I try to hide my alarm. "I'll be there soon.... I love you, plenty, Grandpa." During the next 48 hours I arrange for a substitute, prepare lesson plans, and muddle through a six-hour flight across the United States and, finally, a nighttime taxi ride to my grandfather's apartment building with its view of the New York City harbor. Glancing across the water, I envision what it must have been like for Grandpa Sol to arrive in the New World in 1916 on an overcrowded, dilapidated cattle ship named the Patricia with 500 other Russian immigrants.
The person-in-environment reconsidered: New theoretical bridges

The theoretical gap between person and environment is the focus of this paper. Multiple determinants of human behavior are presented as they contribute to children's idiosyncratic comprehensions of their worlds or environments. Implications for development and for clinical social work intervention are presented.
Dynamical studies of surface species — observing librational motions of adsorbates

A review of the use of the ESDIAD (electron stimulated desorption ion angular distribution) method for the measurement of the librational motion of two adsorbates on single crystal metal surfaces is presented. Both molecular rotation and anisotropic librational motions are measured. A new type of ESDIAD measurement technique is introduced in which time-of-flight selection allows the lateral momentum of an adsorbate to be measured.
Adaptive Robust Estimation of Location and Scale Parameters of Symmetric Populations.

A study is made of the following two-step procedure for adaptive robust estimation of the mean (μ) and the standard deviation (α) of a symmetric population: (1) Classify the sample as having come from a uniform (U), normal (N), or double exponential (D) population according to one of several criteria based on the sample kurtosis K, Hogg’s statistic Q, and the sample likelihoods; (2) Then use the maximum likelihood estimators for the chosen population. The MLE is unbiased, but the MLE is biased. The debiased MLE is also considered, as are the estimators and of the canonical scale parameter Fα, where the canonical scale factor F is defined as the multiplier of a such that Fα is the 97.5% point of a population symmetric about zero. Two measures of the performance of the estimators are considered. Results are given of a Monte Carlo study based on N = 5000 random samples of sizes n = 8(4)24 from U5 N, D and 14 other symmetric populations.
Type 5 G Protein β Subunit (Gβ5) Controls the Interaction of Regulator of G Protein Signaling 9 (RGS9) with Membrane Anchors

The R7 family of regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins, comprising RGS6, RGS7, RGS9, and RGS11, regulate neuronal G protein signaling pathways. All members of the R7 RGS form trimeric complexes with the atypical G protein β subunit, Gβ5, and membrane anchor R7BP or R9AP. Association with Gβ5 and membrane anchors has been shown to be critical for maintaining proteolytic stability of the R7 RGS proteins. However, despite its functional importance, the mechanism of how R7 RGS forms complexes with Gβ5 and membrane anchors remains poorly understood. Here, we used protein-protein interaction, co-localization, and protein stability assays to show that association of RGS9 with membrane anchors requires Gβ5. We further establish that the recruitment of R7BP to the complex requires an intact interface between the N-terminal lobe of RGS9 and protein interaction surface of Gβ5. Site-directed mutational analysis reveals that distinct molecular determinants in the interface between Gβ5 and N-terminal Dishevelled, EGL-10, Pleckstrin/DEP Helical Extension (DEP/DHEY) domains are differentially involved in R7BP binding and proteolytic stabilization. On the basis of these findings, we conclude that Gβ5 contributes to the formation of the binding site to the membrane anchors and thus is playing a central role in the assembly of the proteolytically stable trimeric complex and its correct localization in the cell.
Korupensamin A: ein Ansatz zur stereospezifischen, intermolekularen Biarylkupplung – auf dem Weg zu den Michellaminen

Auf welche Weise und wie gut last sich die axiale Chiralitat in einer intermolekularen Suzuki-Biaryl-Kreuzkupplungsreaktion kontrollieren? Durch Verwendung eines strategisch positionierten internen Liganden L wird die reduktive Eliminierung [Gl. (1)] vollstandig stereokontrolliert und fuhrt so zu einem einzigen Biaryl-Atropisomer, das das Korupensamin-A-Gerust aufweist. TIPS=iPr3Si, Ts=H3CC6H4SO2.
The Impact of Gender and Family Processes on Mental Health and Substance Use Issues in a Sample of Court-Involved Female and Male Adolescents

Greater empirical attention directed toward gender-sensitive assessment strategies that concentrate on family-specific factors is thought to be both timely and necessary, especially with regard to outcome variables associated with mental health and substance abuse in at-risk adolescent populations. A sample of 2,646 court-involved adolescents was used to test two competing models regarding relationships among disruptive family processes, mental health (as both internalizing and externalizing problems), and substance abuse issues according to gender. The results of multiple group structural equation modeling procedures indicated that disrupted family processes were significantly associated with higher levels of internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and substance abuse in both male and female youth. For females, however, disrupted family processes were more related to internalizing problems and substance abuse than externalizing problems. Further, the relationship between disrupted family processes and substance abuse was not mediated by mental health issues, indicating a lack of support for the alternative model tested in this study. Together, the findings underscore the primacy of the family’s impact on issues related to adolescent development and well-being in tandem with the need for a more gender sensitive approach to the needs of court-involved males and females.
Effect of mixing on the rheology and particle characteristics of tungsten-based powder injection molding feedstock

Abstract This study investigates the effect of mixing technique and particle characteristics on the rheology and agglomerate dispersion of tungsten-based powder injection molding (PIM) feedstock. Experiments were conducted with as-received (agglomerated) and rod-milled (deagglomerated) tungsten powder mixed in a paraffin wax–polypropylene binder. Increase in the mixing shear rate decreased the agglomerate size of the agglomerated tungsten powder, decreased the viscosity, and improved the flow stability of the feedstock, interpreted as increased homogeneity of the feedstock. Higher solids volume fraction, lower mixing torques, and improved homogeneity were observed with deagglomerated tungsten powder, emphasizing the importance of particle characteristics and mixing procedures in the PIM process. Hydrodynamic stress due to mixing and the cohesive strength of the tungsten agglomerate were calculated to understand the mechanism of deagglomeration and quantify the effect of mixing. It was concluded that deagglomeration occurs due to a combination of rupture and erosion with the local hydrodynamic stresses exceeding the cohesive strength of the agglomerate.
Failure Analysis on Tee Joint Crack of Subcritical Power Station Boiler Final Superheater Header

Through methods, such as microscope analysis, mechanical analysis, chemical analysis, metallographic examination, the causes resulting in tee joint crack of subcritical power station boiler final superheater header (12Cr1MoV) have been analyzed. The result indicates the tee joint crack is reheat crack, and irrational structure and excessive welding residual stress are the primary inducement of tube joint crack.
Statistical fluctuations in the yield of ionization due to protons or alpha particles.

An analytic method is presented for the calculation of various indices that characterize statistical fluctuations in ionization yields, specifically for the incidence of an ion such as a proton or \ensuremath{\alpha} particle at a high speed. A general expression for the Fano factor for ion incidence is derived, and the relation to the Fano factor for electron incidence is clarified. For an illustration, the theory is applied to protons incident on argon. The resulting Fano factor for protons of energies between 0.1 and 2 MeV is nearly the same as that for electrons at the same speeds, and it is considerably lower than the values measured with \ensuremath{\alpha} particles.
Uterine sarcoma: Analysis of prognostic variables in 71 cases

The histories of 94 patients with a diagnosis of uterine sarcoma, treated from 1962 to 1982, at the Medical College of Virginia Hospital were reviewed. Histologic features were studied by one of the authors (V.S.), and cases that did not meet strict pathologic criteria were rejected. The 71 patients with uterine sarcoma accepted for this study had a survival rate of 22.5% from 1 to 11 years. Survival rates were similar for leiomyosarcoma, mixed mesodermal tumor, and endometrial stromal sarcoma. Clinical staging had some predictive value, since 45 patients with Stage I disease had a 27% survival rate, and 26 patients with Stages II, III, and IV disease had only a 12% survival rate (p less than 0.05). The type of treatment had no demonstrable effect on final outcome but did influence the recurrence patterns. Chemotherapy (used in 25 patients) was neither of benefit when used as adjuvant therapy nor effective in prolonging survival in patients with recurrence (mean survival, 5.4 months).
Observations on Cavitation Damage in a Flowing System

Cavitation damage to specimens of stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum, and plexiglas, placed in a cavitating venturi using water and mercury as test fluids is mostly in the form of irregularly shaped pits which do not change with additional exposure to the cavitating field within the limited durations utilized. The rate of damage is very high initially, decreases for a relatively short period of time, then increases again up to the maximum test durations of 150 hours with water and 270 hours with mercury. Observation of damage effects by several independent techniques, using a variety of specimen materials, with two different fluids under various fluid dynamic conditions, leads to a suggested correlating model in terms of the cavitation bubble density and energy and specimen material strength.
Avoiding Nocturnal Hypoglycemia: Consideration of an Extra Injection at Bedtime

In this issue, Fanelli and colleagues compared split-dose and mixed-dose insulin regimens in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Evidence now suggests that for a selected group of persons with ...
Global mass and energy requirements for glacial oscillations and their implications for mean ocean temperature oscillations

Conservation equations for water in all forms and thermodynamic energy are developed for the complete atmosphere-hydrosphere-lithosphere-cryosphere system, allowing the possibility for temporal variations of all significant components of the system that may be involved in long term climate changes. Using these equations we find an integral constraint on the fluctuations of the mean, mass-averaged, ocean temperature that accompany glacial fluctuations. Some possible inferences are discussed based on speculations concerning the variations of the net radiative flux at the top of the atmosphere. For one plausible qualitative estimate of the processes involved it is determined that the mean global ocean temperature should be increasing during the period of growth of ice coverage, reaching a maximum sometime after the time of maximum ice extent and a minimum sometime after the interglacial, a result that is in substantial accord with the ice-age mechanism discussed by Newell.
Predictors of bacterial vaginosis in young women who douche

Conclusion: Bacterial vaginosis in douching women may indicate existence of other high-risk sexual behaviors. Management of adolescent women with bacterial vaginosis should include assessment for high-risk sexual behavior and testing for STDs. (excerpt)
Theoretical Global Seismology

Tony Dahlen and Jeroen Tromp have written a treatise, Theoretical Global Seismology, that is authoritative and comprehensive. The subject is developed from the theory of small oscillations in classical mechanics, in this case the free oscillations of the Earth. In other words, the conceptual pathway chosen by the authors is to represent the seismic transient response of the Earth in terms of free oscillations, or standing waves. This is followed by representation in terms of traveling waves, rays, and pulses. These representations taken together give the reader broad insight into global seismology and the methods used to study the structure of the Earth and of earthquake sources.
FoxC1-dependent regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor signaling in corneal avascularity.

Angiogenesis is a crucial process whereby new blood vessels are formed from pre-existing vessels, and it occurs under both normal and pathophysiological conditions. The process is precisely regulated through the balance between proangiogenic and anti-angiogenic mechanisms, and many of these mechanisms have been well-characterized through extensive research. However, little is known about how angiogenesis is regulated at the transcriptional level. We have recently shown that deletion of the Forkhead box (Fox) transcription factor Foxc1 in cells of neural crest (NC) lineage leads to aberrant vessel growth in the normally avascular corneas of mice, and that the effect is cell type–specific because the corneas of mice lacking Foxc1 expression in vascular endothelial cells remained avascular. The NC-specific Foxc1 deletion was also associated with elevated levels of both proangiogenic factors, such as the matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) MMP-3, MMP-9, and MMP-19 and the angiogenic inhibitor soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (sVEGFR-1). Thus, FoxC1 appears to control angiogenesis by regulating two distinct and opposing mechanisms; if so, vascular development could be determined, at least in part, by a competitive balance between proangiogenic and anti-angiogenic FoxC1-regulated pathways. In this review, we describe the mechanisms by which FoxC1 regulates vessel growth and discuss how these observations could contribute to a more complete understanding of the role of FoxC1 in pathological angiogenesis.
Evaluation of large-scale meteorological patterns associated with temperature extremes in the NARCCAP regional climate model simulations

Large-scale meteorological patterns (LSMPs) associated with temperature extremes are evaluated in a suite of regional climate model (RCM) simulations contributing to the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program. LSMPs are characterized through composites of surface air temperature, sea level pressure, and 500 hPa geopotential height anomalies concurrent with extreme temperature days. Six of the seventeen RCM simulations are driven by boundary conditions from reanalysis while the other eleven are driven by one of four global climate models (GCMs). Four illustrative case studies are analyzed in detail. Model fidelity in LSMP spatial representation is high for cold winter extremes near Chicago. Winter warm extremes are captured by most RCMs in northern California, with some notable exceptions. Model fidelity is lower for cool summer days near Houston and extreme summer heat events in the Ohio Valley. Physical interpretation of these patterns and identification of well-simulated cases, such as for Chicago, boosts confidence in the ability of these models to simulate days in the tails of the temperature distribution. Results appear consistent with the expectation that the ability of an RCM to reproduce a realistically shaped frequency distribution for temperature, especially at the tails, is related to its fidelity in simulating LMSPs. Each ensemble member is ranked for its ability to reproduce LSMPs associated with observed warm and cold extremes, identifying systematically high performing RCMs and the GCMs that provide superior boundary forcing. The methodology developed here provides a framework for identifying regions where further process-based evaluation would improve the understanding of simulation error and help guide future model improvement and downscaling efforts.
Healing by design.

Nearly $200 billion of healthcare construction is expected by the year 2015, and nurse leaders must expand their knowledge and appreciation of philosophies of care and design attributes that create healing environments for patients, their families, and the staff. This bimonthly department prepares n
A microprocessor-regulated constant voltage, current, wattage, and temperature electrophoresis power supply

The analog control circuitry typically found in commercial electrophoresis power supplies was replaced by a digital microcomputer. Analog to digital converters were used to monitor the voltage applied to and current passed through an electrophoresis cell. Microcomputer programming was employed to compare converter input values with preselected operating parameters and then calculate a required output voltage. Timing sequences were generated through programming utilizing clocks located on the interface boards. A digital to analog converter was employed to apply a control voltage to a constant voltage power supply. This process was completed at least 20 times each second. BASIC programming subroutines were written to maintain constant voltage, current, power (wattage), and temperature. To these operating procedures, other techniques such as automated endpoint detection of isoelectric focusing and pulsed waveform outputs were easily added. This power supply containing a microcomputer system as the feedback element was shown to have a greater stability and versatility than conventional supplies.
Comparison of preservative-induced toxicity on monolayer and stratified Chang conjunctival cells

Preservatives are used in ocular medications to prevent microbial contamination. The use of benzalkonium chloride (BAC), the most widely used preservative in ocular medications, has been scrutinized with a number of studies indicating its toxicity to monolayer cultures of corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the toxicity of BAC and other preservatives and common components of ocular formulations on monolayer and stratified air-lifted cultures of Chang conjunctival cells. Air-lifting Chang cells grown on transwell filters increased stratification as assessed by transepithelial electrical resistance and histology. Unlike monolayer cultures in which ocular medications containing BAC caused near complete loss of cell viability, stratified, air-lifted cultures were not affected by the presence of BAC in ocular medications with up to 30-min exposures. Stratification shifted the dose-response curve to the right for benzalkonium chloride, thimerosal, chlorhexidine digluconate, potassium sorbate and EDTA. These results demonstrate that stratification significantly affects cell viability of Chang conjunctival cells in response to preservatives and additives of ophthalmic preparations.
Effects of autonomic agents and cyclic AMP on calcium accumulation and release in dog submandibular microsomes.

Abstract A microsomal fraction isolated from dog submandibular gland can actively accumulate and release calcium ions. Isoproterenol, norepinephrine and epinephrine inhibited calcium accumulation at concentrations ranging from 10 −7 to 10 −4 M without an effect on calcium release. The beta-adrenergic antagonists, practalol and propranolol, also inhibited calcium uptake at concentrations of 3 × 1 −4 M and greater but failed to block adrenergic agonist-induced depression of such uptake. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) and dibutyril cAMP did not effectively inhibit calcium accumulation or affect release, nor did addition of protein kinase ( 0.1 mg ml ) alter the responses to cAMP. These results suggest that autonomie agents may affect secretory processes via changes in calcium movements across vesicular membranes.
Estimation and extraction of radio-frequency interference from ultra-wideband radar signals

This paper presents a simple adaptive framework for robust separation and extraction of multiple sources of radio-frequency interference (RFI) from raw ultra-wideband (UWB) radar signals in challenging bandwidth management environments. RFI sources pose critical challenges for UWB systems since (i) RFI often occupies a wide range of the radar's operating frequency spectrum; (ii) RFI might have significant power; and (iii) RFI signals are difficult to predict and model due to their non-stationary nature as well as the complexity of various communication devices. Our proposed framework involves a standard RFI detection step that operates directly on previously-collected contaminated radar signals to identify RFI-dominant frequency sub-bands. This vital information is then applied to construct an RFI dictionary with various sinusoidal patterns spanning these RFI bands. We then employ a sparsity-driven optimization to estimate and then extract RFI from the received radar signals. Our method can be considered as a de-noising preprocessing stage for raw radar signals prior to image formation and other follow-up tasks. Recovery results from extensive simulated as well as real-world UWB synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data sets illustrate the robustness and effectiveness of our framework.
Assessing Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in the Patient With Cancer

Purpose Patients with cancer are increasingly at risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Rates of VTE, however, vary markedly among patients with cancer. Design This review focuses on recent data derived from population-based, hospital-based, and outpatient cohort studies of patients with cancer that have identified multiple clinical risk factors as well as candidate laboratory biomarkers predictive of VTE. Results Clinical risk factors for cancer-associated VTE include primary tumor site, stage, initial period after diagnosis, presence and number of comorbidities, and treatment modalities including systemic chemotherapy, antiangiogenic therapy, and hospitalization. Candidate predictive biomarkers include elevated platelet or leukocyte counts, tissue factor, soluble P-selectin, and D-dimer. A recently validated risk model, incorporating some of these factors, can help differentiate patients at high or low risk for developing VTE while receiving chemotherapy. Conclusion Identifying patients with cancer who ...
Spectroscopy of Neurotransmitters and Their Clusters. 1. Evidence for Five Molecular Conformers of Phenethylamine in a Supersonic Jet Expansion

The neurotransmitter molecule phenethylamine (PEA) is studied by fluorescence excitation, mass-resolved excitation, hole burning, and dispersed emission spectroscopies. The excitation spectrum of PEA exhibits a group of five transition bands in the S1 ← region. This group of transitions appears repetitively with the same spectral separations and intensity pattern in the higher energy regions up to 1000 cm-1 above the origin. The hole burning spectra of these five bands show different independent spectral hole depletion features. With the observation of no blue shifted emission bands higher than the excitation energy in the dispersed emission spectra, these five transition bands can be assigned to five different molecular conformers of PEA. These molecular conformers are distinguished from each other in their alkylamine side chain conformations and the amino group spatial orientations. With the assistance of ab initio calculations, we are able to identify the conformations of these five isomers. The effect...
Localization and DNA sequence analysis of the transforming domain (mtrII) of human cytomegalovirus.

Abstract To define the morphological transforming region II (mtrII) of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a series of subclones of the Xba I/BamHI fragment EM was constructed in vitro and tested for focus-forming activity and tumorigenicity. A 980-base-pair subclone of fragment EM was identified, and its nucleotide sequence revealed three small open reading frames (ORFs), encoding 79, 83, and 34 amino acid residues. S1 nuclease analysis of HCMV-infected cells identified several distinct early RNA species within mtrII, two of which (P1 and P2) were of particular interest, since the length of the protected DNA fragments would position the 5' end of the RNAs upstream of the open reading frames. In addition, the 980-base-pair transforming sequence revealed DNA elements capable of forming stem-loop structures. Thus the transforming mtrII domain of HCMV strain Towne contains both small open reading frames that are expressed in lytically infected cells and sequences resembling insertion-like structures that may be involved in transformation.
KAR2, a karyogamy gene, is the yeast homolog of the mammalian BiP/GRP78 gene

The yeast KAR2 gene was isolated by complementation of a mutation that blocks nuclear fusion. The predicted KAR2 protein sequence is most homologous to mammalian BiP/GRP78 and has several structural features in common with it: a functional secretory signal sequence, a yeast endoplasmic reticulum retention signal (HDEL) at the carboxyl terminus, and the absence of potential N-linked glycosylation sites. Moreover KAR2 is regulated like BiP/GRP78: the level of mRNA is increased by drug treatments and mutations that cause accumulation of secretory precursors in the endoplasmic reticulum. However, unlike BiP/GRP78, KAR2 is also regulated by heat shock. Deletion of the KAR2 gene generated a recessive lethal mutation, showing that BiP/GRP78 function is required for cell viability.
Stability of time-periodic flows in a circular pipe

The stability of time-periodic flows in a circular pipe is investigated. The disturbance is assumed to be axially symmetric and to have a small amplitude, so that the governing differential equation is linear. Calculations are carried out for the first ten modes for a range of values of the frequency of the primary motion, of the wavenumber of the disturbance, and of the Reynolds number of the primary flow. In the ranges of the parameters for which the calculations have been carried out, the flows are found to be stable and, as for Stokes flows (von Kerczek & Davis 1974), it is conjectured that the flows under study here are stable for all frequencies and all Reynolds numbers.
Immunoreactive calcitonin in human cerebrospinal fluid.

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 123 male subjects was studied by RIA for the presence of immunoreactive calcitonin (CT). The hormone could be detected in the CSF of75% of 63 subjects at a mean (±SE) concentration of 11.1 ± 1.3 pg/ml, with a range of <2 to 55 pg″⁄ml. In 31 subjects, simultaneous measurements were made of CSF and plasma CT andthere was no significant correlation between them. Column chromatography of a lyophilized pool of CSF from 60 of the subjects demonstrated that most of the CT immunoreactivity eluted with or after radioiodinated human CT. Our studies demonstrate the presence of immunoreactive CT in human CSF but do not provide any direct evidence regarding the source of the immunoreactivity.
Anterior gastropexy may reduce the recurrence rate after laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair.

Background: Although laparoscopic repair of type 3 paraesophageal hernias is safe and results in symptomatic relief, recent data have questioned the anatomic integrity of the laparoscopic approach. The reports document an asymptomatic recurrence rate as high as 42% with radiologic follow-up evaluation for type 3 paraesophageal hernias repaired laparoscopically. This disturbingly high recurrence rate has prompted the addition of an anterior gastropexy to our standard laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair. Methods: A prospective series of 28 patients underwent laparoscopic repair of large type 3 hiatal hernias between July 2000 and January 2002 at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation by one surgeon. All the patients underwent reduction of the hernia, sac excision, crural repair, antireflux procedure, and anterior gastropexy. They all had a video esophagram 24 h after surgery, then at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up visits and annually thereafter. Symptomatic outcomes were assessed with a standard questionnaire at each follow-up visit. Results: In this study, 21 women and 7 men with a mean age of 67 years (range, 35–82 years) underwent successful laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair. The mean operative time was 146 min (range, 101–186 min), and the average blood loss was 71 ml (range, 10–200 ml). One intraoperative complication occurred: A small esophageal mucosal tear occurred during esophageal dissection and was repaired laparoscopically. At 24 h, upper gastrointestinal examination identified no leaks. At this writing, all the patients have undergone video esophagram at a 3-month follow-up visit. All were asymptomatic and all examinations were normal. Of the 28 patients, 27 have undergone follow-up assessment at 6 months. At this writing, all the patients have undergone video esophagram at 3, 6, and 12 months follow up visits. All were asymptomatic and all examinations were normal. Ten patients have completed 2 year follow up barium swallows with no recurrences. Conclusions: With up to 2 years of follow-up evaluation, the addition of an anterior gastropexy to the laparoscopic repair of type 3 hiatal hernias resulted in no recurrences. These encouraging results necessitate further follow-up evaluation to document the long-term effects of anterior gastropexy in reducing postoperative recurrence after laparoscopic repair of paraesophageal hernias.
Rates and mechanisms of NO2 removal from indoor air by residential materials

Recent studies have shown that NO{sub 2} is removed from indoor air more rapidly than by air exchange alone. The relative efficiencies for NO{sub 2} removal by a large number of materials are presented here, along with a discussion of the factors that influence the removal process. This work has demonstrated that reaction with indoor surfaces represents a significant sink for NO{sub 2}, and that these reactions currently are effecting a considerable degree of control over indoor NO{sub 2} levels. It seems likely that this control could be enhanced by judicious selection of furnishings and construction materials. Improved understanding of the rates and mechanisms of the removal process will permit optimization of the process for indoor air quality improvement.