cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Treatments and Available Formulations

The use of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) has gained attention due to its potential to expedite healing and the ease of harvesting; however, clinical evidence is limited, and questions concerning optimal method of delivery and long-term outcomes remain unanswered. Administration of ADSCs in animal models has been reported to aid in improved healing benefits with enhanced repair biomechanics, superior gross histological appearance of injury sites, and higher concentrations of growth factors associated with healing compared to controls. Recently, an increasing body of research has sought to examine the effects of ADSCs in humans. Several available processing techniques and formulations for ADSCs exist with evidence to suggest benefits with the use of ADSCs, but the superiority of any one method is not clear. Evidence from the most recent clinical studies available demonstrates promising outcomes following treatment of select musculoskeletal pathologies with ADSCs despite reporting variability among ADSCs harvesting and processing; these include (1) healing benefits and pain improvement for rotator cuff and Achilles tendinopathies, (2) improvements in pain and function in those with knee and hip osteoarthritis, and (3) improved cartilage regeneration for osteochondral focal defects of the knee and talus. The limitation to most of this literature is the use of other therapeutic biologics in combination with ADSCs. Additionally, many studies lack control groups, making establishment of causation inappropriate. It is imperative to perform higher-quality studies using consistent, predictable control populations and to standardize formulations of ADSCs in these trials.
Influence of Hydroxyl Group Concentration on Mechanical Properties and Impact Resistance of ROMP Copolymers

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) produced homopolymers and copolymers of 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB) and 5-methanol-2-norbornene (NBOH), and this provided a platform to explore the...
Existence of a Sharp Anderson Transition in Disordered Two-Dimensional Systems

We derive the quantum-mechanical energy-dependent diffusivity directly from the Kubo-Greenwood formula for electrical conductivity. The resulting expression suggests a numerical method for the solution of the Schrodinger equation without the introduction of sample boundaries. Instead, we simply analyze the diffusion of a particle outwards from an initial bulk site. This method is applied to calculate the conductivity of a two-dimensional system in the presence of various degrees of time-independent disorder. In the case of the Anderson model for non-interacting electrons, we find a sharp transition from localized to diffusive behavior, contrary to the predictions of scaling theory.
How Much of Cross-Country Income Variation is Explained by Health?

We use development accounting techniques to assess the contribution of health to differences in income per capita among countries. Rather than rely on regressions in aggregate data, we build up estimates of the effect of health starting from microeconomic data. We examine both a particular condition, anemia, and a proxy for general health, the adult survival rate. We find that differences in anemia explain 1.3% of the log variance of income per capita, and that differences in adult survival explain 19% of the log variance of income per capita. The latter figure is almost one-third of the variation in output that is left unexplained by other measures of factor accumulation.
Mixture Equations of State, Mixture Departure Functions, Ideal Gas Mixtures, Ideal Solutions, and Sample Problem

The material presented in this lecture is adapted from Chapter 9 in T&M. First, we will solve sample Problem 23.1 to calculate the partial molar enthalpy of component 2, and the molar enthalpy of a binary liquid mixture of components 1 and 2, given the partial molar enthalpy of component 1 as a function of T, P, and the mole fraction of component 1. Second, we will discuss various equations of state (EOS) for gas mixtures, including the ideal gas mixture EOS, the van der Waals mixture EOS, the Peng-Robinson mixture EOS, and the virial mixture EOS. As needed, we will present several composition-dependent mixing rules to relate the parameters of the mixture EOS to those of the EOS corresponding to the various components comprising the mixture. We will see that, as expected, when the mixture reduces to a single component, the mixture EOS reduces to the EOS of the single component. Third, we will discuss how to calculate changes in the thermodynamic properties of gas mixtures by generalizing the attenuated-state approach, first presented in Lecture 16, and the departure-function approach, first presented in Lecture 19, from a single component (n = 1) to several components (n > 1). Specifically, the isothermal variations will be calculated using a mixture EOS, and the temperature variations will be calculated using mixture heat capacity data, obtained through a composition average of the heat capacities of the various components comprising the gas mixture. Finally, we will define an ideal gas, an ideal gas mixture, and an ideal solution in terms of the chemical potential of component i in each case.
Charles Jacques Bouchard (1837–1915) and the Charcot-Bouchard aneurysm

Charles Jacques Bouchard was a distinguished French physician and scientist of the early 19th century. Despite his humble beginnings, Bouchard was able to achieve meteoric success within the scientific and medical fields, establishing himself as one of the most influential physician-scientists of his time. This was in part due to his superb commitment, as well as the prosperity engendered by the strong influence of his teachers, which can be seen as a testament to the importance of mentorship in medicine. Besides his myriad contributions, Bouchard is most well known for describing the Charcot-Bouchard aneurysm in 1866 alongside his mentor Jean-Martin Charcot, linking them for the first time to intracranial hemorrhage. Bouchard's thesis entitled "A Study of Some Points in the Pathology of Cerebral Hemorrhage" was regarded by some as the most original and important of all recent works on the subject of cerebral hemorrhage at the time of publication. Sadly, the great relationship Bouchard shared with his mentor Charcot would later deteriorate into perhaps one of the most well-known student-mentor quarrels in the history of medicine. Herein, the authors present a historical recollection of Bouchard's life, career, and contributions to medicine, as well as the famous controversy with Jean-Martin Charcot.
Switchable solvents for CO2 capture

Abstract Solvents are crucial to drive a number of chemical processes like chemical reactions. However, most of the solvents used to drive chemical processes are not recyclable and cause environmental pollution. As an alternative to the traditional solvents, research is being focused on the development of recyclable switchable solvents, which change their physical properties in response to exposure to a gas molecule (like CO2) or changes in temperature. Owing to reversible physical properties displayed by switchable solvents, they offer an efficient and economically viable alternative to traditional solvents. Much research is being done on the issue of the capture of CO2 using solvents followed by further utilization in different applications. The current chapter focuses on the development of technologies that involve the use of switchable solvents for the capture of CO2 as it represents the most abundant greenhouse gas in our environment. In addition, the sources of CO2 emissions are increasing around the world due to heavy industrialization. The switchable solvents have the potential of utilization in CO2 sequestration as they can be switched back and forth between different states in response to CO2. The response to CO2 can be altered by external factors such as temperature, pressure, or inert gas, which can be exploited for the capture and release of CO2. The review focuses on various aspects of the important techniques developed in this fast-developing area.
Mechanics aspects of NDE by sound and ultrasound

Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) is considered as a means to detect the energy release mechanism of defects and the interaction of microstructures within materials with sound waves and/or ultrasonic waves. Ultrasonic inspection involves the frequency range 20 kHz-1 GHz with amplitudes depending on the sensitivity of the test instrumentation. Pulse echo systems are most frequently used in NDE. Information is extracted from the signals through measurements of the signal velocity, attenuation, the acoustic emission when stress is applied, and calculation of the acoustoelastic coefficients. Fracture properties, tensile and shear strengths, the interlaminar shear strength, the cohesive strength, yield and impact strengths, the hardness, and the residual stress can be assayed by ultrasonic methods. Finally, attention is given to analytical treatment of the derived data, with mention given to transition matrix, integral equation, and eigenstrain approaches.
Recombinant Live Cholera Vaccines

This chapter reviews developments and progress in the use of recombinant bacteria as live oral cholera vaccines. The extent to which a prior clinical infection with wild-type enterotoxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 stimulates protection against cholera in the face of subsequent challenge with wildtype V. cholerae O1 comes from two sources, volunteer studies and epidemiologic studies in endemic areas. The molecular pathogenesis of cholera infection is one of the best-studied bacterial infections and is characterized by cascades of coordinately regulated virulence properties. Vibriocidal antibody is measured by bacterial lysis when serial dilutions of serum are incubated with a large standardized inoculum of V. cholerae O1 in the presence of guinea pig complement. A series of early vaccine candidates was constructed from wild-type V. cholerae strains known to be pathogenic for volunteers by introducing deletions in the chromosomal genes encoding the A (ADP-ribosylating "toxic") subunit or both the A and B (nontoxic binding) subunits of cholera enterotoxin. Investigators at the Center for Vaccine Development of the University of Maryland have identified two new toxins in addition to cholera toxin that are elaborated by virulent V. cholerae O1. The genes that encode these two toxins, zonula occludens toxin (Zot) and accessory cholera toxin (Ace), are located on the "cholera toxin element" of the cholera chromosome contiguous to ctxAB, which encodes cholera toxin. Clinical trials with candidate live oral vaccines against V. cholerae O139 are expected to commence in 1994.
Supramolecular Ga4L612– Cage Photosensitizes 1,3-Rearrangement of Encapsulated Guest via Photoinduced Electron Transfer

The K12Ga4L6 supramolecular cage is photoactive and enables an unprecedented photoreaction not observed in bulk solution. Ga4L6(12-) cages photosensitize the 1,3-rearrangement of encapsulated cinnamylammonium cation guests from the linear isomer to the higher energy branched isomer when irradiated with UVA light. The rearrangement requires light and guest encapsulation to occur. The Ga4L6(12-) cage-mediated reaction mechanism was investigated by UV/vis absorption, fluorescence, ultrafast transient absorption, and electrochemical experiments. The results support a photoinduced electron transfer mechanism for the 1,3-rearrangement, in which the Ga4L6(12-) cage absorbs photons and transfers an electron to the encapsulated cinnamylammonium ion, which undergoes C-N bond cleavage, followed by back electron transfer to the cage and recombination of the guest fragments to form the higher energy isomer.
IL-12 p40 Homodimer-Dependent Macrophage Chemotaxis and Respiratory Viral Inflammation Are Mediated through IL-12 Receptor β1

Leukocyte recruitment to the airway lumen is a central feature of inflammatory conditions such as asthma and respiratory viral infection. Characterization of mediators that regulate leukocyte recruitment in these conditions revealed increased IL-12 p40 homodimer (p80) levels were associated with enhanced airway macrophage accumulation. To examine this association, we used in vivo and in vitro assays to demonstrate p80, but not IL-12 or p40, provided a macrophage chemoattractant signal. Macrophages from genetically deficient mice indicated p80-dependent chemotaxis was independent of IL-12 and required IL-12Rβ1 (Rβ1) expression. Furthermore, analysis of murine cell lines and primary culture macrophages revealed Rβ1 expression, with an intact cytoplasmic tail, was necessary and sufficient to mediate p80-dependent chemotaxis. To examine the role for Rβ1 in mediating macrophage accumulation in vivo, we contrasted Sendai virus-driven airway inflammation in wild-type and Rβ1-deficient mice. Despite similar viral burden and production of the macrophage chemoattractant p80, the Rβ1-deficient mice displayed a selective decrease in airway macrophage accumulation and resistance to viral-dependent mortality. Thus, Rβ1 mediates p80-dependent macrophage chemotaxis and inhibition of the p80-Rβ1 interaction may provide a novel anti-inflammatory strategy to manipulate the inflammation associated with asthma and respiratory viral infection.
Were progenitors of local L* galaxies Lyman-alpha emitters at high redshift?

The Lya emission has been observed from galaxies over a redshift span z ~ 0 - 8.6. However, the evolution of high-redshift Lya emitters (LAEs), and the link between these populations and local galaxies, remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the Lya properties of progenitors of a local L* galaxy by combining cosmological hydrodynamic simulations with three-dimensional radiative transfer calculations using the new ART^2 code. We find that the main progenitor (the most massive one) of a Milky Way-like galaxy has a number of Lya properties close to those of observed LAEs at z ~ 2 - 6, but most of the fainter ones appear to fall below the detection limits of current surveys. The Lya photon escape fraction depends sensitively on a number of physical properties of the galaxy, such as mass, star formation rate, and metallicity, as well as galaxy morphology and orientation. Moreover, we find that high-redshift LAEs show blue-shifted Lya line profiles characteristic of gas inflow, and that the Lya emission by excitation cooling increases with redshift, and becomes dominant at z > 6. Our results suggest that some observed LAEs at z ~ 2-6 with luminosity of L_Lya ~ 10^{42-43} ergs/s may be similar to the main progenitor of the Milky Way at high redshift, and that they may evolve into present-day L* galaxies.
Core Values in Hospitals: A Comparative Study

[This abstract is based on the authors’ abstract.] This study explores the relationship between core values adoption and safety in American hospitals. It found that while certain core values are easier for hospitals to adopt if others are already in pla..
Cellular functions of DNA polymerase zeta and Rev1 protein.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on DNA polymerase ζ (Pol ζ) and Rev1 protein (Rev1p), which perform a variety of important and essential functions in eukaryotes, including roles in DNA damage tolerance, in the development of diversity among immunoglobulin genes, and in the repair of double-strand breaks by homologous recombination. The chapter reviews information about the properties and functions of Pol ζ and Rev1p. Most of these data come from yeast, but important results have also been obtained from a variety of other species, including the mouse, humans, and chickens. A combination of investigations over the past several years, examining the enzymology, genetics, and cell biology of Pol ζ and Rev1p, has contributed in the understanding of cellular functions. Different models proposed for Pol ζ and Rev1p functions are also examined in the chapter.
Automatic detection of Chinese accent-index based on approximation-ratio

For a TTS system, to synthesize speech with better prosody, accent information is expected to be involved. Therefore, we defined a set of accent indexes (AI) to represent the variances of accent in Chinese speech, and proposed a novel method to automatically annotate Chinese speech with the AI. In the method, a parameter, named approximation-ratio, was used to numerically indicate the accent of a prosodic unit. And the value of AI was the discretization of the approximation-ratio. One corpus was annotated with AI by the method. And with the corpus, a refined prosody parameter prediction model was built. The experimental results showed that prosody parameters predicted by the refined model were closer to those of real speech than the former model without AI. Further, a perceptual evaluation showed that the accent manifestation generated by the AI-ready synthesizer was distinguishable and acceptable.
Current Averaging and Coil Segmentation in the Protection of Large Toroidal Superconducting Magnet Systems

Table I compares several designs of the superconducting toroidal magnet arrays required to confine the plasma in a large fusion Tokamak device [1–3]. Because of the high magnetic field and large plasma volume required in a power reactor, the magnetic energy stored in the toroidal field is very large. In order to avoid quenching—whether it is due to flux jumps, conductor motion, or other causes— before the design current is reached, cryostatic stabilization is usually preferred. Although there are some advantages, from the viewpoint of coil protection, to having a large number of coils in the torus, the actual number will probably be determined by factors such as field ripple in the plasma, manufacturing cost, access space, etc. Table I Comparison of Toroidal Field Coil Parameters in Various Power Reactor Designs This work UWMAK-I[1] ORNL(1971)[2] Princeton [3] Number of coils 24 12 48 48 Conductor NbTi-Cu NbTi-Cu NbTi-Cu Nb3Sn Stabilization Cryostatic Cryostatic Cryostatic Dynamic Major radius, m 10 13 10.5 10.5 Central field 4 3.82 3.7 6 Maximum field in winding, T 8 8.66 8 16 Coil shape Circular D Circular D Inner diameter, m 10 12.2, 20 11.2 12,19 Operating current, A 5000 10,212 5000 10,000s Average current density in winding, 107 x A/m2 1.7 1.318 1.55 2.1† Energy stored in torus, 1010 J 3.367 28 4 25 † Average current density in conductor. The use of twenty-four coils seems to represent a plausible compromise of these factors. Because of the close proximity of a large number of coils, the inductive coupling plays a rather important role in the electrical behavior ofz the coils of such a close-packed toroidal array.
Constructing the European Legal State: The Co-Evolution of the EU and the ECHR from the Perspective of American Political Development

This paper seeks to leverage the theoretical approach of American Political Development (APD) scholarship to provide an initial explication of the emergence of the European legal state - defined as the area of jurisdictional overlap between the European Union (EU) and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). I argue that the European legal state co-evolved through three distinct yet mutually constitutive streams of political construction: a) a process of ideological construction, b) a process of institutional construction, and c) a process of doctrinal construction. Although all three processes occurred separately within the EU and ECHR, it is their co-evolution and interaction that is of particular interest here. The process of ideological construction, detailed in Section III, was authored by the Eurofederalists, human rights activists, judges, lawyers, politicians, and academics who sought to promote economic interdependence and fundamental rights protections in Europe by transcending what they perceived to be an increasingly anachronistic Westphalian system of nation states. Section IV then turns to the process of institutional construction. Beyond the founding of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) (and the contemporary accession process of the EU to the ECHR), this section highlights the importance of institutional practices - like judicial review and the interactions between domestic and European courts - for the institutional entrenchment of the European legal state. Finally, Section V provides an overview of the third process - that of doctrinal construction. It show how substantive differences between EU and ECHR law sparked tensions evident in the case law of both the ECJ and ECtHR, necessitating doctrinal reconstructions as both institutions became central fora for the continuous renegotiation of a functional modus vivendi. Note that the distinct nature of each process requires reliance on different forms of empirical evidence: Section III places particular emphasis on speeches and declarations; Section IV is focused more heavily on Treaty and Convention provisions; and Section V privileges case law. Ultimately, by treating the co-evolution of the European legal state as a process of political construction with three distinct yet mutually constitutive dimensions, the argument forwarded here represents an initial and cursory attempt to theoretically do justice to the fascinating empirical depth of European political development.
Control of Arginine Biosynthesis in Escherichia coli: Role of Arginyl-Transfer Ribonucleic Acid Synthetase in Repression

The physiological role of arginyl-transfer ribonucleic acid (Arg-tRNA) synthetase (E.C. 6.1.1.13, arginine: RNA ligase adenosine monophosphate) in repression of arginine biosynthetic enzymes was examined. Mutants with nonrepressible synthesis of arginine biosynthetic enzymes were isolated from various strains of Escherichia coli by resistance to growth inhibition by canavanine, an arginine analogue. These mutants possessed reduced Arg-tRNA synthetase activities which were qualitatively different from the synthetase activity of the wild type. The mutant enzymes exhibited turnover in vivo and were less stable in vitro than the wild type at both 4 C and 40 C; they possessed different affinities for both arginine and canavanine as measured by the three common assay systems for aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Furthermore, in one case it was shown that (i) the mutant possesed unaltered uptake of arginine, and (ii) that the mutant possessed diminished ability to incorporate canavanine into proteins and to attach canavanine to tRNA. These observations suggested that the mutation to canavanine resistance involved a structural change in Arg-tRNA synthetase. Likewise, the results of genetic experiments suggested that the mutants differed from the wild-type strain at only one locus, and that this lies in the region of the chromosomes that includes a structural gene for Arg-tRNA synthetase. It appears that Arg-tRNA synthetase may be involved in some way in repression by arginine of its own biosynthetic enzymes.
NASA Earth Observing System Mission Operations Center development using COTS products

The original NASA EOS Terra Spacecraft ground command and control system development started as a custom product but was failing to meet the requirements. Less than six months before launch a replacement system was developed. The new development tested COTS products offering the best potential for a low cost, successful delivery. Some difficulties encountered with using the COTS product were that operations concepts varied considerably from the EOS missions. In this case the EOS Flight Operations Team was well established and had settled on a concept of operations. No single standard exists for space-to-ground communications and the ground interfaces were unique to NASA so new interfaces had to be developed. Another consideration was the mission life cycle of 10-to-12 years COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) product life cycles tend to be much shorter. Our approach involved the operations team and selected COTS products that closely matched the original operations concepts. Requirements were scrubbed to identify those critical to launch and which could be deleted or modified. Multiple builds were made to support mission rehearsal requirements and incorporate critical requirements early to allow the greatest amount of test time. The first build was delivered and installed less than 45 days after the initial contract and the first mission rehearsal was more successful than any previous EOS rehearsal on the original system. A subsequent build 90 days later supported all launch critical requirements and the system was declared launch-ready on time to support the planned launch. COTS products can be used to accelerate development schedules, but tailoring of the product is often unavoidable. If extensive tailoring is required, consideration should be given to a custom development. Upgrades to the COTS products can introduce new problems and must be carefully managed.
This is our time

![Graphic][1] Welcome to a brand-new year, full of promise, challenges and both planned and as-of-yet untold opportunities to meet our mission to optimize the health of patients in pain and eliminate the major public health problem of pain by advancing the practice and specialty of pain medicine. Let me introduce 2012 with a refrain of how I began one year ago, with an invitation to be an active, participatory member of the Academy and “join in this shared effort to rekindle in ourselves and in each other the most essential and ennobling aspect of what it is … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Bronchogastric fistula, pulmonary sequestration, malrotation of the intestine, and Meckel's diverticulum—A new association

Two female children, each who had a bronchogastric fistula and pulmonary sequestration (communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation, CBPFM) and associated malrotation of the intestine and Meckel's diverticulum are presented. Each child also presented with severe gastroesophageal reflux. The association of malrotation of the intestine and Meckel's diverticulum with a CBPFM never has been reported as a distinct entity. The concept of association of anomalies is discussed briefly.
DE-NOVO BRAIN TUMOURS IN RENAL-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Abstract 11 of 24 mesenchymal neoplasms which have arisen de novo in patients with organ homografts throughout the world have involved the brain. In 8 cases the tumours were present only in this organ. 9 neoplasms were reticulumcell sarcomas and 2 were unclassified lymphomas. These lesions appeared sooner after transplantation than did non-cerebral mesenchymal or epithelial tumours. The brain has no lymphatic system, and little proliferation of reactive cells takes place in response to foreign antigens unless prior immunisation has occurred. It is suggested that tumour cells could arise in the brain itself or be carried there from other sites. The poor immunological reactions of the unimmunised and immunosuppressed brain suggest the possibility that neoplastic cells would grow more readily in this relatively immunologically privileged environment than in other tissues.
Altered plasmodial surface anion channel activity and in vitro resistance to permeating antimalarial compounds

Erythrocytes infected with malaria parasites have increased permeability to various solutes. These changes may be mediated by an unusual small conductance ion channel known as the plasmodial surface anion channel (PSAC). While channel activity benefits the parasite by permitting nutrient acquisition, it can also be detrimental because water-soluble antimalarials may more readily access their parasite targets via this channel. Recently, two such toxins, blasticidin S and leupeptin, were used to select mutant parasites with altered PSAC activities, suggesting acquired resistance via reduced channel-mediated toxin uptake. Surprisingly, although these toxins have similar structures and charge, we now show that reduced permeability of one does not protect the intracellular parasite from the other. Leupeptin accumulation in the blasticidin S-resistant mutant was relatively preserved, consistent with retained in vitro susceptibility to leupeptin. Subsequent in vitro selection with both toxins generated a double mutant parasite having additional changes in PSAC, implicating an antimalarial resistance mechanism for water-soluble drugs requiring channel-mediated uptake at the erythrocyte membrane. Characterization of these mutants revealed a single conserved channel on each mutant, albeit with distinct gating properties. These findings are consistent with a shared channel that mediates uptake of ions, nutrients and toxins. This channel's gating and selectivity properties can be modified in response to in vitro selective pressure.
Protein enhancement of hammerhead ribozyme catalysis

When the recognition sequence of a ribozyme is extended beyond a certain length, turnover is slowed and specificity is decreased. Here, it is shown that a protein can help a ribozyme overcome these general limitations on ribozyme activity. Cleavage of an RNA oligonucleotide by a hammerhead ribozyme is enhanced 10- to 20-fold upon addition of a protein derived from the p7 nucleocapsid (NC) protein of human immunodeficiency virus-type 1. The NC protein also enhances the ability of the ribozyme to discriminate between cleavage of RNA oligonucleotides with differing sequences. These catalytic improvements can be attributed to the strand exchange activity of this RNA binding protein. It is conceivable that endogenous or added proteins may provide analogous increases in ribozyme activity and specificity in vivo.
Schardinger Dextrin Interaction IV: Inhibition of Hydrolysis by Means of Molecular Complex Formation

Kinetic data presented substantiates the postulated 1:1 stoichiometric ratio for the benzocaine-cyclodextrin interaction. Data presented also show that the degree of retardation of benzocaine hydrolysis is considerably greater than that observed for the caffeine-type complexes indicating an interaction involving inclusion formation and other attractive forces.
Refractive index changes during germination of bacillus subtilis spores

Light transmission measurements in the wavelength range of 400 to 1000 nm were performed on Bacillus subtilis spores at periodic time intervals after heat-shock induced activation. The Gaussian ray approximation, using a concentric sphere model for the spore coat and spore core, was used to calculate the scattering cross-section of the spores. Analysis of transmission spectra determined that the refractive index of the spore core was 1.515. In the three hours following heat shock, the core refractive index decreased to 1.39, and subsequently remained constant. During the measurements, the spore radius increased from 0.38 microns to 0.6 microns. The results were confirmed by phase contrast microscopy.
Impact of steatosis on perioperative outcome following hepatic resection

Fatty liver disease may interfere with liver regeneration and is postulated to result in an adverse outcome for patients subjected to partial hepatectomy. This study examines the impact of steatosis on outcome following hepatic resection for neoplasms. All patients with fatty livers (n = 325) who underwent hepatectomy between December 1991 and September 2001 were identified from a prospective database. Slides were reviewed and steatosis was quantified as follows: <30% (mild) and ≧30% (marked). Patient data were gathered and compared with results in 160 control patients with normal livers; subjects were matched for age, comorbidity, and extent of liver resection. There were 223 patients with mild and 102 with marked steatosis. Those with steatosis were more likely to be men (59% marked vs. 55% mild vs. 43% control; P = 0.01)withahigherbodymassindex(29.7± 5.5 marked vs. 28.2 ± 5.5 mild vs. 26.0 ± 5.4 control; P<0.01), and treated preoperatively with chemotherapy (66% marked vs. 55% mild vs. 38% control; P < 0.01). Total (62%, 48%, and 35%; P< 0.01) and infective (43%, 24%, and 14%; P< 0.01) complications correlated with the degree of steatosis. No difference was observed in complications requiring major medical intervention, hospitalization, or admission to the intensive care unit between groups. On multivariate analysis, steatosis was an independent predictor of complications (P< 0.01, risk ratio = 3.04, 95% confidence interval = 1.7 to 5.54). There was a nonsignificant trend toward higher 60-day mortality in patients with marked steatosis who had lobe or more resections (9.4% marked vs. 5.0% mild vs. 5.0% control; P = 0.30). Marked steatosis is an independent predictor of complications following hepatic resection but does not have a significant impact on 60-day mortality. Steatosis alone should not preclude aggressive hepatic resection for neoplasms when indicated; however, patients with marked steatosis undergoing large resections should still be approached with due caution.
SHADOW WAGES AND THE PROMOTION OF EFFICIENT LABOR ALLOCATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

SUMMARY The article questions the advisability of using the standard shadow wage formulas to calculate labor costs for development project appraisal purposes. It is shown that such formulas apply only if a share-alike rural ethic is responsible for the rural marginal product-urban wage gap. Moreover even in cases where such formulas may be legitimately used, their application leads to a decrease in the accumulation rate. To improve labor allocation without sacrificing growth it is necessary to have recourse to fiscal tools. With the aid of appropriate fiscal measures it is possible to eliminate the gap between the actual wage and the social opportunity cost of labor, and to promote good use of labor throughout the economy, and not merely on projects covered by the social cost-benefit calculus.
Involvement of cell adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are cell surface proteins that are important for the interaction between cells and the extracellular matrix. These CAMs are critical for the migration of leukocytes to areas of inflammation. In addition, CAMs are involved in the interaction of lymphocytes and antigen presenting cells, and play an integral role in lymphocyte stimulation. Experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) is an experimental model of posterior uveitis in humans. Recent studies show that CAM expression is upregulated in eyes with EAU. Furthermore, studies have now demonstrated that antibodies against certain CAMs can inhibit EAU. This paper reviews the role of CAMs in EAU.
Regarding polynomial approximation for ordinary differential equations

In this article, we consider an application of the approximate iterative method of Dzyadyk [V.K. Dzyadyk, Approximation methods for solutions of differential and integral equations, VSP, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 1995] to the construction of approximate polynomial solutions of ordinary differential equations. We illustrate that this method allows construction of polynomials of low degree with sufficiently high accuracy by examples, and as a result such polynomials can be used in practical applications. Moreover, Dzyadyk's method produces an a priori estimate for the polynomial approximation of the solution of Cauchy problems. For the application of this method a Cauchy problem should be rewritten as the corresponding integral equation, followed by the replacement of the integrand by its Lagrange interpolation polynomial and Picard iterations.
Interannual Variability in the Northern Hemisphere Winter Middle Atmosphere in Control and Perturbed Experiments with the GFDL SKYHI General Circulation Model

Abstract This paper reports on interannual variability of the Northern Hemisphere winter stratospheric circulation as simulated by the 40-level GFDL “SKYHI” general circulation model. A 31-year control simulation was performed using a climatological annual cycle of sea surface temperatures. The interannual variability of the stratospheric circulation in this model has some realistic features. In particular, the simulated variance of monthly mean, zonal-man temperature and wind in the. extratropical Northern Hemisphere agrees fairly well with observations. The day-to-day variability of the circulation also appears to be rather well simulated, with midwinter warmings of realistic intensity and suddenness appearing in the polar regions. The major deficiency is the absence of a realistic quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) in the simulated winds in the tropical lower stratosphere. There is also an indication of long period (∼10 year) variability in the winter polar vortex. This appears not to be related to any o...
Social networks and bribery: The case of entrepreneurs in Eastern Europe ☆

Abstract Using a survey of new firms in Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, I explore how an entrepreneur’s social networks affect the amount paid in bribes to government officials. Lower levels of bribe payments are associated with ownership by a former manager of a state-owned enterprise (SOE), with being a spin-off from a SOE, and with trade association membership. The results also suggest that these networks have a larger impact on bribe payments than do firm characteristics such as profits, sales, or resale value. For the average firm, having a former SOE manager as an owner can be expected to reduce bribe payments by over 50%, while, by contrast, doubling the firm’s profits results in only a 7% increase in bribe payments.
Least squares filtering and prediction of nonstationary sampled data

The design of a linear, least squares filter or predictor H for nonstationary sampled data is shown to entail the inversion of an n × n matrix for the nth row of the “transmission matrix” H which characterizes the device. By the use of an “ensemble-shaping” technique the computation required is reduced to tractable proportions. It is shown that even when the input data is stationary the filter which is optimum for all instants (and not only in the steady-state) is a time-varying device which approaches the optimum steady-state filter as the filtering time becomes infinite.
Development and Validation of an Instrument to Assess the Clinical Performance of Medical Residents

The purpose of this research was to develop and to validate an instrument which would assess specific components of the clinical performance of residents regardless of their medical specialty. Such...
Approximate Asymptotic P Values for StructuraS-Change Tests

Numerical approximations to the asymptotic distributions of recently proposed tests for structural change are presented. This enables easy yet accurate calculation of asymptotic p values. A GAUSS program is available to perform the computations.
Quorum-sensing regulators control virulence gene expression in Vibrio cholerae

The production of virulence factors including cholera toxin and the toxin-coregulated pilus in the human pathogen Vibrio cholerae is strongly influenced by environmental conditions. The well-characterized ToxR signal transduction cascade is responsible for sensing and integrating the environmental information and controlling the virulence regulon. We show here that, in addition to the known components of the ToxR signaling circuit, quorum-sensing regulators are involved in regulation of V. cholerae virulence. We focused on the regulators LuxO and HapR because homologues of these two proteins control quorum sensing in the closely related luminous marine bacterium Vibrio harveyi. Using an infant mouse model, we found that a luxO mutant is severely defective in colonization of the small intestine. Gene arrays were used to profile transcription in the V. cholerae wild type and the luxO mutant. These studies revealed that the ToxR regulon is repressed in the luxO mutant, and that this effect is mediated by another negative regulator, HapR. We show that LuxO represses hapR expression early in log-phase growth, and constitutive expression of hapR blocks ToxR-regulon expression. Additionally, LuxO and HapR regulate a variety of other cellular processes including motility, protease production, and biofilm formation. Together these data suggest a role for quorum sensing in modulating expression of blocks of virulence genes in a reciprocal fashion in vivo.
Nonsurgical Management of the Foot and Ankle Affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis frequently affects foot and ankle function, leading to pain, difficulty with ambulation, and disability. The purpose of this article is to describe common foot and ankle deformities associated with rheumatoid arthritis and present state-of-the-art nonsurgical management strategies. Physical impairments thought to be commonly associated with limitations of function and practical interventions for alleviating those impairments or reducing the impact of the impairment on ambulation are identified. Examples of rehabilitation interventions discussed include prescription footwear, custom and premolded foot orthoses, hindfoot orthoses, ankle-foot orthoses, shoe modifications, therapeutic exercises, and patient education. Early and aggressive attempts at prevention, delay, or correction of foot and ankle pathomechanics related to rheumatoid arthritis may play a key role in helping patients maintain an active ambulatory lifestyle. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1999;29:703–717.
PERMUTATION TESTS AND OTHER TEST STATISTICS FOR ILL-BEHAVED DATA: EXPERIENCE OF THE NINDS t-PA STROKE TRIAL

Permutation tests are often used to analyze data since they may not require one to make assumptions regarding the form of the distribution to have a random and independent sample selection. We initially considered a permutation test to assess the treatment effect on computed tomography lesion volume in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) t-PA Stroke Trial, which has highly skewed data. However, we encountered difficulties in summarizing the permutation test results on the lesion volume. In this paper, we discuss some aspects of permutation tests and illustrate our findings. This experience with the NINDS t-PA Stroke Trial data emphasizes that permutation tests are useful for clinical trials and can be used to validate assumptions of an observed test statistic. The permutation test places fewer restrictions on the underlying distribution but is not always distribution-free or an exact test, especially for ill-behaved data. Quasi-likelihood estimation using the generalized es...
Arteriovenous fistula: Hemodynamic effects of occlusion and exercise

Abstract Hemodynamic studies were carried out in 7 patients with arteriovenous fistulas, during rest and exercise, when the fistula was open and closed. A high cardiac output existed in all patients during rest, unless congestive heart failure was present. A uniform decrease in cardiac output was observed upon occlusion of the fistula. Two patients increased their cardiac output supernormally on exercise. Muscular occlusion of the fistula was postulated in 3 patients without heart failure, in whom a decline in cardiac output occurred during exercise. Correlation between the filling pressures of the left ventricle and stroke volume could not be made in the various experimental situations studied.
The Effects of Switching on Denominational Subcultures

For many years, sociologists have examined the role of religious collectivities in shaping individual attitudes and behaviors. This research has assumed that religious groups are the “locus of subcultural differences” in social attitudes. However, scholars have not addressed how denominational mobility or switching affects denominational subcultures. Our research uses data from the General Social Surveys to examine the consequences of switching on denominational subcultures. Our analysis investigates denominational differences in central tendencies and differences in homogeneity for “switchers” and those who remain affiliated with the same religious group over the life course. Further, comparisons of both types of religious group differences are adjusted to account for sociodemographic characteristics. Several promising directions for future research on religious variations in social values and attitudes are discussed.
Hemispherectomy sustained before adulthood does not cause persistent hemispatial neglect.

Abstract Introduction Hemispatial neglect has been well established in adults following acute ischemic stroke, but has rarely been investigated in children and young adults following brain injury. It is known that young brains have a tremendous potential for reorganization; however, there is controversy as to whether functions are assumed by the opposite hemisphere, or perilesional areas in the same hemisphere. Patients with intractable epilepsy who undergo hemispherectomy for treatment are missing the entire cortex on one side following surgery. In these patients, only the opposite hemisphere is available to assume function. Therefore, they provide the unique opportunity to determine in what cases the left or right hemisphere can take over the spatial attention functions of the opposite hemisphere following damage. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and types of hemispatial neglect in children and young adults following both right- and left-sided hemispherectomy; which types of spatial attention functions can be assumed by the opposite hemisphere; and whether factors like their age at time of surgery, handedness, or gender influence recovery. Methods Thirty-two children and young adults who had previously undergone hemispherectomy were administered two tests to evaluate for two types of hemispatial neglect: a gap detection test and a line cancellation test. Egocentric neglect was defined as significantly more omissions of targets on the contralesional versus ipsilesional side of the page (by chi square analysis; p Results Only one of the patients displayed statistically significant hemispatial egocentric neglect on the line cancellation test, and none of the patients displayed statistically significant egocentric or allocentric neglect on the gap detection test. Conclusions These results imply that reorganization to the contralateral hemisphere occurs peri-hemispherectomy, as there are no perilesional areas to assume function.
Superradiant Intensity Fluctuations

We describe a new approach to the problem of superradiant spontaneous emission, which is applicable whether the number of atoms is large or small. We use this approach to formulate intensity correlations of arbitrary order, and then explicitly evaluate the second-order normally ordered relative intensity fluctuation. Large fluctuations at the onset of emission indicate the discrete nature of the spontaneous emission process; and the very small fluctuations found later at the emission peak show that the emitting process has by then become essentially classical.
Binary Outputs from Unitary Networks

When considering sex ratios, we have to first define the nature of the question. Are we referring to the gonads, secondary and accessory sex structures, physiology, brain, behavior, or to all of the above elements. If these elements are not concordant, the exceptions can prove illustrative of underlying processes at both the proximate and ultimate levels. At each of these levels, “sex” is the binary outcome resulting from the modulation of conserved networks of genes, proteins, cells, organs, and, in the case of the brain, discrete nuclei. These networks operate at multiple and sequential levels that usually are linear during the lifespan, but in some instances reversals are possible. For example, the gonads arise from a single “anlagen” and, in most instances, ovaries or testes result, although ovotestes are the norm in some species and gonadal reversal a property of other species. Other sexually dimorphic structures differentiate from multiple “anlaga” by reciprocal and sex-specific atrophy/hypertrophy, typically in an exaggerated manner, although the capacity to develop structures characteristic of the opposite gonadal sex remains inherent and intact. A perspective that integrates these different properties are presented here.