cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptive learning methods and their use in flaw classification

An important goal of nondestructive evaluation is the detection and classification of flaws in materials. This process of 'flaw classification' involves the transformation of the 'raw' data into other domains, the extraction of features in those domains, and the use of those features in a classification algorithm that determines the class to which the flaw belongs. In this work, we describe a flaw classification software system, CLASS and the updates made to it. Both a hierarchical clustering algorithm and a backpropagation neural network algorithm were implemented -and integrated with CLASS. A fast Fourier transform routine was also added to CLASS in order to enable the use of frequency domain and cepstral domain features. This extended version of CLASS is a very user friendly software, which requires the user to have little knowledge of the actual learning algorithms. CLASS can be easily extended further, if needed, in the future.
Ocular inflammation in autoimmune MRL/Mp mice.

Congenic mice of the MRL/Mp strain spontaneously develop an autoimmune connective tissue disease that shares immunologic and histopathologic features with the human disorders systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic vasculitis. The autoimmune disorder in these mice is markedly accelerated by the recessive gene lpr. Older MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice develop significant inflammatory ocular disease, including choroiditis, scleritis, and orbital vasculitis. Animals of both the MRL/Mp-+/+ and MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr substrains develop lacrimal gland inflammatory infiltrates. The MRL/Mp mouse provides a potential model for ocular inflammatory disease and for Sjogren's syndrome.
Methods as Theories: Evidence and Arguments for Theorizing on Software Development

In this paper we argue that software development methods represent theories on how best to engage the impressively complex and inherently socio-technical activity of making software. To help illustrate our points we draw on examples of three software methods: the waterfall approach, packaged software development, and free/libre and open source software development, In doing this, we highlight that software development methods reflect—too often implicitly—theories of (1) how people should behave, (2) how groups of people should interact, (3) the tasks that people should do, (4) the order of these tasks, (5) the tools needed to achieve these tasks, (6) the proper outcomes of these tasks, (7) the means to make this all happen, and (8) that these relations among concepts are further set in specific social, cultural, economic, and industrial contexts. We conclude by highlighting three trends in conceptualizing these eight elements.
Organizational Reputation and Human Capital Inflows and Outflows: Potentially Costly Relationships

Positive organizational reputation has been identified as an important factor in maximizing human capital inflows and minimizing human capital outflows. However, extant research overlooks the poten...
The era of hyper-scaling in electronics

In the past five decades, the semiconductor industry has gone through two distinct eras of scaling: the geometric (or classical) scaling era and the equivalent (or effective) scaling era. As transistor and memory features approach 10 nanometres, it is apparent that room for further scaling in the horizontal direction is running out. In addition, the rise of data abundant computing is exacerbating the interconnect bottleneck that exists in conventional computing architecture between the compute cores and the memory blocks. Here we argue that electronics is poised to enter a new, third era of scaling — hyper-scaling — in which resources are added when needed to meet the demands of data abundant workloads. This era will be driven by advances in beyond-Boltzmann transistors, embedded non-volatile memories, monolithic three-dimensional integration and heterogeneous integration techniques. This Perspective argues that electronics is poised to enter a new era of scaling – hyper-scaling – driven by advances in beyond-Boltzmann transistors, embedded non-volatile memories, monolithic three-dimensional integration, and heterogeneous integration techniques.
Multi-Tasking POM Systems

Polyoxometalate (POM)-based materials of current interest are summarized, and specific types of POM-containing systems are described in which material facilitates multiple complex interactions or catalytic processes. We specifically highlight POM-containing multi-hydrogen-bonding polymers that form gels upon exposure to select organic liquids and simultaneously catalyze hydrolytic or oxidative decontamination, as well as water oxidation catalysts (WOCs) that can be interfaced with light-absorbing photoelectrode materials for photoelectrocatalytic water splitting.
Arm Pain Versus Neck Pain: A Novel Ratio as a Predictor of Post-Operative Clinical Outcomes in Cervical Radiculopathy Patients

ABSTRACT Background: Informed patient selection and counseling is key in improving surgical outcomes. Understanding the impact that certain baseline variables can have on postoperative outcomes is essential in optimizing treatment for certain symptoms, such as radiculopathy from cervical spine pathologies. The aim was to identify baseline characteristics that were related to improved or worsened postoperative outcomes for patients undergoing surgery for cervical spine radiculopathic pain. Methods: Retrospective review of prospectively collected data. Patient Sample: Surgical cervical spine patients with a diagnosis classification of “degenerative.” Diagnoses included in the “degenerative” category were those that caused radiculopathy: cervical disc herniation, cervical stenosis, and cervical spondylosis without myelopathy. Baseline variables considered as predictors were: (1) age, (2) body mass index (BMI), (3) gender, (4) history of cervical spine surgery, (5) baseline Neck Disability Index (NDI) score, (6) baseline SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores, (7) baseline SF-36 Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores, (8) Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Arm score, and (9) VAS Neck. Outcome Measures: Improvement in NDI (≥50%), VAS Arm/Neck (≥50%), SF-36 PCS/MCS (≥10%) scores at 2-years postoperative. An arm-to-neck ratio (ANR) was also generated from baseline VAS scores. Univariate and multivariate analyses evaluated predictors for 2-year postoperative outcome improvements, controlling for surgical complications and technique. Results: Three hundred ninety-eight patients were included. Patients with ANR ≤ 1 (n = 214) were less likely to reach improvements in 2-year NDI (30.0% vs 39.2%, P = .050) and SF-36 PCS (42.4% vs 53.5%, P = .025). Multivariate analysis for neck disability revealed higher baseline SF-36 PCS (odds ratio [OR] 1.053) and MCS (OR 1.028) were associated with over 50% improvements. Higher baseline NDI were reduced odds of postoperative neck pain improvement (OR 0.958). Arm pain greater than neck pain at baseline was associated with both increased odds of postoperative arm pain improvement (OR 1.707) and SF36 PCS improvement (OR 1.495). Conclusions: This study identified specific symptom locations and health-related quality of life (HRQL) scores, which were associated with postoperative pain and disability improvement. In particular, baseline arm pain greater than neck pain was determined to have the greatest impact on whether patients met at least 50% improvement in their upper body pain score. These findings are important for clinicians to optimize patient outcomes through effective preoperative counseling.
Multi-Turn Electron-Ion Injection Study for Neutralized High-Density Beam Sustaining in a Closed Configuration

The problem of creating a high-density, high-current neutralized beam in a closed configuration via a continuous particle injection and accumulation has been considered in relation to the research ...
Sustainable Innovation: An Adaptive Capabilities Approach to Understanding its Antecedents and Consequences: An Abstract

As firms are increasingly innovating to be more environmentally and socially responsible, academicians are highlighting how little we know in terms of the organizational capabilities required to develop such innovations. Additionally, very little is known about whether or not these innovations pay off for firms in the form of triple bottom-line rewards. Through the lens of stakeholder and market-based capabilities theories, this study (1) examines the organizational capabilities that foster sustainable innovation, along with contingencies, as well as (2) its impact on the triple bottom line. This empirical study reveals that market-based sustainability and organizational unlearning positively impact sustainable innovation. Additionally, we examine a firm’s status as a publicly owned firm as moderating the relationship between market-based sustainability and sustainable innovation, while we also examine organizational learning as interacting with unlearning to influence sustainable innovation. Finally, we find a complicated and interconnected relationship between the three dimensions of the triple bottom line: environmental performance, social performance, and economic performance. For managers, our study provides guidance on how to develop sustainable innovations and the expected benefits from this activity. For academicians, our research advances our understanding of the organizational antecedents, contingencies, and consequences of sustainable innovation.
Comparative Lipid Peroxidation and Apoptosis in Embryo‐Larval Zebrafish Exposed to 3 Azole Fungicides, Tebuconazole, Propiconazole, and Myclobutanil, at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations

Azole fungicides have entered the aquatic environment through agricultural and residential runoff. In the present study, we compared the off-target toxicity of tebuconazole, propiconazole, and myclobutanil using embryo-larval zebrafish as a model. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relative toxicity of tebuconazole, propiconazole, and myclobutanil using multiple-level endpoints such as behavioral endpoints and enzymatic and molecular biomarkers associated with their mode of action. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to azoles at environmentally relevant and high concentrations, 0.3, 1.0, and 1000 µg/L, starting at 5 h postfertilization (hpf) up to 48 hpf, as well as 5 d postfertilization (dpf). Relative mRNA expressions of cytochrome P450 family 51 lanosterol-14α-demethylase, glutathione S-transferase, caspase 9, phosphoprotein p53, and BCL2-associated X protein were measured to assess toxicity attributable to fungicides at the mRNA level, whereas caspase 3/7 (apoptosis) and 3,4-methylene​dioxy​amphetamine (lipid peroxidation) levels were measured at the enzymatic level. Furthermore, mitochondrial dysfunction was measure through the Mito Stress test using the Seahorse XFe24 at 48 hpf. In addition, light to dark movement behavior was monitored at 5 dpf using Danio Vision® to understand adverse effects at the organismal level. There was no significant difference in the light to dark behavior with exposure to azoles compared to controls. The molecular biomarkers indicated that propiconazole and myclobutanil induced lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, and potentially apoptosis at environmentally relevant concentrations (0.3 and 1 µg/L). The results from the mitochondrial respiration assay indicated a slight decrease in spare respiratory capacity with an acute exposure (48 hpf) to all 3 azoles at 1000 µg/L. Based on the present results, propiconazole and myclobutanil are acutely toxic compared to tebuconazole in aquatic organisms at environmentally relevant concentrations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:1455-1466. © 2019 SETAC.
A tightly wound braid: Forces of opportunity and exclusion within an era of school choice legislation

We explore longitudinally the spatial dimensions of race and income isolation shaped by a period of accelerated school choice options within and beyond the urban context of a school portfolio syste...
The Emerging Applications of Intelligent Computing on Medical Images in National Health Insurance Database

Medical images from each hospital in Taiwan have been included in the National Health Insurance Database since January, 2018 and give researchers an opportunity to access a new type of medical data and explore a new medical AI application. This study proposes some research directions to enhance the potential value of National Health Insurance Database in the new age of medical images. Some application models between traditional datasets and the new medical image datasets are summarized and their purposes, benefits and challenges are also discussed. In short, the integration or combination of various medical datasets will encourage more new medical AI applications, achieve precision medicine, and make current medical AI model more powerful.
Highly Sensitive Lactic Acid Biosensors Based on Photoresist Derived Carbon

In this study, a highly sensitive electrochemical capacitive lactic acid enzymatic sensor based on a carbon-microelectromechanical system (C-MEMS) is developed. The sensing platform of the biosensor, which is photoresist-derived carbon (PDC) microelectrode, was synthesized by pyrolysis of photo-patterned photoresist polymer in oxygen-free and high-temperature conditions. The surfaces of the microelectrodes were functionalized by the oxygen-plasma pretreatment technique to form –COOH functional groups. The lactate oxidase enzyme was immobilized on the carboxylic group covered surfaces of the microelectrodes. The sensor demonstrated the detection of lactic acid over a wide dynamic range of 0.1- $5000~\mu \text{M}$ with a low detection limit of $1.45~\mu \text{M}$ (S/N=3). The sensitivity found to be 33.48 mF.cm−2. (Log (M))−1. This mediator-free lactic acid sensor exhibited 80.07% accuracy in the presence of uric and ascorbic acid and only a 2.35% decrease of measured capacitance in 20 days, which implies good selectivity and high stability. The presented results show that the C-MEMS based lactic acid biosensor is a promising contender for the highly demanding point of care health monitoring applications.
Are Some Mutual Fund Managers Better Than Others? Cross-Sectional Patterns in Behavior and Performance

We examine whether mutual fund performance is related to characteristics of fund managers that may indicate ability, knowledge, or effort. In particular, we study the relationship between performance and the manager's age, the average composite SAT score at the manager's undergraduate institution, and whether the manager has an MBA. Although the raw data suggest striking return differences between managers with different characteristics, most of these can be explained by behavioral differences between managers and by selection biases. After adjusting for these, some performance differences remain. In particular, managers who attended higher-SAT undergraduate institutions have systematically higher risk-adjusted excess returns. THE FINANCIAL PRESS PRODUCES a tremendous volume and variety of information about the individuals who manage mutual funds. Profiles of fund managers are a staple of many financial magazines, and managerial changes at large funds merit front page stories in newspaper business sections. Recently, the Securities and Exchange Commission has allowed some funds to advertise the past records of their managers in the press, even though those track records were assembled while the managers were employed by other funds. Thus, one gets the impression that investors pay a great deal of attention to the individuals who are managing their money. In light of this behavior, an obvious question to ask is whether some managers are indeed better than others. A large number of previous papers have addressed the related question of whether some mutual funds are better than others (from an investor's perspective) by looking for evidence of persistence over time in mutual fund
Effects of cysteamine onPseudomonas infections in mice

A non-lethal dose of cysteamine — a radioprotective agent — when administered intraperitoneally was demonstrated to increase the susceptibility of mice to infection byPseudomonas aeruginosa. At numbers of cells (about 106) which killed 30–40 per cent of the untreated mice, the intraperitoneal treatment with 5 mg per day of cysteamine raised the mortality to 60 per cent. In contrast, the presence of 10 mg/ml of cysteamine in drinking water appeared to give some protection against the same number ofPseudomonas cells for the first three days after infection, but increased the susceptibility when the oral treatment was prolonged beyond three days. Such effects could have some significance in the study of sulfhydryl compounds as radioprotective agents.
Dynamic Portfolio Management and Market Anomalies (Presentation Slides)

We discuss performance of some known market anomalies like equal-weighted index, low volatility stock index, factor anomalies of Andrea Frazzini, Ronen Israel and Tobias J. Moskowitz. We suggest the utilization of these anomalies through dynamic risk allocation in portfolios based on these anomalies creating desired final fund value distribution. We introduce the notion of Dynamic Leverage as a VAR extending risk measure taking into account the investment time horizon. We introduce a modification of Black-Jones-Perold portfolio insurance. For an investment fund with dynamically controlled risk exposure and certain risk inertia, we demonstrate the existence of a critical NAV level below which the efficacy of de-leveraging is compromised.
Creating and Validating a Predictive Model for Suitability of Hospital at Home for Patients With Solid-Tumor Malignancies.

PURPOSE:Hospital at home (HaH) is a means of providing inpatient-level care at home. Selection of admissions potentially suitable for HaH in oncology is not well studied. We sought to create a pred...
Immigration Threat, Partisanship, and Democratic Citizenship: Evidence from the US, UK, and Germany:

Politicians and media frequently invoke immigration threats to shape public opinion. But how do outgroup threat frames affect norms of citizenship, including behavior, liberal value commitments, an...
One-Shot Neural Ensemble Architecture Search by Diversity-Guided Search Space Shrinking.

Despite remarkable progress achieved, most neural architecture search (NAS) methods focus on searching for one single accurate and robust architecture. To further build models with better generalization capability and performance, model ensemble is usually adopted and performs better than stand-alone models. Inspired by the merits of model ensemble, we propose to search for multiple diverse models simultaneously as an alternative way to find powerful models. Searching for ensembles is non-trivial and has two key challenges: enlarged search space and potentially more complexity for the searched model. In this paper, we propose a one-shot neural ensemble architecture search (NEAS) solution that addresses the two challenges. For the first challenge, we introduce a novel diversity-based metric to guide search space shrinking, considering both the potentiality and diversity of candidate operators. For the second challenge, we enable a new search dimension to learn layer sharing among different models for efficiency purposes. The experiments on ImageNet clearly demonstrate that our solution can improve the supernet's capacity of ranking ensemble architectures, and further lead to better search results. The discovered architectures achieve superior performance compared with state-of-the-arts such as MobileNetV3 and EfficientNet families under aligned settings. Moreover, we evaluate the generalization ability and robustness of our searched architecture on the COCO detection benchmark and achieve a 3.1% improvement on AP compared with MobileNetV3. Codes and models are available at this https URL.
A Race Between Rolling and Sliding Up and Down an Incline

Races between moving objects are an engaging way to teach dynamics to introductory physics students. One standard example consists in racing hollow and solid cylinders as they roll down an inclined plane. Another striking demonstration is a race between two marbles on side-by-side tracks that start and end together, but with one track taking a straight path and with the other following a cycloidal shape. In the present article, two objects (having the same mass and shape) are launched from the same starting height with the same speed up an inclined plane. One of the objects is subject to kinetic friction. The other object is not because it rolls without slipping on wheels along the incline with negligible rolling friction. Each object travels upward, slows down, and then turns around and retraces its path to its starting point. If the two objects are launched simultaneously, which one makes it back first?
Oral Contraceptive Use Impairs Muscle Gains in Young Women.

ABSTRACT Riechman, SE and Lee, CW. Oral contraceptive use impairs muscle gains in young women. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2021-Many active young women use oral contraceptives (OCs), yet their effects on the body composition and exercise performance have not been thoroughly studied. We examined the effects of OCs on muscle responses to a standardized resistance exercise training (RET) program. Two groups of young healthy women (18-29 years old, non-OC: n = 38, OC: n = 34) underwent 10 weeks of whole-body RET (3 days·wk-1, 3 sets, 6-10 repetitions, at 75% of maximum strength, 13 exercises). Body composition was determined using hydrostatic weighing, and blood samples were taken before and after training to measure dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), IGF-1, and cortisol levels. There were significant differences in lean mass gains between the groups (non-OC: 3.5 ± 0.4% vs. OC: 2.1 ± 0.5% and non-OC: 1.6 ± 0.2 kg vs. OC: 1.0 ± 0.2 kg, p < 0.05). Plasma concentrations of DHEA, DHEAS, and IGF-1 were significantly lower, and cortisol levels were higher in the OC group before and after training (p < 0.05). In addition, there were significant differences in lean mass gains depending on the androgenicity of progestin between the non-OC and medium-high groups (non-OC: 1.6 ± 0.2 kg, Low = 1.1 ± 0.2 kg, med-high = 0.3 ± 0.5 kg, p < 0.05). Oral contraceptive use impaired lean mass gains in young women after RET and was associated with lower DHEA, DHEAS, and IGF-1 and higher cortisol. The diminished lean mass gain may be related to the effect of OCs on anabolic and catabolic hormone levels or the androgenicity of progestin that may bind to androgen receptors and inhibit its function.
BODIPYs with Photoactivatable Fluorescence

The borondipyrromethene (BODIPY) chromophore is a versatile platform for the construction of photoresponsive dyes with unique properties. Specifically, its covalent connection to a photocleavable group can be exploited to engineer compounds with photoswitchable fluorescence. The resulting photoactivatable fluorophores can increase their emission intensity or shift their emission wavelengths in response to switching. Such changes permit the spatiotemporal control of fluorescence with optical stimulations and the implementation of imaging strategies that would be impossible to replicate with conventional fluorophores. Indeed, BODIPYs with photoactivatable fluorescence enable the selective highlighting of intracellular targets, the nanoscaled visualization of sub-cellular components, the real-time monitoring of dynamic events and the photochemical writing of optical barcodes.
Packaging of an 8-kV Silicon Carbide Diode Module with Double-Side Cooling and Sintered-Silver Joints

Packaging innovations are needed for medium-voltage wide bandgap power semiconductor modules to enable their adaptation in grid applications. A unique challenge for packaging medium-voltage power modules is managing the trade-off between insulation demand and heat dissipation. The focus of this work was on developing a packaging innovation that improves the module heat dissipation and offers more flexibility to its insulation design. Two strategies were explored for the packaging of an 8-kV SiC diode rectifier module:(1) double-side cooling and (2) sintered-silver bonding. Double-side cooling was realized by using short metal posts rather than long and thin wire bonds for device interconnection, forming a low-profile package with devices sandwiched between two insulated metal substrates. Sintered-silver bonding enabled the devices to function reliably at over 250 °C. Simulations of the packaged module showed a low interconnect inductance of 2.67 nH and a 50% less heat transfer coefficient required to cool the chips. Prototypes of the module were fabricated, and preliminary electrical testing results validated the package design.
Breast Carcinoma Surveillance Counterpoint: USA

Historically, the incidence of breast cancer has been increasing. However, the incidence of breast cancer in the USA decreased by 2.2 % per year from 1999 to 2005 [1]. The increasing population in the USA means the absolute number of women diagnosed with breast cancer continues to increase yearly, with an estimated 192,370 new cases in 2009 [1]. This, in combination with decreasing mortality rates, has now led to an increase in the number of breast cancer survivors who need long-term follow-up [2]. There has been significant debate over what tests should be obtained, how often they should be obtained, how long surveillance should be continued, and by whom this should be performed. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend interval history and physical examination every 4–6 months for 5 years and then annually thereafter, with mammogram every 12 months (the first posttreatment mammogram to be obtained 6–12 months following the completion of chemotherapy). For women on tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors, annual gynecologic examinations are recommended. Regular bone mineral density examinations are recommended for women on aromatase inhibitors. No other routine laboratory and/or imaging modalities are currently recommended for routine surveillance. Further testing is only recommended when abnormalities are detected by history, physical examination, or mammography, as routine testing has not been shown to improve overall or disease-free survival [3, 4]. Surveillance recommendations are not stratified based on stage of cancer at time of initial diagnosis or treatment. The American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines are similar: history and physical examination every 3–6 months for the first 3 years, every 6–12 months for years 4 and 5, and then annually thereafter, with further testing only if symptoms arise. Annual mammography, gynecologic examination, and bone mineral density examination recommendations mirror the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines [5].
Neuroprotection for diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a neurodegenerative and microvascular disease resulting in functional and structural changes of all cell types in the retina. Several mechanisms for neuroretinal homeostas
Recent developments in data base and information retrieval hardware architectures

Increased emphasis has been given to the solution of data base management and information retrieval problems through the use of new hardware architectures. These architectures have included front end/back end organizations, logic in memory, associative memory/array processors, special function architectures and computers developed solely for the handling of data. In this paper a brief overview of some of these architectures is given. The paper is concluded with the author's opinion as to progress in the field during the next ten years.
Thieno[3,4‐b]pyrazines and Its Extended Analogs: Important Buildings Blocks for Conjugated Materials

This review describes the synthesis and characterization of thieno[3,4-b]pyrazines and its extended fused-ring analogs as important building blocks for the production of low-band gap conjugated materials.
Local Transposition of a hobo Element Within the decapentaplegic Locus of Drosophila

We have efficiently mobilized a phenotypically silent hobo transgene inserted within the cis -regulatory heldout region of the decapentaplegic (dpp) locus in Drosophila melanogaster. The goal of our experiment was to identify germline transmission of a local transposition event within the dpp locus that meets two specific criteria. First, excision of the hobo construct does not generate an adult mutant phenotype, suggesting minimal alteration to the original site of insertion. Second, we required a new insertion of the hobo transgene into the Haploinsufficient region of the locus ∼25 kb away. Genetic and molecular criteria are used to evaluate candidate germlines. In a pilot study, this local transposition event occurred independently in two individuals. Both of the transposition events appear to be new insertions into the dpp transcription unit. One insertion is between the two protein-coding exons, and the other is in the 3′-untranslated region of exon three. Strains carrying these insertions are valuable new reagents for the analysis of dpp function and molecular evolution. These results further support the use of the hobo system as an important tool in Drosophila genetics.
Polyene resistance in ergosterol producing strains of Candida albicans.

Summary. Following nitrous acid mutagenesis, one nystatin- (ny1) and two amphotericin B (AB)-resistant (ab1 and ab2) mutants of Candida albicans were isolated and characterized. The three mutants plus a previously described cytochrome P450-deficient mutant (D10) of this organism were analyzed for polyene cross resistance. Cross resistance was noted for ny1 and D10 but not for abl and ab2. Sterol analysis indicated that nyl was a Δ8-Δ7 iso-merase mutant while ab1 and ab2 showed wild type sterol profiles. Fatty acid analysis showed no significant differences for ab1, ab2, and ny1 compared to wild type while D10 showed more pronounced differences. AB- and Triton X-100-induced potassium leakage studies indicated that ab1 and ab2 are resistant to low AB levels and ny1 is resistant to higher AB levels. In contrast, ab1 and ab2 were more resistant to detergent-induced potassium leakage than the wild type or mutants nyl and D10. Significant differences in growth rate, ethanol sensitivity, and response to Tergitol were also noted among the resistant strains. The data indicate a different mechanism of action for the two polyenes and indicate a resistance mechanism for ab1 and ab2 based on subtle alterations of membrane structure rather than sterol substitution. Zusammenfassung. Im Anschlus an eine Mu-tagenese mit salpetriger Saure wurden Mutanten von Candida albicans isoliert und charakterisiert, eine Nystatin- (ny1) resistente und zwei Amphotericin B (AB)-resistente (ab1 und ab2). Die drei Mutanten und eine andere, Zytochrom P450-defizitare Mutante (D10) dieses Organismus, welche fruher beschrieben wurde, wurden auf Polyen-Kreuzresistenz analysiert. Kreuzresistenz wurde fur ny1 und D10 festgestellt, aber nicht fur abl und ab2. Eine Sterinanalyse ergab, das nyl eine Δ8-Δ7-Isomerase-Mutante war, wahrend ab1 und ab2 Wildtyp-Ste-rinprofile aufwiesen. Eine Fettsaurenanalyse zeigte keine signifikanten Unterschiede fur ab1, ab2 und nyl im Vergleich zu Wild typen. D10 hingegen wies ausgepragtere Unterschiede auf. Untersuchungen der Kaliumdurchlassigkeit, induziert durch ABund Triton X-100, ergaben, das ab1 und ab2 gegen ein niedriges, ny1 aber gegen ein hoheres AB-Ni-veau resistent sind. Im Gegensatz dazu hatten ab1 und ab2 eine hohere Resistenz gegen eine durch Detergenzien induzierte Kaliumdurchlassigkeit als die Wildtypen oder Mutanten ny1 und D10. Signifikante Unterschiede in der Wachstumsrate, Athylalkohol-Sensitivitat und Reaktion auf Tergitol wurden unter den resistenten Stammen ebenfalls festgestellt. Die Daten weisen auf einen unterschiedlichen Wirkungsmechanismus fur die beiden Polyene hin sowie auf einen Resistenzmechanismus fur ab1 und ab2, welcher eher auf einer subtilen Anderung der Membranstruktur als auf einer Sterin-Substitution beruht.
EFFECT OF VIVIDNESS OF LANGUAGE ON INFORMATION VALUE OF REFERENCE LETTERS AND JOB APPLICANTS' RECOMMENDATIONS

This study tested the effect of vividness of language in letters of recommendation on the informational value of information in letters and job applicants' recommendations. 120 personnel administrators read either a favorable-vivid, unfavorable-vivid, favorable-pallid, or unfavorable-pallid letter of reference concerning a fictitious job applicant for a management position. Analysis showed that vividness of language influenced perceived favorableness of information but failed to affect recommendations for a candidate.
Pulmonary hypertension in bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) and related pulmonary hypertension (PH) contribute significantly to the pathogenesis, cardiorespiratory morbidities, and poor outcomes in preterm infants with BPD. Past studies have shown that persistent echocardiogram evidence of PH beyond the first few months of life is associated with up to 40 % mortality in infants with BPD. The association of PH with poor survival in BPD has continued into the recent era of the “new BPD,” especially in infants with severe disease who require prolonged support with mechanical ventilation. More recent studies have shown that adverse antenatal or early postnatal stimuli impair pulmonary vascular development and function, leading to disruption of angiogenesis and distal lung airspace growth. Consensus guidelines for the diagnosis, evaluation, and management of PH in infants with established BPD have recently been published by a consensus committee; however, clinical care remains controversial due to the lack of strong evidence-based data. Overall, understanding the pathogenesis and pathobiology of early PVD in BPD continues as an important challenge and may help to improve early and late cardiopulmonary outcomes after preterm birth. Future large-scale studies of interventions for the treatment of PH in established BPD are needed. In addition, strategies that specifically target the preservation of endothelial survival and function may also lead to novel approaches for the prevention of BPD and late PH.
Preliminary palynological zonation of the Chinle Formation, southwestern U.S.A., and its correlation to the Newark Supergroup (eastern U.S.A.)

Abstract Three informal palynological assemblage zones can be distinguished in samples from Chinle Formation outcrops in Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. The oldest zone (zone I) is in the Temple Mountain Member in southeastern Utah; the middle zone (zone II) is in the Shinarump, Moss Back, Monitor Butte and (lower part of the) Petrified Forest Members (Utah, Arizona and New Mexico); the youngest zone (zone III) is in the upper Petrified Forest Member and silstone member in Arizona and Utah and the silstone member in northcentral New Mexico. Present palynological evidence suggests that Chinle deposition on the Colorado Plateau began locally in late Carnian time and continued at least into the early part of Norian time of the Late Triassic period. Because the upper boundary of the Chinle Formation is an unconformity and the overlying formations are palynologically barren, the length of time represented by this stratigraphic hiatus is not known with certainty. Current palynological evidence suggests, however, that the unconformity at the top of the Chinle cannot be older than early Norian nor younger than Hettangian. Zones I, II and III can now be recognized in the palynomorph assemblage sequences from the Eastern Mesozoic basins, which modifies earlier palynological zonations for the lower portions of the Newark Supergroup. This is based on our identification of palynomorphs not previously known from portions of the Newark Supergroup and the discovery that specific biomarker taxa combinations are the same for both the western and eastern palynomorph sequences. At present palynomorph assemblages from the Chinle Formation and Newark Supergroup compare more closely for zones II and III than they do for zone I, but research is still in progress.
Population-based assessments of ophthalmologic and audiologic follow-up in children with very low birth weight enrolled in Medicaid: a quality-of-care study.

OBJECTIVE.The purpose of our work was to determine whether children with very low birth weight (1500 g) who are at high risk for vision and hearing problems and enrolled in Medicaid receive recommended follow-up vision and hearing services and to examine predictors of services. PATIENTS AND METHODS.We conducted a retrospective analysis of 2182 children born in South Carolina from 1996 to 1998 with birth weights of 401 to 1499 g, gestations of 24 weeks, and survival of 90 days of life. Receipt of services for Medicaid-enrolled children was assessed by using a linked data set that included files from vital records, death certificates, Medicaid, Chronic Rehabilitative Services, and the Early Intervention Program. We assessed the receipt of hearing rehabilitation by 6 months of age for children with nonconductive hearing loss and routine ophthalmologic examination between ages of 1 and 2 years for all children with very low birth weight. Multivariate logistic regression was restricted to ophthalmologic examinations because of sample size. RESULTS.Among children with very low birth weight with nonconductive hearing loss, 20% received hearing rehabilitation by 6 months of age. Twenty-three percent of children with very low birth weight received an ophthalmologic examination between the ages of 1 and 2 years. Limiting our analysis to children 1000 g or extending the measurement period to 7 months (hearing) and age 3 years (vision) did not substantially increase the percentage of children receiving the services. The receipt of an ophthalmologic examination was associated positively with Medicaid enrollment by the time of hospital discharge and birth in a level-3 hospital and negatively associated with higher birth weight, an Apgar score of 7, and black maternal race. Among children born at 1000 g, all of whom were eligible for the Early Intervention Program, the receipt of an ophthalmologic examination was positively associated with program enrollment. CONCLUSIONS.There is a shortfall in the provision of critical services for children with very low birth weight. These findings reinforce the Institute of Medicine’s concerns regarding inadequate outcome data and health care services for preterm infants and support the importance of enrollment in the Early Intervention Program for children with very low birth weight.
Comparative anatomical distribution of 5-HT1A receptor mRNA and 5-HT1A binding in rat brain - a combined in situ hybridisation/in vitro receptor autoradiographic study

The present study examined the comparative distribution of 5-HT1A receptor mRNA and 5-HT1A receptors in rat brain using a combination of in situ hybridisation histochemistry and in vitro receptor autoradiography. 5-HT1A mRNA was visualised using a 910 bp cRNA probe synthesised from aBalI-PvuII fragment of the rat 5-HT1A reetor gene, while 5-HT1A receptors were labelled with the 5-HT1A-selective ligand 8-OH-DPAT. In general terms, there was a complementary distribution of cells expressing 5-HT1A receptor mRNA and 5-HT1A receptor sites. High levels of both 5-HT1A mRNA and 5-HT1A receptors were evident in the hippocampal formation (CA1, CA3, dentate gyrus), entorhinal cortex, and raphe nuclei and lower levels in neocortex and thalamus. Although 5-HT1A mRNA was not expressed in any regions which did not also exhibit 5-HT1A receptors, within both the diagonal band and the medial septal nucleus mRNA levels were proportionately higher than 5-HT1A receptor levels, possibly reflecting receptor transport or a heterogeneity in 5-HT1A receptor turnover mechanisms. 5-HT1A receptor mRNA and 5-HT1A binding sites were undetectable in caudate/putamen and cerebellar regions. The present data indicate the synthesis of 5-HT1A receptors both in raphe serotonergic cells and anatomically specific serotonergic projection areas, further supporting both a presynaptic autoregulatory and postsynaptic modulatory role for this receptor in serotonergic transmission.
Application of Luminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (LRET) for Study of Substrate Peptide Binding to PglB from N-Linked Glycosylation Pathway in C. Jejuni and C. Lari

PglB, a monomeric membrane-bound protein, is the oligosacchryltransferase (OTase) of the N-linked glycosylation system from the gram-negative bacterium Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni). PglB is a homologue of the Stt3p subunit of the multimeric eukaryotic OTase and represents a simplified model of this highly conserved enzymatic process. OTases transfer glycans from polyisoprenyl diphosphate-linked carriers to selected Asn residues of target proteins. A recently published 3.4A-resolution crystal structure of PglB from C. lari (Lizak C. et al., 2011 Nature 474, 350–355) provides important insight into the binding determinants of the peptide, although some of the critical periplasmic loops are not well-ordered and it has not yet been possible to experimentally determine the glycan substrate binding site. To gain insight into the potential conformational changes involved in PglB substrate binding and catalysis we have established a Luminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (LRET) approach for studying the system. The strategy devised includes expression of PglB with an N-terminal genetically encoded lanthanide-binding tag (LBT). The LBT is an encodable peptide sequence comprising 24 amino acids that binds and sensitizes Tb3+ as a luminescence donor in LRET experiments. The LBT enables intermolecular LRET measurements between the LBT-Tb3+ complex and a Bodipy-TMR maleimide acceptor attached to a cysteine-containing peptide substrates. Here, we report the establishment of a system to study structural changes associated with substrate peptide binding to PglB from C. jejuni and C. lari using LRET technique. LRET is measured through the span of the membrane with A accuracy, since the Tb3+ donor emission is unpolarized. Additionally, the long-lived luminescence lifetime of the bound Tb3+ is exploited by including a short (50 μs) time delay to eliminate background emission of the acceptor.
The need for training opportunities in advanced laparoscopic surgery

Background: There is controversy regarding the amount of training necessary to safely perform advanced laparoscopic surgery. General surgical residency often provides only a low volume of advanced laparoscopic cases and there is growing interest in nonaccredited fellowships focused on laparoscopic surgery.Objective: To assess surgical residents' perception of the need for training in advanced laparoscopic surgery in addition to that provided in a standard general surgical residency. Methods: A 15-item questionnaire was mailed to 985 physicians who either were Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) candidate members or had attended a SAGES resident course in 1998 or 1999. For the purposes of the survey, laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, laparoscopic herniorrhaphy, laparoscopic splenectomy, and laparoscopic colectomy were chosen as advanced procedures. Results: Of the 85 responses obtained, 81% were from respondents who were at the postgraduate fourth-year (PG4) level or higher. Furthermore, 58% of the respondents had taken a course in advanced laparoscopic surgery outside their residency program. The respondents believed that to perform the procedures safely and with confidence on entering practice, they needed to do at least eight each of the selected laparoscopic procedures. As reported, 45% of the respondents had performed three or fewer laparoscopic hernias; 60% had performed three or fewer laparoscopic Nissen fundoplications; 81% had performed three or fewer laparoscopic colectomies; and 86% had performed three or fewer splenectomies. Only 32% of the residents expected to perform more than 10 laparoscopic Nissen fundoplications, only 10% expected to perform more than 10 colectomies, and only 4% expected to perform more than 10 splenectomies before completing their residency. Many respondents (65%) said they would pursue an additional year of advanced laparoscopic training if it were available. In programs unaffiliated with a fellowship in advanced laparoscopic surgery, 65% of the residents were concerned that such a fellowship would interfere with residency training in laparoscopic surgery. In comparison, only 24% of the residents in programs affiliated with a fellowship in advanced laparoscopic surgery believed that the fellowship interfered with their training, whereas 47% of the residents in programs affiliated with a fellowship in advanced laparoscopic surgery thought that the fellowship had no impact on their training. Conclusions: Residents clearly perceive a need for additional training in advanced laparoscopic surgery. Residents from programs without a laparoscopic fellowship are concerned about a negative impact on their experience from a laparoscopic fellow, but residents from programs with a laparoscopic fellowship are neutral about the impact of a fellow.
Influence of neonatal androgen on the display of territorial marking behavior in the gerbil.

Abstract The effect of the presence or absence of androgen during the neonatal period on territorial marking behavior in the Mongolian gerbil was studied. Scent marking frequency was 20–40 fold greater in males than in females. Gonadectomy depressed marking in males but not in females. Testosterone propionate (TP) therapy completely restored marking in males but increased marking in intact and ovariectomized females to only one fourth that in males. Genetic males castrated within 2 days postpartum did not mark more frequently than TP-treated females after TP treatment in adulthood. Genetic females given a single TP injection within 6 days postpartum marked at male levels after TP treatment in adulthood. Males castrated after Day 2 and females given TP after Day 6 displayed marking frequencies intermddiate between normal male and female levels after TP treatment in adulthood. This study suggests that sexual dimorphism in territorial marking behavior is due to a sex difference in the competency to respond to androgen, and it appears that development of this competency occurs during the neonatal period and is regulated, at least in part, by androgen. The onset of this differentiation process occurs earlier in the male than in the female.
Sodium Bioavailability from Phosphate Sources

Two experiments were conducted with day-old broiler chicks from 1 to 21 days of age to measure the relative bioavailability of sodium from three commercially available defluorinated phosphates and two reagent sources (monosodium and dibasic sodium phosphate) compared to sodium chloride as the standard. Ten chicks were assigned to each pen in the first experiment and eight chicks in the second. Each diet was fed to three pens of males and three pens of females within an experiment. Feed-grade sodium chloride was added to a basal feed containing dicalcium phosphate in increments of .05% (0 to .25%) to provide total sodium levels from 180 to 967 ppm. Each of the defluorinated materials was substituted into the dicalcium basal at a level sufficient to provide one-half of the supplemental phosphorus. Reagent phosphate sources were added to the basal in amounts sufficient to supply .059% sodium, the same amount as provided by .15% sodium chloride. Reagent grade ammonium chloride was added to treatment diets to ensure a level of .156% total chloride. Mortality was related to sodium level and was excessive only for the treatment receiving no supplementation. Significant manure moisture increases were associated with up to .10% supplemental sodium chloride. Slope-ratio calculations of sodium availability, using body weight and daily sodium intake, revealed average availability values over the experiment ranging from 83.9 to 89.8% for the three defluorinated sources. Availability for monobasic sodium phosphate was calculated to be 91.8%, while that of the dibasic source was somewhat higher at 97.2%.