cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The combination of conjugated equine estrogens with bazedoxifene prevents streptozotocin-induced diabetes in female mice

The prevention of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced insulin-deficient diabetes in mice is considered a marker of estrogen mimetic activity in β-cells. The effect of the selective estrogen receptor modulator, bazedoxifene (BZA), alone or combined to conjugated equine estrogens (CE) on the prevention of streptozotocin-induced diabetes, is unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of CE (2.5 mg/kg/d), BZA (3 mg/kg/d) and their combinations on the prevention of STZ-induced diabetes. The combination CE/BZA, BZA alone, and CE alone to a lesser extent, all reduced the incidence and severity of STZ-induced diabetes. These findings demonstrate that in female mice, BZA, alone or combined to CE, acts as an estrogen mimetic in preventing STZ-induced diabetes.
Medizinische Aspekte der Verhütung von Berufskrankheiten

Activites importantes du medecin du travail : — elaborer et determiner des valeurs limite (valeurs MAC) sur lesquelles on puisse fonder les mesures techniques et medicales de prevention — pratiquer et interpreter les examens d'aptitude (prevention medicale), c'est-a-dire les examens d'embauche et de controle periodique dans un but de selection et de surveillance
Meaning and Action in the Organizational Setting: An Interpretive Approach

Building on a review of the traditions that led to the cultural perspective and treating organizations as frameworks, this article uses Luhmann’s neofunctional model as the conceptual device to illuminate cultural theory. Organizational cultures are seen as systems of signification and as communication media by which the premises of action are developed, maintained, and transmitted.
Large Scale Simulations of Lattice QCD Thermodynamics on Columbia Parallel Supercomputers

The Columbia Parallel Supercomputer project[l] aims at the construction of a parallel processing, multi-gigaflop computer optimized for numerical simulations of lattice QCD. The project has three stages; 16-node, 1/4GF machine completed in April 1985, 64-node, 1GF machine completed in August 1987, and 256-node, 16GF machine now under construction. The machines all share a common architecture; a two dimensional torus formed from a rectangular array of N 1 × N 2 independent and identical processors. A processor is capable of operating in a multi-instruction multi-data mode, except for periods of synchronous interprocessor communication with its four nearest neighbors. Here the thermodynamics simulations on the two working machines[2] are reported.
Barriers to the Role of the Head Athletic Trainer for Women in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II and III Settings.

Context: Very few women assume the role of head athletic trainer (AT). Reasons for this disparity include discrimination, motherhood, and a lack of interest in the position. However, data suggest t...
Life Expectancy of Mentally Retarded

The life expectancy of profoundly handicapped people with mental retardation is reported from the Lanterman Developmental Center, Pomona, CA.
The Remote Sensing of Biodiversity: From Global to Local Scales

Biodiversity provides many societal benefits by supporting and maintaining ecosystem functions as well as producing goods and services that are essential for human well-being. Remote sensing is an important tool for the detection, assessment, and monitoring of biodiversity. This chapter provides an overview of the value of biodiversity and the remote sensing of biodiversity from global to local scales.
Response of Thompson Seedless grapes to prebloom thinning

Paired treatments with and without application of GA at bloom were applied to Thompson Seedless vines that were cluster-thinned at prebloom, and berrythinned at shatter, cluster-thinned and berry-thinned at prebloom, or cluster-thinned and berry-thinned at shatter stage following bloom. Unsprayed clusters from vines that were cluster-thinned at prebloom or cluster- and berrythinned at prebloom stage were very compact. All combinations of thinning that included applications of GA at bloom produced clusters that were looser than the corresponding unsprayed clusters. GA increased berry size, and clusters that received GA usually had fewer shot berries than did corresponding unsprayed clusters. Prebloom thinning increased the number of berries per cm. of lateral, but applications of GA at bloom greatly decreased the amount of set. A reduction of flower shatter occurred as a results of prebloom thinning.
Measuring the Usability of Home Healthcare Devices Using Retrospective Measures

As the trend of home-delivered healthcare grows, the number of healthcare devices being utilized in the home setting also increases greatly, but the usability of all these devices has not been syst...
2012-15 Political economy of antidumping reviews: the impact of discretion at the International Trade Administration

U.S. antidumping law allows foreign firms to choose to either (1) pay an antidumping duty or (2) increase their price in order to lower (or eliminate) their antidumping duty through the administrative review process. Although foreign firms would obviously enjoy higher profits if they increase their price, thereby eliminating the duty, only 37 percent of firm-specific antidumping tariffs are ever reviewed and those that are reviewed have a lifetime average duty rate of 30 percent. The domestic industry should request a review of the antidumping margin only if the review would result in an increase in protection, but over 90 percent of the reviews undertaken at the behest of the domestic industry result in a decrease in the antidumping margin. In this paper, we illustrate that these empirical regularities could be driven by both the high cost of the review process as well as the level of discretion that the ITA has in setting antidumping margins. Preliminary evidence suggests that the net benefit of the administrative review process is significantly different depending on the country targeted by the antidumping margin and the method in which the initial margin was calculated.
Genetics of primary progressive multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are classified as either having relapsing onset or progressive onset disease, also known as primary progressive MS (PPMS). Relative to relapsing onset patients, PPMS patients are older at disease onset, are equally likely to be men or women, and have more rapid accumulation of disability that does not respond well to treatments used in relapsing onset MS. Although estimates vary, 5-15% of all MS patients have a PPMS disease course. Genetic variance is a proposed determinant of MS disease course. If distinct genes associated with PPMS were identified study of these genes might lead to an understanding of the biology underlying disease progression and neural degeneration that are the hallmarks of PPMS. These genes and their biological pathways might also represent therapeutic targets. This chapter systematically reviews the PPMS genetic literature. Despite the intuitively appealing notion that differences between PPMS and relapsing onset MS are due to genetics, definite differences associated with these phenotypes at the major histocompatibility complex or elsewhere in the genome have not been found. Recent large-scale genome wide screens identified multiple genes associated with MS susceptibility outside the MHC. The genetic variants identified thus far make only weak individual contributions to MS susceptibility. If the genetic effects that contribute to the differences between PPMS and relapsing MS are similar in magnitude to those that distinguish MS from healthy controls then, given the relative scarcity of the PPMS phenotype, very large datasets will be needed to identify PPMS associated genes. International collaborative efforts could provide the means to identify such genes. Alternately, it is possible that factors other than genetics underlie the differences between these clinical phenotypes.
Growth in Autoimmune Thyroiditis: Clinical Features, Controversies, and Outcomes in the Pediatric Population

Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT) is an autoimmune process that is the most common cause of acquired hypothyroidism and can lead to severe growth failure. CLT is a frequent hormone abnormality in pediatrics, being present in up to 2.5% of children. Growth failure from severely low levels of thyroid hormone usually occurs as a late finding, because the onset of symptoms is often insidious. Hypothyroidism from CLT is associated with delayed bone age, and early diagnosis and treatment should preserve final height. Nevertheless, initial treatment with a full replacement dose of levothyroxine has been associated with rapid advancement of the bone age and a compromise in final adult height. Additionally, treatment of CLT with severe bone age delay during puberty may result in a decreased final height. Because of the relatively high incidence of the condition and the non-specific nature of many of the symptoms, physicians caring for children are encouraged to keep a low threshold for checking thyroid function in children. Though data are few, early discovery and treatment of the disease is felt to avoid significant growth effects.
Threatened efficiency not autonomy: Prescriber perceptions of an established pediatric antimicrobial stewardship program.

BACKGROUND Implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) can be challenging due to prescriber resistance. Although barriers to implementing new ASPs have been identified, little is known about how prescribers perceive established programs. This information is critical to promoting the sustainability of ASPs. OBJECTIVE To identify how prescribers perceive an established pediatric inpatient ASP that primarily utilizes prior authorization. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey administered from February through June 2017 in a large children's hospital. The survey contained closed- and open-ended questions. Descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis approaches were used to analyze responses. RESULTS Of 394 prescribers invited, 160 (41%) responded. Prescribers had an overall favorable impression of the ASP, believing that it improves the quality of care (92.4% agree) and takes their judgment seriously (73.8%). The most common criticism of the ASP was that it threatened efficiency (26.0% agreed). In addition, 68.7% of respondents reported occasionally engaging in workarounds. Analysis of 133 free-text responses revealed that prescribers perceived that interacting with the ASP involved too many phone calls, caused communication breakdowns with the dispensing pharmacy, and led to gaps between approval and dispensing of antibiotics. Reasons given for workarounds included not wanting to change therapy that appears to be working, consultant disagreement with ASP recommendations, and the desire to do everything possible for patients. CONCLUSIONS Prescribers had a generally favorable opinion of an established ASP but found aspects to be inefficient. They reported engaging in workarounds occasionally for social and emotional reasons. Established ASPs should elicit feedback from frontline prescribers to optimize program impact.
Lumbar spine angles and intervertebral disc characteristics with end-range positions in three planes of motion in healthy people using upright MRI.

Abstract Understanding changes in lumbar spine (LS) angles and intervertebral disc (IVD) behavior in end-range positions in healthy subjects can provide a basis for developing more specific LS models and comparing people with spine pathology. The purposes of this study are to quantify 3D LS angles and changes in IVD characteristics with end-range positions in 3 planes of motion using upright MRI in healthy people, and to determine which intervertebral segments contribute most in each plane of movement. Thirteen people (average age = 24.4 years, range 18–51 years; 9 females; BMI = 22.4 ± 1.8 kg/m2) with no history of low back pain were scanned in an upright MRI in standing, sitting flexion, sitting axial rotation (left, right), prone on elbows, prone extension, and standing lateral bending (left, right). Global and local intervertebral LS angles were measured. Anterior-posterior length of the IVD and location of the nucleus pulposus was measured. For the sagittal plane, lower LS segments contribute most to change in position, and the location of the nucleus pulposus migrated from a more posterior position in sitting flexion to a more anterior position in end-range extension. For lateral bending, the upper LS contributes most to end-range positions. Small degrees of intervertebral rotation (1–2°) across all levels were observed for axial plane positions. There were no systematic changes in IVD characteristics for axial or coronal plane positions.
Switching for Unpredictability: A Proactive Defense Control Approach

In this paper, we consider the problem of securely operating a cyber-physical system in an adversarial environment. The defending mechanism we introduce is proactive in nature and employs the principles of moving target defense. The defense implementation utilizes a switching structure to persistently and stochastically alter the behavior of the system with respect to both its actuators and its sensors. Thus, the ability of an adversary to successfully scan the system in preparation for the attack is decreased. The unpredictability of the system's operation is quantified by an entropy metric which is subsequently optimized. Theorems are presented that show stability of the system under proactive switching. Simulations show the efficacy of the proposed approach on a simplified aircraft model.
Solid-ink-based print-and-peel method for microfluidic fabrication: a revisit

The print-and-peel (PAP) method enables faster and cheaper fabrication of microfluidic devices, because this non-lithographic method uses a commercial printer to print channel mold patterns onto transparency film for use as a mold for microfluidic device fabrication. This study revisits the solid-ink-based PAP method by characterizing solid link patterns printed on transparency films for cross-sectional shape, height, and surface roughness. In addition, the method was applied to create functional microfluidic devices to show that this low-cost method can be used for microfluidic applications.
Evaluation of Spirulina and plant oil in diets for juvenile steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Abstract As diets fed to juvenile steelhead (progeny of anadromous rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss) reared in conservation hatcheries contain relatively high levels of protein and lipid supplied primarily by fish meal and fish oil, a 12-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate alternative ingredients for this species. Using a factorial design, Spirulina meal and a plant oil mixture were evaluated as partial or complete replacements of dietary fish meal and fish oil, respectively. Thus, two diets containing 0 or 50% substitution of Spirulina for fish meal were extruded and top-coated with fish oil or a 63:37 mixture of canola and flaxseed oils. Each of the four dietary treatments was fed to quadruplicate groups of 100 steelhead initially weighing 12.4 g/fish. Steelhead growth rate and feed efficiency were not significantly affected by partial replacement of dietary fish meal with Spirulina, but growth responses were significantly reduced by replacement of dietary fish oil with plant oil. Lipid and protein apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) were significantly higher in steelhead fed the fish meal diets compared with fish fed the Spirulina diets and significantly higher in steelhead fed the plant oil diets compared with fish fed the fish oil diets. Whole body fatty acid profiles generally reflected those of the diets such that percentages of 18:2n-6 were significantly higher and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), including 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3, were significantly lower in fish fed the Spirulina and plant oil diets compared with those fed the fish meal and fish oil diets. Plasma total cholesterol concentration was significantly reduced in fish fed the Spirulina diets and in fish fed the plant oils diets. Growth results suggest Spirulina is a suitable replacement for 50% of dietary fish meal for steelhead whereas a mixture of canola and flaxseed oil is not suitable as a complete replacement for fish oil in diets for this species.
The Cultural Doings and Undoings of the Sydney Taylor Book Award

The children’s book award is an ideological vehicle that communicates both implicit and explicit values to the wider world. For half a century, the Sydney Taylor Book Award has invoked criteria of literary excellence and authentic portrayals of Jewish experiences and the implicit cultural values that underpin them in its mission to recognize, celebrate, and perpetuate quality Jewish children’s literature. The award upholds and subverts cultural ideas of childhood, literary excellence, and Jewish authenticity in order to resist systems of power and dominant cultural narratives that seek to erase or flatten Jewish representation.
3D Interdigitated Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube Electrodes for Electrochemical Impedimetric Biosensing

Advances in nanomaterials, combined with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), have allowed electrochemical biosensors to have high sensitivity while remaining label-free, enabling the pote...
Transplantation of stem cell-derived pancreatic islet cells.

A large fraction of patients with diabetes mellitus require insulin treatment to control glucose metabolism; however, this treatment brings risks of hypoglycaemia and provides suboptimal metabolic control. Transplantation of stem cell-derived pancreatic islet cells could be an ideal solution, which is approaching clinical translation.
"Two Hours on a Sunday": Fatherhood Following an Intimate Partner Violence Incident-A Theory of Excision.

Fathers who are arrested after an intimate partner violence (IPV) incident must navigate multiple systems, including child welfare, criminal justice and family court, that regulate their interactions with their family members post-arrest. Contact between fathers and their children is highly regulated in the name of safety, often creating lengthy separations and putting strain on already frayed parent-child relationships. While concerns for the safety of victims and survivors of IPV are warranted, there is increased acknowledgement of the important role that fathers, including those with a history of IPV, play in their children's lives. This exploratory study used grounded theory methodology to interrogate how fathers seeking treatment at an abusive partners' program maintained a relationship with their child(ren) and their identities as fathers. Fourteen fathers with experience in the phenomenon of interest completed in-depth qualitative interviews, focus groups, and demographic questionnaires. These data were analyzed along with observational memos to develop a four-stage theory of excision which captured the four stages of routine and effective separation of fathers from their children's lives observed: (a) extraction; (b) re-assignment of identity; (c) exclusion; and (d) what remains. The presence of a single negative case in this study allowed for a discussion of this excision appearing to operate differently along racial lines. The urgent need to redress the institutional racism within these systems that has resulted in extraordinary burden and injustice to families of color is detailed. Implications for policies and practice with families living with IPV are discussed.
Tuning the work function of nickel oxide using triethoxysilane functionalized monolayers

The work function of nickel oxide (NiOx) electrodes was tuned by the covalent attachment of commercially available as well as specially synthesized triethoxysilane functionalized molecules with a range of dipole moments. The presence of the silane molecular layers on the NiOx surface was verified using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and contact angle measurements. While these tests indicated the surface coverage was incomplete, Kelvin probe measurements showed that the coverage was sufficient to change the work function of the NiOx across a range of ∼900 meV. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the dipole moments of the isolated molecules correlated well with the measured work function changes.
Predicting Placenta Accreta Spectrum: Validation of the Placenta Accreta Index

Objectives The placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) incidence has risen substantially over the past century, paralleling a rise in cesarean delivery (CD) rates. Prenatal diagnosis of PAS improves maternal outcomes. The Placenta Accreta Index (PAI) is a standardized approach to prenatal diagnosis of PAS incorporating clinical risk and ultrasound (US) findings suggestive of placental invasion. We sought to validate the PAI for prediction of PAS in pregnancies with prior CD. Methods This work was a retrospective cohort study of pregnancies with 1 or more prior CDs that received a US diagnosis of placenta previa or low-lying placenta in the third trimester. Images of third-trimester US with a complete placental evaluation were read by 2 blinded physicians, and the PAI was applied. Surgical outcomes and pathologic findings were reviewed. Placenta accreta spectrum was diagnosed if clinical evidence of invasion was seen at time of delivery or if any placental invasion was identified histologically. International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics criteria were used. Results A total of 194 women met inclusion criteria. Cesarean hysterectomy was performed in 92 (47%), CD in 97 (50%), and vaginal delivery in 5 (3%). Of those who underwent hysterectomy, PAS was histologically confirmed in 79 (85%) pregnancies. Of the remaining 13 who underwent hysterectomy, all met International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics grade 1 clinical criteria for PAS. With a threshold of greater than 4, the PAI has a sensitivity of 87%, specificity of 77%, positive predictive value of 72%, and negative predictive value of 90% for PAS diagnosis. Conclusions Contemporaneous application of the PAI, a standardized approach to US diagnosis, is useful in the prenatal prediction of PAS.
Abstract SP027: Treatment differences and consequences

Breast cancer is the deadliest cancer among women worldwide, with a total of over half a million deaths annually impacting both developed and developing countries. With an estimated 276,480 breast cancer cases projected to occur in women in the U.S., it is estimated that 42,170 women will die in 2020 due to this devastating disease. Despite the decrease in breast cancer mortality rates seen in recent years, the magnitude of that decrease in not similar across populations. In the U.S the burden of cancer is not shouldered equally. It is well known that racial and ethnic minority populations are more likely to experience cancer health disparities. While potential contributing factors associated with this phenomenon include the fact that certain groups of patients are more likely to be diagnosed with more advanced stages and to have tumors with more aggressive biology, sociodemographic factors and difficulty accessing medical care play an important role. Unfortunately, cancer care delivery is not the same for all and this can seriously hinder the cancer outcomes of those affected. Across the cancer care continuum -from screening, diagnosis, and all the way to treatment, survivorship or end-of life care-, important disparities exist leading to worse outcomes. It has been well described that Black and Hispanic women are less likely to receive appropriate and timely breast cancer treatment. Furthermore, the complex, and in many cases long treatments needed to achieve the desired outcomes, force patients to face issues associated with navigating the health care system, making life changes to accommodate treatment, and ensuring continuation and treatment adherence. In this presentation, we will review the complexities of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment and review some of the data regarding the detrimental impact associated to treatment delays. Improving cancer care delivery and ensuring access to timely and high-quality care should be a priority. We will briefly revise some of the strategies designed to overcome health disparities and hopefully, improve breast cancer outcomes. Citation Format: M Chavez Mac Gregor. Treatment differences and consequences [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Virtual Symposium; 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr SP027.
Nondestructive Recognization of Mountain Cultivated Ginseng and Garden Cultivated Ginseng by FTIR Microspectroscopy

Fourier transform infrared(FTIR)microspectroscopy technology is the combination of the FTIR spectrometer and the microscope.This technology is of simple preparation of the samples,can be used in micro-area analysis and micro-samples,and reflect the nature of the samples spectra.Panax ginseng include mountain cultivated ginseng(MCG),garden cultivated ginseng(GCG)and mountain wild ginseng(MWG),but the excavation of MWG is prohibited in China.So,only MCG and GCG were collected and recorded in Chinese pharmacopoeia.In this study,we developed a discriminant analysis(DA)method for recognition of MCG and GCG using FTIR microspectroscopy technology.Twenty MCG samples and twenty four GCG samples were obtained,and their spectra of IR microspectroscopy were collected.Then 33samples were randomly selected into calibration set and the remaining 11of the samples were selected into validation set.The authors optimized the pretreatment method,the principal components,the modeling region and the scanning parts when developing the models.The optimized model of discriminant analysis was developed using the pretreatment multiplicative scatter correction(MSC)+Savitzky-Golay filter(SG)smoothing,the region 3 932.14~669.18cm-1,4principal components and the rhizome part.The accuracy of the optimized model got up to100%.The result demonstrated that infrared microspectroscopy technology combined with DA is of simple operation,rapid,nondestructive and effective,and can be applied to recognize MCG and GCG.
The experiences, priorities, and perceptions of informal caregivers of people with dementia in nursing homes: A scoping review.

BackgroundPerson-centered care has been shown to increase desired outcomes for people with dementia, yet informal caregivers’ dissatisfaction with care is often reported. For those living in a nurs...
Thyonatan 4-Sulfate [(1 → 2)-α-l-Fucopyranan 4-Sulfate] A SULFATED POLYSACCHARIDE FROM THYONE BRIAREUS CONNECTIVE TISSUE

Abstract Thyonatan 4-sulfate, a connective tissue polysaccharide, was isolated from the dermis of the sea cucumber Thyone briareus by proteolysis, cationic detergent precipitation, and precipitation from potassium acetate solution with ethanol. The fraction precipitating between 38 and 52% ethanol contained 47.5% l-fucose and 3.2% galactose residues, 27% sulfate groups, 1.2% nitrogen, and 6.5% of firmly bound, alkali-stable peptide. Thyonatan 4-sulfate showed [α]d20 - 155° (in water), an intrinsic viscosity of 0.6 dl g-1, and it absorbed strongly at 825 cm-1. It was homogeneous on cellulose acetate electrophoresis and stained metachromatically with toluidine blue. It was polydisperse on gel filtration on P-100 and P-200 resins and its molecular weight was estimated to be between 20,000 and 60,000. Strong acid hydrolysis of thyonatan 4-sulfate gave l-fucose, characterized as the 1-methyl-1-phenylhydrazone. Mild acid hydrolysis gave l-fucose 4-sulfate, isolated after partial acid hydrolysis (0.15 n H2SO4, 100°, 1 hour) by ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and preparative paper chromatography. l-erythro-Butan-1,2,3-triol was obtained in 56% yield from l-fucose 4-sulfate after periodate oxidation and sodium borohydride reduction, establishing the position of the sulfate group at carbon 4. Exhaustive methylation of the polysaccharide with dimethyl sulfate and NaOH yielded 3-O-methyl-l-fucose and 2-O-methyl-l-fucose in the ratio of 3:1. The above data suggest that the predominant structure for this polysaccharide is (1 → 2)-α-l-fucopyranan 4-sulfate.
Ethical dilemmas in the high-risk nursery: wilderness experiences.

Abstract Ethical dilemmas in the high-risk nursery are similar to wilderness experiences. Reinforcers of these experiences for nurses include a lack of knowledge of ethics, communication failures, and the immediacy of the situation. Recommendations are presented to enable nurses to address these ethical dilemmas and to become more actively involved in the decision-making process.
High Dynamic Range Design for ΣΔM with Wide Input Ranges

A new design algorithm is introduced to improve the input ranges of Sigma-Delta Modulation (ΣΔM). Modified digital error correction techniques are proposed and employed to carry out the wide range DAC of a ΣΔ modulator. This design algorithm includes the advantages from both single-bit ΣΔM and multi-bit ΣΔM. This paper utilizes a second order lowpass ΣΔ modulator as an explanatory example to demonstrate our design process as well as the performance improvement. The analytical results from a quasilinear model are described to offer a theoretical explanation of the system performance. This algorithm can also be applied to bandpass and MASH architectures.
The assessment of fetal-maternal hemorrhage by an enzyme-linked antiglobulin test for Rh immune globulin recipients

Abstract An enzyme-linked antiglobulin test has been developed to detect and quantitate fetal-matemal hemorrhage. The test is applicable to postpartum screening of Rh immune globulin candidates. The enzyme-linked antiglobulin test has greater sensitivity than agglutination tests; it has fewer false positive results than acid-elution detection methods and offers advantages for use in routine clinical laboratories. Postpartum samples from 186 mothers were assessed by the enzyme-linked antiglobulin test; only 20 samples (10.75%) had detectable fetal cells, and no patient had bleeding of more than the limit of 30 ml of whole blood for one vial of Rh immune globulin. No clinical or historic factors could predict the patient at high risk for fetal-matemal hemorrhage. The use of the enzyme-linked antiglobulin test also could permit the reduction of the postnatal Rh immune globulin dosage and salvage much of the Rh immune globulin now administered.
‘E in rileggendo poi le proprie note’: Monteverdi responds to Artusi?

Claudio Monteverdi's Il quarto libro de madrigali a cinque voci (1603) ends with a setting of ‘Piagn’e sospira: e quand’i caldi raggi’, a text from Tasso's Gerusalemme conquistata (1593). Nicea, a Muslim in love with a Christian, wanders through the forest carving her beloved's name in the trees, and weeps as she re-reads what she has scored in the bark. Monteverdi's Fourth Book of madrigals is an odd collection. Fifteen months before, the composer had been appointed maestro della musica to Duke Vincenzo Gonzaga of Mantua. However, instead of responding in what might seem the normal way – by printing something in the duke's honour – Monteverdi chose to dedicate a madrigal book to the Accademia degli Intrepidi of Ferrara. Even stranger is the fact that he makes no direct mention of what must have been uppermost in his mind, the recent attack on his madrigals by the Bolognese theorist Giovanni Maria Artusi. Artusi's diatribe against the moderns eventually forced the composer to come up with the defence of his ‘second’ practice. However, re-reading ‘Piagn’e sospira’– as the text tells us to do – suggests that before Monteverdi put his theoretical brain in gear, he had already come up with a musical response.
Structure of myelin lipid bilayers: Changes during maturation☆

Abstract We have studied the structure of oriented multilayers of total myelin lipid using X-ray diffraction and have derived one-dimensional electron density profiles. In order to correlate the bilayer structure with the known lipid composition we have used step-function models to put the electron density profiles on an absolute scale and to define the quantitative distribution of molecular groups across the bilayer. This approach should provide a basis for interpreting the results from structural studies on the intact myelin membrane. Our myelin lipid profiles were typical of cholesterol-containing lipid bilayers with headgroup peaks at about ±23 A from the central methyl group trough, and shoulders at about ±14 A corresponding to the cholesterol nucleus. The electron density profiles of bilayers formed from peripheral nervous system and central nervous system myelin lipids were indistinguishable; however, we did find a small difference in thickness between mouse and bovine bilayers. We also observed clear and consistent differences between the bilayer profiles for the lipids extracted from mature and immature myelin. For both mature mouse and bovine lipid bilayers there was an increase in electron density at about ±14 A from the bilayer center and a reduction in density at the headgroup peaks. These changes can be accounted for by an increase in membrane cholesterol content during maturation. We confirmed this by adding cholesterol to the immature lipids, forming multilayers and recording the X-ray diffraction patterns. The changes in the electron density profiles when cholesterol was added to the lipids closely paralleled the changes that we had observed during maturation.
Distributed and secure access control in P2P databases

The intent of peer data management systems (PDMS) is to share as much data as possible. However, in many applications leveraging sensitive data, users demand adequate mechanisms to restrict the access to authorized parties. In this paper, we study a distributed access control model, where data items are stored, queried and authenticated in a totally decentralized fashion. Our contribution focuses on the design of a comprehensive framework for access control enforcement in PDMS sharing secure data, which blends policy rules defined in a declarative language with distributed key management schemes. The data owner peer decides which data to share and whom to share with by means of such policies, with the data encrypted accordingly. To defend against malicious attackers who can compromise the peers, the decryption keys are decomposed into pieces scattered amongst peers. We discuss the details of how to adapt distributed encryption schemes to PDMS to enforce robust and resilient access control, and demonstrate the efficiency and scalability of our approach by means of an extensive experimental study.
Calorie source, calorie restriction, immunity and aging of (NZB/NZW)F1 mice

It is frequently stated that high fat diets are harmful with respect to nutrition and disease development. Herein, (NZB/NZW)F1 autoimmune-prone mice were compared under the influence of different calorie intakes and different calorie sources. Decreased calorie intake prolonged life and delayed onset of glomerulonephritis. This influence of restriction of energy intake was greater than any influences of dietary energy source. Parameters affected strictly by restricted calorie intake were: 1) longevity, 2) delayed onset of glomerulonephritis, 3) greatly decreased circulating immune complexes, 4) decreased production of anti-DNA antibodies, 5) increased thymocyte proliferation in response to exogenous Interleukin-2 (IL-2), 6) increased IL-2 production by spleen cells stimulated by concanavalin A and 7) marked increase of mixed lymphocyte reaction of spleen cells. Parameters affected both by restriction of calorie intake and by high sucrose content in full-fed mice and not obviously related to longevity and protection from glomerulonephritis were: 1) plaque-forming cell response to sheep red blood cells in vitro and 2) cytotoxic cell-mediated immune response generated by in vitro exposure to allogenic antigen.
Neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine.

In Parkinson’s disease, depletion of dopamine in the striatum leads to various symptoms such as tremor, rigidity and akinesia. Methamphetamine use has significantly increased in USA and around the world and there are several reports showing that its long-term use increases the risk for dopamine depletion. However, the toxic mechanisms of methamphetamine are not well understood. This study was undertaken to gain greater mechanistic understanding of the toxicity induced by methamphetamine. We evaluated the effect of methamphetamine on the generation of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial monoamine oxidase, complex I & IV activities. Behavioral analysis evaluated the effect on catalepsy, akinesia and swim score. Neurotransmitter levels were evaluated using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) electrochemical detection (ECD). Results showed that methamphetamine caused significant generation of reactive oxygen species and decreased complex I activity in the mitochondria leading to dopamine depletion in the striatum.
Reconstruction of myelinated nerve tract action potentials: an arithmetic method.

Abstract Compound action potentials from central nerve tracts or peripheral nerves may be constructed from corresponding fiber diameter histograms by a new direct method. The ordinate for each fiber diameter group is determined by the product of the number of fibers and the cube of the mean diameter (ND 3 ), and the abscissa, by the position of the mean group diameter on a scale proportional to the reciprocal of fiber diameters ( 1 D ). The time scale is derived from a prominent component, conveniently the first spike peak, of the corresponding recorded compound action potential. Direct comparison with published reconstructions from peripheral nerves is made, using the original morphologic data. Reconstruction for a central tract, the cat optic nerve, is also shown. The method avoids the cumbersome geometry of the classical approach, and is especially convenient for the correlated anatomic and physiologic analysis of central tracts where accurate measurement of conduction distances is difficult, and where postsynaptic activity may distort the record of tract potential.
A Tylosin Ketoreductase Reveals How Chirality Is Determined in Polyketides

Because it controls the majority of polyketide stereocenters, the ketoreductase (KR) is a central target in engineering polyketide synthases (PKSs). To elucidate the mechanisms of stereocontrol, the structure of KR from the first module of the tylosin PKS was determined. A comparison with a recently solved erythromycin KR that operates on the same substrate explains why their products have opposite alpha-substituent chiralities. The structure reveals how polyketides are guided into the active site by key residues in different KR types. There are four types of reductase-competent KRs, each capable of fixing a unique combination of alpha-substituent and beta-hydroxyl group chiralities, as well as two types of reductase-incompetent KRs that control alpha-substituent chirality alone. A protocol to assign how a module will enforce substituent chirality based on its sequence is presented.
Effect of ionic surfactants on the electrophoretic mobility of hydroxyapatite

Abstract Electrophoretic mobility measurements have been used to determine the point of zero charge and the effect of several different anionic and cationic surfactants on the interfacial properties of hydroxyapatite. All surfactants behave as indifferent electrolytes at very low concentrations. At higher concentrations, oleate and sulfonate ions are specifically adsorbed whereas tridecanoate ions precipitate as a calcium salt. Only dodecylammonium chloride exhibits hemimicelle formation. Physicochemical mechanisms are postulated to explain the electrical double layer at hydroxyapatite/surfactant solution interface.
NAS council approves reorganization

A proposed reorganization at the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) would fold the Commission on Natural Resources into the Assembly of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (AMPS) to form what would be called the Commission on Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Resources. Spurred by NAS President Frank Press, past president of AGU, the merger is part of a reorganization that aims to clarify the division of labor within the National Research Council (NRC). The NAS council approved the general structure of the reorganization; the National Academy of Engineering's council was scheduled to review the matter at its March 12 meeting. Administrative details of the restructuring will not be finalized until the April 3 meeting of the NRC governing board.
Unique Educational Acceleration: The Dilemma of John Stuart Mill and Contemporary Gifted Youths.

John Stuart Mill was not allowed to decide his educational fate until his late teens, and shortly after shedding the restrictions of his father's teaching methods, he began suffering severe emotional distress. He relieved his depression by resolving for himself the dilemma that continues to face the exceptionally able students of today: the choice between unfettered intellectual development or the inevitable biasing that results from being taught by another. And of the many interests competing for control of the individual's education and development, it is only the individual who must resolve this dilemma that has no legally enforceable final say.
[(silox)3M]2(μ:η1,η1-P2) (M = Nb, Ta) and [(silox)3Nb]2{μ:η2,η2-(cP3–cP3)} from (silox)3M (M = NbPMe3, Ta) and P4 (silox = tBu3SiO)

Complexes containing the μ:η1,η1-P2 binding mode of diphosphorus have been prepared, along with a P6-containing byproduct.
Viscous Irrotational Theories and the Force on an Expanding Bubble: A Cell-Model Analysis

The dynamics of a bounded viscous incompressible fluid surrounding a spherical bubble in rectilinear motion simultaneously experiencing volume changes is examined by means of two viscous irrotational theories, namely, viscous potential flow and the dissipation method. The forces that the liquid produces on the bubble and on the outer spherical boundary of the liquid are determined from these two approaches at the instant when the bubble is concentric with the outer surface. Viscous potential flow involves surface integration of the irrotational normal stress; the dissipation method stems from the mechanical energy balance, including the dissipation integral, evaluated in potential flow. In the inner boundary, zero tangential stress is enforced. Two choices for the tangential stress condition on the outer boundary are considered: zero tangential stress or irrotational tangential stress. In a sense, this is an extension to include viscous effects of the inviscid analysis by Sherwood [Int. J. Multiphase Flow...
The theory and poetry of ennui: Leopardi and Baudelaire

Remarquant la place accordee a l'ennui, son caractere obsessionnel et l'analogie entre la source, l'evolution et l'aboutissement de ce theme chez B. et M., l'A. examine leurs hypotheses respectives sur les causes et la nature de l'ennui et compare la transcription poetique qu'ils font de leur experience personnelle: les sentiments de la futilite de toute activite, de l'inutilite de l'espoir, des abysses de l'esprit sont presents chez B. et L.
American Pediatric Society. Presidential address 1994. Reflections on research: a call to arms.

American Pediatric Society Presidential Address 1994 Reflections on Research: A Call to Arms
Determining the MTF of medical imaging displays using edge techniques.

The modulation transfer function (MTF) of a medical imaging display is typically determined by measuring its response to square waves (bar patterns), white noise, and/or line stimuli. However, square waves and white noise methods involve capture and analysis of multiple images and are thus quite tedious. Measurement of the line-spread function (LSF) offers a good alternative. However, as previously reported, low-frequency response obtained from the LSF method is not as good as that obtained from measurement of edge-spread function (ESF). In this paper, we present two methods for evaluating the MTF of a medical imaging display from its ESF. High degree of accuracy in the higher frequency region (near the Nyquist frequency of the system) was achieved by reducing the noise. In the first method, whichis a variant of the Gans' original method, the periodic raster noise is reduced by subtracting a shifted ESF from the ESF. The second method employs a low-pass differentiator (LPD). A novel near maximally flat LPD with the desired cut-off frequency was designed for this purpose. Noise reduction in both the methods was alsoachieved by averaging over large portions of the image data to form the ESF. Experimental results show that the MTF obtained by these methods is comparable to that obtained from the square wave response. Furthermore, the MTFs of rising and falling edges of a cathode ray tube (CRT) were measured. The results show that the rising and falling vertical MTFs are practically the same, whereas the rising horizontal MTF is poorer than the falling horizontal MTF in the midfrequency region.
Inferring the Emotions of Friends Versus Strangers: The Role of Culture and Self-Construal

Three studies examined cross-cultural differences in empathic accuracy (the ability to correctly infer another’s emotional experience) within the context of different relationships. East–West cultural differences in self-construal were hypothesized to differentiate levels of empathic accuracy across relationship types. In contrast to the independent self prevalent among members of Western cultures, members of Eastern cultures generally view the self as interdependent with those with whom they have a relationship. Easterners, relative to Westerners, are more concerned with the thoughts or feelings of close others and less concerned with the thoughts or feelings of those with whom they have no relational link (i.e., strangers). Across three studies, the authors found that East Asians, compared with European Americans, made more accurate inferences regarding the emotions of close others (i.e., friends), but less accurate inferences regarding the emotions of strangers. Furthermore, individual differences in i...
The Case of Paul Kammerer: Evolution and Experimentation in the Early 20th Century

To some, a misguided Lamarckian and a fraud, to others a martyr in the fight against Darwinism, the Viennese zoologist Paul Kammerer (1880–1926) remains one of the most controversial scientists of the early 20th century. Here his work is reconsidered in light of turn-of-the-century problems in evolutionary theory and experimental methodology, as seen from Kammerer’s perspective in Vienna. Kammerer emerges not as an opponent of Darwinism, but as one would-be modernizer of the 19th-century theory, which had included a role for the inheritance of acquired characteristics. Kammerer attempted a synthesis of Darwinism with genetics and the chromosome theory, while retaining the modifying effects of the environment as the main source of favorable variation, and he developed his program of experimentation to support it. Kammerer never had a regular university position, but worked at a private experimental laboratory, with sidelines as a teacher and a popular writer and lecturer. On the lecture circuit he held forth on the significance of his science for understanding and furthering cultural evolution and he satisfied his passion for the arts and performance. In his dual career as researcher and popularizer, he did not always follow academic convention. In the contentious and rapidly changing fields of heredity and evolution, some of his stances and practices, as well as his outsider status and part-Jewish background, aroused suspicion and set the stage for the scandal that ended his career and prompted his suicide.