cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The use of glyceryl trinitrate ointment with EMLA cream for i.v. cannulation in children undergoing routine surgery.

This prospective randomized controlled double-blind trial was performed to investigate whether glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) ointment, applied ten minutes after the removal of a eutectic mixture of local anaesthetic cream, lignocaine/ prilocaine (EMLA), influences site selection for intravenous cannulation in children. Eighty children aged between five and 15 years, having general surgery as day patients, received EMLA cream on both hands for 90 minutes prior to transfer to the theatre suite. Acting as their own controls, the children received GTN on one hand, and placebo on the other, after removal of the EMLA cream and ten minutes prior to the insertion of an intravenous cannula. The application of GTN or placebo to left or right hand was blinded and randomized. At induction, the hand with the visually best quality veins was selected and cannulated. The primary outcome was selection between the EMLA/GTN hand and EMLA/placebo hand. The selection having been made, the number of attempts at cannulation, ease of insertion and pain scores (VAS) for cannulation were also recorded. The choice of hand was positively influenced by the use of GTN, with the GTN hand chosen in 51 of 72 (70%) children who completed the protocol (P = 0.001). The findings of this study suggest that the application of GTN after EMLA removal may be clinically useful in aiding cannulation in children.
Successful surgical repair and good visual outcome of a recurrent macular hole of seven years duration.

PURPOSE. To report anatomical closure and visual improvement in a patient with seven-year history of recurrent macular hole. METHODS. A 68-year-old woman underwent vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade for a seven-year old recurrent macular hole. RESULTS. Macular hole closed and visual acuity improved form 20/400 to 20/60 at 12 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS. The eyes with very-long standing macular holes may be considered for surgery. Predictors of successful visual outcome after surgery in very-long standing macular holes should be studied in larger series.
Diagnostic Needle Aspiration in Pediatric Practice: With Special Reference to Lungs, Middle Ear, Urinary Bladder, and Amniotic Cavity

Many diagnostic procedures involving needle aspiration have fallen into disuse in the past 25 years, but are regaining popularity as effective methods for isolating specific disease-causing organisms.
Active Timing Based Traceback

As shown in Sect. 3.3, timing based correlation approaches are promising in correlating encrypted network flows. However, they are inherently sensitive to deliberate timing perturbation by the adversary. In particular, the adversary can increase the correlation false positive rate or decrease the correlation true positive rate by making unrelated flows have similar timing characteristics or making related flows exhibit different timing characteristics.
The Export Trading Company Act Of 1982

In recent years, the trade position of the United States has gradually eroded. This decline, along with the myriad of other economic woes facing the U.S. on the domestic front, has prompted the government to actively search for ways to remedy the faltering trade position. One of the discoveries of this search was the export trading company. The objectives of this paper are: (1) to explain the enactment of the Export Trading Company (ETC) Act of 1982 and what it is about; (2) to examine the concerns expressed by its critics; and (3) to discuss what benefits can be expected to be gained from the ETC Act.
Are Parental Relationships Always Protective? A Social Network Analysis of Black, Latino, and White Homeless Youth and Sexual Risk-Taking Behaviors

Black and Latino homeless youth are at high risk of HIV, and yet no HIV prevention interventions have been specifically designed for these groups. Given the success of parent–child intervention programs for housed Black and Latino youth, this study examined parental relationships that could be leveraged for future HIV prevention efforts targeting minority homeless youth, specifically the associations among presence of parents in social networks, parental influence, and parental support. A convenience sample of Black, Latino, and White homeless youth (N = 754) was recruited from three drop-in centers in Los Angeles. Participants completed a computerized, self-administered questionnaire and an interviewer-led personal social network interview. Multivariate logistic regression models assessed the association between parental relationships and sexual risk behaviors. Forty-five percent (n = 338) of youth identified a parent in their network. Having at least one parent in their network was significantly associated with decreased odds of using a condom for Black and White youth. Black youth were almost four times more likely to report being tested for HIV if they spoke to their parents about sex, whereas Latino youth were 91 % less likely to report being tested for HIV if they talked with their parents about sex. Black youth who identified a parent as a positive influence (i.e., promoting condom use or discouraging multiple partners) were almost four times more likely to have used a condom during their last sexual encounter. Parent–child HIV prevention interventions targeting homeless youth would benefit from culturally tailored adaptations.
The spatial self in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder

Schizophrenia (SZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been both described as disorders of the self. However, the manner in which the sense of self is impacted in these disorders is strikingly different. In the current review, we propose that SZ and ASD lay at opposite extremes of a particular component of the representation of self; namely, self-location and the construct of peripersonal space. We evaluate emerging literature suggesting that while SZ individuals possess an extremely weak or variable bodily boundary between self and other, ASD patients possess a sharper self-other boundary. Furthermore, based on recent behavioral and neural network modeling findings, we propose that multisensory training focused on either sharpening (for SZ) or making shallower (for ASD) the self-other boundary may hold promise as an interventional tool in the treatment of these disorders.
Homotopic pullbacks, Lax pullbacks, and exponentiability

Cet article propose une approche unifiee des produits fibres homotopiques et autres produits fibres generalises, et etudie la notion d'exponentiabilite correspondante.
The Role of Assimilating to the US Culture and the Relationship Between Neighborhood Ethnic Composition and Dietary Intake Among Hispanic Youth.

Dietary fiber and sugar intake have been shown to affect metabolic health in overweight Hispanic youth. Evidence on the influence of culture on fiber and sugar intake in Hispanic youth is limited. The associations among score for levels of assimilation, neighborhood ethnic characteristics, and daily total and added dietary sugar and dietary fiber intake were assessed using regression analyses. One hundred twenty-four Hispanic youth (age = 13.6 ± 3.0, 106 female) were included. The proportion of Hispanic population in the neighborhood was positively associated with fiber intake (standardized β = 0.205, p < 0.01) and inversely associated with added (standardized β = −0.234, p < 0.01) and total sugar intake (standardized β = −0.229, p < 0.01). Youth’s self-identified levels of assimilation inversely moderated (standardized β = −0.465, p = 0.036) the association between %HP and dietary fiber intake. Hispanic youth residing in areas of that are predominantly populated with Hispanics may be protected from conforming to unhealthy dietary behaviors. This protective effect is weaker among Hispanic youth with higher level of assimilation.
Detection of False-Data Injection Attacks in Cyber-Physical DC Microgrids

Power electronics-intensive dc microgrids use increasingly complex software-based controllers and communication networks. They are evolving into cyber-physical systems (CPS) with sophisticated interactions between physical and computational processes, making them vulnerable to cyber attacks. This paper presents a framework to detect possible false-data injection attacks (FDIAs) in cyber-physical dc microgrids. The detection problem is formalized as identifying a change in sets of inferred candidate invariants. Invariants are microgrids properties that do not change over time. Both the physical plant and the software controller of CPS can be described as Simulink/Stateflow (SLSF) diagrams. The dynamic analysis infers the candidate invariants over the input/output variables of SLSF components. The reachability analysis generates the sets of reachable states (reach sets) for the CPS modeled as hybrid automata. The candidate invariants that contain the reach sets are called the actual invariants. The candidate invariants are then compared with the actual invariants, and any mismatch indicates the presence of FDIA. To evaluate the proposed methodology, the hybrid automaton of a dc microgrid, with a distributed cooperative control scheme, is presented. The reachability analysis is performed to obtain the reach sets and, hence, the actual invariants. Moreover, a prototype tool, HYbrid iNvariant GEneratoR, is extended to instrument SLSF models, obtain candidate invariants, and identify FDIA.
Residing in De : contentment, home & finding one’s place in the Liezi & Zhuangzi

Although traditionally recognized as a classic, the Liezi 列子 has remained one of the most understudied and, in some ways, most misunderstood texts within the Daoist canon. The present study first elucidates the Liezi’s conception of de 德 as it relates to contentedness with one’s particular allotment (or fen 分) in life. Special attention is paid to the exchange between Beigongzi and Ximengzi (found in the Li Ming 力命 [Endeavor and Destiny] chapter). Here, in spite of his mean status and circumstances, Beigongzi discovers that contentment arises in the recognition of the virtue/worth/value inherent in his particular ming (命) from heaven. Whereas Ximengzi’s privileged status, and apparent happiness, was a result of his heaven-allocated luck, Beigongzi, and by extension the Liezi’s readers, learns that true happiness resides in making the most of one’s de, the inborn manifestation of dao 道 within all things. The paper then moves on to explore similar themes in the Zhuangzi, teasing out the various ways in which the text both supports and expands the Daoist conception of locating contentment and “home” within one’s “heavenly mandate” (tian ming 天命). As we read in Zhuangzi 4, “To serve one’s own mind so that neither sadness or joy sway or move it; to comprehend that what you can do nothing about and rest content it as your ming 命, this is de 德 perfected” 自事其心者, 哀樂不易施乎前, 知其不可奈何而安之若命, 德之至也. Who and what we are ultimately resides in our homeground, the perfection of the virtue provided to each of us by heaven’s allocation.
Punctate Inner Choroidopathy: A Survey Analysis of 77 Persons

Purpose To evaluate the demographic and clinical features of punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC). Design Noncomparative survey. Participants Persons with PIC who were in contact with the PIC Society. Methods A survey was designed and posted on the Web site of the PIC Society, and persons diagnosed with PIC were invited to participate. Seventy-seven persons with PIC completed the survey. Main Outcome Measures Demographics, presenting symptoms, disease manifestations, treatment regimens, and ocular complications. Results Of the 77 participants who completed the survey, 90% were women, 97% Caucasian, and 85% myopic. The median age of participants was 30 years (range, 15–55). The median duration of disease at the time of survey completion was 3 years (range, Conclusions In this survey of 77 persons with PIC, the majority of respondents were young, myopic, Caucasian women, who experienced unilateral scotoma and blurred vision as initial symptoms. The ocular complications choroidal neovascularization and subretinal fibrosis were present in the majority of participants in at least one eye and typically occurred within the first year of initial symptoms.
Combinatorial treatment with natural compounds in prostate cancer inhibits prostate tumor growth and leads to key modulations of cancer cell metabolism.

High-throughput screening of a natural compound library was performed to identify the most efficacious combinatorial treatment on prostate cancer. Ursolic acid, curcumin and resveratrol were selected for further analyses and administered in vivo via the diet, either alone or in combination, in a mouse allograft model of prostate cancer. All possible combinations of these natural compounds produced synergistic effects on tumor size and weight, as predicted in the screens. A subsequent untargeted metabolomics and metabolic flux analysis using isotopically labeled glutamine indicated that the compound combinations modulated glutamine metabolism. In addition, ASCT2 levels and STAT3, mTORC1 and AMPK activity were modulated to a greater extent by the combinations compared to the individual compounds. Overall, this approach can be useful for identifying synergistic combinations of natural compounds for chemopreventive and therapeutic interventions. Combinations of two molecules found naturally in edible plants synergistically help reduce tumor growth in a mouse model of prostate cancer. Stefano Tiziani and John DiGiovanni from the University of Texas at Austin, and colleagues screened a library of 142 natural compounds for the effects of each molecule, alone or in combination, on the viability of cells from mouse and human prostate cancer cell lines. Amongst other promising combinations, the researchers identified ursolic acid and curcumin as the most promising combination for inhibiting tumor growth. (These compounds are found naturally in apple peels and turmeric, respectively.) In mice with implanted prostate tumors, the two compounds synergistically reduced tumor volume and weight, while in cell culture the researchers showed that the compound-combination strategy modulated metabolism of a critical amino acid and other cell signaling pathways.
Family Owned Business

The interdisciplinary study of family business is of interest to academic researchers, consultants, and practitioners around the world due to the prevalence of family business as an organizational form, an employer, and a contributor to gross domestic product. Family businesses are characterized by the founding family's involvement in the business through vision and control mechanisms and the reciprocal relationship between family and business systems which creates unique resources and capabilities. From an organizational communication perspective, family businesses communicatively construct meanings and processes which strategically integrate and separate family and organization within cultural and environmental contexts which shape family business strategies and experiences. Family business research can be divided into four distinct levels of focus: environmental/societal, organizational, group/interpersonal, and individual. Keywords: entrepreneurship; family communication; organizational communication; system theory
Teacher and Peer Perceptions of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

How do perceptions of ADHD differ from teacher to peer and are those attitudes caused by beliefs concerning what is "right and wrong?" The attitudes and expectations of teachers and student peers towards children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have a lasting impact on the academic and social success of students with ADHD. In essence, making a commensurate assessment of existing attitudes has the potential to provide information necessary to change negative attitudes and reinforce positive viewpoints. Existing attitudes of teachers and peers (and parents) affect the outcome of ADHD behaviors; before any meaningful change may be made or existing attitudes improved upon, existing attitudes must be measured. Relevant studies have the potential to assist in developing programs and interventions specifically designed for the ADHD child. Teachers especially play an important role in monitoring ADHD behaviors in the classroom and often serve as mediators regarding behavioral problems. Student peers also have a distinct role in accommodating their classmates according to an established hierarchy of what is considered right and wrong; the morals and principles of such serving as the catalyst for tolerance and positive change.
The Role of Quality in Determining Export Success

Does product quality play a significant role in the success of exporting firms? This issue is important to operations managers, who must prioritize their firm's resources to achieve the greatest results when entering overseas markets. The export produ..
Role of BAFF in Adhesion and Growth of Human Multiple Myeloma Cells in the Bone Marrow Microenvironment.

Recent studies have underscored the role of B-cell activating factor (BAFF), a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily, in promoting the survival of malignant B cells, including human MM. Since the tumor bone marrow microenvironment plays a crucial role in MM cell growth and survival, we here characterize the functional significance of BAFF in the interaction between MM and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), and further defined molecular mechanisms regulating these processes. We first confirmed the expression of BAFF and its receptors (BCMA, TACI, BAFF-R) on majority of MM cell lines and CD138-purified patient MM cells. Significantly, gene expression profiling revealed increased BCMA expression on newly diagnosed and relapsed MM versus normal plasma cells (p
Impact of the Coordinated Approach to Child Health Early Childhood Program for Obesity Prevention among Preschool Children: The Texas Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration Study

Abstract Background: This study presents the impact of a 2-year implementation of Coordinated Approach to Child Health Early Childhood (CATCH EC), a preschool-based healthy nutrition and physical a...
Reduction of CO2 in Steam Using a Photocatalytic Process to Form Formic Acid

The role that CO2 potentially plays in global climate change has prompted many researchers to study effective methods for converting it into useful raw materials. However, due to the barrier that the thermal stability of the CO2 molecule presents for effective conversion reactions, catalytic processes must often be used to afford efficient conversions. This work evaluates a photocatalytic process for the conversion of CO2 into formic acid. Using a sol-gel titania photocatalyst, light energy, and steam, CO2 is converted into formic acid inside a custom quartz conversion apparatus. Advantages to this conversion include the use of inexpensive and abundant reactants, light, water, and CO2, as well as potentially providing a mitigating technology for CO2 sequestration. Results for the conversion process are presented, and comments on the efficiency of the system under study, as well as a proposed photocatalytic material for future CO2 conversion research, are given.
HOTMeTaL: Hardware Optimization Tool for Memory Table and Logic Conversion

FPGA designs are typically optimized for speed and accuracy, with the amount of available hardware considered after the fact. Balancing speed, accuracy, and hardware utilization is a difficult proposition. In this paper, we demonstrate the Hardware Optimization Tool for Memory Table and Logic Conversion (HOTMeTaL) which helps with this tradeoff by modifying part or the majority of an existing FPGA design to use additional logic resources when memory is at a premium, or force the use of memory when logic is highly utilized; without significantly changing the overall functionality of the design. Using established minimization methods, traditionally used for programmable logic devices (PLDs), we also allow the conversion of groups or individual output bits into minimal logic circuits, which then allows the creation of several functionally identical designs, but allowing more control over the resources used in a design. After introducing the basics of the algorithm, we demonstrate the utility of this process with direct comparisons to examples from previous works. It is demonstrated that in some cases, our system will reduce the amount of logic (slices) while simultaneously removing the
Elucidation of a Copper Binding Site in Proinsulin C-peptide and Its Implications for Metal-Modulated Activity

The connecting peptide (C-peptide) is a hormone with promising health benefits in ameliorating diabetes-related complications, yet mechanisms remain elusive. Emerging studies point to a possible de...
Dissecting the Financial Relationship Between Industry and Academic Neurosurgery.

Background Established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Open Payments Database (OPD) has reported industry payments to physicians since August 2013. Objective To evaluate the frequency, type, and value of payments received by academic neurosurgeons in the United States over a 5-yr period (2014-2018). Methods The OPD was queried for attending neurosurgeons from all neurosurgical training programs in the United States (n = 116). Information from the OPD was analyzed for the entire cohort as well as for comparative subgroup analyses, such as career stage, subspecialty, and geographic location. Results Of all identified neurosurgeons, 1509 (95.0%) received some payment from industry between 2014 and 2018 for a total of 106 171 payments totaling $266 407 458.33. A bimodal distribution was observed for payment number and total value: 0 to 9 (n = 438) vs > 50 (n = 563) and 0-$1000 (n = 418) vs >$10 000 (n = 653), respectively. Royalty/License was the most common type of payment overall (59.6%; $158 723 550.57). The median number (40) and value ($8958.95) of payments were highest for mid-career surgeons. The South-Central region received the most money ($117 970 036.39) while New England received the greatest number of payments (29 423). Spine surgeons had the greatest median number (60) and dollar value ($20 551.27) of payments, while pediatric neurosurgeons received the least (8; $1108.29). Male neurosurgeons received a greater number (31) and value ($6395.80) of payments than their female counterparts (11, $1643.72). Conclusion From 2014 to 2018, payments to academic neurosurgeons have increased in number and value. Dollars received were dependent on geography, career stage, subspecialty and gender.
Undecanoic Acid, Lauric Acid, and N-Tridecanoic Acid Inhibit Escherichia coli Persistence and Biofilm Formation

Persister cell formation and biofilms of pathogens are extensively involved in the development of chronic infectious diseases. Eradicating persister cells is challenging, owing to their tolerance to conventional antibiotics, which cannot kill cells in a metabolically dormant state. A high frequency of persisters in biofilms makes inactivating biofilm cells more difficult, because the biofilm matrix inhibits antibiotic penetration. Fatty acids may be promising candidates as antipersister or antibiofilm agents, because some fatty acids exhibit antimicrobial effects. We previously reported that fatty acid ethyl esters effectively inhibit Escherichia coli persister formation by regulating an antitoxin. In this study, we screened a fatty acid library consisting of 65 different fatty acid molecules for altered persister formation. We found that undecanoic acid, lauric acid, and N-tridecanoic acid inhibited E. coli BW25113 persister cell formation by 25-, 58-, and 44-fold, respectively. Similarly, these fatty acids repressed persisters of enterohemorrhagic E. coli EDL933. These fatty acids were all medium-chain saturated forms. Furthermore, the fatty acids repressed Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) biofilm formation (for example, by 8-fold for lauric acid) without having antimicrobial activity. This study demonstrates that medium-chain saturated fatty acids can serve as antipersister and antibiofilm agents that may be applied to treat bacterial infections.
Maturity of the US Space Program

The United States was both fearful and humiliated by the Soviet successful launch of Sputnik 1 in October 1957. America had, since World War II, prided itself on being superior to all other nations, militarily, scientifically, and technologically. This sense of urgency to regain a lead in space supplied President Dwight D. Eisenhower with sufficient political will and US Congressional support to create the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on July 29, 1958 (Dick 2008).
Highlights from Studies Presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Session 2020: Navigating New Roads in Prevention

This review highlights late-breaking science presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Session 2020 that demonstrated advancements in preventative cardiology and introduced novel treatment approaches for the management of chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, and/or heart failure. The studies reviewed include clinical trials that assessed the use of omecamtiv in the treatment of heart failure with reduced heart failure (GALACTIC-HF); effects of sotagliflozin in patients with diabetes and recent heart failure exacerbation; cardiovascular outcomes with the use of omega-3 carboxylic acids in patients with high vascular risk and atherogenic dyslipidemia (STRENGTH) and omega-3 fatty acids in elderly patients with recent myocardial infarction (OMEMI); efficacy and safety of evinacumab in patients with refractory hypercholesterolemia; and the use of coronary computed tomography angiography for the assessment of suspected acute coronary syndrome. In addition, we review the results of the International Polycaps Study (TIPS-3) on the use of a polypill for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in intermediate-risk people. Finally, we discuss the SAMSON trial—a three-arm-N-of-1 trial—to identify the root cause of the symptoms contributing to patient nonadherence to statin therapy. The studies presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Session 2020 represent remarkable contributions in the field of cardiovascular disease and prevention.
The Missing 'California Effect' in Data Privacy Law

The “California Effect” is a recurring trope in discussions about regulatory interdependence. This effect predicts that businesses active in multiple jurisdictions sometimes adopt the strictest standards that they face in any jurisdiction globally, even if the law does not require global compliance. There is a substantial literature that assumes the existence of California Effects both at the interstate level in the United States and the international level. However, empirical evidence documenting their existence and strength is scarce. This paper investigates the existence of California Effects in data privacy law, a field in which these effects have been said to be particularly influential. Its main goal is to understand the extent to which EU law (which is usually described as comparably stringent) influences transactions between U.S. online services and consumers. Using a range of computational and traditional quantitative techniques, the paper tracks changes in almost 700 webpages’ privacy policies. The analysis covers two years starting in November 2017, a period that saw the enactment of a new, sweeping data privacy law in the EU. Contrary to what many assume, the analysis reveals that most U.S. online services treat U.S. consumers and EU consumers differently, with EU consumers enjoying higher levels of protection. This result indicates that the impact of EU law on the operations of U.S. online services is limited. Moreover, it suggests that California Effects driven by costs of differentiation might be less important than is commonly assumed, at least in data privacy law. The paper also discusses the implications of these findings for researchers and policymakers. The Online Appendix for this paper is available here: https://bit.ly/3hUyodM.
Taking Care of Ethical relativism

The existence of conflicting behavioral codes creates a serious prima facie difficulty for the legitimacy of moral judgments. Suppose that I claim, “x is right,” for some behavior x sanctioned by my code, and suppose that a different code proclaims instead“xis wrong”; what justification could I possibly offer for my claim? That I feel x to be right? But, if I had been brought up in an environment organized around the other code, I would probably feel quite the opposite; and, in any case, why should my feelings matter more than those of others? That I can give a rational articulation and defense of my claim? But, aside from the fact that a similar articulation and defense might be available for the opposite claim, why should they have such crucial significance to begin with? My emphasis on rationality and argument may well be one more consequence of my being raised and educated in my culture. That other codes are incoherent? But that is a very large promissory note, virtually impossible to redeem; and, furthermore, how do I know that my code does not hide deep-seated inconsistencies?
A racquetball skills test.

(1979). A Racquetball Skills Test. Research Quarterly. American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance: Vol. 50, No. 1, pp. 114-118.
Applications of Geographic Information Systems for the Analysis of Apartment Rents

This study is the first to incorporate comprehensive regional factors into the analysis of the variations of apartment rent in a particular metropolitan area. A Geographic Information Systems (GIS) procedure is developed to generate regional variables for the analysis. Results show that not only the individual apartment’s characteristics, but also the regional factors are important in determining apartment rents.
New faculty contributions toward enhancing diversity

As instructors, we bring to the classroom the diversity within us. The phenomenon of cultural transfusion and interchange with the environment tends to be the most obvious in the beginning of the career in the new environment, and the experience can be full of frustrating, interesting, and supportive events that one would categorize as learning experiences.The Computer Sciences are believed to be diversity-hostile disciplines, in the sense that it is hard to introduce topics of gender, national origin, disability etc. However, it is being done in our classrooms, on a micro and macro level. Being "the new colleague", our efforts to integrate these issues into our courses may incur different reactions by both students and colleagues.The panel is designed to present the experiences and the view of four new Towson University instructors on teaching in an environment where they are minority in one or several socially induced categories, and how they infuse their diversity topics of interest in the curriculum.
Lubrication in tube hydroforming (THF): Part II. Performance evaluation of lubricants using LDH test and pear-shaped tube expansion test

Abstract Two model tests to evaluate lubricant performance under realistic tribological conditions occurring in the transition and expansion zones of a tube hydroforming (THF) process are presented. The model test for the transition zone is based on the limiting dome height (LDH) test principle. For the expansion zone, a pear-shaped tube expansion test (PET) developed by the authors is employed. Four lubricants were tested and ranked based on (a) dome wall thinning behavior (for LDH), (b) tube wall thinning, tube protrusion height (PH), tube bursting pressure (for PET), and (c) surface topography. Friction coefficients for the lubricants were estimated by matching the experimental and FE results.
Intestinal microflora of immunoglobulin-deficient and normal human subjects.

Population levels of indigenous microorganisms in the small intestine and feces, and titers of certain antibacterial antibodies in intestinal fluids and sera, were compared in normal and immunoglobulindeficient individuals (9 selectively IgA-deficient subjects, 3 hypogammaglobulinemic subjects, and 12 healthy subjects). Fluids were taken under nitrogen from several levels of the small bowel, and were rigorously protected from exposure to air until cultures for anaerobic bacteria were made. Antibodies were detected by their ability to flocculate bentonite particles coated with lipopolysaccharide antigens extracted from an Escherichia coli stain, Bacteroides species, or a Lactobacillus species. The IgA-deficient and control subjects had generally similar microbial populations in their feces and small bowel fluids, although 2 of the patients yielded somewhat excessive numbers of anaerobic bacteria from their upper small bowels. In contrast, moderately to greatly excessive numbers of anaerobic bacteria were cultured from the bowel fluids of all 3 hypogammaglobulinemic patients. Titers of the flocculating antibodies were normal in the 1gA-deficient patients, but much below normal in the hypogammaglobulinemic persons. All of the IgA-deficient patients had extremely low levels of IgA in their sera, and all except 1 had undetectable levels in secretions. The 3 hypogammaglobulinemic patients had low or undetectable levels of immunoglobulins in sera and secretions. Although antibodies may be involved in the complex process of regulating the small bowel microbial flora, deficiency of IgA alone is insufficient to allow serious derangement of the flora.
A Test of Ideological Bias in House Subcommittees, 1979-2000

Committees play a pivotal role in the legislative process. Since the mid-1970s, subcommittees have been important in the lawmaking process as well. Given this enhanced performance, the membership of subcommittees can be a key element in the direction that the legislative process takes. In this article, we develop and test a set of expectations regarding the ideological makeup of subcommittees. Resting firmly on the shoulders of Cox and McCubbins (1993), we assert that those subcommittees with particularized interests will possess memberships which are ideologically distinguishable from their parent committees, while those that affect a wider range of interests will have contingents ideologically indistinguishable from their parent committees. Employing a Monte Carlo simulation technique on ideological composition data of members of subcommittees of the House Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees from the 96th to 106th Congresses, we expect to find that the occurrence of subcommittee outliers are ge...
Novel method to assess axonal excitability using channelrhodopsin-based photoactivation

Measuring the excitability of individual axons is complicated by the prohibitive difficulty in obtaining intracellular recordings. Here, we present an innovative methodology that enables local exci...
Computerized tomography and ultrasonography in intussusception of the small bowel.

Abstract A case of idiopathic intussusception of the proximal small bowel is presented. It showed a kidney-or doughnut-shaped pattern by CT and ultrasound study. This pattern is diagnostic for this condition.
Endothelial arginase II responds to pharmacological inhibition by elevation in protein level

Arginase is an enzyme which converts arginine to ornithine and urea. Recently, arginase has been implicated in many physiological and pathological processes including vascular diseases. Inhibition of arginase activity by pharmacological inhibitors is a useful tool to study the biology of arginases and their possible role in therapy. There are several arginase-specific inhibitors commercially available. Herein, we show that some of these inhibitors lead to an increase in arginase II protein level and activity. These effects should be anticipated when these inhibitors are in use or during the testing of new arginase inhibitors.
A nondiscriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetase in the plasmodium apicoplast: the first enzyme in an indirect aminoacylation pathway.

The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and related organisms possess a relict plastid known as the apicoplast. Apicoplast protein synthesis is a validated drug target in malaria because antibiotics that inhibit translation in prokaryotes also inhibit apicoplast protein synthesis and are sometimes used for malaria prophylaxis or treatment. We identified components of an indirect aminoacylation pathway for Gln-tRNAGln biosynthesis in Plasmodium that we hypothesized would be essential for apicoplast protein synthesis. Here, we report our characterization of the first enzyme in this pathway, the apicoplast glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (GluRS). We expressed the recombinant P. falciparum enzyme in Escherichia coli, showed that it is nondiscriminating because it glutamylates both apicoplast tRNAGlu and tRNAGln, determined its kinetic parameters, and demonstrated its inhibition by a known bacterial GluRS inhibitor. We also localized the Plasmodium berghei ortholog to the apicoplast in blood stage parasites but could not delete the PbGluRS gene. These data show that Gln-tRNAGln biosynthesis in the Plasmodium apicoplast proceeds via an essential indirect aminoacylation pathway that is reminiscent of bacteria and plastids. Background: Plasmodium apicoplast protein synthesis is essential, but few apicoplast tRNA synthetases have been characterized. Results: Apicoplast glutamyl-tRNA synthetase aminoacylates tRNAGlu and tRNAGln, is sensitive to a bacterial inhibitor, and is essential in blood stages. Conclusion: Formation of apicoplast Gln-tRNAGln is via indirect aminoacylation. Significance: We demonstrate that the apicoplast glutamyl-tRNA synthetase is a potential drug target.
Low-voltage quadrature LC oscillator with fast start-up

A novel low-voltage quadrature inductor–capacitor (LC) oscillator is presented. The proposed oscillator is immune to the phase ambiguity problem encountered in quadrature oscillators. Simulations show that the proposed oscillator can obtain a phase noise of −150 dBc/Hz at 10 MHz offset for a 5 GHz centre frequency and a figure-of-merit (FoM) of 195 dBc/Hz. The proposed oscillator has a superior start-up performance compared to other low-voltage quadrature LC oscillator architectures.
COMPENSATORY PROLIFERATIVE RESPONSE OF THE COLONIC EPITHELIUM TO MULTI-FRACTION IRRADIATION?

Abstract Colonic proliferation rate was measured during a 1 week period of fractionated radiation exposures, which totaled 1000 R/5 day week. The measurement period constituted either the first or the fourth week of continued therapy. In all cases, colonic cell production attained or exceeded control levels when considered over the 7 day span. This indicates that, in the colon, the principal determinant of acute radiation tolerance to fractionated therapy resides in this tissue's ability to undergo pronounced compensatory hyperplasia following radiation damage. This capacity was found to be greater during the fourth week of therapy than during the first week, which indicates: (1) the importance of damage recognition in the initiation of the compensatory proliferative response and (2) the lack of high total dose radiation damage to proliferation control mechanisms per se .
Temperature Effects on the Transport Properties of Molecules

Recent experiments found an unusual temperature-induced large shift in the resonant-tunneling voltage of certain molecules. We report first-principles calculations showing that such behavior can be caused by the excitation of rotational modes of ligands. These modes have classical characteristics, i.e., the maximum excursion is dominant, while at the same time they have a significant effect on the energy levels responsible for resonant tunneling. The proposed mechanism of ligand rotations is unique to molecules and accounts for the fact that the effect is not seen in semiconductor nanostructures.
On Bridging the Communication Gap

While we endorse recent calls for greater collaboration between mass communication and interpersonal communication researchers, in this response we delineate four factors that account for the relative lack of integration of these two areas of communication inquiry. The social policy focus of mass communication research, the high level of public concern over media effects, a variety of methodological cleavages, and different cognate field referents are cited as forces that support segregation of the two research areas. The recent turn to cognitive explanations of communication in both of these domains may create the climate necessary for meaningful collaboration between researchers.
Ex-ante evaluation of integrated crop management options for irrigated rice production in the Senegal River Valley

Abstract We assess the performance of rice integrated crop management (RICM) technology options among small-scale irrigated rice farmers in the Senegal River Valley (SRV). Mathematical programming techniques are used to develop farm models in order to identify optimal farm plans, determine yield and profit effects, and identify key constraints to the use of RICM. Sensitivity analysis is used to assess the implications of the results for farmers in different resource endowment groups. Simulation results show significant increase in yield and farm income from improved crop and resource management for small-scale irrigated rice production. The optimal plan for farms in the high resource endowment group is to allocate all available land to the RICM technology basket. The resulting yield and net farm profits are 7400 kg ha −1 of paddy and 621 US$ ha −1 , respectively, and these are significantly higher than yields and net profits from observed farmer practices. However, the optimal farm plan, output and net revenue are different for producers in the medium and low resource endowment groups. For these groups, the optimal plans are to adopt RICM components in combination with observed farmer practices. Yield and net farm revenue for the medium resource category are 6200 kg ha −1 and 507 US$ ha −1 , respectively. For producers in the low resource group, the corresponding values are 5300 kg ha −1 and 383 US$ ha −1 . The key constraints for farms in the high resource endowment category are land, credit and labor for harvest/post-harvest operations. The key constraints for producers in the medium resource endowment category are land and labor for harvest/post-harvest operations. For farmers in the low resource endowment category, labor for weeding and harvest/post-harvest operations are the main constraints. The importance of labor for weeding in this group is explained by the emphasis on manual weeding. We conclude that farms in all resource groups will realize yield and net revenue increases from the use of RICM technology options. However, the optimal farm plans, main constraints and associated increases in yield and net revenue are different for different resource levels.
Joint demand fulfillment probability in a multi-item inventory system with independent order-up-to policies

We consider a multi-item inventory system with dependent item demands represented by a multivariate normal distribution and filled under a First-Come-First-Served rule. Each item is managed independently through a periodic review order-up-to policy while all items have the same review cycle. We obtain the joint demand fulfillment probability within a pre-specified time window. We also study the problem of maximizing the joint demand fulfillment probability and discuss a heuristic approach in which equal safety factors (equal fractiles) are specified for all items. Finally we present numerical results and an application with actual data.
Environmental Communications Today: An Educator's Perspective

(1979). Environmental Communications Today: An Educator's Perspective. The Journal of Environmental Education: Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 43-48.
Context‐dependent mutations predominate in an engineered high‐affinity single chain antibody fragment

A mutational analysis of the femtomolar-affinity anti-fluorescein antibody 4M5.3, compared to its wild-type progenitor, 4-4-20, indicates both context-dependent and -independent mutations are responsible for the 1800-fold affinity improvement. 4M5.3 was engineered from 4-4-20 by directed evolution and contains 14 mutations. The seven mutations identified as present in each of 10 final round affinity maturation clones were studied here. Affinities of the 4-4-20 single mutant addition and 4M5.3 single site reversion mutants were compared. These experiments identified four mutations, of these seven, that were context-dependent in their contribution to higher affinity. A simplified mutant containing only these seven mutations was created to analyze complete double mutant cycles of selected sets of mutations. Specific mutational sets studied included the ligand contact mutations, the heavy chain CDR3 mutations, the heavy chain CDR3 mutations plus the neighboring residue at site H108, and the early and late acquired mutations on the directed evolution pathway. The heavy chain CDR3 mutational set and the ligand-contacting mutations were shown to provide −1.4 and −2.0 kcal/mol, respectively, of the total −3.5 kcal/mol change in free energy of binding of the seven-site consensus mutant. The mutations acquired late in the directed evolution rounds provided much of the change in free energy without the earlier acquired mutations (−3.1 kcal/mol of the total −3.5 kcal/mol). Prior structural data and electrostatic calculations presented several hypotheses for the higher affinity contributions, some of which are supported by these mutational data.
Toward a Simple, Expedient, and Complete Analysis of Human Hemoglobin by MALDI-TOFMS

MALDI mass spectrometry is explored as a method for hemoglobin characterization. To simplify and expedite the analysis, hemoglobin is obtained without purification directly from whole human blood. The use of trypsin-activated bioreactive MALDI probes is evaluated as a means to further reduce the analysis time from hours to minutes. Moreover, variations of the MALDI matrix preparation facilitate detection of the problematic tryptic peptides αT12, αT13, and βT12. The results reveal that MALDI-based methods are easily implemented, are rapid, and allow detection of traditionally elusive tryptic peptides.
The costs of selecting power bases or messages associated with the opposite sex

A study was conducted to examine the interpersonal costs of using power bases associated with the opposite sex. The study also tested two hypotheses regarding influence differences associated with two statistical interactions: (1) the sex of the source by the sex-type of the message, and (2) the sex of the subject by the sex-type of the message. Subjects (N=387) viewed a videotype containing one of six speakers (three males, three females) delivering one of two speeches (about gun control or child care centers) and using one of two power bases (helplessness or expertise). The results indicated that speakers using power bases associated with the opposite sex were liked less and regarded as less competent and qualified than their counterparts. The results also indicated that female speakers aroused more belief in the child care message and male speakers aroused more belief in the gun control message than did the other speaker-message combinations. No significant effects were associated with the interaction between subjects' sex and message. Among other findings, female subjects generally rated the messages and the speakers more positively than did male subjects.