cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estrogen production by bovine binucleate and mononucleate trophoblastic cells in vitro.

The bovine placenta has long been known as a source of steroid hormones. We performed three experiments to compare production of estrogens by bovine mononucleate and binucleate trophoblastic cells and examined effects of cortisol, progester- one, pregnenolone, testosterone, and androstenedione. In the first experiment, binucleate trophoblastic cells were purified by unit gravity sedimentation from six enzymatically dispersed placentas between 150 and 180 days of gestation. Cells (8 x 105/ ml) were incubated first at 37 0 C for 6 h with Medium 199 alone (M199/6h) or with 10 - 7 M cortisol (cortisol/6h). Medium or M199 and incubation continued for 4 h. Mononucleate cells produced more estrone than did binucleate cells during the first 6-h incubation (p < 0.05); cortisol did not affect this production. Estrone production by mononucleate cells was not affected by testosterone or androstenedione. Estradiol production by cells incubated for the first 6 h was not different between treatments or cell types. Testosterone increased estradiol production by binucleate cells (p < 0.05), but not mononucleate cells. In the third in this series of experiments, binucleate and mononucleate cells were incubated for 10 continuous hours with M199, progesterone, or pregnenolone. Estrone production by mononucleate cells was not affected by progesterone or pregnenolone. However, estrone production was greater by mononucleate than by binucleate cells (p < 0.05). Estradiol production was not different among treatments or cell types. These data show that bovine mononucleate and binucleate trophoblastic cells produced estradiol and estrone in vitro. Cortisol, progesterone, and pregnenolone (10 - 7 M) did not affect estradiol or estrone production; and exogenous testosterone (10- 7 M) facilitated estradiol production by binucleate, but not mononucleate, cells. Our results suggest that the aromatase, but not the 17a-hydroxylase, steroidogenic pathway is functional in trophoblastic cells isolated from second trimester bovine placentas.
Stability of mode-locked pulse solutions subject to saturable gain: computing linear stability with the Floquet-Fourier-Hill method

The stability of local structures in optical systems is of great importance. We demonstrate that using the Floquet–Fourier–Hill (FFH) method provides a substantial improvement in both speed and accuracy over finite-difference methods that are commonly used. Furthermore, we show how to incorporate the effect of nonlocal saturable gain in the linearization and stability predictions. Several examples of problems are worked with both the FFH and finite-difference methods and compared in the context of mode-locked laser models.
Quantum electrodynamics of accelerated atoms in free space and in cavities

We consider a gedanken experiment with a beam of atoms in their ground state that are accelerated through a single-mode cavity. We show that taking into account of the “counterrotating” terms in the interaction Hamiltonian leads to the excitation of an atom with simultaneous emission of a photon into a field mode. In free space, when the atom-field interaction is turning on/off adiabatically, the only nonadiabatic effect that causes the excitation is the time-dependent Doppler shift. The resulting ratio of emission and absorption probabilities is exponentially small and is described by the Unruh factor. In the opposite case of rapid turn on of the interaction on the cavity boundaries the above ratio is much greater and radiation is produced with an intensity which can exceed the intensity of radiation in free space by many orders of magnitude. In both cases real photons are produced. The cavity field at steady state has a thermal density matrix. However, under some conditions laser gain is possible. We present a detailed discussion of how the acceleration of atoms affects the generated cavity field in different situations. We identify a common physical mechanism behind the Unruh effect and similar QED radiation processes.
Averting the 21st century's demographic crisis: Can human numbers be reduced by 75%?

This article identifies 10 "inescapable realities" about global population growth. The long-term carrying capacity is "somewhere around 2 billion people." "Rational equitable and attainable" population goals are necessary in the near future and these goals must address how to create and sustain an adequate standard of living for all people while not exceeding carrying capacity. Both growth rates and population size must be reduced over the immediate 50-75 years for attainment of 2 billion people in the year 2200. Population reduction must follow population stabilization. The scale complexity multidisciplinary nature and sociopolitical sensitivities of analyzing the population problem has resulted in a powerlessness to act. There is the added problem of establishing quantifiable and empirically testable parameters for estimating long-term carrying capacity. Reluctance to establish how many people the Earth can support may be due to "ingrained scientific caution concerns about professional reputation and advancement the increasing specialized nature of scientific investigation personal qualms about reaching controversial conclusions or unpalatable sociopolitical ideological moral or religious reservations." Even in the best of circumstances it is possible that a 2 billion population in 2200 may not be achieved. What works against reduced population size is a "persistent deep-seated inability" to conceptualize the long-term and a propensity toward excess fertility. Even if the target population is understated the actual size of population must still be reduced. The author contends that reduced population size is attainable because man has a "deep-rooted investment in immortality and an individual and collective concern for posterity." It would help if all the world religions would adopt a clear policy on collective reproductive responsibility. Population reduction must be a priority issue that comes from within people and all other issues must be secondary in importance.
Accounting and the Moral Order: Justice, Accounting, and Legitmate Moral Authority

Relying upon the manner in which accountants speak about their practice, this paper provides an argument that accounting discourse suffers from incoherence. Arguing that accountants speak as if the institution of accounting is part of a moral order, it follows that for accounting to have moral standing it must be capable of providing good reasons for people to conform to accounting directives. Through the work of Baier (1995) and Habermas (1990), the paper describes the nature of a moral order and develops the conclusion that good reasons for accounting rules must be society anchored ones. Two examples are provided that illustrate why considerations of accounting as a deeply moral discourse are important. The first example is the iron law of accountability—which acts to subject people to accounting intrusions that may be unnecessary. The second example is the case of SFAS No. 106. The post‐retirement benefits standard is a recent example of the FASB establishing a supra‐legal definition of liability by as...
Selected intellectual property issues in standardization

This paper explores several issues related to intellectual property in the standardization process. Different intellectual property issues dominate during the three major phases in the life cycle of a standard: development, where the content of the standard is created; distribution, where documentation on the standard is shared with the vendor and user community; and implementation, where products and processes based on the standard are brought to market. Many of these issues have implications for policymakers and stakeholders. The implications are considered and the options available to policymakers and stakeholders are enumerated.
Simulating the vapour-liquid equilibria of 1,4-dioxane

1,4-dioxane, a cyclic ether, is an emerging contaminant which is difficult to remove from water with conventional water treatment methods and resistant to biodegradation. Once a reliable force field is developed for 1,4-dioxane, molecular simulation techniques can be useful to study alternative adsorbents for its removal. For this purpose, we carried out Monte Carlo simulations in a constant volume Gibbs Ensemble to generate a force field which is capable of predicting the vapour–liquid coexistence curve and critical data of 1,4-dioxane. Results are given in comparison with experimental data and results from simulations with other force fields. Liquid densities and critical temperature are predicted in excellent agreement with experimental data using the new force field. At high temperatures, predicted vapour densities are in good agreement with experimental data, however, at lower temperatures the predicted vapour densities deviate about an order of magnitude from the experimental values. The critical de...
Learning grammars with a modified classifier system

This paper describes a modified learning classifier system for evolving grammars from small, handcrafted grammars. The algorithm uses distinct discovery and evaluation steps, and a culling step to reduce ambiguity. It performs surprisingly well in developing grammars for very complex sentences in a restricted domain of English, and in some experiments the grammar's competence improved up to tenfold.
System identification of the Vincent Thomas suspension bridge using earthquake records

The Vincent Thomas Bridge in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, is a critical artery for commercial traffic flow in and out of the Los Angeles Harbor, and is at risk in the seismically active Southern California region, particularly because it straddles the Palos Verdes fault zone. A combination of linear and non-linear system identification techniques is employed to obtain a complete reduced-order, multi-input–multi-output (MIMO) dynamic model of the Vincent Thomas Bridge based on the dynamic response of the structure to the 1987 Whittier and 1994 Northridge earthquakes. Starting with the available acceleration measurements (which consists of 15 accelerometers on the bridge structure and 10 accelerometers at various locations on its base), an efficient least-squares-based time-domain identification procedure is applied to the data set to develop a reduced-order, equivalent linear, multi-degree-of-freedom model. Although not the main focus of this study, the linear system identification method is also combined with a non-parametric identification technique, to generate a reduced-order non-linear mathematical model suitable for use in subsequent studies to predict, with good fidelity, the total response of the bridge under arbitrary dynamic environments. Results of this study yield measurements of the equivalent linear modal properties (frequencies, mode shapes and non-proportional damping) as well as quantitative measures of the extent and nature of non-linear interaction forces arising from strong ground shaking. It is shown that, for the particular subset of observations used in the identification procedure, the apparent non-linearities in the system restoring forces are quite significant, and they contribute substantially to the improved fidelity of the model. Also shown is the potential of the identification technique under discussion to detect slight changes in the structure's influence coefficients, which may be indicators of damage and degradation in the structure being monitored. Difficulties associated with accurately estimating damping for lightly damped long-span structures from their earthquake response are discussed. The technical issues raised in this paper indicate the need for added spatial resolution in sensor instrumentation to obtain identified mathematical models of structural systems with the broadest range of validity. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Proactive multicasting with predictable demands

In a recent work, we have introduced the notion of proactive resource allocation in wireless networks whereby the predictability of user demands are leveraged to significantly enhance the spectral efficiency of the network in outage limited regimes. In this paper, we expand the horizon to the important scenario of multicast traffic. Our analysis reveals two additional types of gains that can be leveraged in this proactive multicast scenario. The first can be attributed to the basic nature of multicast traffic in which each request would represent a data source rather than a user, as it would in the unicast case. The second is the demand alignment phenomenon whereby the predictive network would wait to gather as much requests as possible and serve them altogether using the same resources. We analytically derive the impact of these advantages on the system diversity gain, which quantifies the exponential decay rate of the outage probability, and further illustrate the resulting gains via numerical results.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Octogenarians With Stage I Lung Cancer

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to describe our clinical experience using stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to treat medically inoperable stage I non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in very elderly patients. Patients and Methods Twenty-four consecutive octogenarians with stage I NSCLC were treated with SBRT between 2007 and 2011 at a single center. Median prescription dose was 48 Gy (range, 48-56). Follow-up clinical examination and computed tomography (CT) were performed every 2 to 3 months. Results Median age was 85 years (range, 80-89). Twenty-three (96%) patients had peripheral tumors, and median tumor size was 22 mm (range, 11-49). Tissue diagnosis was obtained in 16 (67%) patients. Median follow-up for all patients was 27.6 months (range, 4.3-61.2). The 24-month disease-free survival was 77% (95% confidence interval [CI], 61%-97%). The 24-month overall survival (OS) was 74% (95% CI, 57%-94%). No local failure (LF) was observed during the period of observation. Nodal failure (NF) and distant failure (DF) occurred in 2 and 4 patients, respectively. The cumulative incidence of competing mortality at 24 months was estimated at 13% (95% CI, 3%-30%). No difference in outcomes with or without tissue diagnosis was observed. No grade ≥ 3 early or late treatment-related toxicities were observed. Conclusion Octogenarians tolerate SBRT well, which makes it an attractive treatment option.
Paleo-Paralysis? Work, Organizations and the Labour Process Debate

Paul Adler addresses the fall from grace of labour process theory by advocating a `paleo Marxist' perspective that would return the study of labour to its classical Marxist lineage. I find that Adler is right to emphasize the contradictions that often lie hidden within contemporary managerial regimes, yet utterly wrong to root them within the capitalist mode of production as such. So heavily deterministic and reductionist a view would, if generalized, deny us any ability to explain why managerial regimes vary across firms, industries and nation-states. Likewise, issues of organization culture, gender and racial inequalities, or worker subjectivity would all quickly vanish from sight. What Adler views as a weakness of the labour process approach — its emphasis on the negotiated nature of the wage-labour relation — in fact constitutes an enduring contribution to the study of work.
Germinal Center B Cells Latently Infected with Epstein-Barr Virus Proliferate Extensively but Do Not Increase in Number

In this study we show that in long-term persistent infection, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected cells undergoing a germinal center (GC) reaction in the tonsils are limited to the follicles and proliferate extensively. Despite this, the absolute number of infected cells per GC remains small (average of 3 to 4 cells per germinal center; range, 1 to 9 cells), and only about 38 to 55% (average, 45%) of all GCs carry infected cells. The data fit a model where, on average, cells in the GC divide approximately three times; however, only one progeny cell survives to undergo a further three divisions. Thus, a fraction of cells undergo multiple rounds of division without increasing in numbers; i.e., they die at the same rate that they are dividing. We conclude that EBV-infected cells in the GC undergo the extensive proliferation characteristic of GC cells but that the absolute number is limited either by the immune response or by the availability of an essential survival factor. We suggest that this behavior is a relic of the mechanism by which EBV establishes persistence during acute infection. Lastly, the expression of the viral latent protein LMP1 in GC B cells, unlike in vitro, does not correlate directly with the expression of bcl-2 or bcl-6. This emphasizes our claim that observations made regarding the functions of EBV proteins in cell lines or in transgenic mice should be treated with skepticism unless verified in vivo.
A Newsvendor Problem with Revenue Sharing and Channel Coordination

Increasingly manufacturers and retailers are implementing revenue-sharing policies to coordinate distribution channels more effectively. This article considers a standard newsvendor problem in a single manufacturer–retailer channel and compares the expected profits that each party receives in a traditional ordering environment with those that can be achieved under a revenue-sharing policy designed to completely eliminate double marginalization. It is shown that the retailer always benefits from the transition to revenue sharing by capturing a portion of the incremental channel profit generated by the complete elimination of double marginalization. A necessary demand-distribution-dependent condition is derived under which the transition to revenue sharing benefits the manufacturer as well. The findings of this research are illustrated in a numerical example for the uniform demand distribution.
An Intein‐Mediated Site‐Specific Click Conjugation Strategy for Improved Tumor Targeting of Nanoparticle Systems

The ability to modify and directly target nanoparticulate carriers has greatly increased their applicability in diagnostic and therapeutic studies. Generally essential to the targeting of nanoparticles is the bioconjugation of targeting ligands to the agent's surface. While bioconjugation techniques have steadily improved in recent years, the field is still plagued with inefficient conjugations reactions and/or the lack of site-specific coupling. To overcome these limitations, click chemistry and expressed protein ligation (EPL) are combined to produce a highly efficient, site-specific reaction. This new EPL-click conjugation strategy is applied to create superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO) labeled with HER2/neu affibodies. These HER2-SPIO nanoparticles prove to be highly potent and receptor-specific in both in vitro cell studies and murine tumor models. Moreover, when EPL-click-derived HER2-SPIO are compared with SPIO that had been labeled with HER2 affibodies using other popular bioconjugation methods, they produce a statistically significant improvement in contrast enhancement upon cell binding. The EPL-click system is also successfully extended to other nanoparticle platforms (i.e., liposomes and dendrimers) highlighting the versatility of the approach.
When Moderate Voters Prefer Extreme Parties: Policy Balancing in Parliamentary Elections

This work develops and tests a theory of voter choice in parliamentary elections. I demonstrate that voters are concerned with policy outcomes and hence incorporate the way institutions convert votes to policy into their choices. Since policy is often the result of institutionalized multiparty bargaining and thus votes are watered down by power-sharing, voters often compensate for this watering-down by supporting parties whose positions differ from (and are often more extreme than) their own. I use this insight to reinterpret an ongoing debate between proximity and directional theories of voting, showing that voters prefer parties whose positions differ from their own views insofar as these parties pull policy in a desired direction. Utilizing data from four parliamentary democracies that vary in their institutional design, I test my theory and show how institutional context affects voter behavior.
Raman enhanced supercontinuum generation from 2–20 μm in GaAs using 3 ps CO 2 laser pulses

Supercontinua covering the entire mid-IR region were obtained by sending a train of 3 ps CO 2 laser pulses through a 67mm GaAs crystal. The spectral width is attributed to stimulated Raman scattering and self-phase modulation.
Child behavior problems and maternal symptoms of depression: a mediational model.

PROBLEM. The relationship between maternal depression and child behavior problems has been consistently demonstrated, but not the impact of child behavior problems on maternal depression. METHODS. Mothers of 3- to 6-year-old children (N = 69) reported regarding their depression, parenting competence, attachment to the child, the child's impact on the family, and behavior problems. FINDINGS. Child behavior problems were positively associated with maternal depression, an association explained by mediating variables: impact of the child on the family, mother's parenting competence, and attachment to the child. CONCLUSIONS. Maternal depression should be considered when providing clinical services to children, given the potential for exacerbation of symptoms in the face of child behavior problems.
Women, journal writing, and the reflective process

Women's journals are a unique treasure that provide a glimpse into the lives of individuals whose voices otherwise would not have been heard. Journals continue to be a source of inspiration and revelation for the women who write them and those who read them.
Students' Participation in Transition-Related Actions A Qualitative Study

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore high school students' participation in transition-related activities. Findings indicated that teachers, students, and mothers did not perceive formal transition-related processes as occurring at school or home. Both teachers and mothers agreed that better communication was needed as well as administrative support to implement an effective transition process in which students can become involved. Conclusions drawn from the study are that (a) transition is more of a promise than a reality for many due to limited resources and confusion about roles; (b) transition meetings are an important venue for linking students' involvement to the transition process; and (c) although teachers and mothers desire student involvement, achieving this involvement will require changes in everyone's roles.
Value of extended recording time with wireless pH monitoring in evaluating gastroesophageal reflux disease

Background & Aims: Extending an ambulatory pH study by using a wireless capsule system could improve diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with symptoms potentially related to acid reflux events. We determined the relative value of a 2-day versus a 1-day study in detection of abnormal esophageal acid exposure and reflux symptom associations. Methods: Subjects who had undergone pH monitoring with the wireless system for symptom evaluation and who had at least 1 typical or atypical symptom during monitoring were studied (n = 157). Acid exposure time, symptom index, and a measure of reflux-associated symptom probability were calculated after 1 day of recording and compared to final results from analysis of 2 days of data. Results: Extending recording time increased the number of subjects recording symptoms by 6.8% and doubled the number of symptoms available for association with acid reflux events. Other advantages were greater in subjects off antireflux therapy, wherein lengthening recording time increased the proportion of subjects with abnormal acid exposure time by 12.4% and significantly increased the likelihood of a positive reflux symptom relationship in subjects with atypical symptoms. Accuracy of a 1-day study ranged from 0.87–0.88 for acid exposure time to as low as 0.72–0.87 for the probability test, the most sensitive of the symptom association tests. Conclusions: Extending recording time to 2 days with the wireless pH monitoring system increases the likelihood of detecting reflux disease in patients undergoing symptom evaluation. Benefits are most evident for subjects with atypical symptoms and for establishing reflux symptom associations by probability testing.
On the Organization of Flow and Heat Transfer in the Near Wake of a Circular Cylinder in Steady and Pulsed Flow

Skin friction, pressure, and heat transfer gages are employed to monitor the flow and heat transfer field along the periphery of a circular cylinder in steady and pulsed flow at Reynolds numbers, Re = 23,000 to 50,000. Averaged distributions, RMS, and power spectra of all measurements are displayed. Special attention is directed at the organisation of the near wake, as detected by the three types of surface gages. The response of the wake to pulsing of the oncoming stream is also examined. It is found that when the wake is locked on the driving frequency, the basic character of the flow is not changed, but the organised motion stands out more clearly. Moreover, the signals become cleaner and background noise in the spectra is reduced. Skin friction and heat transfer gages are shown to respond to local variations of the corresponding quantities, whereas pressure gages respond to local variations of the corresponding quantities, whereas pressure gages respond to global characteristics of the flow.
A Novel Slow-Wave Structure for High-Power $K_{a}$ -Band Backward Wave Oscillators With Mode Control

We present a novel slow-wave structure (SWS) to significantly enhance the performance of high-power backward wave oscillators (BWOs). The design features a periodic metallic ring insertion and a deeply corrugated cylindrical waveguide. Both serving to improve interaction impedance and flexibility in dispersion curve engineering. A new technique for mode control in waveguides is also introduced. In addition to demonstrating mode control in SWSs, the key aspects of the presented design are mode dominance reversal and a 100% improvement in interaction impedance that can be exploited to achieve greater power conversion efficiency and output mode purity. Performance comparisons on group velocity, phase velocity and interaction impedance of the new SWS versus the conventional corrugated waveguide are provided. We extend the concept of inhomogeneous SWSs by designing a three-section inhomogeneous SWS. Further simulations using a Particle in Cell code of a highly efficient three-section inhomogeneous K a -band BWO generates a peak output power of a 5.92 MW at 27 GHz with a 58% peak efficiency.
Personal Commitment and Organizational Constraint: Church Officials and Racial Integration

This paper interprets the Civil Rights movement's penetration of denominational organizations in the light of organizational theory. This penetration, evidenced by denominational documents and the testimony of denominational officials, was effected through persons whose personal commitment insulated them from pressures to adopt the organizational maintenance point of view. Personal commitment was unlikely to become organizational policy, however, unless the structure of the denomination provided insulation from environmental forces.
Land, Life, and Environmental Change in the Himalaya

The long-time pristine characteristics of the Himalayas have been threatened by environmental degradation. Destruction of forests and vegetation, the shrinking of the glaciers, and population pressure are many examples of the regional environmental problems faced by the Himalayan region. The region has developed distinctive patterns of land use and land ownership in response to environmental changes. The region can be subdivided into three geologic zones: the Outer Himalayas, the Middle Himalayas, and the Great Himalayas. Regional variations in environmental degradation can be observed. Conditions range from the extremely severe situation in Nepal to a moderately serious situation in the Indian Himalayas and somewhat less serious conditions in Bhutan. A geographic analysis of environmental degradation in the region posits several responses to environmental stress, such as ‘planning for conserving soil and water in various subregions,’ ‘preservation of Himalayan environment,’ ‘a holistic as opposed to piecemeal approach seeking solutions to environment problems,’ ‘examining uncontrolled growth with conservation,’ and ‘addressing the role of women in Himalayan society.’
Data drives the movement: embedded experts in home lending advocacy

Technical rhetoric has become a central feature of political debates in recent decades. As such advocacy organizations have needed to develop facility with quantitative data to signal their competence to participate in political discussions. Since they often lack the resources to engage in research directly, they must use existing research and interact with already-established research communities. Less examined have been cases where advocacy groups themselves have brought technical discourse into political discussions. This article studies how advocates in one field combined local and technical knowledge to press their claims. I contrast debates in the 1970s aimed at confronting ‘redlining’ in the home lending market to more recent and less successful efforts to limit ‘predatory’ home lending. I argue that advocates in this policy community became embedded experts: embedded because they linked local knowledge to quantitative data, and because their use of data remained embedded within and constrained by ...
An alerting structure: human orexin receptor 1

Structures of the human orexin receptor 1 (hOX1R) bound to a selective drug and the dual (hOX1R- and hOX2R-targeting) antagonist suvorexant reveal molecular mechanisms of selectivity in orexin-receptor subtypes.
Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) Cellular Imaging of Intracellulary Biosynthesized Gold Nanoparticles

Green algae biosynthesize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the presence of dissolved gold, but the precise biosynthesis mechanism remains unclear. Furthermore, few surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) spectra and even fewer SERS cellular images have been collected of intracellularly grown gold nanoparticles, despite the detailed information SERS can provide about nanosurface-associated molecules. In this effort, SERS imaging was used to detect intracellular and extracellular gold nanoparticles biosynthesized by the green algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata to identify surface-associated biomolecules and to evaluate the nanoparticle biosynthesis mechanism. Three-dimensional SERS spectral maps imaged AuNPs biosynthesized in the presence of 0.005–0.5 mM HAuCl4 over a variety of pH conditions. Algal growth and AuNP biosynthesis were monitored over a 72 h exposure period using UV–vis spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and elemental analysis. Principle component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis of SERS ...
Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT Cases

C. K. Kim, Ed. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2015, 437 pages, $79.95 Part of the Cases in Radiology series, this book provides a succinct review of 194 clinically relevant cases covering the full range of general nuclear medicine and PET/CT. The concise, easy-to-use, question-and-answer
Effect of Two Stunning Voltages on Blood Loss and Objective Texture of Meat Deboned at Various Post-Mortem Times

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of different stunning voltages on the objective texture of the Pectoralis major muscles deboned at various post-mortem times. Broilers were stunned at either 50 or 200 V alternating current (VAC) for 10 s in a brine stunner. The artery and vein on one side of the neck were severed, blood collected for 90 s, and blood loss calculated as percentage of live weight. Carcasses were then processed under simulated commercial conditions. In the first experiment, the right and left Pectoralis major muscles were excised at 1 and 2 h post-mortem respectively, weighed, vacuum-sealed in plastic bags, and held overnight at 2 C. In the second experiment, the Pectoralis major muscles were excised at 4 h post-mortem and held overnight at 2 C. The muscles were then heated at 85 C for 30 min, equilibrated to room temperature, and prepared for Warner-Bratzler shear analysis. The stunning treatments did not significantly affect blood loss, which averaged 2.86 and 2.64% for 50 and 200 VAC, respectively. Birds subjected to the 50 VAC treatment had a mean shear value of 7.3 kg, which was significantly lower (P < .05) than the mean shear value of 10 kg for birds subjected to the 200 VAC treatment for muscles excised 2 h post-mortem. The use of 200 VAC for stunning could be used without any detrimental effect on the cooked meat as long as the standard deboning time of 4 h was maintained.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Tax Avoidance: A Literature Review and Directions for Future Research

Tax avoidance, as a CSR issue, is critically important to a firm’s long-term viability and the government’s ability to function. Aggressive tax avoidance schemes for shareholder wealth maximization are problematic, since governments are left powerless to sustain basic services when earnings are stripped and sent to lower tax jurisdictions. This paper examines the extant literature on the subject of tax avoidance as it is presented in the CSR literature. Thirty-seven articles were analyzed and three overarching themes identified: (1) past developments establishing tax avoidance as a CSR component, (2) ethical aspects of tax avoidance, and (3) the role of governance in tax decisions. The academic community is not in agreement on what constitutes an appropriate managerial course of action regarding tax obligations. Some argue for the alleviation of the tax burden, others for the payment of statutory taxes. The present work consolidates the literature of this emerging field to assess its current state and suggest a way forward.
Inhibition of C5a des Arg-induced neutrophil alveolitis in transgenic mice expressing C-reactive protein

C-reactive protein (CRP) is the classic acute phase reactant in man with serum levels elevated up to 1,000-fold after the onset of inflammation. CRP inhibits chemotaxis of complement (C5a)-stimulated neutrophils in vitro and rabbits with elevated serum CRP levels exhibit diminished neutrophil infiltration and vascular permeability in a model of C5a-induced alveolitis. To specifically evaluate the effect of CRP on C5a-induced neutrophil inflammation in vivo, experiments were performed in transgenic mice capable of expressing rabbit CRP in an inducible fashion. After direct instillation of a known inflammatory agent (C5a des Arg) into the airways, transgenic mice with high plasma levels of CRP showed significantly diminished infiltration of neutrophils into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and a significant reduction of BALF total protein levels compared with normal mice. These data indicate that CRP can diminish lung injury by a reduction in neutrophil influx and protein leakage into alveoli following complement-induced inflammation.
Class, Status, and Party

The three dimensions of social stratification—economic, prestige and political power—are part of Max Weber's classic analysis of social stratification that appeared in his seminal work Economy and Society, published posthumously in 1922. To some, this appears as an elaboration on Marx's fundamentally economic analysis of society and history, namely one designed to take into account the true complexity of social divisions, which cannot be reduced to a single materialist core. Weber's work—which included an important historical perspective, a fundamental cross-cultural comparative dimension, and a sophisticated incorporation of the importance of ideas in the determination of human action—is particularly useful in the complex field of race and ethnic relations, racism, and the role of nationalism and has been adopted and adapted by many subsequent scholars. Keywords: class; power; race and ethnicity; stratification and inequality; Weber, Max
Malignant Tumor Mitality Trend Among Residents in Langzhong City From 1988 to 2007

Objective To explore the trend of malignant fumor among residents in Langzhong city so as to provide information for developing control strategies and measures.Method In accordance with the international classification of diseases ICD-9,the PYLL was used as the extent of damage indicator.Result During the 20 years(1988-2003),the total mortality rate of urban residents decreased from 741.32/100 000 to 568.68/100 000,but the concer mortality rate increased from 177.30/100 000 to 197.87/100 000.The first 5 malignant tumors were cancinoma of stomach,liver cancer,lung cancer and intestinal cancer,which accounted for 88.48% of the total cancer death.Life lost due to malignant tumor was 338 874 years/year(210 246 year/year in men and 128 628 years/years).Conclusion Malignant fumor has become the serious danger of the residents and the primary cause of death in Langzhong city.
Monitoring on resistance of culex pipiens pallens in Xicheng district (south) of Beijing in 2012

Objective To explore the resistance situation of culex pipiens pallens in Xicheng( south) district of Beijing,and to provide guidance for mosquito control. Methods The resistances of the field strain and the sensitive strain to insecticides including Beta cypermethrin,deltamethrin,fenobucarb,temephos and DDVP were tested with the impregnation method. Results Comparing with the sensitive strain,the field strain was sensitive to Beta cypermethrin,DDVP and fenobucarb,and resistant to temephos,deltamethrin. Conclusion In our district,Culex pipiens pallens has become resistant to Temephos,Deltamethrin,and we should use them carefully.
Pharmacokinetic Pharmacogenetic Prescribing Guidelines for Antidepressants: A Template for Psychiatric Precision Medicine

Antidepressants are commonly prescribed medications in the United States, and there is increasing interest in individualizing treatment selection for more than 20 US Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for major depressive disorder. Providing greater precision to pharmacotherapeutic recommendations for individual patients beyond the large-scale clinical trials evidence base can potentially reduce adverse effect toxicity profiles and increase response rates and overall effectiveness. It is increasingly recognized that genetic variation may contribute to this differential risk to benefit ratio and thus provides a unique opportunity to develop pharmacogenetic guidelines for psychiatry. Key studies and concepts that review the rationale for cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) and cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) genetic testing can be delineated by serum levels, adverse events, and clinical outcome measures (eg, antidepressant response). In this article, we report the evidence that contributed to the implementation of pharmacokinetic pharmacogenetic guidelines for antidepressants primarily metabolized by CYP2D6 and CYP2C19.
Clinical Assessment of Nutritional Status at Birth: Fetal Malnutrition and SGA Are Not Synonymous

Fetal malnutrition is a common and potentially serious problem perinatally and for later growth and development. Unless sought in the neonate, fetal malnutrition is frequently missed but can be detected readily by a simple clinical examination.
SU‐G‐TeP1‐02: Analytical Stopping Power and Range Parameterization for Therapeutic Energy Intervals

Purpose: To develop a simple, analytic parameterization of stopping power and range, which covers a wide energy interval and is applicable to many species of projectile ions and target materials, with less than 15% disagreement in linear stopping power and 1 mm in range. Methods: The new parameterization was required to be analytically integrable from stopping power to range, and continuous across the range interval of 1 µm to 50 cm. The model parameters were determined from stopping power and range data for hydrogen, carbon, iron, and uranium ions incident on water, carbon, aluminum, lead and copper. Stopping power and range data was taken from SRIM. A stochastic minimization algorithm was used to find model parameters, with 10 data points per energy decade. Additionally, fitting was performed with 2 and 26 data points per energy decade to test the model's robustness to sparse Results: 6 free parameters were sufficient to cover the therapeutic energy range for each projectile ion species (e.g. 1 keV – 300 MeV for protons). The model agrees with stopping power and range data well, with less than 9% relative stopping power difference and 0.5 mm difference in range. As few as, 4 bins per decade were required to achieve comparable fitting results to the full data set. Conclusion: This study successfully demonstrated that a simple analytic function can be used to fit the entire energy interval of therapeutic ion beams of hydrogen and heavier elements. Advantages of this model were the small number (6) of free parameters, and that the model calculates both stopping power and range. Applications of this model include GPU-based dose calculation algorithms and Monte Carlo simulations, where available memory is limited. This work was supported in part by a research agreement between United States Naval Academy and Louisiana State University: Contract No N00189-13-P-0786. In addition, this work was accepted for presentation at the American Nuclear Society Annual Meeting 2016.
The Effect of Current Low Back Pain on Volitional Preemptive Abdominal Activation During a Loaded Forward Reach Activity

Abstract Background A volitional preemptive abdominal contraction (VPAC) supports trunk stability during functional activity. Pain-free individuals can sustain VPAC during function, but such has not been reported for individuals with current low back pain (cLBP). Objective To examine whether cLBP affects VPAC performance during a loaded forward reach (LFR) task. Design Observational crossover study. Setting Laboratory. Participants A total of 18 controls and 17 subjects with cLBP with pain ratings of 1/10 to 4/10 on a visual analog scale. Interventions Transverse abdominis (TrA) thickness measurements were recorded by blinded researchers from M-mode ultrasound imaging during 4 conditions: (1) quiet standing without abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM); (2) quiet standing with ADIM; (3) LFR without ADIM; and (4) LFR with ADIM. A physical therapist with 29 years of experience collected historical and examination data. Main Outcome Measures TrA muscle thickness (mm). Results A 2 (group) × 2 (contraction) × 2 (reach) analysis of variance demonstrated a significant group × contraction interaction (F [1, 31] = 4.499, P = .04) where ADIM produced greater TrA thickness increases in PLBP subjects (2.18 mm) versus controls (1.36 mm). We observed a significant main effect for reach (F [1, 31] = 14.989, P Conclusions Subjects with cLBP demonstrated a greater increase in TrA activation during ADIM versus controls.
Passive and Electrically Actuated Solid-State Nanopores for Sensing and Manipulating DNA

Solid-state nanopores have emerged as powerful new tools for electrically characterizing single DNA molecules. When DNA molecules are made to rapidly translocate a nanopore by electrophoresis, the resulting ionic current blockage provides information about the molecular length and folding conformation. A solid-state nanopore can also be integrated with nanofabricated actuators and sensors, such as an embedded gate electrode or transverse tunneling electrodes, to enhance its functionality. Here we describe detailed methods for fabricating passive solid-state nanopores and using them to detect DNA translocations. We also describe procedures for integrating electrodes into the nanopore membrane in order to create an electrically active structure. Finally, we describe how to modulate the ionic conductance through a pore whose inner surface is surrounded by an embedded annular gate electrode.
The Story of Rubber

One of the most dramatic events in the twentieth-century history of economic plant materials has been the spectacular rise of rubber to a position of indispensability. Included in this drama is the history of the Para rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), which involves stories of exploration, smuggling, and empire-building.
Abstract 1121: Validation of FOXR2 and ARHGAP36 as oncogenes in medulloblastoma

We are working to validate two putative oncogenes in medulloblastoma (MB), ARHGAP36 and FOXR2. These genes were identified as MB drivers using a Sleeping Beauty mutagenesis screen in mice and are overexpressed in subsets of human MB. We are using gain (GOF) and loss of function (LOF) studies both in vitro and in vivo to understand the roles of FOXR2 and ARHGAP36 in MB genesis. In GOF studies, both genes individually drove anchorage independent growth in a mouse cerebellar progenitor cell line (C17.2) and a human MB cell line (ONS76). When overexpressed individually in C17.2 cells, both FOXR2 and ARHGAP36 drove tumor formation in the flank of NU/J mice. We are also using an orthotopic injection model with C17.2 cells overexpressing either ARHGAP36 or FOXR2 individually to determine if these genes drive tumor formation in a more relevant setting. RNA sequencing and reverse-phase protein array analyses were also performed on WT and C17 cells overexpressing each oncogene to identify their effects in an unbiased manner. We are working to validate those effects using RT-PCR and Western analysis. In LOF studies, the CRISPR/Cas system is being used to create mutations in either the ARHGAP36 or FOXR2 locus in human MB cell lines (ONS76, MED8A, Daoy). This has been accomplished with ARHGAP36 in ONS76 cells, and we are currently characterizing those cells using proliferation, soft agar colony formation, and tumor formation assays. Lastly, we are working to create GOF and LOF mouse models of both FOXR2 and ARHGAP36 to characterize their oncogenic potential in vivo. We identified ARHGAP36 and FOXR2 as putative oncogenes in MB and our findings may elucidate novel targets for therapeutic efforts aimed at treating patients with MB. Citation Format: Pauline Jackson, Alex Larsson, Paramita Das, David Largaespada. Validation of FOXR2 and ARHGAP36 as oncogenes in medulloblastoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1121.
Home visits: advancing pediatric training by preserving past traditions

* Abbreviations: ACGME — : Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education CSHCN — : children with special health care needs HCH — : home-centered health After a short ride from resident clinic, we drove into 1 of the city’s low-income housing complexes. Walking up to the third floor of a dilapidated building and noticing the flimsy railing, we realized our anticipatory guidance on child proofing the home must also include outdoor areas. In fact, it was the motivation to see just how appropriate our recommendations were for families living in urban poverty that led us to join a community outreach worker on a routine home visit. When we arrived at apartment 3A, Janelle and her daughter Mia were warmly awaiting us. We followed them into a small living room where Mia, the fearless 2-year-old, quickly went back to her favorite game of jumping off the furniture. The sight of an easily accessible open window with no screen gave us pause, and we suggested several ways to prevent Mia from accidently falling out. Janelle, a first-time mom, thanked us for the advice. She soon became more relaxed and began speaking candidly about the importance of supporting her daughter. In the less personal atmosphere of a clinic examination room, the interaction with a young mother might not reveal the parent’s strengths, but by visiting Janelle in her home environment and watching her interactions with Mia, we could appreciate just how committed she was. Just over half a century ago, 40% of physician–patient encounters were in the home.1 It was … Address correspondence to Igor Shumskiy, MD, Boston Medical Center, 720 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118. E-mail: igor.shumskiy{at}childrens.harvard.edu