cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Methotrexate therapy for persistent ectopic pregnancy after conservative laparoscopic management

Persistent ectopic pregnancy is a recognized complication of conservative laparoscopic surgery. Three such cases were treated successfully with methotrexate and citrovorum factor rescue. All three patients experienced mild lower abdominal pain for a maximum of 36 hours; no other adverse effects were noted. More experience with this therapy will be necessary before subsequent fertility rates can be determined.
DE PARADOX VAN FOUTPOSITIEF

Het screenen van mensen op gevaarlijke ziekten – waaronder orale aandoeningen – kan resultaten opleveren die in strijd met het gezonde verstand lijken te zijn.
Fracture mode transitions in hydrogenated V-10at.%Ti alloys under cyclic deformation

Abstract The effect of hydrogen on mechanical behavior was studied in V-10at.%Ti alloys undergoing cyclic deformation. These alloys have high hydrogen solubilities and do not show any evidence of hydride formation at room temperature. Smooth bar fatigued specimens were tested using a microcomputer-controlled servohydraulic machine under plastic strain control. In fatigue, these alloys show that hydrogen produces hardening associated with an increase in the yield stress as well as the saturation stress. For the non-hydrogenated specimens and those containing 0.5at.%H, the fracture mode was ductile in the fatigued region and a mixture of intergranular, cleavage and ductile in the overload region. For higher amounts of hydrogen the fracture mode was cleavage in the fatigued region. The area fraction of cleavage fracture depended on the plastic strain amplitude and the hydrogen content. For 1 at.%H the fracture was 100% cleavage, independent of the plastic strain amplitude. The role of cyclic deformation in the hydrogen-induced hardening, embrittlement and fracture mode transitions of these alloys will be discussed.
Flow Visualization and Velocity Measurement in Natural Convection With the Tellurium Dye Method

It has been demonstrated that the tellurium dye trace method of qualitatively and quantitatively studying flows of water as developed by Wortman for use in forced convection is equally suited for use in free-convection flows and is possibly superior to other means presently employed for that purpose. In addition, this technique is simple enough in application so that it can be developed as a teaching aid in undergraduate laboratory instruction. (auth)
The effect of real exchange rate uncertainty on LDC manufactured exports

Abstract This paper uses pooled time-series cross-sectional data to conduct an empirical investigation of the relationship between real exchange rate uncertainty and the manufactured exports of developing countries. Export supply equations for four categories of manufactures are estimated using pooled data for ten countries over the period 1963–1985. Evidence is found that some categories of LDC manufactured exports are negatively affected by real exchange rate uncertainty.
Potent Host-Directed Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Myxovirus RNA-Dependent RNA-Polymerases

Therapeutic targeting of host cell factors required for virus replication rather than of pathogen components opens new perspectives to counteract virus infections. Anticipated advantages of this approach include a heightened barrier against the development of viral resistance and a broadened pathogen target spectrum. Myxoviruses are predominantly associated with acute disease and thus are particularly attractive for this approach since treatment time can be kept limited. To identify inhibitor candidates, we have analyzed hit compounds that emerged from a large-scale high-throughput screen for their ability to block replication of members of both the orthomyxovirus and paramyxovirus families. This has returned a compound class with broad anti-viral activity including potent inhibition of different influenza virus and paramyxovirus strains. After hit-to-lead chemistry, inhibitory concentrations are in the nanomolar range in the context of immortalized cell lines and human PBMCs. The compound shows high metabolic stability when exposed to human S-9 hepatocyte subcellular fractions. Antiviral activity is host-cell species specific and most pronounced in cells of higher mammalian origin, supporting a host-cell target. While the compound induces a temporary cell cycle arrest, host mRNA and protein biosynthesis are largely unaffected and treated cells maintain full metabolic activity. Viral replication is blocked at a post-entry step and resembles the inhibition profile of a known inhibitor of viral RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp) activity. Direct assessment of RdRp activity in the presence of the reagent reveals strong inhibition both in the context of viral infection and in reporter-based minireplicon assays. In toto, we have identified a compound class with broad viral target range that blocks host factors required for viral RdRp activity. Viral adaptation attempts did not induce resistance after prolonged exposure, in contrast to rapid adaptation to a pathogen-directed inhibitor of RdRp activity.
A comparative study of metric and non-metric traits in a series of modern crania

The purpose of this study is to question the utility of non-metric traits as predictors of age, race, and sex by comparing a group of non-metric variables with a group of metric variables. Twelve metric variables and 15 nonmetric variables were scored on 317 crania from the Terry Collection at the U. S. National Museum, and later statistically evaluated with a number of multivariate analysis programs and a stepwise discriminant program. The metric variables were found to be significant sex and race discriminators, where-as the non-metric variables were non-significant. The non-metric variables were found to be better age discriminators than the metric variables, even though neither could be classified as highly significant. It was concluded that non-metric traits by themselves have very little discriminatory value and should be used instead to supplement other osteological measurements and observations.
Regulation of expression of the casbene synthetase gene during elicitation of castor bean seedlings with pectic fragments.

Abstract A castor bean cDNA library has been constructed in the expression vector λgt11. Screening of 30,000 plaques with antibodies against casbene synthetase yielded six positive clones, from which three purified clones were obtained after sequential screening. The cDNA inserts in these clones ranged in size from 200 to 500 base pairs and were shown to share homologous sequences. One of the clones (pCS4) was examined in hybrid-selected and hybrid-arrested translation experiments and shown to contain a partial sequence of the casbene synthetase coding region. Northern analysis using the pCS4 clone as a probe revealed that the total hybridizable casbene synthetase mRNA amount increased to a maximum at 6 h after treatment of seedlings with pectic fragment elicitor and then decreased steadily with almost the same kinetics as observed previously for the changes in the translatable casbene synthetase mRNA activity under these same conditions. Run-on transcription experiments were performed with nuclei isolated from castor bean seedlings at various time periods after treatment with pectic fragment elicitors. Transcription of the casbene synthetase gene was first detected at 2 h after elicitation, rose to a maximum at 5 h, and fell rapidly thereafter. These results suggest that the accumulation of casbene synthetase, and hence casbene, is governed primarily by the rate of transcription of the casbene synthetase gene during elicitation by pectic fragments.
ADP: automated diagnosis of performance pathologies using hardware events

Performance characterization of applications' hardware behavior is essential for making the best use of available hardware resources. Modern architectures offer access to many hardware events that are capable of providing information to reveal architectural performance bottlenecks throughout the core and memory hierarchy. These events can provide programmers with unique and powerful insights into the causes of the resource bottlenecks in their applications. However, interpreting these events has been a significant challenge. We present an automated system that uses machine learning to identify an application's performance problems. Our system provides programmers with insights about the performance of their applications while shielding them from the onerous task of digesting hardware events. It uses a decision tree algorithm, random forests on our micro-benchmarks to fingerprint the performance problems. Our system divides a profiled application into functions and automatically classifies each function by the dominant hardware resource bottlenecks. Using the classifications from the hotspot functions, we were able to achieve an average speedup of 1.73 from three applications in the PARSEC benchmark suite. Our system provides programmers with a guideline of where, what, and how to fix the detected performance problems in applications, which would have otherwise required considerable architectural knowledge.
The Reaction of Gases with Irradiated Solids Having a Bilayer Structure

The free radicals in irradiated solid amides, fatty acids and similar compounds react rapidly with ambient gases such as O2, NO, SO2, etc. The gas seems able to penetrate the lattice and reach the reaction site. This apparently depends on a particular kind of crystal structure which we term the “bilayer structure.” Some characteristics of these reactions are discussed.
The Effects of Sc Alloying in Y 56 Al 24 Ni 10 Co 10 Glasses on the Local Atomic Structure

Using neutron diffraction and the pair density function analysis, the effect of Sc alloying for Y on the local atomic structure of Y56-x Al24Ni10Co10 was investigated. The replacement of Y with Sc significantly changes the local atomic structure of amorphous Y56-x Al24Ni10Co10 as it promotes the formation of nanocrystalline particles. By comparing the structure function in reciprocal space of three alloys with x = 0, 0.1, and 0.2 (in atomic percent), small Bragg peaks are observed that increase in intensity proportionate with the amount of Sc. In real space, the substitution of Sc for Y leads to a drastic structural contraction most likely resulting from efficient cluster packing.
On sub-linear convergence for linearly degenerate waves in capturing schemes

A common attribute of capturing schemes used to find approximate solutions to the Euler equations is a sub-linear rate of convergence with respect to mesh resolution. Purely nonlinear jumps, such as shock waves produce a first-order convergence rate, but linearly degenerate discontinuous waves, where present, produce sub-linear convergence rates which eventually dominate the global rate of convergence. The classical explanation for this phenomenon investigates the behavior of the exact solution to the numerical method in combination with the finite error terms, often referred to as the modified equation. For a first-order method, the modified equation produces the hyperbolic evolution equation with second-order diffusive terms. In the frame of reference of the traveling wave, the solution of a discontinuous wave consists of a diffusive layer that grows with a rate of t^1^/^2, yielding a convergence rate of 1/2. Self-similar heuristics for higher-order discretizations produce a growth rate for the layer thickness of @Dt^1^/^(^p^+^1^) which yields an estimate for the convergence rate as p/(p+1) where p is the order of the discretization. In this paper we show that this estimated convergence rate can be derived with greater rigor for both dissipative and dispersive forms of the discrete error. In particular, the form of the analytical solution for linear modified equations can be solved exactly. These estimates and forms for the error are confirmed in a variety of demonstrations ranging from simple linear waves to multidimensional solutions of the Euler equations.
Diagnostic imaging and pacemaker implantation in a domestic goat with persistent left cranial vena cava.

Difficulty was encountered with the insertion of a right atrial pacing lead via the left jugular vein during lead and pacemaker implantation in a clinically normal goat as part of an ongoing rapid atrial pacing – induced atrial fibrillation research project. Fluoroscopic visualization of an abnormal lead advancement path prompted angiographic assessment which revealed a persistent left cranial vena cava (PLCVC) and prominent coronary sinus communicating with the right atrium. Angiography facilitated successful advancement and securing of the pacing lead into the right side of the interatrial septum. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance angiography (MRI/MRA) allowed further characterization of this rare venous anomaly. Even though PLCVC has been reported once in a goat, to the authors' knowledge this is the first report to include MRI/MRA characterization of PLCVC and prominent coronary sinus with successful cardiac pacemaker implantation using the PLCVC.
Comparing call-based versus subunit-based methods for categorizing Norwegian killer whale, Orcinus orca, vocalizations

Students of animal communication face significant challenges when deciding how to categorize calls into subunits, calls and call series. Here, we use algorithms designed to parse human speech to test different approaches for categorizing calls of killer whales. Killer whale vocalizations have traditionally been categorized by humans into discrete call types. These calls often contain internal spectral shifts, periods of silence and synchronously produced low- and high-frequency components, suggesting that they may be composed of subunits. We describe and compare three different approaches for modelling Norwegian killer whale calls. The first method considered the whole call as the basic unit of analysis. Inspired by human speech-processing techniques, the second and third methods represented the calls in terms of subunits. Subunits may provide a more parsimonious approach to modelling the vocal stream of Norwegian killer whale calls since (1) there were fewer subunits than call types and (2) nearly 75% of all call types shared at least one subunit. We show that contour traces from stereotyped Norwegian killer whale calls yielded similar automatic classification performance using either whole calls or subunits. We also demonstrate that subunits derived from Norwegian stereotyped calls were detected in some Norwegian variable (nonstereotyped) calls as well as the stereotyped calls of other killer whale populations. Further work is required to test whether killer whales use subunits to generate and categorize their vocal repertoire.
A method for studying separately the properties of the innervated and non-innervated membrane of an isolated single electroplax of the skate.

THE cellular unit of the electric organ of the skate (Raja eglanteria) is morphologically similar to that of Electrophorus electricus: both have rather large dimensions, although the electroplax of the skate is smaller and more irregular in shape; both have an innervated and a non-innervated membrane, the latter characterized by prominent digitations. There are, however, some differences of functional properties. The discharge of the organ in the intact animal has been studied by Albe-Fessard1 and that of the individual electroplax by Brock et al.2.
Impact of continuous and pulsatile insulin delivery on net hepatic glucose uptake

The pancreas releases insulin in a pulsatile manner; however, studies assessing the liver’s response to insulin have used constant infusion rates. Our aims were to determine whether the secretion p...
A Lethal Convergence of Dopamine and Calcium

The controversy about whether dopamine contributes to cell loss in Parkinson's disease takes a new turn as Mosharov et al. in this issue of Neuron demonstrate that Ca 2+ influx through L-type channels elevates dopamine synthesis to potentially toxic levels in vulnerable ventral mesencephalon neurons.
Transformative effects of higher magnetic field in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry.

The relationship of magnetic field strength and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry performance was tested using three instruments with the same design but different fields of 4.7, 7, and 9.4 tesla. We found that the theoretically predicted “transformative” effects of magnetic field are indeed observed experimentally. The most striking effects were that mass accuracy demonstrated ∼second to third order improvement with the magnetic field, depending upon the charge state of the analyte, and that peak splitting, which prohibited automated data analysis at 4.7 T, was not observed at 9.4 T.
Brain tissue injury and blood-brain barrier opening induced by injection of LGE2 or PGE2

Abstract The hypothesis that the accumulation of prostaglandin (PG)E2 during reperfusion of severely ischemic tissue contributes to a breakdown in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was expanded to include a parallel role for levuglandins(LGs), γ-ketoaldehydes produced by rearrangement of PGH2. LGE2 was shown to be more potent than PGE2 in causing breakdown of the BBB when injected intrahemispherically. Brain tissue necrosis was clearly evident with total doses of levuglandin as low as 100 nmole.
The farey-dictionary for sparse representation of periodic signals

A finite duration sequence exhibiting periodicities does not in general admit a sparse representation in terms of the DFT basis unless the period is a divisor of the duration. This paper develops a dictionary called the Farey dictionary for the efficient representation of such sequences. It is shown herein that this representation is especially useful for identifying hidden periodicities in a finite data record. The properties of the Farey dictionary are studied, and the dictionary is shown to be superior to the conventional DFT based uniform dictionary, from the view point of identifying hidden periods.
Changes in mitochondrial DNA during aging

Abstract Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was isolated from liver mitochondria of rats between 2 and 24 months of age. The mtDNA was purified by cesium chloride—ethidium bromide isopycnic density gradient centrifugation. In the gradients, in addition to the two expected bands of ethidium-DNA complex, there was observed a third, more dense band ( d = 1.69 g cm 3 ). This novel band, rarely observed in preparations from younger animals, was present in most preparations from older animals. The latter was characterized using the diphenylamine assay(s) and ascertained to contain DNA and carbohydrate components. Agarose gel electrophoresis revealed the DNA of the novel band to have a migration identical to form I mtDNA. Digestion of the novel band with the restriction endonuclease Bam HI yielded products identical to those obtained upon treatment of form I mtDNA with Bam HI. The observation of mtDNA at a density of 1.69 g cm 3 indicates the presence, predominantly in older animals, of a subclass of mtDNA molecules with altered ethidium binding properties. The significance of this mtDNA and its position in the gradient is unclear at this time.
Information needs about hereditary breast cancer among women with early-onset breast cancer.

Abstract To explore hereditary breast cancer (HBC) information needs of early-onset breast cancer survivors, two questionnaires were mailed to women diagnosed at age
A novel method for QoS provisioning with protection in GMPLS networks

In this paper, a new optimal policy is introduced to determine, adapt, and protect the Generalized MultiProtocol Label Switching (GMPLS) network topology based on the current traffic load. The Integrated Traffic Engineering (ITE) paradigm provides mechanisms for dynamic addition of physical capacity to optical networks. In the absence of such mechanisms, the rejection of incoming requests may be higher. The objective of the proposed policy is to use ITE to set up virtual tunnels at the MPLS and optical level and protect them against failures. This objective is achieved by minimizing the costs involving bandwidth, switching and signaling. The proposed policy is a computationally non-intensive greedy heuristic with good performance. The new policy operates at two levels: the MPLS network level and the optical network level. Numerical results are presented which show the effectiveness of the policy and the achieved performance.
Select Prenatal Environmental Exposures and Subsequent Alterations of Gene-Specific and Repetitive Element DNA Methylation in Fetal Tissues

Strong evidence implicates maternal environmental exposures in contributing to adverse outcomes during pregnancy and later in life through the developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis. Recent research suggests these effects are mediated through the improper regulation of DNA methylation in offspring tissues, specifically placental tissue, which plays a critical role in fetal development. This article reviews the relevant literature relating DNA methylation in multiple tissues at or near delivery to several prenatal environmental toxicants and stressors, including cigarette smoke, endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, as well as maternal diet. These human studies expand upon previously reported outcomes in animal model interventions and include effects on both imprinted and non-imprinted genes. We have also noted some of the strengths and limitations in the approaches used, and consider the appropriate interpretation of these findings in terms of their effect size and their relationship to differential gene expression and potential health outcomes. The studies suggest an important role of DNA methylation in mediating the effects of the intrauterine environment on children’s health and a need for additional research to better clarify the role of this epigenetic mechanism as well as others.
Empirical Extended-Range Prediction of the Madden–Julian Oscillation

Abstract An empirical model that predicts the evolution of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) in outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) and 200-mb streamfunction is developed. The model is based on the assumption that the MJO can be well represented by a pair of empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) of OLR and three EOFs of streamfunction. With an eye toward using this model in real time, these EOFs are determined with data only subjected to filtering that can be applied in near–real time. Stepwise lag regression is used to develop the model on 11 winters of dependent data. The predictands are the leading two principal components (PCs) of OLR and the leading three PCs of streamfunction. The model is validated with five winters of independent data and is also compared to dynamic extended range forecasts (DERFs) made with the National Centers for Environmental Prediction’s Medium Range Forecast (MRF) model. Skillful forecasts of the MJO in OLR and streamfunction with the empirical model are achieved out to abou...
Medical school policies regarding struggling medical students during the internal medicine clerkships: results of a national survey.

PurposeTo characterize policies of medical schools regarding struggling medical students: those at risk of receiving a grade of less than pass because of problems with knowledge, clinical skills, professionalism, or a combination of these items.MethodThe annual 2006 Clerkship Directors in Internal M
The effect of impurities on the IR absorption of chemically vapor deposited diamond

Abstract Most chemical vapor deposited (CVD) diamond films contain impurities which increase their optical absorption in the regions of desired transparency. This paper examines the incorporation of these impurities, intentional or otherwise, and their effect on the IR absorption of CVD diamond, particularly in the 8–12 and 3–5 μm regions. Oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen related absorptions have been observed in both regions. Evidence suggests that many of these impurities are located at the grain boundaries in diamond and their functional form is discussed. In this work, we clarify the origin of the absorption observed at ∼2820 cm−1, which was first observed by the authors and has since been observed in CVD diamond in other laboratories as well. The identification of these impurities in CVD diamond films has important ramifications for process conditions, particularly in systems where oxygen is used for growth enhancement.
Dissociation of Locomotor Activation and Suppression of Food Intake Induced by CRF in CRFR1-Deficient Mice

ABSTRACT Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) systems are involved in locomotor and feeding behaviors. Two distinct CRF receptor subtypes, CRFR1 and CRFR2, are thought to mediate CRF actions in the central nervous system. However, the role for each receptor in locomotor activity and feeding remains to be determined. Using CRFR1 null mutant mice, the present study examined the functional significance of this receptor in ambulation and feeding. CRF treatment of wild-type mice resulted in increased levels of locomotion whereas no change was observed in CRFR1-deficient mice as compared to vehicle-treated mutant mice. In contrast, CRF decreased food-water intake in both wild type and CRFR1-deficient mice equally. These results support an important role for CRFR1 in mediating CRF-induced locomotor activation, whereas other receptor subtypes, likely CRFR2, may mediate the appetite-suppressing effects of CRF-like peptides.
Transition metals and mitochondrial metabolism in the heart.

Abstract Transition metals are essential to many biological processes in almost all organisms from bacteria to humans. Their versatility, which arises from an ability to undergo reduction–oxidation chemistry, enables them to act as critical cofactors of enzymes throughout the cell. Accumulation of metals, however, can also lead to oxidative stress and cellular damage. The importance of metals to both enzymatic reactions and oxidative stress makes them key players in mitochondria. Mitochondria are the primary energy-generating organelles of the cell that produce ATP through a chain of enzymatic complexes that require transition metals, and are highly sensitive to oxidative damage. Moreover, the heart is one of the most mitochondrially-rich tissues in the body, making metals of particular importance to cardiac function. In this review, we focus on the current knowledge about the role of transition metals (specifically iron, copper, and manganese) in mitochondrial metabolism in the heart. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Focus on Cardiac Metabolism".
Intelligent databases: Old challenges and new opportunities

The evolution of existing information systems and a new wave of data-intensive applications are creating a strong demand for database-centered programming environments much more sophisticated and intelligent than those supported by current database systems. In this paper, we describe the contributions that deductive databases offer to the evolution of databases and information systems to satisfy said demands. In addition to all database essentials, deductive databases support rule-based logic-oriented languages that allow terse formulations of complete applications, along with reasoning and queries. Thus, they support a rule-based interface that eliminates the impedance mismatch problem (between programming language and query sublanguage) and elevates the design and development of database applications to the level of declarative, knowledge-based specifications. In this paper, we review the evolution of the enabling technology and architectures of deductive database prototypes; then we focus on their applications, as seen by the author through his experience with theLDL/LDL++ project. In particular, the paper describes the languages and the (bottom-up) execution technology used by the first generation of deductive database prototypes. Then the paper discusses how the experience with a first-generation system (LDL) guided the design and implementation of a second-generation prototype (LDL++).
Rotating-disk solid state lasers: thermal properties

Approximate calculations of the temperature distribution of a rotating-disk solid-state laser are presented. The surfaces of the Nd:YAG or Nd:glass rotating disk pass close to two water-cooled plates. A thin gap, filled with gas, separates each plate from the disk. For an Nd:YAG disk, temperature distributions are given for a 50 μm gap filled with He, for a 50 μm gap filled with air, and for the case in which the thermal conductivity of the Nd:YAG dominates the problem. Calculated results for an Nd:glass disk are compared with a temperature profile obtained from a rotating-disk laser.
On temporal averaging of polar orbiting satellite data

Abstract The spatial and temporal sampling of polar-orbiting satellites results in errors in some level 3 data products of mean global fields. The problem has been identified in data from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager, Active Microwave Instrument, and the Microwave Sounding Unit and therefore is believed to be ubiquitous to many global data sets from polar-orbiting satellites. Zeng and Levy [1995] have shown that improper spatial smoothing of the monthly mean winds generated from scatterometer data may introduce unacceptable errors in monthly surface flux estimates. They have proposed an effective interpolating and filtering procedure for AMI data. We investigate the severity of the problem and discuss the adaptation of such a scheme to general satellite application.
The impact of millennials' travel behavior on future personal vehicle travel

Abstract The millennial generation, born between 1980 and 2000, is exhibiting different travel behavior trends than previous generations, which are shaped by several different yet correlated characteristics such as; place of residence, race/ethnicity, labor force participation, education level, income, living arrangements, lifecycle status, licensure status, vehicle ownership/availability, values, and propensity to substitute technology for travel. Many millennials are living with their parents longer, obtaining drivers licenses at older ages, postponing marriage and procreation, and substituting travel for work and socializing with telecommuting and social media. Millennials are currently shaping the nation's changing demographics, which in turn directly affect future travel behavior trends and their consequences on energy consumption and the environment.
Synthesis and randomization of well‐defined sequence, wholly aromatic copolyester/esteramides

Well-defined sequence, wholly aromatic copolyester/esteramides have been synthesized by an interfacial polycondensation of a preformed triad diacid chloride monomer, di(para-chlorocarbonylphenyl)isophthalate, with the disodium salt of hydroquinone or of deuterated hydroquinone, or with meta-phenylene diamine. Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy provided unequivocal evidence for regularly alternating polymer structures, and coupled with statistical methods, for randomization on heating in the case of regularly alternating poly(p-oxybenzoate-co-p-phenylene isophthalate). Polymers synthesized using standard high-temperature melt-polymerization techniques were shown by statistical/carbon-13 NMR methods to have essentially random structures. Thermal properties of copolymer powders and films were found to vary with monomer sequence distribution as well as with composition. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The choice of assisted ejaculation method is relevant for the diagnosis of azoospermia in men with spinal cord injuries

The choice of assisted ejaculation method is relevant for the diagnosis of azoospermia in men with spinal cord injuries
The influence of straw, cloth tassel, or both on the prepartum behavior of sows

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to examine the material-directed behavior of prepartum sows. Eight of 12 prepartum sows in pens abruptly began to take straw from a basket and used it to construct nests on the day of farrowing. All sows engaged in similar amounts of rooting, pawing, and typical prepartum behavior. Rooting at straw was the predominant activity, regardless of whether nest construction resulted. For 13 sows in crates fitted with a cloth tassel, tassel-pulling increased significantly during the last 12 h before delivery, and its temporal pattern was similar to that of nest building by sows in pens given straw. The prepartum behavior of sows in pens furnished with straw in a basket, cloth tassel, both, or neither, was also compared. Sows offered straw directed most activity at it. Sows offered a tassel but no straw nosed and pulled it more than sows offered both, and tore, rooted, and pawed at pieces of cloth. Although the direction of activity depended on the material provided, the overall amount of activity was unaffected by treatment. Results of these experiments suggest that on the day of farrowing, behavior patterns directed at nesting material may be important to the sow, even if they do not result in nest construction.
Granular Collision Lubrication: Experimental Investigation and Comparison to Theory

An experimental investigation of the friction and lift characteristics of granular lubrication is presented. Experiments are carried out to demonstrate the vertical displacement (lift) observed in an annular shear cell apparatus. Results are presented for the friction coefficient as a function of the rotational speed and the applied load for several surface roughness combinations. Simulations of the kinetic theory for the granular material are performed and compared to the experimental results. The experiments provide an evidence for the formation of granular lift between two disks undergoing sliding motion.
The processing of temporal and nontemporal information in the remembering of event durations and musical structure.

Within the field of cognitive psychology, one issue of theoretical debate concerns the relationship between an event's temporal (e.g., rhythm, rate, total duration) and nontemporal (e.g., sequence of pitch intervals) information. Some argue these are jointly encoded into the cognitive system, whereas others claim they are encoded in an independent fashion. This issue was investigated in 2 experiments that systematically manipulated participants' attention to the temporal and pitch properties of melodies and then examined participants' subsequent remembering of these structural dimensions. The results indicate that the nature of encoding is strongly dependent on the structure of environmental events and the degree of learning experience. This relationship in turn has implications for theories of both music cognition and time estimation behavior.
Multiphoton transitions in trans-butadiene observed by multiphoton ionization and thermal lensing spectroscopy

Abstract The low-lying two-photon states of trans-butadiene are investigated using thermal lensing and multiphoton ionization techniques. For the first time, the termal lensing method is applied to the study of a gas-phase multiphoton spectrum. This spectrum is compared with those obtained by multiphoton ionization and liquid-phase thermal lensing spectroscopy.
Balneological use of thermal and mineral waters in the U.S.A.

Abstract In the United States, natural springs, especially geothermal ones, have gone through three stages of development: (1) use by Indians as a sacred place, (2) development by the early European settlers to emulate the spas of Europe, and (3) finally, as a place of relaxation and fitness. The main reasons that people in the U.S.A. visit geothermal spas today are to improve their health and appearance, to escape stress, and to refresh and revitalize their bodies and minds. Unlike European spas, where medical cures of specific ailments are more important, U.S. spas place more emphasis on exercise, on reducing stress, on lifting depression, and on losing weight. Soaking in hot tubs and pools, as well as in natural primitive hot springs, is a favorite pastime. There are over 115 major geothermal spas in the U.S.A., and many more smaller ones, along with thousands of hot springs. The majority of these are located in the volcanic regions of the western states, but several famous ones still exist in the east. The major spas are estimated to have an annual energy use of 1.53 × 1012 kJ (46 × 103 TOE). Most of the geothermal heat is used in bathing, and very little for space heating.
Flight simulator evaluation of an Airport Surface Display with Indications and Alerts (SURF IA)

This paper presents the results of a flight simulator evaluation of an Airport Surface Display with Indications and Alerts (SURF IA). The objective was to investigate the independent effects of display type on traffic conflict detection. The study included a comparative evaluation of a Cockpit Display of Traffic Information with Indications & Alerts (CDTI IA) and CDTI without IA (CDTI baseline). Eight commercial airline pilots each flew nine scenarios in a B737–700 part-task flight simulator. Dependent measures included both subjective and objective data. The display symbology for traffic and runway indications and alerts was acceptable and understood by the pilots. The traffic velocity trend vector was considered a significant cue with which to detect traffic conflicts. Workload was perceived as acceptable for both CDTI types. There was no significant difference in traffic conflict detection rates between CDTI baseline and CDTI IA groups. However, the CDTI IA facilitated faster conflict detection and decision making during final approach scenarios when compared to the CDTI baseline display. Similar differences were not observed for take-off scenarios, primarily due to the absence of an alert: either the scenario did not progress to a point where an alert was generated, or the alert was inhibited above 80 knots per the system design.
Corticosteroid-resistant bulbar neurosarcoidosis responsive to intravenous immunoglobulin

We report an intriguing case of corticosteroid-resistant bulbar neurosarcoidosis responding to intravenous immunoglobulin. A 37-year-old man presented with dysphagia to solids and liquids, dysphonia, fatigue and 50 lb weight loss over 2 months. We suspected sarcoidosis, based on an elevated serum angiotensin-converting enzyme concentration and hilar lymphadenopathy on chest imaging; we subsequently confirmed this after transbronchial biopsy found non-caseating granulomas. MR scan of brain was normal; barium swallow showed severe oropharyngeal dysphagia and electromyography identified bulbar muscle denervation. He took corticosteroids for 3 weeks without improvement, requiring a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube for nutrition, but then he promptly improved with a 2-day course of intravenous immunoglobulin. Although there have been a few reports of intravenous immunoglobulin helping peripheral neurosarcoidosis, this case suggests that it also helps bulbar neurosarcoidosis. This case shows that bulbar neurosarcoidosis can mimic the clinical and electrophysiological features of fatal neurological disorders such as progressive bulbar palsy. The case illustrates the diagnostic challenge particularly when imaging is inconclusive and there is no response to corticosteroids. It also suggests that intravenous immunoglobulin can be considered before cytotoxic therapy for corticosteroid-resistant neurosarcoidosis, particularly in decompensated patients, given its favourable side effect profile. We also review the literature on bulbar neurosarcoidosis.
MedWISE: a highly user-configurable 'web 2.0' EHR

Health information systems have extremely complex, variable and changeable information requirements and vendor-controlled development has resulted in systems that frequently neither reflect clinical users' domain knowledge nor meet their needs. 'Web 2.0' approaches have transformed the commercial/public internet world. Consequently we created MedWISE, a 'web 2.0' EHR interface which allows users to create, select, configure, and share information, displays and tools, via simple drag/drop interfaces, without programmers1. Possible advantages include greater suitability to user needs, incorporation of multiple information sources, interoperability, agile reconfiguration, capture of user tacit knowledge, efficiencies due to workflow and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) improvements, and greater user acceptance.
Lorentz Corrections in Electrical Conductivity

In a medium consisting of a spatially uniform source of scattering supplemented by randomly distributed localized scatterers, the current distribution is spatially nonuniform. The nonuniformity arises from the fact that the current flow suffers a detour near an obstacle to the extent that the localized scatterer's cross section exceeds that of the equivalent volume of background material. Thus a typical obstacle will be exposed to an incident current which has been increased by the "detour" currents of the other scatterers. This increase in the local current incident on an obstacle results in a contribution to resistivity which is nonlinear in both the density of the obstacles and in their scattering cross sections.
Alfred Marshall on the Structural and Behavioural Properties of Social Institutions

Makes and attempts to substantiate, the following claims: It was Marshall′s objective to show how poverty could be ameliorated. He located the causes of poverty in the institutions of the state, education, monopoloid business enterprise, and the working‐class family. He viewed institutions as structures and as organized social behaviour. He explained that the latter is conditioned by customs. Some of these are rooted in the legend‐enshrouded past and hence change‐resisting. Other customs are change‐promoting by virtue of being engendered in scientific, technological, and educational processes. Marshall recommended that the state be reformed through a strengthening of democratic processes and that this be followed by state‐engineered reform of monopoloid institutions and of educational institutions. These reforms would result in increased institutionalization of dynamic behaviour and accelerated deinstitutionalization of static behaviour. The outcome would be an increase in welfare. Because of his recommen...
A convergent theory of Stark broadening of hydrogen lines in dense plasmas

Abstract A generalized semi-classical theory of Stark broadening is developed that is free from a shortcoming of the standard semi-classical theories of Stark broadening which were intrinsically divergent at small impact parameters. A convergency of the present theory is achieved by taking into account on equal footing both a “dynamic” splitting of Stark sublevels caused by one of the components of the electron microfield and a quasistatic splitting of Stark sublevels caused by ion microfield (only the latter was allowed for in the standard theories). The presented generalized theory is developed analytically to the same level as the standard theories: it substitutes the “broadening” function C ST ( Z ) of the standard theories by a generalized but still elementary function C ( Z ). The generalized theory embraces the standard theories as one of its limiting cases corresponding to relatively low densities of a plasma. However for dense plasmas the predictions differ: our results demonstrate that the standard theories overestimate an electron impact broadening for high density plasmas.
African evidence on the relation of poverty, time preference and the environment

Abstract It is typically argued in the economics literature that the poor operate with a higher rate of time preference than their wealthier counterparts. The poor, it is suggested, have a higher rate of time preference because they are more concerned about present survival than they are about saving for the future. Such thinking is also central to the economic growth for environmental conservation and the poverty induced environmental degradation arguments. According to these assertions, wealth allows people to consider the future and invest in environmental conservation; and poverty leaves people with no alternative but to exploit the environment so that they may feed their families today. Evidence from the food security and famine early warning fields suggests that households in many African contexts behave quite to the contrary. During periods of food shortage, poor households will often undertake extreme measures in the present, including depriving the family of needed calories, in order to preserve productive capital for the future, such as a plough, oxen or seed stock. This evidence suggests that poor African households may, in fact, have very low rates of time preference. This calls into question our general assumptions about discount rates for developing countries, for which rates of time preference are a theoretical determinant.
Early-life conditions and older adult health in low- and middle-income countries: a review

Population aging and subsequent projected large increases in chronic conditions will be important health concerns in low- and middle-income countries. Although evidence is accumulating, little is known regarding the impact of poor early-life conditions on older adult (50 years and older) health in these settings. A systematic review of 1141 empirical studies was conducted to identify population-based and community studies in low- and middle-income countries, which examined associations between early-life conditions and older adult health. The resulting review of 20 studies revealed strong associations between (1) in utero/early infancy exposures (independent of other early life and adult conditions) and adult heart disease and diabetes; (2) poor nutrition during childhood and difficulties in adult cognition and diabetes; (3) specific childhood illnesses such as rheumatic fever and malaria and adult heart disease and mortality; (4) poor childhood health and adult functionality/disability and chronic diseases; (5) poor childhood socioeconomic status (SES) and adult mortality, functionality/disability and cognition; and (6) parental survival during childhood and adult functionality/disability and cognition. In several instances, associations remained strong even after controlling for adult SES and lifestyle. Although exact mechanisms cannot be identified, these studies reinforce to some extent the importance of early-life environment on health at older ages. Given the paucity of cohort data from the developing world to examine hypotheses of early-life conditions and older adult health, population-based studies are relevant in providing a broad perspective on the origins of adult health.
Dexamethasone inhibits feedback regulation of the mitogenic activity of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1, and epidermal growth factor in human fibroblasts

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were mitogenic for human diploid FS-4 fibroblasts. Dexamethasone amplified the growth-stimulating action of all three agents. Amplification of the growth-stimulating action was maximal when dexamethasone was added along with TNF or EGF; no amplification was seen if the addition of dexamethasone was delayed for more than 3 hr. Prolonged simultaneous treatment with TNF and EGF resulted in less growth stimulation than treatment with EGF alone. Dexamethasone abolished this apparent antagonistic interaction between TNF and EGF. Dexamethasone also inhibited the antiviral action of TNF against encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus in FS-4 cells. TNF and IL-1 increased the steady state level of interferon (IFN)-beta 2 mRNA but failed to induce detectable levels of IFN-beta 1 mRNA in FS-4 cells. Dexamethasone inhibited the increase of IFN-beta 2 mRNA levels by IL-1 or TNF. Inhibition of IFN-beta synthesis is likely to be responsible for the inhibition of the TNF-induced antiviral state by dexamethasone. Since IFNs suppress cell growth, inhibition of endogenous IFN-beta synthesis may also be responsible for the amplification by dexamethasone of the growth-stimulating action of TNF and IL-1. Amplification of the mitogenic action of EGF by dexamethasone appears to be mediated by different mechanism.