cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Diet on Sensitization to Cocaine-Induced Stereotypy in Female Rats

The progressive increase in cocaine-induced stereotyped behavior that accompanies repeated cocaine injections (sensitization) was examined in rats consuming different diets. Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed one of three diets: low protein (6% casein), adequate protein (25% casein), or a standard chow diet. Following 1 week of adaptation to the diets, the rats were injected every 3-4 days with either cocaine (30 mg/kg, IP) or saline, and the total amount of stereotypy was measured over a 90-min interval following each of four injections. Cocaine-induced stereotypy peaked at 40-50 min following each injection, after which it declined for all diet groups. With repeated injections, the total amount of stereotypy increased in all diet groups. By the fourth injection, the low protein diet group (6% casein) exhibited a slower onset and a possibly prolonged duration of cocaine-induced stereotypy when compared with the two adequate protein diet groups (25% casein and chow). Interestingly, the rats in the two purified diet groups (6% casein and 25% casein) exhibited significantly more stereotypy across injections than those in the chow diet group. Weight differences did not explain the differences in stereotypy present among the diet groups. This study concludes that diet significantly alters the pattern of cocaine-induced stereotypy in female rats, especially after repeated exposure.
Abundance, diversity, and stability in shore-zone fish communities in an area of Long Island Sound affected by the thermal discharge of a nuclear power station

Abstract Shore-zone fish communities in the area of a nuclear power station at Millstone Point, Connecticut, on Long Island Sound, were studied from May 1969 through December 1975. Three areas affected by the thermal plume, and a control site, not affected by the plume, were sampled during February, May, July, September and December of each year from 1968 through 1972. In February 1973 an additional affected area and control site were added and sampled on the same schedule. In February 1974 the sampling schedule was changed to include samples in June, August and October. All samples were collected with a 30-ft seine of 1 4 -in mesh. Over 81 500 fish, representing at least 35 species, were collected. Species diversity, species richness, and species evenness indexes were calculated for each site and collecting period, as well as for each year. In addition, the degree of community similarity at each site from year to year was assessed. Although the most abundant species at each site was the Atlantic silver-side, Menidia menidia, the sites differed considerably from one another in their communities, depending on such factors as amount of exposure to wave action, vegetation, and substrate composition. In general, species diversity, richness, and evenness fluctuated at each site seasonally and from year to year such that no trends could be determined. There was a distinct shift in community similarity through 1974 and 1975 at most sites. Since no evidence could be found that operation of the power station was responsible for the changes, it was concluded that such fluctuations were natural, and would be observed in any ecosystem if it were studied for several consecutive years. It is suggested that the concept of community or ecosystem stability be re-examined and possibly redefined in light of these distinct fluctuations over 6 years.
Loss of stability of guidance and control laws for autonomous vehicles

The problem of dynamic loss of stability of straight-line motion of a heading autopilot coupled with pursuit or proportional navigation guidance laws for an autonomous underwatervehicle is considered. The controller and navigator gain selections and the navigator lookahead distance serve as the main bifurcation parameters. Hopf-bifurcation-theory techniques are used in order to establish stability of the resulting periodic solutions after the initial loss of stability of straight-line motion. Numerical integrations support the analytical predictions. Compari- sons between different guidance schemes are made and guidelines for safer and more accurate vehicle operations are provided.
Videomicroscopy of port-wine stains: correlation of location and depth of lesion.

Abstract Background: Anatomic location and depth of ectasia of port-wine stains (PWSs) are important prognostic indicators when evaluating treatment options for patients. Videomicroscopy permits subsurface evaluation of PWSs, thereby allowing determination of the depth of the ectatic vessels. Objective: Our purpose was to determine whether location of PWSs corresponds to the depth of the ectatic vessels. Methods: Seventeen patients presenting for evaluation or treatment of PWSs underwent videomicroscopy with a Video Loupe 7EX microscope. Data were recorded by location of the PWS as a type 1 lesion (blobs or globular structures) corresponding to ectasia of the superficial capillary loops, a type 2 lesion (rings) corresponding to ectasia of the deeper horizontal plexus, or a mixed pattern. Results: PWSs in areas that typically respond well to laser treatment (V3, neck, and trunk) were more likely to have a superficial type 1 pattern. PWSs in areas that have a poorer response to therapy (V2, distal extremities) were more likely to have a deeper type 2 pattern. Conclusion: We found that patients with lesions in the V3 dermatome and on the trunk and neck have more superficially ectatic vessels, whereas those lesions in dermatome V2 and on the distal extremities have more deeply placed vessels. Further studies are needed to determine whether videomicroscopy can be used to preoperatively predict treatment results. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;44:948-51.)
Characterization of Stimulatory Surface Molecule Expression on Avian T Cells

We have characterized a monoclonal antibody (AT389), produced by immunization of mice with 4-day-old avian Concanavalin A blasts, which recognizes a 38-40 kDa homodimer present on the surface of all chicken T cells. AT389 increased the spontaneous and IL-2-driven proliferation of 3-day-old T-cell blasts. This antibody, in synergy with IL-2, increased cellular proliferation and cell survival of T-cell blasts over time. Together, these data suggest that AT389 recognizes a surface protein on avian T cells which may be related to known stimulatory surface markers on mammalian T cells.
Teaching Marketing Law: A Business Law Perspective on Integrating Marketing and Law:

In today’s legal environment of large financial penalties against both firms and managers, criminal liability for some types of marketing conduct, and increasing government regulation of the market...
Group Enclosing Queries

Given a set of points P and a query set Q, a group enclosing query (Geq) fetches the point p* ∈ P such that the maximum distance of p* to all points in Q is minimized. This problem is equivalent to the Min-Max case (minimizing the maximum distance) of aggregate nearest neighbor queries for spatial databases. This work first designs a new exact solution by exploring new geometric insights, such as the minimum enclosing ball, the convex hull, and the furthest voronoi diagram of the query group. To further reduce the query cost, especially when the dimensionality increases, we turn to approximation algorithms. Our main approximation algorithm has a worst case √2-approximation ratio if one can find the exact nearest neighbor of a point. In practice, its approximation ratio never exceeds 1.05 for a large number of data sets up to six dimensions. We also discuss how to extend it to higher dimensions (up to 74 in our experiment) and show that it still maintains a very good approximation quality (still close to 1) and low query cost. In fixed dimensions, we extend the √2-approximation algorithm to get a (1 + e)-approximate solution for the Geq problem. Both approximation algorithms have O(log N + M) query cost in any fixed dimension, where N and M are the sizes of the data set P and query group Q. Extensive experiments on both synthetic and real data sets, up to 10 million points and 74 dimensions, confirm the efficiency, effectiveness, and scalability of the proposed algorithms, especially their significant improvement over the state-of-the-art method.
Microstructure Evolution during Crystallization of Vapor‐Deposited Hexanitroazobenzene Films

Vapor-deposited hexanitroazobenzene (HNAB) films were observed to form a dense amorphous structure that crystallizes to a mixture of the HNAB-II polymorph and an unidentified structure over a period ranging from hours to weeks depending on the ambient temperature. Films crystallized at various temperatures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy to measure the impact of crystallization temperature on resultant microstructure. Crystallization temperature was observed to have different effects on film microstructure over two temperature regimes. At temperatures below approximately 65 °C, increases in temperature led to a greater fraction of the film forming the HNAB-II polymorph and caused subtle changes in morphology. However, at higher temperatures, a thin surface layer was observed to form prior to crystallization, which led to films composed primarily of the unknown crystal structure with conspicuous differences in morphology.
On Feasibility of P2P On-Demand Streaming via Empirical VoD User Behavior Analysis

In its current art, peer-to-peer streaming solution has been mainly employed in the domain of live event broadcasting. In such a paradigm, users are required to simultaneously participate the streaming, which yields tremendous bandwidth pool to alleviate the server load. However, little effort has been paid to study the performance gain when peer-to-peer solution is deployed into the domain of Video-on-Demand (VoD) applications, when users have the freedom to access a large pool of media files at their preferred times. Users of VoD applications exhibit file-dependent and time-varying access patterns, which are hard to simulate without realistic guidance from the operational system observation. In this paper, we present an empirical study on the traces collected by the Vanderbilt University media streaming service over a period of 8 months. We pay special attention to peer aggregation around one media file, in which peer-to-peer streaming is able to play an essential role. With this regard, we investigate three key factors: file popularity, request inter-arrival time, and user online duration. Our analysis proves the existence of skewed file popularity, concentrated user requests, and long enough online duration. Furthermore, through replaying the trace via simulation, we show that peer-to-peer streaming could reduce the server load by as high as 90% over popular files.
Can child health promotion be more rewarding

In his article, "Behavioral and Developmental Components of Child Health Promotion: How Can It be Accomplished?" Dr Morris Green tries to sell us on the idea that we (as practicing pediatricians) can give more to our patients in child health supervision visits and that these, visits can be more rewarding to both families and physicians. I agree. Many students and practicing pediatricians summarize a well-child visit with this presentation: Billy Smith is a 9-month-old boy who is in for his regular check-up. He has a healthy past history, is growing normally, and his physical examination is normal. His hemoglobin is 12 g. His immunizations are up to date, and he should return in 3 months. Counter that with Green9s statement: "The chief justification for health promotion visits today relates to child development and behavior."
Demographic and Reproductive Traits of Blanding's Turtles, Emydoidea blandingii, at the Western Edge of the Species' Range

Abstract Conspecific turtle populations typically exhibit variation in demographic and reproductive traits such as adult size, growth rate, sex ratio, and clutch size. Variation in these traits has been previously correlated to variation in local environmental conditions, latitude, and habitats. Given that some turtle species have large geographic ranges and occur in a variety of habitats, it is imperative to determine how traits differ throughout the species' range. Towards this end, we examined demographic and reproductive traits of Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) in Grant County, Nebraska over the span of six years. The population's sex ratio was female biased (0.7∶1.0, M∶F) and skewed towards large, adult turtles (5∶1, adult∶juvenile). The analysis of adult survivorship suggests that female turtles (59% annual survivorship) may be experiencing greater mortality rates compared to males (90% annual survivorship), possibly due to road mortality. Unlike all previous reports, analyses of reproduc...
Major challenges to scale up of visual inspection-based cervical cancer prevention programs: the experience of Guatemalan NGOs

Background: Like many other low- and middle-income countries, Guatemala has adopted visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) as a low-resource alternative to the Pap smear for cervical cancer screening. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) introduced VIA to Guatemala in 2004, and a growing number of NGOs, working both independently and in collaboration with the Guatemalan Ministry of Health, employ VIA in cervical cancer prevention programs today. While much research describes VIA efficacy and feasibility in Latin America, little is known about NGO involvement with VIA programming or experiences with VIA outside the context of clinical trials and pilot projects in the region. Methods: To explore challenges faced by NGOs implementing VIA programs in Guatemala, we conducted semistructured interviews with 36 NGO staff members involved with 20 VIA programs as direct service providers, program administrators, and training course instructors. Additionally, we collected data through observation at 30 NGOsponsored cervical cancer screening campaigns, 8 cervical cancer prevention conferences, and 1 week-long NGOsponsored VIA training course. Results: Frequently highlighted challenges included staff turnover, concerns over training quality, a need for opportunities for continued supervision, and problems with cryotherapy referrals when immediate treatment for VIApositive women was unavailable. Conclusions: Reducing staff turnover, budgeting to train replacement providers, standardizing training curricula, and offering continued supervision are key strategies to improve VIA service quality and program sustainability. Alternative training methods, such as on-the-job mentoring and course prerequisites of online learning, could help increase training time available for clinical supervision. Efforts should be made to ensure that VIA testing is coupled with immediate cryotherapy, that providers trained in VIA are also trained in cryotherapy, and that cryotherapy supplies and equipment are maintained. Where this is not possible and only VIA screening is available, referral systems must be strengthened.
Indications for Surgical Treatment in Chronic Pancreatitis

In any discussion of surgery for chronic pancreatitis, the first question must be, “Can chronic pancreatitis be treated?” Current evidence suggests that chronic pancreatitis is a disease which, once it begins, never stops. Removing the underlying cause of the disease, such as alcohol, may slow the process of deterioration, but generally deterioration continues nonetheless [1,2]. Therefore, progression of the disease with ultimate destruction of the gland is to be expected, and recovery of function is exceptional. In this setting, surgical treatment may reduce symptoms or deal with specific complications, but there is no evidence that it will halt the progression of the disease or improve function.
Differential Effects of Testosterone, Thyroxine, and Cortisol on Rat Submandibular Gland Versus Renal Kallikrein

The effects of 17α-methyltestosterone (Tα), T4) or cortisol (F) on tissue kallikrein in the rat submandibular gland and renal cortex were measured. Castrated male or normal female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with Tα or T4 for 2 weeks. In addition, F, Tα, or T4 was given to adrenalectomized female rats for 2 weeks. In the submandibular glands of male rats, castration resulted in a significant reduction of both kallikrein-like α-N-tosyl-Larginine methyl ester (Tos-Arg-OMe) esterase activity and immunoreactive kallikrein content. Treatment with Tα or administration of T4 significantly increased Tos-Arg-OMe esterase activity and immunoreactive kallikrein over that in the castrated rats receiving vehicle. Both the Tos-Arg-OMe esterase activity and kallikrein content of the submandibular glands of normal female rats were increased significantly by Tα or T4. However, Tα or T4 either significantly reduced or had no effect on renal Tos-Arg-OMe esterase activity or kallikrein content in castrated male or norma...
Outcome of primary soft tissue sarcoma of the knee and elbow.

Abstract Purpose: Concern is frequently raised regarding the tolerance of irradiation over a joint space. The purpose of this study was to determine the outcome in terms of relapse and potential complications in patients with knee and elbow soft tissue sarcoma treated with limb-sparing surgery with or without adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). Methods and Materials: A review of our prospective database between June 1982 and December 1999 identified 86 adult patients with primary soft tissue sarcoma arising from the knee ( n = 65; 76%) or elbow ( n = 21; 24%) treated with limb-sparing surgery. Tumors had high-grade histologic features in 72% and were >5 cm in 48% of patients. Adjuvant RT was given to 46 (54%) of 86 patients. The type of RT was postoperative external beam RT in 63% and brachytherapy in 37%. Of the 46 patients who received RT, 85% ( n = 39) had deep, 78% ( n = 36) high-grade, and 54% ( n = 25) >5-cm tumors. Complications were assessed in terms of wound complications requiring repeated surgery, bone fracture, nerve damage, and joint stiffness. Results: With a median follow-up of 48 months (range 4–175), the 5-year actuarial rate of local control, distant control, and overall survival was 75% (95% confidence interval [CI] 64–85%), 82% (95% CI 73–91%), and 81% (95% CI 71–91%), respectively. The 5-year local control rate for patients who received RT was 80% vs. 71% for those who did not ( p = 0.3). The type of RT did not significantly influence the local control rate. Patients treated with external beam RT had a 5-year local control rate of 84% compared with 73% for those treated with brachytherapy ( p = 0.4). On multivariate analysis, tumor size >5 cm retained its significance as an independent predictor of poor local control ( p = 0.04; relative risk 3; 95% CI 1–6). In addition, high-grade histologic features emerged as an independent predictor of local recurrence ( p = 0.02; relative risk 4; 95% CI 1–20). No statistically significant difference was found between the RT and no-RT group in terms of the 5-year actuarial rate of wound reoperation (10% vs. 3%, p = 0.1), bone fracture (3% vs. 5%, p = 0.5), or nerve damage (6% vs. 3%, p = 0.5). Joint stiffness was significantly higher in the RT group (24% vs. 0%, p = 0.001), but this stiffness was severe to moderate in only 2 patients. Conclusion: On the basis of the findings of this retrospective review, adjuvant RT seems to be relatively well tolerated despite the inclusion of part of the joint space in the irradiation portal. Joint stiffness was seen more frequently with adjuvant RT, but it was moderate to severe in only a small number of patients.
A Low Temperature Fully Lithographic Process For Metal–Oxide Field-Effect Transistors

We report a low temperature ( ~ 100°C) lithographic method for fabricating hybrid metal oxide/organic field-effect transistors (FETs) that combine a zinc-indium-oxide (ZIO) semiconductor channel and organic, parylene, dielectric layer. The transistors show a field-effect mobility of (12±0.8) cm2 V-1 s-1, on/off ratio of 108 and turn-off voltage of Voff = -1 V. This work demonstrates that organic and inorganic layers can be deposited and patterned using a low temperature budget, integrated lithographic process to make FETs suitable for large area electronic applications.
Free‐Standing Ferroelectric Nanotubes Processed via Soft‐Template Infiltration

A new nano-manufacturing method for the creation of high aspect-ratio ferroelectric (PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3) nanostructures by use of polymeric templates is presented. The ferroelectric response is characterized by band-excitation PFM, supporting the high quality of the nanostructures. Piezoelectric size effects for ferroelectric materials are reported for the first time in nanotube configuration (critical thickness ∼15 nm) and compared to thin films' response.
Joint Analysis of Multiple Categorical Dependent Variables in Organizational Research

A model for analyzing multiple categorical dependent variables is presented and developed for use in organizational research. A primary example occurs in the foreign market entry literature, in which choice of ownership (majority, equal, or minority) and function (acquisition or joint venture) are simultaneously endogenous; only separate univariate ownership-based and function-based choice models are considered in the literature. Another example is in the comparison of gender and race across organizational units, controlling for confounders such as experience and qualification. Subsuming univariate categorical dependent variables as a special case, the model unifies existing organizational research methods, mitigates bias associated with univariate methods, provides more powerful testing methods, and provides a flexible modeling framework that allows hypotheses to be modeled and tested that are not possible with univariate models. Standard software may be used for estimation and testing; examples are given.
Serodiagnosis of Lyme Disease by Kinetic Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Using Recombinant VlsE1 or Peptide Antigens of Borrelia burgdorferi Compared with 2-Tiered Testing Using Whole-Cell Lysates

In a study of US patients with Lyme disease, immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM antibody responses to recombinant Borrelia burgdorferi antigen VlsE1 (rVlsE1), IgG responses to a synthetic peptide homologous to a conserved internal sequence of VlsE (C6), and IgM responses to a synthetic peptide comprising the C-terminal 10 amino acid residues of a B. burgdorferi outer-surface protein C (pepC10) were evaluated by kinetic enzyme-linked immunoassay. At 99% specificity, the overall sensitivities for detecting IgG antibody to rVlsE1 or C6 in samples from patients with diverse manifestations of Lyme disease were equivalent to that of 2-tiered testing. When data were considered in parallel, 2 combinations (IgG responses to either rVlsE1 or C6 in parallel with IgM responses to pepC10) maintained high specificity (98%) and were significantly more sensitive than 2-tiered analysis in detecting antibodies to B. burgdorferi in patients with acute erythema migrans. In later stages of Lyme disease, the sensitivities of the in parallel tests and 2-tiered testing were high and statistically equivalent.
Technology, Complexity, and Culture as Contributors to Financial Instability: A Generalization of Keynes's Chapter 12 and Minsky's Financial Instability Hypothesis

Keynes's discussion of "the state of long-term expectation" explains why uncertainty about the future makes investment unstable. Minsky used Keynes's ideas to explain why every economic boom sets the stage for a financial crisis. This paper extends the Keynes/Minsky framework by arguing that uncertainty about the future also biases scientific knowledge and human culture. Just like overly optimistic financial markets, the persistence of inaccurate scientific paradigms and cultural beliefs can also generate financial crises. For example, the debt toward nature that our capitalist culture continues to obscure is likely to be a case of Ponzi finance. The Keynes/Minsky framework is useful for analyzing diverse causes of potential economic instability.
Targeting the anionic region of human protease‐activated receptor 4 inhibits platelet aggregation and thrombosis without interfering with hemostasis

Background Human platelet activation and aggregation is a complex process. To date, many therapies have been developed targeting proteins that mediate this process to prevent unwanted activation. However, the current standard of care for acute coronary syndromes still has limitations, including bleeding risk. Objective To evaluate the protease-activated receptor 4 (PAR4) anionic cluster as a viable antiplatelet target by using a polyclonal antibody (CAN12). Methods We used western blotting, aggregation and secretion ex vivo to evaluate the ability of CAN12 to interact with PAR4 and inhibit platelet activation. The effects of CAN12 in vivo were evaluated with the Rose Bengal arterial thrombosis model and two models of hemostasis. Results CAN12 was able to interact with human PAR4 and delay PAR4 cleavage. In addition, CAN12 inhibited thrombin-induced human platelet aggregation and secretion in a dose-dependent manner. The specificity of CAN12 was agonist-dependent. In vivo, we determined that CAN12 was able to inhibit arterial thrombosis, and, using two independent methods, we found that CAN12 did not influence hemostasis. Conclusion Targeting the extracellular anionic cluster on PAR4 is a viable novel strategy as an antiplatelet therapy.
On the Faithful Interpretation of Pure Wave Mechanics

Given Hugh Everett III’s understanding of the proper cognitive status of physical theories, his relative-state formulation of pure wave mechanics arguably qualifies as an empirically acceptable physical theory. The argument turns on the precise nature of the relationship that Everett requires between the empirical substructure of an empirically faithful physical theory and experience. On this view, Everett provides a weak resolution to both the determinate record and the probability problems encountered by pure wave mechanics, and does so in a way that avoids unnecessary metaphysical complications. Taking Everett’s goal to be showing the empirical faithfulness of the relative-state formulation agrees well with his characterization of his project as one of seeking a model for observation in the correlation structure described by pure wave mechanics and seeking a measure of typicality over this empirical substructure that covaries with our empirically warranted expectations.
Totally anomalous pulmonary venous connection and complex congenital heart disease: prenatal echocardiographic diagnosis and prognosis.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of prenatal cardiac diagnosis, prognosis, and outcome of totally anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) and to determine echocardiographic clues in the prenatal diagnosis of isolated TAPVC or TAPVC in association with other complex congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods. We reviewed our 13-year experience of prenatal diagnosis of TAPVC. Thirteen fetuses were identified with the diagnoses of TAPVC. We systematically analyzed the individual pulmonary veins by color and pulsed Doppler imaging, the presence of a pulmonary venous confluence, the pulsed and color Doppler evaluation of the vertical vein, and sites of connections. Prenatal diagnosis was confirmed by postnatal echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, surgery, or autopsy. Results. The mean gestational age at diagnosis of TAPVC was 26.3 weeks (range, 20‐33 weeks). There were 8 fetuses with TAPVC and right isomerism, 3 fetuses with other associated CHD, and 2 with isolated TAPVC. There were 7 fetuses with supracardiac TAPVC, 4 with infracardiac TAPVC, and 2 with mixed TAPVC. Pulmonary vein color and pulsed Doppler data were available in 10 of 13 fetuses. The pulmonary venous confluence was visualized in all fetuses except 1. The vertical vein was visualized in all fetuses. Five fetuses had suspected signs of obstruction. The diagnosis was confirmed postnatally or at autopsy in 12 cases. Eight patients underwent surgery; 6 died, and 2 were alive. Two patients had compassionate care and died; 3 pregnancies were terminated. Conclusions. It is possible to diagnose accurately complex CHD, including the pulmonary venous con
Finding Purpose as Fellows: Opportunities Through Organization

At sea, the Portuguese man-of-war ( Physalia physalis ) stands out for its beauty, its deadly effectiveness, and its composition ([Fig. 1][1]). An archetype of the Siphonophora order, the man-of-war takes form and function through the aggregation and physiologic integration of numerous individual
Periodically-dressed Bose- Einstein condensates in 87Rb

Using Raman coupling to induce spatially periodic coupling between atomic levels, novel quantum fluids with anisotropic critical velocities and highly-correlated ground states are created. Theoretical and experimental investigations of this system are presented.
Illustrating the Financial Benefits of Green Chemistry

This technical note forms the basis of a discussion on the economic value added of green chemistry principles. Students can learn how to increase NOPAT by increasing sales; increase NOPAT by decreasing operating expenses; reduce WACC, driving down risk by decreasing risk perceived by capital providers; and reduce invested capital. A grid showing green chemistry principals and how adhering to each might affect the bottom line provides an excellent context in which to discuss business strategies.
Reliability of isometric muscle testing of knee flexor and extensor muscles in patients with connective tissue disease.

This two-part study evaluated the reliability of inexpensive devices for isometric muscle testing on patients. First, the relationship between gauge readings of the devices and known weights was evaluated. Coefficients of determination and regression lines were used to determine the strength and nature of this relationship, which was determined to be linear. Second, intratester reliability for force measurements of isometric knee extension and flexion motions was determined for 30 patients with connective tissue diseases. Right knee extensor and flexor muscle forces were measured during two sessions. The measurements between sessions were compared for degree of agreement using intraclass correlation coefficients. Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from .90 to .95 for knee flexor force measurements and from .75 to .85 for knee extensor force measurements. Based on the results of this study, this measuring device can be used reliably to measure knee extensor muscle force at 50 degrees and knee flexor muscle force at 30 and 70 degrees.
Gestational age and birthweight for risk assessment of neurodevelopmental impairment or death in extremely preterm infants

Background The risk of poor outcomes in preterm infants is primarily determined by birthweight (BW) and gestational age (GA). It is not known whether BW is a better outcome predictor than GA. Objective To test whether BW is better than GA (measured in days, rather than completed weeks) for prediction of neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) and death. Design/methods Extremely preterm infants born at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Neonatal Research Network centres between 1998 and 2009 were studied. For the unadjusted analysis, the associations of GA (in days based on best obstetrical estimate) and BW (in grams) with NDI or death were compared using area under the curve (AUC). Adjusted analyses were performed using birth year, sex, race, antenatal steroids, singleton birth, pre-eclampsia, Apgar score at 5 min and small for GA as covariates. Results 10 652 preterm infants (89%) had outcome data at 18–22 months’ corrected age. The mean BW was 678 g (SD: 155) and the mean GA was 173 days (SD: 10) or 245/7 weeks (SD: 13/7). The AUC for NDI or death was 80% with BW and 79% with GA (p=0.82). Unadjusted and adjusted analyses did not differ. NDI or death rates decreased with increasing GA through 26 weeks (estimated risk reduction with each additional day of gestation: 2.2%). Conclusion Both BW in grams and GA in days are good predictors of NDI and death in a preterm population selected on the basis of reliable GA. Trial registration number NCT00009633.
Thrust magnitude and efficiency studies for multiple robotic flapping fins

The development of multiple generations of robotic flapping pectoral fins has warranted a closer study of the relative thrusts and efficiencies exhibited by these fins. This paper describes the differences between the various fins - including stroke frequency, stroke amplitude, aspect ratio, and effective angle of attack - and investigates the effects these differences have on thrust generation and propulsive efficiency. Drawing from and building on previous fin results, both computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation results and experimental data are used to evaluate the thrust, power draw, and efficiency, and to find useful relationships between these values and parameters such as Strouhal number and advance ratio. This analysis has implication for future fin design and development of reduced order models for flapping propulsion mechanisms.
The effect of intergroup contact on secondary group attitudes and social dominance orientation

The current study tested the extent to which intergroup contact reduces social dominance orientation (SDO), producing secondary transfer effects. Participants were first-year undergraduate students randomly assigned to live with either a same-race roommate or a roommate of a different race in university housing. Participants completed a feeling thermometer and a measure of SDO at the beginning and end of the fall semester. Participants in interracial rooms reported lower levels of SDO and more positive attitudes toward secondary groups (i.e., racial/ethnic groups other than their roommates’ group) than participants in same-race rooms at the end of the semester. Those in interracial rooms exhibited a significant change in SDO levels and attitudes across time, whereas those in same-race rooms exhibited no change. Furthermore, SDO fully mediated the effect of intergroup contact on attitudes toward secondary groups. These findings provide causal evidence of secondary transfer effects and indicate SDO as an un...
Dignity, Torture, and Human Rights

This paper focuses on a distinct puzzle for understanding the relationship between dignity and human rights. The puzzle is that dignity appears to enter human rights theory in two distinct roles: on the one hand, dignity is commonly pointed to as the foundation of human rights, i.e. that in virtue of which we have human rights. On the other hand, dignity is commonly pointed to as that which is at risk in a subset of human rights, paradigmatically torture. But how can dignity underpin all human rights, and yet only be at stake in very specific human rights violations? And if dignity is lost in torture, how can the tortured retain their human rights? In this paper I offer a solution to these puzzles, in the form of a new theory of dignity. On this new theory, an individual’s dignity can be constituted via either of two pathways: the agent’s own normative competencies, or the authority of her community. The former is what’s typically at stake in practices such as torture; it in virtue of the latter that we have human rights.
Characterization of the Defect of the Factor VIII/von Willebrand Factor Protein in von Willebrand's Disease

The factor VIII/von Willebrand factor (f.VIII/vWf) protein was purified from the plasma of a patient with von Willebrand's disease (vWd). The patient had all of the classic laboratory findings of vWd except for the ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation of his own platelet-rich plasma. The disease has been documented in three generations. Comparison of the purified normal and vWd f.VIIi/vWf protein revealed several abnormalities, including decreased concentration of f.VIII/vWf antigen; decreased specific vWf activity; absence of the larger molecular forms of the f.VIII/vWf protein; carbohydrate deficiencies affecting the sialic acid, penultimate galactose and N- acetylglucosamine moieties; and decreased binding of the f.VIII/vWf protein to its platelet receptor. These studies indicate the multiplicity of biochemical and functional abnormalities associated with the f.VIII/vWf protein in vWd. f.VIII/vWf protein to normal f.VIII/vWf protein that had been treated with 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) to reduce the multimer size and then treated with specific exoglycosidases to remove the sialic acid and penultimate galactose residues revealed similar biologic properties.
Another Look at Retail Diversification: Some Evidence and Some Contradictions

The purpose of this paper is to revise, extend, update, and apply the lndsales instrument (Churchill 1974) using LISREL 8 techniques. The revised scale was tested in a retail environment, thus extending it beyond the original domain of industrial salespeople. Nomological validity with job involvement and organizational commitment were also tested.
Analysis on epidemic characteristics of bacillary dysentery in Heping District of Shenyang City from 2004-2012

[Objective]To understand the epidemic intensity and characteristics of bacillary dysentery in Heping District of Shenyang City,provide the precise basis for making a control program and evaluating its implementation effect.[Methods]The epidemic data of bacillary dysentery in Heping District were analyzed with the descriptive epidemiological methods.[Results]The average annual incidence rate of bacillary dysentery from 2004-2012 was 71. 63 / lakh,the average annual mortality rate was 0. 05 / lakh,and there was significant difference in the annual incidence rate( P 0. 01). The average annual incidence rate in males and females was 81. 85 / lakh and 61. 45 / lakh respectively. There were significant differences in case number and incidence rate of males among different years( P 0. 01). The case number and incidence rate in males were higher than those in females,and the male-to-female ratio in case number was 1. 33∶ 1. The cases of students,children,and people waiting for employment or housework people respectively accounted for 21. 13%,20. 55% and 16. 12% of total cases. 19. 11% of patients were children under 3 years old,and case in 12 month-old age group accounted for 9. 08% of f total cases. 45. 01% of cases were reported in July and August.[Conclusion]The incidence rate of bacillary dysentery among infants is the highest in Heping District,there is an obvious characteristic in occupation distribution,and the peak season is in summer. It is necessary to strengthen the health promotion and health education,improve the prevention awareness,strengthen the food safety and sanitation supervision of drinking water,complete the environmental health regulation,enhance the diagnosis level and concept for epidemic situation report,and carry out emergency response to prevent the spread of disease.
Complexity in structure-directed prebiotic chemistry. Reaction bifurcation from a β-diketone in tetrapyrrole formation

An early stage of prebiotic chemistry is regarded to have entailed structure-directed reactions, where the products depend on intrinsic properties of the reactants without guidance by any enzyme-like catalysts. A chemical model for the prebiogenesis of tetrapyrrole macrocycles entails condensation of an α-aminoketone (e.g., δ-aminolevulinic acid, ALA) with a 1,5-dimethoxypentan-2,4-dione bearing a 3-alkyl substituent (β-diketone, hereafter referred to as a dione) to form a porphobilinogen analogue, which self-condenses to form a porphyrinogen. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions (60 °C, pH 7, 24 h). Here, the reaction of a mono-methoxy substituted dione analogue with ALA formed two pyrroles, a normal pyrrole equipped for oligomerization to form uroporphyrinogens and a defective pyrrole that cannot undergo oligomerization. The defective pyrrole has one open α-position and one α-methyl group, and as such, can terminate the oligomerization of the normal pyrrole, thereby thwarting reaction leading to the porphyrinogen. The small defect of a single missing methoxy group has outside adverse effects in a complex reaction process. As a case study of relevance to prebiotic chemistry, the results highlight limitations of structure-directed processes.
Anti-idiotypic like Antibodies Detected Following Alloimmunization: Their Characterization and Relevance to Allograft Acceptance

Anti-idiotypic-like antibodies (Ab2) develop during the course of HLA alloimmunization. Several reports indicate that their presence in alloimmunized patients is associated with superior allograft survival, and their appearance correlates inversely with specific HLA antibodies. These features suggest that the induced auto-Ab2 may interact with regulatory idiotypes of HLA-specific antibodies, and may be part of an early immune regulatory mechanism that facilitates the induction of donor-specific immunosuppression. The ob-servations have great potential clinical implications for pretransplant manipulations of the immune response to facilitate donor-specific immunosuppression, and to predict the fate of allografts in previously alloimmunized recipients. Further development and general application of Ab2 testing, however, require better documentation that regulatory immune networks between HLA antibodies and T cells exist, and that improved methods of Ab2 detection that could be used routinely and duplicated in the clinical laboratory, can be developed.
The Secondary Market for Latin American Debt

This chapter describes the process of start-up of the secondary market for government bank debt, with focus on Latin America. It then demonstrates the factors that contribute to determining market prices of this debt in the early years of the market (to 1991). Next, the last five years of the market are analyzed to demonstrate the factors that have contributed most to determining debt prices in the more standardized and more homogenized current market conditions. The comparison of the two time periods provides interesting insights into the development of this market.
The Tangent Earth Mover’s Distance

We present a new histogram distance, the Tangent Earth Mover’s Distance (TEMD). The TEMD is a generalization of the Earth Mover’s Distance (EMD) that is invariant to some global transformations. Thus, like the EMD it is robust to local deformations. Additionally, it is robuster to global transformations such as global translations and rotations of the whole image. The TEMD is formulated as a linear program which allows efficient computation. Additionally, previous works about the efficient computation of the EMD that reduced the number of variables in the EMD linear program can be used to accelerate also the TEMD computation. We present results for image retrieval using the Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) and color image descriptors. We show that the new TEMD outperforms state of the art distances.
Prostate Cancer and Other Primary Malignancies

As the detection and treatment of prostate cancer improve, the prevalence of patients with multiple malignancies will increase. Prostate cancer has been shown to be associated with colon, lung, bladder, skin, and kidney cancers. Of particular interest to the urologist are patients presenting with multiple urologic malignancies. However, it is important for the urologist to be aware of the association of prostate cancer with other malignancies. Common environmental, lifestyle, and genetic factors have been implicated in the development of multiple primary malignancies. In some cases, the treatment of prostate cancer has been shown to increase the incidence and stage of certain local cancers such as bladder and rectal cancer. Treatment of patients presenting with or discovered to have multiple primary malignancies presents a dilemma. Synchronous lesions are often treated simultaneously. Metachronous lesions require a multidisciplinary approach to the patient. The urologist plays an important role in the treatment of patients with prostate cancer and a second primary malignancy.
Allergic Interstitial Nephritis Due to Diuretic Agents

Publisher Summary Allergic tubulointestinal nephritis (ATIN) is a rare complication of diuretic use. Loop, thiazide, and potassium-sparing diuretics or combinations have been reported to cause interstitial nephritis in patients with or without known underlying renal disease. The onset after treatment varies from days to months. The renal lesion is characterized by two main features: interstitial mononuclear infiltrate (often with eosinophils) accompanied by interstitial edema and varying degrees of tubular injury. In nearly all cases, the lesion is reversible after discontinuation of the offending agent. Treatment of ATIN consists of discontinuation of the offending agent(s). In addition, high doses of corticosteroids were used in attempt to accelerate recovery of renal function in many cases. There are no established guidelines for dosage or duration of therapy in this condition. The results in this chapter recommend prednisone 60 mg/day for 4 (and a maximum of 8) weeks with a rapid taper (over 2–4 weeks). This therapy should be considered in patients with advanced oliguric renal failure, whether or not dialysis is needed. However, since there are no controlled trials of corticosteroid therapy in diuretic-induced acute interstitial nephritis, their use should be considered empiric. The rate of recovery of renal function is variable. Complete recovery appears to take several months according to the published reports. Therefore, the patient should be seen on a biweekly basis during the first month and monthly, thereafter.
Surprise-triggered reformulation of design goals

This paper presents a cognitive model of goal formulation in designing that is triggered by surprise. Cognitive system approaches to design synthesis focus on generating alternative designs in response to design goals or requirements. Few existing systems provide models for how goals change during designing, a hallmark of creative design in humans. In this paper we present models of surprise and reformulation as metacognitive processes that transform design goals in order to explore surprising regions of a design search space. The model provides a system with specific goals for exploratory behaviour, whereas previous systems have modelled exploration and novelty-seeking abstractly. We use observed designs to construct a probabilistic model that represents expectations about the design domain, and then reason about the unexpectedness of new designs with that model. We implement our model in the domain of culinary creativity, and demonstrate how the cognitive behaviors of surprise and problem reformulation can be incorporated into design reasoning.
Resiliency of the western Chesapeake Bay to total suspended solid concentrations following storms and accounting for land-cover

Abstract The effect of storms on water quality in the Chesapeake Bay has been studied in a patchwork fashion at various sites for short periods of time. In this paper, we use a relationship between MODIS-Terra red light reflectance and total suspended solid (TSS) concentrations in order to develop a fourteen-year time period of TSS estimates during which effects of storms and land cover can be studied over a large portion of the Bay. Exponential fits were most appropriate, resulting in viable reflectance-TSS relationships for the five major Western Shore rivers and the Mainstem of the Bay. Other tributaries were less well-disposed for such relationships due to lack of a large range of TSS concentrations, shallow river beds, or low number of data points. Treating the entire Chesapeake as a single entity and modeling a single reflectance-TSS relationship for the entire estuary produced poorer models with less significance compared to treating each channel separately. Over 2800 rain events were studied in the Lower Western Shore between 2000 and 2014. We found some evidence that higher rainfall amounts correspond to a lower distribution of TSS concentrations 1 day following the event in forested watersheds. At rainfall events of