cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Significance of peripheral chemoreceptor response and adaptation in the regulation of breathing.

The objective of this presentation is to focus attention on some neglected aspects of peripheral chemoreflexes in the regulation of breathing. Since the work of Gesell and White1 the phase dependent effect of carotid chemoreceptor stimulation on volume and duration of breaths in resting animals has been firmly established by Black and Torrance2 and Eldridge3, 4 In recent years these observations on the stimulating effect dominated the literature on peripheral chemoreflex control of breathing. But stimulation is not the only aspect of this reflex. Withdrawal of stimulation is a natural occurrence. Waxing and waning of peripheral chemoreceptor activity occurs with respiration5 and blood flow (unpublished observation). A phase relationship between these aspects and respiratory oscillations is expected to determine in part the extent of stimulation and effects of withdrawal. We examined simultaneously the effect of withdrawal of arterial stimulus on carotid chemoreceptor activity and ventilation and related ventilation to carotid chemoreceptor activity. These results emphasize the importance of overall dynamic aspects of peripheral chemoreceptor activity on single breaths as well as on minute ventilation.
The federal reserve: Lender of last resort Gillian Garcia and Elizabeth Plautz Ballinger: Cambridge, MA, 1988, 310 pp.

Garcia and Plautz have provided a real service to the profession by illuminating the important issues concerning the Federal Reserve System as lender of last resort. At one point in the book [p. 97] the authors refer to the preference by most economists to discuss the LLR concept via “...a practical, intuitive, rather than a theoretical, approach” that is in contrast to use of a “...formal theory of liquidity assistance...based on a mathematical framework, which is often the preferred approach among academic economists.” They imply here that the former is to be preferred to the latter, given the complexity of the LLR concept and the related public policy issues.
Hard, Soft, Hybrid Real-Time Systems and Their Uses

Whereas — at least from a theoretical point of view — hard real-time systems are quite well-defined [1], [2],soft real-time is a rather elusive term, at least as soon as one attempts a “hard” definition. Therefore a discussion of different kinds of real-time is probably better started by looking at the different user needs instead of attempting a definition pleasing to the theoretician. Users — and seen with the eyes of a system designer, users doesn’t only mean end-users struggling with some application, but developers using operating system kernel routines as well — are not extremely interested in whether the operating system they use is hard, soft, or hybrid, they simply want to get their job done.1
Taxation, Wage Bargaining, and Unemployment: THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF WELFARE STATE MATURATION

In the introduction I reviewed the main propositions of two competing theoretical approaches to variation in employment performance among advanced industrialized democracies: the corporatist approach and an economic approach that relies on the assumption of perfectly competitive labor markets. The corporatist literature has been more successful than the neoclassical framework in explaining cross-national variation in macroeconomic and labor market outcomes. But corporatist studies fail to account for both cross-national and intertemporal changes in labor market outcomes across advanced industrialized economies. Most corporatist scholars praise the “institutional advantages” of economies with highly centralized labor market institutions for delivering egalitarian income distribution, high levels of wage moderation, and labor peace. But these studies do not provide an explanation for the deterioration of the labor market performance of these economies in the last two decades. The main theoretical objective of this chapter is to extend and amend the conclusions of the corporatist literature in an effort to explain both cross-national as well as intertemporal variation in employment outcomes. The outline of this chapter is as follows. I begin by reviewing the most significant theoretical developments in the literature that examine the impact of labor market institutions on labor market outcomes. These studies differ in the precise specification of the functional form of the relationship between labor market institutions and economic outcomes. Recent studies have formulated an important qualification of earlier results, suggesting that differences in a government's macroeconomic orientation affect both the optimal wage behavior of trade unions and the equilibrium level of unemployment.
Research For Multifunctional Measurer of Metallurgical Temperature and Oxygen Test

This paper introduces system design and realization for multifunctional measurer of metallurgical temperature and oxygen test, and states its features of high cost performance and good generality.
Non-secretory myeloma: clinical and biologic implications.

Myelomas that “lack” a monoclonal protein can be divided further into those that produce some protein and yet do not secrete it or whose serum concentration is so low that it cannot be measured, and those that truly produce no monoclonal protein at all.
Hypoxia inhibits calcium influx in rabbit basilar and carotid arteries

We examined the hypothesis that hypoxia inhibits Ca2+ influx in isolated rabbit common carotid, internal carotid, and basilar arteries. In arteries mounted for measurement of isometric tension and ...
Linear Difference Systems on Partially Ordered Sets

A theory of time-varying linear discrete-time difference systems is presented, for which the time set may be any locally finite partially ordered set. A subring of the incidence algebra of the time set acts on the state-module, and the resulting input and output functors lead to a realization theory for time-varying difference equations. The resulting canonical realizations can be computed explicitly and generalize the classical theory of weighting patterns.
Metastases from lung adenocarcinoma within a leiomyoma: A case report.

Abstract Background Pulmonary adenocarcinoma rarely spreads to the gynecologic tract, and has not been fully reported to metastasize within a leiomyoma. Case A 47 year-old woman with recurrent pulmonary adenocarcinoma was incidentally found to have a positron emission tomography (PET) avid pelvic mass at the time of restaging. She was also noted to be anemic, and reported significant vaginal bleeding. She was taken for an uncomplicated hysterectomy. She was unexpectedly found to have adenocarcinoma within a leiomyoma, consistent with metastasis from her primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Conclusion We report one of the first cases of pulmonary adenocarcinoma metastatic to a uterine leiomyoma. A personal history of cancer should always be considered in patients presenting with symptomatic leiomyoma.
MELCOR Accident Analysis for ARIES-ACT

We model a loss of flow accident (LOFA) in the ARIES-ACT1 tokamak design. ARIES-ACT1 features an advanced SiC blanket with LiPb as coolant and breeder, a helium cooled steel structural ring and tungsten divertors, a thin-walled, helium cooled vacuum vessel, and a room temperature water-cooled shield outside the vacuum vessel. The water heat transfer system is designed to remove heat by natural circulation during a LOFA. The MELCOR model uses time-dependent decay heats for each component determined by 1-D modeling. The MELCOR model shows that, despite periodic boiling of the water coolant, that structures are kept adequately cool by the passive safety system.
Computer and Optimization Techniques for Efficient Utilization of Urban Freeway Systems

Abstract The main object of the research was to develop techniques for synthesis of traffic controllers which provide more efficient utilization of urban freeway systems. It is proposed to control access to the freeway by switching of signal lights on entrance ramps to optimally space the entering stream of vehicles. The results of the research provide a method for such control which is readily implemented using present sensor, signal and computer technology.
The Mechanistic Implications of Gene Expression Studies in SSc: Insights From Systems Biology

Purpose of review Systemic sclerosis (SSc) has been difficult to treat due to disease heterogeneity and an incomplete understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenesis. Some patients show improvement on existing or experimental therapies while others show no significant response. Due to these challenges, clinical trials often do not meet their primary clinical endpoints. Here we review the data-driven genomewideapproaches that have recently been employed to characterize the molecular changes observed in SSc patients. Recent findings Understanding an individual patient’s gene expression phenotype or genotype, a cornerstone of personalized medicine, has been proposed to help determine which therapies are most likely to treat their disease. Network and systems biology methods have been applied to the compendium of publicly available SSc data and suggest that there are shared mechanisms driving the disease in different organs. Computational methods have also been applied to meta-analyses of SSc clinical trials. These approaches have led to the prediction of potential combination therapies that target the multiple pathways deregulated in SSc, which can now be tested in the clinic. Summary Data driven methods to analyze compendia of data are providing additional insights into SSc and related conditions. Modern bioinformatics and systems biology are ecosystems of data and code that are growing exponentially. Data integration allows researchers to combine multiple underpowered studies, a concern in a rare disorder such as SSc, for greater gain.
Adsorption of cesium on bound porous materials containing embedded phosphotungstic acid

The adsorption of cesium on mesoporous silica materials containing embedded phosphotungstic acid (PTA) was studied. The materials contained active adsorbent and binders: γ-Al2O3, kaolin, or charcoal. The presence of Keggin units of PTA in the bound materials was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. Among all materials, the formulation with γ-Al2O3 demonstrated the highest porosity and effectiveness in adsorption. Pure PTA/SiO2 contained a significant fraction of small particles between 100 and 300 nm. However, in the alumina-bound material, they were not detected. SEM imaging showed that these particles occupied interparticle space between larger γ-Al2O3 particles. The material was stable up to 540 °C. In most materials, the adsorption of cesium decreased with increase of the binder contents but not proportionally. The adsorption capacity of all materials depended on the concentration of cesium in the solutions. Maximum adsorption was achieved after 1 h. The adsorption of cesium is controlled by intraparticle diffusion while its rate can be described by the pseudo-second-order model.
Targeting temporal dynamics of microenvironmental factors halts tumor migration and alleviates effects of dynamic tumor heterogeneity

Targeting microenvironmental factors that foster migratory cell phenotypes is a promising strategy for halting tumor migration. However, lack of mechanistic understanding of the process impedes pharmaceutical drug development. Using a novel 3D microtumor model with tight control over tumor size, we recapitulated tumor size-induced hypoxic microenvironment and emergence of migratory phenotypes in epithelial T47D breast microtumors as well as those of patient-derived primary metastatic breast cancer cells, mesothelioma cells and lung cancer xenograft cells (PDX). The microtumor models from various patient-derived tumor cells and PDX cells revealed upregulation of tumor secretome, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), fibronectin (FN), and soluble E-cadherin (sE-CAD) consistent with the clinically reported elevated levels of FN and MMP9 in the patient breast tumors compared to healthy mammary gland. We further showed that the tumor secretome induces migratory phenotype in non-hypoxic, non-migratory small microtumors. Subsequent mathematical model analysis identified a two-stage microtumor progression and migration mechanism, i.e., hypoxia induces migratory phenotype in the early initialization stage, which then becomes self-sustained through positive feedback loop established among the secretome. Both computational and experimental studies showed that inhibition of tumor secretome effectively halts microtumor migration despite tumor heterogeneity, while inhibition of the hypoxia is effective only within a time window and is compromised by tumor-to-tumor variation of the growth dynamics, supporting our notion that hypoxia initiates migratory phenotypes but does not sustain it. In summary, we show that targeting temporal dynamics of evolving microenvironments during tumor progression can halt and bypass major hurdle of tumor heterogeneity.
In appreciation: Charles M. Tipton and the history of physiology

The editors of Advances in Physiology Education and the leadership of the American Physiological Society (APS) History of Physiology Group would like to express their profound appreciation to Charles M. Tipton, PhD, for his extraordinary service to both the journal and to the History of Physiology
The Challenges of Managing a Student-Managed Fund

This article summarizes the authors’ experiences as faculty advisors to the 360 Huntington Fund at Northeastern University. They strongly encourage other universities to provide their students with similar experiential investment opportunities. The article details the role of students relative to the faculty in the fund, the selection of investment choices, and various difficulties encountered, notably the need to replace high-quality student managers as they graduate. The objectives in creating the fund, beyond experiential learning, was to give students an advantage in their job searches. This has been an unqualified success, with our students getting more and better jobs as a result.
Teaching Complexity and Its Practical Implications in Leadership Development Programs

This article describes an advanced leadership seminar for senior managers and executives. The three module seminar describes how thoughtful leaders can learn to succeed even under conditions of extreme complexity. The first module describes complexity in the scientific sense and highlights the need to allow events to develop so that emergent patterns can be identified. The second module shows how this new complexity perspective can be used to frame and communicate social and economic imperatives in ways that move the organization forward. The third module puts this knowledge to work and enables participants to be better stewards of collective leadership within their organizations. Some reflections on the success of the program and potential improvements are offered in the concluding section.
Hill, Jane H. (b. 1939)

Jane Hassler Hill was born in Berkeley, California on October 27, 1939. After studying linguistic anthropology at Reed College and UC Berkeley, Hill completed her doctorate at UCLA under William Bright and Harry Hoijer. Hill is best known for her cutting-edge research in linguistic anthropology, encompassing everything from language contact and prehistory, to worldview, racism, and language obsolescence. Hill is also a respected descriptive linguist, who has written extensively on the Uto-Aztecan family.
The effect of tensile pre-straining on fatigue crack initiation mechanisms and mechanical behavior of AA7050 friction stir welds

Abstract This work examines the plastic strain gradients developed by pre-straining AA7050 friction stir welds (FSW), the damage to intermetallic particles caused by this strain, and the effect of these fractured particles on the subsequent fatigue performance of the weld. After pre-straining FSW samples to 1% and 3%, the local plastic strain distribution was measured along the crown (top) and root (bottom) of the weld, and the maximum local plastic strain was found to be 3.34 and 1.83 times higher than the average plastic strain. Metallography conducted on pre-strained welds showed cracked intermetallic particles in both the 1% and 3% levels which may have influenced fatigue crack initiation. Pre-straining was found to decrease the fatigue life at high cycles for the 1% pre-strain; however the 3% pre-strain level showed essentially the same fatigue life as the 0% pre-strained welds. Fractography showed that increasing pre-strain was correlated with increasing prevalence of Fe-rich particles at the fatigue crack initiation sites. When corrected for maximum local strain, the fatigue results for non-pre-strained AA7050 FSWs were shown to match the base material, AA7050-T7451.
Anesthesia in children with osteogenesis imperfecta: Retrospective chart review of 83 patients and 205 anesthetics over 7 years

Background Osteogenesis imperfecta is the collective term for a heterogeneous group of connective tissue syndromes characterized by bone fragility with multisystem involvement and perioperative implications. Aims Literature review of anesthetic management of patients with osteogenesis imperfecta revealed a paucity of data on the incidence of perioperative challenges. We sought to determine the rates of these challenges in our study cohort. Methods Data were collected in a specialty orthopedic hospital from 2008 to 2015 for 83 osteogenesis imperfecta patients undergoing 205 surgeries: 203 orthopedic surgeries and 2 mid-face reconstructive surgeries. Airway management, intravenous access, surgical blood loss, use of peripheral nerve blockade and/or neuraxial techniques, presence of perioperative fracture, and peak intraoperative temperature were evaluated and analyzed. Results Difficult airway was encountered in 3/205 (1.5%) cases and perioperative fracture in 2/205 (1%) cases. Neuraxial anesthesia was attempted in 64/205 cases with an 87.5% success rate. All peripheral nerve block attempts (33/205 cases) were successful. Difficult intravenous catheter placement was noted in 8/205 (4%) cases. Estimated blood loss >10% of estimated blood volume was considered significant, and occurred in 35/205 (17%) cases. Significant blood loss occurred more often in severe osteogenesis imperfecta types: 18/76 (23.7%) in Type III and 11/65 (16.9%) in Type IV, whereas only 4/47 (8.5%) occurred in mild Type I. In our 205 case cohort, osteogenesis imperfecta Type III had 5.6 times the odds [(95% CI = 1.8-17.2) P = 0.003] of having an anesthetic complication as compared to osteogenesis imperfecta Type I. Conclusion Patients with osteogenesis imperfecta undergo frequent anesthetic exposures, but anesthetic challenges in our series were uncommon. Odds of challenges are greater in severe osteogenesis imperfecta Type III, with significant blood loss and difficulty placing intravenous catheters more likely encountered in the more severe types.
The Clonotype Repertoire of B Cell Subpopulations

Publisher Summary The analysis of monoclonal antibody-producing cell populations, particularly hybridomas, through the use of gene cloning technology has provided substantial gains in the understanding of the molecular basis of the extraordinary diversity of the B cell repertoire, the patterned developmental acquisition of the variable region repertoire, the mechanism of isotype switching, the molecular basis for polymorphic disparities in repertoire expression, and the role of somatic mutation as the basis for the generation and selection of novel specificities subsequent to antigenic stimulation. At the same time, the availability of monoclonal antibodies against cell surface markers, in conjunction with sophisticated cell separation technology, has provided a new awareness of the distribution of various phenotypic and functional subpopulations of B cells. Although environmental determination of repertoire via such mechanisms as tolerance induction and anti-idiotypic immunoregulation has been identified, the impact of these mechanisms in shaping the B cell repertoire has yet to be evaluated. Researchers in this field are at the seminal stages of understanding the interrelationships of the various processes responsible for generating and shaping the expressed B cell repertoire and the differential utilization of these processes for repertoire establishment among various definable B cell subpopulations. This chapter presents the information that is currently available and that will ultimately be required to provide an understanding of the evolutionary and functional significance of a B cell repertoire expressed disparately in functionally different B cell subpopulations.
Finite element analyses of single particle crushing tests incorporating computed tomography imaging and damage mechanics

Abstract Fracture of individual grains within a granular assembly affect the strength and deformation behavior of granular materials under large stress states. Interparticle forces, leading to contact stresses and ultimately fracture initiation, are influenced by particle morphology. A numerical method that incorporates both particle fracture and morphology can provide a more accurate model of a granular material’s macro-scale response. This research investigates an approach to modeling fracture initiation and propagation within individual grains, utilizing high resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging to consider grain morphology and an explicit finite element code optimized for high performance computing which incorporates damage mechanics. Using precisely measured force-displacement curves from single particle crushing tests of manufactured quartz spheres, the method is validated, and the effects of fracture properties on grain fragmentation are determined. This approach is then used to simulate single particle crushing of Ottawa sand, with grain morphology incorporated through discretized CT images. The effect of grain orientation on the force and applied displacement at catastrophic splitting is also explored. The proposed discrete particle based finite element framework can be applied to modeling granular assemblies, considering the effect of individual particle shape and fracture on the assembly’s deformation response through well calibrated numerical simulations.
Evaluation of the Structure of Myodural Bridges in an Equine Model of Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes.

Myodural bridges have been described in various species as connective tissue structures “bridging” small cranio-cervical muscles to the dura. Myodural bridges are thought to stabilize the dural sac during head and neck movements and promote cerebrospinal fluid motion; however, their role in neurological diseases has not yet been established. We report ultrasonographic visualization, necropsy, histopathologic and ultrastructural findings of myodural bridges in horses with hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA), an equine model of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. Five HERDA and 5 control horses were studied. Post-mortem examination and ultrasonographic studies (3 HERDA and 4 controls) demonstrated that the atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial myodural bridges are dynamic structures “moving” the dura. En block resection of the myodural bridges (4 HERDA and 5 controls) was accomplished and histopathology showed myofiber degeneration in 3 HERDA horses and 1 control. Ultrastructural examination revealed loosely packed collagen fibrils with abnormal orientation in all HERDA horses compared to mild abnormalities in 2 controls. Our study provides necropsy and ultrasonographic evidence of the dynamic aspect of the myodural bridges as dural sac stabilizers. Myodural bridges may be pathologically altered in connective tissue disease as evidenced by the ultrastructural morphology in the HERDA myodural bridge.
Suboptimal cholesterol response to initiation of statins and future risk.

To the Editor Do the authors have any data about lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels in these patients and differences between the two groups? Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) measurement includes Lp(a), and if Lp(a) is …
Tracking the Nonenrolled: Lung Cancer Screening Patterns Among Individuals not Accrued to a Clinical Trial

Abstract Introduction For lung cancer screening, available data are often derived from patients enrolled prospectively on clinical trials. We therefore investigated lung cancer screening patterns among individuals eligible for but not enrolled in a screening trial. Patients and Methods From February 2017 through February 2019, we enrolled subjects to a trial examining telephone-based navigation during low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for lung cancer screening. We identified patients for whom LDCT was ordered, and who were approached but not enrolled in the trial. We categorized non-enrollment as patient declined or unable to contact. We compared characteristics and LDCT completion rates among these groups and the enrolled population using two-sample t-test and Chi-squared test. Results Among 900 individuals approached for participation (mean age 62 years, 45 percent female, 53 percent black), 447 patients were enrolled to the screening clinical trial. There were no significant demographic differences between the enrolled and non-enrolled cohorts. Among the 453 individuals not enrolled, 251 (55 percent) declined participation, and 202 (45 percent) were unable to be contacted despite up to six attempts. LDCT completion was significantly associated with enrollment status: 81% among enrolled individuals, 73% among individuals who declined participation, and 49% among individuals unable to be contacted (P Conclusion In this single-center study, demographic factors did not predict participation in a lung cancer screening trial. Lung cancer screening adherence rates were substantially lower among individuals not enrolled in a screening trial, particularly among individuals unable to be contacted. These findings may inform the broader implementation of screening programs.
Peripartum Ca and P homeostasis in multiparous sows fed adequate or excess dietary Ca

The recent increased prevalence of uterine prolapses in sows around parturition has led to inferences that the prolapses may be associated with hypocalcemia. However, limited data are available to support that hypocalcemia occurs in sows. Hypocalcemia in dairy cows is associated with feeding excess dietary Ca during late gestation. The excess Ca is assumed to suppress homeostatic mechanisms critical to maintain serum Ca concentrations as the Ca demand increases during the early stages of lactation. In this experiment, sows were fed diets with excess Ca during late gestation and early lactation to assess the potential development of hypocalcemia in the peripartum period. Twelve crossbred (Large White × Landrace) multiparous gestating sows were fed a control diet (CON), 0.65% Ca to 0.38% standardized total tract digestible P (STTD P) and 0.67% Ca to 0.38% STTD P in gestation and lactation diets, respectively) or a high Ca diet (HCa, 1.75% Ca to 0.46% STTD P and 1.75% Ca to 0.45% STTD P in gestation and lactation diets, respectively). The diets were fed from gestation day 86 þ ± 1 until the end of lactation (27 þ ± 2 days period). On day 112 of gestation, indwelling venous catheters were placed in each sow. Blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals within four designated times (0700, 1000, 1300 and 1700 h) on gestation day 113 and lactation days 1, 3 and 5. Venous blood pH, gases (pO2, pCO2 and HCO3−), electrolytes (K+, Na+ and Cl−), ionized Ca (iCa), metabolites (glucose and lactate), plasma total Ca (tCa), and P were analyzed. Overall, sows fed HCa diet had greater (P 0.05). No evidence for hypocalcemia was detected in peripartum sows fed CON or HCa diets. These data imply that excess Ca in late gestation diets did not result in hypocalcemia during the peripartum period. Future experiments should focus on factors other than hypocalcemia to identify causes of uterine prolapses in sows.
The Role of Immune Cells in Breast Tissue and Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Breast Cancer

Immune cells are present in normal breast tissue and in breast carcinoma. The nature and distribution of the immune cell subtypes in these tissues are reviewed to promote a better understanding of their important role in breast cancer prevention and treatment. We conducted a review of the literature to define the type, location, distribution, and role of immune cells in normal breast tissue and in in situ and invasive breast cancer. Immune cells in normal breast tissue are located predominantly within the epithelial component in breast ductal lobules. Immune cell subtypes representing innate immunity (NK, CD68+, and CD11c+ cells) and adaptive immunity (most commonly CD8+, but CD4+ and CD20+ as well) are present; CD8+ cells are the most common subtype and are primarily effector memory cells. Immune cells may recognize neoantigens and endogenous and exogenous ligands and may serve in chronic inflammation and immunosurveillance. Progression to breast cancer is characterized by increased immune cell infiltrates in tumor parenchyma and stroma, including CD4+ and CD8+ granzyme B+ cytotoxic T cells, B cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in breast cancer may serve as prognostic indicators for response to chemotherapy and for survival. Experimental strategies of adoptive transfer of breast tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte may allow regression of metastatic breast cancer and encourage development of innovative T-cell strategies for the immunotherapy of breast cancer. In conclusion, immune cells in breast tissues play an important role throughout breast carcinogenesis. An understanding of these roles has important implications for the prevention and the treatment of breast cancer.
Long-term Follow-up of 14 Eyes With Bilateral and Multiple Ciliary Body Cysts: Prognosis of this Rare Entity.

PURPOSE To describe the long-term outcomes of eyes with bilateral and multiple ciliary body cysts (CBC). METHODS This retrospective study included patients with multiple and bilateral CBC diagnosed by high-resolution ultrasound biomicroscopy and followed by a single glaucoma specialist from 2000 to 2020. All patients underwent complete ophthalmic examination including dynamic indentation gonioscopy, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurement by optic coherence tomography and automated perimetry. RESULTS Seven patients (14 eyes) with bilateral and multiple CBC were included with a mean follow-up of 98±39 months. Four eyes of 2 patients had complete angle closure at first examination and 3 of them underwent trabeculectomy with good visual outcomes. Four eyes of 2 patients had a reversible angle-closure at first examination and underwent a ultrasound biomicroscopy-guided laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) which reopened the irido-corneal angles. Two of these eyes needed intensification of hypotensive drops during the follow-up. Among the 6 eyes (3 patients) with open angle at first examination, all had had LPI at last follow-up visit, 5 had normal RNFL and visual field and 1 received an additional hypotensive drop because of RNFL progression. CONCLUSION Our long-term cohort of bilateral and multiple CBC demonstrates that this rare entity may have a good prognosis if LPI is performed before extension of peripheral anterior synechiae. Irreversible angle closure required trabeculectomy in 75% of cases in our cohort with however good visual outcomes.
Slip-twinning interdependent activation across phase boundaries: An in-situ investigation of a Ti-Al-V-Fe (α+β) alloy

Abstract Microstructural plastic strain distribution evolution is highly heterogeneous even in single-phase alloys. One of the important factors that govern this heterogeneity is slip/twinning transfer across grain/phase boundaries. In this regard, the fundamentals of transfer across grain boundaries have drawn significant attention in the literature, while the understanding of phase boundaries remains comparatively limited. (α+β) titanium alloys provide a profound platform to explore these phenomena, since: (i) both of the present phases can exhibit plastic deformation at similar microscopic strain levels; and (ii) both dislocation slip and mechanical twinning can be triggered to accommodate plastic strain. In the present work, we evidenced a deformation transfer unit involving dislocation slip in the β-phase and { 10 1 ¯ 2 } -mechanical twin in the α-phase. We revealed by crystallographic calculations that the combination of Schmid factor and the Luster-Morris compatibility factor enables a rational quantification for the inception propensity of the slip-twinning transfer event. Our in-situ strain mapping approach verified that this sort of transfer activity can plausibly alleviate strain incompatibility/localization, demonstrating the potential to facilitate deformation homogeneity.
Ischemia reperfusion injury induces pyroptosis and mediates injury in steatotic liver thorough Caspase 1 activation.

A steatotic liver is increasingly vulnerable to ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI), and the underlying mechanisms are incompletely defined. Caspases are endo-proteases, which provide critical regulatory connections between cell death and inflammation. Caspase 1 is driven by inflammasomes which are key signaling platforms, that detect sterile stressors (DAMPs), releasing the highly pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin IL-8 and IL-1β. To delineate the involvement of Caspase 1 and 11 in hepatocellular injury in steatotic liver undergoing IRI. Male C57BL6/Wild Type and Caspase 1Null, Caspase 11−/− and Caspase 1−/−/11−/− mice were fed a high fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. These mice were subjected to 40 min of ischemia followed by 2–24 h of reperfusion. Hepatocellular injury was assessed by histopathologic injury scoring, serum ALT and propidium iodide (PI) uptake, mRNA levels of Caspase 1, IL-1β by RT PCR, Caspase 1 activity assay and Caspase 1. Specific Caspase 1, inhibitor experiments were carried out. All groups gained similar body weight after a 12-week HFD. Cleaved Caspase 1 protein levels, Caspase 1 mRNA levels were significantly higher in steatotic liver undergoing IRI. Executor of pyroptosis cleaved GSDMD levels were higher in HFD fed mouse compared to lean. In addition, genetic deletion of Caspase 1, Casp1Null mouse expressing Caspase-11 and Caspase 1/11 double knock out demonstrated significant reduction in serum ALT (p < 0.01), Injury Score, (p < 0.0002) but not in Caspase 11 alone. Caspase 1 is the driver of hepatocellular injury in a steatotic liver undergoing IRI, inhibition of which leads to hepatoprotection, thus providing a therapeutic target for clinical use.
Chinese Minority Income Disparity in Urumqi: An Analysis of Han-Ugyhur Labour Market Outcomes in the Formal and Informal Economies

Participation in the informal economy has skyrocketed in China, coinciding with emerging labour markets that are segmented along lines of ethnicity, gender and migrant status. While a large body of literature examines migrant and female outcomes in the labour market, minority outcomes are much less understood in China. Information on minority employment in China’s informal economy is even more sparse. To help fill this “minority” gap in China, the author uses field survey data collected in Urumqi in July 2008 to reveal the extent of income disparity between the formal and informal sectors as well as within each sector, for ethnic, gender and migrant status subgroups.The statistical analysis generated three key results: (i) the accumulation of human capital positively influences income, but only in the formal sector; (ii) income disparity exists along the lines of ethnicity, gender and migrant status, and is most pronounced for Uyghur minorities in both the formal and informal sectors; and (iii) workers in the informal sector earn 22 per cent less than workers in the formal sector, and workers in the state-owned enterprises earn 15.3 per cent more than non-state workers. Findings are posited within a policy-relevant context and can be used to guide future development and ethnic policy in the region.
Engaging Graduate Students in Cultural Experiences Early: The Development, Implementation, and Preliminary Student Perceptions of a Community Engagement Clinical Experience

Purpose: Speech-language pathologists and audiologists are called to serve an increasingly diverse patient population in the United States. This increased diversity highlights the need for clinicia...
Chemical Lasers Produced from O(3P) Atom Reactions. II. a Mechanistic Study of 5-μm CO Laser Emission from the O + C2H2 Reaction

The reaction of O(3P) atoms with C2H2 has been the subject of many investigations. At low temperatures, the mechanism of CO formation, studied by a variety of methods,1–6 is now generally accepted as7 $$O + {C_2}{H_2} \to CO\dag + C{H_2} + 47kcal/mole$$ (1) $$O + C{H_2} \to CO\dag + 2H + 75kcal/mole$$ (2) Other minor reactions yielding HC2O and C2O are also believed to occur.5 IR chemiluminescence experiments have been performed independently by Creek et al.8 and by Thrush and co-workers9 employing low-pressure, fast-flow methods. At low C2H2 concentrations, the distribution of CO extends to v’=14, which is attributed to reactions (1) and (2).8,9 Additional distribution extending up to v’≈33 was detected at high C2H2 flows and in the presence of H2. This is believed to be due to reaction (3),9 $$O + CH \to CO\dag + H + 176kcal/mole$$ (3) Other processes such as: $$O + CH \to CO \uparrow + H + 176kcal/mole$$ (4) $$2O + {C_2}{H_2} \to O + \left[ {{C_2}{H_2}O} \right]* \to 2CO \uparrow + 2H + 122kcal/mole$$ (5) have also been proposed to account for the production of CO in high vibrational levels.5,8
Dynamic modeling in behavioral ecology

This book describes a powerful and flexible technique for the modeling of behavior, based on evolutionary principles. The technique employs stochastic dynamic programming and permits the analysis of behavioral adaptations wherein organisms respond to changes in their environment and in their own current physiological state. Models can be constructed to reflect sequential decisions concerned simultaneously with foraging, reproduction, predator avoidance, and other activities. The authors show how to construct and use dynamic behavioral models. Part I covers the mathematical background and computer programming, and then uses a paradigm of foraging under risk of predation to exemplify the general modeling technique. Part II consists of five "applied" chapters illustrating the scope of the dynamic modeling approach. They treat hunting behavior in lions, reproduction in insects, migrations of aquatic organisms, clutch size and parental care in birds, and movement of spiders and raptors. Advanced topics, including the study of dynamic evolutionarily stable strategies, are discussed in Part III.
Distributed objects on the Web

Various distributed object technologies have traditionally been seen as necessary to protect us from the uncertainties of a world where there is a perpetual state of partial failure. The World Wide Web is the second largest distributed system in the world, behind only the telephone network which has far simpler ambitions. This paper discusses various approaches to the task of integrating the Web with more deterministic distributed object technologies to create islands of reliability (or to add other specific capabilities) without compromising the global scale of the Web. However, it is dangerous to take the view that a globally popular system such as the Web was not designed correctly. The paper goes on to explore the essence of the Web‘s success and discusses whether other distributed object systems would benefit from being less obsessed with deterministic behaviour.
Complexometric Titration of Calcium and Magnesium by a Semiautomated Procedure

A semiautomatic procedure for the direct estimation of both serum calcium and magnesium is described. The indicator used, Eriochrome blue SE (EBSE), has the advantage of stability and freedom from interference by naturally occurring substances. The procedure requires 3-5 min. per sample and is very reproducible. The values obtained agree with those obtained by back-titration of excess chelator and are consistently 0.3 mg./100 ml. less than those obtained by a standard oxalate precipitation method.
Neural net based correction of power system distortion caused by switching power supplies

The correction of these power system distortions using neural networks is presented. A multi-layer neural network is trained (using error back propagation) to correct the distorted current waves. Based on the results obtained artificial neural network seems to offer a good solution for the important problem of correcting power system harmonic distortion. >
PIPEQ-OS – an instrument for on-site measurements of the experiences of inpatients at psychiatric institutions

The Psychiatric Inpatient Patient Experience Questionnaire (PIPEQ) was developed for post-discharge measurements of experiences, but the low response rates associated with post-discharge surveys restrict their usefulness. A new questionnaire was developed based on the PIPEQ for on-site measurements of patient experiences: the PIPEQ-OS. The aim of this study was to psychometrically test the PIPEQ-OS using data from a nationally representative survey conducted in Norway in 2014. Data were collected using a nationally representative patient-experience survey; 25 % of the institutions in each of the 4 health regions in Norway were randomly selected, yielding a total of 26 institutions. The PIPEQ-OS questionnaire was completed by patients on-site on an agreed day in week 37 of 2014. Item missing and ceiling effects were assessed, and factor analysis was used to assess the structure of the items included in the PIPEQ-OS. The scales were tested for internal consistency reliability, test–retest reliability and construct validity. The initial sample comprised 857 patients. Of these, 60 were excluded for ethical reasons and 57 were excluded because they were absent on the day of the survey. Of the remaining 740 patients, 552 (74.6 % of the included population) returned the questionnaire. Low levels of missing or “not applicable” responses were found for 18 of the 21 items (<20 %), and 20 of 21 items were below the ceiling-effect criterion. Psychometric testing identified three scales: structure and facilities (six items), patient-centred interaction (six items) and outcomes (five items). All scales met the criterion of 0.7 for Cronbach’s alpha (range: 0.79–0.91) and test–retest reliability (range: 0.83–0.84). The construct validity of the scales was supported by 14 of 15 significant associations with variables known to be related to psychiatric inpatient experiences. The PIPEQ-OS comprises three scales with satisfactory internal consistency reliability and construct validity. This instrument can be used for on-site assessments of psychiatric inpatient patient experiences, but further research is needed to evaluate its usefulness as basis for external quality indicators.
Effect of age on cutaneous vasoconstrictor responses to norepinephrine in humans.

To test the hypothesis that cutaneous vasoconstrictor responsiveness to exogenous norepinephrine is reduced in older compared with young subjects, dose-response relations between norepinephrine and...
Why Wages Don't Fall During a Recession

A deep question in economics is why wages and salaries don't fall during recessions. this is not true of other prices, which adjust relatively quickly to reflect changes in demand and supply. Although economists have posited many theories to account for wage rigidity, none is satisfactory. eschewing "top-down" theorizing, the author explored the puzzle by interviewing - during the recession of the early 1990s - over 300 business executives and labour leaders as well as professional recruiters and advisors to the unemployed. By taking this approach, gaining the confidence of his interlocutors and asking them detailed questions in a nonstructured way, he was able to uncover empirically the circumstances that give rise to wage rigidity. He found that the executives were averse to cutting wages of either current employees or new hires, even during the economic downturn when demand for their products fell sharply. They believed that cutting wages would hurt morale, which they felt was critical in gaining the cooperation of their employees, and in convincing them to internalize the managers' objectives for the company. Bewley's findings contradict most theories of wage rigidity and provide fascinating insights into the problems businesses face that prevent labour markets from clearing.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ ligands attenuate immunological symptoms of experimental allergic asthma

Abstract Asthma is characterized by a predominant TH2 type immune response to airborne allergens. Controlling TH2 cell function has been proposed as therapy for this disease. We show here that ligands for the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)γ significantly reduced the immunological symptoms of allergic asthma in a murine model of this disease. A PPARγ ligand, 15-deoxy-delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2), significantly inhibited production of the TH2 type cytokine IL-5 from T cells activated in vitro. More importantly, in a murine model of allergic asthma, mice treated orally with ciglitazone, a potent synthetic PPARγ ligand, had significantly reduced lung inflammation and mucous production following induction of allergic asthma. T cells from these ciglitazone treated mice also produced less IFNγ, IL-4, and IL-2 upon rechallenge in vitro with the model allergen. Our results suggest that ligands for PPARγ may be effective treatments for asthmatic patients.
Three AGU position statements being updated

As an AGU member, you have an opportunity to provide comments to panels preparing updates of three position statements for Council consideration in December 2007. For a quarter of a century, AGU has developed and maintained position statements in order to bring scientific expertise to bear on significant policy issues. Members worldwide are encouraged to help inform the policy-making process in their home locales with thoughtful presentation of scientific viewpoints. To help with this, any member may use an AGU policy statement in discussions with policy-makers as an official statement of the Union. Other societies may use an AGU position statement as a basis for developing their own statements— some AGU positions have even been adopted by other societies. Many members in the United States have used the statements when they visit their representatives on Capitol Hill. Position statements are published on the Web where they can be viewed by policy-makers, educators, and the interested public.
Adsorption of bovine serum albumin at the air/water interface and its effect on the formation of DPPC surface film

The adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) at the air/water interface and its effect on the transport of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) to form a surface film were studied with tensiometry, infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), and ellipsometry. For 1, 10, 100, and 1000 ppm BSA solutions, the steady-state tension ranges from 55 to 50 mN m−1. At pulsating area (at 20 cycles min−1), both the minimum and maximum tensions decrease with increasing bulk concentration. Even though the steady-state tension is similar for 100 and 1000 ppm BSA, IRRAS and ellipsometry results indicate that the adsorbed density is higher for 1000 ppm BSA. For 1000 ppm/1000 ppm BSA/DPPC mixture, the tension behavior was found to be similar to that of 1000 ppm BSA when alone. Results from IRRAS and ellipsometry also demonstrate that BSA is the dominant adsorbed component at the air/water interface. Thus, at 1000 ppm, by adsorbing fast and possibly irreversibly, BSA interferes with the transport and adsorption of DPPC and inhibits its ability to lower the surface tension. However, when DPPC is introduced via a spread monolayer mechanism, DPPC expels partly or completely the adsorbed BSA monolayer and then controls the tension behavior with little or no inhibition by BSA. Thus, the competitive adsorption of DPPC and BSA depends strongly on the path or mechanism of introducing DPPC to the surface and involves path-dependent nonequilibrium adsorption phenomena.