cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
‘I gave someone a good death’: Anonymity in a community of Reddit’s medical professionals:

Anonymity is often regarded as a negative influence on the quality of online communication, but can anonymity serve to bridge communication gaps under specific conditions? This study explores this ...
Improving Comparative Effectiveness Trials.

There are many challenges in meeting the expectations of ideal research study design. Randomized, controlled trials are considered the gold standard for comparative effectiveness studies used to ad...
In Our Backyard: Perceptions About Fracking, Science, and Health by Community Members:

Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extraction (fracking) has increased in the United States, as well as interest in the associated risks and benefits. This study’s purpose was to qualitatively examin...
On the automatic annotation of gene functions using observational data and phylogenetic trees

Motivation: Gene function annotation is important for a variety of downstream analyses of genetic data. Yet experimental characterization of function remains costly and slow, making computational prediction an important endeavor. In this paper we use a probabilistic evolutionary model built upon phylogenetic trees and experimental Gene Ontology functional annotations that allows automated prediction of function for unannotated genes. Results: We have developed a computationally efficient model of evolution of gene annotations using phylogenies based on a Bayesian framework using Markov Chain Monte Carlo for parameter estimation. Unlike previous approaches, our method is able to estimate parameters over many different phylogenetic trees and functions. The resulting parameters agree with biological intuition, such as the increased probability of function change following gene duplication. The method performs well on leave-one-out validation, and we further validated some of the predictions in the experimental scientific literature. Availability: Our method has been implemented as an R package and it is available online at https://github.com/USCBiostats/aphylo. Code needed to reproduce the tables and figures can be found in https://github.com/USCbiostats/aphylo-simulations.
Asymmetric Return Response to Expected Risk: Regulatory Response

Purpose: As investors’ fear have an impact on their risk-return tradeoff, this fear leaves markets susceptible to sudden and large fluctuations. Markets develop a long- run normal and regulatory actions should be different for non-normal trading days. Regulators should amend their precautionary methods to recognize the difference in investor behavior for high-risk periods versus low-risk periods. Design/methodology/approach: We empirically show the difference in investor response to changes in expected risk as a function of level of risk. We then show dif- ferent return patterns for high-risk and low-risk days. Our approach is implemented to evaluate whether Investors’ reaction is the same to changes in risk during high-risk periods versus during low-risk periods. Findings: The results indicate that the negative return response to incremental increases in risk is significantly higher for periods of high versus low expected risk, with high defined as risk levels above long-run normal. Research limitations/implications: Investors’ increased response to changes in risk expose financial markets to higher likelihood of sudden and larger fluctuations during high-risk periods. Regulator imposed circuit breakers are designed to protect markets against such market crashes. However, circuit breakers are not designed to account for investor behavior changes. Our results show that circuit breakers should be different for high-risk versus low-risk periods. Practical implications: A circuit breaker that is designed to protect investors against large drops should be amended to have a lower threshold during high-risk periods. Originality/value: Our contribution is, to our knowledge, the first research effort to evaluate the effects of differences in investor behavior on investor reactions and regulator imposed fail safes. During the times of extreme market risk, our proposed changes may enable circuit breakers function their intended purposes.
Impacting Resilience of Black Students Through Critically Conscious Institutional Leadership and Policy

The author develops a conceptual framework that defines characteristics of critically conscious institutions and proposes their effectiveness in the promotion and strengthening of resilience in bla...
Abstract P363: Predictors of Utility of Advanced Cardiac Imaging in Revealing Cryptogenic Stroke Etiology

Introduction: Advanced cardiac imaging (ACI), including transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE), cardiac CT and cardiac MRI, is widely considered a crucial element in the work-up of cryptogenic and ES...
Comparison of near-background concentrations of Argon-37 and Xenon-133 in the atmosphere

Abstract Radioisotopes of the noble gases xenon and argon can be important indicators of underground nuclear explosions. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) includes monitoring capabilities to identify potential nuclear explosions conducted in violation of the CTBT. This monitoring currently focuses on measurement of the xenon isotopes 131mXe, 133Xe, 133mXe, and 135Xe. However, it is predicted that within 100 days of an underground nuclear explosion (UNE) 37Ar would be released to the atmosphere at higher concentrations than xenon and with a higher signal to background ratio, depending on the radioxenon background levels. Therefore, inclusion of 37Ar measurement capabilities at atmospheric International Monitoring System (IMS) stations may represent an improvement in the capability to detect a nuclear explosion. At an IMS station location, an understanding of the expected range of background 37Ar activity concentrations is critical to determining what levels would constitute an elevated concentration. This work describes our analysis of atmospheric samples for 37Ar to evaluate the range of background concentrations. Samples were collected at multiple locations withing the United States, with approximately half coming from a sampler co-located with an IMS xenon monitoring station (RN75). The range of 37Ar concentrations measured in atmospheric air samples was relatively narrow; for samples considered detectable, the minimum and maximum measured concentrations were 0.56 and 2.3 mBq/m3, respectively. Comparison of 37Ar and 133Xe concentrations measured at the IMS station indicated some correlation between the measured concentrations. The results presented here demonstrate the capability to detect background concentrations of 37Ar in atmospheric air and provide a basis for potential implementation of 37Ar monitoring at IMS stations.
ON WAITING WILLFULLY IN URBAN UGANDA: Toward an Anthropology of Pace

Women in Uganda strategically time their entry into married motherhood in relation to others with whom they want to be connected. Although much of the burgeoning literature on “waithood” laments global youth’s delayed entry into social adulthood, I show that women in urban Uganda intentionally pause, slowing down their movement through the life course to cultivate networks of interdependence that will propel them not only forward through the life course but also upward socioeconomically. The logics and practices by which they pace themselves point beyond a neoliberal conception of time and agency, instead highlighting the heightened importance of divine connections and social coordination under increasingly capitalist and urban conditions. The lens of pace helps bring into view the situated, multilayered, relational projects of moving through life with others. EKIHANDIIKO OMUBUGUFU Abakazi omuri Uganda nibetebekanisiza gye obwiire bw’okutaaha omubushweere n’obuzaire waaba n’ogyeragyeranisa naabo abubarikweenda kwegaita/kuba nabo. N’obu ebihaandiiko ebirikweyongyera kukanya ebirikukwaata aha bunyeeto biraabe nibyooreka okutoonzya ahabw’eminyeeto kukyerererwa kukura, ninyoreka ngu abakazi omumyaanya ekurakureine omuri Uganda nibariindaho bakigyendereire, bakyeendeeza ahamigyendere omumituurire yaabo kwenda ngu babaase kwombeka emikago y’okuhweerahweerana etarikubayaamba kwongyera kubutuura emituurire yaabo kwonka kureka na n’okwongyera kubatunguura omubyentaatsya. Enteekateeka hamwe n’emitwaarize eyibarikutwaazamu n’ehingura ahanyetegyereza y’obweire hamwe n’obugabe bw’okwehitsyaho ebyetaago eya abakurakureine, beitu byongyera kumurika ekyetaago kihaango ky’okumanya ebyenyikiriza hamwe n’okutuuragye n’abaantu omumbeera z’obushuubuzi hamwe n’entunguuka ebiriyo nibikanya. Ekitangaazo ky’emitwarize nikiyaamba kureeba omubury’obuhikire, entebekanisa zitarikushushwana z’okubaasa kutuuragye nabaandi.
Global Perspective on Kidney Transplantation: United States

Kidney transplantation is the gold standard treatment for ESKD, of fering supe rior survival and quality of life compared with dialysis. The first successful kidney transplant in the United States was performed by Dr. Joseph Murray in 1954, and transplantation has expanded steadily in the United States after the Uniform Anatomic Gift Act passed in 1968 permitted US adults to donate their organs. The purpose of this review is to report on the current status of kidney transplantation in adults in the United States, with special emphasis on post-transplant outcomes and barriers to transplant. Unlike other solid organ transplants, such as liver and heart, allocation of kidneys is primarily on the basis of waiting time rather than severity of illness. Candidates also receive points for prior living donation, higher calculated panel reactive antigen score, and degree of human leukocyte antigen-DR mismatch; the higher the allocation score, the higher the position is on the waitlist. Patients in the United States are eligible for waitlisting once their eGFR reaches ≤20 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Allocation policies were significantly revised in December 2014, allowing patients to accrue waiting time either when they were listed or when they initiated dialysis, whichever is earliest, in an attempt to reduce disparities in early referral for kidney transplant, which disproportionately affected non-White patients (1). Deceased donor kidney allocation underwent an additional major change in March 2021 in an attempt to improve geographic disparities in access to transplant, moving from arbitrarily defined Donation Service Area boundaries to “proximity circles” from the deceased donor organ. There are 256 kidney transplant programs in the United States. Candidates referred by their nephrologist for a transplant undergo a rigorous medical and psychosocial evaluation and, if approved, they are placed on a national waitlist regulated by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation …
PhD Program Overview 2020-21

The 2020–21 academic year has been like no other. Subjected to forces, which are sometimes beyond our comprehension, we have been forced to rethink how we all live our lives on our planet. Shifting through different levels of lockdown, the PhD Program embraced a fully virtual model. This gave the program the opportunity of conducting its agenda with as much regularity as possible. Adapting to these new criteria has been challenging. However, reflecting on what is now gone and what we currently have has allowed us to make the best use of our resources. Our weekly Architectural Research Forum became a platform for PhD students and candidates to debate on their diverse research topics and interests. The academic year saw the inception of our Weekly Newsletter as means to stay close to all our PhD family members. When enjoying nice weather, we hosted outdoor gatherings following all safety protocols and health recommendations. All in, this year has been a learning curve. Mitigating the effects of isolation and fostering community from our homes, we’ve come to value any occasion to be close together, either virtually or in person.
Phosphorus speciation and sedimentary phosphorus release from the Gulf of Mexico sediments: Implication for hypoxia

Abstract Phosphorus (P) is an important macronutrient that can limit primary productivity in coastal marine ecosystems. This study provides a quantitative determination of abundance and chemical speciation of P and potential anaerobic P-release rates from northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) sediments. Seven sediment cores were collected from shelf, slope and deep-sea sediments in the northern GOM. A sequential extraction method was used to operationally separate P pools into readily available-P, Fe/Al–P, alkali extractable organic-P, Ca/Mg–P, and residual-P. Ca/Mg–P was the most abundant form of sediment P (79.0 ± 9.4% of TP). Northern GOM sediments were found to release 0.02–4.4 mg kg−1 d−1 of bioavailable-P under anoxic sediment condition. P-release rate had significant positive correlation (P = 0.001) with the Fe/Al–P fraction, indicating this relatively small pool of TP (∼0.4–10.2%) is primarily releasing available-P to the water column during hypoxia events. The findings of this study suggest that the internal sedimentary P loading contributes substantial bioavailable-P to the P-limited water column which leads to increased primary production in the northern GOM, creating a positive feedback mechanism for hypoxia. Therefore, the action plan to reduce the GOM hypoxia zone needs to take internal sediment P loading into account when managing for watershed nutrient loading.
An improved N-bit to N-bit reversible Haar-like transform

We introduce the piecewise-linear Haar (PLHaar) transform, a reversible n-bit to n-bit transform that is based on the Haar wavelet transform. PLHaar is continuous, while all current n-bit to n-bit methods are not, and is therefore uniquely usable with both lossy and lossless methods (e.g. image compression). PLHaar has both integer and continuous (i.e. non-discrete) forms. By keeping the coefficients to n bits PLHaar is particularly suited for use in hardware environments where channel width is limited, such as digital video channels and graphics hardware.
SOStream: self organizing density-based clustering over data stream

In this paper we propose a data stream clustering algorithm, called Self Organizing density based clustering over data Stream (SOStream). This algorithm has several novel features. Instead of using a fixed, user defined similarity threshold or a static grid, SOStream detects structure within fast evolving data streams by automatically adapting the threshold for density-based clustering. It also employs a novel cluster updating strategy which is inspired by competitive learning techniques developed for Self Organizing Maps (SOMs). In addition, SOStream has built-in online functionality to support advanced stream clustering operations including merging and fading. This makes SOStream completely online with no separate offline components. Experiments performed on KDD Cup'99 and artificial datasets indicate that SOStream is an effective and superior algorithm in creating clusters of higher purity while having lower space and time requirements compared to previous stream clustering algorithms.
Chalcone synthase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase mRNA levels following exposure of sorghum seedlings to three fungal pathogens

Abstract Oligonucleotide primers made complementary to conserved sequences in phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and chalcone synthase (CHS) genes previously cloned from other species were used to amplify segments of the corresponding genes from sorghum. Greater than 70% base sequence identity with homologous genes confirmed that a 535 bp clone (PAL1-1) and a 620 bp clone (CHS2G) were derived from the coding regions of PAL and CHS respectively. When used to probe genomic digests, the two clones detected 3 and 5EcoRI fragments, respectively. One fragment for each probe was polymorphic in the parents of a mapping population, permitting a locus for each gene to be located on a sorghum RFLP linkage map. RNA gel blot analyses were performed on extracts from control seedlings and from seedlings challenged with either of two fungal sorghum pathogens or a pathogen of maize that elicits a hypersensitive response in sorghum. Although low levels of PAL and CHS mRNA transcripts were present constitutively in the controls, both rapidly accumulated to high levels following inoculation with the maize pathogen,Bipolaris maydis, and decreasing amounts of mRNA were apparent by 120 h post-inoculation. Since challenge withSporisorium reilianumwas by needle inoculation, an additional control of mock inoculations was included for this pathogen. However, no differences in the amount of mRNA for either gene were detected over the sampling period, whether samples from uninoculated, mock inoculated or spore-inoculated seedlings were tested. Differences in the timing and level of mRNA accumulation were detected in seedlings after inoculation withPeronosclerospora sorghi. While seedlings of both resistant and susceptible cultivars accumulated higher levels of PAL and CHS mRNA than uninoculated controls, the accumulation of mRNA in resistant cultivars was higher and longer lasting than that in susceptible cultivars.
Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection and syncytium formation in human cells by V3 loop synthetic peptides from gp120.

Abstract Because V3 loop-specific antibodies have been shown to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection of human cells and because specific mutations in the V3 loop render the virus ineffective for infection and syncytium formation, we tested the anti-HIV effects of V3 loop peptides from different HIV-1 strains. We obtained evidence that V3 loop synthetic peptides of 8 to 15 amino acids at nanogram concentrations efficiently blocked HIV-1 IIIB infection of several human T-cell lines and of freshly prepared normal human T cells. More importantly, syncytium formation by three different primary clinical HIV isolates was inhibited by the V3 loop peptide from HIV-1 IIIB at a concentration of 1 micrograms/ml. Concentrations of V3 peptides up to 50 micrograms/ml were not toxic to any of the human cells studied. Additionally, V3 peptides incubated in normal human serum or plasma exhibited biological and physical stability for up to 24 h. Taken together, these results suggest that the V3 loop peptides have medical utility as therapeutic reagents to either prevent HIV-1 infection in humans or reduce the spread of virus infection in HIV-infected individuals. These findings are especially significant because a number of reports in the literature indicate that the V3 loop region in gp120 plays an important role in the initial stages of HIV-1 infection of cells.
Norepinephrine reverses N-methyl-D-aspartate-mediated inhibition of long-term potentiation in rat hippocampal slices.

Abstract Application of 1 μM N- methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) either immediately before or following tetanic stimulation inhibits the induction of CA1 hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP). We have examined the effect of trans -amino-1,3-cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid (ACPD), norepinephrine and acetylcholine on this NMDA-mediated LTP inhibition using extracellular recordings from in vitro rat hippocampal slices. When NMDA is accompanied by 100 μM ACPD or 10 μM norepinephrine, the block of LTP is overcome. The norepinephrine effect is mimicked by phenylephrine and methoxamine and is blocked by phentolamine and prazosin suggesting the involvement of α 1 -adrenergic receptors.
The STAPL pView

The Standard Template Adaptive Parallel Library (STAPL) is a C++ parallel programming library that provides a collection of distributed data structures (pContainers) and parallel algorithms (pAlgorithms) and a generic methodology for extending them to provide customized functionality. STAPL algorithms are written in terms of pViews, which provide a generic access interface to pContainer data by abstracting common data structure concepts. Briefly, pViews allow the same pContainer to present multiple interfaces, e.g., enabling the same pMatrix to be 'viewed' (or used) as a row-major or column-major matrix, or even as a vector. In this paper, we describe the stapl pView concept and its properties. pViews generalize the iterator concept and enable parallelism by providing random access to, and an ADT for, collections of elements. We illustrate how pViews provide support for managing the tradeoff between expressivity and performance and examine the performance overhead incurred when using pViews.
Complete versus anterior two-thirds corpus callosotomy in children: analysis of outcome

Object The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of anterior versus complete sectioning of the corpus callosum in children suffering from medically refractory epilepsy. The authors report seizure outcome in patients who underwent anterior two-thirds or complete corpus callosotomy (CC) during the period 1995–2008 at St. Louis Children's Hospital. Methods The medical records of 27 children and adolescents with a minimum follow-up of 6 months were retrospectively evaluated with respect to seizure status, anticonvulsant outcomes, and subjective results. Preoperatively, patients suffered from a variety of seizure types that occurred daily, weekly, or episodically. The male/female ratio was 19:8, and patients ranged in age between 3 and 19 years (mean 9.93 years). Seizure outcome, parental assessment of daily function, and changes in the number of prescribed antiepileptic drugs were all assessed. Results Fifteen patients underwent an initial anterior two-thirds CC, and 12 underwent a complete CC. Of t...
Strongly Coupled Data Assimilation Using Leading Averaged Coupled Covariance (LACC). Part I: Simple Model Study*

AbstractThis paper studies a new leading averaged coupled covariance (LACC) method for the strongly coupled data assimilation (SCDA). The SCDA not only uses the coupled model to generate the forecast and assimilate observations into multiple model components like the weakly coupled version (WCDA), but also applies a cross update using the coupled covariance between variables from different model components. The cross update could potentially improve the balance and quality of the analysis, but its implementation has remained a great challenge in practice because of different time scales between model components. In a typical extratropical coupled system, the ocean–atmosphere correlation shows a strong asymmetry with the maximum correlation occurring when the atmosphere leads the ocean by about the decorrelation time of the atmosphere. The LACC method utilizes such asymmetric structure by using the leading forecasts and observations of the fast atmospheric variable for cross update, therefore, increasing t...
Threonine, Tryptophan and Histidine Requirements of Immature Beagle Dogs

The threonine, tryptophan and histidine requirements of growing male Beagle dogs were determined using diets containing the equivalent of 14% protein as crystalline L-amino acids. For each amino acid the requirement was taken to be the minimum dietary quantity required for optimal growth, feed efficiency and nitrogen retention. In experiment 1 the threonine requirement was found to be provided by 0.52% or more dietary threonine. In experiments 2 and 3 the minimal dietary tryptophan and histidine requirements of immature dogs were estimated as 0.17 and 0.21%, respectively. The requirements for threonine and tryptophan are similar to those for growing rats. However, the histidine requirement of Beagles appears to be lower than that of rats.
Race, Genetics and Health: An Introduction

The emergence of putative race-specific or ethnic-specific medicines appears to be overturning a new consensus reached by physical anthropologists that race is a biological fiction. This article examines whether there is substance to the notion that conventional norms of race classification have utility in medical diagnosis and prescription, whether there is legitimacy to notions of race-specific diseases, and whether the genomics revolution promises individualized or racialized medicine. Correspondingly, the article asks how far genetics really can take us in understanding racial health disparities. Finally, the article provides a foreword to four foundational articles in the new field of race, genetics and health.
Mechanically Sintered Gallium–Indium Nanoparticles

Liquid metal nanoparticles that are mechanically sintered at and below room temperature are introduced. This material can be sintered globally on large areas of entire deposits or locally to create liquid traces within deposits. The metallic nanoparticles are fabricated by dispersing a liquid metal in a carrier solvent via sonication. The resulting dispersion is compatible with inkjet printing, a process not applicable to the bulk liquid metal in air.
Violence in children's animated television

Pairs of cartoon episodes which did and did not meet the National Association of Broadcaster's Code for Violence were rated by college students and children on a series of scales to evaluate level of violence and of enjoyment. The results indicated that the Code has been ineffective in reducing levels of rated violence; however, entertainment value has decreased.
Why tight-binding theory?

In the context of computational physics other methods are more accurate, but tight-binding theory allows very direct physical interpretation and is simple enough to allow much more realistic treatments beyond the local density approximation. We address several important questions of this last category: How does the gap enhancement from Coulomb correlations vary from material to material? Should the enhanced gap be used for calculating the dielectric constant? For calculating the effective mass in k-dot-p theory? How valid is the scissors approximation? How does one line up bands at an interface? How should we match the envelope function at interfaces in effective-mass theory? Why can the resulting quantum-well states seem to violate the uncertainty principle? How should f-shell electrons be treated when they are intermediate between band-like and core-like? The answers to all of these questions are given and discussed.
Cysteine Racemization on IgG Heavy and Light Chains

Under basic pH conditions, the heavy chain 220-light chain 214 (H220-L214) disulfide bond, found in the flexible hinge region of an IgG1, can convert to a thioether. Similar conditions also result in racemization of the H220 cysteine. Here, we report that racemization occurs on both H220 and L214 on an IgG1 with a λ light chain (IgG1λ) but almost entirely on H220 of an IgGl with a κ light chain (IgG1κ) under similar conditions. Likewise, racemization was detected at significant levels on H220 and L214 on endogenous human IgG1λ but only at the H220 position on IgG1κ. Low but measurable levels of d-cysteines were found on IgG2 cysteines in the hinge region, both with monoclonal antibodies incubated under basic pH conditions and on antibodies isolated from human serum. A simplified reaction mechanism involving reversible β-elimination on the cysteine is presented that accounts for both base-catalyzed racemization and thioether formation at the hinge disulfide.
Relation between the constant rank and the relaxed constant rank constraint qualifications

This article discusses a relation between the constant rank constraint qualification (CRCQ) and the recently proposed relaxed constant rank constraint qualification (RCRCQ). We show that a parametric constraint system satisfying the RCRCQ is locally diffeomorphic to a system satisfying the CRCQ. We use this result to extend some existing results for the CRCQ to the RCRCQ, establish a relation between the RCRCQ and the Mangasarian–Fromovitz constraint qualification, and obtain a weakened version of the Aubin property under the RCRCQ.
High-resolution multiple quantum MAS NMR spectroscopy of half-integer quadrupolar nuclei

We demonstrate the utility of a two-pulse sequence in obtaining high-resolution solid state NMR spectra of half-integer quadrupolar nuclei with magic-angle-spinning (MAS). The experiment, which utilizes multiple/single-quantum correlation, was first described in a different form by Frydman and Harwood [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 117 (1995) 5367] and yields high-resolution isotropic NMR spectra where shifts are determined by the sum of resonance offset (chemical shift) and second-order quadrupolar effects. The two-pulse sequence described here is shown to provide a higher and more uniform excitation of multiple-quantum coherence than the three-pulse sequence used previously.
A Qualitative Study of Patients' Use of Expedited Partner Therapy

Background:In randomized controlled trials of expedited partner therapy (EPT), among patients in the EPT arm, the proportion of partners believed to have taken the medication ranged from 56% to 85%. Little is known about the content of successful and unsuccessful EPT negotiations between patients an
Across-Product Versus Within-Product Specialization in International Trade

This paper exploits product-level U. S. import data to test trade theory. Although the United States increasingly sources the same products from both high- and low-wage countries, unit values within products vary systematically with exporter relative factor endowments and exporter production techniques. These facts reject factor-proportions specialization across products but are consistent with such specialization within products. The data are inconsistent with new trade theory models predicting an inverse relationship between price and producer productivity. The existence of within-product specialization is an important consideration for understanding the impact of globalization on firms and workers, the evolution of total factor productivity, and the likelihood of long-run income convergence.
A Study of the Applications of PERT

The article discusses the applications of PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique)—its use, mode of application, and criteria for its implementation. The author presents a study of 200 compan...
Grazing allowance after the morning or afternoon milking for lactating cows fed a total mixed ration (TMR) enhances trans11-18:1 and cis9,trans11-18:2 (rumenic acid) in milk fat to different extents

Abstract During a 6-week period, three groups of 10 cows were fed a total mixed ration (TMR) only or fed the TMR plus access to mixed grass/clover pastures for 8 h after the morning (PAM) or afternoon (PPM) milking to determine the influence of voluntary pasture intake on profiles of biohydrogenation intermediates in milk fat. Cows in PAM had access to paddocks (0.2 ha per day) from 03:00 to 11:00 h, whereas cows in PPM were allowed to graze from 15:00 to 22:00 h. Estimated intake of dry matter (DM) from the TMR by cows within groups was 25, 20, or 16 kg per day, respectively, for TMR, PAM, or PPM. Milk yield was not affected by treatments averaging 31 kg per day, and concentrations and yields of milk components were also unaffected. Milk fat concentration of trans 10-18:1 was higher for cows fed TMR compared with PAM or PPM. In contrast, concentrations of trans 11-18:1 in milk fat from cows fed PAM (20 mg/g total fatty acids) or PPM (24 mg/g) was higher compared with those fed the TMR (14 mg/g). Cows fed PAM or PPM also had greater concentrations of cis 9, trans 11-18:2 (9 or 10 mg/g) compared with those fed TMR (6 mg/g). Thus, daily yields of trans 11-18:1 averaged 17, 20, and 13 g per day and yields of cis 9, trans 11-18:2 were 8, 8, and 5 g per day, respectively, for cows fed PAM, PPM, or TMR. Responses (except for cis 9, trans 11-18:2 yield) were higher when PPM was fed, compared with PAM. Concentration of 18:3 n −3 in milk fat from cows fed PAM or PPM increased by 60% compared with cows fed TMR only. Pasture intake also resulted in two-fold increases in concentrations of trans 11, cis 15-18:2, an intermediate of 18:3 n −3 hydrogenation, in milk fat. Milk fat concentrations of trans 11-18:1, cis 9, trans 11-18:2, and trans 11, cis 15-18:2 were positively correlated with 18:3 n −3 concentration. Results suggest daily access to pasture for 8 h can substantially increase concentrations of 18:3 n −3, trans 11, cis 15-18:2, cis 9, trans 11-18:2, and trans 11-18:1 in milk fat of cows dependent on a TMR for the majority of their nutrients. Although desaturation of rumen-derived vaccenic acid seems to account for the majority of milk fat cis 9, trans 11-18:2 in grazing cows, data also showed that vaccenic acid desaturation may be independent of its concentration.
Pneumonia in pregnancy.

Objective:Historically, pneumonia during pregnancy has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality compared with nonpregnant women. The goal of this article is to review current literature describing pneumonia in pregnancy. This review will identify maternal risk factors, potential compli
Diaphragm motion quantification in megavoltage cone-beam CT projection images

Purpose: To quantify diaphragm motion in megavoltage (MV) cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) projections. Methods: User identified ipsilateral hemidiaphragm apex (IHDA) positions in two full exhale and inhale frames were used to create bounding rectangles in all other frames of a CBCT scan. The bounding rectangle was enlarged to create a region of interest (ROI). ROI pixels were associated with a cost function: The product of image gradients and a gradient direction matching function for an ideal hemidiaphragm determined from 40 training sets. A dynamic Hough transform (DHT) models a hemidiaphragm as a contour made of two parabola segments with a common vertex (the IHDA). The images within the ROIs are transformed into Hough space where a contour's Hough value is the sum of the cost function over all contour pixels. Dynamic programming finds the optimal trajectory of the common vertex in Hough space subject to motion constraints between frames, and an active contour model further refines the result. Interpolated ray tracing converts the positions to room coordinates. Root-mean-square (RMS) distances between these positions and those resulting from an expert's identification of the IHDA were determined for 21 Siemens MV CBCT scans. Results: Computation time on a 2.66 GHz CPU was 30 s. The average craniocaudal RMS error was1.38±0.67mm. While much larger errors occurred in a few near-sagittal frames on one patient's scans, adjustments to algorithm constraints corrected them. Conclusions: The DHT based algorithm can compute IHDA trajectories immediately prior to radiation therapy on a daily basis using localization MVCBCT projection data. This has potential for calibrating external motion surrogates against diaphragm motion.
Seasonal variation in embryonic diapause of the striped ground cricket, Allonemobius fasciatus.

. The incidence and intensity of embryonic diapause in the striped ground cricket, Allonemobius fasciatus DeGeer (Gryllidae), is influenced by the date of oviposition and the incubation temperature. At 20dC, embryos develop normally until the end of the appendage-formation stage when diapause occurs. The intensity of ‘winter’ diapause at this stage is greatest in eggs laid early in the season. Incubation at higher temperature induces a different and earlier ‘summer’ diapause. The higher the temperature the earlier the stage at which this developmental suppression is imposed. At 27 and 30dC, some individuals develop without any interruption and hatch within 20 days. The proportion of these fast-developing eggs is low in summer but increases towards the end of the laying season. In nature, this species is univoltine and precocious hatching before winter is unlikely. When embryos diapausing at an early stage at 27dC are transferred to low temperatures, they resume development and enter winter diapause. The time required to reach the winter-diapause stage after transfer is inversely related to the temperature (30-30dC). At 30dC, sunmer diapause is neither induced nor maintained.
Aspirin—a national survey I: Semiautomated determination of aspirin in bulk and tablet formulations and salicylic acid in tablet formulations

A semiautomated assay to determine aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) in aspirin tablets, powdered tablet composites, and pure drug substances is presented. The sample was dissolved in alcoholic buffer, diluted, and extracted with chloroform. The absorbance of the chloroform solution was read at 280 nm. Results obtained by the USP XIX and semiautomated methods are compared. The proposed method is accurate and precise, and common excipients do not interfere. Recoveries of 100% were obtained. A semiautomated assay for salicylic acid in aspirin tablets also is presented. The sample was dissolved in alcoholic buffer, ferric nitrate was added, and the absorbance of the resulting purple color was read at 532 nm. The method is suitable as a rapid screening procedure for testing the salicylic acid content of aspirin products. Results obtained by the USP XIX and semiautomated methods are compared, and the accuracy and precision of the proposed method are given. One hundred seventy tablet samples and 34 bulk drug substances were analyzed for aspirin and salicylic acid content. Approximately 5% of the tablet samples failed to meet the USP XIX limits for aspirin content, and 10% failed to meet the limits for salicylic acid.
Late Holocene Vegetation Change in the Sierra Madre Oriental of Central Mexico

Past vegetation and climate changes reconstructed from a sediment core from Laguna Atezca, Molango, Mexico, provide new insights into the environmental and cultural histories of the Sierra Madre Oriental during the last 1700 yr. Pollen, microscopic charcoal, sediment chemistry, loss on ignition, and magnetic susceptibility indicate that three phases of human occupation, deforestation, and erosion (ca. A.D. 280–890, ca. A.D. 1030–1420, and ca. A.D. 1680–present) alternate with two phases of abandonment (ca. A.D. 890–1030 and ca. A.D. 1420–1680). Forest composition of the two abandonment phases differed, with cloud forest taxa (Liquidambar, Ostrya/Carpinus, Ulmus, etc.) dominating the pollen record during the first phase, and Quercus and Pinus pollen characterizing phase two. These differences may reflect a climate change in which the second phase was drier than the first; Alternatively, the increase in Pinus and Quercus may have been caused by a human-induced decline in soil fertility. The Laguna Atezca record also differs from several other Mesoamerican paleoenvironmental records in that it shows no evidence of drought at the end of the Classic Period, ca. A.D. 900.
An ideal clamping analysis for a cross-ply laminate

Different elementary clamping models are discussed for a three layer crossply laminate to study the sensitivity of clamping to the definition of cross-sectional rotation. All of these models leave a considerable residual warping at the edges. Using a complimentary energy principle and principle of superposition, an analysis is conducted to reduce this residual warping. This led to the identification of exact interior solution corresponding to the ideal clamping. This study also suggests a presence of stress singularities at the corners and between different layers near the fixed edge.
Validity of Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rates for Assessment of Renal Function After Renal Artery Stenting in Patients With Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of estimates of glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for assessing serial changes in renal function after renal artery stenting. Background eGFR are unreliable for assessing serial renal function in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (RAS). eGFR have not been validated for assessment of serial renal function after renal artery stenting. Methods Serum creatinine (SCr) and 125I-iothalamate GFR (iGFR) were measured in RAS patients before and after renal artery stenting. eGFR were calculated from Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI), and Cockcroft-Gault (CG) formulas. Using iGFR as the reference standard, the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) were determined for MDRD, CKD-EPI, and CG for assessing changes in GFR before and after intervention. Results Between 1998 and 2007, 84 patients underwent iGFR and eGFR before and after renal artery stenting. All eGFR demonstrated poor sensitivity and reliability for detecting ≥20% changes in iGFR, and poor agreement in the magnitude and direction of change in iGFR, before and after renal stenting. Conclusions In RAS patients, eGFR demonstrate poor sensitivity and reliability for detecting meaningful changes in iGFR after renal artery stenting. eGFR should be abandoned as primary endpoints in major clinical trials assessing the impact of renal revascularization on renal function.
Physicochemical and Oxidative Changes in Sonicated Interesterified Soybean Oil

The effect of power ultrasound on physicochemical properties and oxidative stability of an interesterified soybean oil (IESBO) was investigated. IESBO was crystallized at 32 °C and sonicated for 10 s with acoustic power of 101 W. The sonicated IESBO was tested for melting behavior and chemical composition and compared to those of non sonicated IESBO to determine physical and chemical changes originated as a consequence of sonication. Application of power ultrasound affected the melting behavior of the crystallized fat and did not affect its chemical composition. Oxidation stability of the sonicated IESBO was measured using peroxide value (PV) and compared to that of non sonicated IESBO and liquid soybean oil (SBO) when stored at 25 °C for 105 days followed by storage at 40 °C for 42 days. Power ultrasound did not cause accelerated oxidation in SBO or IESBO until they were highly oxidized (PV > 10 mequiv/kg). At high levels of oxidation, non-sonicated IESBO had significantly higher PV than sonicated IESBO, while non-sonicated SBO had significantly lower PV than sonicated SBO.
Hinduism and Economic Development in South Asia

The people of South Asia are deeply religious and all facets of their lives including their endeavours to achieve material advancement are affected greatly by religious beliefs and values. In what ways, and to what extent, non‐economic factors, specifically religious beliefs, affect economic behaviour in any society, is a matter of considerable controversy among economists. The theorists question the advisability of applying non‐economic factors to economic phenomena which presuppose “specialisation”, division of labour and have narrow scope of study. They contend that non‐economic factors lack objectivity for want of rigorous analysis and quantification. Also, cultural factors change but slowly, and thus, in the analysis of the short‐run process of change, these non‐economic factors do not have much relevance. Karl Marx contended that the social and cultural phases of human evolution are the consequence rather than the causes of economic factors. This atomistic conception of social process, is, however, criticised by some social scientists like Schumpeter. They maintain that “economic man” is a myth and that the unity of social life and its inseparable connection with various elements preclude any dissection of concrete reality into political, social, cultural, ethical and economic parts. The indian Planning Commission is cognisant of the inter‐relation between non‐economic factors and economic development. The Planning Commission suggests that:
Inconsistent Self-Views in the Control Identity Model

Abstract One′s control identity is the self-meanings associated with the degree to which a person has control over others. This study examines the implications of identity theory when the control identity is not in equilibrium, that is, when a person′s self-perceptions are inconsistent with their control identity standard. Identity theory claims that when inconsistency occurs, people will act (often in exaggerated ways) to change perceptions to better match their identity standard. This is tested on two populations: college daters and newly married couples. We find in the first, exploratory study among daters that those whose self-conceptions involve frequently or infrequently controlling their partners (both extreme behaviors) have inconsistent self-views. In the second study, we confirm that those who have inconsistent self-views relevant to their control identity control their partner to a greater extent than those without these inconsistencies. We also examine some of the causes and consequences of the control identity. We find that individuals, in attempting to maintain their own control identity, create problems in their relationships: a self-society conflict.
First Results of In-Can Microwave Processing Experiments for Radioactive Liquid Wastes at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Waste Handling and Packaging Plant is developing a microwave process to reduce and solidify remote-handled transuranic (RH-TRU) liquids and sludges presently stored in large tanks at ORNL. Testing has recently begun on an in drum microwave process using nonradioactive RH-TRU surrogates. The microwave process development effort has focused on an in-drum process to dry the RH-TRU liquids and sludges in the final storage container and then melt the salt residues to form a solid monolith. A 1/3-scale proprietary microwave applicator was designed, fabricated, and tested to demonstrate the essential features of the microwave design and to provide input into the design of the full-scale applicator. Conductivity cell measurements suggest that the microwave energy heats near the surface of the surrogate over a wide range of temperatures. The final wasteform meets the waste acceptance criteria for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, a federal repository for defense transuranic wastes near Carlsbad, New Mexico. 7 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.
A new direct current method for resistance measurements of ionic membranes and its application to composite membranes

Abstract The present paper deals with a D.C. method for measuring membrane electrical resistance making use of a constant current pulse, automated measuring equipment and taking into account polarization phenomena. The potential transient, subsequent to application of current, is analyzed, and membrane electrical resistance is determined by extrapolation to zero time of the potential differences measured after the current step. Experimental results obtained with commercial ion-exchange membranes were in good agreement with those computed from the diffusion equation. The method developed gives values with a standard deviation lower than traditional techniques. As an application example, the current pulse technique allows measurement of electrical resistance of composite silicafouled membranes in the electrodialysis process in both current directions. In this case the different response of the system, after the current pulse, gives useful information about membrane structure and ion distribution on the double layers surrounding the membrane.
Null geodesics in the extended Kerr manifold

The behavior of null geodesics is analyzed for extended Kerr manifolds whose rotation and mass parameters satisfy the condition $0\ensuremath{\le}{\mathfrak{a}}^{2}\ensuremath{\le}{m}^{2}$. Geodesics are characterized by their impact parameters; radial and angular barriers, which restrict the motion, are derived in terms of these parameters. The radial barriers are used in determining the ultimate destination of null rays in the extended manifold. In agreement with previous work, there is a "throat," outside the event horizons, through which rays are admitted to the hole; we find in addition an "inner throat," which admits rays to negative radii. The boundary of each throat is determined for various initial ray angles ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{0}$ for holes of particular rotation parameters. The cross-sectional area of the outer throat is rather insensitive to ray and hole parameters, but the inner throat is larger for rays with smaller ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{0}$ or for holes with larger rotation. The throat areas are related to the angular distributions of rays emerging from a hole into various regions of the manifold, after having initially converged upon the hole in a spherically symmetric manner.