cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response to: infliximab three-dose induction regimen in severe corticosteroid-refractory ulcerative colitis: early and late outcome and predictors of colectomy.

Dear Sir, We read with great interest the prospective observational study by Monterubbianesi et al. of infliximab (IFX) for the treatment of severe ulcerative colitis (UC)1. The authors noted 3- and 12-month colectomy rates of 18.6% and 25.6%, respectively. Three-dose induction was completed in 82%; importantly, 75% of those unable to complete induction required surgery. In multivariate analysis, high baseline CRP concentrations and severe endoscopic disease were associated with risk of colectomy. At our center, we also observed that patients who completed induction dosing fared better, irrespective of whether IFX was given in the inpatient or outpatient setting. At our institution, we retrospectively observed …
Actin Filament Alterations in Rat Hepatocytes Induced In Vivo and In Vitro by Microcystin-LR, a Hepatotoxin from the Blue-green Alga, Microcystis aeruginosa

The morphologic effects of microcystin-LR (MCLR) were examined in vitro and in vivo to identify the specific cell type(s) affected and to characterize the actin filament changes occurring in hepato...
An intra-fraction markerless daily lung tumor localization algorithm for EPID images

In this work we report an intra-fractional markerless algorithm that accurately detects lung tumors on mV projections within the beam's eye view, while minimizing harmful effects such as poor soft tissue resolution, global image distortion, image blurring and scattering due to intrafraction target motion and radiation scatter.. First, we generate two sets of DRRs digitally reconstructed radiographs-background DRR without tumor and tumor only DRR from the 4D CT planning data after the tumor has been initially segmented out. Next, the composite DRR is generated by fusing the tumor DRR on the background. The composite DRR along with the matching mV projection are divided into a matrix of small tiles. The tile configuration is automatically set up such that the tumor always remains within the beam's-eye-view geometry on the composite DRR. In order to locate the tumor on the mV projection, the tumor DRR is fused at different locations on the background DRR while the tiles of the composite DRR are globally shifted. For each configuration, the composite DRR is matched with the corresponding mV projection. A simple NCC normalized cross correlation is used to compute the similarity between the composite DRR and corresponding mV projection tiles. Finally, the location of the lung tumor on the mV projection is identified based on the best match found.The algorithm was successfully tested on a dynamic chest phantom at our institution. Approximately 5700 raw images over 12 gantry angles were tested and the tumor was accurately located on every mV projection. Although, the chest phantom was created to mimic the human chest anatomy with neighboring organs, tissues and bony structures, which introduced strong signals, the maximum error reported was less that 1.6 mm while the average error reported was less than 0.7 mm.
Simple sample digestion of sewage and sludge for multi-element analysis

Abstract A simple digestion method of sewage, sludge, and other materials in sealed ampuls for multi‐element determination is reported. The sealed samples are digested in an autoclave at 125°C and 1.2 atmosphere pressure for one hour. In a single digestion both volatile and non‐volatile elements are recovered. Comparison of this method with conventional hot plate digestion using NBS reference materials, sewage, and sludge, shows equal or better recoveries of the metals in sealed ampuls. The method is not prone to metal contamination and can be used for large numbers of samples.
Plasma potential mapping of high power impulse magnetron sputtering discharges

Pulsed emissive probe techniques have been used to determine the plasma potential distribution of high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) discharges. An unbalanced magnetron with a niobium target in argon was investigated for a pulse length of 100 μs at a pulse repetition rate of 100 Hz, giving a peak current of 170 A. The probe data were recorded with a time resolution of 20 ns and a spatial resolution of 1 mm. It is shown that the local plasma potential varies greatly in space and time. The lowest potential was found over the target’s racetrack, gradually reaching anode potential (ground) several centimeters away from the target. The magnetic presheath exhibits a funnel-shaped plasma potential resulting in an electric field which accelerates ions toward the racetrack. In certain regions and times, the potential exhibits weak local maxima which allow for ion acceleration to the substrate. Knowledge of the local E and static B fields lets us derive the electrons’ E×B drift velocity, which is abou...
New constraints on squark and gluino masses from radiative b decays

Abstract We show on general grounds that radiative mesonic decays, mediated through penguin-like diagrams, are expected to exhibit a significant enhancement from the exchange of supersymmetric particles. An interesting example is the decay b→sγ. An experimental bound BR(B→K ∗ γ) ⩽ 10 −3 is presently available. It is however unclear whether K ∗ γ represents the dominant mode for the inclusive b→sγ decay. We show that an upper bound BR(b→sγ) −3 leads, for m t ⋍ 45–80 GeV, to bounds on squarks and gluino masses comparable to the one coming from the analysis of the monojet events at the CERN pp collider.
Shared Logistic Normal Distributions for Soft Parameter Tying in Unsupervised Grammar Induction

We present a family of priors over probabilistic grammar weights, called the shared logistic normal distribution. This family extends the partitioned logistic normal distribution, enabling factored covariance between the probabilities of different derivation events in the probabilistic grammar, providing a new way to encode prior knowledge about an unknown grammar. We describe a variational EM algorithm for learning a probabilistic grammar based on this family of priors. We then experiment with unsupervised dependency grammar induction and show significant improvements using our model for both monolingual learning and bilingual learning with a non-parallel, multilingual corpus.
Nanofluidic Platform for Single Mitochondria Analysis Using Fluorescence Microscopy

Using nanofluidic channels in PDMS of cross section 500 nm × 2 μm, we demonstrate the trapping and interrogation of individual, isolated mitochondria. Fluorescence labeling demonstrates the immobilization of mitochondria at discrete locations along the channel. Interrogation of mitochondrial membrane potential with different potential sensitive dyes (JC-1 and TMRM) indicates the trapped mitochondria are vital in the respiration buffer. Fluctuations of the membrane potential can be observed at the single mitochondrial level. A variety of chemical challenges can be delivered to each individual mitochondrion in the nanofluidic system. As sample demonstrations, increases in the membrane potential are seen upon introduction of OXPHOS substrates into the nanofluidic channel. Introduction of Ca2+ into the nanochannels induces mitochondrial membrane permeabilization (MMP), leading to depolarization, observed at the single mitochondrial level. A variety of applications in cancer biology, stem cell biology, apoptos...
DISCUSSION OF: An Empirical Investigation of the Relationship between Profitability Persistence and Firms' Choice of Business Model: Evidence from the U.S. Airline Industry

T he Collins et al. (2011) study (hereafter, CRC) examines how the competitive strategies of airlines impact the persistence of their operating earnings. The study then investigates if the persistence of earnings components, such as unit prices, costs, and productivity changes, also varies by competitive strategy. The study uses 590 observations of quarterly financial performance from 14 airline companies, over the period 1996 to 2008, to examine the impact of different competitive strategies on the persistence of profit margins and asset turnover. Two airlines’ competitive strategies are identified: network carriers and low-cost providers. The paper documents that network airlines (differentiators) have more persistent operating profit margins than low-cost carriers. Little difference is noted for total asset turnover across business models. The study also demonstrates that partitioning the change in profit margin into growth, price-recovery, and productivity components more fully explains future profit margins than current profit margin alone. The paper is a nice blend of the literatures in industrial economics and both financial and management accounting. There are two strings in the paper that are interesting to management and management accountants. One is how a firm’s competitive strategy impacts the persistence of profit margins and asset turnover ratios, which are the two key components of return on assets using the DuPont formula. The other interesting issue is the examination of how volume, price, and productivity components of profit margin changes impact earnings persistence differently across competitive strategies. As this latter part of the paper uses traditional variance analysis and productivity measures, it is particularly interesting to management accountants. Below, I discuss these two inter-related issues.
Sex Differences in Territorial Behavior Exhibited by the Spotted Hyena (Hyaenidae, Crocuta crocuta)

Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) are gregarious carnivores that defend group territories against encroachment by neighboring conspecifics. Here we monitored the behavior of members of one clan of free-ranging spotted hyenas during border patrols, ‘wars’ with neighboring clans, and other interactions with alien intruders, to document differences between the sexes in territorial behavior in this species. We also examined the possibility that the probability or rate of attack on alien hyenas encountered within the clan’s territory would vary with the sex of the intruders. Initiation and leadership of most cooperative territorial behaviors were by adult female clan members, although border patrols were occasionally conducted by groups composed exclusively of resident males. The vast majority of alien intruders into the territory of the study clan were males. Resident females were more likely to attack intruding females than intruding males, but hourly rates of aggression directed by females towards aliens did not vary with intruder sex. Resident males were more likely than resident females to attack alien males, and resident males directed significantly higher hourly rates of aggression towards intruding males than females. Although female leadership in most cooperative territorial behaviors distinguishes spotted hyenas from many mammalian carnivores, other sex differences in the territorial behavior of spotted hyenas resemble those documented in other gregarious predators. Sex differences observed in hyena territoriality are consistent with the hypothesis that male and female clan members derive different selective benefits from advertisement and defense of group territories.
Genetic control of leucine aminopeptidase and esterase isozymes in the interspecific cross Cucurbita ecuadorensis x C. maxima

Starch gel electrophoretic analyses of crude seed extracts of Cucurbita ecuadorensis, C. maxima, their F1 and F2, and three of the four possible interspecific backcrosses reveal that the genus is polymorphic for alpha-naphthyl acetate esterases (Est) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP). The two electrophoretic forms of both Est and LAP are controlled by codominant alleles. The two loci do not exhibit linkage. Neither the LAP nor the Est phenotypes exhibit a significant deviation from the expected 1:1 ratio in interspecific backcrosses when the donor parent alleles are transmitted through female gametes, but there is a significant deviation for Est when transmission is through male gametes. Differential gametic selection involving the Est-1 locus suggests structural differences between the genomes of the parental species for the chromosomal region in which this locus occurs. No structural differences are indicated between the parental genomes for the chromosome region bearing the Lap-1 locus.
Medical journals’ conflicts of interest in the publication of book reviews

The purpose of the study was to assess medical journals’ conflicts of interest in the publication of book reviews. We examined book reviews published in 1999, 2000, and 2001 (N=1,876) in five leading medical journals: Annals of Internal Medicine, British Medical Journal (BMJ), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Lancet, and New England Journal of Medicine. The main outcome measure was journal publication of reviews of books that had been published by the journal’s own publisher, that had been edited or authored by a lead editor of the journal, or that posed another conflict of interest. We also surveyed the editors-in-chief of the five journals about their policies on these conflicts of interests. During the study period, four of the five journals published 30 book reviews presenting a conflict of interest: nineteen by the BMJ, five by the Annals, four by JAMA, and two by the Lancet. These reviews represent 5.8%, 2.7%, 0.7%, and 0.7%, respectively, of all book reviews published by the journals. These four journals, respectively, published reviews of 11.9%, 25.0%, 0.9%, and 1.0% of all medical books published by the journals’ publishers. Only one of the 30 book reviews included a disclosure statement addressing the conflict of interest. None of the journals had a written policy pertaining to the conflicts of interest assessed in this study, although four reported having unwritten policies. We recommend that scientific journals and associations representing journal editors develop policies on conflicts of interest pertaining to book reviews.
Fugitive emissions from Norwegian oil and gas production

Abstract Fugitive hydrocarbon emissions from oil and gas production, always a safety concern, are currently a growing environmental and economic concern. Fugitive emissions from the offshore industry comprise mainly methane, which has an atmospheric warming contribution of approximately 14 times that of CO2, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which have an atmospheric warming contribution of around twice that of CO2. Current studies indicate that fugitive emissions are approximately equivalent to 0.02% of the total gas produced in 1992 on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. A positive downward trend in fugitive emissions from oil and gas production has been identified and attributed to advances in technology and changes in design and operating philosophy.
Report suggests strategies for geosciences education

Today it is widely recognized that the nation's education system needs reform at all levels. This is particularly true for science education. The geosciences have much to offer the reform process, being a window to the natural world that is inherently interesting to many citizens. The power of tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanoes; the recognition of possible manifestations of global climate change; the discovery of life forms thriving in extreme environments—around volcanic vents on the deep ocean floor, beneath ice sheets, deep in the crust, and possibly even in places far from the Earth—are all sources of fascination for people of all ages.
Helmet use among cyclists in New York City

Lack of helmet use while bicycling can have deleterious effects on health. Despite evidence that helmets can greatly reduce the risk of head injury, the prevalence of helmet use among riders, including those in urban bicycle-share programs, has been shown to be very low. Building upon the authors' previous work, this study's aim was to assess prevalence of helmet use among cyclists riding on widely used New York City (NYC) bike lanes. Across a 2-month period, cyclists were filmed in five NYC locations with bike lanes. Filming took place at two separate time periods (recreation and commute) at each location. Helmet use was coded for each cyclist. A total of 1,921 riders were observed across 10 h. Overall, half (50.0 %) of all riders were observed wearing a helmet. Rates of using a helmet were consistent across all five locations. In addition, only 21.7 % of Citi Bike users and 15.3 % of other bicycle rentals were observed wearing helmets while cycling. The prevalence of helmet use was significantly higher among males than females (z = 4.48, p < .001). Cyclists observed during the recreational time period were also less likely than those observed during the commuting time period to be wearing a helmet (z = 7.17, p < .001). The results of this study contribute to the growing literature about cyclist helmet use in urban areas.
Spastic reflexes triggered by ankle load release in human spinal cord injury

The rapid decrease in firing of load-sensitive group Ib muscle afferents during unloading may be particularly important in triggering the swing phase of gait. However, it still remains unclear whet...
Near-surface current measurements

Abstract Near-surface current measurements made in the JASIN '72 (Joint Air-Sea Interaction) experiment have been intercompared. There is close agreement between the measurements of a 10-m VACM (Vector averaging current meter) under a toroid moored in 2500 m of water and of 12-m drifters tracked from a ship: differences were only 2 cm s −1 in currents ranging from 10 to 30 cm s −1 . Comparisons of the 10-m VACM and a 12-m Aanderaa meter revealed that the Aanderaa vane failed to follow the frequent reversals associated with the surface gravity wave field and hence the instrument biased currents high (by factors of between 1 and 10). A model demonstrated this failing: it is suggested that VACM measurements also bias high (by 10%) but no sure evidence could be found.
Fractal geometry of marine snow and other biological aggregates

Fractal dimensions of aggregates can potentially be used to classify aggregate morphology as well as to identify coagulation mechanisms. Microbial aggregates of Zoogloea ramigera have a cluster fractal dimension of 1.8±0.3 (± SD), suggesting that these aggregates are formed through cluster-cluster coagulation. An analysis of size-porosity correlations for two types of marine snow aggregates yielded fractal dimensions of 1.39±0.06 and 1.52±0.19, which were lower than values describing inorganic colloidal aggregation.
Graded Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Activity Precedes Switch-Like c-Fos Induction in Mammalian Cells

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is an evolutionarily conserved signaling module that controls important cell fate decisions in a variety of physiological contexts. During Xenopus oocyte maturation, the MAPK cascade converts an increasing progesterone stimulus into a switch-like, all-or-nothing response. While the importance of such switch-like behavior is widely discussed in the literature, it is not known whether the MAPK pathway in mammalian cells exhibits a switch-like or graded response. For this study, we used flow cytometry and immunofluorescence to generate single-cell measurements of MAPK signaling in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. In contrast to the case in Xenopus oocytes, we found that ERK activation in individual mammalian cells is not ultrasensitive and shows a graded response to changes in agonist concentration. Thus, the conserved MAPK signaling module exhibits different systems-level properties in different cellular contexts. Furthermore, the graded ERK response was converted into a more switch-like behavior at the level of immediate-early gene induction and cell cycle progression. Thus, while MAPK signaling is involved in all-ornothing cell fate decisions for both Xenopus oocyte maturation and mammalian fibroblast proliferation, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the switch-like nature of the cellular responses are different in these two systems, with the mechanism appearing to lie downstream of the kinase cascade in mammalian fibroblasts.
Mutation of β-catenin in a radiation and estrogen breast cancer model

β-catenin plays a pivotal role in cell-to-cell adhesion as a transcriptional activator in signal transduction pathways. Potential role of this gene was studied in a radiation- and estrogen breast cancer model by analyzing differential expression of associated genes of β-catenin as E-cadherin and catenins. The aim was to identify whether β-catenin gene was mutated when associated with other genes as glycogen synthase kinase-3-β (GSK-3-β), T-cell factor (TCF) and other extracellular matrix genes related to cell adhesion. Results indicated that β-catenin gene had increased expression at mRNA and mutation at exon 3 in irradiated and estrogen-treated cell lines when compared to MCF-10F. It was found that β-catenin and GSK-3-β had greater protein expression in the tumorigenic cell line, called Alpha5 and the tumor cell lines, called Tumor2 than control MCF-10F and non-malignant Alpha3 cell lines. The β-catenin/GSK-3-β complex was identified in non-malignant cell lines such as MCF-10F, Estrogen, Alpha1, Alpha3, and Alpha4 cell lines by immunoprecipitation assays. However, Alpha5 and Tumor2 did not form a complex in this assay. However, β-catenin/TCF-4 complex was found only in Alpha5 and Tumor2. Immunofluorescent studies confirmed these findings since co-localization in β-catenin and GSK-3-β was only found in MCF-10F and Alpha3 while β-catenin/TCF-4 was only observed in Alpha5 and Tumor2. It can be concluded that mutation of β-catenin and its interaction with other associated proteins may be an early event during radiation and estrogen induced progression of human breast carcinogenesis.
Progress in the experimental therapy of severe arenaviral infections

A number of viruses in the family Arenaviridae cause severe illness in humans. Lassa virus in West Africa and a number of agents in South America produce hemorrhagic fever in persons exposed to aerosolized excretions of the pathogens' rodent hosts. Because arenaviruses are not transmitted by arthropods, and person-to-person spread is rare, human infections occur singly and sporadically, and are usually not diagnosed until the patient is severely ill. Because the arenaviruses are naturally transmitted by the airborne route, they also pose a potential threat as aerosolized bioterror weapons. The broad-spectrum antiviral drug ribavirin was shown to reduce mortality from Lassa fever, and has been tested against Argentine hemorrhagic fever, but it is not an approved treatment for either disease. Human immune convalescent plasma was proven to be effective for Argentine hemorrhagic fever in a controlled trial. New treatments are needed to block viral replication without causing toxicity and to prevent the increased vascular permeability that is responsible for hypotension and shock. In this paper, we review current developments in the experimental therapy of severe arenaviral infections, focusing on drugs that have been tested in animal models, and provide a perspective on future research.
In situ Sr isotopic analysis by laser ablation

We demonstrate that the Sr isotopic compositions of geological materials can be measured in situ through laser ablation using an ICP multiple-collector double focusing magnetic sector mass spectrometer (MC-ICPMS). This provides rapid, texturally sensitive, high precision (0.004%) Sr isotopic analysis without the need for chemical preparation of samples. The system used employs a Q-switched Nd-YAG infrared laser. The laser-ablated material is carried by Ar flow to an ICP torch. The resulting ions are extracted from the plasma and focused with d.c. quadrupole lenses and an electrostatic analyzer prior to entering a magnetic sector analyzer and collection in an array of Faraday collectors. A feldspar megacryst, with independently known 87Sr86Sr of 0.703117 ± 13, and a modern gastropod shell, with independently known 87Sr86Sr of 0.709170 ± 10, were used evaluate the method. Both have ∼ 2000 ppm Sr. Laser power was adjusted to give an average 88Sr of 2 × 10−11 amps during analysis to replicate the beam size during typical thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). Within-run precisions in 87Sr86Sr of < ± 4 × 10−5 compare favorably with the precision from TIMS. Thirteen analyses of the Cameroon feldspar megacryst yielded a weighted average 87Sr86Sr of 0.703106 ± 22, in perfect agreement with the TIMS measurement. Similarly, 22 analyses of the modern gastropod shell gave a weighted average of 0.709182 ± 22, identical to the known value. No memory effect was observed when switching from the Cameroon feldspar sample (run for several hours) to the modern shell material. The power of this technique is illustrated with a preliminary study of systematic differences in 87Sr86Sr of ∼ 0.0004 between two feldspar crystals of a Long Valley basalt. One feldspar has identical 87Sr86Sr to the host basalt, confirming the lack of any matrix effect with this method.
Low Rates of Antiretroviral Therapy among HIV-Infected Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background. It is unknown whether chronic kidney disease (CKD) influences receipt of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) among patients with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and whether prescription practices contribute to excess mortality. Methods. We conducted a retrospective observational study involving HIV-infected patients with established indications for HAART and an outpatient serum creatinine level measured in the Veterans Affairs health care system. Patients were followed up for the outcomes of HAART exposure (percentage of follow-up time treated with HAART), inadequate dose adjustment of renally eliminated antiretroviral medications, and time to death. Results. A total of 1041 patients (8.5%) had CKD, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 . Compared with patients with an eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , HAART exposure was 14% less (95% confidence interval [CI], 2%-24% less), 24% less (95% CI, 4% more to 45% less), 64% less (95% CI, 38%-79% less), and 49% less (95% CI, 32%-61% less) in patients who had an eGFR of 30-59 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , 15-29 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , and <15 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (and were not receiving dialysis) and in patients receiving long-term dialysis, respectively. At study entry, 15.4% of patients with CKD received HAART unadjusted for the level of renal function. The adjusted hazard ratio for death was 1.36 (95% CI, 1.08-1.72) for patients with an eGFR of 30-59 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , 2.17 (95% CI, 1.43-3.27) for patients with an eGFR of 15-29 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , 5.97 (95% CI, 3.18-11.19) for patients with an eGFR <15 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , and 1.92 (95% CI, 1.30-2.82) for dialysis-dependent patients. Underexposure and inadequate dose adjustment of HAART were associated with 22.5%-35.5% of the excess mortality found among patients with different levels of CKD. Conclusions. Underexposure and inadequate dose adjustment of HAART may contribute to excess mortality among HIV-infected patients with CKD.
Functional circadian clock genes are essential for the overwintering diapause of the Northern house mosquito, Culex pipiens

The short day lengths of late summer are used to program the overwintering adult diapause (dormancy) of the Northern house mosquito, Culex pipiens. Here, we investigated the role of clock genes in initiating this diapause and asked whether the circadian cycling of clock gene expression persists during diapause. We provide evidence that the major circadian clock genes continue to cycle throughout diapause and after diapause has been terminated. RNA interference (RNAi) was used to knock down the core circadian clock genes and to then assess the impact of the various clock genes on the ability of females to enter diapause. RNAi directed against negative circadian regulators (period, timeless and cryptochrome2) caused females that were reared under diapause-inducing, short day conditions to avert diapause. In contrast, knocking down the circadian-associated gene pigment dispersing factor caused females that were reared under diapause-averting, long day conditions to enter a diapause-like state. Our results implicate the circadian clock in the initiation of diapause in C. pipiens.
Can Bad Science Be Good Evidence: Lie Detection, Neuroscience, and the Mistaken Conflation of Legal and Scientific Norms

As the capabilities of cognitive neuroscience, in particular functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) 'brain scans,' have become more advanced, some have claimed that fMRI-based lie-detection can and should be used at trials and for other forensic purposes to determine whether witnesses and others are telling the truth. Although some neuroscientists have promoted such claims, most aggressively resist them, and arguing that the research on neuroscience-based lie-detection is deeply flawed in numerous ways. And so these neuroscientists have resisted any attempt to use such methods in litigation, insisting that poor science has no place in the law. But although the existing studies have serious problems of validity when measured by the standards of science, and true as well that the reliability of such methods is significantly lower than their advocates claim, it is nevertheless an error to assume that the distinction between good and bad science, whether as a matter of validity or of reliability, is dispositive for law. Law is not only about putting criminals in jail, and numerous uses of evidence in various contexts in the legal system require a degree of probative value far short of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. And because legal and scientific norms, standards, and goals are different, good science may still not be good enough for some legal purposes, and, conversely, some examples of bad science my, in some contexts, still be good enough for law. Indeed, the exclusion of substandard science, when measured by scientific standards, may have the perverse effect of lowering the accuracy and rigor of legal fact-finding, because the exclusion of flawed science will only increase the importance of the even more flawed non-science that now dominates legal fact-finding. And thus the example of neuroscience-based lie detection, while timely and important in its own right, is even more valuable as a case study suggesting that Daubert v. Merrill-Dow Pharmaceuticals may have sent the legal system down a false path. By inappropriately importing scientific standards into legal decision-making with little modification, Daubert confused the goals of science with those of law, a mistake that it is not too late for the courts to correct.
Mechanisms and therapy for retained fetal membranes and uterine infections of cows: A review

Literature pertaining to retained fetal membranes and postpartum uterine infections of cows was reviewed. Many therapeutic failures are explained by the effects of the uterine environment on antibacterials, the effects of therapy on the uterine defense mechanism, bacterial resistance patterns and the failure to recognize normal physiological processes in the postpartum period. Prostaglandin F(2)alpha and its analogues provide effective alternatives to antibiotic and antibacterial therapy for most postpartum disorders.
Variation of the Syrinx of the Fowl

Abstract THE purpose of this study was to determine if significant differences exist between breeds of domestic fowl and supposed ancestral species of jungle fowl with reference to the syrinx. The importance of the syrinx in determining degree of relationship in certain avian groups has been recognized for many years. The organ has been found to be highly variable in some species (Bronn, 1891), and sexual dimorphism has been shown to be marked in most song birds and in ducks and owls (Broman, 1942; Lewis and Domm, 1948; Miller, 1934; Biellier and Turner, 1950). The anatomy of the syrinx of the red junglefowl (Gallus gallus) was studied and compared with the domestic fowl as early as 1813 by Temminck; Garrod (1879) did likewise in his extensive study of the syrinx in the Gallinae. The comparative anatomist, Wunderlich (1884), not only compared the syrinx of several avian species but also noticed differences …
Design and fabrication of heat transfer surfaces from superplastic material

The production of complex heat transfer surfaces (i.e., those without straight fins) is restricted by available fabrication techniques, materials, geometries, and cost. Based on the superplastic sheet thermoforming process, a new technique for fabricating these complex surfaces by a relatively simple, low cost process has been developed. The resulting surfaces have excellent heat transfer characteristics and can be used in a wide variety of applications. Surface design is discussed, and heat transfer and flow friction test data on various surface patterns are presented. The application of these results to unique design situations is demonstrated and particular examples are discussed.
Primary Extended Kin Relations of Negro Couples

(1971). Primary Extended Kin Relations of Negro Couples. The Sociological Quarterly: Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 69-82.
Effect of polymer composition on in vivo ultrasound contrast agent performance

Polymer composition, the ratio of lactic acid (LA) to glycolic acid (GA), was evaluated for its contribution to the acoustic enhancement of a poly (co-lactic-glycolic) acid (PLGA) ultrasound contrast agent. Contrast agents were prepared from four different polymer compositions (LA:GA): 100:0, 85:15, 75:25, 50:50 and tested in vivo. The results indicate that all contrast agents perform well in vivo but the 50:50, which had the shortest usable life-time. The performance of the contrast agents was dependent on the ratio of LA to GA and should be considered in the design of polymeric contrast agents.
Genericity and congestion control in selfish routing

We consider the problem of selfish routing in a congested data network, such as the Internet. While previous analyses have discussed the possibility of large losses due to selfish routing, we present several reasons why one could expect typical losses to be small. The first is based on a "generic analysis" where we consider worst case topologies and latency functions, but ignore a small set of "transmission demands." We show that one can bound these "generic losses" by the log of the network's "criticality factor," a reasonable parameter. Our second reason is based on the near universal use of TCP or some other congestion control mechanism in networks. We show that for a specific model of TCP, the losses due to selfish routing are quite small and suggest that this is true in general. Both of these results are also shown to hold for the (nonlinear) latency functions which commonly arise on the Internet. Lastly, we provide some non-game-theoretic justifications for this analysis, which may be applicable to current networks, in which routing is not selfish. We show that in certain cases, common routing algorithms generate the same routes as selfish routing.
Computation of one‐dimensional compressible flows including shocks

The solutions of problems involving compressible flows have different functional forms in different regions, separated not only by discontinuities of the fluid itself but also by shock fronts and by characteristics starting from the origins of shock fronts and from points where such characteristics meet shocks. To obtain accuracy in numerical integration, small intervals and formulas using differences of low order are convenient immediately after crossing these lines, but much larger intervals, with differences of higher order, are sufficient elsewhere. The purpose of this paper is to explain a method of exploiting the economy made possible in this way. If the equations for the one-dimensional case are transformed to characteristic variables, they form a ‘canonical hyperbolic system’. Adams' method for ordinary differential equations extends to a variable interval by using divided differences of the derivative, and it then becomes practical to use it for starting and across discontinuities. Further, it applies directly to canonical hyperbolic systems. Numerical solution is then very direct over regions determined by two characteristics and is convenient where the flow crosses already existing shocks. Finally, the origin of a new shock in any interval can be detected and arrangements can be made for it.
The Supply of and Demand for Special Education Teachers A Review of Research Regarding the Chronic Shortage of Special Education Teachers

There is a critical shortage of special education teachers in the United States. This shortage is chronic and severe and exists in every geographic region of the nation. This article provides an analysis of factors influencing the supply of and demand for special education teachers. Initially, the magnitude of this shortage is addressed, considering variances that exist by personnel type, locality, and job description. This is followed by an analysis of trends in the supply of and demand for special education teachers, considering factors such as student enrollment, production of teacher education programs, and the reserve pool. Finally, illustrative examples of strategies used by specific states and districts to resolve shortage problems are provided. The article concludes with a list of priorities for future research.
Estimating the Confidence Interval for the Optimal Marketing Mix: An Application to Lead Generation

The Dorfman-Steiner Theorem has provided the marketing community with a powerful result for allocating resources between competing marketing mix variables. It is well known that the optimal allocation of resources is in direct proportion to their demand elasticities. To implement this result, the marketing manager must know the elasticities of the various marketing elements under his/her control. Since the precise values of these elasticities is rarely, if ever, known, the manager must use estimates of the elasticities in allocating the resources. Point estimates of the elasticities can be obtained from laboratory or field experiments and from econometric models. In both cases, these estimates are known with uncertainty. This paper discusses the appropriate method for incorporating uncertainties in the point estimates of the elasticities to yield rigorous confidence intervals applicable to the ratio of the elasticities. An empirical example is used to illustrate the methodology.
P65: Nitrite after cardiac arrest has antioxidant effects reducing reperfusion cerebral hyperemia and subsequent caspase activation

Background We previously demonstrated nitrite mediated neuroprotection after asphyxial cardiac arrest (ACA). Reperfusion injury after successful return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) has been linked to reactive oxygen species generation resulting in loss of cerebral autoregulation with early hyperemia, activation of caspases and delayed neuronal death. Having previously demonstrated nitrite’s cardiac antioxidant effects after cardiac arrest, we hypothesized that a similar mechanism may prevent loss of autoregulation and subsequent caspase activation resulting in neuroprotection. Methods Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were anesthetized, intubated and catheterized (arterial and venous). An ultrasonic flow probe was placed around the ascending aorta to continuously measure cardiac output (CO) and cerebral cortex blood flow (CBF) was measured using laser speckle analysis through a 5 mm craniotomy. ACA was induced with paralysis and cessation of mechanical ventilation for 8 min prior to manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation with epinephrine and sodium bicarbonate. Animals were randomized 5 min post-ROSC to a 10 min 500 μl infusion of 8 μM nitrite or plasmalyte placebo. Temperature was maintained at 37 °C while heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), CO and CBF were measured for one hour and results are reported normalized to baseline values. At 1 h animals were perfused with saline, decapitated and brains homogenized for ascorbate and caspase measurements. In separate experiments without CO/CBF monitoring, animals were survived 24 h before brain homogenization for caspase analysis. Caspase 3/7 activity was measured using a commercial luminescent assay and ascorbate measured using a fluorescent assay with acridine TEMPO. All measurements were normalized to protein content of samples. Comparisons are by repeated measures ANOVA, 1 way ANOVA and Mann–Whitney U tests and mean (physiology, caspase) or median (ascorbate) values are reported below. Results Animals in both treatment arms had baseline HR, MAP, CO and CBF similar to each other and non-arrested shams and consistent with reported normal values ( Fig. 1 ). Sham physiologic values did not change significantly over 1 h of observation under isoflurane anesthesia. ACA resulted in complete loss of CO and CBF. Ten min after ROSC (5 min after treatment was initiated), CO was diminished (80%) in both treatment groups yet BP was significantly (138%) increased. In placebo animals, this resulted in a significant increase in CBF (187%) compared to nitrite treated animals (136%; p p = 0.027) 1 h after ROSC. At 24 h, ACA resulted in significant( p Conclusion Nitrite acts as antioxidant when administered after ROSC blunting subsequent loss of autoregulation and hyperemia, preserving antioxidant reserve and reducing subsequent caspase-3/7 activation. This provides a mechanistic insight into nitrite mediated neuroprotection. Ongoing studies are examining potential subcellular targets for nitrite therapy which may explain these effects. Disclosure Supported by NINDS K08.
Cognitive-Affective Processes in Depression

This chapter presents a good overview of Beck’s well-known theory of depression. As most students of depression know, this theory presents an extremely lucid picture of the phenomenology and symptomatology of depression. The depressed may suffer a wide variety of physiological and psychological ailments, but they are characterized most especially as people who have a bleak and despairing view of themselves, their world, and their future and concomitant negative emotions. Kovacs and Beck’s paper presents incisive arguments and evidence that suggest that the several diagnostic classifications of depression and the long list of specific symptoms that accompany them may be understood in terms of a general cognitive set or a complex of cognitive-affective structures that determine the thoughts, moods, and behavior of depressive patients.
Fragmentation Versus Consolidation: Investigating Efficiency and Equity in Solid Waste Collection at the City Level in the Cities of Colorado Springs, Denver, and Indianapolis

Federalist systems of government are commonly characterized by multiple and overlapping governmental jurisdictions. 'New Urbanism' literature often argues that this arrangement is inefficient and favors a consolidated government model. By contrast 'Local Public Economy' literature favors the polycentric arrangements noting that multiple overlapping governmental jurisdictions instill competition, leading to more efficient programs. This paper explores the fragmentation versus consolidation debate from a public service industry perspective exploring the production of city-level solid waste (trash and recyclables) collection services in three cities. These solid waste collection services fall into one of three categories: a monocentric system- consolidated and no overlap (case study: Denver, CO), franchise zones - fragmentation but no overlap (case study: Indianapolis, IN), and a polycentric system - fragmentation and overlap (case study: Colorado Springs, CO). This paper explores if one form of these solid waste collection methods is more fiscally efficient (providing the most service at the lowest cost), environmentally efficient (providing the most service with the smallest environmental footprint), and/or equitable (fairness, impartiality, and equality in service production) than the other production models at the city level. The finding is that the cost-for-service falls within a similar range for the monocentric and the franchise zone models, but that the polycentric model ranges from 50% to 100% greater in cost than these other two production models making it the least fiscally efficient. Likewise the monocentric and franchise zone models are found to be more environmentally efficient than the polycentric model. In terms of equity there is no clear 'best method' with all models producing relatively equal levels of service both within-city and across cities. In addition to these findings, this paper makes two additional contributions to the 'New Urbanism' and the 'Local Public Economy' literatures: the addition of the franchise zone model and the addition of the environmental efficiency measure.
The Administration of the Canadian Income Tax Law

To administer the Canadian Income Tax Law, Canada is divided into nineteen districts. The districts are irregular in shape and of different areas. Their shape was influenced by the desire to have a district follow the railway lines. Recognition was given also to the main centres and provinces. In the beginning, sub-offices were required to serve the people, but experience has shown that they are not a necessity and most of them have been closed. The districts have remained unchanged for about ten years. Each is in charge of an inspector directly responsible to Ottawa. The amount of the revenue collected in each district is not a true criterion of the wealth of the particular district. Some small districts have the head office of a few large corporations in them. The district of London, Ontario, for instance, has in it such companies as the Ford Motor Car and Imperial Oil. Their income is derived from world-wide sources. Consequently on a revenue collection basis the district appears to have more wealth in it than it really has. It is the same with Toronto and Montreal. Usually a company files and pays its tax in the district where it has its head office, although the business of the company may be located in some other district. For example, the mines of northern Ontario are located in the Ottawa district but their corporate head offices are in Toronto, so they file and pay their taxes there. There is not any compulsion to pay in any particular district. Districts are established for the convenience of the public and returns can be filed in the district most convenient for the taxpayer.
Familial non-medullary thyroid cancer: an update on the genetic and pathologic features

Abstract Well differentiated thyroid carcinoma is one of the most increasingly prevalent cancers, and while many are sporadic, some are inherited. These heritable thyroid cancers are grouped as familial non-medullary thyroid carcinoma (FNMTC) and represent approximately 5–10% of non-medullary thyroid carcinomas. While the group of FNMTC is quite heterogeneous, an ever increasing number of attributable genetic changes have been described. In addition to the classic, non-syndromic FNMTC there are also several well defined and characterized genetic syndromes with thyroid cancer as a component. This review will provide an update on the current molecular understanding of both syndromic and non-syndromic heritable thyroid cancer.
Human retroviruses and neoplastic disease.

Human retroviral infections result in significant neoplastic diseases. Human T cell lymphotropic virus I (HTLV-I), the first human retrovirus to be discovered, is associated with the development of acute T cell leukemia with characteristic hypercalcemia and skin lesions after many years of chronic infection of CD4 + cells. HTLV-I also produces myelopathy. A minor T cell immunodeficiency occurs in HTLV-I acute T cell leukemia with associated strongyloidiasis and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Human T cell lymphotropic virus II (HTLV-II) is found to be endemic in Amerindians and intravenous drug users (IVDUs) and has been linked to some cases of hairy-cell leukemia