cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Growth Hormone Supplementation on Left Ventricular Morphology and Myocyte Function With the Development of Congestive Heart Failure

Background—Release of growth hormone (GH), putatively through alterations in insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels, has been implicated to influence left ventricular (LV) myocardial structure and function. The objective of this study was to determine contributory mechanisms by which GH supplementation may influence LV function with the development of congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods and Results—Pigs were assigned to the following groups: (1) chronic pacing at 240 bpm for 3 weeks (n=10), (2) chronic pacing and GH supplementation (200 μg · kg−1 · d−1, n=10), and (3) controls (n=8). GH treatment increased IGF-1 plasma levels by nearly 2.5-fold throughout the pacing protocol. In the untreated pacing CHF group, LV fractional shortening was reduced and peak wall stress increased. In the pacing CHF and GH groups, LV fractional shortening was higher and LV wall stress lower than untreated CHF values. Steady-state myocyte velocity of shortening was reduced with pacing CHF and was unchanged from CHF values ...
Standardized biosynthesis of flavan-3-ols with effects on pancreatic beta-cell insulin secretion

Flavan-3-ols, such as green tea catechins represent a major group of phenolic compounds with significant medicinal properties. We describe the construction and optimization of Escherichia coli recombinant strains for the production of mono- and dihydroxylated catechins from their flavanone and phenylpropanoid acid precursors. Use of glucose minimal medium, Fe(II), and control of oxygen availability during shake-flask experiments resulted in production yield increases. Additional production improvement resulted from the use of medium rather than high-copy number plasmids and, in the case of mono-hydroxylated compounds, the addition of extracellular cofactors in the culture medium. The established metabolic engineering approach allowed the biosynthesis of natural catechins at high purity for assessing their possible insulinotropic effects in pancreatic β-cell cultures. We demonstrated that (+)-afzelechin and (+)-catechin modulated the secretion of insulin by pancreatic β-cells. These results indicate the potential of applying metabolic engineering approaches for the synthesis of natural and non-natural catechin analogues as drug candidates in diabetes treatments.
A Hyperfine Structure Spectrograph

A spectrograph particularly suited for work in hyperfine structure is discussed. It consists of a Fabry-Perot etalon and prism spectrograph built as a single unit to eliminate many of the errors introduced when the apparatus is assembled in the usual way.
The Economy of the New York Metropolitan Region, Then and Now

Four central ideas of critical importance in understanding the economies of large central cities in the US can be attributed to Ben Chinitz and other economists who had leading roles in the New York Metropolitan Region Study of 1956-59. Those central ideas are examined in the context in which they were developed—the New York region and the spatially—relevant aspects of the US economy at mid century. The paper considers how the ideas have fared in the light of the economic transformations since 1960, and what they offer to the analysis of prospective changes in the largest urban economies. The conclusion is that these ideas continue to offer powerful insights.
Tunnel junction sensors for HCI-surface measurements at low kinetic energies

Abstract In recent years, we have developed and deployed the capability to make and use tunnel junctions sensors (TJS) as extremely sensitive tools for the measurement of surface nanofeatures created by particle-surface interactions. The focus of our interest has been highly charged ion (HCI) produced nanofeatures, which we are able to produce in situ due to a direct vacuum connection to the NIST electron beam ion trap (EBIT). Using these sensors, we make systematic studies of the role of the charge state on the size of features created by HCIs and connect those measurements to the stopping power. Recently we have begun to study reduced velocities at a fixed charge state for which little previous theoretical or experimental work has been done. Due to many technical improvements that have been made to our methods, we offer a contemporary summary of the TJS fabrication and HCI irradiation method. Further, we present early experimental results showing increased surface damage when Xe41+ is extracted at ≈4.6 kV in comparison with ≈8.1 kV.
Effect of a series of triorganotins on the immune function of human natural killer cells.

Abstract Natural killer (NK) cells are our initial immune defense against viral infections and cancer development. They are able to destroy tumor and virally infected cells. Thus, agents that are able to interfere with their function increase the risk of cancer and/or infection. Organotins (OTs) have been shown to interfere with the tumor-destroying function of human NK cells. The purpose of the current study was to explore the relationship of a series of triorganotins, that differ in structure by only a single organic group, for their capacity to block NK tumor-cell destroying (lytic) function. Here we examine the series: trimethyltin (TMT), dimethylphenyltin (DMPT), methyldiphenyltin (MDPT), and triphenyltin (TPT). NK cells were exposed to TMT, DMPT, MDPT or TPT for 1, 24, 48 h, or 6 d. A 1 h exposure to TMT, at concentrations as high as 20 μM, had no effect on lytic function. However, concentrations as low as 2.5 μM were able to decrease NK tumor-destroying function after 6 d. A 1 h exposure to DMPT had no effect on lytic function, however, after 6 d there was an 80–90% decrease in lytic function at 1 μM. Exposure to MDPT (as low as 2.5 μM) decreased NK function at 1 h, after 6 d there was as much as a 90% decrease at concentrations as low as 100 nM MDPT. TPT decreased lytic function in a manner similar to MDPT, however, it was more effective at 1 h than MDPT. The effect of the triorganotins on the ability of NK cells to bind to targets was studied, to determine if this contributed to the loss of lytic function. The relative immunotoxic potential of this series of compounds is TPT ≈ MDPT > DMPT > TMT.
Electronic and vibrational energy disposal in the reactions of fluorine atoms with hydrogen bromide and hydrogen iodide

Abstract The reactions of F + HBr(I) a HF‡v + Br(I) have been studied by observation of the infrared chemiluminescence from a flowing afterglow apparatus with a high resolution Fourier transform spectrometer. The HF‡(v) and Br(2P 1 2 ) and (2P 1 2 ) products could be monitored prior to collisional relaxation. It was found that Br* was directly formed by the F + HBr reaction, as well as by V a E energy transfer with HF‡(v). The rate of the formation of Br* was 10 ± 4% of the total HF‡ (v) formation rate. Direct formation of I* was negligible; however, I* was observed from V a E energy transfer. The HF‡(v) distributions from the F + HBr reaction were separated into two components associated with formation of Br(2P 1 2 ) and Br(2P 3 2 ); linear surprisal plots for both channels were obtained. The vibrational surprisal from F + HF also was linear, with a standard deviation of ≈10%. Total HF(v) formation rate constants from the F + HX reactions were measured relative to the CH4 reaction.
How Not to Construct a Radioactive Waste Incinerator

Sociologists of risk tend to presume that populations have static perceptions of risk that can be correlated with their degree of technical expertise or their structural relation to society. Such commentators show little interest in human agency unless it is the agency of professional risk communicators educating the public. This analysis of the conflict over a radioactive incinerator in Livermore, California, emphasizes the fluidity of public perceptions of the incinerator and the agency of activists in shaping those perceptions in a battle for rhetorical position with the U.S. Department of Energy. At a historical moment (the end of the cold war) when the media was publicizing decades of environmental problems in the U.S. nuclear weapons complex, activists were able to defeat the incinerator by creating a transitory alliance with local developers and by using rhetorical strategies that slyly undermined the official discourse on risk.
Analysis of a model for parallel image processing

Abstract An increasing awareness of the need for high speed parallel processing systems for image analysis has stimulated a great deal of interest in the design and development of such systems. Efficient processing schemes for several specific problems have been developed providing some insight into the general problems encountered in designing efficient image processing algorithms for parallel architectures. However it is still not clear what architecture or architectures are best suited for image processing in general, or how one may go about determining those which are. An approach that would allow application requirements to specify architectural features would be useful in this context. Working towards this goal, general principles are outlined for formulating parallel image processing tasks by exploiting parallelism in the algorithms and data structures employed. A synchronous parallel processing model is proposed which governs the communication and interaction between these tasks. This model presents a uniform framework for comparing and contrasting different formulation strategies. In addition, techniques are developed for analyzing instances of this model to determine a high level specification of a parallel architecture that best ‘matches’ the requirements of the corresponding application. It is also possible to derive initial estimates of the component capabilities that are required to achieve predefined performance levels. Such analysis tools are useful both in the design stage, in the selection of a specific parallel architecture, or in efficiently utilizing an existing one. In addition, the architecture independent specification of application requirements makes it a useful tool for benchmarking applications.
Flux: multi-surface computing in Android

With the continued proliferation of mobile devices, apps will increasingly become multi-surface, running seamlessly across multiple user devices (e.g., phone, tablet, etc.). Yet general systems support for multi-surface app is limited to (1) screencasting, which relies on a single master device's computing power and battery life or (2) cloud backing, which is unsuitable in the face of disconnected operation or untrusted cloud providers. We present an alternative approach: Flux, an Android-based system that enables any app to become multi-surface through app migration. Flux overcomes device heterogeneity and residual dependencies through two key mechanisms. Selective Record/Adaptive Replay records just those device-agnostic app calls that lead to the generation of app-specific device-dependent state in system services and replays them on the target. Checkpoint/Restore in Android (CRIA) transitions an app into a state in which device-specific information can be safely discarded before checkpointing and restoring the app. Our implementation of Flux can migrate many popular, unmodified Android apps---including those with extensive device interactions like 3D accelerated graphics---across heterogeneous devices and is fast enough for interactive use.
Sliding motions in bilinear switched networks

This article presents an application of variable structure systems theory, and the associated sliding regimes (Utkin [1]-[4]) of the systems, 1) to study energy transfers between dynamic storage elements in lossless bilinear networks and 2) to obtain a feasible reformulation of the constant regulation problem in dc-dc switch-mode power converters (SPC's) usually treated by approximate state-space averaging techniques on pulse width modulation (PWM) control schemes. The approach exploits the geometric aspects of the problems and obtains an analysis and design methodology, based on the ideal sliding mode qualitative characteristics, which is intuitively clear, mathematically feasible, and devoid of approximations.
Accumulation and Rapid Decay of Non-LTR Retrotransposons in the Genome of the Three-Spine Stickleback

The diversity and abundance of non–long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons (nLTR-RT) differ drastically among vertebrate genomes. At one extreme, the genome of placental mammals is littered with hundreds of thousands of copies resulting from the activity of a single clade of nLTR-RT, the L1 clade. In contrast, fish genomes contain a much more diverse repertoire of nLTR-RT, represented by numerous active clades and families. Yet, the number of nLTR-RT copies in teleostean fish is two orders of magnitude smaller than in mammals. The vast majority of insertions appear to be very recent, suggesting that nLTR-RT do not accumulate in fish genomes. This pattern had previously been explained by a high rate of turnover, in which the insertion of new elements is offset by the selective loss of deleterious inserts. The turnover model was proposed because of the similarity between fish and Drosophila genomes with regard to their nLTR-RT profile. However, it is unclear if this model applies to fish. In fact, a previous study performed on the puffer fish suggested that transposable element insertions behave as neutral alleles. Here we examined the dynamics of amplification of nLTR-RT in the three-spine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). In this species, the vast majority of nLTR-RT insertions are relatively young, as suggested by their low level of divergence. Contrary to expectations, a majority of these insertions are fixed in lake and oceanic populations; thus, nLTR-RT do indeed accumulate in the genome of their fish host. This is not to say that nLTR-RTs are fully neutral, as the lack of fixed long elements in this genome suggests a deleterious effect related to their length. This analysis does not support the turnover model and strongly suggests that a much higher rate of DNA loss in fish than in mammals is responsible for the relatively small number of nLTR-RT copies and for the scarcity of ancient elements in fish genomes. We further demonstrate that nLTR-RT decay in fish occurs mostly through large deletions and not by the accumulation of small deletions.
Divalproex for the treatment of geriatric bipolar disorder

Divalproex is now commonly used to treat bipolar disorder in older patients. However, it has yet to be systematically studied in this population. This report describes six older bipolar patients treated with divalproex. Of the six, five showed some improvement with divalproex alone or in combination with other agents. Clearly, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study is an important next step to assess this promising medication.
Targeting Factor XI to Prevent Thrombosis

The finding that humans with hereditary factor XI deficiency have relatively mild bleeding tendencies—yet are significantly protected against certain thrombotic diseases—has sparked considerable interest in factor XI/XIa as a target for novel antithrombotic treatments. In the classic waterfall description of blood coagulation, there are 2 ways to trigger the plasma clotting system: the tissue factor (or extrinsic) pathway and the contact (or intrinsic) pathway.1 Extensive studies in knockout mice have demonstrated that the triggering of blood clotting via the tissue factor/factor VIIa complex (TF:VIIa) is essential for normal hemostasis.2 In contrast, humans and mice that completely lack the proteins that trigger the contact pathway (factor XII, prekallikrein, or high molecular weight kininogen) exhibit no bleeding tendencies, indicating that the triggers of the classical contact/intrinsic pathway are dispensable for normal hemostasis.3 See accompanying article on page 1670 Although factor XI is activated by factor XIIa in the classic waterfall description of blood clotting, in stark contrast to the phenotype with factor XII deficiency, humans with severe factor XI deficiencies do exhibit bleeding diatheses.4 Patients with factor XI deficiency tend to have relatively mild bleeding tendencies and generally do not bleed spontaneously (other than menorrhagia). Rather, when these patients bleed, it is typically after injury or surgery, especially in tissues with a high thrombolytic potential, such as the oral cavity or urinary tract. Heterozygous humans with …
The Influence of Subthalamic Nucleus Lesions on Sign-Tracking to Stimuli Paired with Food and Drug Rewards: Facilitation of Incentive Salience Attribution?

It is well known that the subthalamic nucleus (STN) plays an important role in regulating motor function, but recent studies suggest the STN is also involved in regulating motivated behavior. For example, bilateral lesions of the STN increase motivation for both food and cocaine as assessed by 'breakpoint' on a progressive ratio schedule. However, the psychological mechanism(s) by which STN lesions increase motivation for rewards is unknown. We hypothesized that STN lesions might influence one specific component of motivation, the attribution of incentive value (incentive salience) to reward-related cues. We tested this hypothesis by quantifying the ability of a discrete cue that had been paired with the non-contingent delivery of either food or cocaine to elicit approach towards it (ie, to produce a 'sign-tracking' conditioned response, CR). STN lesions made prior to training increased asymptotic levels of sign-tracking behavior directed towards a cue paired with either food or cocaine. In addition, when STN lesions were made after animals had already undergone Pavlovian training, and animals were tested under extinction conditions, the STN lesion still facilitated a sign-tracking CR. Finally, reintroduction of the US (food) following extinction immediately restored robust sign-tracking behavior in animals with STN lesions. We speculate, therefore, that the STN is part of a neural system that moderates the amount of incentive salience attributed to reward-related stimuli. Activity in this neural system may help mitigate the development of compulsive behavioral disorders, such as addiction, which are characterized by pathological control over behavior by reward-associated cues.
Assembly and Architecture of HIV

HIV forms spherical, membrane-enveloped, pleomorphic virions, 1,000–1,500 A in diameter, which contain two copies of its single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome. Virus particles initially bud from host cells in a noninfectious or immature form, in which the genome is further encapsulated inside a spherical protein shell composed of around 2,500 copies of the virally encoded Gag polyprotein. The Gag molecules are radially arranged, adherent to the inner leaflet of the viral membrane, and closely associated as a hexagonal, paracrystalline lattice. Gag comprises three major structural domains called MA, CA, and NC. For immature virions to become infectious, they must undergo a maturation process that is initiated by proteolytic processing of Gag by the viral protease. The new Gag-derived proteins undergo dramatic rearrangements to form the mature virus. The mature MA protein forms a “matrix” layer and remains attached to the viral envelope, NC condenses with the genome, and approximately 1,500 copies of CA assemble into a new cone-shaped protein shell, called the mature capsid, which surrounds the genomic ribonucleoprotein complex. The HIV capsid conforms to the mathematical principles of a fullerene shell, in which the CA subunits form about 250 CA hexamers arrayed on a variably curved hexagonal lattice, which is closed by incorporation of exactly 12 pentamers, seven pentamers at the wide end and five at the narrow end of the cone. This chapter describes our current understanding of HIV’s virion architecture and its dynamic transformations: the process of virion assembly as orchestrated by Gag, the architecture of the immature virion, the virus maturation process, and the structure of the mature capsid.
The Role of Special Education in a Changing South Africa.

This article describes the current situation with regard to the inclusion of special education services for blacks in South Africa. The article begins with some historical remarks about general education in South Africa. These remarks are followed by a discussion on the relevance and applicability of special education in a changing South Africa. Implications for addressing inequality in education and the need for equal special educational opportunities are also covered.
Horrors at Home: From Sensation Scandal to Gothic Melodrama

On the surface Bram Stoker's 1897 Dracula and Mary Cholmondeley's 1899 Red Pottage seem alike only in their fin de siecle publication dates and their popularity with the reading public. Yet Stoker's bloody chronicle of vampire hunting and Cholmondeley's melodramatic domestic tale share a common interest in horror as an affective state and an aesthetic technique. This essay argues that by grafting the affect and imagery of horror onto domestic scenes, Red Pottage, like Dracula, envisions a British society assaulted by a corrupting force that saps its vitality and health. But unlike Dracula, Red Pottage locates that monstrosity not in a foreign threat but in the hypocritical degeneracy of the English church, aristocracy, and most fundamentally, bourgeois matrimony. Breaking with contemporaneous imperial gothic and with the earlier generation of sensation fiction that influenced her work, Cholmondeley shifts the blame for corruption away from both the feminine and the foreign, traditional (and often synergistic) sources of threat. The novel portrays patriarchal marriage as destructive to community and to intellectual attainment for men and women alike. Alternatively, it depicts appealing characters that disrupt the gender binary and remain unmarried, traveling abroad as the story concludes. Red Pottage locates hope for the future beyond the traditional domestic sphere: outside romantic and familial relationships and outside Great Britain itself. By infusing realist representation with the emotional and visceral force of more popular literary modes, it also participates in the nascent renegotiation of literary goals and methods that modernism would carry forward.
CONSUMER ATTITUDES TOWARD FOOD SAFETY ISSUES

The objectives of this study were to survey consumer attitudes about the safety of the food supply in general, relate general concern levels with groups of specific items of concern, regulatory issues and prioritization of food safety funding areas, and to compare these results with results of a similar survey conducted in this lab in 1994. Factor analysis of 360 consumer responses showed six factors underlying the 31 specific items evaluated on individual 5-point scales (1 = no concern, 5 = very strong concern). MANOVA using general level of food safety concern (independent variable) were significant. Univariate tests showed that as general level of concern with food safety increased, so did concern with chemical issues (artificial colors, pesticide residues, hormones, preservatives, irradiated foods, excessive processing of foods, and plastic packaging), spoilage issues (restaurant sanitation, shelf-stable foods, pasteurized foods, refrigerated, prepared foods, improper food preparation, microbiological contamination and nutritional imbalances), health issues (vitamin, calorie, carbohydrate, fat, cholesterol and sugar content), regulatory issues (pesticide safety, fish and imported food inspection, and health labeling of food), deceptive practices (naturally occurring toxins, food ingredients associated with allergies and weight reduction diets advertised as healthy) and information issues (availability of detailed information at stores, markets and restaurants).
WAM (Wald's Approximation Method): a user‐friendly software program for efficient covariate model building

A new software utility (WAM) based on the efficient covariate model building algorithm proposed by Kowalski and Hutmacher (2001) is presented and will be made available on the NONMEM repository (ftp://ftp.globomaxnm.com/Public/nonmem/). The WAM software is a user-friendly freeware utility that ranks all 2k possible covariate sub-models (presence or absence of k covariate parameters) based on Wald's approximation to Schwarz's Bayesian Criterion (SBC). The utility generates NONMEM runs for the top M parsimonious models (i.e., highest M ranked SBCs where M is typically set to 10 or 15) and compares the actual (NONMEM) and approximate (Wald) SBCs to verify the adequacy of the approximation. The final parsimonious model is chosen corresponding to the model with the highest actual SBC among the conditionally ranked top M models. The utility requires the following: Minor coding conventions in the NONMEM control stream for the full model (all k covariate parameters included in the model simultaneously), Successful COV step estimation for the full model run, and Use of an external subroutine ($SUBROUTINE command) and/or verbatim code to output the estimates and covariance matrix from the full model fit. The WAM utility was written in C and was developed, tested and validated in a Windows PC environment; however, it is expected that the utility will be portable and should run under any operating system where NONMEM is supported. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004) 75, P42–P42; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2003.11.158
Towards a comparison between chip-level optical interconnection and board-level exterconnection

A preliminary comparison between two time-of-flight (ToF)-limited interconnect technologies, chip-level guided-wave optical interconnection and board-level electrical exterconnection, is presented. For a 20 megacell single-cycle chip architecture integrating 4.1 billion transistors implemented in 45 nm technology on a 572 mm/sup 2/ die, it is found that all global interconnects of length greater than 32 mm could be replaced by optical waveguides with embedded air-gap cladding regions to allow a ToF-limited global clock frequency of 4.4 GHz. In the case of off-chip exterconnection, all interconnects of length greater than 36 mm could be replaced to enable a ToF-limited frequency of 4.0 GHz.
Low sensitivity of the metabolic syndrome to identify adolescents with impaired glucose tolerance: an analysis of NHANES 1999–2010

The presence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are two risk factors for Type 2 diabetes. The inter-relatedness of these factors among adolescents is unclear. We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of MetS for identifying IGT in an unselected group of adolescents undergoing oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) in the National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey 1999–2010. We characterized IGT as a 2-hour glucose ≥140 mg/dL and MetS using ATP-III-based criteria and a continuous sex- and race/ethnicity-specific MetS Z-score at cut-offs of +1.0 and +0.75 standard deviations (SD) above the mean. Among 1513 adolescents, IGT was present in 4.8%, while ATP-III-MetS was present in 7.9%. MetS performed poorly in identifying adolescents with IGT with a sensitivity/specificity of 23.7%/92.9% for ATP-III-MetS, 23.6%/90.8% for the MetS Z-score at +1.0 SD and 35.8%/85.0 for the MetS Z-score at +0.75 SD. Sensitivity was higher (and specificity lower) but was still overall poor among overweight/obese adolescents: 44.7%/83.0% for ATP-III-MetS, 43.1%/77.1% for the MetS Z-score at +1.0 SD and 64.3%/64.3% for MetS Z-score at +0.75 SD. This lack of overlap between MetS and IGT may indicate that assessment of MetS is not likely to be a good indicator of which adolescents to screen using OGTT. These data further underscore the importance of other potential contributors to IGT, including Type 1 diabetes and genetic causes of poor beta-cell function. Practitioners should keep these potential causes of IGT in mind, even when evaluating obese adolescents with IGT.
Measurement of body fat by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and bioimpedance analysis in men with prostate cancer.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to determine the percentage of body fat (%BF) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) using a standard adult equation and BIA using a standard geriatric equation in a population of older men with prostate cancer and to compare the results from these different methods. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 38 men with locally advanced, node-positive, or recurrent prostate cancer and no history of androgen-deprivation therapy. Body composition was evaluated by DXA with the use of a Hologic 4500A densitometer and BIA. BIA %BF was calculated by using standard equations developed for adult and geriatric populations. RESULTS: %BF by DXA, BIA with the standard adult equation, BIA with the standard geriatric equation, and BIA with the age-appropriate equation were 26.7 ± 5.3%, 22.5 ± 5.6%, 38.2 ± 6.9%, and 35.4 ± 9.6%, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between %BF by DXA and all BIA estimates. By using the methods described by Bland and Altman (Lancet 1986;1(8476):307), the standard adult equation showed the least bias and variability. CONCLUSIONS: In this group of men with prostate cancer, BIA with the standard adult equation provided a reasonable estimate of %BF compared with DXA, although the differences were statistically significant. BIA with the standard geriatric equation, however, markedly overestimated %BF compared with DXA, even when its use was restricted to elderly men.
Effect of Diclofenac on Corneal Haze after Photorefractive Keratectomy in Rabbits

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of topical diclofenac to decrease corneal opacity after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Methods: Twenty New Zealand white rabbits underwent a unilateral 193-nm excimer laser myopic photorefractive keratectomy to correct 5 diopters. There were four groups of five rabbits each. The first group of rabbits received postoperative topical treatment with placebo (Voltaren Ophthalmic vehicle), the second group received topical 0.1 diclofenac, the third group received topical corticosteroid (0.1% fluorometholone), and the fourth group received diclofenac and fluorometholone. In the first month, the topical drugs were applied four times daily, and in the second month twice daily. Corneal haze was graded from 0 (totally clear) to 4 (completely opaque cornea). Slit-lamp pictures were obtained at weeks 2, 4, and 8, and keratometry readings was performed at weeks 4 and 8. At week 8, the rabbits were killed, and the eyes were submitted for histologic examination. Results: At week 8, there was less corneal haze in the diclofenac-treated animals and in the fluorometholone-treated animals than in the control group, but only in the diclofenac-treated group was the difference statistically significant. Combination treatment with diclofenac and fluorometholone did not result in a further decrease in haze. Conclusions: These data suggest that diclofenac and fluorometholone may influence corneal wound healing in rabbits after excimer laser PRK and support a potential role for using topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in preventing the development of excessive corneal haze after excimer laser surgery.
Testing for Disequilibrium in the Hired Farm Labor Market

Producers of labor-intensive crops fear labor shortages if sanctions under the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986 are strictly enforced. They argue that special government programs are necessary to insure an adequate labor supply. On the other hand, farm labor advocates argue that such policies create an oversupply of workers and depress wages. A model of the farm labor market was tested for disequilibrium using cusum and cusum squares criteria. Results give no evidence that the hired farm labor market is chronically out of balance or unable to make equilibrium adjustments.
Competitive Balance in the NFL

The epigram centers on the eternal question of competitive balance: How likely is it that early-season fan hopes for postseason play are realized? The epigram also points out how confusing a discussion of balance can become; how can the NFL go from “clearly stratified” to a tribute to balance in 2 years? In this chapter, I pursue an assessment of competitive balance in the NFL in order to shed light on this ­eternal question. Such an assessment also clarifies where and when balance in the NFL became an issue, if it ever was.
Implementation of a dynamic rooting depth and phenology into a land surface model: Evaluation of carbon, water, and energy fluxes in the high latitude ecosystems

Recent studies and observations have shown that northern high latitude ecosystems (NHLE) are strongly responsive to environmental changes, particularly warming temperature. Ecosystem models are important tools that help us to understand and assess the impact of environmental changes in the NHLE. However, models lack processes that are essential for modeling ecosystem dynamics for the NHLEs. In this study, NHLE-specific dynamic phenology and dynamic rooting distribution and depth parameterizations was implemented in a land surface model, the Integrated Science Assessment Model (ISAM), to improve the estimated carbon, water, and energy fluxes in the NHLs. These parameterizations account for light, water, and nutrient stresses while allocating the assimilated carbon to leaf, stem, and root pools. The model parameters related to these processes were calibrated and evaluated using measured data from 16 sites (12 fluxnet sites and 4 non-flux net sites) representative of the dominant NHLEs. By including these dynamic processes, ISAM was able to capture the measured seasonal variability in leaf area index (LAI) and root distribution in the soil layers. The evaluation of the model results suggested that without including the dynamic processes, the modeled growing season length (GSL) in the NHLE was almost two times higher, as compared to measurements. To quantify the implication of these processes on the C, water, and energy fluxes, we compared the results of two different versions of ISAM, a dynamic version that includes dynamic processes (ISAMDYN) and a static version that does not include dynamic processes (ISAMBC), with measurements from 12 eddy covariance flux sites. The results showed that ISAMDYN, unlike ISAMBC, was more capable to capture the flux site-based seasonal variability in GPP, water, and energy fluxes. Regional analysis revealed that the growing season length increased on average by about 5 days in the NHLs in the 2000s compared to 1990s.
Beyond Cultural Specificity

Abstract This paper is a follow-up to a prior published study where MSW students were reported to have difficulty articulating the impact of broad-based oppression on clients they serve. This current study involved interviewing faculty and reviewing course syllabi in an effort to better understand the prior study's findings in relation to what faculty are teaching. Findings indicate that faculty claim to be teaching more content on broad based oppression than students appear to be learning. In addition, while students in the first study appear to better learn this content from faculty who they identify as members of oppressed groups, there is mixed sentiment among faculty regarding their use of their self-disclosed oppressive status and circumstances in the teaching of this content. Implications and recommendations for instructors are presented.
The Representation of Minority, Female, and Non-Traditional STEM Majors in the Online Environment at Community Colleges: A Nationally Representative Study

Using data from more than 2,000 community college science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors in the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, this research investigates how ethnicity, gender, non-traditional student risk factors, academic preparation, socio-economic status, and English-as-second-language/citizenship status relate to online course enrollment patterns. Even after controlling for other factors, Blacks and Hispanics (Black and Hispanic men, in particular) were significantly underrepresented in online courses, women were significantly overrepresented, and students with non-traditional student risk factors (delayed enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, financially independent, have dependents, single-parent status, and working full-time) were significantly more likely to enroll online. However, although ethnicity, gender, and non-traditional factors were all important predictors for both 2- and 4-year STEM majors, at community colleges, ethnicity and gen...
Defective cleavage of membrane bound TGFα leads to enhanced activation of the EGF receptor in malignant cells

Transforming growth factor α (TGFα) is widely expressed in malignant as well as normal cells and is involved in regulating cell growth and differentiation. Although processing of TGFα has been extensively studied in normal cells, there is little information regarding TGFα cleavage in malignant cells. Therefore, we compared the processing of TGFα in two human colon carcinoma cell lines. We found that there was a defective cleavage pattern for the TGFα precursor resulting in retention of partially processed TGFα on the cell surface of both the HCT116a2αS3 and CBS4αS2 cell lines. This raised the possibility that signaling from the resulting defective cleavage species could differ from that of soluble TGFα. The membrane-associated TGFα induced higher phosphorylation of EGFR on the cell surface of adjacent cells than equivalent levels of mature TGFα. The interaction of membrane bound TGFα precursor with the EGFR caused a slower internalization of activated EGFR relative to the internalization of the soluble TGFα/EGFR complexes. In addition, the tethered TGFα was resistant to the ability of protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) to reduce EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation, also contributing to higher activation of EGFR. The enhanced activation of EGFR by the tethered form of TGFα was reflected by higher activation of Grb2, SHC and Erk downstream mediators of EGF receptor signaling. The higher activation of EGFR by membrane tethered TGFα indicates that defective TGFα processing provides a mechanism whereby malignant cells can obtain a growth advantage over normal cells.
MR spectroscopy, APOE genotype, and evolving β-amyloid pathology: What is being detected and when

Single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a quantitative magnetic resonance (MR) technique for measuring the levels of multiple metabolites from the tissue of interest. MRS brain metabolites that are consistently abnormal in Alzheimer disease (AD) include an elevation in myo-inositol (mI) and a decrease in the neuronal metabolite N -acetylaspartate (NAA). Evidence from longitudinal studies suggests that changes in mI, a surrogate measure for neuroinflammation, and NAA, a measure of compromise in neuronal viability, occur at different stages during the progression of AD. Whereas mI is elevated during the preclinical stages of AD, and continues to be elevated throughout the disease course, decreases in NAA are not generally detected until the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, and continue to decline as the disease progresses.
On the Dimensions of Institutional Ethics in China's Higher Education

Exploring the institutional ethics of higher education is aimed at a scientific understanding of the goodness of higher education systems.From the perspective of the past,the present and the future institutional changes,this paper analyzes the multiple dimensions of institutional ethics in China' s higher education—centralization reflects the administrative ethics of China' s higher education institutions before the reform and opening up,and attachment to politics expresses the goodness of tools;decentralization embodies the administrative ethics of China' s higher education institutions after the reform and opening up,and efficiency follows the market ethics;and in the future the freedom of China' s higher education institutions is the goodness of purpose,democracy reflects the future administrative ethics,and justice highlights the social ethics.By questioning institutional ethics in China' s higher education,the lost spirit of university might be regained and the effectiveness of higher education systems might be enhanced.
The attributable annual health costs of U.S. occupational lead poisoning.

Background: U.S. occupational lead standards have not changed for decades, while knowledge about lead’s health effects has grown substantially.Objective: The objective of this analysis was twofold: to estimate the attributable annual societal costs of health damages associated with occupationally lead-exposed U.S. workers and, more broadly, to develop methods for a fuller valuation of health damages.Methods: I combined data voluntarily reported to NIOSH on the number of highly exposed workers with published literature on the health effects of lead in adults to estimate the potential health benefits of lowering the U.S. occupational limit. I developed simple algorithms for monetizing more fully both the direct medical and indirect (productivity) damages associated with those high lead exposures.Results: I estimated direct medical costs of $141 million (2014US$) per year for 16 categories of health endpoints, and combined direct and indirect costs of over $392 million (2014US$) per year for the 10,000 or so...
Prevalence of Hepatitis E Among Public Service Employees in Fuling District,2010-2011

Objective To investigate the infection status of anti-hepatitis E virus(HEV) among employees in catering section or public places in Fuling district,and provide scientific evidence for prevention of infectious diseases.Methods The seroprevalence of HEV IgM was investigated by using ELISA commercial anti-HEV test kit in 27 244 employees who worked at food trade in public places,and who had received the preventive physical examination from the year 2010 to 2011.Results Among the 27244 employees who received physical examination,22 people were HEV possitive,infection rate was 0.081%;15 out of 11 717 were tested positive in 2010,7 out of 15 527 were detected positive in 2011,there was a significant difference between the these two years(χ2=5.69,P0.05).Conclusion Hepatitis E virus infection rate of food employees and public health practitioners in Fuling district is low,and the detection rate in 2011 is obviously lower than that in 2010.
Evolutionary responses to climate change and contaminants: Evidence and experimental approaches

A fundamental objective within ecotoxicology lies in understanding and predicting effects of contaminants. This objective is made more challenging when global climate change is considered as an environmental stress that co-occurs with contaminant exposure. In this multi-stressor context, evolutionary processes are particularly important. In this paper, we consider several non-”omic” approaches wherein evolutionary responses to stress have been studied and discuss those amenable to a multiple stressor context. Specifically, we discuss common-garden designs, artificial and quasi-natural selection, and the estimation of adaptive potential using quantitative genetics as methods for studying evolutionary responses to contaminants and climate change in the absence of expensive molecular tools. While all approaches shed light on potential evolutionary impacts of stressor exposure, they also have limitations. These include logistical constraints, difficulty extrapolating to real systems, and responses tied strongly to specific taxa, populations, and/or testing conditions. The most effective way to lessen these inherent limitations is likely through inclusion of complementary physiological and molecular tools, when available. We believe that an evolutionary context to the study of contaminants and global climate change is a high priority in ecotoxicology and we outline methods that can be implemented by almost any researcher but will also provide valuable insights.
MAN Diesel - Schiffsmotoren von Augsburg in die Welt

Die Erfindung des Dieselmotors durch Rudolf Diesel hat die industrielle Entwicklung des 20. Jahrhunderts entscheidend gepragt. Auch heutzutage finden Dieselmotoren noch in vielen Bereichen Anwendung und sind in naher Zukunft kaum zu ersetzen. Insbesondere in der Schifffahrt dient der Dieselmotor als Antriebskraft Nummer Eins. Trotz der technologischen Reife, die der Dieselmotor mittlerweile aufweist, sind Inno-vationen fur Erfolg in der Branche unabdingbar.
Multi-spectral imaging and analysis for classification of melanoma

Wavelengths in the visible spectrum are selected for multi-spectral trans-illumination imaging of the skin lesions using the Nevoscope. The multi-spectral image data is analyzed using crisp and fuzzy partitioning techniques for classification of melanoma. It is shown that the multi-spectral images add the lesion depth and structural information to the superficial lesion characteristics obtained from the surface illumination images and hence, improve the sensitivity and specificity of melanoma diagnosis.
China’s Economic Quest for Balanced Internal Economic Development and Global Reach

The Chinese government recently established a $30 billion venture capital fund. The fund is intended to help Chinese firms as well as the industrial sector to upgrade industrial processes and matur...
Sustainable Management of Dredged Sediments and Waste Using Geotextile Tube Dewatering System

In the past decade, geotextile tubes have emerged as a new technology for dewatering high-water-content dredged sediments from water bodies, by-products, and wastes. These slurry materials are often contaminated and threaten environmental resources if improperly managed. Geotextile tubes present a means to manage these materials in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner for industrialized and developing countries alike. Keeping sustainability in mind, biodegradable materials and the viability of natural geotextiles for the dewatering and containment system need to be explored. At Syracuse University, the research team has been assessing the viability of using biodegradable geotextiles, natural flocculants, and cellulosic materials for the geotextile tube application. The results, based on both small-scale and large-scale tests, are very promising. This paper provides an overview summary of our studies.
Neutrophil–Particle Interactions in Blood Circulation Drive Particle Clearance and Alter Neutrophil Responses in Acute Inflammation

Although nano- and microparticle therapeutics have been studied for a range of drug delivery applications, the presence of these particles in blood flow may have considerable and understudied consequences to circulating leukocytes, especially neutrophils, which are the largest human leukocyte population. The objective of this work was to establish if particulate drug carriers in circulation interfere with normal neutrophil adhesion and migration. Circulating blood neutrophils in vivo were found to be capable of rapidly binding and sequestering injected carboxylate-modified particles of both 2 and 0.5 μm diameter within the bloodstream. These neutrophil–particle associations within the vasculature were found to suppress neutrophil interactions with an inflamed mesentery vascular wall and hindered neutrophil adhesion. Furthermore, in a model of acute lung injury, intravenously administered drug-free particles reduced normal neutrophil accumulation in the airways of C57BL/6 mice between 52% and 60% versus pa...
The impossibility of a universal public service perspective

The international accrediting organization for public service pedagogy, the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration, has established and adopted “universal competencies” th...