cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The isolation and characterization of individual phenol-soluble nuclear proteins from various reproductive cells during bovine spermatogenesis

Abstract The metabolic turnover of phenol-soluble nuclear proteins during bovine spermatogenesis is described. Several methods for the isolation and purification of two proteins, one from early developing sperm cells, and one from mature sperm cells, are also discussed. These methods involve ways in which single proteins can be extracted from polyacrylamide gels and ultimately suspended in an aqueous phase. Preliminary evidence is presented which suggests that these two proteins are chemically distinct and may be functionally related to sperm maturation.
On turbulent flow of micropolar fluids

Abstract Equations of motion for turbulent parallel flows are derived for a class of fluids named micropolar fluids by Eringen[3]. Turbulent microstress couples in addition to the conventional Reynolds stresses are identified. Conditions for flow stability are examined. Necessary conditions for turbulent flow of an ‘inviscid’ micropolar fluid are also studied. Empirical relations for fully developed turbulent flow are proposed.
President’s page: the importance of the cardiologist

As cardiologists, we are justifiably proud of the care we deliver. We think that we are more capable than other physicians to render treatment to patients who have heart disease and that those patients will have better outcomes if we are their doctors. But what proof is there to support such a
Upgrades to the Fermilab NuMI beamline

The NuMI beamline at Fermilab has been delivering high-intensity muon neutrino beams to the MINOS experiment since the spring of 2005. A total of 3.4 times 1020 protons has been delivered to the NuMI target and a maximum beam power of 320 kW has been achieved. An upgrade of the NuMI facility increasing the beam power capability to 700 kW is planned as part of the NOvA experiment. The plans for this upgrade are presented and the possibility of upgrading the NuMI beamline to handle 1.2 MW is considered.
Ultrastructural Diagnosis of Amelanotic Malignant Melanoma: Aberrant Melanosomes, Myelin Figures or Lysosomes?

INTRODUCTION The diagnosis of either primary or metastatic variants of amelanotic malignant melanoma remains a challenge to pathologists because of the varied histologic appearance of these intriguing neoplasms. The neoplastic melanocytes comprising such tumors may have an epithelioid, spindle-shaped, vacuolated, or clear cell appearance. In many cases, the diagnosis of amelanotic malignant melanoma can only be positively confirmed by transmission electron microscopic (TEM) demonstration of specific types of unpigmented melanosomal organelles variously termed premelanosomes, unpigmented melanosomes, or aberrant melanosomes. The primary purpose of this report is to describe and illustrate the various types of unpigmented neural crest-type melanosomal structures found in the neoplastic melanocytes comprising unequivocal cases of amelanotic malignant melanoma. Differentiation of these true melanosomal structures from questionable aberrant melanosomes and nonmelanosomal organelles or inclusions such as lysosomes and myelin figures will be discussed. The contribution of histochemistry and immunohistochemistry to the diagnosis of amelanotic malignant melanoma as well as a brief description of some unusual histologic variants of malignant melanoma will also be covered.
Comparing the Effectiveness of Gender-Specific and Couples Groups in a Court-Mandated Spouse Abuse Treatment Program

This study represents the first attempt to directly compare two common methods of providing spouse abuse intervention, group treatment of couples, or gender-specific groups. Forty-nine couples were randomly assigned to one of the two treatments. Of these, data were available at posttest on only 42 couples because of attrition of the victimized spouses. A multiple analysis of covariance at posttest demonstrated that for the majority of abusers it did not matter which treatment was used. However, for those with a history of alcohol abuse, the couples approach was clearly superior. Analysis of victims' reports at a 6-month follow-up suggests that neither treatment approach was more effective in sustaining initial treatment gains over time. Finally, the issue of victim safety was addressed. Qualitative assessment of weekly reporting sheets suggests that women who received the couples group intervention were in no more danger than those receiving treatment in the gender-specific groups.
Computable rate of convergence in evolutionary computation

The broad field of evolutionary computation (EC)-including genetic algorithms as a special case-has attracted much attention in the last several decades. Many bold claims have been made about the effectiveness of various EC algorithms. These claims have centered on the efficiency, robustness, and ease of implementation of EC approaches. Unfortunately, there seems to be little theory to support such claims. One key step to formally evaluating or substantiating such claims is to establish rigorous results on the rate of convergence of EC algorithms. This paper presents a computable rate of convergence for a class of ECs that includes the standard genetic algorithm as a special case.
Efficient and dependable multimedia data delivery service in World Wide Web environment

Multimedia data is characterized by large objects that require high-bandwidth. This paper presents technique that enables efficient and dependable data storage and delivery of large multimedia objects in the World Wide Web environment. The proposed approach strips data into blocks that are distributed over multiple Web servers. Data distribution is transparent to users. The parallelism of multiple Web servers is exploited to achieve high data rates. The paper presents two data coding techniques to achieve high dependability.
Fractionation and protraction for radiotherapy of prostate carcinoma

Abstract Purpose: To investigate whether current fractionation and brachytherapy protraction schemes for the treatment of prostatic cancer with radiation are optimal, or could be improved. Methods and Materials: We analyzed two mature data sets on radiotherapeutic tumor control for prostate cancer, one using EBRT and the other permanent seed implants, to extract the sensitivity to changes in fractionation of prostatic tumors. The standard linear-quadratic model was used for the analysis. Results: Prostatic cancers appear significantly more sensitive to changes in fractionation than most other cancers. The estimated α/β value is 1.5 Gy [0.8, 2.2]. This result is not too surprising as there is a documented relationship between cellular proliferative status and sensitivity to changes in fractionation, and prostatic tumors contain exceptionally low proportions of proliferating cells. Conclusions: High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy would be a highly appropriate modality for treating prostate cancer. Appropriately designed HDR brachytherapy regimens would be expected to be as efficacious as low dose rate, but with added advantages of logistic convenience and more reliable dose distributions. Similarly, external beam treatments for prostate cancer can be designed using larger doses per fraction; appropriately designed hypofractionation schemes would be expected to maintain current levels of tumor control and late sequelae, but with reduced acute morbidity, together with the logistic and financial advantages of fewer numbers of fractions.
Thin-film head domain structures versus Permalloy composition: strain determination and frequency response

The influence of the composition of plated Permalloy on the resulting magnetic domain structure in the upper yoke of inductive thin-film magnetic recording heads has been investigated. The response of the magnetization from four otherwise similar thin-film heads, ranging in iron content from 18 to 21% by weight, has been imaged by means of a scanning magnetooptic photometer. Radially compressive (and/or circumferentially tensile) strain is shown to exist in each of these heads about the rear magnetic closure, yielding a transition from radial to circumferential domain structures across the range of compositions. Mechanisms for the conduction of magnetic flux in each of these structures are demonstrated at 1 and 20 MHz. >
Aryl-N-methyl-2-pyridiniumketoxime acetylcholinesterase reactivators.

syn- and anti-Phenyl-N-methyl-2-pyridiniumketoximes (II and III) were synthesized as reactivators of organophosphate-inhibited acetylcholinesterase, and the anti>syn potency relationship was confirmed. 2′-Pyridyl-N-methyl-2-pyridiniumketoxime (IV) was synthesized and found to be more potent than II or III and equipotent with syn-4-pyridiniumaldoxime methochloride. IV was more potent than II but less potent than III as an inhibitor of acetycholinesterase. NMR evidence indicates that the phenyl groups of II and III are in different conformations.
VARIATIONAL THEORY OF MIXTURES

In the past the variational theory of mixtures due to Mansoori and Leland has been applied successfully to the calculation of excess properties of mixtures. In the present work the origin of the variational theory is discussed along with the important applications of the theory to pure fluid and mixture properties. The advances of the theory in performing mixture calculations are reviewed and analyzed. The review includes the area of simple fluid mixtures, for which the intermolecular potential energy function is well known, and the area of real fluid mixtures, where no explicit information about the potential function is available. The role of the reference fluid system and its effect on the predictive capability of the theory is also discussed. The use of the variatjonal theory to obtain least upper and highest lower bounds to thermodynamic properties is described and some recent calculatjons involving infinite dilution thermodynamics are reported.
Geographic segregation and evidence of density-dependent changes in sex ratios in an abundant colonial waterbird

Demographic information, such as geographic segregation of sexes and sex ratio data, is needed to develop, model and evaluate conservation and management strategies for wildlife. A variety of physiological, behavioral and environmental factors can influence segregation of sexes and sex ratios, many of which originate with den sity-dependent processes. Departure from 50:50 sex ratios of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) collected during control efforts in breeding and wintering areas across their eastern range of the USA were evaluated using using a Z-test as well as Stouffer’s weighted Z-tests. In addition, a specifically-designed ran domization test was used to evaluate density-dependent effects on primary sex ratios in cormorants from egg collections and colony nest count data over a 21-year period. Cormorants collected from breeding colonies were strongly male-biased, whereas cormorants collected from feeding flocks were slightly biased toward females. Cormorants were partly segregated by sex on the wintering grounds, with significantly more males found in ar eas with intensive channel catfish aquaculture. The null hypothesis that females produced a balanced sex ra tio independent of number of nesting cormorants was rejected: more male embryos were produced during rapid population growth, whereas at maximum nesting number more female embryos were produced. Once populations stabilized, the sex ratio was more equal. This examination of sex ratios indicates that different management methods and locations result in sex-biased culling of cormorants. Sex-biased culling in cormorants could make population reduction efforts more efficient and reduce overall take. We suggest further research to exam ine density-dependent effects on primary sex ratios documented here.
A maximum utility solution to a vehicle constrained tanker scheduling problem

Abstract : A modification to the Dantzig and Fulkerson tanker scheduling problem is described. An insufficient number of vehicles and a utility associated with each vehicle delivery are assumed. The new problem is shown to be equivalent to a transshipment problem, the solution of which is the same as the maximal utility solution of the modified tanker scheduling problem. An example is given.
Boredom proneness: its relationship to positive and negative affect.

170 undergraduate students completed the Boredom Proneness Scale by Farmer and Sundberg and the Multiple Affect Adjective Checklist by Zuckerman and Lubin. Significant negative relationships were found between boredom proneness and negative affect scores (i.e., Depression, Hostility, Anxiety). Significant positive correlations also obtained between boredom proneness and positive affect (i.e., Positive Affect, Sensation Seeking). The correlations between boredom proneness “subscales” and positive and negative affect were congruent with those obtained using total boredom proneness scores. Implications for counseling are discussed.
Peroneal artery-only runoff following endovascular revascularizations is effective for limb salvage in patients with tissue loss.

Objective Peroneal artery bypass is effective for limb salvage (LS), however, the efficacy of peroneal artery-only runoff (PAOR) following endovascular (EV) interventions is unknown. The goal of our article was to compare the efficacy of EV interventions with PAOR to those with other runoff vessels for LS in patients presenting with tissue loss. Methods A retrospective review of 111 consecutive patients who underwent infrainguinal EV revascularizations for nonhealing ulcers/gangrene between June 2001 and December 2006 was performed. Patients with PAOR (n = 33) were compared with those with other vessel runoff (OTHER, n=78). Fisher exact test and χ 2 test were used for comparing variables, Kaplan-Meier analyses for patency, LS, and Cox regression multivariate analysis was used for identifying factors associated with limb loss. Results The patients in PAOR were older, but other morbidities were similar between groups. The most distal level of intervention was infrapopliteal (tibioperoneal or peroneal artery) in 42% in PAOR group whereas this was 24% in OTHER group ( P = .071). Preoperative ankle-brachial index (ABI) was similar (0.49 ± 0.23 vs 0.50 ± 0.23), however, postprocedure ABI was significantly less for patients with PAOR (0.76 ± 0.21 vs 0.92 ± 0.13, P = .001). The primary patency, assisted primary patency, secondary patency and LS were not significantly different between groups. There was also no difference in time-to healing between groups (PAOR vs OTHER, 2.9 ± 2.1 mo vs 3.7 ± 3.6 mo, P = .319). We found the presence of gangrene (odds ratio [OR]: 3.5, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-10.8, P = .028) and dialysis-dependence (OR: 2.9, 95% CI, 1.0-8.2, P = .046) to be associated with limb loss, when adjusted for diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, location of wound, and PAOR. Conclusion Endovascular revascularization with PAOR results in acceptable patency and limb salvage rates in patients presenting with tissue loss, and is equivalent to other vessel runoff for patency, limb salvage and wound healing rates.
Surface waves of large amplitude beneath an elastic sheet. Part 1. High-order series solution

Two-dimensional periodic waves beneath an elastic sheet resting on the surface of an infinitely deep fluid are investigated using a high-order series-expansion technique. The solution is found to have certain features in common with capillary-gravity waves; specifically, there is a countably infinite set of values of the flexural rigidity of the sheet at which the series solution fails, and these values are conjectured to be bifurcation points of the solution. Limiting waves of maximum height are found at each value of the flexural rigidity investigated. These are characterized by a cusp singularity in the elastic bending moment at the wave crest, and infinite fluid pressure there. For at least one value of the flexural rigidity, the series solution shows that the wave of maximum height also travels with infinite speed.
Does Appointing a Former CFO as CEO Influence a Firm’s Accounting Policies?

We study CEO successions to investigate the factors that lead a firm to select an individual with CFO experience for their CEO and whether appointing a former CFO leads to systematic changes in financial reporting, disclosure, and tax policies relative to other CEO appointments. Consistent with the “fit/refit” model, we find that the selection of a former CFO is associated with several changes in firm characteristics leading up to the appointment, including increases in analyst coverage, analyst forecast dispersion, and absolute discretionary accruals. We also document improvements in the firms’ reporting and disclosure quality after the appointment of a CEO with CFO experience relative to appointments of other CEOs. Our study provides insight into the circumstances under which CFO experience is valued in the top leadership position of the firm and the reasons underlying the documented effect of individual CEOs on a firm’s accounting policies.
Prophylaxis with Amoxicillin or Sulfisoxazole for Otitis Media: Effect on the Recovery of Penicillin-Resistant Bacteria from Children

The rate of recovery of oropharyngeal penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and aerobic and anaerobic beta-lactamase-producing bacteria (BLPB) from children who received a 4- to 6-month course of prophylaxis with amoxicillin or sulfisoxazole for otitis media was investigated monthly over 9 months. The BLPB recovered were Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus, pigmented Prevotella species, and Fusobacterium species. The recovery rate for all penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae isolates and BLPB increased only after administration of amoxicillin. Before amoxicillin was administered, six BLPB isolates were recovered from four of the children who were to be given this drug (20%). The number of BLPB recovered increased gradually until all of these patients were found to be colonized with BLPB; five (25%) of these patients were found to be colonized with penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae after 5 months of prophylaxis. Three to five months after amoxicillin prophylaxis was discontinued, the number of BLPB recovered gradually declined; only three children (15%) remained colonized with BLPB, and none remained colonized with penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae. These data illustrate that amoxicillin prophylaxis induces an increase in the number of penicillin-resistant bacteria in the oropharynx.
A four quadrant inertial mass torque reactor based road vibration source for spatial enhancement of virtual reality driving simulators

The driving simulator used by KMRREC (Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation) to test the cognitive driving ability of traumatic brain injury and stroke victims lacked realism. This manuscript summarizes the results and conclusions drawn from a design and construction project. This project has been realized to verify the hypothesis that adding a simulated road vibration source will increase the subject's sense of presence. The finished construction consists of a vibratory platform on which the subject is seated -either in a chair or in a wheelchair- which has four electromagnetic vibrators and four spring loaded feet affixed to it. This project is enabling researchers to ascertain to what level the subject's immersion or "sense of presence" into the simulation may be increased by this sort of system.
Protocol Design for Dynamic Delaunay Triangulation

Delaunay triangulation (DT) is a useful geometric structure for networking applications. In this paper we investigate the design of join, leave, and maintenance protocols to construct and maintain a distributed DT dynamically. We define a distributed DT and present a necessary and sufficient condition for a distributed DT to be correct. This condition is used as a guide for protocol design. We present join and leave protocols as well as correctness proofs for serial joins and leaves. In addition, to handle concurrent joins and leaves as well as node failures, we present a maintenance protocol. An accuracy metric is defined for a distributed DT. Experimental results show that our join, leave and maintenance protocols are scalable, and they achieve high accuracy for systems under churn and with node failures. We also present application protocols for greedy routing, clustering, broadcast, and multicast within a radius, and discuss and prove their correctness.
Verbal learning and memory functions in students with reading disabilities

The authors of this current study compared the memory performance of adolescent students with specific reading disabilities (RD) with that of typical adolescent readers on a newly developed verbal ...
A fault detection scheme using condition systems

In this paper, fault detection is examined using condition systems. The method presented relies on existing results for controller synthesis using these models. First we present a generalized discussion of the controller module called a taskblock. Then a method to incorporate on-line fault detection into the taskblock framework is presented. We show that the resulting modified controller module is effective for control and detection.
Mind the Duality Gap: Logarithmic regret algorithms for online optimization

We describe a primal-dual framework for the design and analysis of online strongly convex optimization algorithms. Our framework yields the tightest known logarithmic regret bounds for Follow-The-Leader and for the gradient descent algorithm proposed in Hazan et al. [2006]. We then show that one can interpolate between these two extreme cases. In particular, we derive a new algorithm that shares the computational simplicity of gradient descent but achieves lower regret in many practical situations. Finally, we further extend our framework for generalized strongly convex functions.
BOARD DIVERSITY AND CEO SELECTION

We find that the likelihood of a female CEO appointment increases with the proportion of female directors on the board. However, this positive relation is significant only in the subsample of firms where one of the directors is appointed CEO, and is insignificant in firms where the new CEO is not from the board. The results are consistent with the explanation that female directors constitute a supply of viable candidates for the CEO position, rather than female directors affecting the likelihood of female CEO appointments by interpreting noisy signals about the abilities of female candidates.
The problem of emesis during oral glucose-electrolytes therapy given from the onset of severe cholera.

Abstract In an attempt to obviate the need for intravenous fluids by preventing dehydration, 57 adult volunteers who experienced induced clinical cholera during a vaccine development programme were treated from the onset of diarrhoea with oral glucose-electrolytes therapy. 44 individuals with mild to moderately profuse diarrhoea ( 8 L. total volume) could not be maintained in balance with oral therapy alone, due chiefly to emesis during the first day of illness. Emesis occurred in the absence of significant dehydration or acidosis. Since emesis precludes effective early oral therapy in severe cases, domiciliary oral therapy is unlikely to eliminate cholera mortality. Rural diarrhoea treatment centres using oral therapy with limited amounts of intravenous fluids when needed, could reduce case fatality from cholera and related diarrhoeas virtually to zero with least expense.
Enhanced anhydrous proton conduction in binary mixtures of 1H-imidazole–1H-1,2,3-triazole based compounds

What is the impact of mixing two proton-conducting heterocycles on proton conductivity? Herein we answer this question through our investigations on two linear rod-like compounds 2-(4-(dodecyloxy)phenyl)-1H-imidazole (4) and 5-(4-(dodecyloxy)phenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole (10). We have found that mixtures of molecules 4 and 10 at certain compositions show enhanced proton conductivity compared to their pure components. We attribute the increased conductivity in these materials to the increased charge density due to facile co-ionization and increased mobility due to the incorporation of long alkyl chains, which prevent crystallization of protogenic groups while maintaining the required hydrogen bonded network. Our results suggest a new strategy for enhancing intrinsic proton conductivity in heterocyclic systems.
A cortical–spinal prosthesis for targeted limb movement in paralysed primate avatars

Motor paralysis is among the most disabling aspects of injury to the central nervous system. Here we develop and test a target-based cortical-spinal neural prosthesis that employs neural activity recorded from premotor neurons to control limb movements in functionally paralysed primate avatars. Given the complexity by which muscle contractions are naturally controlled, we approach the problem of eliciting goal-directed limb movement in paralysed animals by focusing on the intended targets of movement rather than their intermediate trajectories. We then match this information in real-time with spinal cord and muscle stimulation parameters that produce free planar limb movements to those intended target locations. We demonstrate that both the decoded activities of premotor populations and their adaptive responses can be used, after brief training, to effectively direct an avatar's limb to distinct targets variably displayed on a screen. These findings advance the future possibility of reconstituting targeted limb movement in paralysed subjects.
Emerging issues in legal and procedural aspects of buffer zone management with case studies from Nepal.

Buffer zones have been used as part of larger integrated conservation development programs to provide the benefits of ecological buffering of protected areas and socioeconomic buffering of neighbor...
A Weather-Pattern-Based Approach to Evaluate the Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System (AMPS) Forecasts: Comparison to Automatic Weather Station Observations

AbstractTypical model evaluation strategies evaluate models over large periods of time (months, seasons, years, etc.) or for single case studies such as severe storms or other events of interest. The weather-pattern-based model evaluation technique described in this paper uses self-organizing maps to create a synoptic climatology of the weather patterns present over a region of interest, the Ross Ice Shelf for this analysis. Using the synoptic climatology, the performance of the model, the Weather Research and Forecasting Model run within the Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System, is evaluated for each of the objectively identified weather patterns. The evaluation process involves classifying each model forecast as matching one of the weather patterns from the climatology. Subsequently, statistics such as model bias, root-mean-square error, and correlation are calculated for each weather pattern. This allows for the determination of model errors as a function of weather pattern and can highlight if certai...
Overexpression of MazFSa in Staphylococcus aureus Induces Bacteriostasis by Selectively Targeting mRNAs for Cleavage

The role of chromosomally encoded toxin-antitoxin (TA) loci in bacterial physiology has been under debate, with the toxin proposed as either an inducer of bacteriostasis or a mediator of programmed cell death (PCD). We report here that ectopic expression of MazFSa, a toxin of the TA module from Staphylococcus aureus, led to a rapid decrease in CFU counts but most cells remained viable as determined by differential Syto 9 and propidium iodide staining after MazFSa induction. This finding suggested that the toxin MazFSa induced cell stasis rather than cell death. We also showed that MazFSa selectively cleaves cellular mRNAs in vivo, avoiding “important” transcripts such as recA, gyrB, and sarA mRNAs in MazFSa-induced cells, while these three mRNAs can be cleaved in vitro. The results of Northwestern blotting showed that both sarA and recA mRNAs bind strongly to a putative RNA-binding protein. These data suggest that S. aureus likely undergoes stasis by protecting selective mRNA with RNA-binding proteins upon the expression of MazFSa in vivo.
Studies in the History of Probability and Statistics. XXXVII A. M. Turing's statistical work in World War II

SUMMARY An account is given of A. M. Turing's unpublished contributions to statistics during 1941 or 1940.
Sequence Alignment, Analysis, and Bioinformatic Pipelines

As DNA sequencing becomes more affordable and data ‘tsunami’ is practically here, it is clear that the inforamtics and analysis are the rate-limiting step currently for scientific discoveries as well as medical actions in the genomics enterprise. In this chapter, soon after the brief historical overview on the genomics field, we describe details on alignment and variation analysis algorithms and software packages. Remaining challenges and potential directions are discussed at the end of the chapter.
Teaching Note: Vivan Los Jornaleros: A Cross-Cultural Bilingual Community Service Collaborative

This teaching note describes a cross-cultural bilingual community service collaboration designed to prepare students to engage diversity and advance justice. BSW students enrolled in a multicultural social work class were paired with students enrolled in an advanced Spanish class to deliver breakfast to primarily Spanish immigrant day laborers at the labor pool location. This paper describes the advance collaboration, the course purpose, the assignment, student preparation, and student learning outcomes from this exercise. English-speaking social work students and Spanish majors developed a heightened awareness of social injustices related to immigration reform and poverty and increased self-awareness. They recognized personal and community misperceptions about immigrants from Mexico and South America. Selections of student responses from reaction papers, formal writing assignments, oral presentations, narratives, and video recordings are provided.
Book Review, William M. Wiecek, the Birth of the Modern Constitution: The United States Supreme Court, 1941-1953 (Cambridge Univ. Press. 2006)

This is a review of William Wiecek's contribution to the Holmes Devise History of the Supreme Court of the United States. Wiecek attempts to rehabilitate the reputation of the Stone-Vinson Courts (especially the latter), making the persuasive case that constitutional law as we know it today owes a debt to the work of those courts and that the period was not a tedious and futile entra'acte between the demise of the old order and the constitutional renascence that occurred during the Warren Court.
Hybrid Cloud Economics

Public clouds can offer numerous advantages over private, dedicated infrastructure, and are increasingly being used by businesses of all sizes in all industries. However, under the right conditions, hybrid clouds can optimize costs while still exploiting the benefits of public clouds such as geographic dispersion and business agility. Specifically, the cost structure of an enterprise IT shop must be competitive with that of the cloud provider, and demand must be variable.
The Profit-Maximizing Firm as Multinational Corporation

This note lays out a microeconomic framework of monopolistic competition to think about profit-maximizing firms that are vertical or horizontal multinationals.
Further evidence for cholinergic control of gonadotropin and prolactin secretion.

SummaryOvariectomized adult rats were injected with 10 μg of estradiol benzoate sc and 48 hr later with cholinergic drugs sc between 8:30 and 9:30 AM. Either pilocarpine HCl (5 or 50 mg/kg body wei...
Savings in distance driven from optimization of coordinated trucking

Data on distance driven and loads delivered from five loggers to nine consuming mills were collected from a log-trucking firm. Routes were assigned by a supervisory person and were not optimized. On average, over the week of testing, the schedule achieved a loaded-distance driven proportion of 57%. A route-optimization system was also used to assign delivery schedules, and it achieved a loaded-distance driven proportion of 66%, significantly higher than the human-assigned routes (p < .02) and potentially saving the firm up to 24,000 km per year. Feasibility of the generated optimal schedules was a concern, but could not be directly evaluated. Instead, specific characteristics of routes that might be considered optimal and feasible were selected, and the generated solutions were evaluated for whether or not they had those traits. Optimal solutions tended to (a) deliver loads from multiple loggers on single days, and (b) replicate a few, shorter routes between trucks – both of which were considered traits o...
Vesiculobullous eruptions associated with internal disease.

Differentiation of primary and symptomatic vesiculobullous eruptions is emphasized, and the vesicular and bullous lesions associated with internal disease are examined in detail. Tables list the eruptions not associated with internal disease, those associated with internal disease, and disease states associated with erythema multiforme.
In vivo aging of transfused erythrocytes and 2,3 diphosphoglycerate levels

Levels of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) and oxygen affinity were measured in a patient with refractory congenital hypoplastic anemia in order to determine the response of aging transfused erythrocytes to a decrease in tissue oxygen tension. Ferrokinetic studies revealed that the rate of erythropoiesis after transfusion was approximately 10% of normal. In the interval between transfusions, the level of 2,3-DPG and P 50 rose to values considerably above the normal range as the level of the hematocrit decreased. On five separate occasions, the 2,3-DPG concentration was elevated (average 25.5 µmoles/g of hemoglobin) and the P 50 level increased (average 33.2 mm of mercury) 24 hr prior to transfusion. It is concluded that in vivo aging of transfused erythrocytes does not prevent these cells from responding to an increasingly hypoxic environment by elevating 2,3-DPG levels and by decreasing oxygen affinity.
Thalidomide and its derivatives: new promise for multiple myeloma.

Background: The combination of melphalan and prednisone has been accepted as standard treatment for multiple myeloma (MM) because most studies demonstrate only minimal survival benefit of combination chemotherapy regimenswhen compared with melphalan and prednisone. Despite modest gains with more intensive myeloablative regimens for certain subgroups, myeloma remains incurable. In 1999, investigators at the University of Arkansas reported the promising results of a phase II study of thalidomide in patients with resistant MM. Since then various trials of thalidomide alone, and in combination, have been tested in patients with resistant, and more recently, untreated MM. In addition, preliminary results of phase I studies of the immunomodulatory derivatives (IMiDs) of thalidomide have recently been reported. Methods: The author reviewed and reports the results of clinical trials of thalidomide and the IMiDs, as well as the pharmacology, mechanism of action, and toxicity of these agents. Results: Thalidomide has demonstrated significant activity in both resistant and previously untreated multiple myeloma. Combination therapy with dexamethasone increases response rate, even in patients previously resistant to both drugs given as single agents, indicating probable synergy. More recent studies of thalidomide-dexamethasone in previously untreated patients are encouraging. IMiD-3 is active in resistant myeloma and has a toxicity profile different from that of thalidomide. Conclusions: Many studies have confirmed the activity of thalidomide in MM, as well as more responses with dexamethasone. Newer thalidomide derivatives with reduced toxicity are promising. Thalidomide-dexamethasone may now represent the treatment of choice for previously untreated patients. Further studies with these and other novel agents early in the course of myeloma, followed by rational programs of dose intensification, may improve complete remission rates and the frequency of long-term control.
Suprapubic Endoscopic Vesical Neck Suspension (Stamey Procedure) for Control of Urinary Incontinence in a Woman Following Cauda Equina Injury

AbstractSuprapubic endoscopic suspension of the vesical neck is a popular and effective procedure for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women. A woman who suffered a traumatic cauda equina injury had areflexic detrusor dysfunction with normal intravesical filling pressure. The patient had moderate proximal urethral dysfunction resulting in incontinence despite an adequate intermittent self-catheterization regimen and treatment with an alpha-sympathomimetic drug. Following supra-pubic endoscopic vesical neck suspension she has remained totally continent on intermittent self-catheterization.
The tourism imaginary and pilgrimages to the edges of the world

The tourism imaginary and pilgrimages to the edges of the world is a wide-ranging book of far-flung travel to the finis terrae or the ends of the earth. The volume focuses its chapters on geographi...
Chapter 2 The Critics’ Circle

This chapter examines the formation of the Critics’ Circle, a mix of English writers and Caribbean scholars and cultural commentators who met at regular intervals in the broadcast studio in London to review selections that had been previously aired on the program. As a result of the establishment of the Critics’ Circle, aspiring writers in the region were able to derive a greater sense of what the program construed as good writing and what sort writing was actively discouraged. This chapter details the several ways in which the admonitions of the Critics’ Circle membership and particularly Henry Swanzy’s utterances on literary craft influenced much of the writing that came out of the region during the post-war period of literary development.
Stability Studies on Dry Swabs and Wet Mailed Swabs for Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Aptima Assays.

ABSTRACT The Aptima Combo 2 (AC2) and Aptima CT (ACT) (Hologic Inc., San Diego, CA) are nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) that detect Chlamydia trachomatis. AC2 also detects Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Storage and temperature conditions may impact the utility of NAATs in some settings and screening programs. We evaluated specimen stability for use beyond the Aptima package insert specifications for temperature and duration of storage (between 2°C and 30°C and 60 days, respectively) in two studies: (i) dry C. trachomatis-seeded swabs were used with ACT after storage at 4°C, 23°C, or 36°C for up to 84 days and (ii) swabs seeded with C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae and then placed in transport medium were tested with AC2, after being mailed via the U.S. Postal Service to three different sites. Prolonged storage of samples had no effect, and samples stored at 4°C, 23°C, and 36°C for up to 84 days yielded comparable ACT positivities, although there was a drop in signal intensity for virtually all specimens under all storage/shipping conditions after day 21. In the mailing study, 80%, 52% and 29% of seeded swabs were exposed to temperatures of >30°C during three rounds in transit, and 2% reached temperatures of >40°C. No evidence of signal degradation in the AC2 assay for detection of C. trachomatis or N. gonorrhoeae was observed, although some mailed swabs took more than 5 weeks to reach the laboratory site. These two studies support the potential use of swabs at temperatures above 36°C and storage beyond 60 days and provide confidence regarding this commercially available NAAT for testing of specimens after mailing.
Review of 200 consecutive patients with mutation profiling in a lung cancer individualized medicine clinic.

e19013 Background: Mutation profiling to assess for potentially druggable mutations in NSCLC is being offered at an increasing number of cancer centers throughout North America and internationally....
Silence Was Salvation: Child Survivors of Stalin's Terror and World War II in the Soviet Union. By Cathy A. Frierson. (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2015. Pp. xvi, 267. $65.00.) : Book Review

Following upon the documentary history Children of the Gulag, which she coedited with Semyon S. Vilensky, the author of this study has compiled ten interviews conducted in 2005‐2007 with children o...
Natural language querying in SAP-ERP platform

With the omnipresence of mobile devices coupled with recent advances in automatic speech recognition capabilities, there has been a growing demand for natural language query (NLQ) interface to retrieve information from the knowledge bases. Business users particularly find this useful as NLQ interface enables them to ask questions without the knowledge of the query language or the data schema. In this paper, we apply an existing research technology called ``ATHENA: An Ontology-Driven System for Natural Language Querying over Relational Data Stores'' in the industry domain of SAP-ERP systems. The goal is to enable users to query SAP-ERP data using natural language. We present the challenges and their solutions of such a technology transfer. We present the effectiveness of the natural language query interface on a set of questions given by a set of SAP practitioners.
Emerging Topics in Gastroenterology

The bacteria and fungi in the human gut make up a community of microorganisms that lives in symbiosis with humans, engaging in numerous diverse interactions that influence health. This article outlines the current knowledge on emerging topics in gastroenterology, including microbiome and probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, cyclic vomiting syndrome, eosinophilic esophagitis, and microscopic colitis.
Tissue-Resident Macrophages in Fungal Infections.

Invasive fungal infections result in high morbidity and mortality. Host organs targeted by fungal pathogens vary depending on the route of infection and fungal species encountered. Cryptococcus neoformans infects the respiratory tract and disseminates throughout the central nervous system. Candida albicans infects mucosal tissues and the skin, and systemic Candida infection in rodents has a tropism to the kidney. Aspergillus fumigatus reaches distal areas of the lung once inhaled by the host. Across different tissues in naive hosts, tissue-resident macrophages (TRMs) are one of the most populous cells of the innate immune system. Although they function to maintain homeostasis in a tissue-specific manner during steady state, TRMs may function as the first line of defense against invading pathogens and may regulate host immune responses. Thus, in any organs, TRMs are uniquely positioned and specifically programmed to function. This article reviews the current understanding of the roles of TRMs during major fungal infections.
073_17038P-C4 Characterization of the Electroanatomic Substrate in Cardiac Sarcoidosis and its Correlation with Imaging Findings of Scar and Inflammation

Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is characterized by varying degree of active inflammation and replacement fibrosis. The electroanatomic (EAM) substrate features in patients with CS and ventricular tachycardia (VT) and the relationship with imaging findings of inflammation and fibrosis have not been
Effects of desipramine on norepinephrine clearance in congestive heart failure.

Elevated plasma norepinephrine (NE) in congestive heart failure (CHF) is caused by increased NE spillover and decreased NE clearance. To evaluate the effects of neuronal uptake blockade on NE clearance, we studied NE kinetics during steady-state infusions of [3H]NE, before and after oral desipramine (DMI, 50 mg) in 11 patients with CHF and 8 normal volunteers. Baseline plasma NE was greater in the CHF group (637 +/- 56 vs. 271 +/- 32 pg/ml; P less than 0.001), NE clearance was lower in CHF (1.31 +/- 0.21 vs. 1.94 +/- 0.17 l.min-1.m-2; P = 0.026), and NE spillover was greater in CHF (4.71 +/- 0.78 vs. 3.04 +/- 0.35 nmol.min-1.m-2, P = 0.054). After DMI, plasma NE rose significantly in CHF (778 +/- 67; P = 0.008), and NE clearance decreased further in CHF (0.97 +/- 0.16; P = 0.024), but neither changed in normal subjects. NE spillover did not change in either group. There appears to be an enhanced effect of DMI on NE clearance in CHF patients. Two general mechanisms may be responsible for this finding, an increased concentration of drug, possibly caused by a decreased volume of distribution, and an increased sensitivity of neuronal amine pumps to DMI. Both mechanisms may reflect a more general abnormality of clearance of drugs and hormones related to abnormalities of tissue perfusion in CHF.
Daten und Methoden

Zum Themenfeld Erwerbsverlauf und Alterssicherung steht der wissenschaftlichen Forschung mittlerweile ein breites Datenangebot mit unterschiedlichen Analysemoglichkeiten zur Verfugung (vgl. Kroger et al. 2011). Dabei handelt es sich einerseits um Daten, die primar die Analyse von Erwerbsverlaufen ermoglichen. Zu nennen waren hier sowohl prozessgenerierte Daten des Instituts fur Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung wie auch die Befragungsdaten des Soziooekonomischen Panels. Allerdings sind mit diesen Datensatzen keine Langsschnittanalysen von Rentenanwartschaften moglich.
Social Influences on Nicotine-Related Behaviors

Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. The number of new smokers, specifically among adolescents, has risen rapidly in recent years. Thus, understanding the role of social influences on patterns of nicotine and tobacco use is important. Clinical studies have addressed the impact social relationships such as family members and peers have on smoking acquisition and susceptibility. As well, preclinical animal models have examined the impact of social factors on drug intake, acquisition, maintenance, and relapse. For example, environmental enrichment (EE) is a multi-faceted model that includes social factors, exercise, and novelty, among others. This model has elucidated addiction-related neurobehavioral effects of these different factors. However, there is a dearth of literature examining the impact of social partners on nicotine addiction and underlying neural mechanisms. Here we discuss the importance of social factors on nicotine addiction vulnerability, and propose new directions for addiction research that integrate social aspects of nicotine use.
Hydroxychloroquine Levels throughout Pregnancies Complicated by Rheumatic Disease: Implications for Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes.

Objective. Pregnancies in women with active rheumatic disease often result in poor neonatal outcomes. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) reduces disease activity and flares; however, pregnancy causes significant physiologic changes that may alter HCQ levels and lead to therapeutic failure. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate HCQ concentrations during pregnancy and relate levels to outcomes. Methods. We performed an observational study of pregnant patients with rheumatic disease who were taking HCQ from a single center during 2013–2016. Serum samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Primary HCQ exposure was categorized as nontherapeutic (≤ 100 ng/ml) or therapeutic (> 100 ng/ml). Categorical outcomes were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test and continuous outcomes using linear regression models, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Kruskal-Wallis test, t test, and ANOVA. Results. We analyzed 145 samples from 50 patients with rheumatic disease, 56% of whom had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). HCQ concentration varied widely among individuals at each trimester. Mean physician’s global assessment scores in patients with SLE were significantly higher in those with average drug levels ≤ 100 ng/ml compared to > 100 ng/ml (0.93 vs 0.32, p = 0.01). Of patients with SLE, 83% with average drug levels ≤ 100 ng/ml delivered prematurely (n = 6), compared to only 21% with average levels > 100 ng/ml (n = 19; p = 0.01). HCQ levels were not associated with prematurity or disease activity in non-SLE patients. Conclusion. With both high and low HCQ levels associated with preterm birth and disease activity in SLE, further study is necessary to understand HCQ disposition throughout pregnancy and to clarify the relationship between drug levels and outcomes.