cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors on Testicular and Sperm Function

Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE-5i) are the mainstay of treatment for erectile dysfunction. Over the years, however, they have also been investigated as a potential option for the management of male infertility beyond improving suboptimal erections stemming from the stressors of infertility. Several mechanisms for the effects of these medications have been proposed. The focus of many of these investigations has been the effect of PDE-5i on sperm function and spermatogenesis. Most of the published data to date suggests a favorable effect of PDE-5i on sperm function and spermatogenesis, or no effect at all. The process of sperm capacitation, in which spermatozoa undergo transformation within the female genital tract in order to bind to the zona pellucida, initiate of the acrosome reaction, and fertilize of an egg, may also be impacted by PDE-5i. The contractile elements associated with the transport of spermatozoa, including those surrounding the seminiferous tubules, efferent ducts, and epididymal ducts, may also be affected by PDE-5i. Furthermore, PDE-5i have the potential to influence the vas deferens, seminal vesicles, and prostate.
A Review of SiC Fiber Oxidation with a New Study of Hi‐Nicalon SiC Fiber Oxidation

The linear and parabolic oxidation rate constants and activation energies for SiC fibers available in the literature are reviewed for the first time. Oxidation experiments are also conducted with Hi-Nicalon SiC fibers over 700–1 300 °C in dry O2 with thermogravimetric analysis. Linear oxidation kinetics are observed from 700 to 800 °C and parabolic kinetics are observed from 900 to 1 300 °C. The linear and parabolic oxidation rate constant activation energies are determined to be 83 and 108 kJ mol−1, respectively. These kinetic results are compared with the literature values. Differences in oxidation behavior are assessed as a function of fiber composition.
24. IOM in tethered spine surgery

Tethered cord syndrome (TCS) is a disorder in which the distal spinal cord is tethered caudally to an immovable boney structure. This results in dysfunction of the lower spinal cord and cauda equina, manifest as lower extremity weakness, sensory loss, bowel and bladder dysfunction and occasionally musculoskeletal deformities. Surgery for TCS involves releasing the tethering structure and correcting the musculoskeletal abnormalities. Because the neural elements of the cauda equina are in close proximity, there is potential for damage to these structures during surgery. Neurophysiologic intraoperative monitoring (NIOM) can help prevent injury to these structures. NIOM for TCS surgery can include monitoring free running and stimulated electromyography (EMG), anal sphincter EMG, tibial nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP), motor evoked potentials, bulbocavernosus reflex and pudendal nerve SEP. These monitoring modalities will be discussed.
Toxic plants: a chemist's perspective.

Chemistry has long been an integral part of toxicology, as the two fields originated in much the same way: the investigation of plants with interesting properties. In this chapter I review the role that chemistry has played in understanding toxic and medicinal plants. After some introductory remarks, three broad areas are addressed: the role of natural products in understanding plant taxonomy and evolution, recent developments in chemical synthesis, especially efforts to discover and efficiently synthesize novel structures based upon naturally occurring toxins, and finally, developments in the new field of systems toxicology, which seeks to integrate all aspects of an organism’s response to toxic insult.
Orthotopic heart transplantation for complex congenital heart disease.

Orthotopic heart transplantation has become standard therapy for end-stage cardiomyopathy in children and adults, but there has been much less experience with transplantation for complex congenital heart disease. In this report experience with orthotopic transplantation in seven children with various forms of complex congenital heart disease is reviewed. Diagnoses included hypoplastic left heart syndrome in two (after stage I palliation), left ventricular diverticulum in one, single ventricle in two (dextrocardia, atrial situs inversus, and total anomalous pulmonary venous return in one patient and post-Fontan repair in the second), D-transposition of the great arteries and ventricular septal defect (post-Senning repair and ventricular septal defect closure) in one, and Ebstein's anomaly with biventricular dysplasia in one. Six of the seven were hospital survivors and there has been one late death at 2⅓ years. Modifications of the standard operative technique to fit the anatomic variations in these defects are reviewed.
Helical waveguide millimeter wave TWT

It has been demonstrated that the ridge-loaded waveguide circuit is a viable slow-wave circuit for use in TWTs (traveling wave tubes) requiring a forward-wave fundamental mode. Cold test measurements of several circuits at frequencies above 40 GHz demonstrated a range of phase velocities corresponding to beam voltages as low as 10 kV. Interaction impedances from less than one ohm to several hundred ohms were also measured. Test results for a TWT using one of the ridge-loaded circuits correlated well with predicted behavior at the lower phase velocity. An experimental, semitransparent, millimeter-wave TWT was built and tested. The TWT, operating with E/sub w/=24.7 kV, demonstrated output power of 163 W at 42 GHz. The peak electronic efficiency of over 6% (at 42.4 GHz) and the maximum large signal gain of 24 dB (at 43.8 GHz) in an unattenuated circuit length of 2.0 in were close to calculated values. Because of the circuit dispersion, the instantaneous bandwidth was 1.3%. The 20-kV circuit voltage and greater than 20- Omega interaction impedance of this circuit show promise. >
Progress notes: Scenes of Subjection’s “actualization” dialectic

This essay explores Saidiya Hartman’s Scenes of Subjection’s actualization dialectic, its delicate balancing of identity and difference, as specifically mobilized through the study’s expository presentation of the event/non-event of Emancipation. It also examines Hartman’s relationship to Marx as it relates to the applicability of Marxian categories to think about New World slavery.
Genetics of Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Receptor-Relevance for Autoimmune Thyroid Disease.

Production of thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) antibodies represent the hallmark of Graves’ disease (GD) pathogenesis. Thus, for more than two decades the TSHR gene has been at the center of studies intended to elucidate its contribution to disease pathology. The advent of genome-wide association technology allowed to establish a strong association of the TSHR gene with GD. Subsequent fine-mapping studies narrowed the disease-susceptibility region to a 40 Kb sequence in intron 1, where at least five GD-associated SNPs in tight linkage disequilibrium were identified. The current challenge is to understand the functional mechanisms by which these polymorphisms modify physiological processes and trigger disease. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the role of the TSHR gene in GD pathogenesis which has been gained through linkage and association studies, as well as to discuss the emerging mechanisms underlying biological implications of TSHR variants in the development of GD.
A strategic planning of TRIZ applications for cloud-based collaborative product development

This paper is intended to explore on the method of systematic innovation-TRIZ, and construct a cloud-based product development model. By planning of collaborative team design and product development process, we formulate a basis for collaborative design cloud which is connected to TRIZ theory. It then will be easy to apply TRIZ methods for product innovation and problem solving. The proposed framework may build a continuously cyclic innovation mechanism for enterprises via an efficient product development process with the assistance of TRIZ-based cloud services. The product development process is conceptualized by investigating the IFR-guided contradiction analysis to break the bottleneck of current PDM/PLM systems.
Results on controlling action with projective visualization

A projective visualizer learns to simulate events in the external world through observation of the world. These simulations are used to evaluate potential actions on the basis of their probable outcomes. Results are given that indicate, 1). the error rate for projective visualization is sub-linear as the system projects farther into the future, 2). the error rate is inversely proportional to the number of cases, 3). a simple domain model can be used to reduce the effect of compounding error, and 4). projection can be used to increase the performance of an agent, even when this projection is imperfect.
Determinants of inequality in the up-to-date fully immunization coverage among children aged 24–35 months: Evidence from Zhejiang province, East China

ABSTRACTObjective: This study aimed to determine the degree and determinants of inequality in up-to-date fully immunization (UTDFI) coverage among children of Zhejiang province, east China.Method: We used data from the Zhejiang provincial vaccination coverage survey of 2014 and the health outcome was the UTDFI status among children aged 24–35 months. The household income per month was used as an index of socio-economic status for the inequality analysis. The concentration index (CI) was used to quantify the degree of inequality and the decomposition approach was applied to quantify the contributions from demographic factors to inequality in UTDFI coverage.Results: The UTDFI coverage was 80.63% and the CI for UTDFI coverage was 0.12028 (95% CI: 0.10852–0.13175), indicating that immunization practice significantly favored children with relatively higher socio-economic status. The results of decomposition analysis suggested that 68.2% of the socio-economic inequality in UTDFI coverage should be explained by ...
Risk Factors for a Persistent Gastrocutaneous Fistula Following Gastrostomy Device Removal: A Tertiary Center Experience.

Aim: The aim of this study is to identify the risk factors for a persistent gastrocutaneous fistula (GCF) after gastrostomy device (GD) removal in children. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 59 patients that underwent GD insertion and removal over an 11-year period (2005–2015). Patients were divided into two Groups (A and B) according to persistence or closure of the gastrocutaneous tract. Data included patient demographics, comorbidities, age at insertion, gastrostomy site infections, size and type of device, duration of placement, and method of insertion and removal. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square test and ANOVA test where P Results: A total of 34 patients (Group A) developed a GCF post-GD removal. The gastrostomy tract closed spontaneously in 25 patients (Group B). Underlying comorbidities did not influence spontaneous closure. Younger age at insertion ( Conclusions: Risk analysis of persistent GCF is important for patient counseling before removal or replacement of the GD. We have identified a number of potentially reversible risk factors for a persistent GCF and have made recommendations accordingly.
“My Mom’s a Cunt”: New Bawds Ride the Fourth Wave

In the midst of what some have dubbed “the golden age of comedy,” many of the most popular female stand-up comics working today employ what Joanne Gilbert terms a “bitch” or “bawd” persona onstage, simultaneously rejecting and reinventing notions of female power through their unique performance of marginality. Focusing on the humor of comics Amy Schumer and Sarah Silverman, this chapter explores the way these performers construct rhetorical postures that both contest cultural constraints historically used to contain female agency and reify stereotypical feminist characterization. By aligning the “bitch” and “bawd” personas with an explicit and intentional emphasis on difference, Schumer and Silverman consistently critique hegemonic structures through strategies of confrontation and celebration. The impact and implications of this particular comedic discourse are critical to discussions of gender, power, and fourth wave feminism.
MRI UTE-T2* profile characteristics correlate to walking mechanics and patient reported outcomes 2 years after ACL reconstruction

Summary Objective Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ultrashort echo time (UTE) T2* is sensitive to cartilage deep tissue matrix changes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). This study was performed to determine whether UTE-T2* profile analysis is a useful clinical metric for assessing cartilage matrix degeneration. This work tests the hypotheses that UTE-T2* depthwise rates of change (profile slopes) correlate with clinical outcome metrics of walking mechanics and patient reported outcomes (PRO) in patients 2 years after ACLR. Design Thirty-six patients 2 years after ACLR completed knee MRI, gait analysis, and PRO. UTE-T2* maps were generated from MRI images and depthwise UTE-T2* profiles were calculated for weight-bearing cartilage in the medial compartment. UTE-T2* profiles from 14 uninjured subjects provided reference values. UTE-T2* profile characteristics, including several different measures of profile slope, were tested for correlation to kinetic and kinematic measures of gait and also to PRO. Results Decreasing UTE-T2* profile slopes in ACLR knees moderately correlated with increasing knee adduction moments ( r = 0.41, P r = 0.44, P = 0.007), and moderately negatively correlated with PRO ( r = −0.36, P = 0.032). UTE-T2* profiles from both ACLR and contralateral knees of ACLR subjects differed from that of uninjured controls ( P Conclusions The results of this study suggest that decreasing UTE-T2* profile slopes reflect cartilage deep tissue collagen matrix disruption in a population at increased risk for knee osteoarthritis (OA). That UTE-T2* profiles were associated with mechanical and patient reported measures of clinical outcomes support further study into a potential mechanistic relationship between these factors and OA development.
The Comparative Biology of Photopigments and Color Vision in Primates

Color vision is a behavioral capacity that allows animals to discriminate differences in the spectral content of lights irrespective of variations in their intensity. The advantages offered by color vision are evident from the facts that the capacity seems to have emerged early in animal evolution, perhaps as long as 800–1100 Mya, and that it continues to be maintained in various guises in a wide variety of contemporary taxa. Primates are among those animals known to extensively exploit color as a source of information about the location, nature, and utility of objects in the environment. The past 20 years have seen significant progress in our understanding of the nature of color vision among the primates as well as an elucidation of some of the essential biology that supports this capacity. Both of these issues are addressed here.
Vitamin D and Its Effects on the Heart

A 67 year-old gentleman with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, heart failure with preserve ejection fraction (left ventricular ejection fraction 65 %), symmetric left ventricular hypertrophy, chronic kidney disease Stage 3B presents in follow up of his multiple cardiovascular issues. He has a normal serum calcium level and his parathyroid hormone is within target range. Would this patient benefit of vitamin D treatment and if so, which form and dose of vitamin D?
Meconium-stained amniotic fluid: increased risk for adverse neonatal outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk of adverse neonatal outcome associated with meconium-stained amniotic fluid independent of that related to antepartum or intrapartum abnormalities. METHODS: A cohort of 2200 consecutive deliveries was examined and the fetal heart rate (FHR) tracings analyzed independently. Singleton term pregnancies without fatal malformations were stratified by the consistency of meconium and compared. RESULTS: Moderate or thick meconium increased the risk for adverse outcome more than threefold (relative risk 3.2, 95% confidence interval 2.0-5.2). This risk was independent of fetal heart tracing abnormalities or maternal hypertensive, kidney, or heart disease. CONCLUSION: Thick meconium alone should alert the physician to a high-risk fetal condition. This phenomenon requires continuous FHR monitoring and reassurance of fetal well-being by acid-base assessment or the equivalent, regardless of maternal disease status or the presence of abnormal FHR tracings.
Artifacts in gated SPECT/CT myocardial perfusion

1002 Learning Objectives: 1. Highlight the importance of artifact identification in gated myocardial perfusion studies. 2. How to identify artifactual images and values in myocardial perfusion gated SPECT/CT. 3. Describe the different methods to prevent and correct for attenuation correction artifacts. 4. This educational review will help to provide a higher qualitative and quantitative interpretation of gated myocardial perfusion studies. Abstract Body: Gated SPECT/CT myocardial perfusion is often associated with attenuation and non-attenuation related artifacts. If un-identified, these artifacts may lead to false positive, false negative interpretations and inaccurate quantitative data. It is extremely important for the nuclear cardiology reader to become familiar with them so that they can be easily recognized, and if possible, corrected and prevented.
Functional Mapping in the Cat Primary Visual Cortex Using High Magnetic Fields

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the recent advances in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) enabling the functional organization of the cat visual cortex to be studied at “columnar” level, thereby approximating the spatial resolution of multielectrode and optical imaging techniques, but without their limitations. It reviews the imaging principles and techniques of this new method and presents the first MRI studies of the functional activity in cat primary visual cortex at columnar resolution. The results from the imaging studies on cat primary visual cortex clearly indicate that the functional specificity of blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) at columnar scale depends highly on the temporal dynamics of the underlying signals. The delayed positive BOLD changes are clearly indicative of the pattern of the overall activation per se in the visual cortex, but are less suited to discriminate between the active and inactive columns, as they are more diffused and less specific to the individual stimulus properties. The early decrease of BOLD signals can most likely be attributed to the regional increase of deoxyhemoglobin after neuronal stimulation. In principle, the capability of BOLD-fMRI to label functional columns in vivo may be applicable also in humans and monkeys.
Component Separation: Outcomes and Complications

The introduction of the anterior component separation operation has facilitated our ability to close complex defects of the anterior abdominal wall. This classic operation was first described by Ramirez et al. in 1990 and has revolutionized hernia repair. With the evolution of hernia repair techniques, the use of mesh to further support the repair has demonstrated success. This mesh can be biologic, synthetic, or resorbable and can be placed in various layers that include onlay, underlay, retrorectus, as well as fascial interposition/bridge. The anterior component separation can also be performed as a minimally invasive technique or laparoscopically. Another recently described method is the “sandwich” technique whereby a classic component separation is performed followed by bilaminar mesh reinforcement as an underlay/retrorectus and onlay (Morris and LeBlanc, Hernia 17:45–51, 2013). This chapter will include a description of the various types of component separation repairs with an emphasis on outcomes and complications.
Co-Sexuality and Organizing: The Master Narrative of “Normal” Sexuality in the Midwestern Workplace

Human sexuality is a highly regulated but fluid construct that people communicatively organize around. What has been socially constructed as "normal" sexuality (e.g., preferences, rights, vocabulary, etc.) has shifted dramatically over time, and differently between communities and geographic boundaries. In workplace contexts, where policies and daily practices explicitly and implicitly regulate performances of and communication about sexuality, regional and cultural sexual "norms" can affect how people of diverse sexualities understand and experience their jobs. The Midwestern United States is a particularly complex and diverse region when considering sexual equality in the workplace. Using the lens of co-sexuality, this study explores how people identifying with varying sexual, gender, and professional identities in Midwestern workplaces explained their perceptions of "normal" sexuality and how it affected their workplace experiences. Participants drew on the master narrative of the Midwest, composed of perceived Judeo-Christian norms and a cultural discomfort with difference, and described feeling simultaneously pulled toward and pushed away from cultural sexual "norms" in their day-to-day work environments.
Reconciling Base-Pair Resolution 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine Data in Neuroepigenetics

Abstract Epigenetic marks operate at multiple chromosomal levels to regulate gene expression, from direct covalent modification of DNA to 3D chromosomal structure. Research has shown that 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) and its oxidized form, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC), are stable epigenetic marks with distinct genomic distributions and separate regulatory functions. In addition, recent data indicate that 5-hmC plays a critical regulatory role in the mammalian brain, emphasizing the importance of considering this alternative DNA modification in the context of neuroepigenetics. Traditional bisulfite (BS) treatment-based methods to measure the methylome are not able to distinguish between 5-mC and 5-hmC, meaning much of the existing literature does not differentiate these two DNA modifications. Recently developed methods, including Tetassisted bisulfite (TAB) treatment and oxidative bisulfite (oxBS) treatment, allow for differentiation of 5-hmC and/or 5-mC levels at base-pair resolution when combined with next-generation sequencing or methylation arrays. Despite these technological advances, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the appropriate statistical methods for integration of 5-mC and 5-hmC data. As a result, it can be difficult to determine the effects of an experimental treatment on 5-mC and 5-hmC dynamics. Here, we propose a statistical approach involving generalized linear mixed effects to simultaneously model paired 5-mC and 5-hmC data as repeated measures. Using this approach, it will be possible to determine the effects of an experimental treatment on both 5-mC and 5-hmC at the base-pair level.
G protein-coupled receptor kinases as therapeutic targets in the heart.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are critical cellular sensors that mediate numerous physiological processes. In the heart, multiple GPCRs are expressed on various cell types, where they coordinate to regulate cardiac function by modulating critical processes such as contractility and blood flow. Under pathological settings, these receptors undergo aberrant changes in expression levels, localization and capacity to couple to downstream signalling pathways. Conventional therapies for heart failure work by targeting GPCRs, such as β-adrenergic receptor and angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Although these treatments have improved patient survival, heart failure remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. GPCR kinases (GRKs) are responsible for GPCR phosphorylation and, therefore, desensitization and downregulation of GPCRs. In this Review, we discuss the GPCR signalling pathways and the GRKs involved in the pathophysiology of heart disease. Given that increased expression and activity of GRK2 and GRK5 contribute to the loss of contractile reserve in the stressed and failing heart, inhibition of overactive GRKs has been proposed as a novel therapeutic approach to treat heart failure. G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) kinases (GRKs) can desensitize and downregulate GPCRs. In this Review, Pfleger and colleagues describe the changes in GPCR and GRK signalling in the heart under disease conditions and how GRKs can be targeted to treat heart failure.
Single center experience treating adults with FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

6562 Background: Activating mutations of the fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3) gene are common in AML. Depending upon the allele mutation fraction, these mutations have been associated with poor ou...
Re-envisioning "good at math:" A case study of positive transformation

Women account for 90% of US elementary teachers (Beilock, Gunderson, Ramirez & Levine, 2010), and many experience mathematics anxiety (Stoehr, 2017). Teachers can transmit this fear to students (Anderson et al., 2018). Mathematics teacher educators support teacher candidates in: assessing and overcoming fear of mathematics, reframing the teaching and learning of mathematics, and reframing what counts as mathematics. In its worst forms, mathematics anxiety rises to a level we refer to as math trauma--a state of debilitation when faced with doing mathematics. We have developed tools to determine: How do teachers view mathematics? How can we measure teachers’ relationships with mathematics? How do these factors change over time? In our case study, we report on changes for one prospective elementary teacher during two consecutive undergraduate mathematics courses. Marcy (pseudonym) began with a strong fear and dislike of mathematics, but eventually reported making peace with the subject. Many participants (N = 66) experienced similar trajectories, sharing that they needed a new relationship with mathematics to teach effectively. They were further motivated by new and positive experiences focused on collectively making sense of mathematics. Our qualitative case study (Authors, 2018; Yin, 2014; Zazkis, 2015), shares Marcy's trajectory and evidence of the factors that motivated and informed the transformation in her relationship with mathematics. Our data include participants' drawings of "math" personified.
Scope of the Study

We have argued in the first two chapters that legal socialization entails a linkage of factors internal to the individual and factors in the rule-governed environment. That linkage is the focus of this study. Our three-stage model translated the basic argument into specific variables and the discussion of the two leading theories of legal socialization suggested possible relationships among these variables. This chapter describes our research design, delineating the setting, population, key variables, hypotheses, and experimental manipulations.
Interrogating Normalizing Pedagogies, Policies, and Practices in Professional Writing Through Disability Studies

Technical and professional communication (TPC) often acts as a normalizing technology in relation to disability by attempting to include those with disabilities through their assimilation into normative structures. To resist such tendencies and promote genuine inclusivity, TPC instructors should integrate disability studies (DS) into their course content and pedagogical practices. This paper offers a theoretical DS framework and insights from four student case studies from a TPC course to illustrate the way in which DS can facilitate the critical examination of normative TPC documentation practices and promote new ones that empower a wider range of bodies and minds.
From the Radical Psychology Movement to STS: A Journey From the 1960s in Multiple Parts

Activism in the late-1960s through the early 1970s in the radical psychology movement created the foundation for an intellectual critique and political practice that was part of a group of overall ...
Characterizing SixNy absorbers and support beams for far-infrared/submillimeter transition-edge sensors

We report on the characterization of SixNy (Si-N) optical absorbers and support beams for transition-edge sensors (TESs). The absorbers and support beams measured are suitable to meet ultra-sensitive noise equivalent power (NEP≤10-19W/√Hz) and effective response time (τ) requirements (τ≤100ms) for space-borne far-infrared( IR)/submillimeter(sub-mm) spectrometers, such as the Background Limited far-Infrared/Sub-mm Spectrograph (BLISS) and the SpicA FAR-infrared Instrument (SAFARI) for the SPace Infrared telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics (SPICA). The thermal response time (τ0) of an absorber suspended by support beams from a lowtemperature substrate depends on the heat capacity (C) of the absorber and the thermal conductance (G) of the support beams (τ0=C/G). In membrane-isolated TESs for BLISS, the effective response time τ is expected to be a factor of 20 smaller than τ0 because of voltage-biased electrothermal feedback operation and assumption of a reasonable open-loop gain, LI≈20. We present design specifications for the arrays of membrane-isolated ultra-sensitive TESs for BLISS. Additionally, we measured G and τ0 for two Si-N noise thermometry device (NTD) architectures made using different fabrication processes: (1) a solid membrane Si-N absorber suspended by thin and long Si-N support beams and (2) a wire-mesh Si-N absorber suspended by long, and even thinner, Si-N support beams. The measurements of G and τ0 were designed to test suitability of the Si-N thermal performance to meet the demands of the two SPICA instruments. The solid membrane NTD architecture is similar to the TES architecture for SAFARI and the mesh membrane NTD is similar to that of BLISS TESs. We report measured values of G and C for several BLISS and SAFARI NTD devices. We observe that the heat capacity of the solid membrane devices can be reduced to the order of 1fJ/K at 65mK for devices that are wet etched by KOH. However, C for these devices is found to be on the order of 100fJ/K for a dry XeF2 process. The heat capacity is similarly large for the mesh devices produced with a dry XeF2 etch.
Dogs with biliary rupture based on ultrasound findings may have normal total serum bilirubin values.

The absence of hyperbilirubinemia can lead to decreased suspicion of biliary rupture in dogs. This delay of suspicion and treatment can result in increased mortality rates. The objective of this retrospective, observational study was to describe ultrasound and serum bilirubin findings in a group of dogs with an ultrasonographic diagnosis of suspected biliary rupture. The records of a single institution were searched over the period of 2007-2019 for cases having ultrasound reports describing suspicion of biliary rupture. Clinical findings for each of the cases were recorded. A total of 35 dogs met inclusion criteria and, of these, 30 dogs had confirmed ruptured biliary tracts. It was found that 40% (12/30) of dogs with confirmed ruptured biliary tracts had a serum bilirubin values within the normal reference range. No statistical difference was found in serum bilirubin values between the ruptured and nonruptured biliary tracts. Leukocytosis and neutrophilia were found to be statistically significant between ruptured and nonruptured biliary tracts. Mucinous material, similar to "white bile" found in human literature, was found within the peritoneal effusion of six dogs with biliary rupture, three of which also lacked bile pigment. Findings from this study indicated that normobilirubinemia may be present in some dogs with biliary rupture, and therefore should not be used as a reason for excluding this differential diagnosis.
Repeated assemblages in the interactions of deaf youth in Peru

In this paper, I address the question of how interactions with deaf youth and their hearing interlocutors are able to unfold in economical and fluid ways despite the existence of sensory and communicative asymmetries. Bringing together ethnographic insights from two years of fieldwork in Iquitos, Peru with the microanalysis of moments of situated interaction, I highlight the role that repetitions of similar assemblages of people, objects, and places play in the process of meaning-making between deaf youth and their hearing interlocutors. I argue that the repetition of similar assemblages facilitates the process of meaning-making by narrowing down the trajectory of the interactions that emerge in a particular moment and by providing the occasion for building shared semiotic resources specific to the reoccurring activity.
Case Report: Idiopathic Sclerosing Orbital Inflammation.

Significance Idiopathic sclerosing orbital inflammation (ISOI) is characterized by insidious, chronic, progressive inflammation and fibrosis that damage ocular structures and produce a mass effect. This case highlights the challenges in diagnosis and management of ISOI, as well as the associated ocular morbidities, including potential vision loss. Purpose The purpose of this study was to provide education regarding a rare condition that exhibits variable presentation and has an unpredictable success rate with regard to treatment paradigm. Improved therapeutic options are promising. Ultimately, early detection and management are key and may allow for better visual outcome. Case report A 46-year-old woman presented with complaints of chronic right-sided facial headaches and eye pain and gradual right globe prominence over the previous 6 months. Worsening vision and decreased right peripheral visual field were also noted. Upon examination, an afferent pupillary defect and florid disc edema were evident. Imaging studies revealed an orbital and extraorbital infiltrative mass involving the right orbital apex, inferior orbital fissure, pterygopalatine fossa, and cavernous sinus. Right anterior orbitotomy with biopsy revealed fragments of fibroconnective and adipose tissue with sclerosis and chronic focal inflammation, consistent with ISOI. Treatment included intravenous methylprednisone, followed by oral prednisone, beginning at 60 mg/d with a slow taper thereafter. Signs and symptoms improved dramatically and eventually resolved. Vision significantly improved, and the afferent pupillary defect resolved. The patient remained asymptomatic at 3-month follow-up. Conclusions Idiopathic sclerosing orbital inflammation is difficult to diagnose and manage. No large studies exist because of the rare nature of the disease. Slowly progressive, nonspecific signs and symptoms may delay recognition and treatment. Orbital imaging and histopathologic analysis are critical for definitive diagnosis. Conventional treatment with corticosteroids is not uniformly successful, but newer combined therapy options can improve outcomes. Early identification and treatment are key to management and ultimate preservation of function and vision.
A taxonomic revision of the Neotropical weevil genus Cleogonus Schönherr (Curculionidae, Molytinae).

Ten described and seven new species of Cleogonus are recognized in the Neotropics. The larvae of at least five are seed predators on Andira and one possibly on Albizia, both being widely distributed fabaceous trees with many commercial uses. Lectotypes are designated for C. armatus Champion, 1904, C. brasiliensis Fiedler, 1951, C. fratellus Fiedler, 1951, C. lateralis Fiedler, 1951, and C. rectirostris Fiedler, 1951 to promote stability in the usage of these names. New synonyms are C. distinctus Chevrolat (= C. columbianus Chevrolat 1880, syn. n., C. mixtus Fiedler, 1951, syn. n.), C. marginesulcatus Chevrolat, 1880 (= C. lateralis Fiedler, 1951, syn. n., C. marginatus Fiedler, 1951, syn. n.), and C. nucula (Germar, 1824) (= C. brevirostris Fiedler, 1951, syn. n.). Three species, as follows, are excluded from Cleogonus based on their descriptions; the types are either destroyed or could not be located: Cleogonus pumillus Montrouzier, 1855 and C. trochilus (Olivier, 1807) are transferred to the Cryptorhynchini, as Pseudomus trochilus comb. n. and Thyestetha pumillus comb. n., and C. grossulus Suffrian, 1872 to Cleogonini incertae sedis. Newly described are C. boberix sp. n. [Mexico, Panama], C. caveyi sp. n. [Argentina, Brazil], C. eldarayae sp. n. [Costa Rica, El Salvador, Peru], C. foveipennis sp. n. [Brazil, Paraguay], C. nuculipar sp. n. [Bolivia], C. striatipennis sp. n. [Brazil], and C. toricrus sp. n. [Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil]. Habitus illustrations are provided for all new species. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Ownership participation of cross-border mergers and acquisitions by emerging market firms: Antecedents and performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to adopt a multi-level approach to investigate what factors shape the content of emerging market firms’ foreign market entry decisions, particularly the ownership participation in cross-border mergers and acquisitions (MA and uses a standard event study methodology to assess the market reaction of a particular cross-border M&A deal. Findings – The author finds that a country-level factor (institutional distance), an industry-level factor (industry unrelatedness) and a firm-level factor (board concentration) have significant impact on ownership participation in cross-...
NEWS ON NEW DEVICES: Is multi-platform news consumption a reality?

News organizations worldwide now deliver content through multiple electronic devices such as computers, smartphones, e-readers, and tablets. While multi-platform news delivery is widely prevalent, is multi-platform news “consumption” a reality? This study examines the extent to which people own, use, and enjoy these electronic devices. Results of a national survey of US Internet users suggested that despite the excitement about newer, more portable devices, not all devices are equally “newsful.” Most people use only one electronic device for news purposes on a weekly basis. We identified the predictors of device ownership and multi-platform news consumption and discussed the implications for multi-platform news publishing.
Structure of the insect head in ontogeny and phylogeny: a view from Drosophila

Evolutionary, developmental and insect biologists are currently using a three-pronged approach to study the evolution and development of the insect head. First, genetic manipulation of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has led to the identification of many genes, including the segmentation and homeotic genes, that are important for embryonic pattern formation and development. Second, a comparison of orthologous gene expression patterns in other insects reveals that these regulatory genes are deployed in similar, yet distinct, patterns in different insects. Third, comparisons of embryonic morphology with gene expression patterns suggest that in general these genes promote a common insect body plan, but that variations in gene expression can often be correlated to variations in morphology. Here, we present a detailed review of the development of the cephalic ectoderm of Drosophila and extrapolate to development of a generalized insect head. Our analysis of the variations among insect species, in both morphology and gene expression patterns, conducted within an evolutionary framework supported by traditional phylogenies and paleontology provides the basis for hypotheses about the genetic factors governing morphologic and developmental evolution.
Enhancing DoDAF views into an information assurance architecture for the DIACAP

The Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) is the required method for documenting the design of automated information systems in the DoD. Current acquisition regulations require system developers to generate design documentation that is in compliance with the DoDAF. In a similar effort, developers must also generate information assurance architectures as part of the Defense Information Assurance Certification and Accreditation Process (DIACAP) [5]. Through mandate, the DIACAP is a required aspect of the acquisition cycle as well. In this paper, we shall illustrate a method to leverage DoDAF views to generate an information assurance architecture.
Antibody Production by Transferred Cells1

Publisher Summary With antibody production by transferred cells technique, immunologically competent lymphoid cells are removed from an animal, and their immunologic function studied after their transfer to another animal. This chapter discusses the consideration of the transfer system, studies of donor organs, and tissues capable of transfer body formation. The sources and the types of cells capable of antibody formation, the ability of various antigens to stimulate such cells, the quantity and quality of antibody produced by certain cells, and the temporal aspects of the immune response can be studied using these techniques. The chapter also discusses the studies of the qualities of the antibody produced by transferred cells and estimation of the quantity of antibody produced by cells in the transfer system. Questions concerning cell division during antibody formation and the precursors of antibody-producing cells have been and are probed. Certain situations resulting in a suppression of antibody formation have been analyzed through the use of cell-transfer techniques, and the question of homograft rejection has been approached by these methods. Information is collected regarding the actual mechanisms by which antibody is synthesized by cells through the use of transferred cells. The chapter further discusses the latent period of the antibody response such as studies on the times required for various phases of the latent period, studies of the latent period using sub-cellular material for transfer, and studies of the latent period by the use of metabolic inhibitors.
Chasing Prince Charming: Partnering consequences of holding unrealistic standards for a spouse

Although social scientists have generally assumed that people's standards for a spouse shape their marital behavior, systematic investigations of the role of mate standards in partnering have been rare. Using survey data collected from 471 unmarried individuals and their peer informants, this study used a novel, residual-based approach to quantify the attainability (rather than the absolute stringency) of people's standards for a spouse. Regression analyses using this index of unrealistic criteria revealed that holding less realistic standards for a marriage partner was associated with several indicators of a propensity to delay or forgo marriage, including greater difficulty establishing high-quality romantic relationships, lower expectations to marry one's current partner, and lower levels of psychological and behavioral investment in marrying.
Phase conjugation of surface plasmon waves by the third order nonlinearity of a free electron gas

Abstract Phase conjugation of non-radiative surface plasmon waves by degenerate four-wave mixing utilizing the third order non-linear current of a free electron gas is considered. The third order nonlinear susceptibility of a free electron gas is calculated from hydrodynamic equations where the magnetic part of the Lorentz force is treated as a perturbation. Equations describing the growth of the phase conjugate wave to an input signal are given together with their solutions. A numerical estimate for the case of surface plasmos at the ruby laser frequency on a silver surface indicates that the detection of the phase conjugate wave is possible.
An Organ Sale by Any Other Name

David Steinberg (2004) skillfully describes the many advantages of an “opting in” plan for obtaining kidneys. However, his claim that those advantages are attributable to a “simulated” form of “rec...
A new simplified method for constructing Wagner networks and the cladistics of Pentachaeta (Compositae, Astereae)

The new procedure for constructing a Wagner network presented differs from Farris’s (1970) method in that the amount of computation required is reduced. The usefulness of this procedure was examined by applying it to the 20 characters considered in a recent monograph of the seven OTUs of the genusPentachaeta. A single network was derived from some 945 or more networks possible for this group. A comparison of the network constructed by this simplified method to that constructed by Farris’ procedure revealed no differences. An attempt to reconstruct the cladistic history of this group by generating a Wagner tree based on the network resulted in four equally possible trees, suggesting that further data are needed before cladogenesis in this group is resolved.
Distortion-Invariant Associative Memories And Processors

Associative memories represent a major new artificial intelligence type of processor. We consider their use in pattern recognition, with particular attention to distortion-invariant and adaptive pattern recognition. New associative memory techniques and pattern recognition oriented architectures suitable for multi-class distortion-invariant pattern recognition (including systems that provide adaptive updating, forgetting, achieve reduced dynamic range and improved performance) are discussed and initial results presented. The first results of distortion-invariance, multi-class associative memories for pattern recognition are presented together with new architectures and algorithms for multi-stage associative processors, iterative processors for associative memory synthesis, and multi-class distortion-invariant associative processors. The issue of orthogonal projection vectors, associative memory capacity and new results and techniques to synthesize associative memories are included throughout.
Effects of PCBs and hydrazine on life processes in microscopic stages of selected brown seaweeds

Laminarian and fucalean algae (Phaeophyta) are often of considerable importance as producers and habitat-formers in shallow marine communities of temperate waters (Clendenning, 1971; North, 1979; Mann, 1973). We have investigated toxic thresholds for gametophytes and early sporophytes of seven laminarian and three fucalean species toward two classes of anthropogenic compounds, the pervasive polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and a specialized oxidant, hydrazine. Use of PCBs is now banned in the USA, but their former extensive use, substantial manufacture, and non-degradability have resulted in widespread distributions of persistent residues at low (ppb) levels in sediments, natural waters, and discharged liquid wastes. Hydrazine is routinely used to scavenge dissolved oxygen in high-pressure boilers, thereby reducing corrosion. Excess hydrazine may find its way into natural waters when boiler water is discharged into a waste stream. Hydrazine reacts very rapidly with oxygen at elevated temperatures, but degrades at ca 0.15% ⋅h-1 in coastal seawater at 22 °C (MacNaughton et al., 1978; D. E. James, unpubl.).
Which antihypertensive drugs first--and why!

PREVENTION of cardiovascular disease and extension of life are the goals of antihypertensive treatment. These objectives have been convincingly achieved in clinical trials using diuretic and βblockade therapy. 1,2 Now, however, an expansion of therapeutic options has created a practical dilemma. Clinicians must select hypotensive therapy that properly balances the hard knowledge gained from clinical trials with reasonable hopes raised by new drugs with important theoretical advantages. It was not always so. Twenty years ago, treatment decisions were rather simple. Diuretics, guanethidine, reserpine, hydralazine, and methyldopa were the available and approved choices. In the Veterans Administration (VA) study, diuretics and reserpine had been the basic agents. 3 Initial consensus recommendations were to begin drug therapy with a diuretic, adding second or third drugs as needed to attain blood pressure control. 4 No less than 13 large controlled trials thereafter confirmed and extended the conclusions drawn from the VA trial. 1,2