cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performing Cyborgian Identity: Enacting Agential Cuts in Second Life

As people live their lives online more and more, they increasingly rely on digital bodies to extend their senses and to perform identities. With this hybridization of physical and digital embodiments, they become cyborgs and are compelled to negotiate the dualistic space defined by the binary opposition of actual and virtual reality. Whereas actuality typically connotes concrete existence, virtuality signifies phenomena that are ideal, essential and unrealized but that have actual effects.
PDE as a Unified Subject

Given that one of the goals of the conference is to address the issue of the unity of Mathematics, I feel emboldened to talk about a question which has kept bothering me all through my scientific career: Is there really a unified subject of Mathematics which one can call PDE? At first glance this seems easy: we may define PDE as the subject which is concerned with all partial differential equations. According to this view, the goal of the subject is to find a general theory of all, or very general classes of PDE’s. This “natural” definition comes dangerously close to what M. Gromov had in mind, I believe, when he warned us, during the conference, that objects, definitions or questions which look natural at first glance may in fact “be stupid”. Indeed, it is now recognized by many practitioners of the subject that the general point of view, as a goal in itself, is seriously flawed. That it ever had any credibility is due to the fact that it works quite well for linear PDE’s with constant coefficients, in which case the Fourier transform is extremely effective. It has also produced significant results for some general special classes of linear equations with variable coefficients. Its weakness is most evident in connection to nonlinear equations. The only useful general result we have is the Cauchy-Kowalevsky theorem, in the quite boring class of analytic solutions. In the more restrictive frameworks of elliptic, hyperbolic, or parabolic equations, some important local aspects of nonlinear equations can be treated with a considerable degree of generality. It is the passage from local to global properties which forces us to abandon any generality and take full advantage of the special features of the important equations.
Inflammatory Cell Findings in the Female Rabbit Heart and Stress-associated Exacerbation with Handling and Procedures Used in Nonclinical Studies

Despite the use of rabbits in biomedical research, including regulatory toxicology and cardiovascular studies, little data exist on heart findings in this species. This study was designed to document myocardial findings in female rabbits and the impact of study-related procedures typical for vaccine toxicology studies. One hundred and forty 6- to 8-month-old female New Zealand White rabbits were divided equally into 2 groups, high and low study procedure groups (group 1 and group 2, respectively). All animals received intramuscular (IM) injections of sterile saline every 2 weeks for 5 times and were necropsied 2 days after the final IM injection. Clinical chemistry, hematology, and urinalysis were evaluated. Blood for stress biomarkers (norepinephrine, epinephrine, cortisol, and corticosterone), C-reactive protein, cardiac troponin I, and creatine kinase were collected at time 0 (just before dose administration) and then at 4, 24, and 48 hr after dose administration in group 1 only. Hearts were assessed histologically. Focal to multifocal minimal inflammatory cell infiltrates were common (∼80%), particularly in the left ventricle and interventricular septum, and were similar to the types of infiltrates identified in other laboratory animal species. Additionally, study-related procedures elevated serum stress biomarkers and exacerbated the frequency and severity of myocardial inflammatory cell infiltrates.
Hemodynamic Instability Secondary to Vasopressin Withdrawal in Septic Shock.

Rationale:Vasopressors such as norepinephrine are first line for support of mean arterial pressure (MAP) in the management of septic shock. Their use, however, is commonly associated with many adve...
Segmente gleicher Flächen

Die „Botschaft“ aus Vorlesung 9 war, dass Spitzen allgegenwartig sind: Jede allgemeine einparametrige Kurvenschar hat eine Einhullende, und diese Einhullende besitzt gewohnlich Spitzen. Diese Vorlesung ist eine Fallstudie: Wir untersuchen eine konkrete Geradenschar in der Ebene ausfuhrlich.
Are pumas subordinate carnivores, and does it matter?

Background Interspecific competition affects species fitness, community assemblages and structure, and the geographic distributions of species. Established dominance hierarchies among species mitigate the need for fighting and contribute to the realized niche for subordinate species. This is especially important for apex predators, many of which simultaneous contend with the costs of competition with more dominant species and the costs associated with human hunting and lethal management. Methods Pumas are a widespread solitary felid heavily regulated through hunting to reduce conflicts with livestock and people. Across their range, pumas overlap with six apex predators (gray wolf, grizzly bear, American black bear, jaguar, coyote, maned wolf), two of which (gray wolf, grizzly bear) are currently expanding in North America following recovery efforts. We conducted a literature search to assess whether pumas were subordinate or dominant with sympatric apex predators, as well as with three felid mesocarnivores with similar ecology (ocelot, bobcat, Canada lynx). We also conducted an analysis of the spatial distributions of pumas and their dominant sympatric competitors to estimate in what part of their range, pumas are dominant versus subordinate. Results We used 64 sources to assess dominance among pumas and other apex predators, and 13 sources to assess their relationships with felid mesocarnivores. Evidence suggested that wolves, grizzly bears, black bears, and jaguars are dominant over pumas, but that pumas are dominant over coyotes and maned wolves. Evidence suggested that pumas are also dominant over all three felid mesocarnivores with which they share range. More broadly, pumas are subordinate to at least one other apex carnivore in 10,799,252 (47.5%) of their 22,735,268 km2 range across North and South America. Discussion Subordinate pumas change their habitat use, suffer displacement at food sources, likely experience increased energetic demands from harassment, exhibit increased starvation, and are sometimes directly killed in competitive interactions with dominant competitors. Nevertheless, we lack research clearly linking the costs of competition to puma fitness. Further, we lack research that assesses the influence of human effects simultaneous with the negative effects of competition with other sympatric carnivores. Until the time that we understand whether competitive effects are additive with human management, or even potentially synergistic, we encourage caution among managers responsible for determining harvest limits for pumas and other subordinate, apex carnivores in areas where they are sympatric with dominant species. This may be especially important information for managers working in regions where wolves and brown bears are recolonizing and recovering, and historic competition scenarios among multiple apex predators are being realized.
Myosin IIa signal von Willebrand factor release.

In this issue of Blood , Li et al demonstrate that phosphorylation of distinct serine residues on the motor protein myosin IIa regulates the peripheral distribution of Weibel-Palade bodies and the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)–induced secretion of von Willebrand factor. 1
Survival Outcomes by TP53 Mutation Status in Metastatic Breast Cancer

PurposeTo determine the significant genomic alterations in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and survival outcomes in common genotypes.Patients and MethodsHigh-depth next-generation sequencing was performed for 202 genes in tumor and normal DNA from 257 patients with MBC, including 165 with estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor–positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2 [hormone receptor positive (HR+)])–positive, 32 with HER2-positive, and 60 with triple-negative (estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor–negative and HER2-negative) disease. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed in the discovery set, in patients with breast cancer analyzed in The Cancer Genome Atlas, and in a separate cohort of 98 patients with MBC who underwent clinical genomic testing.ResultsSignificantly mutated genes (SMGs) varied by histology and tumor subtype, but TP53 was an SMG in all three subtypes. The most SMGs in patients with HR+ cancer were PIK3CA (32%), TP53 (29%), GATA3 (15%), CDH1 (8%),...
Effect of force magnitude of touch on the components of postural sway.

Abstract Background Lightly touching the tip of the index finger on an external surface reduces the postural sway during upright standing due to the additional somatosensory information provided by the touch to the postural control system. But when the individuals apply more force, it provides more mechanical support. However, because most of the studies investigated only two levels of force, whether the control mechanisms of postural sway are affected by the different force levels was unknown. Research question To examine the influence of the magnitude of force (up to 1, 2, 4, 6 or 8 N) applied to the touch bar on the mechanisms used to control the postural sway during quiet standing with eyes open or closed. Methods Ten young right-handed adults stood for 35 s on a force platform, with feet apart, while touched a rigid bar with different force levels with eyes open or closed. The amplitude and velocity of the center of pressure and its components, Rambling and Trembling trajectories, respectively, related to more supraspinal and spinal control mechanisms, were assessed. Results The touch reduced all trajectories, mainly of the Rambling component and with closed eyes. There was a floor effect of the touch force as amplitudes and velocities were minimal at 4 N of force. Significance The component of postural sway under the supraspinal neural control is more affected by different force magnitudes applied to the touch bar.
A Framework for Organizational Quality Culture

A framework for organizational quality culture is introduced, and its legitimacy is analyzed empirically. The framework is needed because of the lack of success in various types of quality initiatives and their confusing relationship with effectiveness..
Coping with a foreign exchange crisis: A general equilibrium model of alternative adjustment mechanisms

The problems posed by a shortfall in foreign exchange have received great attention recently, much of it focused on the often painful measures developing countries impose to cope with the shortfall. This paper shows how a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model that is essentially Walrasian can be modified to reflect some of the more common adjustment mechanisms to which developing countries often resort. The adjustment measures often do not rely on price adjustment and so represent important departures from the Walrasian spirit of the model. In particular, the paper considers the welfare effects of exchange rate, import premium, and quantity rationing adjustment mechanisms. The model also incorporates ‘rent seeking’ activities generated by rationing mechanisms. The numerical results, using data for Turkey, show that welfare losses are smallest when the exchange rate is free to clear the foreign exchange market and largest for quantity rationing. The costs associated with rent seeking are the most important source of welfare loss, far outweighing allocational inefficiencies arising from the use of quantity rationing.
Breast Cancer Collaborative Registry informs understanding of factors predicting sleep quality

Poor sleep quality is a common and persistent problem reported by women with breast cancer (BC). Empirical evidence identifies many risk factors for self-reported sleep deficiency, but inconsistencies limit translation to practice. To increase understanding of risk factors predicting self-reported poor sleep quality in women with BC who completed the Breast Cancer Collaborative Registry (BCCR) questionnaire. This cross-sectional study recruited women with a first diagnosis of BC (n = 1302) at five sites in Nebraska and South Dakota. Women completed the BCCR that includes numerous variables as well as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and SF36v2 (n = 1260). Descriptive statistics and non-parametric correlations were used to determine associations and create predictive models of sleep quality with BCCR variables and SF36v2 subscales. Most women were white (93.7%) and married (71.5%); mean age was 60.1 (21–90) years. Poor sleep was self-reported by 53% of women. Seven variables were highly associated with sleep quality (p ≤ 0.001). The first model found younger age, lower physical activity, and higher fatigue were the strongest combined and independent variables predicting poor sleep quality (F = 23.0 (p < .001), R2 = 0.103). Participants self-reported lower health status on most SF36v2 subscales [Z = 44.9 (11.6) to 49.1 (10.1)]. A second model found that all subscales were predictors of poor sleep; vitality, mental health, bodily pain, and general health were the strongest predictors (F = 101.3 (p < .001), R2 = 0.26). Results confirm previously identified risk factors and reveal inconsistencies in other variables. Clinicians need to routinely screen for the identified risk factors of self-reported poor sleep quality.
Evaluation of early NOAA-20 VIIRS RSB radiometric performance using intercomparison with Aqua MODIS

The radiometric performance of the reflective solar bands (RSBs) of NOAA-20 VIIRS, recently launched on 18 November 2017, is evaluated through an intercomparison with Aqua MODIS. The analysis adapts a “nadir-only” refinement of the simultaneous nadir overpass (SNO) to generate comparison time series for assessment of the on-orbit calibration of NOAA-20 VIIRS RSBs using the official sensor data records (SDRs). The comparison result reveals an unstable and varying early radiometric performance upward of 5%. SNPP VIIRS, the precursor VIIRS, is also used to generate a comparison time series against Aqua MODIS. The result shows that NOAA-20 VIIRS RSBs have a 2 to 8% radiometric deficit relative to SNPP VIIRS RSBs.
Hybridizing Meta-RaPS with Machine Learning Algorithms

Merging a metaheuristic with machine learning algorithms is typically done to improve the machine learning algorithms. This work, however, takes the reverse approach and aims at utilizing machine learning algorithms to improve metaheuristics. The objective of this research is to demonstrate an effective approach to hybridize metaheuristics with machine learning. The metaheuristic of choice is Metaheuristic for Randomized Priority Search (Meta-RaPS) and the machine learning algorithms are Decision Trees (supervised learning) and Association Rules (unsupervised learning). Demonstrating the performance of the algorithms is done by solving the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP). This paper starts by describing the Vehicle Routing Problem and then subsequent sections discuss the algorithms used and the computational experiments executed.
Purchasing Claims and Changing Votes: Establishing

Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code gives creditors whose rights will be impaired the right to vote to accept or reject a proposed plan of reorganization. Bankruptcy law subjects this right of franchise to two limitations. Section 1126(e) provides that a vote cast “not in good faith” or “not solicited or procured in good faith” may be “designated” or nullified. The second restriction on voting, the subject of this article, is set forth in the penultimate sentence of Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 3018(a), which requires “a creditor or equity security holder” seeking “to change or withdraw an acceptance or rejection” to demonstrate “cause.” Even though Rule 3018(a) contains the sole constraint on the right to change or withdraw a previously cast vote in the whole of bankruptcy law, its text and commentary provide no definition. Existing precedent, moreover, is sparse and filled with flaws, large and small. To make up for these defects, this article proposes a new standard to guide the exercise of discretion countenanced by Rule 3018(a)’s deceptively plain “cause.” Part II surveys the present — and deficient — legal landscape. Part III summarizes the prevailing standards for interpreting federal rules generally and explains how bankruptcy law’s specialized character compels these precepts’ alteration when a bankruptcy rule is at issue. Parts III and IV employ these modified tenets to delineate the effective range of “cause” in Rule 3018(a). This article thus makes two contributions to the literature and the case law: (1) it explains the unique interpretive constraints applicable to construing the Bankruptcy Rules, which few have dissected in such detail, and (2) it shows how Rule 3018(a) must be understood in light of those constraints and such modern phenomena as claims trading. In short, an interpretive blueprint, general and specific, appears therein, one that can be used to construe Rule 3018(a), of course, but also every other rule of bankruptcy, evidence, and procedure. ** This article has been cited by three different courts in 2015-17. **
Role of baryon number conservation in measurements of fluctuations

I discuss the role and impact of net-baryon number conservation in measurements of net-proton fluctuations in heavy-ion collisions. I show that the magnitude of the fluctuations is entirely determined by the strength of two particle correlations. At LHC and top RHIC energy, this implies the fluctuations are proportional to the integral of the balance function (BF), ${B}^{p\overline{p}}$ of protons and antiprotons, while in the context of the RHIC beam energy scan (BES), one must also account for correlations of stopped protons. The integral of ${B}^{p\overline{p}}$ measured in a $4\ensuremath{\pi}$ detector depends on the relative cross sections of processes yielding $p\overline{p}$ and those balancing the proton baryon number via the production of other antibaryons. The accepted integral of ${B}^{p\overline{p}}$ further depends on the shape and width of the BF relative to the width of the acceptance. The magnitude of the measured second-order cumulant of net-proton fluctuations thus has much less to do with QCD susceptibilities than with the creation/transport of baryons and antibaryons in heavy-ion collisions, and most particularly the impact of radial flow on the width of the BF. I thus advocate that net-proton fluctuations should be studied by means of differential BF measurements rather than with integral correlators. I also derive an expression of net-baryon fluctuations in terms of integrals of balance functions of identified baryon pairs and argue that measurements of such balance functions would enable a better understanding of the collision system expansion dynamics, the hadronization chemistry, and an experimental assessment of the strength of net-baryon fluctuations.
Victimization, fear of crime, procedural injustice and inmate misconduct: An application of general strain theory in South Korea

Abstract Purpose While a wealth of research on Agnew's general strain theory has shown that strains can promote the likelihood of crime and deviant behavior, the application of general strain theory towards a prison setting remains understudied. This study aims to expand the knowledge base for our understanding of the roles that unique strains play within prisons that may pressure inmates to engage in inmate misconduct. Methods Drawing on data from a sample of South Korean inmates, the present paper examines the impact of prison-based strains on violent and nonviolent misconduct. Results Findings suggest that experienced strain (i.e., violent criminal victimization), anticipated strain (i.e., fear of crime), and perceived procedural injustice adversely affected inmate misconduct; however, the magnitude of the effects varied across different types of inmate misconduct. Conclusions Prevention/intervention efforts to diminish strains that inmates encounter in institutional corrections are necessary to decrease inmate misconduct.
N-1 RTU Cyber-Physical Security Assessment Using State Estimation

Real-time supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems use remote terminal units (RTUs) to monitor and manage the flow of power at electrical substations. As their connectivity to different utility and private networks increases, RTUs are becoming more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Some attacks seek to access RTUs to directly control power system devices with the intent to shed load or cause equipment damage. Other attacks (such as denial-of-service) target network availability and seek to block, delay, or corrupt communications between the RTU and the control center. In the most severe case, when communications are entirely blocked, the loss of an RTU can cause the power system to become unobservable. It is important to understand how losing an RTU impacts the system state (bus voltage magnitudes and angles). The system state is determined by the state estimator and serves as the input to other critical EMS applications. There is currently no systematic approach for assessing the cyber-physical impact of losing RTUs. This paper proposes a methodology for N-1 RTU cyber-physical security assessment that could benefit power system control and operation. We demonstrate our approach on the IEEE 14-bus system as well as on a synthetic 200-bus system.
Dilemmas Managing Doubt about Family Members’ Health Complaints: A Normative Approach

Uncertainty is inherent to the illness experience; for those who are not ill themselves, the inability to directly access another person’s embodied experiences can heighten feelings of uncertainty....
Psychometric Testing and Clinical Utility of a Modified Version of the Function in Sitting Test for Individuals With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury.

Abstract Objectives Seated balance (SB) is substantially compromised and greatly impacts the function of individuals living with a spinal cord injury (SCI). A clinically applicable criterion standard measure for SB does not exist for this population. Initial validation and reliability analysis of the Function in Sitting Test (FIST) in SCI has been published, but the authors of this study report that modifications to the tool may be necessary. This study aimed to explore the psychometrics and clinical utility of a modified version of the FIST to better measure SCI-specific functional tasks in sitting. Design The FIST was modified (FIST-SCI) by an expert panel and used by 2 graders to evaluate the SB of individuals with chronic SCI (cSCI) on 2 separate days. The Motor Assessment Scale item 3 (MAS-SCI) was included as a comparison measure. Setting Research facility. Participants Individuals with cSCI longer than 1 year (N=38) participated in the study. Injury levels of individuals participating in this study spanned C1 to T10 (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A, 17 subjects; B, 12 subjects; and C, 9 subjects). Thirteen individuals required assistance to transfer. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Validity, reliability, internal consistency, sensitivity, specificity, and responsiveness. Results Validity testing found a moderate relationship between the MAS-SCI and the FIST-SCI (ρ, .522; P Conclusions Initial validity of the FIST-SCI is reported, but further assessment is required. Reliability is excellent in the cSCI population. FIST-SCI scores provide clinical insight into the seated functional ability of individuals with cSCI.
Multipacting-Free Transitions Between Cavities and Beam Pipes. Theorem of Minimal Electric Field

Multipacting in an elliptic superconducting cavity can occur near the equator, but it is usually not very strong, and as shown in Chaps. 8 and 10, one can eliminate this multipacting by changing the cell shape in the equatorial region. It was thought that such cavities are essentially multipactor-free. However, tests of the Cornell Energy Recovery Linac (ERL) injector cavity [2] and KEK Ichiro cavity [3] showed relatively strong multipacting, which was later attributed through computer simulations to the transition regions between the cavity end cells and beam pipes. For the ERL cavity, the presence of multipacting in this region was experimentally confirmed by measuring electric current at a biased probe and correlated temperature changes at the outer wall [2]. Our analysis shows that the amplitude of the electric field along the cavity profile line has a minimum at the location of the multipactor discharge. Similarly, the possibility of multipactor existence in the transition region was found during our work on designing a multicell superconducting cavity for the future Cornell ERL main linac.
Supramolecular Catalysis of the oxa‐Pictet–Spengler Reaction with an Endohedrally Functionalized Self‐Assembled Cage Complex

An endohedrally functionalized self-assembled Fe4 L6 cage complex can catalyze oxa-Pictet-Spengler cyclizations of tryptophols and various aldehyde derivatives, showing strong rate accelerations and size-selectivity. Selective molecular recognition of substrates controls the reactivity, and the cage is capable of binding and activating multiple different species along the multistep reaction pathway. The combination of a functionalized active site, size-selective reactivity, and multistep activation, all from a single host molecule, illustrates the biomimetic nature of the catalysis.
Use of a modified mandibular splint to reduce nocturnal symptoms in persons with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Abstract Objective Based on a series of clinical observations that a thicker mandibular splint than that commonly used to treat bruxism and related craniomandibular myofascial pain reduced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) nocturnal symptomatology (sleep disruptions, headaches, and nightmares), this study of 100 PTSD participants was undertaken to systematically establish ’proof of concept’ of the therapeutic effectiveness of this modified splinting procedure. Methods Following the fabrication of splints thicker than those conventionally used, the effectiveness of this new procedure used by dentists was determined by comparing the self-reported frequency and intensity/severity of PTSD symptomatology during a seven-night pretreatment baseline period without the splint with a second seven-night period in which the modified splint was inserted. The scoring for the three dependent measures (sleep disruptions, headaches, and nightmares) was based on the frequencies on a scale from 0–7 multiplied by the intensity/severity on a scale of 1–10. Results Compared with the pre-splint baseline period, the insertion of the thickened splint resulted in a highly significant reduction of sleep disruption, nocturnal headaches, and nightmares. A second seven-night control period without the splint was followed by a second seven-night period with the splint, reproducing the effectiveness of the first splinting period. Conclusion The results of this study provide the first systematic, documented proof of concept of the effectiveness of a modified splinting procedure in reducing key nocturnal symptoms in PTSD patients.
Immigration and the Changing Nature of Homicide in US Cities, 1980–2010

Objectives Previous research has neglected to consider whether trends in immigration are related to changes in the nature of homicide. This is important because there is considerable variability in the temporal trends of homicide subtypes disaggregated by circumstance. In the current study, we address this issue by investigating whether within-city changes in immigration are related to temporal variations in rates of overall and circumstance-specific homicide for a sample of large US cities during the period between 1980 and 2010.
Robotic-assisted hiatal hernia repair and pulmonary embolism: an institution-based retrospective cohort study.

Hiatal hernia (HH) is an abnormal protrusion of components of the abdominal viscera through the esophageal hiatus. The laparoscopic approach is the gold standard for repair with the robotic technique now gaining wide acceptance. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a well-known post-operative complication but its incidence following robotically assisted HH repairs is not well known. This study provides a descriptive analysis of three patients who developed PE after robotic repairs of their HHs. The incidence of PE in the studied cohort was 2.7% (3 of 112) with a male preponderance (66.7%). The mean age of the patients was 55.3 years with a mean BMI of 32.2 kg/m2. The average duration of surgery was 4.2 h with sizes of the diaphragmatic defects ranging from 3 to 6 cm. Confirmatory PE diagnosis was made with a chest CT angiogram and the mean length of hospital stay was 4 days. PE although rare, is a preventable cause of in-patient mortality and morbidity with implications on healthcare costs and hospital resource use. The Caprini model provides a guide to pre-operative patient risk stratification and PE prevention, and the patients in this study were in the moderate to high-risk groups. Risk factors common to all patients were: age > 40 years, BMI > 30 kg/m2 and duration of surgery > 2 h with one of the patients having a previous history of PE. There are no established PE chemoprophylaxis guidelines for robotic HH repairs and in this cohort, heparin was commenced 6–8 h post-operatively. Thus, there is a need for a consensus chemoprophylaxis guideline in this subset of surgical patients. PE following robotic HH repair is associated with prolonged hospital stay and increased healthcare costs. Guidelines for effective pre-operative chemoprophylaxis for these repairs are needed to optimize patient outcomes.
Chronic Juvenile Delinquency and the “Suppression Effect”: An Exploratory Study

Abstract In recent studies, fear of apprehension and punishment have been reported to “suppress” juvenile crime. The purpose of this paper is to discuss this suppression effect in regard to the correlates of chronic juvenile delinquency and exploratory evidence that youths who commit a large volume of crime do not fear sanctions imposed by the juvenile court any more than youths who commit only one offense in their delinquent careers.
Interactions between supplement energy source and tall fescue hay maturity on forage utilization by beef steers

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of tall fescue hay maturity on intake, digestion, and ruminal fermentation responses to different supplemental energy sources fed to beef steers. Twelve ruminally cannulated, crossbred steers (initial BW = 228 +/- 21 kg) were used in a split-plot experiment with a 3 x 4 factorial treatment arrangement. Steers were assigned randomly to three supplement treatments: 1) no supplement, 2) pelleted soybean hulls, or 3) coarse cracked corn. The second treatment factor was fescue hay maturity: 1) vegetative (VEG), 2) boot-stage (BOOT), 3) heading-stage (HEAD), and 4) mature (MAT). Supplements were fed once daily at 0.67% of BW (OM basis) and tall fescue hay was offered once daily at 150% of average intake. Supplement type x forage maturity interactions were not detected (P > or = 0.25) for forage, total, or digestible OM intake, which generally decreased (P or = 0.10) ruminal pH, total VFA concentrations, or acetate:propionate ratio. Corn supplementation decreased (P < or = 0.07) ruminal NH3-N concentrations compared with control and soybean hulls; however, decreases in ruminal NH3-N concentrations were not consistent with the presence of negative associative effects. Thus, mechanisms not involving ruminal pH or NH3-N concentration seem responsible for negative associative effects observed with corn supplementation. Within the range of forage quality in this study, increases in digestible OM intake from starch- or fiber-based supplements were independent of forage maturity. When fed at similar levels of OM, soybean hull supplementation provided an average of 6% greater digestible OM intake than corn supplementation.
A total least squares approach for data reduction of longterm ECG recordings

A major problem associated with longterm ECG recordings is the enormous volume of data they contain and the requirement of an efficient procedure for its archival in reduced form is highly desirable. The storage of multiple recordings poses limitations, especially when they are to be used at a later time for applications involving high resolution mode, such as the contextual analysis of ECG. This paper presents an application of the singular value decomposition (SVD) within a total least squares (TLS) framework for data reduction of longterm ECG recordings. We present a combined formulation of denoising and data reduction via a TLS approach. Following beat delineation, archival of the ECG beat is accomplished using the reduced parameter set obtained using the TLS approximation in the discrete cosine transform (DCT) domain. Casting the transform domain ECG signal into a structured form using only the significant DCT coefficients resulted in a substantial reduction of the computational complexity involved in estimating the model parameters. With the reduced parameter set obtained using the proposed TLS approach, it was possible to archive multiple recordings of ambulatory Holter ECG data in a personal computer with only a limited storage capacity.
Genetic, molecular, and morphological analysis of compound leaf development

Leaves, the plant organs responsible for capturing and converting most of the 170 billion metric tons of carbon fixed globally each year, can be broadly grouped into two morphological categories: simple and compound. Although simple-leaved species such as corn and Arabidopsis have traditionally been favored model systems for studying leaf development, recent years have seen an increase in genetic and molecular studies of compound leaf development. Two compound-leaved species in particular have emerged as model systems: tomato and pea. A variety of mutations which alter leaf morphology in these species have been described, and analyses of these mutations have allowed the construction of testable models of leaf development. Also, the knotted-like homeobox (KNOX) genes, which were originally discovered as regulators of meristem function, now appear to have a role in compound leaf development. In addition to the recent genetic and molecular analyses of tomato and pea, insight into the nature of compound leaf development may be gained through the study of (a) heteroblasty and heterophylly, phenomena in which a range of leaf forms can be produced by a single shoot, and (b) the evolutionary origins of compound leaves.
Distributed multiagent formation control with enhanced scalability

A one step ahead optimization based control of autonomous agents that modifies our earlier work, to enhance network scalability is proposed. As in our earlier work, each agent is modeled as a double integrator. The goal is to force the agents to converge to a formation specified by their desired relative positions, and moving with constant velocity. The earlier work had the property that in face of the arrival of a new agent the control laws of only the agents this new arrival attached it self to needed to be adjusted. However, this required that the largest possible network that may result be anticipated a priori, causing potentially sluggish responses when in a given epoch the network is much smaller than the largest anticipated size. In this paper we propose a new law that removes this difficulty.
Effects of 12 weeks of tadalafil treatment on ejaculatory and orgasmic dysfunction and sexual satisfaction in patients with mild to severe erectile dysfunction: integrated analysis of 17 placebo-controlled studies.

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Disorders of ejaculation and orgasm are common, even in men with only mild erectile dysfunction (ED). Treatment with the phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor tadalafil was associated with improvements in ejaculatory and orgasmic function. Patients with residual ejaculatory or orgasmic dysfunction experience reduced sexual satisfaction. These findings need to be corroborated in further clinical trials involving men without ED. Objectives To compare effects of tadalafil on ejaculatory and orgasmic function in patients presenting with erectile dysfunction (ED). To determine the effects of post-treatment ejaculatory dysfunction (EjD) and orgasmic dysfunction (OD) on measures of sexual satisfaction. Patients and Methods Data from 17 placebo-controlled 12-week trials of tadalafil (5, 10, 20 mg) as needed in patients with ED were integrated. EjD and OD severities were defined by patient responses to the International Index of Erectile Function, question 9 (IIEF-Q9; ejaculation) and IIEF-Q10 (orgasm), respectively. Satisfaction was evaluated using the intercourse and overall satisfaction domains of the IIEF and Sexual Encounter Profile question 5. Analyses of covariance were performed to compare mean ejaculatory function and orgasmic function, and chi-squared tests evaluated differences in endpoint responses to IIEF-Q9 and IIEF-Q10. Results A total of 3581 randomized subjects were studied. Treatment with tadalafil 10 or 20 mg was associated with significant increases in ejaculatory and orgasmic function (vs placebo) across all baseline ED, EjD, and OD severity strata. In the tadalafil group, 66% of subjects with severe EjD reported improved ejaculatory function compared with 36% in the placebo group (P < 0.001). Similarly, 66% of the tadalafil-treated subjects (vs 35% for placebo; P < 0.001) with severe OD reported improvement. Residual severe EjD and OD after treatment had negative impacts on sexual satisfaction. Limitations of the analysis include its retrospective nature and the use of an instrument (IIEF) with as yet unknown performance in measuring treatment responses for EjD and OD. Conclusions Tadalafil treatment was associated with significant improvements in ejaculatory function, orgasmic function and sexual satisfaction. Proportions of subjects reporting improved ejaculatory or orgasmic function were ≈ twofold higher with tadalafil than with placebo. These findings warrant corroboration in prospective trials of patients with EjD or OD (without ED).
Adjusting our management of female blood donors: the key to an adequate blood supply.

1and can be divided into those that always have a sufficient RBC supply for their hospitals and those that do not. Blood centers that have a large nonmetropolitan territory and serve areas of low blood usage are able to collect beyond their needs and can export blood. In contrast, blood centers that supply blood to hospitals in large metropolitan areas often are unable to meet hospital needs all the time because of either undercollection or high blood usage in large cities. Such blood centers rectify the imbalance between demand and supply by contracts with exporting blood centers. Table 1 shows the results of a survey from seven blood centers that serve 7 of the 11 largest metropolitan communities in the US. The survey shows that metropolitan blood centers do not meet the demand within the metropolitan community and must import blood, because the donor pool is inadequate or the cost of incremental donations is too high. Imports work well during the fall, spring, and most of the winter but often are insufficient during the summer and winter vacations, when all blood collection facilities are stressed because schools are closed and many blood donors are away on vacation. Besides the issue of having an adequate A total supply, there is the issue of having a sufficient quantity of all ABO-Rh blood groups. Supplies of some ABO-Rh blood groups are more difficult to sustain because they are overtransfused (Group O+, all D‐ blood groups) or undercollected (Group B+), whereas other blood groups are overcollected (Group A+, AB+) and thus have higher expiration rates. Thus, blood centers in large metropolitan communities might have RBC shortages for all groups or specific groups, and the probability of such occurrences is greater in the summer and during or after the winter
Biotransformation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene under different electron acceptor conditions

Abstract An anaerobic/anoxic fluidized-bed granular activated carbon (GAC) bioreactor in series with an activated sludge reactor was used to treat 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT). During methanogenic operation of the GAC bioreactor ethanol was supplied as the primary substrate at 600 mg/l. Influent DNT (110 mg/l) was transformed stoichiometrically to 2,4-diaminotoluene (DAT) in this anaerobic stage. The DAT was subsequently mineralized in the activated sludge reactor, with complete recovery of DAT nitrogen. Under denitrifying conditions in the fluidized bed, 3% of influent DNT was transformed to 2-amino-4-nitrotoluene (2A4NT) and 4-amino-2-nitrotoluene (4A2NT), 52% was transformed to unknown products and the 45% remained as DNT. Although 3% of the DNT was transformed to 2A4NT or 4A2NT in the activated sludge reactor, aerobic mineralization of DNT or the aminonitrotoluenes was not observed.
Conductance equation of dilute mixed strong electrolytes. III. Electrophoresis

The electrophoretic velocity is computed through the order linear in concentration for a system containing any number of species of ions of any charges. The computation is based on the general theory of Fuoss and Onsager and the method for the generalization to mixed electrolytes developed by Chen and Onsager for the primitive model. The Boltzmann factor exp. (—eiΨji/kT) is retained explicitly through the computation to obtain a result consistent with earlier computations of the relaxation field. The equilibrium potential including a correction to Poisson-Boltzmann equation is used, which adds a linear term ΔVjc to the electrophoretic velocity in agreement with the result of Murphy and Cohen. The correction to the ionic distribution due to the solvent motion is considered, which results in a linear term inversely proportional to the square of the viscosity of the solution. The main contribution is ΔVjE, which is in agreement with the result for symmetrical electrolytes of Falkenhagen et al. with only a slight difference due mainly to the different approximation used in the computation of the local force.
Radial Basis Function Cascade Correlation Networks

A cascade correlation learning architecture has been devised for the first time for radial basis function processing units. The proposed algorithm was evaluated with two synthetic data sets and two chemical data sets by comparison with six other standard classifiers. The ability to detect a novel class and an imbalanced class were demonstrated with synthetic data. In the chemical data sets, the growth regions of Italian olive oils were identified by their fatty acid profiles; mass spectra of polychlorobiphenyl compounds were classified by chlorine number. The prediction results by bootstrap Latin partition indicate that the proposed neural network is useful for pattern recognition.
Update on treatment approaches in women's cancer.

The 7th Annual Women’s Cancer Conference, cosponsored by the City of Hope (CA, USA) and the Nevada Cancer Institute, USA, convened in November 2007 at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lucille Leong and Robert Morgan, both from the City of Hope faculty, co-chaired the Women’s Cancer Conference and were pleased with the 260 attendees, 20% of whom had attended a prior Women’s Cancer Conference. The 3-day Women’s Cancer Conference is primarily directed towards the general oncologist and primary care physician seeking a more in-depth understanding of new cancer treatments and practice. The presenting faculty for the 2007 meeting came predominantly from the two host institutions, with additional speakers from around the USA. The Women’s Cancer Conference follows a case-based learning format: didactic lectures are followed by a series of individual case presentations, which are discussed in detail with full audience participation. It is estimated that over 680,000 women in the USA will develop cancer in 2007 and almost 290,000 will die of the disease. Although a decline in the use of menopausal hormone therapy has resulted in a decline in new breast cancers, breast cancer remains the most common malignancy to develop in women. Improvements in screening and therapy have been credited with the improved survival of women with early stage disease. In the USA, the leading causes of cancer-related deaths are lung, colorectal, pancreas and ovarian cancers. Worldwide, cervical cancer is a major cause of cancer mortality. The first day of the conference focused on the interdisciplinary approach to gynecologic malignancies. Lectures from oncologic surgeons, medical oncologists and pathologists highlighted the diagnosis and treatment of cervical and ovarian cancers. The human papilloma virus (HPV) is an oncogenic virus and a causative agent in cervical cancer. HPV is isolated in over 99% of all cancer specimens. The WHO has declared HPV to be the first identified ‘necessary cause’ of a human cancer. Although the routine use of PAP smears has decreased the incidence and death rate in ‘resource rich’ countries, worldwide cervical cancer continues to be a leading cause of cancer death in women. After reviewing the role of HPV in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer, Sharon Wilczynski summarized diagnostic testing for HPV. The Canadian Cervical Cancer Screening Trial compared conventional cervical cytologic testing (PAP) with FDA-approved HPV DNA testing in a population of 10,154 women aged 30–69 years who presented for routine screening. The HPV DNA test was more sensitive than the PAP – 94.5 compared with 55.4% and negative predictive values of 99.8 and 100%. A Swedish trial enrolled 12,527 women to PAP alone or to HPV DNA testing (PCR-immunoassay that is not FDA approved) plus PAP. Grade 2 or 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or cancer was identified in 51% more women undergoing both tests. However, the increased sensitivity of the HPV DNA test resulted in many more
Why do some recovered peripartum cardiomyopathy mothers experience heart failure with a subsequent pregnancy

After concerns about survival and recovery from peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), the question commonly asked is, “Is it safe to have another pregnancy?” While important advances have been made in the past decade in the recognition and treatment of PPCM, we still do not know why some apparently recovered PPCM mothers have a relapse of heart failure in a subsequent pregnancy. Knowing that some risk for relapse is always present, careful monitoring of the post-PPCM pregnancy is currently the best way to enable earlier diagnosis with institution of effective evidence-based treatment. In that situation it is reassuring to observe that when a subsequent pregnancy begins with recovered left ventricular systolic function to echocardiographic ejection fraction ≥0.50, even with relapse, the response to treatment is good with much more favorable outcomes. On the other hand, beginning the subsequent pregnancy with echocardiographic ejection fraction <0.50 greatly increases the risk for less favorable outcomes. This article summarizes the current state of knowledge; addresses the important questions facing patients, their families, and caregivers; and identifies the need for a prospective multi-center study of women with post-PPCM pregnancies. The reality is that an estimated 10 % to 20 % of apparently recovered PPCM mothers are going to relapse in a post-PPCM pregnancy; but we do not yet know why. Nevertheless, the lowest risk for relapse is experienced by those who (1) recover to left ventricular ejection fraction 0.55 prior to another pregnancy; (2) have no deterioration of left ventricular ejection fraction after phasing out angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin-receptor blocker treatment following recovery; and perhaps, (3) demonstrate adequate contractile reserve on exercise echocardiography.